Tag: Tulip Siddiq

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2016-05-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, of the Consent Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) submitted to the National Crime Agency in each year since 2011-12, how many involved suspected contraventions of (a) the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and (b) Part 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000; and how many Consent SAR requests in each such category were permitted because they were not responded to within the seven-day time limit.

Mr John Hayes

The below table provides figures on the number of Suspicious Activity Reports received by the National Crime Agency (NCA) between October 2011 and September 2015 which requested consent under Part 7 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) and Part 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (TACT). The table also includes figures on the number of consent requests where the reporter received no reply from the NCA.

	POCA Total Consent Requests	POCA – No Reply within 7 Days	TACT Total Consent Requests	TACT – No Reply within 7 Days
Oct 2011 – Sept 2012	12915	10	75	Nil
Oct 2012 – Sept 2013	14103	8	77	Nil
Oct 2013 – Sept 2014	14155	7	102	Nil
Oct 2014 – Sept 2015	14672	110	198	Nil

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2016-05-06.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many transfer pricing cases have been opened with HM Revenue and Customs’ transfer pricing unit in each year since 2008-09; how many such cases have been closed in each such year; and how much was raised in each such year.

Mr David Gauke

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publishes annual statistics reporting its performance across its transfer pricing work, including enquiries, advance pricing agreements, advance thin capitalisation agreements and mutual agreement procedure cases. The most recent published statistics are for 2013- 14. HMRC intends to publish the statistics for 2014-15 shortly. These statistics answer many of the individual questions asked. However, HMRC does not hold information centrally in a form which allows it to answer all the questions asked in the required timeframe.

The aim of the Advance Pricing Arrangements (APA) Programme is to provide businesses with certainty on the pricing of complex intra-group transactions. An APA sets out the method for determining, in accordance with the law, the transfer price for intra-group transactions. APAs are part of the internationally recognised best practices recommended by the OECD. HMRC has published guidance about what APAs are, the circumstances where it would be appropriate for businesses to apply for an APA and what information is required before any agreement can be made.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2016-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to increase capacity for (a) new and (b) follow-up appointments in ophthalmology clinics.

Alistair Burt

The need for ophthalmology outpatient clinics will be determined locally by clinical commissioning groups who will then commission the care, normally from National Health Service trusts.

The most recent NHS workforce statistics for trusts and clinical commissioning groups, published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre on 22 June 2016, shows that since May 2010, there are now 264 more doctors with a specialty of ophthalmology; this includes a 27% increase in the number of consultants.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when his Department plans to publish its Work and Health Green Paper; and if he will make a statement.

Penny Mordaunt

We will publish a Green Paper later this year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2015-10-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what limit is set on each of the three tenancy deposit schemes which hold contracts with his Department to run authorised schemes for the maximum length of time it takes for them to resolve a dispute through alternative dispute resolution; and what guidance or requirements his Department has issued to these schemes on these maximum limits.

Brandon Lewis

Under tenancy deposit protection legislation introduced in the Housing Act 2004, all landlords who let out property on an assured shorthold tenancy are required to protect their tenants’ deposits in one of the three Government-approved deposit protection schemes.

Details of the number of deposits protected under each scheme as at March 2015 are set out below:

Custodial scheme: Deposit Protection Service: 1,170,564

Insurance Schemes:

Tenancy Deposit Scheme: 1,135,769
Deposit Protection Service: 20,944
MyDeposits: 738,853

Whilst the Government has authorised three private companies to provide tenancy deposit protection schemes, we do not have a day-to-day role in the running of the schemes, however, we do maintain an oversight responsibility, and the Department holds quarterly monitoring meetings with scheme providers at which any performance issues can be discussed. Over the period that the schemes have been in operation, they have performed at a consistently high level. We have not issued guidance for the schemes who all engage the services of dispute resolution professionals. However, the majority of disputes are resolved in 28 days, which is the performance target set by the Government.

The number of adjudications per year for each scheme is set out in the attached table, including the percentage of adjudications awarded to tenants and landlords.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2015-12-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what refurbishments have been carried out by (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department’s non-departmental public bodies since May 2010; what the cost of such refurbishments was; what further such refurbishments are planned; and what the estimated cost is of such planned refurbishments.

Jane Ellison

Theattached tables provide the cost of refurbishments carried out by the Department and its arm’s length bodiessince May 2010, together with planned refurbishments and their estimated cost. Costs are in £’000.

Exact financial plans for next year are yet to be determined following the Spending Review.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2015-12-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what (a) funding, (b) personnel support and (c) other support has been provided by the Government under the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund referred to in the Prime Minister’s response to the Foreign Affairs Committee’s report on the Extension of Offensive British Military Operations to Syria, published on 26 November 2015.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

Under the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, the UK has delivered over £100million in support to Syria, Jordan and Lebanon since the start of the crisis. This has focussed on strengthening the moderate opposition, building resilience against extremists, fostering civil society structures in besieged areas, promoting Human Rights, delivering basic governance and laying the foundations for a more peaceful and inclusive future for Syria. Further details of our funding can be found on the Gov.uk website.

The UK has always punched above its weight in helping deal with the effects of the Syria crisis. Our vision for Syria is an open, democratic society with greater social, economic and political participation where violent extremism does not have a place and where refugees feel safe to return. That is why, alongside our pledge of over £1.1 billion in humanitarian aid, the Prime Minister announced a commitment of at least £1 billion to reconstruction in Syria during the 26 October Commons debate.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2016-01-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of how many pensioners will have the assessed income periods of their pension credit end early as a result of changes to pension credit on 6 April 2016.

Justin Tomlinson

We estimate that around 250,000 Pension Credit recipients will have their assessed income period (AIP) end early. This estimate is based on DWP administrative data and includes an assumption about the number of new AIPs that will be set between now and 5 April 2016. The end of an AIP does not necessarily change the Pension Credit award; the effect depends on whether any changes to income or capital have taken place.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2016-01-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what representations she has received on local authority non-compliance with statutory requirements in relation to (a) education, health and care plans and (b) the Local Offer; what mechanism is in place to ensure that local authorities comply with such statutory requirements; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure such compliance.

Edward Timpson

We are monitoring implementation of the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) reforms very closely. We undertake termly surveys of local authorities and Parent Carer Forums. We also engage in regular dialogue with voluntary and community sector partners, including parent representatives, and we monitor issues raised in ministerial and official correspondence.

The SEND reforms are complex and will take time to embed fully. The transition period from statements to Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) runs until 2018. Our team of SEND Advisers has focused on improving the quality and timeliness of Local Offers and EHCPs, and is offering support to local authorities. In 2015, we responded to widespread feedback to extend the timescale for transferring a statement of SEN to an EHCP from 16 weeks to 20 weeks. We have also provided workshops on Local Offers and on transition; we are currently working with partners to run a series of workshops for local authorities on drafting good EHCPs.

Early in the process, feedback showed that local authorities were at different stages in developing their Local Offers. All local authorities now have a Local Offer in place, and are working with their partner bodies, families and young people to ensure Local Offers respond to local needs.

Parents/carers and young people have various options if they are dissatisfied with the way an authority has acted in relation to an EHCP or about the Local Offer. They may wish to complain directly to their local authority, following its formal complaints procedure. Once a local authority’s complaints procedure has been exhausted, the complaint can be referred to the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO). The LGO can investigate complaints of maladministration or service failure made by parents/carers and young people about their local authority, including non-compliance with statutory duties relating to EHCPs and the Local Offer. The LGO will not usually investigate complaints about decisions that the local authority has taken in relation to EHC needs assessments and plans that can be appealed to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability).

If a complaint is not resolved locally or by the LGO, it can be referred to the Secretary of State under sections 496 and 497 of the Education Act 1996. If the Secretary of State finds that the local authority has failed to carry out a statutory duty, or has done so unreasonably, she can then issue a direction to the authority in order to put matters right, if it is expedient to do so.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2016-01-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by HM Revenue and Customs’ Pay and Work Rights Helpline in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2014-15 and (c) 2015-16; and what funding was provided to that team in each of those years.

Nick Boles

Broadcasting Support Services (BSS) was contracted in 2009 to run the Pay and Work Rights Helpline (PWRH) until March 2015.

In April 2015 Acas took over responsibility for providing a one stop shop for workers and employers seeking advice on a wider range of employment matters.

The budget was: 2009/10 – £968k, with 9 members of staff; and in 2014/15 it was £750k, with 7 members of staff. The cost of the service was then absorbed by Acas within their existing helpline functions when they took over responsibility for handling calls previously dealt with by the PWRH.