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178295

registered interest
date	06/02/2015
answering body	Department for Culture Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Telecommunications
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to his Department's impact assessment of the reform of the Electronic Communications Code, published on 16 January 2015, for what reason the Government did not publish that assessment in time for it to inform the debate on that code in the Public Bill Committee on the Infrastructure Bill [Lords] on 15 January 2015.
tabling member constituency	Rhondda
tabling member printed	Chris Bryant
uin	223733
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2015 answer text <p>This was an oversight. Once that oversight became clear we sought to publish the IA immediately.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 23/02/2015 08:42:28 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	1446 label Biography information for Sir Chris Bryant

178296

registered interest
date	06/02/2015
answering body	Department for Culture Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Mobile Phones
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to his Department's press release of 18 December 2014, entitled Government secures landmark deal for UK mobile phone users, if he will publish the text of the Government's agreement with the mobile network operators.
tabling member constituency	Rhondda
tabling member printed	Chris Bryant
uin	223734
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2015 answer text <p>The press release outlined the deal; there is nothing further to publish.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 13/02/2015 14:01:02 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	1446 label Biography information for Sir Chris Bryant

178298

registered interest
date	06/02/2015
answering body	Department for Culture Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Culture: Mental Health
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department has taken to tackle the problem of loneliness by encouraging people to participate in culture and sports.
tabling member constituency	Rhondda
tabling member printed	Chris Bryant
uin	223736
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2015 answer text <p>DCMS recognises that participating in culture and sport can help to tackle the problem of loneliness. Arts Council England (ACE) aims to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to experience and be inspired by the arts by providing funding to organisations that promote cultural and social cohesion. DCMS has contributed<strong> </strong>£47.5 million to 50 projects that are part of Sport England’s Community Sport Activation Fund containing ‘reducing social isolation of the participants’ as one of the wider outcomes of the project, and has also invested over £730,000 in Age UK through Sport England’s Inclusive Sport fund, which is looking to overcome psychological barriers such as isolation faced by older people with disabilities.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 13/02/2015 10:29:26 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	1446 label Biography information for Sir Chris Bryant

178299

registered interest
date	06/02/2015
answering body	Department for Culture Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Health
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the Office for National Statistics' report, Measuring national well-being - An Analysis of Social Capital in the UK; and what recent assessment he has made of his Department's performance in contributing to national well-being.
tabling member constituency	Rhondda
tabling member printed	Chris Bryant
uin	223737
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2015 answer text <p>I welcome the ONS' analysis of Social Capital in the UK published on 29th Jan. DCMS officials are considering the implications of the report in the context of our own published evidence on the positive associations between culture, sport, volunteering and wellbeing.</p> answering member constituency Maidstone and The Weald answering member printed Mrs Helen Grant question first answered 23/02/2015 13:05:53 answering member 4018 label Biography information for Mrs Helen Grant
tabling member	1446 label Biography information for Sir Chris Bryant

178300

registered interest
date	06/02/2015
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Automation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect on digital employment of trends towards increasing automation in that sector.
tabling member constituency	Rhondda
tabling member printed	Chris Bryant
uin	223738
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2015 answer text <p>Over the last 10 years the ICT sector has grown over two and a half times as fast as the whole economy. In 2013, it contributed £113bn (7.5%) to the UK’s Gross Value Added (GVA) and supported 1.3 million jobs in the UK. Over the next decade, employment in the digital sector is projected to grow significantly faster than employment in other sectors of the economy, while sustained growth is expected in the number of IT specialists employed across the economy.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Evidence shows that digital technologies will transform the economy by bringing about efficiency improvements with resulting increases in productivity. This will impact on the composition of the labour market. It is difficult to reliably quantify this impact and estimates vary widely. International studies suggest that whilst demand for certain occupations may be reduced by robotics and automation, many more jobs would be created. For example, a recent study by the International Federation of Robotics estimates that there would be a net gain of jobs as a result of introducing robotics in industry.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The UK labour market is renowned for its flexibility and is well-placed to respond to structural changes. In order to maximise the opportunities presented by digital technologies, the Government is committed to ensuring that individuals are equipped with the digital skills needed for current and future job roles.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are working in partnership with industry to ensure that our education and training systems are providing the right digital skills. We have reformed the computing curriculum to ensure every young person is prepared for an increasingly digital world and reforms to apprenticeships are enabling employers to set standards that meet their needs. In November, we announced a pilot of short courses, which are accredited by business and provide up-to-date digital skills. In December, the Prime Minister announced a National College for Digital Skills, which will drive up standards in Further Education (FE), and ensure the FE system prepares individuals for the future workforce.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey grouped question UIN 223739 question first answered 25/02/2015 15:09:13 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	1446 label Biography information for Sir Chris Bryant

178065

registered interest
date	05/02/2015
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Employment Tribunals Service
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average cost was of each case heard by an employment tribunal in each of the last three years.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Heeley
tabling member printed	Meg Munn
uin	223678
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2015 answer text <p>Employment tribunal cases can vary in nature and complexity and some can last over more than one year, particularly where collective disputes are involved. Claims in employment tribunals can be classified into either single or multiple claims. Multiple claims are where two or more people bring proceedings arising out of the same facts, usually against a common employer. Where claims are grouped as multiples, they are processed administratively and managed judicially together. We call these groups of claims ‘multiple claims cases’. One multiple claim case would therefore involve two or more claims. Claims can be disposed of in a variety of ways, including being rejected either because they are out of time, or have no reasonable chance of success. A minority of cases are disposed of at a full hearing.</p><p>There are therefore many ways the term an employment tribunal case can be interpreted. The costs directly attributable to each claim / case are not collected, as current systems do not allow us to link staff, judicial and other costs to claims / cases. As a result, it is not possible to provide average costs per case over the last three years on a comparable basis.</p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara question first answered 17/03/2015 16:44:05 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
tabling member	1448 label Biography information for Meg Munn

178084

registered interest
date	05/02/2015
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Empty Property
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what written representations his Department received on the introduction of a vacant building credit in 2014.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Dame Tessa Jowell
uin	223583
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2015 answer text <p>The Department for Communities and Local Government carried out a public consultation in March 2014 to invite views and local evidence on proposed changes to national policy on the issue of Section 106 tariffs being imposed on empty buildings being brought back into use. All evidence submitted was carefully considered. The new policy was outlined in my Written Ministerial Statement of 28 November 2014, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 55WS. The purpose of the credit is to provide an incentive that will help regenerate empty and redundant buildings.</p><p>I can confirm that we have also undertaken an Equality Impact Assessment, which I will arrange to be placed in the Library. We do not consider our reforms will have a negative impact on discrimination, fostering good relations or advancing equality of opportunity.</p><p>We do not believe that our reforms will have any significant adverse effect on our affordable housing programme. We have so far delivered 217,000 new affordable homes since 2010, and are bringing in £19.5 billion of public and private in affordable housing over the current Spending Review period. In the next Parliament, we are on track to deliver a further 275,000 new affordable homes, backed up by £38 billion of public and private investment.</p><p>Planning guidance is kept under review and is updated as required, and we are open to representations on any practical areas where further assistance is needed to help facilitate the implementation of new policy.</p><p>I would note:</p><p> </p><p>· The policy changes are aimed at providing a clear incentive for brownfield regeneration, whilst supporting the Government’s policies of protecting the Green Belt and increasing housing supply.</p><p> </p><p>· The relief is intended to reflect the often higher costs of conversion and refurbishment and bringing an existing building back into use. Our reforms will help increase development and regeneration, providing more homes at no cost to the taxpayer.</p><p> </p><p>· Such re-use of existing buildings has a limited impact on local infrastructure; however, any increase in floor space would still be liable for Section 106 tariffs.</p><p> </p><p>· The Government had already amended regulations for the Community Infrastructure Levy which extend an existing credit for vacant buildings being brought back into use from the levy. This applies either where buildings are brought back into the same use, or for a change of use provided they have not been “abandoned” and have been in use for at least six months in the last three years. In either case the levy is only charged on any increase in floor space. Our Section 106 reforms mirror those Community Infrastructure Levy reforms: this is a consistent, joined-up approach.</p><p>Our new policy was endorsed in the consultation by the likes of the Federation of Small Businesses, the Home Builders Federation, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the British Property Federation. They said that the proposed policy would encourage the refurbishment and regeneration of brownfield sites and bring vacant buildings back into use, especially given the higher costs of building on previously developed land.</p><p>It is crazy to be putting stealth taxes on empty and redundant buildings being brought back into productive use, as it hinders regeneration and discourages new housing being created from conversions. I would note to the rt. hon. Member for Dulwich and West Norwood that one of the reasons why London house prices are so high is all the levies and charges placed on them. If the state puts heavy taxes on new housing, prices will rise and supply will fall; conversely, our reforms will help lower housing costs and increase housing supply.</p><p>Reflecting commitments made in the Coalition Agreement, getting empty and redundant buildings back into use is a key priority for this Government. Under the Coalition Government, the number of empty homes in England has so far fallen to a 10 year low. Our reforms will further support the conversion of empty buildings, and so deliver an economic, social and environmental benefit to society.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis grouped question UIN 223172 223173 223584 223585 question first answered 12/02/2015 17:38:32 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis previous answer version 44043 answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	159 label Biography information for Baroness Jowell

178085

registered interest
date	05/02/2015
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Housing: Construction
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will place in the Library the minutes or meetings he and Ministers in his Department held with private developers in 2014 and the names of the people attending those meetings.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Dame Tessa Jowell
uin	223581
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2015 answer text <p>Details of Ministers’ meetings with external organisations are published on-line as part of our transparency agenda. They are available at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-for-communities-and-local-government&amp;publication_type=transparency-data" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-for-communities-and-local-government&amp;publication_type=transparency-data</a><br><br><br>In line with established practice, names of all attendees and meeting minutes are not normally published.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 11/02/2015 16:37:12 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis previous answer version 44041 answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	159 label Biography information for Baroness Jowell

178087

registered interest
date	05/02/2015
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Empty Property
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 28 November 2014, HCWS50, whether any exemptions were considered in relation to the vacant building credit.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Dame Tessa Jowell
uin	223584
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2015 answer text <p>The Department for Communities and Local Government carried out a public consultation in March 2014 to invite views and local evidence on proposed changes to national policy on the issue of Section 106 tariffs being imposed on empty buildings being brought back into use. All evidence submitted was carefully considered. The new policy was outlined in my Written Ministerial Statement of 28 November 2014, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 55WS. The purpose of the credit is to provide an incentive that will help regenerate empty and redundant buildings.</p><p>I can confirm that we have also undertaken an Equality Impact Assessment, which I will arrange to be placed in the Library. We do not consider our reforms will have a negative impact on discrimination, fostering good relations or advancing equality of opportunity.</p><p>We do not believe that our reforms will have any significant adverse effect on our affordable housing programme. We have so far delivered 217,000 new affordable homes since 2010, and are bringing in £19.5 billion of public and private in affordable housing over the current Spending Review period. In the next Parliament, we are on track to deliver a further 275,000 new affordable homes, backed up by £38 billion of public and private investment.</p><p>Planning guidance is kept under review and is updated as required, and we are open to representations on any practical areas where further assistance is needed to help facilitate the implementation of new policy.</p><p>I would note:</p><p> </p><p>· The policy changes are aimed at providing a clear incentive for brownfield regeneration, whilst supporting the Government’s policies of protecting the Green Belt and increasing housing supply.</p><p> </p><p>· The relief is intended to reflect the often higher costs of conversion and refurbishment and bringing an existing building back into use. Our reforms will help increase development and regeneration, providing more homes at no cost to the taxpayer.</p><p> </p><p>· Such re-use of existing buildings has a limited impact on local infrastructure; however, any increase in floor space would still be liable for Section 106 tariffs.</p><p> </p><p>· The Government had already amended regulations for the Community Infrastructure Levy which extend an existing credit for vacant buildings being brought back into use from the levy. This applies either where buildings are brought back into the same use, or for a change of use provided they have not been “abandoned” and have been in use for at least six months in the last three years. In either case the levy is only charged on any increase in floor space. Our Section 106 reforms mirror those Community Infrastructure Levy reforms: this is a consistent, joined-up approach.</p><p>Our new policy was endorsed in the consultation by the likes of the Federation of Small Businesses, the Home Builders Federation, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the British Property Federation. They said that the proposed policy would encourage the refurbishment and regeneration of brownfield sites and bring vacant buildings back into use, especially given the higher costs of building on previously developed land.</p><p>It is crazy to be putting stealth taxes on empty and redundant buildings being brought back into productive use, as it hinders regeneration and discourages new housing being created from conversions. I would note to the rt. hon. Member for Dulwich and West Norwood that one of the reasons why London house prices are so high is all the levies and charges placed on them. If the state puts heavy taxes on new housing, prices will rise and supply will fall; conversely, our reforms will help lower housing costs and increase housing supply.</p><p>Reflecting commitments made in the Coalition Agreement, getting empty and redundant buildings back into use is a key priority for this Government. Under the Coalition Government, the number of empty homes in England has so far fallen to a 10 year low. Our reforms will further support the conversion of empty buildings, and so deliver an economic, social and environmental benefit to society.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis grouped question UIN 223172 223173 223583 223585 question first answered 12/02/2015 17:38:32 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis previous answer version 44044 answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	159 label Biography information for Baroness Jowell

178088

registered interest
date	05/02/2015
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Empty Property
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 28 November 2014, HCWS50, whether an impact assessment was carried out on the proposal to introduce a vacant building credit and the effect of that proposal on the provision of new affordable housing.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Dame Tessa Jowell
uin	223585
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2015 answer text <p>The Department for Communities and Local Government carried out a public consultation in March 2014 to invite views and local evidence on proposed changes to national policy on the issue of Section 106 tariffs being imposed on empty buildings being brought back into use. All evidence submitted was carefully considered. The new policy was outlined in my Written Ministerial Statement of 28 November 2014, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 55WS. The purpose of the credit is to provide an incentive that will help regenerate empty and redundant buildings.</p><p>I can confirm that we have also undertaken an Equality Impact Assessment, which I will arrange to be placed in the Library. We do not consider our reforms will have a negative impact on discrimination, fostering good relations or advancing equality of opportunity.</p><p>We do not believe that our reforms will have any significant adverse effect on our affordable housing programme. We have so far delivered 217,000 new affordable homes since 2010, and are bringing in £19.5 billion of public and private in affordable housing over the current Spending Review period. In the next Parliament, we are on track to deliver a further 275,000 new affordable homes, backed up by £38 billion of public and private investment.</p><p>Planning guidance is kept under review and is updated as required, and we are open to representations on any practical areas where further assistance is needed to help facilitate the implementation of new policy.</p><p>I would note:</p><p> </p><p>· The policy changes are aimed at providing a clear incentive for brownfield regeneration, whilst supporting the Government’s policies of protecting the Green Belt and increasing housing supply.</p><p> </p><p>· The relief is intended to reflect the often higher costs of conversion and refurbishment and bringing an existing building back into use. Our reforms will help increase development and regeneration, providing more homes at no cost to the taxpayer.</p><p> </p><p>· Such re-use of existing buildings has a limited impact on local infrastructure; however, any increase in floor space would still be liable for Section 106 tariffs.</p><p> </p><p>· The Government had already amended regulations for the Community Infrastructure Levy which extend an existing credit for vacant buildings being brought back into use from the levy. This applies either where buildings are brought back into the same use, or for a change of use provided they have not been “abandoned” and have been in use for at least six months in the last three years. In either case the levy is only charged on any increase in floor space. Our Section 106 reforms mirror those Community Infrastructure Levy reforms: this is a consistent, joined-up approach.</p><p>Our new policy was endorsed in the consultation by the likes of the Federation of Small Businesses, the Home Builders Federation, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the British Property Federation. They said that the proposed policy would encourage the refurbishment and regeneration of brownfield sites and bring vacant buildings back into use, especially given the higher costs of building on previously developed land.</p><p>It is crazy to be putting stealth taxes on empty and redundant buildings being brought back into productive use, as it hinders regeneration and discourages new housing being created from conversions. I would note to the rt. hon. Member for Dulwich and West Norwood that one of the reasons why London house prices are so high is all the levies and charges placed on them. If the state puts heavy taxes on new housing, prices will rise and supply will fall; conversely, our reforms will help lower housing costs and increase housing supply.</p><p>Reflecting commitments made in the Coalition Agreement, getting empty and redundant buildings back into use is a key priority for this Government. Under the Coalition Government, the number of empty homes in England has so far fallen to a 10 year low. Our reforms will further support the conversion of empty buildings, and so deliver an economic, social and environmental benefit to society.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis grouped question UIN 223172 223173 223583 223584 question first answered 12/02/2015 17:38:32 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis previous answer version 44045 answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	159 label Biography information for Baroness Jowell