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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

178303

registered interest
date	06/02/2015
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Ministry of Defence Police
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether discussions between his Department and the Cabinet Office on Ministry of Defence Police pension arrangements have concluded; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Bridgend
tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
uin	223705
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2015 answer text <p>As you may be aware, this is a complex matter which raises a number of cross-Departmental issues; discussions with both the Cabinet Office and the Treasury are ongoing.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 11/02/2015 17:03:01 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

178304

registered interest
date	06/02/2015
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Ministry of Defence Police
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he plans for discussions on future arrangements for Ministry of Defence Police pensions to be concluded by 30 March 2015; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Bridgend
tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
uin	223706
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2015 answer text <p>Discussions on the future arrangements for Ministry of Defence Police pensions are still ongoing. I recognise the importance of this issue to the Defence Police community and am seeking to resolve it as soon as possible.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 11/02/2015 17:05:54 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

178333

registered interest
date	06/02/2015
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Developing Countries: Taxation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, in which countries her Department is undertaking work to strengthen tax systems; and how much funding her Department has allocated to such activity.
tabling member constituency	Wakefield
tabling member printed	Mary Creagh
uin	223693
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2015 answer text <p>DFID is currently engaged in tax capacity building in 22 of our 28 priority countries. We are also developing tax capacity building work in a further 4 priority countries. This includes indirect support through multilateral organisations.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We have been expanding our work on tax and transparency over the Parliament. This includes the establishment of a specialist Developing Country Capacity Building Unit in HMRC, to deploy HMRC staff to provide technical expertise in support of these efforts.</p> answering member constituency Putney answering member printed Justine Greening grouped question UIN 223694 question first answered 12/02/2015 17:06:54 answering member 1555 label Biography information for Justine Greening
tabling member	1579 label Biography information for Mary Creagh

178334

registered interest
date	06/02/2015
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Developing Countries: Taxation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, in which countries her Department has supported enhanced revenue collection using capacity development.
tabling member constituency	Wakefield
tabling member printed	Mary Creagh
uin	223694
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2015 answer text <p>DFID is currently engaged in tax capacity building in 22 of our 28 priority countries. We are also developing tax capacity building work in a further 4 priority countries. This includes indirect support through multilateral organisations.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We have been expanding our work on tax and transparency over the Parliament. This includes the establishment of a specialist Developing Country Capacity Building Unit in HMRC, to deploy HMRC staff to provide technical expertise in support of these efforts.</p> answering member constituency Putney answering member printed Justine Greening grouped question UIN 223693 question first answered 12/02/2015 17:06:54 answering member 1555 label Biography information for Justine Greening
tabling member	1579 label Biography information for Mary Creagh

178335

registered interest
date	06/02/2015
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Center for Health Market Innovations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding her Department has allocated to the Center for Health Market Innovations in each financial year from 2011-12.
tabling member constituency	Wakefield
tabling member printed	Mary Creagh
uin	223695
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2015 answer text <p>The Department for International Development has allocated the following funds to the Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI) in each financial year from 2011-12:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Financial Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>£</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011/12</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012/13</p></td><td><p>0.9m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013/14</p></td><td><p>0.7m</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Putney answering member printed Justine Greening question first answered 12/02/2015 17:07:24 answering member 1555 label Biography information for Justine Greening
tabling member	1579 label Biography information for Mary Creagh

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