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387773

registered interest
date	06/07/2015
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	UK Trade and Investment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what support UK Trade & Investment is providing to the food and drink industry.
tabling member constituency	Central Suffolk and North Ipswich
tabling member printed	Dr Poulter
uin	5616
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2015 answer text <p>Food and drink companies in the UK have full access to the range of services offered by UK Trade and Investment. Our trade advisers work with companies across the UK to provide step by step advice and guidance on food and drink opportunities, working in tandem with our overseas network who identify export opportunities and support companies with specific projects.</p><p> </p><p>Support ranges from upskilling companies so they are export-ready (the Passport to Export Scheme), bespoke market intelligence (the Overseas Market Information Service), through to tailored missions and meet the buyer events, for example.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 14/07/2015 11:48:25 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
tabling member	3932 label Biography information for Dr Dan Poulter

387775

registered interest
date	06/07/2015
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	Student Loans Company
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the total number of complainants lodging complaints against the Student Loans Company was in (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014.
tabling member constituency	Charnwood
tabling member printed	Edward Argar
uin	5621
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2015 answer text <p>The total number of complaints against the Student Loans Company (SLC) in (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014 is set out in the table below. For information I have also provided the number of complaints expressed as a percentage of the total number of SLC’s customers in each corresponding year:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Number of complaints</p><p>lodged against SLC</p></td><td><p>Number of complaints as a percentage</p><p>of the total number of customers</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>a)</p></td><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>11,085</p></td><td><p>0.19%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>b)</p></td><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>14,128</p></td><td><p>0.22%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>c)</p></td><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>14,235</p></td><td><p>0.21%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Please note that SLC tracks complaints rather than complainants. However these numbers indicate the number of complainants because it is rare for customers to raise complaints on separate issues in the same year.</p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Joseph Johnson question first answered 14/07/2015 15:05:31 answering member 4039 label Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone
tabling member	4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar

387787

registered interest
date	06/07/2015
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Tobacco: Excise Duties
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to tackle people who repeatedly sell cigarettes without paying duty.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	5732
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2015 answer text <p>Since 2000, HMRC’s tobacco strategy has reduced the tax gap for cigarettes from 22% in 2000/01 to 10% in 2013/14, and the tax gap for hand-rolling tobacco from 61% to 39%. However, tobacco fraud remains a problem and HMRC works with other enforcement agencies to take action against those who participate in the fraud by smuggling and illegally manufacturing, distributing and selling non-UK duty paid product.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Sanctions against those selling tobacco without payment of duty include seizure of products, and cash, financial penalties and a maximum penalty of seven year’s imprisonment. On prosecution, HMRC can also apply for withdrawal of alcohol licenses and orders prohibiting the use of premises for the sale of tobacco for a period of up to 6 months. Additionally, as a result of coordinated activity with other enforcement agencies such as Trading Standards, the police and Immigration Enforcement officers, action can be taken on wider tobacco offences, such as under-age sales , and alcohol and vehicle licensing and immigration offences.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As reflected in the joint HMRC and Border Force refreshed strategy, ‘Tackling illicit tobacco: from leaf to light’, published on 24 March 2015, we need to get tougher on those involved in tobacco fraud through more effective use of sanctions. We have to deter participation and ensure that we come down harder on those who repeatedly offend.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>To this end, the refreshed strategy commits HMRC to working more across government at all points in the supply chain and to maximising the use and impact of all sanctions available. The published strategy also commits HMRC to undertaking an informal consultation in 2015. This will invite views from other departments and enforcement agencies, legitimate business affected by the fraud and public health organisations on how we can increase the effectiveness of existing sanctions and whether we need new sanctions.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The strategy can be accessed on GOV.UK:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tackling-illicit-tobacco-from-leaf-to-light" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tackling-illicit-tobacco-from-leaf-to-light</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 14/07/2015 13:32:16 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

387796

registered interest
date	06/07/2015
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	Broadband: Charnwood
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2015 to Question 4254, when the introduction of full superfast broadband coverage in (a) Seagrave and (b) Thrussington is planned to be completed.
tabling member constituency	Charnwood
tabling member printed	Edward Argar
uin	5622
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2015 answer text <p>The village of Thrussington is connected to cabinet 1 of the Rearsby exchange. This cabinet is planned to be upgraded as part of Phase 1 of the Superfast Leicestershire project and expected to go live by the end of March 2016. The cabinet which serves the village’s homes and businesses is located in Thrussington village itself so many premises will be able to achieve superfast speeds of 24Mbps.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The village of Seagrave is served by cabinet 5 of the Sileby exchange. The village is planned to be covered as part of Phase 2 of the Superfast Leicestershire programme. Deployment is expected between late 2016 and autumn 2018. The local project team are working closely with BT and BDUK to accelerate the delivery.</p><p> </p><p>Details of the current coverage plans and timetable for homes and businesses in Leicestershire are available from the Superfast Leicestershire project team, although the details will be subject to change during the planning and survey stages. These can be found at: <a href="http://www.superfastleicestershire.org.uk/" target="_blank">www.superfastleicestershire.org.uk</a> which includes a 'When and Where' page linked to an interactive map.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 15/07/2015 11:01:19 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar

387797

registered interest
date	06/07/2015
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	Broadband: Rural Areas
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what role he plans small and medium-sized enterprises and smaller communications providers will have in delivering superfast broadband access to remote premises in his Department's superfast broadband roll-out programme.
tabling member constituency	South Suffolk
tabling member printed	James Cartlidge
uin	5667
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2015 answer text <p>Three projects supported through the Rural Community Broadband Fund, are being delivered through small suppliers, and eight contracts have been awarded by local bodies to suppliers other than BT to cover some or all of their project area as part of Phase 2 of the Government’s programme to provide superfast broadband to 95% of homes and businesses in the UK.<strong> </strong>The Rural Community Broadband Fund allowed communities to apply for funding to support locally delivered superfast broadband projects over 3 separate bidding rounds.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 15/07/2015 11:03:14 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge

387798

registered interest
date	06/07/2015
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	BBC Scotland: Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with the BBC Trust on levels of funding for BBC Scotland.
tabling member constituency	Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
tabling member printed	Roger Mullin
uin	5675
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2015 answer text <p>No discussions have taken place with the BBC Trust on BBC Scotland funding. <br><br>The Charter Review is the time to consider all options around BBC. An announcement will be made in due course.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 14/07/2015 16:29:19 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	4468 label Biography information for Roger Mullin

387799

registered interest
date	06/07/2015
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	Football: Television
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with broadcasters about free to view broadcast of international football matches involving the home nations.
tabling member constituency	Livingston
tabling member printed	Hannah Bardell
uin	5741
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2015 answer text <p>The Government recognises the important role that sport plays in all our lives and a Free-to-Air Listed Events regime has operated in the UK for many years. Taking into account the list, it is a commercial matter for the broadcasters to choose which sporting events to bid for.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 14/07/2015 16:25:28 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	4486 label Biography information for Hannah Bardell

387802

registered interest
date	06/07/2015
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	USA: Guided Weapons
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on hosting intermediate range missiles.
tabling member constituency	Argyll and Bute
tabling member printed	Brendan O'Hara
uin	5680
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2015 answer text <p>None.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon question first answered 14/07/2015 15:20:16 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
tabling member	4371 label Biography information for Brendan O'Hara

387806

registered interest
date	06/07/2015
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Trident: Expenditure
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what amount was spent on the Trident nuclear weapons system as a proportion of UK GDP (a) across the lifetime of that system and (b) in each year of the Trident programme for which estimates for that spending have been made.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne East
tabling member printed	Mr Nicholas Brown
uin	5612
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2015 answer text <p>In line with the December 2006 White Paper, 'the Future of the UK's Nuclear Deterrent' (Cm 6994), we estimate the in-service costs of the deterrent are around 6% of the annual Defence budget.</p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon question first answered 14/07/2015 16:56:50 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
tabling member	523 label Biography information for Mr Nicholas Brown

387812

registered interest
date	06/07/2015
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Reading: Primary Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to tackle regional discrepancies in primary age reading levels.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Greg Mulholland
uin	5677
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2015 answer text <p>The government is committed to eliminating illiteracy so that all children are equipped to succeed in education and in life. The national curriculum for English introduced last year places a renewed focus on the requirement for pupils to learn to read through systematic phonics, as evidence shows this is the most effective approach to teaching early reading to all children. We believe poor reading outcomes in all parts of the country are best addressed through the implementation of the national curriculum and the other steps we have taken to improve literacy levels for all children.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>To boost the quality of phonics teaching, we have provided £23.7 million in match funding to over 14,000 primary schools, enabling them to buy systematic synthetic phonics products and training. A phonics screening check has also been introduced to help teachers identify children who may need extra support to develop their phonic knowledge. The proportion of 6-year-olds achieving the expected standards in the phonics screening check has risen from 58% to 74% between 2012 and 2014. That is equivalent to 102,000 more children reading more effectively than in 2012.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The 2014 Key Stage 2 results show that the percentage of pupils reaching or exceeding the expected standard in reading at the end of primary school increased by three percentage points from 2013, to 89%.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>For pupils who do not reach the expected level in reading by the end of primary school, we have introduced the year 7 literacy and numeracy Catch-up Premium. This funding – £500 per pupil – enables secondary schools to deliver additional support for those pupils that most need it.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 14/07/2015 14:42:03 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	1540 label Biography information for Greg Mulholland