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100150

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Teachers: Training
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she has taken to encourage (a) computer science graduates and (b) professional programmers to become teachers.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	211327
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Education is committed to recruiting high-quality graduates into teaching. The latest data published by UCAS on 25 September 2014 in its ‘UCAS Teacher Training statistical releases’[1], indicates that there will be an increase in computing trainees commencing initial teacher training (ITT) this year, although this will not be certain until the 2014/15 ITT census is published.</p><p>For computing trainees starting their training in 2015/16, we have increased bursaries to up to £25,000 tax-free. We are also funding a prestigious scholarship scheme for computing trainees worth £25,000 tax-free and offering a range of professional benefits. Additional funding has also been made available to schools offering School Direct (salaried) places in computing to boost starting salaries; computing trainees will be able to earn over £21,000 nationally and £25,000 in inner London.</p><p>There are a range of other incentives in place to attract high quality computing trainees into the teaching profession, including:</p><ol><li>The delivery of a targeted marketing campaign to encourage high-quality computing graduates and potential career changers to consider a career in teaching.</li><li>The offering of tailored support for graduates and career changers interested in teaching computing, including access to a School Experience Programme.</li><li>Funding of computing subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) programmes, which prepare applicants for teacher training by building up or refreshing their existing knowledge. 31% of computing applicants who accepted an ITT place for 2013/14 accessed a SKE course.</li></ol><p>[1] <a href="http://www.ucas.com/data-analysis/ucas-teacher-training-statistical-releases" target="_blank">www.ucas.com/data-analysis/ucas-teacher-training-statistical-releases</a></p> answering member constituency Yeovil answering member printed Mr David Laws question first answered 24/10/2014 10:10:23 answering member 1473 label Biography information for Mr David Laws
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

41989

	registered interest
	date	07/03/2014
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will estimate the net benefit to the UK economy of data.gov.uk since it publicly launched in January 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	191143
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2014 answer text <p> We know that open data is of huge value to the economy. It is difficult to cite an exact figure for the net benefit of data.gov.uk. </p><p /> <p>A recent <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/198905/bis-13-743-market-assessment-of-public-sector-information.pdf" target="_blank">Deloitte report</a>, available at LINK, cited £1.8bn of direct benefit and £6.8bn of indirect benefit to the UK economy from the use of open data, although this also includes data that is not government data. </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Mr Francis Maude question first answered 17/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 115 label Biography information for Lord Maude of Horsham
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

43527

	registered interest
	date	17/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress he has made on encouraging computer science and programming in UK schools.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	192351
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2014 answer text <p>As part of the reforms to the national curriculum, the Department for Education is strengthening the teaching of computing in schools by replacing information and communications technology with computing. The new programmes of study for computing, which will be taught in maintained schools from September 2014, have a much greater emphasis on computer science. For example, pupils at key stage 1 will be taught to create and debug simple programs and key stage 3 pupils will be taught to use two or more programming languages.</p><p>We also working with exam boards and sector experts to review the computer science GCSE and A level so that they reflect and build upon the changes made to the curriculum. The inclusion of computer science in the English Baccalaureate will provide further encouragement for pupils to take up the subject at GCSE level. We are also providing funding for several projects to help teachers acquire the necessary subject knowledge and skills to teach the new computing curriculum.</p><p>We are funding the British Computer Society to build a network of 400 ‘Master Teachers', create online teach-yourself resources and deliver 800 in-school workshops to help primary school teachers improve their subject knowledge. A further £500,000 competitive match-funded scheme was announced on 4 February to support excellent computing teaching and lever additional investment and engagement from business.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 24/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

44643

	registered interest
	date	24/03/2014
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to incentivise departmental officials to bring old Government data sets online in accessible formats.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	193287
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2014 answer text <p>The UK has been recognised as the international leader in data transparency. During our Presidency of the G8 in 2013 we led Members to commit to publishing data openly by default as a matter of principle through the Open Data Charter.<br> <br> Departments are engaging the public and special interest groups about the most important data held by Government (whether old or new); publishing open data strategies and reporting to Parliament on progress on a quarterly basis.<br> <br> Those data sets that are judged to have the most significant economic and social impact we refer to as the National Information Infrastructure, and are our priority for making available and accessible.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Mr Francis Maude question first answered 31/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 115 label Biography information for Lord Maude of Horsham
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

44784

	registered interest
	date	24/03/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the contribution of the (a) Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa route and (b) Tier 1 (Investor) visa route on economic growth.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	193286
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) advises the Government on economic issues relating to migration.<br><br>On 1 July 2013 the MAC published a &quot;Report on the economic and labour market impacts of tier 1 entrepreneur and investor migrants to the UK&quot; which it had commissioned from the Migration Observatory. The report made a number of findings, although it concluded that it was too early to make a full assessment of the economic contribution of the two routes without further research. The report is available on the gov.uk website at:<br><br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/economic-and-labour-market-impacts-tier-1-entrepreneur-and-investor-migrants" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/economic-and-labour-market-impacts-tier-1-entrepreneur-and-investor-migrants</a><br><br>More recently, on 25 February 2014 the MAC published its own report, &quot;Tier 1 (Investor) route: investment thresholds and economic benefits&quot; in response to a Government commission. The MAC concluded that the direct investment required by the route is of little or no benefit, but there is some benefit from indirect spending by investors and their families in the UK (although this is difficult to quantify). The report is available on the gov.uk website at:<br><br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-investment-limits-and-economic-benefits-of-the-tier-1-investor-route-feb-2014" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-investment-limits-and-economic-benefits-of-the-tier-1-investor-route-feb-2014</a><br><br>The Government keeps all routes under review and is currently considering its response to the MAC's report on the Tier 1 (Investor) route.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

45856

	registered interest
	date	31/03/2014
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many people applied to the 2014 Sirius Programme for young entrepreneurs; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	194417
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2014 answer text <p>The Sirius Programme, led by UK Trade and Investment, enables talented graduates with innovative start up ideas to start a business in the UK. Successful applicants receive support via a structured mentoring programme and participants requiring a visa, are able to access support through a dedicated visa route for the Sirius Programme. The current programme is a 2 year pilot - the first round was launched on 6 September 2013 and closed on 15 January 2014. A total of 1543 people applied.<br><br>A second round of the Sirius Programme will open shortly.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 07/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

45921

	registered interest
	date	31/03/2014
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	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 allocated to microfinance schemes in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	194399
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2014 answer text <p>DFID's work on microfinance is integrated into broader financial sector development programmes that work to strengthen policy and regulation, build infrastructure and innovate new products and services that meet the needs of poor people.</p><p>DFID monitors expenditure in terms of actual spend. Actual spend on the financial sector development portfolio totalled £50.9 million in 2010-11; £50.9m in 2011-2012 and £59.2m in 2012-2013. Cumulative spend between 2007 and 2012 totalled £282.0m.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornsey and Wood Green answering member printed Lynne Featherstone question first answered 07/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1531 label Biography information for Baroness Featherstone
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

46020

	registered interest
	date	31/03/2014
	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
	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 steps he has taken to support part-time entrepreneurs; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	194519
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/04/2014 answer text <p>People are setting up and growing different types of businesses all the time. We continue to work hard to provide the right support to make life easier for them all.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/" target="_blank">www.gov.uk</a> is the home for Government services and information online. One of the tools available is the 'Finance Finder;' a searchable database of publicly-backed sources of finance. The website <a href="http://www.greatbusiness.gov.uk/" target="_blank">www.greatbusiness.gov.uk</a> also provides support and advice for anyone trying to grow a business as well as for entrepreneurs starting out.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to on-line support, the Business Support Helpline is available to provide a quick response on queries about starting a business, or a personalised and in-depth advice service for more complex needs. For those looking for start up finance and advice there are Start-Up Loans: 7 loans worth a total of £37,000 have been drawn down in Windsor since the scheme began in 2012.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 08/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

47135

	registered interest
	date	07/04/2014
	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
	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 steps she has taken to increase tourism to (a) Berkshire and (b) the South East; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	195452
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>DCMS is responsible for the policy that supports the growth of domestic and international tourism, working in partnership with other Government Departments and our Arms-Length Bodies, VisitBritain and VisitEngland. Between 2011 and 2015, Government is investing more than £105m in tourism through the GREAT and other international campaigns. Investment to date is showing positive results. 2013 was a record year for inbound tourism with 32.9 million international visits being made which generated a record £21 billion into the UK in 2013.</p><p>In terms of Berkshire specifically, VisitBritain's public-facing website includes a range of tourism information relating to Windsor which is available via the following link: <a href="http://www.visitbritain.com/en/Destinations-and-Maps/History-and-heritage/Windsor.htm" target="_blank">http://www.visitbritain.com/en/Destinations-and-Maps/History-and-heritage/Windsor.htm</a>. VisitBritain's ‘Heritage is GREAT' advertising campaign also prominently featured Highclere Castle, which is the setting for Downton Abbey.</p><p>The South East region will benefit from a number of thematic campaigns currently being run by VisitEngland which can be found at <a href="http://www.visitengland.com/" target="_blank">http://www.visitengland.com/</a>. It will also benefit from VisitEngland's Holidays at Home are GREAT campaign, which has been broadcast on mainstream terrestrial channels since 1 April, while those areas in the South East region affected by the recent floods are also benefitting from both VisitEngland's ‘Spot on England' marketing campaign and business support events.</p> answering member constituency Maidstone and The Weald answering member printed Mrs Helen Grant question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4018 label Biography information for Mrs Helen Grant
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

47166

	registered interest
	date	07/04/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect the introduction of seven-day bank account switching has had on the number of people changing bank account provider; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	195454
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2014 answer text <p><strong>The Current Account Switching Service launched in September of last year, and has had a very positive impact. Early signs are positive, with switching numbers in Q4 of 2013 up by 17 per cent compared to Q4 of the previous year. </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>The Financial Conduct Authority will carry out a review in September of this year into the effectiveness of the Current Account Switching Service. This will include an assessment of the effect the introduction of seven day account switching has had on the number of people changing bank account provider. </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 29/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

47167

	registered interest
	date	07/04/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many meetings he held with the Office of Tax Simplification in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	195455
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p>Treasury Ministers regularly meet with the Office of Tax Simplification and other parts of Treasury group as part of normal departmental and Government business. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings and discussions<em>.</em></p><p> </p><p>Details of Ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:</p><p><a href="http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm" target="_blank">http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

47195

	registered interest
	date	07/04/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what guidance and support his Department provides to military veterans and their families on securing stable housing; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	195453
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p>The £200 million Forces Help to Buy scheme commenced on 1 April 2014, meaning that Servicemen and women can now borrow up to 50% of their salary, up to a maximum of £25,000, interest-free, providing a boost to those needing to find a deposit to buy their own home.</p><p> </p><p>To assist the transition of serving personnel to civilian life, the MOD offers a wide-ranging resettlement programme which includes a briefing by the Joint Services Housing Advice Office. This offers advice and information about a range of topics that armed forces personnel may find useful relating to an individual's housing needs before they leave the armed forces.</p><p> </p><p>Once a person leaves service, any need for social housing becomes a local authority matter. The MOD is working closely with the Department for Communities and Local Government to ensure the fair treatment of service families in need of social housing and ensure they are given proper priority on housing waiting lists.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises that there is more that can be done to provide practical support to our veterans and their families in this area. In February I announced LIBOR funding of £40 million to support charities which assist veterans with housing needs in order to build new homes, buy new accommodation and renovate old facilities. Projects are expected to include hostels and half-way houses for veterans who have fallen on hard times, supported housing for the wounded, injured and sick, and long-term care homes.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

47349

	registered interest
	date	07/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he has taken to improve transport connections between Windsor and London.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	195451
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The programme to increase passenger capacity on the Windsor to Waterloo railway by 25% is now under way and will be completed in early 2015. 60 additional carriages are being incorporated into an extended and refurbished fleet of trains to operate as a maximum 10 carriage train length. The first additional vehicles are now in service. From May 2014, platform 20 of the former Waterloo International station will be brought into use for scheduled services. Construction of Crossrail is now half completed and electrification of the Great Western Main Line is also under way; the Slough to Windsor &amp; Eton Central line will be electrified by 2019. The Highways Agency is welcoming preliminary comments on the M4 Smart Motorway scheme between Junction 3 (Hayes) and Junction 12 (Theale) until the end of April 2014, and will conduct a formal public consultation on the scheme in the autumn. Subject to development consent and the final business case, construction could start in spring 2016.</p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 29/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

47897

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	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
	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 steps he has taken to ensure that exporters of intangible goods can access the resources of UK Export Finance.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	196127
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2014 answer text <p>UK Export Finance can provide support for intangibles, such as software licenses, where they are provided in connection with goods or services. As far as the supply of intangibles by themselves are concerned, UK Export Finance has initiated a public consultation on proposals to widen its powers under its enabling legislation, the Export and Investment Guarantees Act 1991 (as amended). These proposals include giving UK Export Finance the ability to support exports of intangible goods such as intellectual property rights by themselves. If, having regard to the responses to that consultation, it is deemed to implement these proposals, they will form part of a Bill that will be introduced in the next session of Parliament.</p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon question first answered 01/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

48012

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she has taken to ensure developing countries can access UK satellite technology to monitor local agricultural land and environmental risks; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	196128
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p>DFID is supporting projects that use satellite data. DFID supports the World Agroforestry Centre to use data to help monitor and assess agriculture land use and environmental risks including land degradation. DFID contributes to the UK Environment Observations Framework Coordinating Climate Observations Group which coordinates Her Majesty's Government activities supporting the development and use of climate data, including from satellites.</p> answering member constituency Hornsey and Wood Green answering member printed Lynne Featherstone question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1531 label Biography information for Baroness Featherstone
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

48050

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will provide a simple route for people to donate their universal benefits back to the state; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	196078
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p>The majority of winter fuel payments are sent out automatically. However, people can simply return their winter fuel payment to the office that issues it. They can also write to the Department requesting not to receive a winter fuel payment for future years, either in advance of first getting a payment, or after they have received one or more payments.</p><p> </p><p>Anyone aged 75 or over is entitled to a free TV Licence for their main address. The free licence is not issued automatically and needs to be applied for. Once issued, licences are renewed automatically every year unless the customer does not have a National Insurance Number in which case TV Licensing will contact them to confirm their circumstances have not changed each year. An over 75 licence can be cancelled at any time and a paid-for licence requested.</p><p> </p><p>The concessionary travel benefit is optional. An eligible person can choose not to take up the entitlement. The National Travel Survey 2011 shows that in GB, 79 per cent of people eligible for an older persons' bus pass held one.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

48730

	registered interest
	date	28/04/2014
	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
	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 steps he has taken to support elderly first-time entrepreneurs.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	196834
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2014 answer text <p>People of all ages and experiences are setting up and growing businesses all the time. We continue to work hard to provide the right support to make life easier for them all.</p><p> </p><p>www.gov.uk is the home for Government services and information online. One of the tools available is the 'Business Finance and Support Finder;' a source of government backed support and finance for business. The website www.greatbusiness.gov.uk also provides support and advice for anyone trying to grow a business as well as for entrepreneurs starting out.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to on-line support, the Business Support Helpline is available to provide a quick response on queries about starting a business, or a personalised and in-depth advice service for more complex needs. For those looking for start-up finance and advice there are Start-Up Loans: 7 loans worth a total of £37,000 have been drawn down in Windsor since the scheme began in 2012.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 06/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

48776

	registered interest
	date	28/04/2014
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of the radio spectrum is earmarked for (a) military purposes, (b) radar purposes and (c) public service broadcasting.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	196840
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2014 answer text <p>Officials have consulted Ofcom who hold such information. Ofcom advise that they do not hold such information for bands below 87.5MHz, but have provided information for bands from 87.5MHz-30GHz.</p><p> </p><p>Ofcom has identified the proportion of spectrum accessed for public sector uses (not limited to the military), defined as all spectrum bands used by the public sector with Crown immunity (i.e. without need for authorisation by Ofcom). For the purpose of this analysis, this category includes all aeronautical uses of spectrum.</p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td><p>Crown use of spectrum as a % of total weighted spectrum</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>87.5 MHz</p></td><td><p>30 GHz</p></td><td><p>54%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>26% of the total weighted spectrum in the 87.5MHz to 30 GHz is allocated for radiolocation services/radar.</p><p> </p><p>Ofcom cannot provide specific information with regards to spectrum in use for public service broadcasting as the national allocation of frequencies does not distinguish between public service broadcasting and non-public service broadcasting. The table below provides information with regards to the proportion of total weighted spectrum in use for terrestrial broadcasting, split into TV and radio.</p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td><p>Terrestrial broadcasting spectrum as a % of total weighted spectrum</p></td><td><p>TV</p></td><td><p>Radio</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>87.5 MHz</p></td><td><p>30 GHz</p></td><td><p>8%</p></td><td><p>7%</p></td><td><p>1%</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 06/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

48778

	registered interest
	date	28/04/2014
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of the (a) 30-300MHz, (b) 300-3000MHz and (c) 3-30GHz bands of the radio spectrum is in the operation of the private sector.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	196838
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Officials have consulted Ofcom who hold such information. Ofcom advise that they do not hold such information for bands below 87.5MHz (as frequencies above this are considered to be the most important and usable), but have provided information for bands from 87.5MHz-30GHz.</p><p> </p><p>The table provides an overview of the proportion of total weighted spectrum accessed for market uses by band.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Lower frequency</p></td><td><p>Upper frequency</p></td><td><p>Spectrum authorised for Market uses as a % of total weighted spectrum</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>87.5 MHz</p></td><td><p>328.6 MHz</p></td><td><p>47%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>328.6 MHz</p></td><td><p>3.1 GHz</p></td><td><p>73%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>3.1 GHz</p></td><td><p>30 GHz</p></td><td><p>80%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Public Sector Spectrum Release Programme aims to release 500MHz of sub-5GHz spectrum from public sector use by 2020. The most recent Programme update can be found on the GOV.UK website: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spectrum-strategy" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spectrum-strategy</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 06/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

48811

	registered interest
	date	28/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made on the Lower Thames Scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	196841
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Further to my answer to the hon. Member for Windsor on Monday, 24 February 2014, Official Report column 83W, the Environment Agency is continuing to work with partners to develop the River Thames Scheme (Datchet to Teddington). This includes flood channel capacity improvements, property level protection measures and the construction of three new channels.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Preparatory work, which is under way, includes establishing appropriate consents and approval needed with planning authorities, undertaking surveys needed to gain consents, and the development of a funding package with other risk management authorities. The Environment Agency is planning to submit its Strategic Outline Case for this project to Defra as part of the HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office's Major Projects Authority approvals process.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency aims to start the work on improving weir capacity in 2016.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Full appraisal and outline design of the flood channel and capacity improvements will commence this summer. It is expected that this will take three to four years to enable the proposal for the new flood channels to be submitted for planning consents and authorisations. It is estimated that the construction of the flood channel will commence in 2020 and will take five to six years to complete.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 06/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

49058

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent progress has been made on implementing the recommendations of the Office of Tax Simplification.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	197027
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2014 answer text <p><strong>At Budget 2014 the government announced it will implement Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) recommendations to simplify the taxation of employee benefits and expenses, employee share schemes, and partnerships. It will also simplify National Insurance contributions (NICs) for the self-employed by collecting class 2 NICs through Self Assessment from April 2016, as recommended by the OTS. </strong></p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 06/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

50009

	registered interest
	date	06/05/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions his Department has had with the Home Office on the economic effect of the Tier 1 (Investor) visa; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	197732
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>Treasury Ministers and officials have regular discussions with the Home Office on a wide variety of topics as part of the process of policy development and delivery.</p> answering member constituency Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey answering member printed Danny Alexander question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1535 label Biography information for Danny Alexander
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

50010

	registered interest
	date	06/05/2014
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many people registered a business (a) online and (b) offline in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	197731
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2014 answer text <p>There is no register containing every business in the UK. The Companies House register provides information on a subset of businesses required to file information with the registrar of companies; for example, those businesses that incorporate as companies or limited liability partnerships or register as limited partnerships. Not all of the companies that register with Companies House are businesses or go on to becomeactively tradingbusinesses.</p><p> </p><p>Companies House statistics show that in the years in question the following numbers of companies were registered (a) online and (b) offline:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2010/11</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2011/12</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2012/13</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Online </strong></p></td><td><p>366,051</p></td><td><p>437,441</p></td><td><p>470,800</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Offline</strong></p></td><td><p>34,504</p></td><td><p>18,208</p></td><td><p>11,995</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p>400,555</p></td><td><p>455,649</p></td><td><p>482,795</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon question first answered 13/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

50011

	registered interest
	date	06/05/2014
	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
	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 representations he has received on privatising a larger share of the radio spectrum; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	197734
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2014 answer text <p>Government is aware of the need to put more spectrum into the market to support innovation and growth and launched the Public Sector Spectrum Release Programme in 2011. This programme aims to release 500MHz of sub-5GHz spectrum from public sector use by 2020. One of the early actions was to gauge stakeholder demand at a series of events. The most recent Programme update was published on 10 March 2014. On the same day Government published the UK Spectrum Strategy which sets out a vision for efficient and flexible spectrum management, with specific actions and the goal of doubling the contribution of spectrum use to the economy by 2025. Both documents can be found on the GOV.UK website: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spectrum-strategy" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spectrum-strategy</a></p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 13/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

50012

	registered interest
	date	06/05/2014
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the time taken by insurance companies to compensate those affected by the current year's floods.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	197736
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Defra has funded a number of studies to investigate the potential for the absorption of contaminants by organisms that consume plastics. These studies are published in scientific literature. Defra is also currently conducting an analysis of the costs and benefits of the carrier bag charge, including on the marine environment.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) has been monitoring seabed litter since 1992 through fisheries stock assessments and marine litter surveys.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

50013

	registered interest
	date	06/05/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has received on extending the list of investment products that individuals can use to qualify for a Tier 1 (Investor) visa.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	197735
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Home Office has had meetings with a number of immigration law firms who <br>represent Tier 1 (Investor) clients in which these issues have been raised. <br>The firms consider that removing the requirement to top up investments, and <br>extending the list of qualifying investments, would attract more investors to <br>the UK and encourage investments which would lead to greater returns.<br><br>The Government is currently considering its response to the report on the Tier <br>1 (Investor) route published by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) on 25 <br>February 2014, which made recommendations on these issues. We will announce <br>our decisions in due course.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 197733 question first answered 13/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

50014

	registered interest
	date	06/05/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has received on removing the requirement to top up investments held by individuals on Tier 1 (Investor) visas.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	197733
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Home Office has had meetings with a number of immigration law firms who <br>represent Tier 1 (Investor) clients in which these issues have been raised. <br>The firms consider that removing the requirement to top up investments, and <br>extending the list of qualifying investments, would attract more investors to <br>the UK and encourage investments which would lead to greater returns.<br><br>The Government is currently considering its response to the report on the Tier <br>1 (Investor) route published by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) on 25 <br>February 2014, which made recommendations on these issues. We will announce <br>our decisions in due course.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 197735 question first answered 13/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

61450

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Floods: South East
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of how many properties at risk of flooding in (a) Windsor constituency and (b) the Thames Valley that will not be covered by the new Flood Re scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	200307
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The assessment of the impact the scope of the Flood Re Scheme will have was done at a UK level. There was no specific assessment for individual constituencies or regions.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 17/06/2014 11:03:41 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

61451

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2014
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Census
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he for the future of the UK Census; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	200302
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2014 answer text <p>The Government recognises the value of the census but I have long said that it is outdated in its current form and could be more effectively and more cheaply delivered. Decisions about its future will be announced in the usual way, but the Government agrees with the conclusion of the Public Affairs Select Committee that the census needs to change.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Mr Francis Maude question first answered 18/06/2014 12:11:21 answering member 115 label Biography information for Lord Maude of Horsham
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

61452

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2014
	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	Space Technology
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the UK Space Agency in promoting the UK space industry; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	200304
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2014 answer text <p>The UK Space Agency (UKSA) was created in April 2011 to lead and foster the growing UK space sector. It does so through funding and delivery of civil space projects and downstream space related activities, developing space policy including advice to Ministers and regulating UK space activities to meet international obligations.</p><p>The UKSA formally tests its performance against such objectives in a number ways and includes amongst these a measure of its effectiveness in promoting the UK space industry. This is primarily through an independent bi-annual “Size and Health” survey of the UK industrial sector which assesses the growth of the UK space economy. The Agency also monitors contracts that flow back to UK industry from Agency-targeted subscriptions to the European Space Agency as well as monitoring where Agency-supported research and development work has positioned UK industry for success in future operational contracts. More recently the Agency has extended its role in actively supporting and promoting UK industrial exports of both satellite and emerging space-related data services.</p><p>All objective measures from these activities point to a growing success story for our space industry. Indeed it is one of our economy's fastest growing sectors, with an average growth rate of almost 7.5%, and it has ambitions to increase its annual turnover to £40 billion by 2030. The role of the Agency in this development is significant and it has developed close relationships with industry.</p><p>The Size and Health survey due to be published in autumn 2014 is expected to show that the Space Economy has continued to grow between 2011 and 2013.</p><p>Its coordination of a business-driven industrial space policy has provided leadership for the UK industrial community (acknowledged by the UK space Innovation and Growth Strategy published in 2013) and this has been recognised by the Parliamentary Select Committee report into the UKSA which was published in October 2013.</p><p>The Agency serves as an effective platform to raise awareness of the successes of the UK space sector. BIS and Agency officials continue to evaluate its success in promoting that work using Government Communications Service best practice.</p><p>A further key measure of success is the increasing number of overseas space companies choosing to invest in the UK and so growing the UK's wider space capability and economic development.</p> answering member constituency Havant answering member printed Mr David Willetts question first answered 18/06/2014 15:01:36 answering member 53 label Biography information for Lord Willetts
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

61453

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Access to Work Programme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many disabled entrepreneurs have been able to access additional support funding through the Access to Work programme.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	200306
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>In the financial year April 2013 – March 2014 DWP supported 4066 disabled customers who are registered as self employed through the Access to Work programme. Of which 57 customers were also from The New Enterprise Allowance programme.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 18/06/2014 15:48:40 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

61454

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2014
	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	Space Technology
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the return on public investment in the UK Space Agency; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	200305
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2014 answer text <p>The return on investment delivered by the UK Space Agency (UKSA) is subject to biennial assessment as part of the Agency survey of the size and health of the space industry. Results of the 2014 survey are due to be published in the autumn of 2014, though I hope to be in a position to announce headline figures such as turnover and employment numbers at the Farnborough Airshow in July 2014.</p><p>The European Space Agency (ESA) is the primary route for Government R&amp;D space investment. Several economic analyses of investment impact have been undertaken, drawn together in BIS Economics Paper No3 . The Agency's biennial survey of the size and health of the UK space industry has shown growth from £3.4Bn turnover in 1999/2000 to £9.5Bn in 2011, reflecting the results of sustained investment as well as the growth of the market.</p><p>UKSA investment through the European Space Agency (ESA) in the last five years is as follows:</p><p>2009/10: £242.8m</p><p>2010/11: £231.1m</p><p>2011/12: £232.0m</p><p>2012/13: £207.6m</p><p>2013/14: £267.5m</p><p>In addition, national expenditure averaging £20M a year has been invested within the UK to build and operate scientific instruments carried on ESA spacecraft. The funding to ESA has been used to contribute to missions and technology in the fields of space science and exploration, Earth observation for science and applications, telecommunications and broadband delivery, access to microgravity facilities for life and physical sciences, space weather, navigation technologies, human spaceflight and weather monitoring. As well as resulting expenditure in the UK due to the <em>juste retour</em> principle, wider benefits have accrued in economic growth; new scientific knowledge and improved delivery of public services.</p> answering member constituency Havant answering member printed Mr David Willetts question first answered 18/06/2014 15:57:10 answering member 53 label Biography information for Lord Willetts
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

61455

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Borders: Personal Records
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent progress she has made in introducing universal exit checks; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	200301
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Government is committed to reintroducing exit checks. By April 2015, comprehensive exit checks will apply on scheduled and commercial air, sea and rail routes. <br><br>We have recently introduced new powers in the Immigration Act 2014 to support embarkation checks at the border, and we continue to work with carriers and port operators to explore the least burdensome way of delivering the exit checks commitment.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Staffordshire Moorlands answering member printed Karen Bradley question first answered 19/06/2014 15:38:21 answering member 4110 label Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

61456

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2014
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Migration
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the accuracy of the International Passenger Survey for estimating migration flows; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	200303
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2014 answer text <p>The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 16/06/2014 10:09:25 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd attachment 1 file name PQ 200303.pdf title ONS Letter to Member
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

63174

	registered interest
	date	23/06/2014
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Exports
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what contribution intangible exports made to UK GDP in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	201813
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2014 answer text <p>The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 30/06/2014 16:35:38 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd attachment 1 file name PQ 201813.pdf title ONS Letter to Member
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

63176

	registered interest
	date	23/06/2014
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Government Departments: Databases
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much was saved as a result of digitising data records in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	201677
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2014 answer text <p>The Government announced Digital and IT savings of £0.3bn for 2010-11, £0.2bn for 2011-12, and £0.5 bn for 2012-13, against a 2009-10 baseline.</p><p>We don't hold full details of the discrete savings made by departments in digitising their data records.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Mr Francis Maude question first answered 30/06/2014 16:32:04 answering member 115 label Biography information for Lord Maude of Horsham
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

63203

	registered interest
	date	23/06/2014
	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	Public Libraries
	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 steps he has taken to provide more business resources in libraries.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	201676
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2014 answer text <p>The Enterprising Libraries programme, a £1.2 million partnership between Arts Council England, the British Library and the Department for Communities and Local Government, is supporting local economic growth by turning libraries into spaces for the development of business ideas, providing coaching, advice, meeting spaces and IT support for local businesses and entrepreneurs. Currently sixteen public libraries in England are actively engaged in the programme and receiving financial support.</p><p>Other specific initiatives being delivered through public libraries includes the Access to Research service. This two year pilot commenced in January 2014 and provides a free service enabling local libraries to provide users with access to a wealth of research, including business information. In addition, library authorities are developing business resources to meet local needs. Staffordshire for example has introduced Start2, a service that is available in all public libraries across the county and has trained staff offering information and signposting on all aspects of looking for and finding work, including providing a starting point for entrepreneurs who want to start their own business and small enterprises looking to expand by signposting them to relevant sources of information or specialist organisations.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 30/06/2014 16:17:31 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

63204

	registered interest
	date	23/06/2014
	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: South East
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress he has made on improving the availability of superfast broadband in (a) the Thames Valley and (b) Windsor constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	201678
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2014 answer text <p>I can confirm that the Berkshire broadband project was allocated £2.03m, which was matched by the Berkshire councils, the project signed its supplier contract on 04 October 2013 and is proposing to make available superfast broadband to over 17,000 premises that would not otherwise have got it.</p><p> </p><p>Ofcom monitors and reports on broadband and the table is of Next Generation Access availability across Berkshire between 2012 and 2013:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Local Authorities</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2012</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>BRACKNELL FOREST</p></td><td><p>76.8%</p></td><td><p>96.2%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>READING</p></td><td><p>92.9%</p></td><td><p>95.0%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>SLOUGH</p></td><td><p>91.7%</p></td><td><p>96.6%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>WEST BERKSHIRE</p></td><td><p>59.5%</p></td><td><p>65.1%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>WINDSOR AND MAIDENHEAD</p></td><td><p>83.1%</p></td><td><p>89.7%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>WOKINGHAM</p></td><td><p>87.3%</p></td><td><p>92.5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Berkshire</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>81.7%</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>88.5%</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 30/06/2014 16:16:52 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

63227

	registered interest
	date	23/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Pupil Numbers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schoolchildren graduated from (a) a comprehensive, (b) a grammar, (c) a secondary and (d) an independent school in the last academic year.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	201675
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/06/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Education publishes pupil results at the end of key stage 4, which signals the end of compulsory education. Information on the key stage 4 results of pupils by admission basis and school type is published in the “GCSE and equivalent results in England, 2012 to 2013 (revised)”[1] Statistical First Release. The relevant tables have been placed in the House Library.</p><p> </p><p>[1]<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-2012-to-2013-revised" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-2012-to-2013-revised</a> (National tables: SFR01/2014 document, Table 3a and b)</p> answering member constituency Yeovil answering member printed Mr David Laws question first answered 26/06/2014 16:03:44 answering member 1473 label Biography information for Mr David Laws
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

64638

	registered interest
	date	30/06/2014
	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	Business: Registration
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of online business registration on registration rates; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	202986
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p>There is no register covering all businesses in the UK. The Registrar of Companies registers a subset of businesses and provides online registration for those businesses that register as companies or limited liability partnerships. HMRC registers sole traders for tax purposes.</p><p>Online incorporation via software filing agents was introduced in July 2001, followed in April 2010 by the launch of the Citizen Incorporation service via Companies House Webfiling. The number of companies on the register has almost doubled, from 1.66 million at the end of March 2001 to 3.25 million at March 2014. In the financial year 2013/14, 98% of all new companies were incorporated electronically.</p><p>Companies House has carried out several studies to identify the main factors contributing to the increasing trend for company incorporations. This is attributed to a number of combined factors, such as the benefits of limited liability, changes to tax legislation and developments in the wider UK economy. There is no indication that the electronic enablement of company registration in itself has acted as a direct driver for the increase in new company registration rates, as just one of the methods the Government has used to help reduce the burden on business and the costs of running a company. This in turn has helped to make the UK one of the best places to set up and run a company.</p><p>Electronic services have also enabled Companies House to absorb the significant additional workload resulting from the growing register, make organisational efficiency savings and pass these efficiencies on to customers in the form of lower fees. For incorporation, the UK charges some of the lowest fees in the World.</p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon question first answered 07/07/2014 16:05:48 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

64658

	registered interest
	date	30/06/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	hansard heading	Income Tax
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in (a) the UK, (b) the Thames Valley and (c) Windsor constituency no longer pay income tax due to changes in the level of personal allowance introduced since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	202981
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p>By April this year this Government's increases in the personal allowance (for those born after 5 April 1948) are estimated to have taken over 3 million individuals out of the income tax system altogether. 384,000 of these individuals live in the South East region, which includes the Thames Valley and the Parliamentary Constituency of Windsor.</p><p> </p><p>These estimates are based on the 2011-12 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected to 2014-15 using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's March 2014 economic and fiscal outlook.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>HM Treasury does not publish this information at constituency level.</p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 07/07/2014 15:09:45 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

64810

	registered interest
	date	30/06/2014
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Development Aid: Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many children received schooling as a direct result of UK aid in (a) sub-Saharan Africa and (b) South Asia in the latest period for which figures are available.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	202969
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Up until September 2013, UK Aid has supported over 6.4 million children in primary and lower secondary school, of which 3.1 million were girls, through our bilateral programmes. Of these, 4.2 million were in Sub-Saharan Africa and 2.1 million children were in South Asia. These figures are the latest available, and are reported in the DFID Annual Report and Accounts 2012/13.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornsey and Wood Green answering member printed Lynne Featherstone question first answered 07/07/2014 16:36:52 answering member 1531 label Biography information for Baroness Featherstone
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

65966

	registered interest
	date	07/07/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Business: Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps he has taken to encourage businesses to engage with schools so that students develop a more practical understanding of business.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	204193
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Education wants to give employers a much greater role in inspiring and motivating young people about the world of work. We published statutory guidance in April to improve links between schools and employers so that pupils can receive careers advice from people with experience of business. More employers are getting involved by interacting with young people in the classroom and giving them an insight into the workplace. This can also include coaching, mentoring, work tasters and work experience. From October we are reshaping the role of the National Careers Service (NCS) to expand its offer to schools and colleges. It will be easier for employers and educators to participate in the NCS.</p><p> </p><p>We are taking steps to connect the education system to the world of work to ensure that young people have the skills, experience and qualifications that employers want. Last month we announced the introduction of Technical Awards for students aged between 14 and 16. These qualifications, which are equivalent to GCSEs, are developed in partnership with employers and will give students the opportunity to develop practical skills.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has introduced Tech Levels for students aged between 16 and 19 who want to learn technical skills as an alternative to, or alongside, A levels. The 227 Tech Levels taught from September 2014 are all endorsed by employers, trades or professional bodies and cover most practical careers. From September 2016, all Tech Level courses will also involve employers in the delivery or assessment of the qualification.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Yeovil answering member printed Mr David Laws question first answered 14/07/2014 15:25:54 answering member 1473 label Biography information for Mr David Laws
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

65985

	registered interest
	date	07/07/2014
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Business: Regulation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of savings to businesses in (a) the UK, (b) the Thames Valley and (c) Windsor constituency as a result of the Red Tape Challenge.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	204115
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2014 answer text <p>ThePrime Minister announced in January 2014 that that this would be the first government in modern history to reduce overall domestic regulation for business while in office. As part of this, he announced that the Red Tape Challenge programme had identified over 3,000 regulations to scrap or improve, delivering estimated savings to UK businesses of over £850m per year by the end of the Parliament. Analysis of the impact of the deregulatory reforms on a geographical basis has not been developed.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 14/07/2014 16:08:26 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

66199

	registered interest
	date	07/07/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Road Traffic
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he has taken to reduce congestion (a) in Windsor constituency and (b) around Heathrow Airport.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	204116
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2014 answer text <p>Transport investment is central to the Government's long term economic plan. On 7<sup>th</sup> July we announced £3 billion of funding for new local transport schemes within the Local Growth Fund. This included £96.9 million for the Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (which includes Windsor). Of this, £94.6 million will support transport schemes that have been bid for by the LEP and will make a real difference to transport accessibility in the whole of the Thames Valley. These include provisional funding from 2016/17 onwards of £4.75 million for a sustainable transport package across the Thames Valley LEP area.</p><p> </p><p>Local transport in the Windsor and Maidenhead area has, since 2010, also benefited from investment that will reduce congestion in the area. This includes just over £2 million of Local Pinch Point Funding, £16.1million investment in improving the state of the roads and on small scale transport schemes and around £2 million from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund to ease congestion by promoting travel behaviour change through a package of sustainable travel measures aimed at residents, schools and businesses.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to investment in the local network the Government continues to progress the M4 smart motorway. A further formal public consultation on the scheme will be held in the autumn and subject to development consent and the final business case, construction could start in late Summer 2016. As well as this the Highways Agency is taking forward a £2.5 million scheme to improve the links between the M4 and A329(M), to provide increased capacity at the junction and improve traffic flows. The scheme will be delivered by the end of March 2015.</p><p>The Government is also investing around £500 million in Western Rail Access to Heathrow subject to a satisfactory business case and agreement of acceptable terms with the Heathrow aviation industry. This will facilitate direct rail services between destinations in the Thames Valley and Heathrow airport.</p><p> </p><p /> <p /><p /> <p /><p /> <p /><p /> <p /> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 14/07/2014 15:19:51 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

77517

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2014
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Non-governmental Organisations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations were abolished in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	205499
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2014 answer text <p>In 2010 the Coalition pledged to reduce the number and cost of public bodies. Our Public Bodies Reform Programme is the largest restructuring of public bodies in a generation. It will make the landscape smaller, more accountable, and will offer better value for money to the public.</p><p>By April 2011 the reforms brought about by the programme had reduced the number of public bodies by 46. During 2011-2012 the numbers reduced by a further 56. To date over 185 public bodies have been abolished and more than 165 have been merged into fewer than 70.</p><p>The total number of public bodies has reduced by over 285.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Mr Francis Maude question first answered 21/07/2014 13:52:09 answering member 115 label Biography information for Lord Maude of Horsham
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

77525

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	hansard heading	Business: Capital Allowances
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many businesses received the annual investment allowance in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	205500
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2014 answer text <p>Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) has been used to encourage investment in plant and machinery by all businesses. The number of unincorporated businesses and companies that received AIA is presented in the table below, and has been rounded to the nearest 1,000. The latest year for which figures are available is 2011-12.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td><p>2010-11</p></td><td><p>2011-12</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Number Of AIA Claims</p></td><td><p>1,203,000</p></td><td><p>1,222,000</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 01/09/2014 16:31:01 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

77592

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2014
	answering body	Department for Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept id	63
	answering dept short name	Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept sort name	Energy and Climate Change
	hansard heading	Energy: Prices
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent steps he has taken to make switching energy supplier quicker.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	205501
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2014 answer text <p>Since our challenge to industry in the Annual Energy Statement to cut switching times, the Department has worked with Ofgem and the industry to bring forward changes to industry rules to enable and secured industry commitment to a halving switching time from 5 weeks to 2 weeks and 3 days by the end of this year.</p><p> </p><p>My ambition is to see switching times reduced to 24 hours and Ofgem has now brought forward a consultation on how this can be achieved. The Department will continue to work with Ofgem and industry to deliver this in a reliable and cost effective way as quickly as possible.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 21/07/2014 15:11:34 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

79007

	registered interest
	date	21/07/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	hansard heading	Foreign Investment in UK
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the amount of foreign direct investment generated since 2010 as a direct result of the lower rate of corporation tax.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	206722
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2014 answer text <p>Since 2010, the Government has cut the main rate of corporation tax from 28% to 21%. It will fall further next year, to 20%, giving the UK the joint lowest rate of corporation tax in the G20. The Small Profits Rate has also been cut to 20%.</p><p> </p><p>These cuts are a central part of the Government’s long-term economic plan. They are intended to make the UK more competitive, supporting business investment and job creation.</p><p> </p><p>Government modeling suggests that the corporation tax cuts introduced in this parliament will:</p><p>· increase business investment by between 2.5% and 4.5% (£3.6bn to £6bn in today’s prices) in the long term</p><p>· increase GDP by between 0.6% and 0.8% (£9.6bn to £12.2bn in today’s prices) in the long term</p><p> </p><p>Foreign direct investment decisions are influenced by a range of factors including skills, market access, and infrastructure. Consequently, it is difficult to isolate the exact impact of the corporation tax cuts from reform in other areas. But recently published data on inward investment has been very encouraging.</p><p> </p><p>In their 2013/2014 Inward Investment Report, UKTI said ONS data showed the value of FDI stock increased from £725.6bn in 2010, to £936.5bn in 2012.</p><p> </p><p>UKTI also reported that the UK attracted more inward investment projects last year than in any year since records began in the 1980s. UKTI recorded 1773 projects, creating 66,390 new jobs.</p><p> </p><p>This is supported by analysis from Ernst and Young, who use their own independent database to assess inward investment. Ernst and Young’s Annual Attractiveness Survey, published in June, showed the number of inward investment projects in the UK had risen by 15% in the past year, against the background of a European market that grew by just 4%.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As noted above, it is difficult to isolate the impact of tax policy on these trends, and UKTI does not have estimates of how much of the new investment has been a direct result of the lower rate of corporation tax. But it is clear that the corporation tax reforms have changed perceptions of the UK competitiveness. For the past two years, the UK has ranked highest in the KPMG survey on international tax competitiveness, ahead of countries including the US, the Netherlands and Switzerland.</p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 01/09/2014 16:21:34 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

79036

	registered interest
	date	21/07/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Schools: Admissions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children secured a place at their top-choice school in (a) the UK, (b) Berkshire and (c) Windsor constituency in the latest period for which data is available.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	206723
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2014 answer text <p>Data on the proportion of children that were made an offer of their first choice school for England was published on 24 June 2014 as part of the Statistical First Release ‘Secondary and primary school applications and offers: 2014’. This is published online at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-applications" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-applications</a></p><p>The latest data is for entry into school in September 2014. Data for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are produced by the devolved administrations.</p><p>The figures for England and the local authorities of West Berkshire and Windsor &amp; Maidenhead are given below. Data is provided by, and broken down as far as, local authority level. Therefore results by parliamentary constituency are not available.</p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><p>Proportion of applicants who received their first choice<br>primary or secondary school place, September 2014 entry</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"> </td><td><p>Primary</p></td><td><p>Secondary</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">England</td><td><p>87.7</p></td><td><p>85.2</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p>West Berkshire</p></td><td><p>86.3</p></td><td><p>89.3</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Windsor &amp; Maidenhead</td><td><p>85.1</p></td><td><p>80.5</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="4"><p><em>Based on offers made on respective national offer days</em></p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Yeovil answering member printed Mr David Laws question first answered 01/09/2014 11:53:44 answering member 1473 label Biography information for Mr David Laws
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie