Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

49470

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2014
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent steps he has taken to raise awareness of the conditions that can lead to young sudden cardiac death and sudden death syndrome.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	197438
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>The UK National Screening Committee advises Ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy and supports implementation. It is currently reviewing the evidence for screening young people between the ages of 12 to 39 years for the major causes of sudden cardiac death. A public consultation will open shortly.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>NHS England is working with the Chief Coroner to discuss what the coronial system can do to help reduce sudden cardiac death in the young. As a result, the Chief Coroner has written to local Coroners asking them to make families of those who have died of the condition aware that it may be inherited, and encouraging them to contact either the British Heart Foundation, Cardiac Risk in the Young, or their general practitioner for testing and counselling.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

44365

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2014
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment he has made of the health effects of infrasound from wind turbine generators.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	192989
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2014 answer text <p>A number of independent peer reviewed research studies have concluded that there is no evidence of health effects arising from infrasound or low frequency noise, generated by windfarms that are built according to Government guidelines.</p><p> </p><p>For example, a comprehensive study undertaken in the UK in 1997 by ETSU for the Department of Trade and Industry (ETSU W/13/00392/REP) found no evidence that ground transmitted low frequency noise from wind turbines is at a sufficient level to be harmful to human health. These findings were confirmed by a study published in 2005 by the Applied and Environmental Geophysics Group of the School of Physical and Geographical Sciences at Keele University titled Microseismic and Infrasound Monitoring of Low Frequency Noise and Vibrations from Wind Farms1. In 2003 the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs published a report entitled 'A Review of Published Research on Low Frequency Noise and its Effects'2 and in 2004, BERR commissioned Hayes McKenzie to conduct an independent study to investigate the levels and effects of Low Frequency Noise from wind farms3.</p><p> </p><p><em>1</em><em> <a href="http://www.keele.ac.uk/geophysics/appliedseismology/wind/Final_Report.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.keele.ac.uk/geophysics/appliedseismology/wind/Final_Report.pdf</a></em></p><p><em>2</em><em> <a href="http://archive.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/noise/research/lowfrequency/documents/lowfreqnoise.pdf" target="_blank">http://archive.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/noise/research/lowfrequency/documents/lowfreqnoise.pdf</a></em></p><p><em>3 </em><em><a href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/explained/wind/onshore-offshore/page31267.html" target="_blank">http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/explained/wind/onshore-offshore/page31267.html</a></em></p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bexhill and Battle answering member printed Gregory Barker question first answered 25/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1389 label Biography information for Lord Barker of Battle
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

46248

	registered interest
	date	01/04/2014
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2014, Official Report, columns 340-1W, on warm home discount scheme, on what date his Department will publish its consultation on changes to the warm home discount for 2015-16 onwards.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	194785
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2014 answer text <p>We plan to publish the consultation on changes to the Warm Home Discount for 2015-16 later this spring. We have not set a date for publication.</p> answering member constituency Bexhill and Battle answering member printed Gregory Barker question first answered 03/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1389 label Biography information for Lord Barker of Battle
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

45805

	registered interest
	date	28/03/2014
	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 estimate he has made of the amount of British-grown wheat used in bio-fuel production.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	194276
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>There is no specific published data on the amount of wheat grown in the UK that is used for bioethanol. However it is possible to provide an estimate. Defra's statistics on ‘The Area of Crops Grown For Bioenergy in England and the UK: 2008 – 2012' published in December 2013 include data reported under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) on the volume of bioethanol supplied to the UK road transport market with information on the feedstock and the country of origin of the feedstock. By applying appropriate conversion factors, it is possible to derive an estimate of the equivalent tonnage and crop area of wheat grown and used to produce bioethanol. These figures are outlined in the table below.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/289168/nonfood-statsnotice2012-12mar14.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/289168/nonfood-statsnotice2012-12mar14.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>UK wheat areas used to produce bioethanol supplied to the UK road transport market 2008/9 - 2012/13 </strong><strong>Wheat (RTFO Year: 15 April n-1 to 14 April n) </strong></p></td><td><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Volume of bioethanol (million litres)</strong><strong>(b) </strong></p></td><td><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Tonnage of crop implied ('000 tonnes)</strong><strong>(c) </strong></p></td><td><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>wheat yield (t/ha)</strong><strong>(d)(e) </strong></p></td><td><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Area implied (thousand ha) and % of UK total wheat area</strong><strong>(e) </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Year 1: 15 April 2008 - 14 April 2009</p></td><td><p>0.0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>8.3</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Year 2: 15 April 2009 - 14 April 2010</p></td><td><p>0.9</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>7.9</p></td><td><p>0.3 (0%)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Year 3: 15 April 2010 - 14 April 2011(a)</p></td><td><p>211.9</p></td><td><p>581</p></td><td><p>7.7</p></td><td><p>75.4 (4%)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Year 4: 15 April 2011 - 14 April 2012</p></td><td><p>17.9</p></td><td><p>49</p></td><td><p>7.7</p></td><td><p>6.3 (0%)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Year 5: 15 April 2012 - 14 April 2013 (provisional)(f)</p></td><td><p>48.2</p></td><td><p>132</p></td><td><p>6.7</p></td><td><p>19.6 (1%)</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>(a) This includes an estimated 92 million tonnes of bioethanol produced from wheat used for markets other than for UK Road Transport.</p><p> </p><p>(b) All wheat volumes above were grown on previously cropped land.</p><p> </p><p>(c) Conversion: 365 litres bioethanol = 1 tonne wheat grain (at 15% moisture). Source: Department for Transport commissioned research.</p><p> </p><p>(d) Source: Defra annual Cereal and Oilseed Rape Production Survey (In 2012 the Cereal Production Survey and Oilseed Rape Production Survey were brought together to reduce costs Cereal Production Survey) UK yield at year n-1. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/structure-of-the-agricultural-industry" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/structure-of-the-agricultural-industry</a></p><p> </p><p>(e) Source: Defra June Survey of Agriculture. UK area at year n-1. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/structure-of-the-agricultural-industry" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/structure-of-the-agricultural-industry</a></p><p> </p><p>(e) Figures for 2012-13 (Year 5) are as of 15 September 2013 and are not final.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The RTFO data exclude UK biofuel production from UK grown wheat which may be subsequently exported, although the 2010/11 figure also includes an estimate of bioethanol produced from wheat and used for other markets or exported. Similarly, data is not available on wheat grown in the UK which is exported for possible biofuel production outside the UK.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 07/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

45806

	registered interest
	date	28/03/2014
	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 steps he is taking to ensure that (a) the welfare of horses is considered a priority in live exports and (b) laws relating to the welfare of horses are being enforced.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	194277
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) carries out non-discriminatory, risk-based inspections of animals, means of transport and accompanying documentation, as required by Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005. This Regulation is implemented in England by The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 (WATEO).</p><p>Local authorities are responsible for enforcement of this legislation, in terms of investigating and, where appropriate, taking prosecution action against any transporters alleged to have committed an offence.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 02/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

48210

	registered interest
	date	10/04/2014
	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, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2014, from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Official Report, column 1005, what assessment he has made of how the farming and forestry improvement scheme might help those affected by flooding.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	196340
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme was reviewed at the end of February and revised to offer support to rural businesses affected by flooding.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The scheme now funds additional items, such as pumps, that will help businesses to become more resilient to future flooding. It also offers an increase in grant rates.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Applications from those affected by flooding are being prioritised and the deadline for applications has been extended.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 22/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

35983

	registered interest
	date	30/01/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support local planning authorities in (a) improving the viability of brownfield sites and (b) restarting stalled developments.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	185957
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p><em>Kick-starting stalled developments</em></p><p>This Government has introduced a series of measures to support stalled house building. These include:</p><p>· The Get Britain Building investment fund, providing over £500 million of finance which has so far helped start 11,893 new homes on stalled sites (as of February 2014).</p><p>· The Growing Places Fund is providing £770 million to deliver the infrastructure needed to unlock stalled schemes that will promote economic growth, create jobs and build homes. The fund has been fully allocated to Local Enterprise Partnerships and the devolved administrations to fund local projects.</p><p>· The £474 million Local Infrastructure Fund investment fund is supporting the delivery of upfront infrastructure for locally-supported, large scale housing sites and commercial development; it also provides capacity funding and brokerage support to local authorities to help them progress major schemes through the planning process. Nearly 80,000 homes have been unlocked on fifteen different sites. A further thirteen schemes are currently being assessed for investment, which we believe have the potential to deliver nearly 40,000 homes.</p><p>· The Autumn Statement committed an additional £1 billion of Local Infrastructure Fund funding to unlock locally-led housing schemes capable of delivering up to a further 250,000 new homes, and a second round prospectus will be published in due course.</p><p>· The Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013 enables developers with any Section 106 agreement to apply for a review of the affordable housing component to ensure development is not being made unviable by unrealistic requirements. Such unviable Section 106 agreements result in no development, no regeneration and no community benefits: a sensible review can result in more housing and more affordable housing.</p><p>· As the housing market has improved, we have ended the temporary measure (introduced by the last Administration) which allowed developers to roll forward their planning permissions; this ending of the measure will increase the incentive for developers to start on site before permission expires.</p><p>· We are also seeking to tackle the inappropriate use of planning conditions and speed up the process of gaining non-planning consents.</p><p>· The Budget announced a £525 million Builders' Finance Fund to assist small and medium sized developers to access finance to support the delivery of housing schemes of between 15 and 250 units, helping kick-start stalled sites and deliver around 15,000 units over four years.</p><p><em>Supporting development on brownfield land</em></p><p>Freeing up brownfield land for regeneration and development is a key priority for my department. Our actions include:</p><p>· We have amended planning regulations to make it easier to change the use of an existing building from commercial to residential use, retail to residential use and agricultural to residential use. Permitted development rights have been expanded, including for flats above shops and allowing for new temporary uses. The Budget announced our intention to further extend these flexibilities.</p><p>· The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that planning should encourage the effective use of land by re-using brownfield land provided that it is not of high environmental value, and that local councils can set locally appropriate targets for using brownfield land. We have also amended planning practice guidance to stress the importance of bringing brownfield land into use.</p><p>· We have abolished the last Government's Pathfinder programme which sought to demolish homes and instead we have focused on refurbishment and getting empty homes into use. We are investing £160 million specifically to bring empty homes back into use. The New Homes Bonus rewards long-term empty homes being brought back into use and we have given councils the flexibility to remove tax subsidies given to empty homes, and use the money to keep the overall rate of council tax down. The number of empty homes in England has fallen to its lowest rate ever according to the Empty Homes Agency.</p><p>· My Department has been supporting the Olympic legacy, driving renewal and regeneration in east London, replacing over 740 acres of polluted, low-grade industrial land and premises with new sports and community facilities, parks, homes, shops and transport infrastructure.</p><p>· We are working with the Mayor of London to unlock the construction of 11,000 new homes at Barking Riverside, and extend transport infrastructure.</p><p>· A new garden city will be delivered on brownfield land in Ebbsfleet, supported by an Urban Development Corporation and up to £200 million of public investment. The last Administration pledged in its 2003 Sustainable Communities Plan to regenerate Ebbsfleet but failed to deliver.</p><p>· The new Right to Contest builds on our existing Community Right to Reclaim Land, which lets communities ask that under-used or unused land owned by public bodies is brought back into beneficial use. This new Right applies to sites currently in use, but are not vital for operations. It gives businesses and members of the public an opportunity to challenge government on the best use of its estate.</p><p>· We have a comprehensive programme to sell surplus public sector land and property, freeing up taxpayers' money and providing land for new homes. As at the end of December we had released surplus government owned land with capacity for 68,000 homes to be built. We have strengthened the role of the Homes and Communities Agency through a targeted programme of transfers from other Government Departments and agencies. In addition, to ensure land is released efficiently, the Homes and Communities Agency will be Government's land disposal agency. This builds on the Homes and Communities Agency's expertise and experience of complex land remediation and disposals as well as their close relationships with local planning authorities.</p><p>· Through the Strategic Land and Property Review we have identified scope to generate £5 billion of receipts from government land and property between 2015 and 2020. This will put land and property into the hands of those who can exploit them for commercial purposes – creating opportunities for housing and economic development.</p><p>· Changes to Community Infrastructure Levy rules now provide an increased incentive for brownfield development, and extended exemptions for empty buildings being brought back into. We have recently published a consultation paper to lift Section 106 burdens on vacant buildings being returned to use.</p><p>· The Budget announced an Estate Regeneration fund which will provide £150 million to help kick start and accelerate the regeneration of housing estates.</p><p>I hope this outlines the decisive action that this Government is taking.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 03/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

45206

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the prevalence of wind turbine developers using the Community Right to Build scheme to circumvent the local planning process.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	193840
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Community Right to Build allows local communities to undertake small-scale, site-specific, community-led developments. It may only be used by community organisations in which local people in the relevant neighbourhood area have a majority of the voting rights and have the majority on the board of directors or governing body of the organisation, and, include different people from at least 10 different addresses within the area. This means the Community Right to Build cannot be used by property developers, including wind turbine developers, to gain planning permission for their development proposal - unless that development is something that the community wishes to see and which the community initiates.</p><p>Proposals that require an Environmental Impact Assessment or are likely to have significant effects on a site protected under the Habitats Regulations are not eligible to use the Community Right to Build. Where proposals are eligible they will be tested by an independent examiner to see that they are appropriate in the light of national planning policy and generally conform with the strategic policies of the Local Plan for the area and any neighbourhood plans that are in force.</p><p>The National Planning Policy Framework is very clear that local councils should design their policies to ensure the adverse impacts of renewable energy developments are addressed satisfactorily. To help implement the environmental balance expected by the Framework, we issued new planning practice guidance for renewable and low carbon energy last July. The guidance makes clear that the need for renewable energy does not automatically override environmental protections and the planning concerns of local communities.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 07/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

48685

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2014
	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, how many parking tickets were issued against owners of vehicles parked illegally on pavements in each of the last five years; and how many such people were prosecuted in each such year.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Hugh Bayley
	uin	196488
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>In London, there is in general a ban on parking on the footway. Outside London, local authorities have wide-ranging powers to make Traffic Regulation Orders to prohibit pavement parking on designated lengths of highway or over a wide area. The former Transport Minister, the Hon Member for Lewes, Norman Baker, wrote to local authorities in February 2011 urging them to take up these powers. Local authorities with Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) powers are responsible for parking enforcement, including that relating to the footway.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Department has developed and authorised new traffic signs for local authorities to use where pavement parking is prohibited.</p><p> </p><p>With regard to the number of parking tickets issued, individual local authorities are required to keep records of all penalty charge notices issued. The Department for Transport does not record this information centrally.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill grouped question UIN 196489 question first answered 01/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	385 label Biography information for Sir Hugh Bayley

48686

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2014
	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 assessment he has made of the Streets Ahead campaign by the charity Guide Dogs; what steps he is taking to reduce parking on pavements; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Hugh Bayley
	uin	196489
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>In London, there is in general a ban on parking on the footway. Outside London, local authorities have wide-ranging powers to make Traffic Regulation Orders to prohibit pavement parking on designated lengths of highway or over a wide area. The former Transport Minister, the Hon Member for Lewes, Norman Baker, wrote to local authorities in February 2011 urging them to take up these powers. Local authorities with Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) powers are responsible for parking enforcement, including that relating to the footway.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Department has developed and authorised new traffic signs for local authorities to use where pavement parking is prohibited.</p><p> </p><p>With regard to the number of parking tickets issued, individual local authorities are required to keep records of all penalty charge notices issued. The Department for Transport does not record this information centrally.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill grouped question UIN 196488 question first answered 01/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	385 label Biography information for Sir Hugh Bayley

45599

	registered interest
	date	27/03/2014
	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 effect of recent changes to the funding of Greater Manchester Police on crime rates in that region.
	tabling member constituency	Wythenshawe and Sale East
	tabling member printed	Mike Kane
	uin	194132
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The funding settlement for the police is a challenging one. However, as the <br>vast majority of forces, including Greater Manchester Police are <br>demonstrating, it is manageable. The latest report from Her Majesty's <br>Inspectorate of Constabulary (Policing in Austerity: Rising to the Challenge <br>July 2013) found that crime is falling and the proportion of officers on the <br>front line is increasing. The Government has protected the police from the <br>additional 2014/15 reductions that were announced in the Chancellor's December <br>Autumn Statement, which means the police will face a 3.3% cash reduction in <br>central Government funding (5.75% in real terms) compared to 2013/14. Once <br>future police precept income is taken into account, the reduction in overall <br>funding is even lower.<br><br>In the Greater Manchester Police force areas, recorded crime fell by 7% between <br>September 2012 and September 2013.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Ashford answering member printed Damian Green question first answered 01/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 76 label Biography information for Damian Green
	tabling member	4316 label Biography information for Mike Kane

49930

	registered interest
	date	06/05/2014
	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 the average value is of the title deed of a local authority school that becomes an academy.
	tabling member constituency	Wythenshawe and Sale East
	tabling member printed	Mike Kane
	uin	197852
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>When community schools convert to academies, the freehold is retained by the local authority and a lease is granted to the academy trust.</p><p>There are strict rules protecting publicly-funded land used by academies, regardless of who holds the freehold. This is set out in published guidance, which is available at:</p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protection-of-school-playing-fields-and-public-land-advice" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/protection-of-school-playing-fields-and-public-land-advice</a></p><p>A copy of the guidance has been placed in the House Library.</p><p>The Department for Education does not hold information about the average value of land used for academies, or about the legal costs associated with establishing leasehold or freehold arrangements.</p><p>Academies are run by academy trusts, which are charities limited by guarantee – academies are not operated by private companies.</p> answering member constituency Crewe and Nantwich answering member printed Mr Edward Timpson grouped question UIN 197851 197853 question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1605 label Biography information for Edward Timpson
	tabling member	4316 label Biography information for Mike Kane

49932

	registered interest
	date	06/05/2014
	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, how much his Department has paid in legal fees since 2010 on the transfer of title deeds of a local authority schools becoming academies.
	tabling member constituency	Wythenshawe and Sale East
	tabling member printed	Mike Kane
	uin	197853
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>When community schools convert to academies, the freehold is retained by the local authority and a lease is granted to the academy trust.</p><p>There are strict rules protecting publicly-funded land used by academies, regardless of who holds the freehold. This is set out in published guidance, which is available at:</p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protection-of-school-playing-fields-and-public-land-advice" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/protection-of-school-playing-fields-and-public-land-advice</a></p><p>A copy of the guidance has been placed in the House Library.</p><p>The Department for Education does not hold information about the average value of land used for academies, or about the legal costs associated with establishing leasehold or freehold arrangements.</p><p>Academies are run by academy trusts, which are charities limited by guarantee – academies are not operated by private companies.</p> answering member constituency Crewe and Nantwich answering member printed Mr Edward Timpson grouped question UIN 197851 197852 question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1605 label Biography information for Edward Timpson
	tabling member	4316 label Biography information for Mike Kane

49934

	registered interest
	date	06/05/2014
	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, how many title deeds of local authority schools have been transferred to academies operated by private companies since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Wythenshawe and Sale East
	tabling member printed	Mike Kane
	uin	197851
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>When community schools convert to academies, the freehold is retained by the local authority and a lease is granted to the academy trust.</p><p>There are strict rules protecting publicly-funded land used by academies, regardless of who holds the freehold. This is set out in published guidance, which is available at:</p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protection-of-school-playing-fields-and-public-land-advice" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/protection-of-school-playing-fields-and-public-land-advice</a></p><p>A copy of the guidance has been placed in the House Library.</p><p>The Department for Education does not hold information about the average value of land used for academies, or about the legal costs associated with establishing leasehold or freehold arrangements.</p><p>Academies are run by academy trusts, which are charities limited by guarantee – academies are not operated by private companies.</p> answering member constituency Crewe and Nantwich answering member printed Mr Edward Timpson grouped question UIN 197852 197853 question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1605 label Biography information for Edward Timpson
	tabling member	4316 label Biography information for Mike Kane

49936

	registered interest
	date	06/05/2014
	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, how many local authority schools have become academies since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Wythenshawe and Sale East
	tabling member printed	Mike Kane
	uin	197850
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>As of 1 May 2014, 3,688 local authority schools have become academies since 2010.</p> answering member constituency Crewe and Nantwich answering member printed Mr Edward Timpson question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1605 label Biography information for Edward Timpson
	tabling member	4316 label Biography information for Mike Kane

49938

	registered interest
	date	06/05/2014
	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, which government departments offer payroll deduction for staff wishing to save with a credit union.
	tabling member constituency	Wythenshawe and Sale East
	tabling member printed	Mike Kane
	uin	197849
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington on 24 March 2014 (Official Report) Column Ref: 65W.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Mr Francis Maude question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 115 label Biography information for Lord Maude of Horsham
	tabling member	4316 label Biography information for Mike Kane

49018

	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 support the Government is giving to credit unions to help extend access to fair credit.
	tabling member constituency	Wythenshawe and Sale East
	tabling member printed	Mike Kane
	uin	197059
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2014 answer text <p>The Government is supportive of credit unions and has taken a number of steps to assist them, most recently including:</p><ul><li>The Department for Work and Pensions investment of up to £38 million in an expansion project for credit unions. The project aims to help credit unions expand and grow, enabling them to provide financial services to more people.</li><li>From 1 April this year the Government increased the cap on the maximum interest rate a credit union can charge for loans from 2% to 3% per month. This will allow credit unions to make more loans to their members without making a loss. Even if they choose to charge the higher rate of interest the cost of borrowing from a credit union will still be significantly cheaper than many high cost lenders.</li></ul><p>The Government intends that these measures will help the credit union sector go from strength to strength, so it can be a viable option for financial services provision for an even wider range of consumers.</p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 06/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
	tabling member	4316 label Biography information for Mike Kane

48797

	registered interest
	date	28/04/2014
	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, if he will add economics, English literature and computing to the list of facilitating subjects for Key Stage 5 performance tables.
	tabling member constituency	Wyre and Preston North
	tabling member printed	Mr Ben Wallace
	uin	196819
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2014 answer text <p>The facilitating subjects are identified by the Russell Group of universities as A level subjects that are required more often than others by universities. The list includes English literature along with mathematics, further mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, geography, history and languages (classical and modern).</p><p>The Russell Group is an independent organisation; it recently reviewed the list of facilitating subjects and confirmed no change was needed. The Department for Education publishes a measure in the key stage 5 performance tables of the percentage of students achieving AAB grades at A level, including in at least two facilitating subjects.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss grouped question UIN 196816 question first answered 01/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	1539 label Biography information for Mr Ben Wallace

48798

	registered interest
	date	28/04/2014
	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, when he plans to review the list of facilitating subjects for Key Stage 5 performance tables.
	tabling member constituency	Wyre and Preston North
	tabling member printed	Mr Ben Wallace
	uin	196816
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2014 answer text <p>The facilitating subjects are identified by the Russell Group of universities as A level subjects that are required more often than others by universities. The list includes English literature along with mathematics, further mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, geography, history and languages (classical and modern).</p><p>The Russell Group is an independent organisation; it recently reviewed the list of facilitating subjects and confirmed no change was needed. The Department for Education publishes a measure in the key stage 5 performance tables of the percentage of students achieving AAB grades at A level, including in at least two facilitating subjects.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss grouped question UIN 196819 question first answered 01/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	1539 label Biography information for Mr Ben Wallace

48395

	registered interest
	date	10/04/2014
	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, what recent assessment he has made of the performance of Capita on processing medical assessment reports for personal independence payments.
	tabling member constituency	Wyre Forest
	tabling member printed	Mark Garnier
	uin	196278
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The Department's contract with Capita for the delivery of assessments for Personal Independence Payment includes a full set of service level agreements setting out the Department's expectations for service delivery. We are closely monitoring their progress against these and are taking action to drive up performance where this does not meet the required standards.</p><p> </p><p>We are aware that, in many cases, it is taking longer than we would like for claimants to have their assessments with Capita. We are working closely with our supplier to speed up the process for claimants.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 29/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4074 label Biography information for Mark Garnier

48368

	registered interest
	date	10/04/2014
	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 steps he is taking to improve the performance of London Midland commuter trains.
	tabling member constituency	Wyre Forest
	tabling member printed	Mark Garnier
	uin	196279
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We do not monitor train operator performances by service type (i.e. commuter trains only) under the Franchise Agreement; we monitor each operator's performance across their whole network against benchmarks under the Franchise Agreement.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department monitors each train operator's overall performance against these benchmarks and there are clear actions set out in the Franchise Agreement should performance drop below what is expected. This regular monitoring includes monthly meetings with their senior management where performance figures are scrutinised and challenged.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>At present London Midland are assessed as being within their contracted performance benchmarks as set out in the Franchise Agreement.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In 2002 when Network Rail took control of Britain's Rail infrastructure, train performance was languishing at record low levels (78.6% of trains arriving on time nationally). Since then, it has risen to averaging around 90%. Network Rail has been tasked with ensuring that 92.5% of trains arrive on time nationally by 2019.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are determined that improvements in infrastructure across the network, as evidenced by the £38 billion investment agreed with Network Rail for the next 5 years, will further improve the performance of all train operators.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
	tabling member	4074 label Biography information for Mark Garnier

49366

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2014
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that the cases of the 67 doctors who were found to have pre-signed abortion referral forms following investigations by the Care Quality Commission in 2012 are referred to the police.
	tabling member constituency	Wycombe
	tabling member printed	Steve Baker
	uin	197311
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2014 answer text <p>Allegations referred to the Department were passed on to the relevant police forces for them to investigate. Other allegations of pre-signing were investigated by the General Medical Council. Decisions about whether to prosecute rest with the Crown Prosecution Service.</p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 08/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
	tabling member	4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker

49367

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2014
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effects of regulatory changes allowing registered medical practitioners to form an opinion about the mental or physical health of a female patient without meeting or examining her; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Wycombe
	tabling member printed	Steve Baker
	uin	197310
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2014 answer text <p>The approach to abortion in the United Kingdom is set out in the Abortion Act 1967 and this remains unchanged. The Act sets out that two doctors must certify that in their opinion, which must be formed in good faith, a request for an abortion meets at least one (and the same) of the grounds set out in the Act.</p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 08/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
	tabling member	4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker

49368

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2014
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, what discussions he has had with the Crown Prosecution Service about the pre-signing of abortion forms.
	tabling member constituency	Wycombe
	tabling member printed	Steve Baker
	uin	197309
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2014 answer text <p>I have had no recent specific discussions with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) about the pre-signing of abortion forms. I am aware, though, that the CPS has had discussions with the Department of Health on this and I await the outcome of these.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Beaconsfield answering member printed Mr Dominic Grieve question first answered 08/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 16 label Biography information for Mr Dominic Grieve
	tabling member	4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker

48904

	registered interest
	date	10/04/2014
	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 of sustained low interest rates on incentives to save; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Wycombe
	tabling member printed	Steve Baker
	uin	903726
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2014 answer text <p>Low interest rates have benefited everyone, including through reducing mortgage rates, but the Government recognises that this has made it harder for people's savings to grow and to secure an adequate income for retirement. The Government believes it is right, therefore, to support hard working people that have taken the long term decisions to save and plan for their future.</p><p> </p><p>The Budget package announced last month aims to help all savers at all stages of life. It reduces tax for the lowest income savers; reforms the ISA regime to give all savers greater flexibility as to where and how they save their money; and creates new products to help retired savers see a better return.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey answering member printed Danny Alexander question first answered 29/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1535 label Biography information for Danny Alexander
	tabling member	4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker