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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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