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100382

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Middle East
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates about the progress made by the international coalition against ISIL; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Mr Gareth Thomas
	uin	211505
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text We are working closely with international partners, including Gulf countries, to tackle the shared threat posed by ISIL. UK Ministers and officials have had a number of discussions recently with Gulf partners about coalition action against ISIL. The Prime Minister discussed the issue with His Majesty, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia on 8 October. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge discussed it with his Gulf counterparts on 14 October at the UK-GCC Foreign Ministers meeting in Kuwait. I discussed it with the Saudi Arabian ambassador earlier this month and with the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on 21 October. answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 29/10/2014 14:30:20 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

100704

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2014
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Conflict Prevention
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness and outcomes of the Building Stability Overseas Strategy.
	tabling member constituency	Lagan Valley
	tabling member printed	Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson
	uin	211690
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text Progress on the implementation of the Building Stability Overseas Strategy (BSOS) – including through the Conflict Pool – has been reported to Parliament annually since 2011. Progress includes: the achievement of 30% of DFID spending going to fragile states; establishment of cross-HMG strategies for priority fragile or conflict-affected States; the implementation of a cross-HMG tool to analyse drivers of conflict; and changes made to the Conflict Pool to reflect the challenges of spending in high-risk environments, including multi-year funding and the introduction of a dedicated crisis response Early Action Facility (EAF). Once the Conflict Pool comes to a close at the end of FY14/15 the FCO, MOD and DFID will commission an external review, covering the three-year Conflict Pool results framework. This report will be published once completed. The BSOS will continue to be one of the key policy drivers for UK activity in fragile states including under the new Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF), which builds on the success of the Conflict Pool and replaces it from financial year 2015/16. As well as responding to crises, the CSSF will also ensure longer term conflict prevention work to tackle the root causes of conflict abroad. answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 29/10/2014 16:30:24 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	650 label Biography information for Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

91170

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2014
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Palestinians
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Palestinian Authority about reconstruction in Gaza.
	tabling member constituency	Wrexham
	tabling member printed	Ian Lucas
	uin	208679
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text Our Consulate-General in Jerusalem met with the Palestinian Prime Minister on 8 September to discuss the issue of reconstruction in Gaza. answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 29/10/2014 14:36:06 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	1470 label Biography information for Ian C. Lucas

100385

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Sri Lanka
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the government of Sri Lanka on the decision of the Sri Lankan Court of Appeals to halt the forced deportation of Christians and members of other religious minorities.
	tabling member constituency	Belfast North
	tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
	uin	211417
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text Last month, the Sri Lankan Appeals Court lifted the temporary suspension on the deportation of asylum seekers and refugees from Sri Lanka. We are concerned that deportations have resumed. Officials at our High Commission in Colombo have raised our concerns with the Sri Lankan government, including by joining an EU demarche to the Sri Lankan government on this issue. We have made clear that deportations should only be carried out in accordance with Sri Lanka’s international obligations. We continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in contact with the Office of the High Commission for Refugees. answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 29/10/2014 14:34:20 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
	tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn

99797

	registered interest
	date	20/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Iraq
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any British nationals have been killed in airstrikes in his Department's operations in Iraq.
	tabling member constituency	Moray
	tabling member printed	Angus Robertson
	uin	211187
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <table><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" rowspan="5"> </td><td colspan="6" rowspan="5"><p>It is not our practice to comment in detail on specific operational targets as to do so would or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois question first answered 29/10/2014 17:28:54 answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois previous answer version 24038 answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois
	tabling member	1433 label Biography information for Angus Robertson

100410

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Hepatitis
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the letter dated 7 March 2014 from the Minister for Public Health to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull North (reference POC4 845965) if he will place in the Library all documents in the possession of his Department relating to the advice received from an independent group of experts when the Skipton Fund was first established in 2003-04 in relation to the practicality of the State 1/Stage 2 Hepatitis C distinction.
	tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
	tabling member printed	Diana Johnson
	uin	211638
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>We will arrange for all of the documents relating to the advice received from the group of independent experts which provided advice on the medical trigger for Skipton Fund stage 2 payments in 2003-04, to be placed in the Library by 14 November 2014.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 29/10/2014 17:17:54 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
	tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

100002

	registered interest
	date	20/10/2014
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Pakistan: Ahmadiyya
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the assassination of the Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan, and in particular, the recent assasination of Latif Aalam Butt.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Berridge
	uin	HL2217
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>We remain concerned about the violence faced by the Ahmadiyya and other communities in Pakistan and continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to protect and guarantee the fundamental rights of all its citizens as laid down in the Constitution and in accordance with international standards. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office closely monitors the situation in Pakistan as documented in the annual Human Rights report and quarterly updates. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) and the former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised human rights concerns with Prime Minister Sharif during his visit in May 2014.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 29/10/2014 15:37:50 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge

100589

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Morocco
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent representations they have made to the government of Morocco about its treatment of homosexual men and women.
	tabling member printed	Lord Black of Brentwood
	uin	HL2326
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>We regularly discuss human rights issues with the Moroccan authorities. Our Ambassador in Morocco most recently raised lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights with the Moroccan Foreign Minister in early October 2014.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 29/10/2014 15:38:14 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	4171 label Biography information for Lord Black of Brentwood

99993

	registered interest
	date	20/10/2014
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Israel
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to government of Israel concerning the banning of non-governmental organisations such as Amnesty International from working in Israel.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
	uin	HL2208
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>We have not raised this issue with the Israeli authorities as Amnesty International are not banned from working in Israel.</p><p>Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv have, however, raised our concerns with the Israeli National Security Adviser and the Israeli Office for the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) on access to Gaza for non-governmental organisations. Our deputy Ambassador to Tel Aviv sent a letter to the Head of COGAT, Major General Mordechai, in mid-August requesting that Amnesty be granted access to Gaza.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 29/10/2014 15:25:31 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

100806

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2014
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Rendition
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's policy is on (a) the transportation of detainees held by another state through UK territory, including UK colonies and dependent territories, other than pursuant to a lawful extradition proceeding, (b) attendance of UK agents at interrogations of detainees by or on behalf of a foreign state and (c) supplying questions for use in interrogating detainees held by foreign states.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne East
	tabling member printed	Mr Nicholas Brown
	uin	211801
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>We expect any State wishing to transport detainees via UK territory, including our Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, to seek permission to do so. The Government will grant that permission only if satisfied that such transportation would be in accordance with UK law and our international obligations. Detained persons should remain within the protection of the law at all times.</p><p>Government policy on the principles governing the detention and interviewing of detainees overseas, and on the passing and receipt of intelligence relating to detainees, is set out in the Consolidated Guidance published in July 2010. The Consolidated Guidance is consistent with UK domestic law and international law obligations, and requires an assessment of the standards to which the detainee may have been/or may be subject.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 29/10/2014 16:25:44 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	523 label Biography information for Mr Nicholas Brown

100390

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Islamic State
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the volume of oil being sold from oilfields controlled by ISIL; and to whom such sales are being made.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Mr Gareth Thomas
	uin	211513
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>We assess that levels of oil production in ISIL held areas are likely to be a fraction of pre-conflict capacity, and that any oil products are likely to be consumed for internal ISIL use, and smuggled into regional markets.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 29/10/2014 14:33:34 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

99989

	registered interest
	date	20/10/2014
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Syria
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to work with Syria's religious communities, including the smallest minority communities and their political and civic representatives, to help them reach agreement on what measures are needed to ensure religious freedom and security for all communities in that country.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Coventry
	uin	HL2204
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>We are supporting non-governmental efforts to promote dialogue between different ethnic and sectarian groups in Syria, with a view to a future political settlement. We are also funding training for Syrian activists to document abuses to a criminal law standard with the aim that this documentation could be used in a future process of accountability.</p><p>In the long run the only way to secure the position of Syria’s minority communities is to find an inclusive political solution to the crisis. The UK is determined to support the moderate opposition, who are working for an inclusive political settlement, and are committed to protect all of Syria’s communities and resist, extremists and authoritarian regimes.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 29/10/2014 15:29:53 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	4266 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry

100376

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Occupied Territories
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will support proposals in the EU to impose sanctions on the Israeli government if it goes ahead with tenders and construction of Israeli settlements at Givat Hamatos in East Jerusalem.
	tabling member constituency	Easington
	tabling member printed	Grahame M. Morris
	uin	211444
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>We are strongly opposed to any attempts to change the facts on the ground in the East Jerusalem by increasing the number of settlers living there. Such acts raise tensions and undermine prospects for peace. During my visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories between 5-8 October, I discussed my strong concerns about the issue of settlements and land expropriation with the Israeli Justice Minister on 6 October. Discussions are continuing in Brussels on how the EU can best discourage settlement expansion, and the UK is working closely with other Member States to that end.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 29/10/2014 14:57:48 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

100387

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Occupied Territories
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will support proposals in the EU to take action against the Israeli government if it continues to expand the settlement of Har Homa in East Jerusalem.
	tabling member constituency	Easington
	tabling member printed	Grahame M. Morris
	uin	211442
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>We are strongly opposed to any attempts to change the facts on the ground in East Jerusalem by increasing the number of settlers living there. Such acts raise tensions and undermine prospects for peace. During my visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories between 5-8 October, I discussed my strong concerns about the issue of settlements and land expropriation with the Israeli Justice Minister on 6 October. Discussions are continuing in Brussels on how the EU can best discourage settlement expansion, and the UK is working closely with other Member States to that end.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 29/10/2014 14:53:59 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

100509

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	High Speed 2 Line
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to appoint the High Speed 2 Residents Commissioner; where that Commissioner will be based; to whom that Commissioner will be accountable; and how many staff at what level that Commissioner will have.
	tabling member constituency	Chesham and Amersham
	tabling member printed	Mrs Cheryl Gillan
	uin	211416
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>We anticipate that following the recruitment process we will be able to announce the Residents’ Commissioner in December.</p><p> </p><p>The Commissioner will report to Sir David Higgins, the Chairman of HS2 Ltd. This will create a direct link to ensure that the Commissioner’s views are heard at the highest level.</p><p> </p><p>The Commissioner will be based at HS2 Ltd’s head office in Canary Wharf and will have one staff member available to provide administrative support, as well as drawing on support from relevant teams across the organisation.　 This is a new role and so resource will be reviewed in consultation with the Commissioner once in post.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 29/10/2014 11:20:20 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	18 label Biography information for Dame Cheryl Gillan

100052

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2014
	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 Statues: Greater London
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the area of London for which the Secretary of State is currently responsible under the Public Statues (Metropolis) Act 1854 for giving consent for the erection of public statues; and which local authorities are included in that area.
	tabling member printed	The Earl of Clancarty
	uin	HL2258
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>Under section 5 of the Public Statues (Metropolis) Act 1854 the consent of the commissioners of works needs to be obtained before a public statue can be erected in a public place in the Metropolitan Police District of London. The functions of the commissioners of works are now vested in the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. By virtue of the London Government Act 1963 (as amended by the Greater London Authority Act 1999), the Metropolitan Police District of London is now the area of Greater London (excluding the City of London, and the Inner and Middle Temples). Details of the local authorities in this region can be found at <a href="http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk</a></p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 29/10/2014 14:11:59 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	3391 label Biography information for The Earl of Clancarty

100386

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Detainees
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the UK applies any form of status to detainees held outside the UK which place the detainee outside the scope of (a) the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, (b) the Geneva Conventions and (c) the European Convention on Human Rights.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne East
	tabling member printed	Mr Nicholas Brown
	uin	211419
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>Under international law (both customary international law and treaties such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Geneva Conventions and the European Convention on Human Rights) states have obligations in relation to the human rights of detainees. States have a duty to ensure respect for applicable obligations in respect of detainees. The United Kingdom takes its duty in this regard seriously and we expect other States to do so too.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 29/10/2014 15:54:52 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
	tabling member	523 label Biography information for Mr Nicholas Brown

100530

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	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	Jobseeker's Allowance: Disqualification
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of jobseeker's allowance in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK who have disputed the sanction of their benefit in each of the last five years have had their sanction overturned following appeal.
	tabling member constituency	Jarrow
	tabling member printed	Mr Stephen Hepburn
	uin	211523
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>This information is published and can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p><p> </p><p>Guidance for users is available at:</p><p><a href="https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm" target="_blank">https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm</a></p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey grouped question UIN 211522 211524 211525 question first answered 29/10/2014 16:58:03 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
	tabling member	520 label Biography information for Mr Stephen Hepburn

100531

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	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	Jobseeker's Allowance: Disqualification
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of jobseeker's allowance in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK have received a sanction of their benefit in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Jarrow
	tabling member printed	Mr Stephen Hepburn
	uin	211524
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>This information is published and can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p><p> </p><p>Guidance for users is available at:</p><p><a href="https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm" target="_blank">https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm</a></p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey grouped question UIN 211522 211523 211525 question first answered 29/10/2014 16:58:03 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
	tabling member	520 label Biography information for Mr Stephen Hepburn

100537

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	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	Jobseeker's Allowance: Disqualification
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of jobseeker's allowance in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK who have disputed the sanction of their benefit in each of the last five years have had their sanction overturned after they were reconsidered.
	tabling member constituency	Jarrow
	tabling member printed	Mr Stephen Hepburn
	uin	211525
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>This information is published and can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p><p> </p><p>Guidance for users is available at:</p><p><a href="https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm" target="_blank">https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm</a></p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey grouped question UIN 211522 211523 211524 question first answered 29/10/2014 16:58:04 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
	tabling member	520 label Biography information for Mr Stephen Hepburn

100424

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Hospitals: Pharmacy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS hospital pharmacies have had their dispensary services put out to tender to private companies since the coming into force of the Health and Social Care Act 2012; what the equivalent figure was prior to that date; how many such companies dispense or deliver medication to NHS (a) outpatients and (b) hospital inpatients; and what the total amount of VAT (i) reclaimed by all such companies since that date and (ii) paid by all the incumbent NHS hospital pharmacies whose services have not been put out to tender to private companies since that date was.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester South
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
	uin	211532
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>This information is not collected by either the Department or NHS England.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The decision to put hospital pharmacy services out to tender is a matter for individual trusts.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman grouped question UIN 211526 question first answered 29/10/2014 15:26:43 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
	tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

100425

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Hospitals: Pharmacy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS hospital pharmacies there are.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester South
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
	uin	211526
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>This information is not collected by either the Department or NHS England.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The decision to put hospital pharmacy services out to tender is a matter for individual trusts.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman grouped question UIN 211532 question first answered 29/10/2014 15:26:43 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
	tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

100568

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	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
	hansard heading	Homelessness
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the findings of the recent research by Crisis into the treatment of single homeless people by local authorities in England.
	tabling member printed	Baroness King of Bow
	uin	HL2305
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>This Government is committed to preventing and tackling homelessness. We have increased homelessness prevention spending, making over £500 million available since 2010 to local authorities and the voluntary sector to help the most vulnerable in society. <br> <br> We are improving services through the new £8 million Help for Single Homeless Fund. This will enable local authorities, working with local partners such as the health and probation services, to better tackle and prevent single homelessness. <br> <br> We are helping single homeless people find and sustain accommodation in the private rented sector through our £13 million funding to Crisis. By 2016 we expect the Crisis scheme to have helped 10,000 single homeless people since it started in 2010. <br> <br> We are continuing to tackle and prevent rough sleeping. Thousands of vulnerable people have been helped off the streets through the No Second Night Out and Streetlink initiatives. £20 million funding has been made available to the voluntary sector through the Homelessness Transition Fund which has helped No Second Night Out schemes across the country. There have been 18,000 Streetlink referrals since December 2012.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 29/10/2014 15:17:28 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	143 label Biography information for Baroness King of Bow

100004

	registered interest
	date	20/10/2014
	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	Unpaid Work
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the recent proposal by the Child Poverty and Social Justice Commission that unpaid internships should be illegal.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Berridge
	uin	HL2219
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>This Government is absolutely clear: exploitation of interns is unacceptable and we don’t hesitate to act where we find that employment law has been broken and someone who is entitled to the minimum wage hasn’t been paid it.</p><p> </p><p>Complaints from interns about non-payment of the minimum wage are prioritised by HMRC for investigation and HMRC will investigate every complaint made to the Pay and Work Rights Helpline.</p><p> </p><p>Research shows that internships and work experience programmes can be valuable opportunities for young people taking their first steps in the labour market. Our work on interns and the National Minimum Wage aims to achieve the right balance between ensuring that opportunities for young people are not cut off and minimising the risk of exploitation.</p><p> </p><p>Our concern, if we were to prohibit unpaid internships, is that this may lead to employers recruiting interns through informal and privileged networks with adverse effects on social mobility or have adverse consequences on the number of available opportunities.</p><p> </p><p>There is no definition of an internship in minimum wage legislation and interns are considered in the same way as everyone else with regards to whether the minimum wage is due. The key issue is whether or not they are workers as defined by minimum wage legislation. If they are, then they are eligible for the minimum wage unless a specific exemption applies. Volunteers are not workers and are not eligible for the minimum wage.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 29/10/2014 16:15:22 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge

100079

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2014
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Gibraltar: Spain
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns (HL1709), how many incursions by Spanish state vessels into British Gibralter Territorial Waters there have been in 2014 to date and in each of the preceding five years; and, in the light of these numbers, what is their assessment of the efficacy of the defence of United Kingdom sovereignty over these waters using current methods.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL2285
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>There were 247 unlawful incursions between January and September this year. There were 103 in 2010, 24 in 2011, 229 in 2012 and 496 in 2013, as stated in the reply of 17 June, Official Report, column WA38, given by the former Senior Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the right hon. Baroness Warsi. The Government cannot readily provide statistics for incursions before 2010 as this could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.</p><p>Incursions are a violation of sovereignty, not a threat to it. They do not change the fact of British sovereignty over British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. The Government challenges and protests all unlawful incursions and these actions effectively defend our sovereignty over British Gibraltar Territorial waters.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 29/10/2014 15:24:51 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

100108

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	New Businesses: Taxation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will assess the potential effect of giving part-time entrepreneurs a fixed definition in the Tax Code.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	211328
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>There is no definition of a part-time entrepreneur within the Taxes Acts. In general, the tax system treats part-time entrepreneurs in the same way as full-time entrepreneurs, and there are no plans to change this.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 29/10/2014 14:37:48 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

100333

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	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	Tourism: Coastal Areas
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of deregulating school holidays on (a) tourism jobs in seaside areas and (b) seaside economies.
	tabling member constituency	Stretford and Urmston
	tabling member printed	Kate Green
	uin	211409
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>There has been no specific assessment of the impact the Government’s proposals in the Deregulation Bill will have on tourism jobs. However, impact assessments have been completed on the overall impact of proposals within the Bill. Government is confident that tourism jobs and seaside economies will not be adversely affected overall. Whilst the measures will extend an existing flexibility to a greater number of schools, this does not mean that all schools will change their term dates. This Government believes that decisions about term dates are best made locally. The Department for Education is working with the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions and others to ensure the Department’s advice to schools on their new freedoms is clear that term dates should be set in the interests of pupils’ education and should also consider parents and local businesses.</p> answering member constituency Maidstone and The Weald answering member printed Mrs Helen Grant grouped question UIN 211410 question first answered 29/10/2014 09:38:00 answering member 4018 label Biography information for Mrs Helen Grant
	tabling member	4120 label Biography information for Kate Green

100334

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	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	Tourism: Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the Government's proposals in the Deregulation Bill on tourism jobs.
	tabling member constituency	Stretford and Urmston
	tabling member printed	Kate Green
	uin	211410
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>There has been no specific assessment of the impact the Government’s proposals in the Deregulation Bill will have on tourism jobs. However, impact assessments have been completed on the overall impact of proposals within the Bill. Government is confident that tourism jobs and seaside economies will not be adversely affected overall. Whilst the measures will extend an existing flexibility to a greater number of schools, this does not mean that all schools will change their term dates. This Government believes that decisions about term dates are best made locally. The Department for Education is working with the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions and others to ensure the Department’s advice to schools on their new freedoms is clear that term dates should be set in the interests of pupils’ education and should also consider parents and local businesses.</p> answering member constituency Maidstone and The Weald answering member printed Mrs Helen Grant grouped question UIN 211409 question first answered 29/10/2014 09:38:02 answering member 4018 label Biography information for Mrs Helen Grant
	tabling member	4120 label Biography information for Kate Green

100505

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prison Accommodation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to improve first night accommodation for prisoners in prisons.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Walton
	tabling member printed	Steve Rotheram
	uin	211652
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>There are no building projects planned or in delivery that are specifically intended to improve first night accommodation across the estate. Where individual first night accommodation has been identified as requiring improvement, this is taken forward locally by the Governor/Director.</p><p> </p><p>Prison Service Instruction 74/2011 Residential Services requires that prisoners have access to living accommodation, furnishings, fittings and equipment that are safe, decent and secure and which meet their individual needs, as far as practicable. Living accommodation and communal areas are also to be kept clean and maintained. Where a fault is reported residential prison staff are responsible for reporting the problem to the appropriate person for the issue to be resolved.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 29/10/2014 17:49:06 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4035 label Biography information for Steve Rotheram

100433

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Offences against Children: Internet
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times the National Crime Agency has made a request to internet services providers to link an identified IP address with a name and address in each of the last four years; how many such requests were made in relation to investigations into online child abuse; and what the average charge made for each such request was.
	tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
	tabling member printed	Diana Johnson
	uin	211465
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>There are limits to what can be said publically about the operational techniques used by our law enforcement agencies. To do so would assist <br>potential criminals to evade detection. However, in investigations that start with an online identifier or IP address, such as online child sexual <br>exploitation cases, communications data will often be the only available investigative lead to identify a suspect or victim in the real world. If this <br>data is not available, such investigations cannot proceed. As the Director General of the National Crime Agency, Keith Bristow, has made clear: <br>&quot;Communications data is still overwhelmingly the most powerful tool available to those investigating child sexual exploitation and identifying and <br>safeguarding its victims and potential victims.&quot;</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Staffordshire Moorlands answering member printed Karen Bradley question first answered 29/10/2014 13:30:02 answering member 4110 label Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley previous answer version 24346 answering member constituency Staffordshire Moorlands answering member printed Karen Bradley answering member 4110 label Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley
	tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

93434

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Pensions: Northern Ireland
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether and how the new Freedom and Choice for Pensioners arrangements will apply to Northern Ireland; and whether they have discussed the matter of a legislative consent motion with the Northern Ireland Executive.
	tabling member printed	Lord Laird
	uin	HL2100
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>The tax changes necessary to deliver the Freedom and Choice in Pensions agenda are contained in the Taxation of Pensions Bill. The provisions in this Bill will apply across the UK as the relevant tax legislation is not, in the main, a matter over which powers have been devolved.<sup>[</sup><sup>1]</sup> The Pension Schemes Bill is being used to introduce further changes relevant to the Freedom and Choice agenda. Where these do relate to devolved matters in Northern Ireland, the Government is in the process of obtaining the necessary legislative consent motion and approval from the Northern Ireland Assembly.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>[1] Explanatory notes for the Taxation of Pensions Bill were published on the Parliament Website. Territorial extent is detailed in paragraph 52 http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2014-2015/0097/en/15097en.htm</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Deighton question first answered 29/10/2014 15:21:46 answering member 4262 label Biography information for Lord Deighton
	tabling member	2479 label Biography information for Lord Laird

101516

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2014
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Northern Ireland Government
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress she has made on cross-party talks in Northern Ireland.
	tabling member constituency	Southend West
	tabling member printed	Mr David Amess
	uin	905675
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>The talks commenced in Belfast on 16 October and I am pleased that all five Executive parties have engaged in the process.</p><p>I believe that it is essential that they give this process the highest priority and show determination in their efforts to reach an agreement on these crucial matters.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chipping Barnet answering member printed Mrs Theresa Villiers question first answered 29/10/2014 15:01:07 answering member 1500 label Biography information for Theresa Villiers
	tabling member	44 label Biography information for Sir David Amess

100485

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Harassment: Social Media
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with social media companies about bringing forward legislative proposals to tackle internet trolling.
	tabling member constituency	Islwyn
	tabling member printed	Chris Evans
	uin	211553
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>The sending of abusive messages or material online can cause absolute misery for victims and the Government recognises the need to make sure that people who commit these awful crimes are properly punished.</p><p>Changes to the law included in the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill will mean that people who target others with abusive or offensive material, including internet trolls, will face up to two years in prison and the police will have more time to investigate cases.</p><p>The Secretary of State for Justice has not had any discussions to date with social media companies about legislative proposals to tackle internet trolling. However, as one of the joint chairs of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety, I have discussed and fed the Government’s views in to a range of internet safety issues with social media companies and others.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 29/10/2014 13:09:07 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4040 label Biography information for Chris Evans

100330

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	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	Gaming Machines
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he expects the Natcen research into the relationship between fixed odds betting terminals and problem gambling to be published; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Eltham
	tabling member printed	Clive Efford
	uin	211608
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>The research in question is scheduled to be published in December 2014 by the Responsible Gambling Trust. This will include an introductory statement on the plausible markers of harm as well as two research reports on patterns of risk along with associated contextual research analysis.</p> answering member constituency Maidstone and The Weald answering member printed Mrs Helen Grant question first answered 29/10/2014 09:48:04 answering member 4018 label Biography information for Mrs Helen Grant
	tabling member	165 label Biography information for Clive Efford

100866

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Academies
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many new school applications have been processed by regional school commissioners; how many such applications were (a) approved and (b) refused; and what the reasons for such approval or refusal were in each case.
	tabling member constituency	Gateshead
	tabling member printed	Ian Mearns
	uin	211862
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>The regional schools commissioners (RSCs) have been involved in nine applications for new academies under the academy presumption (section 6A of the Education and Inspections Act 2006). RSCs do not make the decision about whether a new school is needed or not. This decision lies with the relevant local authority, and arises from the basic need for more pupil places. The RSCs’ role is limited to deciding who would be the best proposer to establish the new school.</p><p>In six cases the RSC approved the proposer recommended by the local authority. In three cases a different proposer was approved. In each case this decision was taken based on an assessment of the capacity, capability and performance of all proposers.</p><p>RSCs do not currently make decisions about free school applications.</p> answering member constituency Crewe and Nantwich answering member printed Mr Edward Timpson question first answered 29/10/2014 17:54:54 answering member 1605 label Biography information for Edward Timpson
	tabling member	4000 label Biography information for Ian Mearns

93689

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2014
	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	Higher Education: Finance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in view of the latest <i>Times Guide to Universities</i> ranking all United Kingdom universities in terms of performance, what plans they have to cut or reduce funding to the poorest performers.
	tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
	uin	HL2118
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>The reforms this Government has introduced mean that funding now follows the decisions of students and that students can access better information, including about University performance, to support their choices. In September 2012 we introduced the Key Information Set to provide comparable information which students have said they find useful when choosing their higher education course. It includes on student satisfaction ratings, graduate salaries and employment outcomes, tuition fees and financial support, and the cost of accommodation.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 29/10/2014 17:38:58 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

100677

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2014
	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: Rural Areas
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the speed of the delivery of superfast broadband to rural areas.
	tabling member constituency	Thirsk and Malton
	tabling member printed	Miss Anne McIntosh
	uin	211748
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>The pace of delivery of the Superfast Broadband Programme has accelerated substantially across the UK over recent months, resulting with on average 40,000 premises per week now able to access superfast broadband . All 44 Phase 1 local projects are delivering superfast broadband to homes and businesses. In August the programme had reached 1 million premises, and by February 2015 we will have reached 2 million homes and businesses. The second phase to extend coverage to 95% of UK premises by 2017 is in procurement and aims to have all contracts signed by early 2015.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 29/10/2014 10:01:40 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

100550

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	IVF
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 22 July 2008 (HL4926 and HL4927) and by Earl Howe on 9 July 2012 (HL1211), of how many cycles the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority are aware in which fresh embryo transfers took place after 15 or more eggs were collected over each of the past ten years.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL2287
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>The number of treatment cycles in which fresh embryo transfers took place after 15 or more eggs were collected, in each of the last 10 years, is shown in the following table:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Years</p></td><td><p>Cycles in which fresh embryo transfers took place after 15 or more eggs were collected</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2004</p></td><td><p>5602</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2005</p></td><td><p>5737</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2006</p></td><td><p>5843</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2007</p></td><td><p>6345</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008</p></td><td><p>6589</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009</p></td><td><p>7344</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>7801</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>8195</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>8200</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013(1)</p></td><td><p>8128</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Source: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>(1) 2013 is the most recent year for which information is available.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Earl Howe question first answered 29/10/2014 12:25:39 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

99839

	registered interest
	date	20/10/2014
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	North Korea: Iran
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of bilateral co-operation between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Islamic Republic of Iran in the field of nuclear weapons technology.
	tabling member constituency	The Cotswolds
	tabling member printed	Geoffrey Clifton-Brown
	uin	211074
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>The nuclear programmes of Iran and the DPRK are both of significant concern to the UK and to the international community. We continue to carefully monitor all developments, and to support and lead international efforts to prevent WMD proliferation, including the spread of related knowledge and technology.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 29/10/2014 14:16:51 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	249 label Biography information for Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown

100373

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	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	Biofuels
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the total subsidy was to (a) power generation by biomass and (b) domestic combustion of biomass in the UK in the last three years for which figures are available.
	tabling member constituency	Monmouth
	tabling member printed	David T. C. Davies
	uin	211441
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>The main mechanism of support for biomass1 power generation is the Renewables Obligation (RO). An estimate of support can be made by applying the share of RO certificates (ROCs) redeemed by suppliers, originating from biomass generation, to overall RO expenditure. This is given in the table below for 2011/12 to 2013/14.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td><p><em>RO total expenditure (£m nominal)</em></p></td><td><p><em>Biomass share of ROCs redeemed (%)</em></p></td><td><p><em>Estimated biomass support under the RO (£m nominal)</em></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong><em>2011/12</em></strong></p></td><td><p>1,458</p></td><td><p>33.5</p></td><td><p>488.4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong><em>2012/13</em></strong></p></td><td><p>1,991</p></td><td><p>31.9</p></td><td><p>635.1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong><em>2013/14 (P)</em></strong></p></td><td><p>2,599</p></td><td><p>27.9</p></td><td><p>725.1</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>2013/14 data are provisional, Ofgem’s annual report will be published in February 2015.</p><p> </p><p>RO expenditure published in Ofgem’s RO annual reports, available at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/renewables-obligation-ro" target="_blank">https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/renewables-obligation-ro</a></p><p> </p><p>ROCs redeemed by technology available at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.renewablesandchp.ofgem.gov.uk/Public/ReportManager.aspx?ReportVisibility=1&amp;ReportCategory=0" target="_blank">https://www.renewablesandchp.ofgem.gov.uk/Public/ReportManager.aspx?ReportVisibility=1&amp;ReportCategory=0</a> <em>(Compliance certificates report)</em>.</p><p> </p><p>Domestic combustion of biomass in the UK is currently supported by the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), but was previously covered by the Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) until April 2014. The table below gives figures for the amount of subsidy biomass boilers received in the last 3 years:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total Spend on Biomass Boilers (Nominal Prices)</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>£1.9m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>£1.5m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>£0.9m</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><em><strong>[1]</strong></em><em> There is no single category for “biomass” under the RO. In this answer, we have defined biomass as the following generation types: Anaerobic Digestion, ACT, bioliquids, dedicated biomass, biomass conversions, EfW, landfill and sewage gas and CHP technologies. </em></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hastings and Rye answering member printed Amber Rudd question first answered 29/10/2014 17:23:05 answering member 3983 label Biography information for Amber Rudd
	tabling member	1545 label Biography information for David T C Davies

100155

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2014
	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: Meters
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what forecast he has made of (a) the number of smart meters installed and (b) the cost on the consumer bill of the installation of such meters in each quarter between Q3 2014 and Q3 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Tom Greatrex
	uin	211347
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>The larger energy suppliers have provided yearly smart and advanced meter installation forecasts to DECC, which were published in the ‘Second Annual Report on the Roll-out of Smart Meters’ in December 2013:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/second-annual-progress-report-on-the-roll-out-of-smart-meters" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/second-annual-progress-report-on-the-roll-out-of-smart-meters</a></p><p>These figures will be updated in the next annual report based on the most recent projections by suppliers. It should be noted that these figures do not include any of the smaller suppliers’ estimates, nor take into account any growth in customer numbers.</p><p>DECC does not project bill impacts on a quarter by quarter basis and DECC’s latest prices and bills report from March 2013 contained projected bill impacts from smart metering for 2013, 2020 and 2030:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/172923/130326_-_Price_and_Bill_Impacts_Report_Final.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/172923/130326_-_Price_and_Bill_Impacts_Report_Final.pdf</a> .</p><p>The smart meter Impact Assessment published in January 2014, estimates that even at their peak in 2015 the costs to the average consumer will be £6, or less than 0.5% of the average bill:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/smart-meter-roll-out-for-the-domestic-and-small-and-medium-non-domestic-sectors-gb-impact-assessment" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/smart-meter-roll-out-for-the-domestic-and-small-and-medium-non-domestic-sectors-gb-impact-assessment</a></p><p>Taking into account all costs and savings, by 2017 the average consumer will start saving money, leading to an annual net saving of £26 in 2020, increasing to £43 a year in 2030 in comparison to a situation without smart meters.</p> answering member constituency Hastings and Rye answering member printed Amber Rudd question first answered 29/10/2014 15:15:51 answering member 3983 label Biography information for Amber Rudd
	tabling member	4047 label Biography information for Tom Greatrex

100543

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	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	Employment and Support Allowance: South Yorkshire
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in (a) Barnsley East constituency, (b) Barnsley local authority area and (c) South Yorkshire are waiting for an employment and support allowance (ESA) assessment; and how many of those are (i) new claimants and (ii) existing ESA recipients.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley East
	tabling member printed	Michael Dugher
	uin	211455
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>The information requested on people waiting for an Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) work capability assessment in Barnsley Local Authority and the South Yorkshire area is shown in the table below.</p><p> </p><p>Number of people whose functional assessment has not yet been completed for initial and repeat assessments, in Barnsley Local Authority and South Yorkshire: 27 October 2008 – 31 December 2013</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td><p>Initial assessments</p></td><td><p>Repeat assessments</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>Barnsley LA</p></td><td><p>1,400</p></td><td><p>500</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South Yorkshire</p></td><td><p>6,400</p></td><td><p>2,400</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>Source: Data in the tables above is derived from administrative data held by the DWP and assessment data provided by Atos Healthcare.</p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><ol start="1" type="1"><li>Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.</li><li>Data is given up to 31 December 2013, which is the latest data available.</li><li>South Yorkshire is made up of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield Local Authorities.</li></ol><p> </p><p>Data for Barnsley East Constituency is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 29/10/2014 17:50:30 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	3916 label Biography information for Michael Dugher

93611

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Offenders: Deportation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign national offenders recommended by the courts for deportation in each of the last 10 years have not been deported; in which city each such offender lives; and for what reasons each such offender has not been deported.
	tabling member constituency	Newport West
	tabling member printed	Paul Flynn
	uin	210710
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>The information requested is shown in the following table:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Total cases where deportation not pursued</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2006</p></td><td><p>172</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2007</p></td><td><p>419</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008</p></td><td><p>559</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009</p></td><td><p>205</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>205</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>161</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>92</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>81</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Notes<br>Please note that the Home Office is not able to provide data on the city in which the offender lives or the reasons each offender has not been deported as the costs would be disproportionate.Deportation may not be pursued for a number of reasons, such as not meeting the deportation criteria, meeting a specific legal exemption or an appeal being allowed on human rights grounds. <br><br>(1) All figures quoted have been derived from management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.<br>(2) A Foreign National Offender (FNO) is defined as an individual with a criminal case, on the Home Office's Case Information Database, and may include individuals with asylum cases.<br>(3) Figures relate to Court Recommended Criminal Cases between the period 01 September 2006 and 30 September 2014.<br>(4) Figures relate to cases with a case outcome of Deportation Order (DO) not pursued. This refers to cases where deportation was not enforced but includes cases where the FNO has been administratively removed or voluntarily departed from the UK. <br>(5) Figures relate to main applicants only. <br>(6) Figures prior to 2010 procede the implementation of a later reporting application and as such were not subject to the same level of data assurance for data recorded after 2010.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 29/10/2014 13:28:08 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	545 label Biography information for Paul Flynn

100886

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2014
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Asthma
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people (a) under and (b) over the age of 18 died as a result of asthma in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester West
	tabling member printed	Liz Kendall
	uin	211917
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 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 Reading East answering member printed Mr Rob Wilson question first answered 29/10/2014 16:57:49 answering member 1556 label Biography information for Mr Rob Wilson attachment 1 file name PQ 211917 ONS 369.pdf title ONS Letter to Member - Death from Asthma
	tabling member	4026 label Biography information for Liz Kendall

100888

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2014
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Skin Cancer
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people have died as a result of (a) malignant melanoma and (b) other forms of skin cancer in England and Wales in the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Bassetlaw
	tabling member printed	John Mann
	uin	211893
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 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 Reading East answering member printed Mr Rob Wilson question first answered 29/10/2014 16:56:43 answering member 1556 label Biography information for Mr Rob Wilson attachment 1 file name PQ 211893 ONS 370.pdf title ONS Letter to Member - Death from Skin Cancer
	tabling member	1387 label Biography information for Lord Mann

101164

	registered interest
	date	27/10/2014
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Cancer: Hampshire
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what mortality rate from cancer was in (a) Fareham constituency and (b) Hampshire in each of the last 10 years.
	tabling member constituency	Fareham
	tabling member printed	Mr Mark Hoban
	uin	212135
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 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 Reading East answering member printed Mr Rob Wilson question first answered 29/10/2014 16:55:33 answering member 1556 label Biography information for Mr Rob Wilson attachment 1 file name PQ 212135 ONS 372.pdf title ONS Letter to Member - Mortality Cancer Rate
	tabling member	1414 label Biography information for Mr Mark Hoban

93430

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Public Sector: Workplace Pensions
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of how many individuals in defined contribution funded public sector pension schemes will withdraw their entire accrued entitlements under the new Freedom and Choice for Pensioner arrangements in the first year from April 2015, and at what cost.
	tabling member printed	Lord Laird
	uin	HL2096
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>The government believes that people should be free to make their own</p><p> </p><p>choice about how to use their savings - individuals who have worked hard and saved responsibly throughout their adult life should have a choice about their pension savings and the reforms announced at Budget 2014 will deliver this.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The new tax framework, which will allow, from April 2015, individuals with a defined contribution pension to access their entire pension flexibly will apply equally across trust and contract based money purchase pension schemes. In the public sector, members of defined contribution schemes will also have access to these flexibilities, including members with savings in Additional Voluntary Contribution (AVC) arrangements.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government’s assessment of the impact of the policy is set out in detail in the Budget costing note and the Tax Information and Impact Note, published alongside the Taxation of Pensions Bill.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The government wants to extend the principles of freedom and choice to as many pension savers as possible which is why, following an extensive public consultation, it was decided to permit transfers out of private sector and funded public sector defined benefit schemes to continue. Giving scheme members the choice to transfer their accrued benefits into a defined contribution scheme, in order to access their pension pot flexibly if they wish to.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>To ensure due consideration is given to the interests of scheme members, scheme funds and the taxpayer in the continuation of these transfers for the public service schemes, government set out in the response to the consultation, <em>Freedom and Choice in Pensions,</em> that it would look to implement, where appropriate, safeguards akin to those which already exist in the private sector. We are continuing to discuss these options and others, including with the Department for Local Government as the department responsible for the Local Government Pension Scheme, the largest of the funded public service pension schemes, and will set out further detail on this issue in due course.</p> answering member printed Lord Deighton grouped question UIN HL2097 HL2098 HL2099 question first answered 29/10/2014 15:20:53 answering member 4262 label Biography information for Lord Deighton
	tabling member	2479 label Biography information for Lord Laird

93431

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Public Sector: Workplace Pensions
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that delaying transfer payments and reducing transfer values are sufficient safeguards to stabilise public sector funded pension schemes threatened by large-scale withdrawals under the new Freedom and Choice for Pensioners arrangements.
	tabling member printed	Lord Laird
	uin	HL2097
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>The government believes that people should be free to make their own</p><p> </p><p>choice about how to use their savings - individuals who have worked hard and saved responsibly throughout their adult life should have a choice about their pension savings and the reforms announced at Budget 2014 will deliver this.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The new tax framework, which will allow, from April 2015, individuals with a defined contribution pension to access their entire pension flexibly will apply equally across trust and contract based money purchase pension schemes. In the public sector, members of defined contribution schemes will also have access to these flexibilities, including members with savings in Additional Voluntary Contribution (AVC) arrangements.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government’s assessment of the impact of the policy is set out in detail in the Budget costing note and the Tax Information and Impact Note, published alongside the Taxation of Pensions Bill.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The government wants to extend the principles of freedom and choice to as many pension savers as possible which is why, following an extensive public consultation, it was decided to permit transfers out of private sector and funded public sector defined benefit schemes to continue. Giving scheme members the choice to transfer their accrued benefits into a defined contribution scheme, in order to access their pension pot flexibly if they wish to.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>To ensure due consideration is given to the interests of scheme members, scheme funds and the taxpayer in the continuation of these transfers for the public service schemes, government set out in the response to the consultation, <em>Freedom and Choice in Pensions,</em> that it would look to implement, where appropriate, safeguards akin to those which already exist in the private sector. We are continuing to discuss these options and others, including with the Department for Local Government as the department responsible for the Local Government Pension Scheme, the largest of the funded public service pension schemes, and will set out further detail on this issue in due course.</p> answering member printed Lord Deighton grouped question UIN HL2096 HL2098 HL2099 question first answered 29/10/2014 15:20:53 answering member 4262 label Biography information for Lord Deighton
	tabling member	2479 label Biography information for Lord Laird

93432

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Public Sector: Workplace Pensions
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, under their proposed entire pension withdrawal arrangements, they will include in the legislation a power to suspend the concession for such schemes in the event of serious destabilisation of funded public service pension schemes or extreme cost to the Exchequer.
	tabling member printed	Lord Laird
	uin	HL2098
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>The government believes that people should be free to make their own</p><p> </p><p>choice about how to use their savings - individuals who have worked hard and saved responsibly throughout their adult life should have a choice about their pension savings and the reforms announced at Budget 2014 will deliver this.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The new tax framework, which will allow, from April 2015, individuals with a defined contribution pension to access their entire pension flexibly will apply equally across trust and contract based money purchase pension schemes. In the public sector, members of defined contribution schemes will also have access to these flexibilities, including members with savings in Additional Voluntary Contribution (AVC) arrangements.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government’s assessment of the impact of the policy is set out in detail in the Budget costing note and the Tax Information and Impact Note, published alongside the Taxation of Pensions Bill.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The government wants to extend the principles of freedom and choice to as many pension savers as possible which is why, following an extensive public consultation, it was decided to permit transfers out of private sector and funded public sector defined benefit schemes to continue. Giving scheme members the choice to transfer their accrued benefits into a defined contribution scheme, in order to access their pension pot flexibly if they wish to.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>To ensure due consideration is given to the interests of scheme members, scheme funds and the taxpayer in the continuation of these transfers for the public service schemes, government set out in the response to the consultation, <em>Freedom and Choice in Pensions,</em> that it would look to implement, where appropriate, safeguards akin to those which already exist in the private sector. We are continuing to discuss these options and others, including with the Department for Local Government as the department responsible for the Local Government Pension Scheme, the largest of the funded public service pension schemes, and will set out further detail on this issue in due course.</p> answering member printed Lord Deighton grouped question UIN HL2096 HL2097 HL2099 question first answered 29/10/2014 15:20:54 answering member 4262 label Biography information for Lord Deighton
	tabling member	2479 label Biography information for Lord Laird

93433

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Public Sector: Workplace Pensions
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the key difference between trust-based and contract-based public sector defined contribution schemes in relation to the proposed pension withdrawal arrangements; and what was the result of their consultation with the Local Government Pension Scheme on extra safeguards for such trust-based schemes.
	tabling member printed	Lord Laird
	uin	HL2099
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>The government believes that people should be free to make their own</p><p> </p><p>choice about how to use their savings - individuals who have worked hard and saved responsibly throughout their adult life should have a choice about their pension savings and the reforms announced at Budget 2014 will deliver this.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The new tax framework, which will allow, from April 2015, individuals with a defined contribution pension to access their entire pension flexibly will apply equally across trust and contract based money purchase pension schemes. In the public sector, members of defined contribution schemes will also have access to these flexibilities, including members with savings in Additional Voluntary Contribution (AVC) arrangements.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government’s assessment of the impact of the policy is set out in detail in the Budget costing note and the Tax Information and Impact Note, published alongside the Taxation of Pensions Bill.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The government wants to extend the principles of freedom and choice to as many pension savers as possible which is why, following an extensive public consultation, it was decided to permit transfers out of private sector and funded public sector defined benefit schemes to continue. Giving scheme members the choice to transfer their accrued benefits into a defined contribution scheme, in order to access their pension pot flexibly if they wish to.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>To ensure due consideration is given to the interests of scheme members, scheme funds and the taxpayer in the continuation of these transfers for the public service schemes, government set out in the response to the consultation, <em>Freedom and Choice in Pensions,</em> that it would look to implement, where appropriate, safeguards akin to those which already exist in the private sector. We are continuing to discuss these options and others, including with the Department for Local Government as the department responsible for the Local Government Pension Scheme, the largest of the funded public service pension schemes, and will set out further detail on this issue in due course.</p> answering member printed Lord Deighton grouped question UIN HL2096 HL2097 HL2098 question first answered 29/10/2014 15:20:54 answering member 4262 label Biography information for Lord Deighton
	tabling member	2479 label Biography information for Lord Laird