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33120

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate by country of residence of the child he has made of the number of migrants residing in the UK who claimed benefits on behalf of children living abroad during 2013.
	tabling member constituency	Rochester and Strood
	tabling member printed	Mark Reckless
	uin	183448
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p>HMRC are not able to provide the information in the manner requested. HMRC do not record the nationality of the claimant receiving Child Benefit for children living in another member state.</p><p> </p><p>Published Child Benefit statistics provide annual estimates of the number of families and children claiming. The latest available (August 2012) show that there were 7.92 million families, responsible for 13.77 million children and qualifying young people receiving Child Benefit.</p><p>The main purpose of Child Benefit is to support families in the UK. Consequently, the rules generally do not provide for them to be paid in respect of children who live abroad.</p><p> </p><p>Nevertheless, Child Benefit is a family benefit under EC Regulation 883/2004. This regulation protects the social security rights of nationals of all member states of the European economic area, including the UK, and Switzerland when they exercise their rights of free movement under EU law.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC holds information on the number of Child Benefit awards under EC Regulation 883/2004. As at 31 December 2013, there were 20,400 ongoing Child Benefit awards under the EC Regulation in respect of 34.268 children living in another member state.</p><p> </p><p>This is a fall of 3,682 (15.3%) awards in respect of 5,903 (14.7%) fewer children since 31 December 2012.</p><p> </p><p>The breakdown by member state is as follows:</p><p> </p><p>*We have withheld the number where it is fewer than 5, as there is risk that the information could be attributed to an identifiable person, which would prejudice their right to privacy and would therefore be a breach of Principle 1 of the Data Protection Act.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Child Benefit</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Country of residence of children</p></td><td><p>Number of awards</p></td><td><p>Number of children</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>Austria</p></td><td><p>23</p></td><td><p>37</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Belgium</p></td><td><p>75</p></td><td><p>140</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Bulgaria</p></td><td><p>186</p></td><td><p>245</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Croatia</p></td><td><p>*5</p></td><td><p>*5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cyprus</p></td><td><p>39</p></td><td><p>61</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Czech Republic</p></td><td><p>124</p></td><td><p>203</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Denmark</p></td><td><p>13</p></td><td><p>23</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Estonia</p></td><td><p>45</p></td><td><p>65</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Finland</p></td><td><p>12</p></td><td><p>23</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>France</p></td><td><p>789</p></td><td><p>1429</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Germany</p></td><td><p>283</p></td><td><p>495</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Greece</p></td><td><p>44</p></td><td><p>69</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Hungary</p></td><td><p>136</p></td><td><p>196</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Iceland</p></td><td><p>*5</p></td><td><p>*5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Italy</p></td><td><p>156</p></td><td><p>273</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Latvia</p></td><td><p>797</p></td><td><p>1091</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Liechtenstein</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Lithuania</p></td><td><p>1215</p></td><td><p>1712</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Luxembourg</p></td><td><p>7</p></td><td><p>14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Malta</p></td><td><p>15</p></td><td><p>22</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Norway</p></td><td><p>30</p></td><td><p>61</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Poland</p></td><td><p>13174</p></td><td><p>22093</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Portugal</p></td><td><p>202</p></td><td><p>309</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Republic of Ireland</p></td><td><p>1231</p></td><td><p>2505</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Romania</p></td><td><p>230</p></td><td><p>392</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Slovakia</p></td><td><p>692</p></td><td><p>1232</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Slovenia</p></td><td><p>11</p></td><td><p>21</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Spain</p></td><td><p>600</p></td><td><p>1019</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sweden</p></td><td><p>49</p></td><td><p>95</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Switzerland</p></td><td><p>77</p></td><td><p>150</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>The Netherlands</p></td><td><p>142</p></td><td><p>288</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>Totals</p></td><td><p>20400</p></td><td><p>34268</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As announced in the 2014 Budget, to prevent EEA migrants claiming benefits they are not entitled to, the Government will increase compliance checks to establish whether EEA migrants meet the entitlement conditions to receive Child Benefit</p><p> </p><p>Under domestic law, in order to claim Child Benefit EEA Migrants must be present in the UK, ordinarily resident and have a right to reside in the UK and their children must live in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>The recent changes to migrants' access to benefits announced by the Government sends a strong message that the UK benefit system is not open to abuse, as well as deterring those who may seek residence in the UK primarily to claim benefits.</p><p>Strengthening compliance checks will help prevent EEA migrants from claiming, and continuing to claim, benefits they are not entitled to. Checks will be applied to both new claims and existing awards.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Loughborough answering member printed Nicky Morgan grouped question UIN 181673 184509 191453 question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4027 label Biography information for Nicky Morgan
	tabling member	4049 label Biography information for Mark Reckless

39268

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his policy is on the implementation of the so-called Eve's Law.
	tabling member constituency	Rochester and Strood
	tabling member printed	Mark Reckless
	uin	188752
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2014 answer text <p>The Government takes the issue of domestic violence very seriously and is committed to ensuring greater protection for victims of all forms of violence.</p><p> </p><p>The issue raised by the Eve's Law campaign is complex and cuts across a number of justice jurisdictions, and into many areas of a victim's interaction with the state and other agencies.</p><p> </p><p>Having considered the issues raised by the campaign this Department is not persuaded that primary legislation is the necessary and appropriate way forward. However, we are committed to taking action to improve the protection of personal information of victims and will identify opportunities in the cross-Government programmes that are tackling the priority issues of domestic and sexual abuse.</p><p> </p><p>I refer the Honourable Member to my response to questions raised in the House by Dan Jarvis MP, Honourable Member for Barnsley Central, regarding the Eve's Law campaign, on 17 December 2013, and 14 January this year (Hansard 14 Jan 2014 : Column 480W, 17 Dec 2013 : Column 607).</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Ashford answering member printed Damian Green question first answered 31/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 76 label Biography information for Damian Green
	tabling member	4049 label Biography information for Mark Reckless

720888

	registered interest
	date	13/04/2017
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Business: Procurement
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to encourage companies to purchase from UK companies which have developed products through programmes funded from the public purse.
	tabling member constituency	Rochester and Strood
	tabling member printed	Kelly Tolhurst
	uin	70710
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2017 answer text <p>The objective of Government support for business is to put the United Kingdom in a strong position for the future, promoting a diversity of businesses and industrial sectors, as well as ensuring the benefits of growth are shared across cities and regions up and down the country.</p><p>The Government regularly showcases the best that British business has to offer, for example through its GREAT Britain campaign, which aims to inspire the world and encourage people to do business with manufacturers in the UK. On 21 April we announced the winners of the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise; 176 businesses from across the UK have been recognised for their contribution to international trade, innovation, sustainable development and this year’s new award, promoting opportunity. Some of these companies have previously benefitted from public funding, thus demonstrating the real benefits to businesses and society that can be derived from properly-targeted Government support.</p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 25/04/2017 14:02:50 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
	tabling member	4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst

684011

	registered interest
	date	03/02/2017
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	hansard heading	Banks
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps he has taken to support high street banking for local communities.
	tabling member constituency	Rochester and Strood
	tabling member printed	Kelly Tolhurst
	uin	63006
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2017 answer text <p>High streets are a crucial part of our local and regional economies. The Government wants to see vibrant hubs where people live, shop, use services, and spend their leisure time.</p><p> </p><p>A new agreement between the Post Office and UK banks, announced on 24 January 2017, means that more individuals and businesses can use 11,600 local Post Office branches to access a wider range of banking services. Thanks to the new agreement, the Post Office estimates that 99% of personal bank customers and 75% of business customers will now be able to do their day to day banking at a Post Office.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises the need to support local communities to adapt to changes in banking, including when bank branches close. In March 2015, the Government helped to broker an industry-wide agreement to work with customers and communities to minimise the impact of bank branch closures and put in place alternative banking services. The Government welcomed Professor Russel Griggs’ recent review of the Protocol and is pleased to see the industry commit to further improvements to protect those affected by closures.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has also made a manifesto commitment to support credit unions in making financial services more accessible. Credit unions are democratic, not-for-profit, financial services providers which are owned and run by members of their community and who provide affordable, sustainable credit to their members.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Brighton, Kemptown answering member printed Simon Kirby question first answered 09/02/2017 14:38:20 answering member 3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby
	tabling member	4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst

720250

	registered interest
	date	13/04/2017
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	hansard heading	Royal Bank of Scotland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, at what level of seniority his Department had discussions with (a) the Royal Bank of Scotland and (b) NatWest on their programmes for nationwide branch closures; and how many times such discussions took place.
	tabling member constituency	Rochester and Strood
	tabling member printed	Kelly Tolhurst
	uin	70711
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2017 answer text <p>Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel</a></p> answering member constituency Brighton, Kemptown answering member printed Simon Kirby question first answered 24/04/2017 15:45:57 answering member 3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby
	tabling member	4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst

709268

	registered interest
	date	08/03/2017
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	hansard heading	VAT: Training
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he plans to take to reduce VAT on flight training and general aviation-related mechanical or engineering education programmes.
	tabling member constituency	Rochester and Strood
	tabling member printed	Kelly Tolhurst
	uin	67039
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2017 answer text <p>Where education is provided for no charge it is outside the scope of VAT.</p><p> </p><p>Where an eligible body such as a university or a further education college charges for supplies of vocational training, or school, higher, or further education, that supply will be exempt from VAT.</p><p> </p><p>While all taxes are kept under review, there are no plans to provide further VAT relief for flight training and general aviation-related mechanical or engineering education programmes.</p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 17/03/2017 08:22:20 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
	tabling member	4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst

715587

	registered interest
	date	30/03/2017
	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	Airports: Vacant Land
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he plans to take to reclassify the status of airfields to greenfield under planning regulations.
	tabling member constituency	Rochester and Strood
	tabling member printed	Kelly Tolhurst
	uin	69994
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2017 answer text <p>It is our National Planning Policy Framework, not regulation, that defines brownfield. This states clearly that, if a site is brownfield, it should not be assumed that the whole curtilage should be developed. Whilst this Government is keen to ensure the re-use of brownfield sites that are not of high environmental value, especially for new homes, it would be for the local authority to decide whether an airfield should be retained for general aviation; whether a site, or part of a site, is suitable for redevelopment; and whether former airfield land should be retained for uses such as nature conservation, recreation or agriculture.</p><p>The local authority should have regard to all relevant policies in the National Planning Policy Framework including, where relevant, the policy for airports and airfields (that are not subject to a separate national policy statement) which expects local planning authorities to take account of their growth and role in serving business, leisure, training and emergency needs.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Croydon Central answering member printed Gavin Barwell question first answered 24/04/2017 14:32:20 answering member 3955 label Biography information for Lord Barwell
	tabling member	4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst

720270

	registered interest
	date	13/04/2017
	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	Derelict Land
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 111 of the National Planning Policy Framework published by his Department in March 2012, what his policy is on the development of brownfield land classified as being of high environmental value; and whether he has plans to amend paragraph 111 of the National Planning Policy Framework in order to (a) limit and (b) prohibit such development.
	tabling member constituency	Rochester and Strood
	tabling member printed	Kelly Tolhurst
	uin	70715
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2017 answer text <p>This Government has committed to increasing the take-up of brownfield sites for development, especially for new homes. Our National Planning Policy Framework asks local authorities to encourage re-use of brownfield sites wherever practicable, and the law now requires each local authority to maintain a register of local brownfield sites suitable for housing. However, for a brownfield site to be suitable to redevelop, it should not be of high environmental value. In the Government’s view, this policy is clear to decision-makers, and we see no reason to amend the Framework, or to limit the freedom of local communities to judge how to apply national policy to the facts of particular cases.</p> answering member constituency Croydon Central answering member printed Gavin Barwell question first answered 25/04/2017 14:26:23 answering member 3955 label Biography information for Lord Barwell
	tabling member	4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst

706656

	registered interest
	date	01/03/2017
	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	Housing: Environment Protection
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to deliver nature-friendly housing developments.
	tabling member constituency	Rochester and Strood
	tabling member printed	Kelly Tolhurst
	uin	66073
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2017 answer text <p>The National Planning Policy Framework seeks to promote sustainable development. The Government encourages and supports innovative ways to deliver the homes this country needs, while protecting and enhancing the natural environment through legislation and policy. We have no plans to exempt publicly-owned special protection and conservation areas from any future public land disposal.</p><p>We announced in the Housing White Paper, published on 7 February, a new and strategic approach to the habitat management of the great crested newt. This will not only protect a rare species and its habitat, but will safeguard development from delays, costs and uncertainty. We also announced our proposal to clarify national planning policy on ancient woodland and aged or veteran trees. This reflects the need to protect these irreplaceable habitats from harmful development.</p> answering member constituency Croydon Central answering member printed Gavin Barwell grouped question UIN 66074 question first answered 14/03/2017 16:43:04 answering member 3955 label Biography information for Lord Barwell
	tabling member	4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst

522471

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2016
	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	Local Plans
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to adopt the recommendations made in the Local Plans Expert Group report, published in March 2016.
	tabling member constituency	Rochester and Strood
	tabling member printed	Kelly Tolhurst
	uin	38988
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/06/2016 answer text <p>The Local Plans Expert Group published their report on 16 March 2016, and this was open for representations until 27 April.</p><p>We are committed to streamlining the plan-making process and are carefully considering the report and representations received.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 13/06/2016 15:43:12 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst