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100672

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Tax Allowances: Business
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential costs and benefits of removing the cap on entrepreneurs' tax relief.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	211741
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>The last published cost for changing the cap on entrepreneurs' tax relief related to increasing the lifetime limit from £5m of qualifying gains to £10m. This is available in the full Budget 2011 document at the following address on page 42 in table 2.1 of the report.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130129110402/http:/www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget.htm" target="_blank">http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130129110402/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget.htm</a></p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 30/10/2014 17:10:28 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

101117

	registered interest
	date	27/10/2014
	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: Competition
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps he has taken to help businesses and individuals to switch their gas and electricity suppliers more quickly.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	211929
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>We have worked with Energy UK, Ofgem, suppliers and other key industry partners to develop and implement proposals which will enable domestic customers to switch supplier 17 days, half the time it currently takes. The industry code changes to enable to this will come in to force on 6 November and Energy UK members have all committed to offering it by the end of the year. These code changes will also enable more streamlined switching of non-domestic customers.</p><p>The Department is also working with Ofgem to support their proposals for a longer term move to next day switching. A key element of this is the roll out of smart meters.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 30/10/2014 17:13:29 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

101106

	registered interest
	date	27/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Teachers: Secondary Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many teachers of science, technology, engineering and mathematics there were in UK secondary schools in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	212006
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>The following table provides the number of science (by separate science subject), technology, engineering and mathematics teachers in service in publicly funded secondary schools in England in November of each year from 2011 to 2013: [1], [2]</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Subject [3]</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2011</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2012</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Physics</p></td><td><p>5,900</p></td><td><p>6,000</p></td><td><p>6,200</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Chemistry</p></td><td><p>6,900</p></td><td><p>7,200</p></td><td><p>7,400</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Biology</p></td><td><p>8,500</p></td><td><p>8,700</p></td><td><p>8,800</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Combined/General Science</p></td><td><p>34,700</p></td><td><p>32,700</p></td><td><p>32,900</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Other Sciences</p></td><td><p>2,800</p></td><td><p>2,400</p></td><td><p>2,400</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Technology</p></td><td><p>14,800</p></td><td><p>13,800</p></td><td><p>13,400</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Engineering</p></td><td><p>1,600</p></td><td><p>1,500</p></td><td><p>1,500</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mathematics</p></td><td><p>35,200</p></td><td><p>32,800</p></td><td><p>33,300</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="4"><p><em>Source: School Workforce Census</em></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>[1] Figures are based on a large sample of over 70% of secondary schools.</p><p>[2] Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.</p><p>[3] Each teacher is counted once under each subject they teach.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Information for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a matter for the respective devolved administrations.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Yeovil answering member printed Mr David Laws question first answered 03/11/2014 13:58:09 answering member 1473 label Biography information for Mr David Laws
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

101359

	registered interest
	date	28/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Children in Care
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many looked-after children in England also have a sibling in care; and how many looked-after children in England are (a) living with at least one of their siblings and (b) not living with any of their siblings.
	tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle
	tabling member printed	Alan Johnson
	uin	212283
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>The data requested is not held centrally.</p> answering member constituency Crewe and Nantwich answering member printed Mr Edward Timpson question first answered 30/10/2014 16:10:22 answering member 1605 label Biography information for Edward Timpson
	tabling member	376 label Biography information for Alan Johnson

100843

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2014
	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	Social Services: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment his Department has made of the merits of HM Revenue and Customs launching pro-active investigations into the non-payment of the national minimum wage.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211865
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government has not undertaken a formal assessment of the merits of pro-active investigations but believes they are an important part of enforcement.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>HMRC published findings from their targeted social care evaluation on 25 November 2013. Over the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2013, HMRC had made enquiries into 224 employers in the social care sector. Of the cases completed by the end of September 2014, HMRC have found non-compliance in 108 (48%) of their enquiries, identifying £1,319,729 arrears of pay for 6,550 workers, with penalties issued with a total value of £146,931.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As part of this targeted enforcement activity, HMRC have collaborated with care sector representative bodies to improve understanding of compliance risks and design controls within payroll systems that prevent workers being underpaid the minimum wage.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department of Health has recently published statutory guidance for local authorities as part of the package of secondary legislation that accompanies the Care Act. The chapter of statutory guidance on commissioning and market shaping explicitly states that local authorities should have evidence that contract terms, conditions and fee levels will not compromise care providers’ ability to pay at least minimum wages. A copy of the guidance can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/care-act-2014-statutory-guidance-for-implementation" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/care-act-2014-statutory-guidance-for-implementation</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department of Health is asking all Local Authorities to sign up to the Social Care Commitment which incorporates a statement about employer compliance with minimum wage legislation. The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services has written out to all its members encouraging them to support the Commitment as a way of raising standards in adult social care.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We regularly update our Guidance on Gov.UK and we will continue to work with the sector to improve understanding and compliance.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Any worker who believes that they are being paid below the minimum wage should call the Pay &amp; Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368. HM Revenue &amp; Customs investigate all complaints.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 03/11/2014 11:47:07 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

100770

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2014
	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	Personal Independence Payment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will include data on the average length of time taken to process personal independence payment claims in his Department's next quarterly statistics release.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211677
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Departmental statisticians are continuing to develop measures around clearance times and waiting times to ensure they provide a rounded and representative picture of personal independence payment performance, improvement activity and the claimants’ experience. These statistics will be published when they are ready, with the release pre-announced in line with United Kingdom Statistics Authority release protocols.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper grouped question UIN 211729 question first answered 28/10/2014 14:04:45 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

100861

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2014
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to encourage infrastructure-based competition across the market for high-speed broadband connections; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211867
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>The UK has a highly competitive broadband market. Superfast broadband is currently available to 78% of UK premises, up from 45% in 2010. In addition to BT, KCom and Virgin Media, a growing number of both fixed and wireless providers are making infrastructure investments. In September 2012 the Government announced a package of measures to reduce the barriers to deployment of superfast broadband, reducing red tape and bureaucracy to enable communications providers to deploy competing networks. The Digital Communications Infrastructure Strategy consultation invited industry to submit views on what more the Government might do to support infrastructure deployment. That consultation closed on 1 October and the Government is currently considering the responses received.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 30/10/2014 11:22:39 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

100862

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2014
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department will co-operate with the Department for Communities and Local Government over potential actions to reduce the costs associated with planning regulations and other barriers in relation to the rollout of high-speed broadband.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211848
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>DCMS worked closely with Communities and Local Government, industry and other interested parties to design and implement in 2013 a significant and substantial package of planning relaxations in England. The changes support the roll out of fixed line high-speed broadband in protected areas*, and high-speed mobile broadband (4G) in protected and unprotected areas by removing the need to seek planning permission for specified developments. This year, joint working with Communities and Local Government has continued, together with house builders and communications providers, to develop an action plan to ensure that new developments have access to superfast broadband.</p><p> </p><p>*(National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, World Heritage Site, Norfolk and Suffolk Broads and Conservation Areas but not Sites of Special Scientific Interest)</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 30/10/2014 11:24:19 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

100863

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2014
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department will hold discussions with local authorities to encourage uptake of narrow trenching techniques in order to lower deployment costs for high-speed broadband connections and expedite its rollout to more homes and businesses.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211849
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>We encourage and support a range of innovative approaches in street works, particularly where these can lower the cost and speed up deployment of superfast broadband. The standards that street works reinstatements must meet are set out in the statutory code, the Specification of the Reinstatement of Openings in Highways (SROH). SROH sets out a range of deployment methods and approved materials that undertakers can use when carrying out street works, including narrow trenching and the use of foamed concrete as a reinstatement material.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 30/10/2014 11:25:18 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

101103

	registered interest
	date	27/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Pupil Premium
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the merits of extending the Pupil Premium to all children educated at home.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	212017
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>The aim of the Pupil Premium is to raise the attainment of mainly economically disadvantaged pupils, which is why the funding is focused on those children who have been on free school meals at some point in the last six years.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>There are no plans to extend the Pupil Premium to children who are educated at home. The Government respects the right of parents to choose how their children are educated, whether this is at home or in any of the institutions available to them. However, parents who choose to home educate their children must take responsibility for costs. Local authorities have the power to give assistance to parents who home school if they so choose.</p> answering member constituency Yeovil answering member printed Mr David Laws question first answered 03/11/2014 13:54:35 answering member 1473 label Biography information for Mr David Laws
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham