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226240

registered interest
date	10/03/2015
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	Fire and Rescue Services: Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require fire authorities to provide a full pension to fire fighters between the ages of 55 and 60 if they fail a fitness test due to no fault of their own and cannot be employed in another role within the fire service.
tabling member constituency	Wellingborough
tabling member printed	Mr Peter Bone
uin	227101
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>It is not possible to introduce fitness regulations as part of the pension regulations in the absence of an agreed and universally applied national firefighter fitness standard in England. The statutory principles that we put in the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England came into force on 12 January. To underpin these, the National Employers have sought further discussion with the Fire Brigades Union in respect of additional guidance relating to the position already agreed in principle within the National Joint Council for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services. This discussion will be about the role fire authorities will take in supporting operational employees in maintaining their fitness. In addition, the National Employers are looking to discuss with the unions, guidance on the application of the factors set out in pension regulations for fire authority consideration in relation to Authority Initiated Early Retirement. Both approaches are expected to provide reassurance to operational employees that fire authorities will continue to treat their employees in a fair and consistent manner.</p><p> </p><p>We will review the implementation of the National Framework principles in three years time and consider then whether further action is needed. In the meantime no firefighter will have to work beyond their current expected retirement date until 2022 at the earliest. Our expectation is that a firefighter of 55 or over who finds themselves in the situation of losing their fitness through no fault of their own, is subsequently unable to regain their fitness, and for whom there are no redeployment opportunities, should be offered an unreduced pension.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 16/03/2015 15:35:07 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	1581 label Biography information for Mr Peter Bone

226595

registered interest
date	10/03/2015
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	Non-domestic Rates
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of small firms and shops likely to benefit from the planned reduction in business rates in (a) Herefordshire and (b) England in 2015-16.
tabling member constituency	Hereford and South Herefordshire
tabling member printed	Jesse Norman
uin	908064
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>My rt. hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced at the 2014 Autumn Statement an extra £650 million of support for 2015-16 bills, bringing the total support of 2013 and 2014 Autumn Statement polices to £1.4 billion. This help includes:</p><p> </p><ul><li>doubling small business rate relief for a further year. In England, this means an estimated 400,000 properties will pay no rates at all, while a further 200,000 properties will benefit from tapered relief;</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>a 2% cap on the increase of the small business rates multiplier. This is a continuation of the 2% cap introduced in 2014-15 as part of Autumn Statement 2013 measures;</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>increasing the temporary discount for shops, pubs and restaurants with rateable values below £50,000 from £1,000 to £1,500 for 2015-16, benefitting an estimated 200,000 properties in England; and</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>extending the existing transitional relief scheme for two years for properties with a rateable value up to and including £50,000.</li></ul><p> </p><p>These measures are in addition to previous Autumn Statement measures that continue into 2015-16, including:</p><p> </p><ul><li>a 50 per cent discount for 18 months to new occupants of vacant shops;</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>allowing businesses to keep their small business rate relief for a year where they take on an additional property;</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>business rates relief for empty new builds; and</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>allowing businesses to pay their business rate bills over 12 months, in order to assist with their cash flow.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Central Government also now funds 50% of any local discount granted.</p><p>Table 1 (attached) shows the estimated number of properties in 2015-16 within the Herefordshire Council boundary that will benefit from business rates measures extended in this year’s autumn statement. Table 2 (attached) presents this information for England as a whole.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 16/03/2015 17:25:29 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt attachment 1 file name 908064 Norman.docx title Table 1 - Business Rates
tabling member	3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman

226610

registered interest
date	10/03/2015
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	Fire and Rescue Services: Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what progress his Department has made on resolving the dispute over firefighters' pensions.
tabling member constituency	Houghton and Sunderland South
tabling member printed	Bridget Phillipson
uin	908071
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>The Firefighters Pension Scheme 2015 will come into force on 1 April 2015.</p><p> </p><p>The National Employers have agreed to work with the Fire Brigades Union to ensure that the fitness principles detailed in the Fire and Rescue National Framework, are incorporated into in local policies. The dispute should now come to an end.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 16/03/2015 15:49:48 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4046 label Biography information for Bridget Phillipson

224833

registered interest
date	03/03/2015
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	Fire and Rescue Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, on how many occasions he has used his powers of intervention under section 22 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 since May 2010; and for what reasons he used those powers on each such occasion.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
uin	226132
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/03/2015 answer text <p>These intervention powers have not been used under this Government or the last Administration, as they have not been needed.</p><p> </p><p>However, as I made clear in my Written Ministerial Statement of 15 December 2014, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 68WS, these are powers that could be used if the Secretary of State considers a fire and rescue authority is failing, or is likely to fail, to act in accordance with the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 06/03/2015 13:43:54 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

224420

registered interest
date	02/03/2015
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	Enterprise Zones
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to promote the use of enterprise zones by businesses.
tabling member constituency	Fylde
tabling member printed	Mark Menzies
uin	225862
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>My Department works actively with UK Trade and Investment, BIS sector leads as well as local partners to promote opportunities in Enterprise Zones to businesses across the UK and overseas. UK Trade and Investment encourages and supports overseas companies to consider Enterprise Zones as a good place to set up or expand their businesses. They do this by working to support the marketing efforts on Zones and publicising opportunities for businesses within their international networks.</p><p> </p><p>This collective approach is working. By the end of 2014, more than 450 businesses had come to Enterprise Zones. Alongside this, there has been significant investment in infrastructure, including around £200 million of commitments from the Local Growth Fund. This will help to attract more businesses to Enterprise Zones in future.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 09/03/2015 16:58:09 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	3998 label Biography information for Mark Menzies

223839

registered interest
date	26/02/2015
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	New Businesses: Government Assistance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what support his Department is providing to coalfield communities to help develop new businesses; and what estimate he has made of the number of jobs which will be created as a result of such initiatives.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	225584
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2015 answer text <p>The Department for Communities and Local Government has funded the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, Coalfields Enterprise and Growth Funds and the Homes and Communities Agency’s coalfield projects. Based on information provided by these sources, 38 businesses have been developed and over 25,000 jobs have been created or safeguarded.</p><p>The Coalfields Regeneration Trust has a history of supporting communities through the provision of training and health programmes, community assets, and small grants. Going forward, they have been allowed to invest in property assets to generate income and growth. They will also be providing small start-up loans and supporting people to make the most of employment opportunities.</p><p>We have created Enterprise Zones in former a number of former coalfield areas – in Sheffield, Leeds, Nottingham, Kent and the Tees Valley – all helping to create growth in former Coalfield communities. For example, the Sheffield City Region Enterprise Zone aims to create 14,000 jobs by 2020 and has sites on former collieries. The Orgreave colliery and coking plant is now transformed into a centre for advanced manufacturing and Markham Vale is benefitting from capital grant funding to develop the successful business park. The Government has invested nearly £12 million into local infrastructure - £1.8 million investment in Sheffield Business Park Phase 2 and £10 million in the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 03/03/2015 17:03:59 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

223848

registered interest
date	26/02/2015
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	Enterprise Zones
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many business tenants are in place in each Enterprise Zone.
tabling member constituency	Streatham
tabling member printed	Mr Chuka Umunna
uin	225679
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2015 answer text <p>Since they started in April 2012, Enterprise Zones have reported that they have created over 15,500 jobs, and over 480 businesses have been established.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 225680 question first answered 03/03/2015 17:05:21 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4128 label Biography information for Chuka Umunna

223849

registered interest
date	26/02/2015
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	Enterprise Zones
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many jobs have been created in each Enterprise Zone since May 2010.
tabling member constituency	Streatham
tabling member printed	Mr Chuka Umunna
uin	225680
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2015 answer text <p>Since they started in April 2012, Enterprise Zones have reported that they have created over 15,500 jobs, and over 480 businesses have been established.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 225679 question first answered 03/03/2015 17:05:21 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4128 label Biography information for Chuka Umunna

223564

registered interest
date	25/02/2015
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	Fire and Rescue Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many serving firefighters have served in that capacity for over 40 years.
tabling member constituency	North East Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Alistair Burt
uin	225357
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2015 answer text <p>This information is not held centrally.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 04/03/2015 15:44:50 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt

223565

registered interest
date	25/02/2015
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	Fire and Rescue Services: Medals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what progress his Department has made in discussion with the Honours and Decorations Committee and the Cabinet Office on introducing a further medal or bar to the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for firefighters that far exceed 20 years' service.
tabling member constituency	North East Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Alistair Burt
uin	225358
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2015 answer text <p>The viability of awarding firefighters for service beyond the existing 20 years is currently being investigated by my Department. There are processes which need to be followed prior to discussion with the Honours and Decorations Committee taking place but officials are progressing the issue and will be in touch with the Committee in due course. <br><br>The number of medals awarded to firefighters in each of the last five year are as follows:<br><br>2010 - 1,737<br>2011 - 1,465 <br>2012 - 1,011 <br>2013 - 1,246 <br>2014 - 1,147 <br><br>These figures do not include Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 225359 question first answered 04/03/2015 15:47:44 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt