Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label attachment file name title previous answer version answering member constituency answering member printed answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

167612

registered interest
date	03/12/2014
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	Poverty: Children
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the comments by Lord Freud in the Grand Committee debate on the Child Poverty Act 2010 (Persistent Poverty Targets) Regulations 2014, that the facts Lord McAvoy had quoted were "simply not true" (HL Deb, 25 November, col GC 263), how they were not true.
tabling member printed	Lord McAvoy
uin	HL3387
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>I wrote to the Noble Peer on this issue on 4<sup>th</sup> December 2014. I have placed a copy of this letter in the library of the House and have also attached it to this response.</p> answering member printed Lord Freud question first answered 08/12/2014 15:43:27 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud attachment 1 file name Letter to Lord McAvoy 4.12.14.PDF title Letter to Lord McAvoy 4th Dec 2014
tabling member	4158 label Biography information for Lord McAvoy

167614

registered interest
date	03/12/2014
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Transport: Rural Areas
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of existing transport initiatives with regard to facilitating youth mobility in rural areas.
tabling member printed	Lord Storey
uin	HL3389
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/12/2014 answer text <p>The Government set up a working group involving representatives from relevant organisations to look at existing and possible further initiatives to assist youth mobility in rural areas. I am pleased to say that this group is due to publish its conclusions and recommendation early in the new year.</p> answering member printed Baroness Kramer question first answered 09/12/2014 13:03:40 answering member 1557 label Biography information for Baroness Kramer
tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

167622

registered interest
date	03/12/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Crime
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the level and effectiveness of the United Kingdom's co-operation with the Irish Republic in tackling cross-border serious and organised crime.
tabling member printed	Lord Browne of Belmont
uin	HL3396
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/12/2014 answer text <p>Crime, and especially organised crime, does not respect borders. International co-operation is therefore essential. The relationship with the Republic of Ireland is particularly important given its land border with a part of the United Kingdom. The relationships between the law enforcement agencies in Northern Ireland, who are devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive, as well as bodies such as HM Revenue and Customs, Border Force and the National Crime Agency which are UK-wide bodies, and their counterparts in the Republic of Ireland, are very good. A North South cross border organised crime conference was held on 1-2 October involving all the major bodies. This is one example of the desire to develop that co-operation further. There are also plans for a cross border forum on human trafficking and forced labour in January of next year.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 09/12/2014 14:57:42 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	3801 label Biography information for Lord Browne of Belmont

167673

registered interest
date	03/12/2014
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Administration of Justice
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what support his Department provides to victim and witness support units.
tabling member constituency	North Swindon
tabling member printed	Justin Tomlinson
uin	217105
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2014 answer text <p>The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) continues to support the joint police/CPS Witness Care Units (WCUs) through the provision of staff and key case information that allows the unit to support victims and witnesses throughout the progress of their case. The CPS has also recently implemented Victim Liaison Units (VLUs) in every CPS Area. These dedicated units provide victims with clear explanations of CPS decisions about their cases, in line with our Victims’ Code commitments.</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Mr Robert Buckland question first answered 10/12/2014 11:31:36 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
tabling member	4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson

167674

registered interest
date	03/12/2014
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	Tobacco: EU Law
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 he has made of the effect of the revised EU Tobacco Products Directive on the JTI Gallaher factory.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	217070
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2014 answer text <p>Over regulation, and in particular the new tobacco products directive, have been blamed for the closure of the JTI factory in Ballymena. I believe this is part of a wider picture.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The demand for cigarettes is falling. Smoking rates have continued to decline in the UK. In 1974 almost half of the UK population smoked. Rates had fallen to 18.7% last year. Around 68% of current smokers also want to quit and are increasingly aware of the health harms that smoking causes. The tobacco industry has recognised this declining market and consumer health concerns and are diversifying into electronic cigarettes and ‘heat not burn’ technology.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The directive itself is aimed at harmonising European rules for the marketing of tobacco products to ensure that barriers to trade across the union are minimised for those continuing to trade in this commodity. These new rules include specific measures aimed at protecting trade, with an enhanced track and trace system to be implemented to protect the revenue of legitimate businesses. It is true, and right, that in deciding these trade rules a high level of health protection was sought for all citizens across the EU and the European Commission’s impact assessment accepts that there is likely to be a further reduction in tobacco consumption of 2% as a result of the directive.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>However, this is just part of the picture on job losses. Job losses have resulted, in greater measure from the actions of the industry itself, for example from the mechanisation and streamlining of tobacco production than from tobacco control measures implemented by this Government.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department of Health is currently finalising proposals to transpose the revised Tobacco Products Directive into UK law, and will consult on these proposals in early 2015. The Department will consider those proposals in due course.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman question first answered 10/12/2014 15:30:24 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn

167675

registered interest
date	03/12/2014
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	New Businesses: Energy
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 his Department is taking to provide guidance and assistance to new businesses on maximising energy efficiency measures in their premises.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	217084
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2014 answer text <p>There are a range of new initiatives businesses can take advantage of, depending on their size and premises, although the Government does not target specific energy efficiency support specifically on new businesses</p><p>The Electricity Demand Reduction Pilot is making a total of up to £20 million available to organisations that deliver electricity savings during winter peak times by installing more efficient equipment.</p><p>The recently introduced Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) makes it mandatory for large enterprises in the UK to measure and audit their energy use. The Scheme will improve awareness within large UK businesses and third-sector bodies of cost-effective energy efficiency steps they can take.</p><p>In order to raise awareness of the benefits of energy efficiency amongst small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), in spring 2015 the Government will publish specific guidance, including advice on simple steps to reduce energy consumption. The Government is also taking steps to raise awareness amongst SMEs of the Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme as a voluntary tool they can use to identify energy saving opportunities.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hastings and Rye answering member printed Amber Rudd question first answered 11/12/2014 17:03:05 answering member 3983 label Biography information for Amber Rudd previous answer version 32295 answering member constituency Hastings and Rye answering member printed Amber Rudd answering member 3983 label Biography information for Amber Rudd
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

167687

registered interest
date	03/12/2014
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	3G
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans his Department has to expand the use of 3G communications throughout the UK.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	216973
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2014 answer text <p>Mobile coverage in the UK is among the best in Europe. Ofcom’s Infrastructure Report 2014 notes that 84% of the UK (outdoors) and 71% of the UK (indoors) has 3G coverage from all operators, with mobile services among the cheapest in Europe. The UK is also experiencing one of the fastest rollouts of 4G mobile broadband services in Europe – with over 70% of premises already having 4G services available from at least one operator and with the operators aiming to reach 98% of premises by the end of 2015.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 10/12/2014 15:44:58 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

167688

registered interest
date	03/12/2014
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	Postal Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he plans to take to protect the Universal Service Obligation of delivery of mail to every address in the UK.
tabling member constituency	South Antrim
tabling member printed	Dr William McCrea
uin	216981
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2014 answer text <p>The minimum requirements of the universal postal service – which include the 6 day a week letters service at a uniform price to urban and rural addresses up and down the country – are enshrined and protected in law. Only Parliament can change the minimum requirements of the universal postal service.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Under the Postal Services Act 2011, Parliament has ensured that protection of the universal service is at the very heart of the regulatory regime by giving Ofcom, as an independent regulator, a primary duty to secure the provision of the universal service throughout the UK. Ofcom has the regulatory powers and tools it needs to intervene in the market if the universal service is ever at risk.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Ofcom has recently responded to Royal Mail’s concerns over the potential threat of competition to provision of the universal service. Having effectively reviewed and assessed all the evidence on competition in the postal market, including the business plans of Royal Mail and Whistl, it has concluded that the universal postal service is not under any current threat from the effects of competition. They will however continue to track Royal Mail’s performance and any new developments in the market. And as part of an ongoing wider review, they will also be looking at other factors that may affect Royal Mail’s ability to deliver the universal service in the future. More information about Ofcom’s decision can be found on its website (<a href="http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/post/securing-universal-postal-service" target="_blank">http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/post/securing-universal-postal-service</a>).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 10/12/2014 15:26:55 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	655 label Biography information for Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown

167689

registered interest
date	03/12/2014
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Older People: Stafford
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the likely change over the next 20 years to the proportion of the population of Stafford constituency who are over the age of 85.
tabling member constituency	Stafford
tabling member printed	Jeremy Lefroy
uin	216976
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2014 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 08/12/2014 14:09:30 answering member 1556 label Biography information for Mr Rob Wilson attachment 1 file name PQ 216976 ONS 446.pdf title ONS Letter to Member - Population Change
tabling member	4109 label Biography information for Jeremy Lefroy

167690

registered interest
date	03/12/2014
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Voluntary Work: Stafford
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many young people in Stafford constituency participated in the National Citizen Service in each of the last two years.
tabling member constituency	Stafford
tabling member printed	Jeremy Lefroy
uin	216977
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2014 answer text <p>National Citizen Service continues to grow and over 130,000 young people have taken part in the programme since 2011. Data on the programme is held at Local Authority level and in 2013 331 young people participated in Staffordshire, this increased to 470 in 2014.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading East answering member printed Mr Rob Wilson question first answered 10/12/2014 15:28:38 answering member 1556 label Biography information for Mr Rob Wilson
tabling member	4109 label Biography information for Jeremy Lefroy