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114632

registered interest
date	05/11/2014
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	Devolution: West Midlands
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with local authorities in the West Midlands on the devolution of his Department's powers to that urban area; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	213542
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2015 answer text <p>We have regular discussions with local authorities on a range of issues associated with localism.</p><p> </p><p>I refer my hon. Friend to the recent command paper, <em>Implications of devolution for England</em> (Cm 8969) which sets our approach to further decentralisation in England.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/implications-of-devolution-for-england" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/implications-of-devolution-for-england</a></p><p> </p><p>I would also note the recent Written Ministerial Statement on the governance of Birmingham City Council of 9 December 2014, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 27WS, which follows the review by Sir Bob Kerslake.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 15/01/2015 17:27:41 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

114680

registered interest
date	05/11/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Music: Teachers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many secondary schools have at least one trained music teacher; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	213544
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>Published figures show there were an estimated total of 7,300 teachers teaching music in publicly funded secondary schools in England in November 2013, of whom 86.7% held a relevant post A-level qualification in music. These figures are correct to within a margin of plus or minus 1.0% (73 teachers).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>This national estimate is based on a large sample of secondary schools. Of the schools in that sample, 86% employed at least one teacher of music (on a headcount basis) with a relevant post A-level qualification in music.[1] The estimate excludes self-employed and peripatetic music teachers who have a contract with the school for less than 28 days.</p><p> </p><p>[1] Relevant post A-level qualification includes: a degree in music, a bachelor of education or a post graduate certificate of education (PGCE) or any other qualification recognised at National Qualification Framework level 4 or level 5 in music. A music teacher whose training was outside one of these routes would not count as having a relevant post A-level qualification.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Mr Nick Gibb question first answered 17/11/2014 17:11:39 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

114684

registered interest
date	05/11/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Music: Teachers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate she has made of the number of trained music teachers in England; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	213546
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Education does not collect data on the number of trained music teachers in primary schools in England.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>There were 7,300 teachers teaching music in publicly funded secondary schools in England in November 2013, of whom 86.7% had a post A-level qualification in music. These figures are correct to within a margin of plus or minus 1%.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>This information is taken from the School Workforce Census and excludes self-employed and peripatetic music teachers who have a contract with a school for less than 28 days. The estimate also excludes music provision in primary schools.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Mr Nick Gibb question first answered 17/11/2014 17:20:22 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

114688

registered interest
date	05/11/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Music: Teachers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many primary schools have at least one trained music teacher; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	213547
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2014 answer text <p>The information requested is not collected centrally.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Mr Nick Gibb question first answered 10/11/2014 16:30:09 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

114694

registered interest
date	05/11/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Music: Curriculum
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to encourage the study of music in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	213521
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government recognises the importance of music as an integral part of children’s development, and believes strongly that every child should experience a good quality music education at both primary and secondary school.</p><p> </p><p>We have therefore confirmed the place of music as a statutory subject within the new national curriculum for all children in maintained schools between key stages 1 to 3. The revised programmes of study include an increased focus on learning to play a musical instrument and singing, pupils learning to read and write notation, the historical development of music, and the work of great composers.</p><p> </p><p>Music also remains within the arts entitlement area within the national curriculum at key stage 4. Maintained schools must provide access to at least one course in each entitlement area. The total number of music entries in key stage 4 exams has risen by 7% since 2010.</p><p> </p><p>We have committed around £390 million in the years 2012-16 for music education programmes. This includes £246 million for 123 music education hubs which have core roles to ensure every child aged 5-18 has the opportunity to learn a musical instrument through whole-class ensemble teaching, provide opportunities to play in ensembles and to perform from an early stage, ensure clear progression routes are available and affordable to all young people, and to develop a singing strategy for their area.</p><p>Arts Council England, which manages the hubs on our behalf, introduced a new requirement earlier this year for each hub to set up a School Music Education Plan. These plans must demonstrate how music hubs intend to increase their engagement with the schools in their local area, how they will provide support to schools in their provision of a high-quality music curriculum, and how they will challenge schools to improve where this is needed.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Mr Nick Gibb question first answered 17/11/2014 17:22:57 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

114752

registered interest
date	05/11/2014
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	Macedonia
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 support he has given to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for that country's candidacy to join the EU; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	213525
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government supports Macedonia’s candidacy to join the EU and welcomes the latest European Commission assessment that, given its cumulative progress over several years, Macedonia continues to meet the political criteria in terms of alignment with the Acquis. However, that positive recommendation is increasingly overshadowed by serious concerns over lack of political dialogue, politicisation of institutions and services, and media freedom. The UK continues to believe that the best way to address these concerns is through the opening of accession negotiations and the scrutiny of individual chapters.</p><p>Over the coming year, the UK will be calling on all stakeholders in Macedonia to make efforts to resolve its political crisis, increase the space for independent voices, and develop a joint approach to a multi-ethnic society. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also uses its programme tools to contribute to these goals, such as supporting inter-ethnic education, increasing awareness of the concept of hate speech, and making information on government services open to all citizens.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 17/11/2014 15:36:42 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

114754

registered interest
date	05/11/2014
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	Moldova
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department is giving to Moldova to integrate further with the EU; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	213497
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text We work with EU partners to help Moldova bring its standards of governance in-line with EU best practice, including spreading greater transparency and accountability in the public sector and the promotion of EU standards and values. Key areas include tackling corruption and reform of the justice sector. The UK has led the implementation of a comprehensive EU communications campaign “Winning Hearts & Minds” which informs the public of the benefits of closer approximation with the EU and the benefits of projects that the EU and Member States have delivered in Moldova. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) contributes financially and acts as the lead coordinator. The FCO is working to get the best value from EU Twinning advisers, who provide technical advice in line ministries. In response to the embargoes imposed by the Russian Federation on the export of Moldovan fruit, vegetables and wine, the FCO brought a delegation from the Moldovan Ministry of Agriculture to the UK to demonstrate ways in which Moldova could improve its food safety standards and explore scope for diversifying its fruit and wine markets. answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 17/11/2014 17:39:32 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

105951

registered interest
date	03/11/2014
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	Commonwealth
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he is taking steps to promote trade between the UK and other Commonwealth member states; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	212864
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2014 answer text <p>I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 21 October 2014 (PQ 210357).</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 10/11/2014 17:29:11 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

106032

registered interest
date	03/11/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Police and Crime Commissioners
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the net effect to date on public expenditure of the introduction of police and crime commissioners; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	212863
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) have introduced direct democratic accountability to policing. Their role and function is dramatically different to the invisible and ineffective Police Authorities they replaced. The Government has not made an estimate of the net effect on public expenditure, nor are the roles directly comparable. PCCs are providing an impetus to reform and are delivering policing more efficiently. <br><br>As recognised by HMIC’s independent report &quot;Policing in Austerity: Meeting the Challenge&quot;, police forces and PCCs have risen to the challenge of delivering savings and supporting collaboration whilst maintaining and improving services for the public. The proportion of officers on the frontline is increasing, victim satisfaction is up and crime continues to fall.<br><br>The Government’s police reforms are working. Under this Government, overall crime has fallen by more than a fifth according to the independent Crime Survey for England and Wales.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 17/11/2014 10:06:51 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

101531

registered interest
date	29/10/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Tax Avoidance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts about measures to reduce tax avoidance; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	212452
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>The UK is at the forefront of multilateral action through the G8, G20, European Union and OECD to tackle this issue of corporate tax avoidance. The UK used its Presidency of the G8 to successfully build international support for this work.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Work is now underway at the OECD, in the form of the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project. The BEPS project is the most comprehensive reform of the international tax rules with the aim of ensuring that multinational enterprises pay their fair share of tax, in the jurisdictions where their economic activity is located. The project has 44 participant countries, 21 of which are within the EU.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>At the UK’s Lough Erne summit in June 2013 the G8 leaders confirmed their support for the ongoing G20/OECD work.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>At their September 2013 summit in St Petersburg, the G20 Leaders fully endorsed the ambitious and comprehensive BEPS Action Plan set out over 2014 and 2015.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The first phase of the BEPS project is now complete, with participants reaching agreement on seven reports which have been produced by the OECD and endorsed by G20 Finance Ministers.</p><p> </p><p>The G8 called on the OECD to develop a common template for multinationals to report profit and tax information to tax authorities to help assess risks. This work was included in the BEPS Action Plan (action 13) and was one of seven outputs achieved in 2014.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Subsequently, the UK announced that it would be the first of 44 countries to formally commit to implementing the newly agreed BEPS output of a country-by-country reporting template.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Discussions are ongoing in G20 Finance Minister’s and ECOFIN meetings to ensure that the momentum of the BEPS project is maintained, so that the project is completed successfully and on time.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Further to the BEPS project, international work with G20 and EU counterparts is ongoing with the Automatic Exchange of Information policy.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The UK put tax transparency at the heart of its presidency of the G8, calling for the creation of a new global standard on automatic tax information exchange to tackle offshore tax evasion. The new global standard was developed by the OECD and agreed in July 2014. At the March European Council leaders committed to implement the standard in the EU through agreement of the amended Administrative Co-operation Directive, which they aim to agree by the end of the year.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In total 92 countries and have now committed to implement the new global standard, with the first information exchanged no later than 2018. This includes all EU Member States, all of the UK’s Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories with a financial centre and the majority of the world’s financial centres. Of these countries and jurisdictions, 51 have already signed an international agreement to implement the standard.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke grouped question UIN 212453 question first answered 05/11/2014 17:58:27 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby