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381362

registered interest
date	16/06/2015
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Small Businesses: VAT
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance he has issued to small businesses on adherence to VAT legislation.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	2674
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2015 answer text <p>HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) provides a wide range of guidance for all businesses on VAT legislation and their tax obligations at:</p><p> </p><p>www.gov.uk/business-tax/vat</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>This includes guidance on VAT simplification schemes for small businesses.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>HMRC provides additional guidance and support through VAT webinars specifically tailored to meet the needs of small businesses. These cover key areas such as VAT registration, how to keep business records, what to charge VAT on and how and when to pay VAT to HMRC.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>VAT webinars are delivered live, where attendees have the opportunity to ask HMRC Business Advisors questions, and are also available online as recorded versions so businesses can access them at any time and are supported by downloadable frequently asked questions.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 23/06/2015 16:06:55 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

381363

registered interest
date	16/06/2015
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	Fuel Poverty
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 she has taken to reduce fuel poverty.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	2675
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2015 answer text <p>Fuel poverty is a devolved matter.</p><p>In England, the Government is fully committed to tackling fuel poverty, including meeting a new 2030 target now enshrined in law. Official statistics show that fuel poverty has fallen in England every year since 2010, demonstrating that the Government’s policies are working. Flagship policies such as the Energy Company Obligation and Warm Home Discount (both of which operate across Great Britain) help millions of low income and vulnerable households each year with heating and insulation measures as well as direct reductions in their energy bills.</p><p>The Northern Ireland Executive decides its own fuel poverty objectives and policies. For example, the Department for Social Development offers energy efficiency improvement schemes for low income households through the Warm Homes Scheme, Boiler Replacement Scheme and the Affordable Warmth Scheme.</p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 22/06/2015 10:09:40 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

381401

registered interest
date	16/06/2015
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	Pornography: Young People
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 prevent young teenagers having access and becoming addicted to pornography.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	2697
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2015 answer text <p>Helping parents to protect their children from inappropriate and harmful content online remains a top priority, with measures implemented under the previous Government including easy to use parental control filters in the home. The Government also made a commitment in the election manifesto to require age verification for access to sites containing pornographic material. It is considering its approach to delivering this commitment, and will share its plans in due course. Ministers will engage with the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) and other key stakeholders as they develop this policy.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 10/07/2015 13:36:21 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

381402

registered interest
date	16/06/2015
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	USA: Defence
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to strengthen the UK's relationship with the US in relation to defence operations and funding.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	2701
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2015 answer text <p>The UK-US defence relationship is as strong as it has ever been.</p><p>On operations, our forces have fought side by side in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today we are together combating terrorism and violent extremism in the Middle East and Africa, maintaining freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf, providing reassurance to NATO Allies in Eastern Europe, providing training and other support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, undertaking counter-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa, countering the narcotic trade in South America and the Caribbean, fighting Ebola in West Africa and providing nuclear deterrence for NATO.</p><p>Beyond joint operations, our collaboration spans the full spectrum of defence activity including intelligence sharing, nuclear cooperation, joint exercises and training, defence procurement, cyber, science and technology.</p><p>The US continues to value what the UK has always been able to offer: our leadership and partnership in addressing shared challenges, and a contribution to global operations that no other ally can match.</p><p>On funding, we have the largest defence budget in the EU and the second largest in NATO. We will spend 2% of our GDP on defence this year. We will invest over £160 billion over the next decade on our future force.</p><p>Our defence relationship with the US benefits from a healthy regular dialogue and strong personal relationships at the most senior levels.</p><p>Our Combined Chiefs met for the third time in recent history in the US in May to discuss our approach to shared challenges like ISIL and Russia and to ensuring that our forces are increasingly able to operate alongside each other.</p><p>When I met with the US Secretary of Defense earlier in the year he said that &quot;our military collaboration is the cornerstone of both of our nations' security&quot;. I look forward to seeing him again next week at the meeting of NATO Defence Ministers where we will continue to look for opportunities to strengthen our relationship for our mutual benefit.</p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon question first answered 22/06/2015 15:45:28 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

381430

registered interest
date	16/06/2015
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Housing Improvement: Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential benefits of home maintenance and improvement skills being taught in schools.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	2699
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2015 answer text <p>The new national curriculum, which came into force in maintained schools in England from September 2014, focuses on the essential knowledge that schools should cover. It gives teachers and schools the freedom and flexibility to develop a wider school curriculum that meets the needs of their pupils.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Design and Technology (D&amp;T) is compulsory for pupils aged 5-14. As part of the D&amp;T curriculum pupils have opportunities to design and make products that solve real world problems. The D&amp;T curriculum encourages schools to use a wide range of industrial, commercial and domestic contexts for their teaching. Whilst the curriculum does not specify which craft skills or activities should be taught, it is possible for schools to teach home maintenance and improvement skills.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 24/06/2015 15:17:21 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

381432

registered interest
date	16/06/2015
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Physical Education: Young People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to increase opportunities for young people to undertake physical activity in the countryside.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	2700
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2015 answer text <p>Physical Education (PE) remains compulsory at all four key stages in the new national curriculum in England and the programmes of study at key stages 2, 3 and 4 all state that pupils should take part in outdoor, adventurous activities. At key stage 4, these activities should take place in a range of environments and present intellectual and physical challenges. The national curriculum programme of study for PE is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-physical-education-programmes-of-study" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-physical-education-programmes-of-study</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We also know that some schools are using their Primary PE and Sport Premium to provide enhanced opportunities for their pupils in this area – this includes rock-climbing, mountaineering and sailing.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Crewe and Nantwich answering member printed Edward Timpson question first answered 24/06/2015 09:54:13 answering member 1605 label Biography information for Edward Timpson
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

381462

registered interest
date	16/06/2015
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Theft: Dogs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many thefts of dogs occurred in the UK in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	2706
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2015 answer text <p>The Home Office holds statistics on notifiable offences recorded by the police. The police record offences of thefts, in a number of categories and supply this information to the Home Office. Theft of dogs is most likely to be recorded within ‘other theft’, however theft of dogs cannot be separately identified within this category.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 23/06/2015 15:43:31 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

381463

registered interest
date	16/06/2015
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Salmon
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of salmon caught in UK rivers in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	2707
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2015 answer text <p>The numbers of salmon reported to have been caught by anglers in UK rivers in each of the last five years is shown in the table below. These figures do not include salmon caught by nets and traps which are situated in estuaries or coastal areas of the UK. The majority of the fish caught (67 to 80%) were released. The data for 2014 is provisional.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>No. caught</p></td><td><p>No. released</p></td><td><p>No. retained</p></td><td><p>% released</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>140,498</p></td><td><p>94,162</p></td><td><p>46,336</p></td><td><p>67</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>116,714</p></td><td><p>80,556</p></td><td><p>36,158</p></td><td><p>69</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>110,876</p></td><td><p>78,157</p></td><td><p>32,719</p></td><td><p>70</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>86,808</p></td><td><p>67,179</p></td><td><p>19,629</p></td><td><p>77</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>61,489</p></td><td><p>49,140</p></td><td><p>12,349</p></td><td><p>80</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 23/06/2015 12:07:03 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

381468

registered interest
date	16/06/2015
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	Nigeria: Christianity
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the new Prime Minister of Nigeria on the situation of the Christian minority in the north of that country.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	2708
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2015 answer text In their conversations with President Buhari, both the The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) and The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) have underlined our concern about the threat Boko Haram poses to communities of different faiths and ethnicities in Nigeria. Boko Haram’s attacks are often indiscriminate and they commit appalling atrocities against all those, both Christian and Muslim, who do not follow their extremist and intolerant views. We condemn their actions unreservedly. As the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) informed colleagues on 10 June, we have equally underlined to the President our commitment to helping him tackle the threat. The UK is providing a substantial and increasing package of intelligence, military and development support, including programmes working with religious leaders to directly address conflict in northern Nigeria and training and advice to Nigerian units deploying against Boko Haram. answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 23/06/2015 14:06:54 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

381470

registered interest
date	16/06/2015
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	Iraq: Christianity
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 discussions he has had with the government of Iraq on protection of the Christian minority in that country.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	2709
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2015 answer text <p>We continue to condemn in the strongest terms the atrocities committed by the self-styled ISIL against all communities throughout the areas under its control. The human rights situation for many living in areas under ISIL control is gravely concerning.</p><p>I visited Iraq on 12 February and encouraged Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to continue progress on ensuring that all minorities are represented and their rights protected. We welcome the commitments that Prime Minister al-Abadi has made to inclusivity, to protecting Iraqi citizens, addressing human rights abuses and holding those responsible to account.</p><p>We are working closely with the Iraqi government and our international coalition partners to assist and protect civilians wherever we can. We will continue to explore what further support we might be able to provide to vulnerable groups and internally displaced persons.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 22/06/2015 14:27:09 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon