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428502

registered interest
date	16/11/2015
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Election Observers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much her Department has spent on election observation (a) in real terms and (b) as a proportion of her Department's budget since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	16449
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2015 answer text <p>DFID tracks its spending on support to elections, and this encompasses election observation to build public confidence in electoral processes and help deter fraud, intimidation and violence. DFID spent a total of £212 million on bilateral and multilateral support to elections during the period 2010/11 to 2014/15 which represents 0.5% of DFID total spend. During this period DFID has funded elections observation in a number of countries often as part of wider election programmes, for example in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Kosovo, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Sudan.</p> answering member constituency New Forest West answering member printed Mr Desmond Swayne question first answered 20/11/2015 13:12:27 answering member 55 label Biography information for Sir Desmond Swayne
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

428503

registered interest
date	16/11/2015
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children in Care: GCSE
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of looked-after children have received at least five GCSEs at grades A*-C in each year since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	16362
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/11/2015 answer text <p>The information requested is published in the statistical first release “Outcomes for Children Looked After by Local Authorities in England as at 31 March 2014” on GOV.UK[1].</p><br /><p><strong>Percentage of children who have been looked after continuously for at least 12 months achieving 5 or more GCSEs at A*-C or equivalent, 2010-2014, England<strong>[2]</strong>. </strong></p><br /><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td><p><strong>2010</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2011</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2012</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="5"><p><br></p></td><td><p><strong>2013 methodology</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014 methodology</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>5+ GCSEs A*-C or equivalent</p></td><td><p>28.8</p></td><td><p>33.5</p></td><td><p>37.2</p></td><td><p>37.2</p></td><td><p>31.1</p></td><td><p>16.3</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><em> So</em><em>urce: CLA-NPD matched data</em></p><br /><p>Note that two major reforms were implemented which affected the calculation of key stage 4 (KS4) performance measures in 2014[3] and therefore 2014 data is not comparable to that for earlier years. The additional ‘2013 methodology’ figure shown in the table has been included to provide a point of comparison, using a proxy set of results based on 2012/13 rules. However, it cannot reverse the behaviour of some schools in response to the policy changes, nor does it take into account other changes, so still should not be used to make direct comparisons with earlier years.</p><br /><p>[1] <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/outcomes-for-children-looked-after-by-local-authorities" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/outcomes-for-children-looked-after-by-local-authorities</a></p><p>[2] Children looked after continuously for at least 12 months as at 31 March excluding those children in respite care. Only children who are matched to key stage 4 data are included. Figures for 2014 are based on provisional data. Figures for all other years are based on final data.</p><p>[3] Professor Alison Wolf’s Review of Vocational Education recommendations which restrict the qualifications counted, prevent any qualification from counting as larger than one GCSE and cap the number of non-GCSEs included in performance measures at two per pupil. There is also an early entry policy to only count a pupil’s first attempt at a qualification. More details can be found in the statistical release: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/provisional-gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-2013-to-2014" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/provisional-gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-2013-to-2014</a>. The reforms had a significant impact on the 2013/14 GCSE and equivalent results data for all pupils. To aid users in understanding this impact on children looked after, the additional ‘2013 methodology’ data has been produced, which removes the rules regarding the Wolf Review recommendations and early entry policy from the calculation of performance measures.</p> answering member constituency Crewe and Nantwich answering member printed Edward Timpson question first answered 24/11/2015 13:42:03 answering member 1605 label Biography information for Edward Timpson
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

428504

registered interest
date	16/11/2015
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	Energy: Meters
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what proportion of in-home displays need to remain in operation after installation for the smart metering implementation programme to have the potential to deliver overall economic benefit for customers and energy providers.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	16346
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/11/2015 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">We are supporting older and vulnerable people to keep warm through support including the Energy Company Obligation and the Warm Home Discount. Over 1.6 million measures have been installed in around 1.3 million households through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) alone.</del></p><br /><p><del class="ministerial">This year, over 2 million households will get help under the Warm Home Discount scheme– including an automatic electricity bill discount of £140 for over 1.3 million of the poorest pensioners. In winter 2014/15, Winter Fuel Payments were made to around 12.5million older people in around 9 million households. The Cold Weather Plan, published by Public Health England, helps to raise awareness of the harm to health from cold, and provides guidance on how to prepare for and respond to cold weather.</del></p><br /><p><del class="ministerial">The Government has also provided around £3 million to fund the creation of the ‘Big Energy Saving Network’ which focuses on helping consumers understand tariffs and switching options as well as how they could benefit from energy efficiency programmes available to them. As we approach winter, DECC officials will continue to maximise awareness of the Energy Saving Advice Service (ESAS –contact number 0300 123 1234), which also provides a referral service for ECO Affordable Warmth.</del></p><br /><p><ins class="ministerial">DECC’s most recent Impact Assessment for the roll-out of smart metering, published in January 2014, estimates a positive net present benefit of £6.2 billion over the period to 2030, with total benefits of £17.1 billion and costs of £10.9 billion.</ins></p><br /><p><ins class="ministerial">Of the £17.1 billion of overall benefits around one third stems from energy savings, for which the In Home Displays (IHDs) are a critical enabler. They are an important first step in wider consumer engagement and behaviour change that can unlock additional economic benefit, for example through the development of a smart grid and more flexible and resilient future energy system.</ins></p><br /><p><ins class="ministerial">Smart metering also enables significant operational efficiency savings within the energy industry, so even without the energy savings benefits the Smart Metering Implementation Programme has the potential to deliver overall economic benefit for UK customers and energy providers.</ins></p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 24/11/2015 13:18:01 question first ministerially corrected 30/11/2015 11:12:29 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom previous answer version 31788 answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

428505

registered interest
date	16/11/2015
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	O2: Three
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed merger of O2 and Three on the competitive functioning of the mobile telecommunications industry.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	16450
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2015 answer text <p>The assessment of the impact of mergers on competition is a matter for the independent competition regulators. In the case of the takeover ofTelefónica UK (O2)byCKHutchison Holdings Ltd. (CKHH), which owns Three, the competent authority is the European Commission, due to the international scope of the deal, although the UK Competition and Markets Authority has applied for jurisdiction.</p><p>Any authority ruling on this merger will take advice from Ofcom, the UK’s independent communications regulator, on competition in the mobile communications sector in the UK.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 19/11/2015 10:30:02 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

428506

registered interest
date	16/11/2015
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Payment Methods
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to deliver a faster payments infrastructure.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	16451
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2015 answer text <p>The Faster Payment Scheme (FPS) launched in 2008 and provides near-instant settlement for over one billion payments that consumers and businesses make every year.</p><br /><p>FPS is one of the eight payment systems regulated by the new Payment Systems Regulator – which the Government launched in 2015, equipped with powers to ensure that UK payment systems are competitive and innovative. A key part of the PSR’s work is to ensure that UK payment systems work efficiently to deliver benefits for the individuals and firms that use them.</p><br /><p>The Government is also working with the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Project Innovate – which looks to foster and support innovative financial technology (“FinTech”) firms, including firms that offer customers new and efficient ways to make payments in the UK.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 23/11/2015 11:49:17 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

428507

registered interest
date	16/11/2015
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Bank Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the availability of bank accounts for (a) crowd funding and (b) digital currency businesses.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	16372
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2015 answer text <p>As the Chancellor announced at the Budget in March, the Government intends to bring digital currency exchanges into the scope of anti-money laundering regulation. The digital currency industry has highlighted the current lack of regulation as one of the obstacles firms face when trying to get bank accounts in the UK. The new regulatory regime will be designed to support firms’ access to these vital banking services, and to foster an environment in which legitimate digital currency businesses can flourish in the UK. The Treasury will consult on the detail of regulation shortly.</p><br /><p>The Government has supported the crowdfunding industry by consulting on whether to extend ISA eligibility to debt and equity crowdfunding and helping equity crowdfunding through the tax efficient Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) – without which 24% of investors say they would not have invested.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 23/11/2015 11:47:50 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie