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
tabling member	label

Search

1126615

registered interest
date	14/05/2019
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Migrants: Health Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will take steps to fast-track refunds to people who have paid the new higher-rate Immigration Health Surcharge when their cases require them to pay only the lower pre-2019 rate.
tabling member constituency	South Antrim
tabling member printed	Paul Girvan
uin	254262
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>The Home Office is promptly refunding excess immigration health surcharge payments where individuals have paid the incorrect amount as a consequence of their application being in train when the surcharge was increased on 8 January this year.</p><p>An operational process was established to identify customers who paid the higher rate so that adjustments and refunds can be made. Any customer who self identifies as not having received a refund for this reason will be prioritised.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 20/05/2019 10:37:52 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
tabling member	4633 label Biography information for Paul Girvan

1126028

registered interest
date	13/05/2019
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	British Nationality: Republic of Ireland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the right to apply for UK citizenship without a fee to people born in the Republic of Ireland and who have lived in the UK for most of their life.
tabling member constituency	South Antrim
tabling member printed	Paul Girvan
uin	253726
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>Under Common Travel Area arrangements Irish citizens have the right to enter and live in the UK without requiring permission. The same right is enjoyed by British citizens in Ireland.</p><p>Those who were born in the Republic of Ireland before 1949 are able to opt for British subject status, which then enables them to register as a British citizen if they wish to do so, based on a period of residence in the United Kingdom. If a person wishes to become a British citizen rather than a British subject, they must make such an application and pay the required fee.</p><p>Irish nationals born after 1949 can become British citizens by naturalisation. Irish nationals are regarded as settled in the UK and so are able to apply for citizenship after 5 years residence in the UK (3 years if the spouse or civil partner of a British citizen). This is a quicker route to citizenship than for other nationals. There are currently no plans to make an assessment of applications for citizenship without a fee.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 20/05/2019 10:34:36 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
tabling member	4633 label Biography information for Paul Girvan

1125945

registered interest
date	10/05/2019
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	North Korea: Sanctions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking with his international counterparts to enforce international sanctions on North Korea.
tabling member constituency	South Antrim
tabling member printed	Paul Girvan
uin	252879
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government is actively working with international partners to fully implement all relevant UN Security Council measures in respect of North Korea. The UK has contributed four Royal Navy vessels in the past year to a US-coordinated maritime sanctions enforcement operation. We have lobbied widely to encourage all States to enforce sanctions on North Korea and to stem major sources of illicit revenue for North Korea, such as overseas labourers and cyber-crime. Until North Korea takes concrete steps towards its complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation sanctions must remain and all states must continue to enforce them in full.</p><p>We also welcome the work of the UN Panel of Experts who report on States’ implementation of UN Security Council measures. The Panel’s latest report details continued evasion of sanctions by North Korea. The Panel of Experts reports can be found at <a href="https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1718/panel_experts/reports" target="_blank">https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1718/panel_experts/reports</a>.</p><p>​</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 16/05/2019 13:57:55 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4633 label Biography information for Paul Girvan

1125946

registered interest
date	10/05/2019
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	Venezuela: Politics and Government
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to representatives of the Government of Venezuela on the promotion of democracy in that country.
tabling member constituency	South Antrim
tabling member printed	Paul Girvan
uin	252880
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>Through our Ambassador and internationally, we are working closely with EU partners, the International Contact Group on Venezuela, regional organisations such as the Lima Group, and like-minded partners to achieve a peaceful resolution to the current crisis and a return to democracy. Unfortunately, this objective continues to be thwarted by the regime of Nicolas Maduro.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 20/05/2019 12:59:48 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	4633 label Biography information for Paul Girvan

1125947

registered interest
date	10/05/2019
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	Tanzania: Politics and Government
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 representations his Department has made to the Government of Tanzania on the promotion of the right to peaceful and democratic opposition in that country.
tabling member constituency	South Antrim
tabling member printed	Paul Girvan
uin	252892
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>On 10 April 2019, our High Commissioner in Tanzania raised our concerns about the deterioration of political and civil society space with President Magufuli. We continue to work with diplomatic partners and civil society to ensure the Government of Tanzania hears the concerns from a range of stakeholders.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 20/05/2019 14:56:01 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	4633 label Biography information for Paul Girvan

1125658

registered interest
date	09/05/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Public Sector: Workplace Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) removing and (b) raising the lifetime pension cap for public sector employees.
tabling member constituency	South Antrim
tabling member printed	Paul Girvan
uin	252614
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to public service pensions which are fair to workers and fair to other taxpayers. Public service workers are entitled to defined benefit pension schemes, which are among the best schemes available. Since 2010, the Government has made reforms to limit pensions tax relief for those on the highest incomes that save over £6 billion per year, and are necessary to deliver a fair system and protect the public finances.</p><p> </p><p>The pension tax rules apply equally across all registered public and private sector defined benefit schemes. In April 2016, the lifetime allowance (LTA) was reduced to £1,000,000. However, from April 2018 it has increased in line with CPI. This means for 2019-20 the LTA increased to £1,055,000. This allows savers to continue to make significant amounts of pension savings tax-free, while ensuring incentives to save are targeted across society.</p><p> </p><p>The LTA affects only the wealthiest pension savers. Around 95 per cent of individuals currently approaching retirement have a pension pot worth less than the LTA, while the median pension pot for individuals approaching retirement is around £170,000.</p><p> </p><p>The Government does keep all aspects of the tax system under review through the annual Budget process, in the context of the wider public finances.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 15/05/2019 15:57:50 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	4633 label Biography information for Paul Girvan

1125661

registered interest
date	09/05/2019
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	Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what regular appraisals her Department undertakes of the performance of Capita in assessing claimants of personal independence payment.
tabling member constituency	South Antrim
tabling member printed	Paul Girvan
uin	252615
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>All elements of Capita’s performance are monitored including the requirements for the quality of assessments, which are assessed through audit. The PIP audit process assesses the quality of a sample of assessment reports on a monthly basis against the standards set out in the PIP Assessment Guide, with feedback provided to the provider.</p><p> </p><p>Alongside contracted measures we continue to work extensively with Capita to ensure the quality of service is continuously improved, including improvements to guidance, training and the claimant journey.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has set Capita challenging targets for the ‘Lot 2’ contract covering Wales and the Midlands. The department robustly performance manages Capita against those requirements on a regular basis.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 15/05/2019 16:11:12 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4633 label Biography information for Paul Girvan

1125662

registered interest
date	09/05/2019
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	Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the contract with Capita to provide assessment services in relation with personal independence payment will expire.
tabling member constituency	South Antrim
tabling member printed	Paul Girvan
uin	252616
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2019 answer text <p>The department’s contract with Capita to deliver assessments for Personal Independence Payment in Central England &amp; Wales expires 31 July 2019. As announced last year the department intends to extend the contract until 2021.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 17/05/2019 12:12:35 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4633 label Biography information for Paul Girvan

1125663

registered interest
date	09/05/2019
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	Personal Independence Payment: Appeals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of mandatory reconsideration decisions in relation to personal independence payment resulted in a change in the amount of the payment received by the claimant.
tabling member constituency	South Antrim
tabling member printed	Paul Girvan
uin	252617
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2019 answer text <p>Statistics on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) clearances by type in Great Britain are published in Table 7B of the statistical publication “Personal Independence Payment: April 2013 to January 2019”, available here:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-april-2013-to-january-2019" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-april-2013-to-january-2019</a></p><p /><p>These statistics include MRs against decisions where the customer was awarded PIP, disallowances post-referral to an Assessment Provider due to failing the assessment, disallowances pre-referral to an Assessment Provider, and disallowances post-referral to an Assessment Provider where the customer failed to attend the assessment.</p><p> </p><p>Statistics on the proportion of MRs resulting in a change in the amount of the payment received by the claimant is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 17/05/2019 12:06:12 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4633 label Biography information for Paul Girvan

1125664

registered interest
date	09/05/2019
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	Personal Independence Payment: Appeals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost to the public purse was of appeals of (a) initial and (b) reconsideration of personal independence payments in the last three years.
tabling member constituency	South Antrim
tabling member printed	Paul Girvan
uin	252618
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 17/05/2019 13:27:01 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4633 label Biography information for Paul Girvan