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 grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

732595

registered interest
date	26/06/2017
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	General Elections: Public Holidays
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the merits of making future general election days a national holiday to encourage greater participation.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	1090
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2017 answer text <p>The Government believes that everyone should have the opportunity to vote and has taken steps to increase electoral participation. We are committed to maximising electoral registration to ensure that the largest possible number of people are able to vote in any election.</p><p>The Government believes that there is no clear evidence that voting on a national holiday would lead to an increase in turnout.</p><p>The Government’s manifesto made a commitment to extending the First Past the Post to all UK elections. The Government’s view is that the First Past the Post system is well-understood by the electorate and provides a clear link between constituents and their representative in Parliament. In each constituency, candidates are elected to represent the views of their constituents and in each case a candidate for whom more people voted than for any of the alternatives is elected. Furthermore, in the May 2011 the UK held a referendum where more than two-thirds voted against switching to the ‘Alternative Vote’ (AV) system and in favour of retaining first past the post. As a result, it would be hard to justify ignoring the democratic verdict in the referendum, and equally as hard to make a case for a further referendum on a more ambitious reform such as PR.</p><p>It is believed by some that the introduction of compulsory voting would improve turnout and democratic engagement. However, the Government believes that when participating in a ballot, the position should be that an elector makes a positive choice rather than a negative one. It does not agree, therefore, that the introduction of compulsory voting would be a positive step.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore grouped question UIN 1038 1166 question first answered 04/07/2017 15:17:19 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

732603

registered interest
date	26/06/2017
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	Israeli Settlements: UN Resolutions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to implement the provisions of the UN Security Council Resolution 2334 on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	1098
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2017 answer text <p>It has long been our position that Israeli settlement activity is illegal and undermines the viability of two states for two peoples, but it is far from the only obstacle to peace. UN Security Council Resolution 2334 addresses settlements while also calling for an end to incitement and terror. The resolution was passed on 23 December and asks the Secretary-General to report to the Council every three months on the implementation of its provisions. We continue to monitor the situation closely.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 04/07/2017 13:57:16 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

732609

registered interest
date	26/06/2017
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	House of Lords: Reform
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to reform the House of Lords in the current Parliament.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	1165
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2017 answer text <p>As set out in the Conservative manifesto, although comprehensive reform is not a priority, we are committed to ensure that the House of Lords continues to fulfil its constitutional role as a revising and scrutinising chamber which respects the primacy of the House of Commons. We will continue to work to ensure the work of the House of Lords remains relevant and effective by addressing issues such as its size.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 03/07/2017 14:02:08 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

732610

registered interest
date	26/06/2017
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Electoral Systems
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the merits of various proportional voting systems; and if he will assess the merits of introducing a single transferable vote system for future elections.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	1166
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2017 answer text <p>The Government believes that everyone should have the opportunity to vote and has taken steps to increase electoral participation. We are committed to maximising electoral registration to ensure that the largest possible number of people are able to vote in any election.</p><p>The Government believes that there is no clear evidence that voting on a national holiday would lead to an increase in turnout.</p><p>The Government’s manifesto made a commitment to extending the First Past the Post to all UK elections. The Government’s view is that the First Past the Post system is well-understood by the electorate and provides a clear link between constituents and their representative in Parliament. In each constituency, candidates are elected to represent the views of their constituents and in each case a candidate for whom more people voted than for any of the alternatives is elected. Furthermore, in the May 2011 the UK held a referendum where more than two-thirds voted against switching to the ‘Alternative Vote’ (AV) system and in favour of retaining first past the post. As a result, it would be hard to justify ignoring the democratic verdict in the referendum, and equally as hard to make a case for a further referendum on a more ambitious reform such as PR.</p><p>It is believed by some that the introduction of compulsory voting would improve turnout and democratic engagement. However, the Government believes that when participating in a ballot, the position should be that an elector makes a positive choice rather than a negative one. It does not agree, therefore, that the introduction of compulsory voting would be a positive step.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore grouped question UIN 1038 1090 question first answered 04/07/2017 15:17:19 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

732611

registered interest
date	26/06/2017
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Sanitary Products: VAT
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will assess the merits of removing VAT from sanitary products.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	1167
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2017 answer text <p>Finance Act 2016 is clear that a VAT zero-rate will be introduced on women’s sanitary products “not after the later of, (a) 1<sup>st</sup> April 2017, and (b) the earliest date that may be appointed consistently with the UK’s EU obligations”.</p> answering member constituency Central Devon answering member printed Mel Stride question first answered 04/07/2017 14:01:42 answering member 3935 label Biography information for Mel Stride
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

732614

registered interest
date	26/06/2017
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Alcoholic Drinks: Excise Duties
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the merits of directly linking alcohol duty to alcohol content; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	1168
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2017 answer text <p>The government keeps all excise duties and structures under review. HM Treasury monitors their impacts and engages with a wide variety of organisations, including alcohol producers and public health groups, to understand industry developments.</p><p> </p><p>HM Treasury is currently examining options to amend the structure of the alcohol duty system so that duty rates better correspond to alcoholic strength. A consultation on alcohol duty structures recently ended on 12 June. It sought to gather evidence on the impact of a low strength wine band and a still cider band targeting ‘white’ ciders.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Central Devon answering member printed Mel Stride question first answered 04/07/2017 14:06:04 answering member 3935 label Biography information for Mel Stride
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

732622

registered interest
date	26/06/2017
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Tobacco: Smuggling
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Government plans to ratify formally the World Health Organisation Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	1010
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2017 answer text <p>A Command Paper setting out the UK’s plans to ratify the World Health Organisation Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products will be laid before Parliament once legislation to implement the Protocol has been approved by Parliament.</p><p> </p><p>While the UK already has many of the Protocol’s requirements in place, the requirement to license tobacco manufacturing machinery has not yet been implemented. Legislation to accomplish this will be brought before Parliament as soon as possible.</p> answering member constituency Central Devon answering member printed Mel Stride question first answered 04/07/2017 13:44:15 answering member 3935 label Biography information for Mel Stride
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

732625

registered interest
date	26/06/2017
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Electronic Funds Transfer: Fraud
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the annual cost to the UK economy of bank-transfer fraud.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	1011
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2017 answer text <p>The Government has not made an assessment of the annual cost of bank transfer scams (otherwise known as Authorised Push Payment scams) to the UK economy, because the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is currently undertaking work to assess the scale and scope of the problem.</p><p> </p><p>This is part of their wider programme of work to better protect consumers from these scams and reduce the damage they cause. The programme also includes working with Financial Fraud Action UK to develop a common understanding of what data on these scams can be shared between banks, and what barriers stand in the way of sharing further information; and developing best practice standards that banks should follow when responding to these scams.</p><p> </p><p>The PSR is also looking at what role the payment system operators CHAPS and Faster Payments Service (the systems that allow push payments to be made) could play in mitigating the damage caused by Authorised Push Payment scams.</p><p> </p><p>The PSR will publish a review of progress in the second half of 2017.</p> answering member constituency North East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Stephen Barclay question first answered 04/07/2017 16:34:58 answering member 4095 label Biography information for Steve Barclay
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

732635

registered interest
date	26/06/2017
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Voting Behaviour
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the merits of introducing compulsory voting at future elections.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	1038
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2017 answer text <p>The Government believes that everyone should have the opportunity to vote and has taken steps to increase electoral participation. We are committed to maximising electoral registration to ensure that the largest possible number of people are able to vote in any election.</p><p>The Government believes that there is no clear evidence that voting on a national holiday would lead to an increase in turnout.</p><p>The Government’s manifesto made a commitment to extending the First Past the Post to all UK elections. The Government’s view is that the First Past the Post system is well-understood by the electorate and provides a clear link between constituents and their representative in Parliament. In each constituency, candidates are elected to represent the views of their constituents and in each case a candidate for whom more people voted than for any of the alternatives is elected. Furthermore, in the May 2011 the UK held a referendum where more than two-thirds voted against switching to the ‘Alternative Vote’ (AV) system and in favour of retaining first past the post. As a result, it would be hard to justify ignoring the democratic verdict in the referendum, and equally as hard to make a case for a further referendum on a more ambitious reform such as PR.</p><p>It is believed by some that the introduction of compulsory voting would improve turnout and democratic engagement. However, the Government believes that when participating in a ballot, the position should be that an elector makes a positive choice rather than a negative one. It does not agree, therefore, that the introduction of compulsory voting would be a positive step.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore grouped question UIN 1090 1166 question first answered 04/07/2017 15:17:19 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

732636

registered interest
date	26/06/2017
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Migrant Workers: Linlithgow and East Falkirk
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the cost to businesses in Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency of the Immigration Skills charge for the current financial year.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	1039
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/07/2017 answer text <p>The Immigration Skills Charge was introduced on 6 April 2017. It is a charge on UK employers who sponsor workers from outside the European Economic Area through the Tier 2 skilled worker route.</p><p> </p><p>We have not modelled the cost of the Immigration Skills Charge on any individual business. The cost will depend on whether employers choose to use the Tier 2 route and will vary depending on the number of Certificates of Sponsorship employers choose to assign, whether they pay the standard or reduced rate, and the length of time an employer chooses to employ a worker for.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 27/07/2017 17:35:57 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day