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450958

registered interest
date	05/02/2016
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Universities: Admissions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the proportion of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds who applied to university in each of the last six years.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Ben Howlett
uin	26081
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/02/2016 answer text <p>The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) publishes data on application and entry rates for full-time undergraduate courses.</p><p> </p><p>The tables show the proportion of 18 year olds from disadvantaged backgrounds who applied to university by the main January deadline (application rate) and the proportion of 18 year olds that accepted a place during a UCAS application cycle (entry rate).</p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="8"><p>Table 1: Application rates for English 18 year olds from POLAR3 quintile 1 areas (for entry in year)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2009</strong></p></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>2015</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>15.2%</p></td><td><p>18.0%</p></td><td><p>18.6%</p></td><td><p>17.9%</p></td><td><p>18.9%</p></td><td><p>20.4%</p></td><td><p>21.0%</p></td><td><p>22.0%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="7"><p>Table 2: Entry rates for English 18 year olds from POLAR3 quintile 1 areas (for entry in year)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2009</strong></p></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>2015</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>13.6%</p></td><td><p>14.2%</p></td><td><p>15.1%</p></td><td><p>15.1%</p></td><td><p>16.4%</p></td><td><p>17.8%</p></td><td><p>18.5%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><ol><li>Data published by UCAS covers full-time undergraduate applications. Table 1 shows the application rates by the main January deadline.</li><li>Data for entry rates in Table 2 include acceptances across the whole application cycle.</li><li>Disadvantage is measured by POLAR quintile 1 an area based measure of low participation.</li><li>Source of data for application rates: UCAS ‘<em>Application rates by the January Deadline</em>’ report for the 2016 cycle (underlying data for Figure 14) – published in February 2016.</li><li>Source of data for entry rates: UCAS ‘<em>2015 End of Cycle</em>’ report (underlying data for Figure 65) – published in December 2015.</li></ol><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Joseph Johnson question first answered 15/02/2016 17:14:58 answering member 4039 label Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone
tabling member	4445 label Biography information for Ben Howlett

446245

registered interest
date	20/01/2016
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	Trees
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department issues to local authorities on ensuring that consent is granted before a person undertakes work on a neighbour's tree.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Ben Howlett
uin	23247
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2016 answer text <p>Guidance on the tree preservation legislation is published on the planning guidance website at <a href="http://planningguidance.communities.gov.uk/blog/guidance/tree-preservation-orders/" target="_blank">http://planningguidance.communities.gov.uk/blog/guidance/tree-preservation-orders/</a> and is available to local authorities and other interested parties. Local authorities are responsible for determining applications for works to trees protected by Tree Preservation Orders.</p> answering member constituency Stockton South answering member printed James Wharton question first answered 27/01/2016 17:03:18 answering member 4123 label Biography information for Lord Wharton of Yarm
tabling member	4445 label Biography information for Ben Howlett

446249

registered interest
date	20/01/2016
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	Mobile Phones
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will discuss with mobile telephone companies steps to reduce and standardise the time between a provider unlocking a phone and the owner of that phone being able to use it with another provider.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Ben Howlett
uin	23249
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2016 answer text <p>The Government wants to reduce the cost and hassle of switching mobile providers for consumers. We expect industry to start automatically unlocking customers’ handsets at the end of their contracts, and will consult this year on ending the practice of handset locking for customers outside their initial contract period.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 27/01/2016 13:43:15 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	4445 label Biography information for Ben Howlett

446341

registered interest
date	20/01/2016
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	Syria: Christianity
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to protect Christians in Syria from persecution by Daesh.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Ben Howlett
uin	23250
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2016 answer text <p>We recognise the situation is desperate for many communities within Syria and Iraq. We condemn in the strongest terms the atrocities committed by Daesh against all civilians, including Christians and other minorities, as well as the majority Muslim population in Syria and Iraq.</p><p>The International Syria Support Group (ISSG) has agreed that protecting the rights of all Syrians, regardless of ethnicity or religious denomination is fundamental. This means that Syrian minorities will be included as the political process progresses. Through our membership of the ISSG, we will ensure that this is adhered to.</p><p>The Global Coalition has provided air support to the Syrian Democratic Forces (which include Syrian Christian members) in their fight against Daesh.</p><p>Ultimately, the best way of safeguarding minority rights is by defeating Daesh and establishing peace and stability in the region. The UK has been at the forefront of these efforts and, together with our allies, has a comprehensive strategy to deal with Daesh.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 27/01/2016 15:07:00 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4445 label Biography information for Ben Howlett

446342

registered interest
date	20/01/2016
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	HIV Infection: Medical Treatments
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has conducted or commissioned on the effectiveness of pre-exposure prophylaxis in preventing HIV infection in men who have sex with men.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Ben Howlett
uin	23245
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2016 answer text <p>Public Health England part funded the PROUD study that examined the effectiveness of pre-exposure prophylaxis in preventing HIV infection in men who have sex with men. The results of the study were published in September 2015.</p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 28/01/2016 11:35:30 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
tabling member	4445 label Biography information for Ben Howlett

446410

registered interest
date	20/01/2016
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Bus Services: Bicycles
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 October 2015 to Question 11881, if he will discuss with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency the reasons for that agency not approving the pilot scheme for bike racks on the front of buses in Bath in 2015.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Ben Howlett
uin	23248
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2016 answer text <p>The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) rejected the pilot scheme because the design created significant additional hazards from the original bus design. These included both the structure of the bicycle rack when folded and deployed, projections of any bicycle on the rack, and a significant reduction of vision for the driver to the nearside front with a bicycle on the rack. These features were considered to increase significantly the likelihood of accidents and potential severity of pedestrian injury.</p><br /> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 28/01/2016 15:34:12 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
tabling member	4445 label Biography information for Ben Howlett

444107

registered interest
date	12/01/2016
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Disability Aids: Sales
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will take steps to prevent the exploitation of consumers by salesmen of stair lifts and other aids to the elderly and disabled.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Ben Howlett
uin	22189
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/01/2016 answer text <br /><p><strong></strong></p><p>The Department funds the Citizens Advice Service to provide valuable advice to consumers, including how to avoid scams. Citizens Advice also lead the annual Scams Awareness Month, working with Trading Standards to help give consumers the confidence to spot and report a scam.</p><br /><p>Trading Standards Officers have powers to take action under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 against salesmen who use misleading practices and aggressive pressure selling. Additionally, National Trading Standards Scambuster Teams take action against large scale national and regional scammers, including those who exploit the elderly and vulnerable through the sale of substandard or unnecessary mobility aids.</p><br /><p>Since 2014 the Consumer Protection (Amendment) Regulations 2014 introduced important new rights for consumers to take their own action against such traders to get their money back.</p><p><strong></strong></p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 20/01/2016 17:45:38 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
tabling member	4445 label Biography information for Ben Howlett

444141

registered interest
date	12/01/2016
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Licensing Laws
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will increase the licensing enforcement powers available to local authorities to ensure that pubs do not act as clubs without permission.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Ben Howlett
uin	22191
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/01/2016 answer text <p>Licensing authorities and the police already have a range of enforcement powers under the Licensing Act 2003. These are sufficient to prevent pubs operating without relevant permissions. These include powers which licensing authorities have to impose conditions on a premises licence or revoke a premises licence where appropriate. They are responsible for making decisions based on what is appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives. These are the prevention of crime and disorder; public safety; the prevention of public nuisance; and the protection of children from harm.</p><p>Licensable activities include not only the sale of alcohol but also regulated entertainment such as a performance of live music and any playing of recorded music among other entertainments. While the rules on regulated entertainment on licensed premises were recently relaxed so that permission is only required for such events when they occur outside the hours of 08.00 and 23.00 or when there are more than 500 people in attendance, an applicant for a premises licence should set out in an operating schedule the licensable activities they intend to hold on the premises.</p> answering member constituency Staffordshire Moorlands answering member printed Karen Bradley question first answered 19/01/2016 15:00:10 answering member 4110 label Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley
tabling member	4445 label Biography information for Ben Howlett

444154

registered interest
date	12/01/2016
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Yemen
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's defence strategy is towards Yemen; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Ben Howlett
uin	22190
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2016 answer text <br /><br /><p>The Ministry of Defence is committed to supporting the legitimate Yemeni government in establishing a stable and secure Yemen and we continue to work with regional and international partners to tackle the threat posed by AQAP and Daesh in Yemen. Reaching a comprehensive peaceful solution to the current conflict is the top priority as a political solution is the best way to bring long-term stability to the country.</p> answering member constituency Ludlow answering member printed Mr Philip Dunne question first answered 18/01/2016 16:01:14 answering member 1542 label Biography information for Philip Dunne
tabling member	4445 label Biography information for Ben Howlett

444200

registered interest
date	12/01/2016
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	Yemen: Foreign Relations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Government's current strategy on Yemen; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Ben Howlett
uin	22185
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/01/2016 answer text <p>The UK’s position remains that a political solution is the best way to bring long-term stability to Yemen. We are in regular contact with all parties to the conflict, urging engagement in good faith and to take steps towards achieving a durable ceasefire and we fully support the efforts of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen. The UK is the 4th largest donor to the crisis and has more than doubled its humanitarian commitment to Yemen over the last year to £75 million. UK aid has assisted at least 700,000 people directly affected by the conflict including vulnerable host communities, internally displaced people and migrants. We have provided critical support for healthcare, malnutrition, water and sanitation, protection and shelter. We have also continued to strengthen and protect local capacity and community assets from further shocks by providing agricultural and other livelihoods assistance.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 20/01/2016 14:10:32 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4445 label Biography information for Ben Howlett