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48730

registered interest
date	28/04/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent steps he has taken to support elderly first-time entrepreneurs.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	196834
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2014 answer text <p>People of all ages and experiences are setting up and growing businesses all the time. We continue to work hard to provide the right support to make life easier for them all.</p><p> </p><p>www.gov.uk is the home for Government services and information online. One of the tools available is the 'Business Finance and Support Finder;' a source of government backed support and finance for business. The website www.greatbusiness.gov.uk also provides support and advice for anyone trying to grow a business as well as for entrepreneurs starting out.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to on-line support, the Business Support Helpline is available to provide a quick response on queries about starting a business, or a personalised and in-depth advice service for more complex needs. For those looking for start-up finance and advice there are Start-Up Loans: 7 loans worth a total of £37,000 have been drawn down in Windsor since the scheme began in 2012.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 06/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

48776

registered interest
date	28/04/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of the radio spectrum is earmarked for (a) military purposes, (b) radar purposes and (c) public service broadcasting.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	196840
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2014 answer text <p>Officials have consulted Ofcom who hold such information. Ofcom advise that they do not hold such information for bands below 87.5MHz, but have provided information for bands from 87.5MHz-30GHz.</p><p> </p><p>Ofcom has identified the proportion of spectrum accessed for public sector uses (not limited to the military), defined as all spectrum bands used by the public sector with Crown immunity (i.e. without need for authorisation by Ofcom). For the purpose of this analysis, this category includes all aeronautical uses of spectrum.</p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td><p>Crown use of spectrum as a % of total weighted spectrum</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>87.5 MHz</p></td><td><p>30 GHz</p></td><td><p>54%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>26% of the total weighted spectrum in the 87.5MHz to 30 GHz is allocated for radiolocation services/radar.</p><p> </p><p>Ofcom cannot provide specific information with regards to spectrum in use for public service broadcasting as the national allocation of frequencies does not distinguish between public service broadcasting and non-public service broadcasting. The table below provides information with regards to the proportion of total weighted spectrum in use for terrestrial broadcasting, split into TV and radio.</p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td><p>Terrestrial broadcasting spectrum as a % of total weighted spectrum</p></td><td><p>TV</p></td><td><p>Radio</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>87.5 MHz</p></td><td><p>30 GHz</p></td><td><p>8%</p></td><td><p>7%</p></td><td><p>1%</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 06/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

48778

registered interest
date	28/04/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of the (a) 30-300MHz, (b) 300-3000MHz and (c) 3-30GHz bands of the radio spectrum is in the operation of the private sector.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	196838
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Officials have consulted Ofcom who hold such information. Ofcom advise that they do not hold such information for bands below 87.5MHz (as frequencies above this are considered to be the most important and usable), but have provided information for bands from 87.5MHz-30GHz.</p><p> </p><p>The table provides an overview of the proportion of total weighted spectrum accessed for market uses by band.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Lower frequency</p></td><td><p>Upper frequency</p></td><td><p>Spectrum authorised for Market uses as a % of total weighted spectrum</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>87.5 MHz</p></td><td><p>328.6 MHz</p></td><td><p>47%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>328.6 MHz</p></td><td><p>3.1 GHz</p></td><td><p>73%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>3.1 GHz</p></td><td><p>30 GHz</p></td><td><p>80%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Public Sector Spectrum Release Programme aims to release 500MHz of sub-5GHz spectrum from public sector use by 2020. The most recent Programme update can be found on the GOV.UK website: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spectrum-strategy" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spectrum-strategy</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 06/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

48811

registered interest
date	28/04/2014
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
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 progress has been made on the Lower Thames Scheme.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	196841
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Further to my answer to the hon. Member for Windsor on Monday, 24 February 2014, Official Report column 83W, the Environment Agency is continuing to work with partners to develop the River Thames Scheme (Datchet to Teddington). This includes flood channel capacity improvements, property level protection measures and the construction of three new channels.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Preparatory work, which is under way, includes establishing appropriate consents and approval needed with planning authorities, undertaking surveys needed to gain consents, and the development of a funding package with other risk management authorities. The Environment Agency is planning to submit its Strategic Outline Case for this project to Defra as part of the HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office's Major Projects Authority approvals process.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency aims to start the work on improving weir capacity in 2016.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Full appraisal and outline design of the flood channel and capacity improvements will commence this summer. It is expected that this will take three to four years to enable the proposal for the new flood channels to be submitted for planning consents and authorisations. It is estimated that the construction of the flood channel will commence in 2020 and will take five to six years to complete.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 06/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

47897

registered interest
date	09/04/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent steps he has taken to ensure that exporters of intangible goods can access the resources of UK Export Finance.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	196127
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2014 answer text <p>UK Export Finance can provide support for intangibles, such as software licenses, where they are provided in connection with goods or services. As far as the supply of intangibles by themselves are concerned, UK Export Finance has initiated a public consultation on proposals to widen its powers under its enabling legislation, the Export and Investment Guarantees Act 1991 (as amended). These proposals include giving UK Export Finance the ability to support exports of intangible goods such as intellectual property rights by themselves. If, having regard to the responses to that consultation, it is deemed to implement these proposals, they will form part of a Bill that will be introduced in the next session of Parliament.</p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon question first answered 01/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

48012

registered interest
date	09/04/2014
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she has taken to ensure developing countries can access UK satellite technology to monitor local agricultural land and environmental risks; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	196128
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p>DFID is supporting projects that use satellite data. DFID supports the World Agroforestry Centre to use data to help monitor and assess agriculture land use and environmental risks including land degradation. DFID contributes to the UK Environment Observations Framework Coordinating Climate Observations Group which coordinates Her Majesty's Government activities supporting the development and use of climate data, including from satellites.</p> answering member constituency Hornsey and Wood Green answering member printed Lynne Featherstone question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1531 label Biography information for Baroness Featherstone
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

48050

registered interest
date	09/04/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will provide a simple route for people to donate their universal benefits back to the state; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	196078
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p>The majority of winter fuel payments are sent out automatically. However, people can simply return their winter fuel payment to the office that issues it. They can also write to the Department requesting not to receive a winter fuel payment for future years, either in advance of first getting a payment, or after they have received one or more payments.</p><p> </p><p>Anyone aged 75 or over is entitled to a free TV Licence for their main address. The free licence is not issued automatically and needs to be applied for. Once issued, licences are renewed automatically every year unless the customer does not have a National Insurance Number in which case TV Licensing will contact them to confirm their circumstances have not changed each year. An over 75 licence can be cancelled at any time and a paid-for licence requested.</p><p> </p><p>The concessionary travel benefit is optional. An eligible person can choose not to take up the entitlement. The National Travel Survey 2011 shows that in GB, 79 per cent of people eligible for an older persons' bus pass held one.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

47135

registered interest
date	07/04/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps she has taken to increase tourism to (a) Berkshire and (b) the South East; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	195452
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>DCMS is responsible for the policy that supports the growth of domestic and international tourism, working in partnership with other Government Departments and our Arms-Length Bodies, VisitBritain and VisitEngland. Between 2011 and 2015, Government is investing more than £105m in tourism through the GREAT and other international campaigns. Investment to date is showing positive results. 2013 was a record year for inbound tourism with 32.9 million international visits being made which generated a record £21 billion into the UK in 2013.</p><p>In terms of Berkshire specifically, VisitBritain's public-facing website includes a range of tourism information relating to Windsor which is available via the following link: <a href="http://www.visitbritain.com/en/Destinations-and-Maps/History-and-heritage/Windsor.htm" target="_blank">http://www.visitbritain.com/en/Destinations-and-Maps/History-and-heritage/Windsor.htm</a>. VisitBritain's ‘Heritage is GREAT' advertising campaign also prominently featured Highclere Castle, which is the setting for Downton Abbey.</p><p>The South East region will benefit from a number of thematic campaigns currently being run by VisitEngland which can be found at <a href="http://www.visitengland.com/" target="_blank">http://www.visitengland.com/</a>. It will also benefit from VisitEngland's Holidays at Home are GREAT campaign, which has been broadcast on mainstream terrestrial channels since 1 April, while those areas in the South East region affected by the recent floods are also benefitting from both VisitEngland's ‘Spot on England' marketing campaign and business support events.</p> answering member constituency Maidstone and The Weald answering member printed Mrs Helen Grant question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4018 label Biography information for Mrs Helen Grant
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

47166

registered interest
date	07/04/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect the introduction of seven-day bank account switching has had on the number of people changing bank account provider; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	195454
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2014 answer text <p><strong>The Current Account Switching Service launched in September of last year, and has had a very positive impact. Early signs are positive, with switching numbers in Q4 of 2013 up by 17 per cent compared to Q4 of the previous year. </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>The Financial Conduct Authority will carry out a review in September of this year into the effectiveness of the Current Account Switching Service. This will include an assessment of the effect the introduction of seven day account switching has had on the number of people changing bank account provider. </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 29/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

47167

registered interest
date	07/04/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many meetings he held with the Office of Tax Simplification in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	195455
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p>Treasury Ministers regularly meet with the Office of Tax Simplification and other parts of Treasury group as part of normal departmental and Government business. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings and discussions<em>.</em></p><p> </p><p>Details of Ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:</p><p><a href="http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm" target="_blank">http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie