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93479

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
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	Planning Permission: Appeals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of democratic oversight of local planning decisions when appealed; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	210798
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p>Planning is a quasi-judicial process; it is a long-standing feature of the planning system that there is a right of appeal, just as there are with other local quasi-judicial decisions such as on licensing applications, gambling applications or parking fines.</p><p> </p><p>Planning appeals are decided by independent planning inspectors on behalf of the Secretary of State, or in a small number of cases by the Secretary of State himself. Interested parties have a statutory right to make representations on planning appeals, and these representations are required to be taken into account by the decision maker. This allows proper democratic oversight of the appeals process.</p><p> </p><p>The Localism Act 2011 has strengthened the role of Local Plans and abolished the last Administration’s top-down Regional Strategies. Our streamlined National Planning Policy Framework strongly encourages areas to get up-to-date Local Plans in place, and we have been actively supporting councils in doing so. Local Plans now set the framework in which decisions on particular applications are taken, whether locally or at appeal, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.</p><p> </p><p>Once made a neighbourhood plan will also become part of the area’s statutory development plan — an example of this Government’s localist agenda. Both Local and Neighbourhood Plans are founded on thorough community involvement and are subject to independent examination and consultation. Over 1,200 communities have applied for a neighbourhood planning area to be designated, with over 1,000 areas now designated.</p><p> </p><p>Planning inspectors will take full account of all the evidence that is before them, including representations made by local residents and other interested parties. Each representation should be considered on their merits, paying careful regard to the relevant policy and material planning considerations.</p><p> </p><p>Since the National Planning Policy Framework was introduced, the number of appeals received has fallen as has the number allowed. The quality of local decisions also remains high—99% of decisions are made locally with only approximately 1% of planning applications overturned on appeal. Housing starts and housing construction are also up, as are permissions for new homes. This means there is more local decision-making, and our reforms are supporting badly-needed new homes within a locally-led planning system.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 20/10/2014 16:08:14 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

93480

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
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	Fast Food: Planning Permission
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with his ministerial colleagues on using planning applications for further public health objectives by control of the location of fast food outlets.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	210799
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p>Ministers within the Department for Communities and Local Government regularly meet colleagues from other Departments to discuss a range of matters.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 20/10/2014 16:03:45 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

93103

registered interest
date	14/10/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Venture Capital
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 promote investment in venture capital trusts.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	210570
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2014 answer text <p>The venture capital trust (VCT) regime was significantly expanded at Budget 2012. VCTs can now invest up to £5 million a year into each qualifying company, and larger companies (with up to 250 employees and £15 million of gross assets) can benefit from the investments.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The government believes that the VCT regime, alongside the other tax-advantaged venture capital schemes, plays a key role in facilitating access to finance for smaller businesses with growth potential. At Budget 2014 the government announced that changes would be made to enable investors to subscribe for VCT shares via nominees, to facilitate a wider range of opportunities to invest in VCTs. The government has also recently consulted on the impact of the recent expansions to the venture capital schemes and is committed to ensuring that the schemes continue to work effectively.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 21/10/2014 15:54:56 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

93119

registered interest
date	14/10/2014
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	Schools: Fast Food
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to address health considerations in planning policies in relation to schools and hot-food outlets.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	210572
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to my written answer to her of 11 September 2014, PQ 208593.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 20/10/2014 16:01:42 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

93194

registered interest
date	14/10/2014
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	ICT
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 progress he has made on improving the quality and transparency of management information across front line services within his Department's Digital Services Performance Platform tool.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	210531
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2014 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office strongly supports the use of the Performance Platform to improve the quality and transparency of Management Information across government. There are detailed dashboards on four of our services: ‘registering a birth abroad’, ‘registering a death abroad’, ‘certificate to get married abroad’, and ‘document legalisation’. As we move more of our services online we will ensure those new transactions are built in such a way that they too can go onto the performance platform. We are also interested in extending the Performance Platform to cover the non-digital element of our major transactions and intend to scope how that might work in practice.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 21/10/2014 13:35:30 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

93338

registered interest
date	14/10/2014
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	ICT
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, for what reasons priorities on a digital approach have not been included in her Department's latest individual performance objectives for 2014-15.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	210571
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2014 answer text <p>DFID has published several documents that illustrate the importance placed on how digital can support our activities. First, our position is clearly outlined in our digital strategy (published here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-for-international-development-digital-strategy-2012-to-2015" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-for-international-development-digital-strategy-2012-to-2015</a>). It confirms digital is an enabler that will help us achieve the departments overarching priorities. The annual update published January 2014 set out our plans for this year, and we are currently working on an update which will cover progress this year and plans for 2015.</p><p> </p><p>Secondly we refer to our digital priorities in the Departmental Improvement Plan (published here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dfid-departmental-improvement-plan--2" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dfid-departmental-improvement-plan--2</a>) as an integral part of the Departmental approach to continuous improvement and development.</p><p> </p><p>Finally, (and this is referenced in the Permanent Secretary’s individual performance objectives as published here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/329087/Mark_Lowcock_objectives_2014-15.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/329087/Mark_Lowcock_objectives_2014-15.pdf</a> ) he is clear that improving digital capability is one of the Civil Service Reform priority areas.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency New Forest West answering member printed Mr Desmond Swayne question first answered 21/10/2014 15:21:35 answering member 55 label Biography information for Sir Desmond Swayne
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

92876

registered interest
date	13/10/2014
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	Israel
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received about discrimination faced by British Muslims on entering and exiting Israel.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	210278
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2014 answer text <p>We have received one recent report on British Muslims facing discrimination on entering and exiting from Israel.</p><p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is unable to interfere in the immigration policies or procedures of another country, but does raise cases of grave concern with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 16/10/2014 15:07:10 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

92877

registered interest
date	13/10/2014
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	Nigeria
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on whether adequate preparations are being made in Nigeria for holding free, fair, timely and national elections in February 2015.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	210275
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2014 answer text <p>British ministers have engaged regularly with their Nigerian counterparts to convey our expectation that Nigeria’s presidential elections will be free, fair and peaceful. When I met the Nigerian Foreign Minister in September I spoke of the need to strengthen institutions in Nigeria to enhance the democratic process. The UK government continues to support Nigeria in ensuring adequate electoral mechanisms and observation are put in place. This includes through DFID’s Deepening Democracy in Nigeria 2 programme. At £35m over four years, this is the largest bilateral programme supporting democratisation in Nigeria. It has a major focus on working with Nigerian partners to deliver credible and peaceful elections.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 16/10/2014 13:46:32 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

92878

registered interest
date	13/10/2014
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
hansard heading	Government Digital Service
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what progress has been made by his Department in 2014 on implementing and maintaining the Government Digital Services training programme.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	210277
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2014 answer text <p>Government Digital Services provide different strands of training, resources and support to help Government create and run digital services effectively. These include “Assessors” training which provides training for those assessing digital services against the Digital by Default Service Standard and support and training for Service Managers and digital specialists - for example the Service Manager Induction Programme.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and its partner organisations take up these opportunities regularly and our staff implement what they have learnt in order to build and maintain simple, clear and fast digital services.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We will continue to work with Government Digital Services to create successful digital services so people will prefer to use them.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 16/10/2014 13:23:28 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

92879

registered interest
date	13/10/2014
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Electronic Government: Sign Language
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment the Government Digital Service has made of the viability of the British Sign Language interface for online services.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	210276
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2014 answer text <p>The Government Digital Service is planning to trial Video Relay System (VRS) technology on GOV.UK.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Mr Francis Maude question first answered 16/10/2014 07:38:57 answering member 115 label Biography information for Lord Maude of Horsham
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah