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683008

	registered interest
	date	01/02/2017
	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	Islamic State: Military Intervention
	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 discussions he has had with his international counterparts on progress in the campaign against Daesh.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	62701
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2017 answer text <p>We are in frequent contact with our coalition partners, as we reach a key phase in the campaign against Daesh.</p><p>The Prime Minister, the member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) discussed Daesh with President Trump during her visit to Washington DC on 27<sup>th</sup> January and with President Erdogan and Prime Minister Yildrim during her visit to Turkey the following day, reaffirming our commitment to work together to fight Daesh.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 08/02/2017 14:24:54 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

670698

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2017
	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	Retail Trade: Urban Areas
	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 support high streets around the country.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	59351
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2017 answer text <p>We are committed to ensuring that high streets throughout the country remain at the heart of their community and we have taken significant actions to help high streets adapt and thrive through a range of targeted tax breaks, sensible planning changes and measures to ensure fairer parking for motorists.</p><p>At Budget 2016 we announced the biggest ever cut in business rates – worth £6.7 billion across the next five years. The Government is permanently doubling the level of Small Business Rate Relief and increasing the thresholds to benefit a greater number of property occupiers. Eligible properties with a rateable value of £12,000 and below will receive 100% relief. This means that 600,000 small businesses will pay no business rates at all. Furthermore, the revaluation of Business Rates will ensure business rate bills more closely reflect the property market and that all businesses are getting a fair deal.</p><p>We have also given over £18 million to town teams since 2010, funding successful initiatives such as “Love Your Local Market” and the “Great British High Street Competition”, which aims to recognise and celebrate some of the great work that is being done by local councils and communities around the country to help celebrate their high streets. The finalists for the 2016 Competition, which received over 900 applications and 500,000 public votes, included Thame, who were runners-up in the Small Market town “Place” category, and Chris Hurdman, who runs Thame weekly market, was a runner-up in the Market Champion “People” award.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Brigg and Goole answering member printed Andrew Percy question first answered 18/01/2017 17:25:37 answering member 3939 label Biography information for Andrew Percy previous answer version 29836 answering member constituency Brigg and Goole answering member printed Andrew Percy answering member 3939 label Biography information for Andrew Percy
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

901286

	registered interest
	date	10/05/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Business: Government Assistance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to support businesses and entrepreneurs.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	142910
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2018 answer text <p>We know how vital businesses are to the UK economy. So we will continue to work hard to support everyone who wants to start and grow their own business. Through our Industrial Strategy we aim to make Britain the best place to start and grow a business.</p><p> </p><p>We want to ensure small business owners have access to the support they need to start, grow and export. The Business Support Helpline, GOV.UK and a network of 38 Growth Hubs across England provide access to information, advice and support business growth. We are developing an Export Strategy to support businesses to access international markets. For Small &amp; Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) looking to export, UK export finance will announce a new guarantee to banks designed to increase the flow of money in the supply chain.</p><p> </p><p>We also want small businesses to have the access to finance they need to grow. So we are helping through the British Business Bank which supports over £4bn of finance to over 65,000 UK SMEs. This includes delivering 54,000 Start-Up Loans worth £400m since 2012. Going forward we plan to unlock over £20bn of investment in innovative and high potential businesses, including establishing a new £2.5bn investment fund within the Bank.</p><p> </p><p>Tackling late payments and ensuring small businesses have access to government contracts are also important issues we are working to address. The Small Business Commissioner will help with payment issues, dispute resolution and sourcing advice across the UK. And we are opening up public procurement to SMEs, with a commitment to one pound in every three of central government spend going to SMEs by 2022.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We have launched a review into what actions could be most effective in improving productivity and growth of SMEs in what has been called the ‘long tail’ of lower productivity firms.</p><p> </p><p>We will carry on focusing on the needs of businesses through the delivery of our Industrial Strategy and as we work to secure the best and most ambitious Brexit deal for the whole of the United Kingdom.</p> answering member constituency Burton answering member printed Andrew Griffiths question first answered 16/05/2018 12:57:37 answering member 3936 label Biography information for Andrew Griffiths
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

905634

	registered interest
	date	16/05/2018
	answering body	Department for International Trade
	answering dept id	202
	answering dept short name	International Trade
	answering dept sort name	International Trade
	hansard heading	Treaties: Investment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many international investment agreements to which the UK is a signatory include protections against expropriations without compensation.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	144966
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2018 answer text <p>The UK is a signatory to over 90 bilateral investment treaties (BITs). The UK is also a party to the plurilateral Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), which has 53 other parties including the EU. The ECT and all of the UK’s BITs currently in force include protections against expropriation without compensation.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chelsea and Fulham answering member printed Greg Hands question first answered 24/05/2018 10:23:58 answering member 1526 label Biography information for Greg Hands
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

683111

	registered interest
	date	01/02/2017
	answering body	Department for International Trade
	answering dept id	202
	answering dept short name	International Trade
	answering dept sort name	International Trade
	hansard heading	Small Businesses: Digital Technology
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the level of interest among small and medium-sized enterprises in the Great.gov.uk digital platform.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	62768
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2017 answer text <p>Great.gov.uk is designed to engage as many businesses as possible, especially small and medium-sized enterprises and to date we have had a highly positive response to our digital services with over 5000 business registered for accounts, including 1500 registrations for our “Find a Buyer” Service and over 360,000 visits to the site.</p> answering member constituency Chelsea and Fulham answering member printed Greg Hands question first answered 09/02/2017 17:38:01 answering member 1526 label Biography information for Greg Hands
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

670697

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2017
	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
	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 ensure pre-commencement conditions do not delay development.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	59350
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/01/2017 answer text <p>Imposing unnecessary or otherwise unacceptable pre-commencement conditions on a grant of planning permission can result in unnecessary and avoidable delays and costs to the completion of new development. That is why, as part of the Neighbourhood Planning Bill, we are pursuing measures to ensure that these conditions do not cause unreasonable delays to the delivery of new homes.</p><p>The measures in the Bill are two-fold. First, to require local planning authorities to seek the written agreement of the applicant to the terms of any pre-commencement conditions before granting permission subject to such conditions. Second, we are seeking a power for the Secretary of State to prescribe descriptions of conditions and circumstances when such conditions may not be imposed. These provisions are aimed at ensuring that any planning condition meets the well-established policy tests for conditions as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.</p> answering member constituency Croydon Central answering member printed Gavin Barwell question first answered 12/01/2017 16:50:57 answering member 3955 label Biography information for Lord Barwell
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

1046890

	registered interest
	date	23/01/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Railways: Oxfordshire
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of the disused Yarnton-Witney-Fairford branch line remains in the ownership of Network Rail.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	211843
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/01/2019 answer text <p>Network Rail no longer owns the disused Yarnton-Witney-Fairford branch line. The Highways England Historical Railways Estate is now responsible for the historical railways estate.</p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 31/01/2019 16:01:24 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

1046887

	registered interest
	date	23/01/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Railways
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of the disused national rail network remains in the ownership of Network Rail.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	211842
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2019 answer text <p>Highways England is now responsible for the vast majority of the historic railways estate. This includes legacy bridges, abutments, tunnels, cuttings, viaducts and similar properties associated with closed railway lines, and sales. Network Rail is still responsible for a small proportion of disused railway lines which have been retained due to their close proximity or connection to currently operational railway lines. Network Rail’s records however do not distinguish between disused and operational railway lines, and therefore it is not possible to precisely indicate how much disused network they own.</p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 30/01/2019 14:48:43 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

680748

	registered interest
	date	24/01/2017
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Romania: NATO
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, When he plans for RAF Typhoons to deploy to Romania as part of NATO's southern air policing operations.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	908458
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2017 answer text <p>UK Typhoon from 3 Squadron, RAF Conningsby, will contribute to NATO’s Southern Air Policing mission this summer. We are working with NATO, Romania, and other key Allies, including Italy and Turkey, to design and deliver our deployment.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 30/01/2017 17:05:39 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

682974

	registered interest
	date	01/02/2017
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	EU Defence Policy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for ensuring close co-operation with EU countries on defence policy after the UK has left the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	62767
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2017 answer text <p>The nature of our future relationship with the EU on foreign, security, and Defence issues remains under consideration. We are, however, clear that we will continue to have a leading role in European and wider global security, and wish to continue to cooperate with European partners to tackle shared challenges.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 07/02/2017 17:05:51 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

670696

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2017
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Construction
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to encourage innovation in the construction industry.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	59349
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2017 answer text <p>The Government is working with the Construction Leadership Council and its innovation work streams to drive forward innovation across the sector. It is also promoting innovation through its approach to its own construction procurement, set out in last year’s Government Construction Strategy, including requiring digital construction or Building Information Modelling (“BIM”) on all projects, stimulating adoption of digital construction in the sector’s supply chains. On major projects such as Crossrail and HS2, the client is acting as a powerful driver of innovation in construction. The Government has also set aside £1.7 billion of funding to pilot ‘accelerated construction’ to speed up house building on surplus public sector land. This will seek to encourage small and medium builders, new developers and innovative methods of construction in order to build at double the rate of traditional house builders. In addition, at Budget 2016 the Government committed funding to the next three years of the ‘Digital Built Britain’ Programme further to develop digital construction technologies and the UK’s global leadership in them.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 23/01/2017 14:15:39 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

890466

	registered interest
	date	24/04/2018
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Aviation: Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the safety of general aviation of the use of controlled airspace.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	137636
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2018 answer text <p>Aviation safety is the overarching duty of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The CAA is the UK’s independent aviation regulator and acts as the national supervisory authority responsible for the planning and regulation of national airspace. It sets the process for change in UK airspace, and makes decisions on proposals made by sponsors to change the notified UK airspace design.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has appointed Byron Davies as its first ever General Aviation Champion, in order to identify a network of strategically important airfields and to help the future development of the general aviation sector.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 01/05/2018 11:28:40 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

891323

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2018
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Airspace
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that any change to lower airspace strategy recognises the needs of all types of aviation; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	138083
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2018 answer text <p>The UK's airspace modernisation programme, together with the Aviation Strategy, aims to provide a framework that enables the aviation industry, including general aviation, and communities to continue to work together to deliver a more efficient and modernised airspace, while managing the environmental effects of aviation.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has also asked the Civil Aviation Authority to develop a strategy for the modernisation of the UK’s airspace, and to report annually on its delivery. This strategy will take into account the interests of all airspace users.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 01/05/2018 11:32:19 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

896360

	registered interest
	date	02/05/2018
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Airspace
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department last audited the Civil Aviation Authority's airspace change process.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	140838
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2018 answer text <p>The UK’s independent airspace regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), is responsible for its own airspace change process. However, the CAA is required to ensure that its airspace change process is consistent with the Government’s Air Navigation Guidance and Air Navigation Directions, as updated in October 2017.</p><p> </p><p>Officials from the Department continue to work closely with the CAA to ensure its compliance with both the Guidance and the Directions.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 11/05/2018 10:34:21 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

994287

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2018
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Airspace
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority on the implementation of Class E airspace with transponder mandatory zones in the UK; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	183506
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2018 answer text <p>There have been no specific discussions with the CAA on the implementation of Class E airspace in UK. In accordance with the Air Navigation Directions 2017, the policy on the classification of airspace and its implementation lies with the independent airspace regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority.</p><p> </p><p>However, as The Government continues to modernise our airspace, it needs to be mindful of longer term changes that will have an impact on wider airspace management. This includes the increasing need to enable the safe integration, rather than segregation, of all aircraft. This is why, as part of the Aviation Strategy, The Department is working with the CAA to explore a new policy on mandating electronic identification for all users.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 31/10/2018 13:22:07 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

686982

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2017
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces: Communication
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has put in place to ensure the continuation of secure personal correspondence between armed forces personnel deployed in remote locations and their families after the e-bluey system ends on 31 March 2017.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	63576
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2017 answer text <p>Personnel deployed on operations enjoy access to a variety of methods for contacting their friends and family, including via internet access or mail services. Therefore the cessation of the e-bluey service will not impact on the provision of secure personal correspondence for deployed personnel.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 21/02/2017 14:30:51 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

993762

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2018
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Planning Permission: Fines
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many times developers have been fined in England and Wales for a breach of planning permissions in 2017; and what the value was of those fines.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	182879
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2018 answer text <p>My Department does not hold specific information on court fines for breaches of planning control. The Government is clear that effective enforcement is important to tackle breaches of planning control. We have given local authorities a wide range of enforcement powers, with strong penalties for non-compliance. Effective use of these powers is important as a means of maintaining public confidence in the planning system.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse grouped question UIN 182880 question first answered 31/10/2018 16:06:34 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

993763

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2018
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Planning Permission: Fines
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the 10 most common breaches for which developers were fined in England and Wales for breach of planning permissions in 2017.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	182880
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2018 answer text <p>My Department does not hold specific information on court fines for breaches of planning control. The Government is clear that effective enforcement is important to tackle breaches of planning control. We have given local authorities a wide range of enforcement powers, with strong penalties for non-compliance. Effective use of these powers is important as a means of maintaining public confidence in the planning system.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse grouped question UIN 182879 question first answered 31/10/2018 16:06:34 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

918415

	registered interest
	date	06/06/2018
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Cultural Heritage: Aircraft
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of supporting heritage aviation organisations to acquire ex-military aircraft and associated equipment for (a) flying and (b) static displays when they are disposed of by the Ministry of Defence.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	150746
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/06/2018 answer text <p>We recognise the important heritage value of ex-military aircraft and equipment; however, it is for museums and other organisations to determine acquisitions appropriate for their collections. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport estimates that it has given over £500,000 towards the rescue of ex-military aircraft through the National Heritage Memorial Fund. The Heritage Lottery Fund has also provided £3.5million in support of ex-military aircraft.</p><p>The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is responsible for the disposal of ex-military aircraft and equipment. The MOD’s gifting policy acknowledges the heritage value of ex-military aircraft and equipment, and permits gifting to DCMS and MOD-sponsored museums.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 15/06/2018 10:09:22 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

1046029

	registered interest
	date	22/01/2019
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	UK Membership of EU: Referendums
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Electoral Commission report of 14 December 2018 entitled Cost of delivering the June 2016 referendum on the UK's membership of the EU, what the total cost of the referendum was to the public purse including pre-purdah referendum publicity and documentation.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	211344
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2019 answer text <p>The cost to taxpayers of delivering the 2016 EU Referendum was £129.1 million. A breakdown of that cost is provided in the report published by the Electoral Commission.</p><p> </p><p>The then Government undertook publicity on EU membership ahead of the referendum. This cost an additional £9.3 million.</p><p> </p><p>The total cost to taxpayers was thus £138.4 million</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 29/01/2019 09:49:58 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

670711

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2017
	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	Non-domestic Rates
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with local authorities on 100 per cent business rate retention.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	59371
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2017 answer text <p>By the end of the Parliament, local government will retain 100% of taxes raised locally, giving councils control of an additional £12.5 billion of business rates to spend on local services. To ensure the reforms are fiscally neutral, some existing grants will be phased out and responsibilities will be devolved to local authorities. This move towards self-sufficiency and away from dependence on central government is something councils have long campaigned for. We have worked in close collaboration with local government in how to implement this commitment, including through the Business Rates Retention Steering Group, which is jointly chaired by the Local Government Association and the Department for Communities and Local Government.</p><p>Last week, we introduced the Local Government Finance Bill that will establish the legislative framework for the reformed system. All relevant documents can be found here: <a href="http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2016-17/localgovernmentfinance.html" target="_blank">http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2016-17/localgovernmentfinance.html</a>. We will continue to work closely with local government during the passage of the legislation, to shape the detail of the reforms.</p> answering member constituency Nuneaton answering member printed Mr Marcus Jones question first answered 18/01/2017 17:40:02 answering member 4024 label Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones previous answer version 29859 answering member constituency Nuneaton answering member printed Mr Marcus Jones answering member 4024 label Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

683009

	registered interest
	date	01/02/2017
	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	India: 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 recent assessment he has made of the strength of relations between India and the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	62693
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2017 answer text <p>The Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) made her first bilateral visit overseas, outside of Europe, to India in November 2016. This demonstrates how strongly we value the relationship with India. As the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson) said when he visited India in January, the UK and India are natural partners. We share a longstanding, broad and deep friendship with India, including in trade and investment, people-to-people ties and our partnership on defence and international security.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 09/02/2017 15:43:01 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

765783

	registered interest
	date	06/10/2017
	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	Housing: Construction
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much of the Home Building Fund has been allocated; and what proportion of that amount has been allocated to small and medium-sized house builders.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	106267
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2017 answer text <p>The £3 billion Home Building Fund provides long and short term loan finance to build the homes this country needs.</p><p>Of the £3 billion Home Building Fund, £1.38 billion (46 per cent) has been allocated to successful applicants. Of the £1 billion funding specifically allocated to support small and medium sized builders, custom builders and innovators, £540 million has been allocated. The amount of that fund specifically allocated to small and medium sized builders is £292 million.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 16/10/2017 16:35:06 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

822976

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2018
	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	Turkey: Religious Freedom
	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 assessment he has made of the level of religious freedom in Turkey; and what steps the Government is taking to promote and protect the right to freedom of religion or belief in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	122659
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2018 answer text <p>The UK has some concerns over freedom of religious belief in Turkey and the issue continues to be a priority area for our bilateral projects in Turkey. We have raised our concerns with Turkish interlocutors up to and including at Prime Ministerial level. We will continue to encourage Turkey to work towards the full protection of fundamental rights, especially in the areas of minority rights, freedom of religion and freedom of expression.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 23/01/2018 17:20:49 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

806189

	registered interest
	date	13/12/2017
	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	Marine Environment: Conservation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on the UK's role in global ocean conservation.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	119390
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/12/2017 answer text <p>The oceans are vital to support life on earth, and are critical to the United Kingdom. The UK and its Overseas Territories are custodians to the fifth-largest marine estate in the world. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) therefore has an important role in promoting security at sea and improving the conservation and sustainable use of our oceans, and we are looking at how the UK can take this yet further. We already take a leading role on maritime protection and are on track to deliver marine protected areas across nearly 4 million square kilometres of the planet's oceans and seas through our Blue Belt programme by 2020.</p><p>The FCO works closely with the Department for Environment Food &amp; Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and others including agencies such as the UK Hydrographic Office, the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to promote global marine conservation. The FCO and DEFRA in particular have also been closely involved in the negotiations of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) to develop an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.</p><p>I am committed to combatting the menace of marine plastic pollution. This Government introduced a charge on plastic carrier bags, cutting their use in the UK by 80 per cent, and avoiding the disposal of 9 billion carrier bags, many of which might otherwise have ended up in the oceans. And from 1 January 2018, we will ban the production of plastic microbeads, the strongest legal measure of its kind anywhere in the world.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 21/12/2017 17:27:32 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

858523

	registered interest
	date	09/03/2018
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Pensions: Tax Allowances
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much was paid out in Lifetime Allowance charges in each year between 2010-2011 to 2017-2018; and what estimate he has made of the amount to be paid in (a) 2018-19, (b) 2019-2020 and (c) 2010-21.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	131778
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2018 answer text <p>Individuals whose pension savings exceed the Lifetime Allowance (LTA) are generally liable for tax when payments are made from their pension scheme.</p><p>Tax paid on LTA charges for 2010/11 to 2017/18 (year to date)</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Tax Year</p></td><td><p>Total tax paid (rounded to the nearest £10m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010/11</p></td><td><p>£10 million</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011/12</p></td><td><p>£20 million</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012/13</p></td><td><p>£20 million</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013/14</p></td><td><p>£40 million</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014/15</p></td><td><p>£40 million</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015/16</p></td><td><p>£80 million</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016/17</p></td><td><p>£110 million</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>£120 million[1]</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Numbers provided for tax collected may be subject to significant change over time as in some cases pension providers can claim back tax paid. For example, this can occur where an individual has protections above the current Lifetime Allowance, or where not all of the payment would have been subject to the Lifetime Allowance.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC does not have estimates for future payments of LTA charges for 2018-19, 2019-20 or 2020-21. Any tax received from LTA charges forms a part of the overall Income Tax forecast.</p><p> </p><p>[1] Please note the 2017/18 tax year runs until April 2018, and so further tax charges could come through for this year which are not reflected in the above tables. The number provided represents a <em>year-to-date </em>figure.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 19/03/2018 14:11:18 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

885141

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2018
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Business: Government Assistance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What steps he is taking to support businesses and strengthen the market economy.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	904792
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2018 answer text <p>This government aims to create an environment to help businesses to succeed. We are keeping taxes low, and ensuring firms can access the skills and support they need.</p><p> </p><p>We have cut corporation tax to 19%, the lowest rate in the G20, and are developing a National Retraining Scheme so we are ready to seize opportunities in the new economy.</p><p> </p><p>It is through measures like these, and the power of a vibrant and competitive market economy, that we will further drive growth and prosperity, encourage innovation and help raise living standards across the UK</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 17/04/2018 15:01:39 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

830411

	registered interest
	date	25/01/2018
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Antidepressants: Side Effects
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment has been made of the side-effects of Citalopram on patients.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	124977
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2018 answer text <p>Reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are collected by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Commission for Human Medicines (CHM) through the spontaneous reporting scheme, the Yellow Card Scheme. The MHRA continuously monitors the safety of all medicines on the market in the United Kingdom and seeks independent expert advice from the CHM on important new safety issues.</p><p> </p><p>The Yellow Card Scheme collects information relating to suspected adverse drug reactions, which include both serious and non-serious effects which a doctor or patient suspects may have been due to a medicine. The MHRA has received a total of 593 suspected spontaneous ADR reports in association with citalopram between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2017. This number includes reports received directly from healthcare professionals, patients and indirectly through pharmaceutical companies which have a legal obligation to report suspected ADRs. The number of reports received directly from the National Health Service cannot be determined.</p><p> </p><p>The MHRA does not hold information on deterioration of health. Each ADR report contains information on an ADR at a specific point in time, rather than a deterioration of health over a period of time, and should therefore not be interpreted as a report of a deterioration of a patient's health.</p><p> </p><p>The inclusion of a particular ADR in a report does not necessarily mean it has been caused by the drug, only that the reporter had a suspicion it may have, or it had a close temporal relationship to the administration of the suspect drug. The fact that symptoms occur after a treatment does not necessarily mean that they have been caused by the drug itself, as underlying illnesses and other conditions may be responsible.</p><p> </p><p>Citalopram is an antidepressant belonging to the class of medicines known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Citalopram is an effective medicine for the treatment of depression. Information about possible side-effects associated with treatment are provided in the product information which is available to all prescribers and patients. Data is evaluated as it emerges and where necessary regulatory action is taken and communicated to healthcare professionals and the information for patients is updated.</p> answering member constituency Thurrock answering member printed Jackie Doyle-Price grouped question UIN 124976 question first answered 01/02/2018 16:12:40 answering member 4065 label Biography information for Dame Jackie Doyle-Price
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

830410

	registered interest
	date	25/01/2018
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Antidepressants
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many incidents the NHS has recorded of Citalopram leading to the deterioration of a patient's health in 2016-17.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	124976
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2018 answer text <p>Reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are collected by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Commission for Human Medicines (CHM) through the spontaneous reporting scheme, the Yellow Card Scheme. The MHRA continuously monitors the safety of all medicines on the market in the United Kingdom and seeks independent expert advice from the CHM on important new safety issues.</p><p> </p><p>The Yellow Card Scheme collects information relating to suspected adverse drug reactions, which include both serious and non-serious effects which a doctor or patient suspects may have been due to a medicine. The MHRA has received a total of 593 suspected spontaneous ADR reports in association with citalopram between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2017. This number includes reports received directly from healthcare professionals, patients and indirectly through pharmaceutical companies which have a legal obligation to report suspected ADRs. The number of reports received directly from the National Health Service cannot be determined.</p><p> </p><p>The MHRA does not hold information on deterioration of health. Each ADR report contains information on an ADR at a specific point in time, rather than a deterioration of health over a period of time, and should therefore not be interpreted as a report of a deterioration of a patient's health.</p><p> </p><p>The inclusion of a particular ADR in a report does not necessarily mean it has been caused by the drug, only that the reporter had a suspicion it may have, or it had a close temporal relationship to the administration of the suspect drug. The fact that symptoms occur after a treatment does not necessarily mean that they have been caused by the drug itself, as underlying illnesses and other conditions may be responsible.</p><p> </p><p>Citalopram is an antidepressant belonging to the class of medicines known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Citalopram is an effective medicine for the treatment of depression. Information about possible side-effects associated with treatment are provided in the product information which is available to all prescribers and patients. Data is evaluated as it emerges and where necessary regulatory action is taken and communicated to healthcare professionals and the information for patients is updated.</p> answering member constituency Thurrock answering member printed Jackie Doyle-Price grouped question UIN 124977 question first answered 01/02/2018 16:12:40 answering member 4065 label Biography information for Dame Jackie Doyle-Price
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

818016

	registered interest
	date	08/01/2018
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Direct Selling
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What steps she is taking to tackle doorstep crime.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	903120
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/01/2018 answer text <p>The Government set up the Joint Fraud Taskforce through which police, banks and trading standards work together to help protect vulnerable people from the fraudulent approaches made by doorstep criminals. The Banking Protocol, which helps bank staff recognise signs of fraud, such as unusually high cash withdrawals, has stopped over £9 million pounds from getting into criminal hands and led to over 100 arrests.</p> answering member constituency Wyre and Preston North answering member printed Mr Ben Wallace question first answered 08/01/2018 16:50:10 answering member 1539 label Biography information for Mr Ben Wallace
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts