The Department attends a number of meetings with both Network Rail and the Office of Rail Regulation across various levels with a broad agenda. These include costs, deliverability, construction synergies and scope of works. Electrification schemes and related issues are often discussed.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1557", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Kramer"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Kramer"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-15T15:27:28.7415431Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-09-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Railways: Electrification"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Kramer on 15 September (HL1794 and HL1795), since 1 June 2014 how many meetings have been held between (1) the Department for Transport and Network Rail, and (2) the Department for Transport and the Office of Rail Regulation, to discuss the costs of the electrification schemes.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3526", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Berkeley"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Berkeley"} ], "uin" : "HL1880"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/91830", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/91830/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
In this instance to provide you with the information you ask would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold. Individual contract managers would need to search through hundreds of contract files to confirm whether the clauses in each one of their contracts are on the same or a similar basis to the clauses within the draft Transforming Rehabilitation contracts.<\/p>
<\/p>
I can however tell you that voluntary termination is a standard clause in government contracts which is designed to provide flexibility for government while maintaining the balance of value for money for the tax payer.<\/p>
<\/p>
Voluntary termination compensation would only be payable to the contractor if a contract is terminated through no fault of the contractor.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4183", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Faulks"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Faulks"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-15T12:47:31.2520925Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-09-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Probation"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government how many contracts they have entered into on the same or similar basis as the proposed contracts with private sector providers of the probation service, containing penal clauses requiring 100 per cent compensation in the event of cancellation.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4181", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Beecham"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Beecham"} ], "uin" : "HL1888"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/91848", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Communities and Local Government"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/91848/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
There has been no abolition of funding for local welfare schemes. From 2015/16 there was going to be no specific grant but we are looking again at how the funding is provided in 2015/16. The Department for Work and Pensions are carrying out a review into how the funds in 2013/14 have been used. I refer the noble Lady to the comments of my noble Friend the Lord De Mauley of 25 January 2012 during the debate on the Welfare Reform Act 2012. He said, \u201cFollowing the introduction of localised assistance, the department has already made plans to conduct a review in 2014-15 to obtain appropriate information from a representative cross-section of at least 50 local authorities, which represents one-third of the total, in order to help inform future funding levels. We have committed to using this opportunity to gather further information about the way in which local authorities have used the funding.\u201d I refer the noble Lord to the consultation paper on local welfare provision published by HM Government on 10 October 2014. I have placed a copy in the Library of the House.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"}
, "attachment" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/91848/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "210187 welfare consultaion paper.pdf"}
, "title" : "welfare assistance"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-15T12:46:32.593847Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-09-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Welfare Assistance Schemes"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what are the terms of reference of the review into the impact of the abolition of funding for local welfare assistance schemes.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/143", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness King of Bow"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness King of Bow"}
], "uin" : "HL1906"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/91883", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/91883/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) is a commercial exhibition run by Clarion Events. Any decision as to whether to allow a company that may have been ejected from a previous DSEI to exhibit at a future one is a matter for Clarion.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between BIS and Clarion was set in place in 2013 to give Clarion the authority they need to control the activities of their exhibitors at DSEI. It sets out Clarion\u2019s role and responsibilities, and those of the exhibitor companies, regarding UK export and trade control legislation.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4070", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Matt Hancock"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Suffolk"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Matthew Hancock"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-15T13:52:21.3205719Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-09-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Arms Trade: Trade Fairs"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2014 to Question 206108, whether UK law and export control regulations place any restrictions on allowing companies which have previously been ejected from the DSEI arms fair for selling equipment which could be used for torture to exhibit at future DSEI events in London, or whether that decision is entirely a matter for Clarion Events.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/304", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Roger Godsiff"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birmingham, Hall Green"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Roger Godsiff"}
], "uin" : "209456"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/91884", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/91884/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The British Business Bank oversees the management of two loan programmes that can be accessed by small and medium\u2013sized businesses seeking debt finance; Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) and Start-Up Loans (SUL).<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> EFG is delivered by participating lenders, including all the main high street banks, while SUL is delivered by a network of delivery partners contracted by the Start-Up Loans Company.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The delivery of both programmes is fully devolved to the participating lenders and for consistency they primarily report the numbers of loans offered or drawn rather than the number of applications received.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Programme<\/p><\/td> Volume of Loans drawn Barnsley East<\/p><\/td> Volume of Loans drawn<\/p> South Yorkshire<\/p><\/td> Volume of Loans drawn<\/p> England and Wales<\/p><\/td><\/tr> EFG<\/p><\/td> 22<\/p><\/td> 515<\/p><\/td> 20806<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Start Up Loans<\/p><\/td> 12<\/p><\/td> 321<\/p><\/td> 20435<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Total<\/p><\/td> 34<\/p><\/td> 836<\/p><\/td> 41241<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4070", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Matt Hancock"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Suffolk"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Matthew Hancock"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-15T13:50:17.881095Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-09-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "British Business Bank"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many small and medium-sized businesses in (a) Barnsley East constituency, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) England and Wales have (i) applied for and (ii) been granted loans by the British Business Bank in the last year.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3916", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Michael Dugher"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Barnsley East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Michael Dugher"}
], "uin" : "209441"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/91885", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/91885/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The setting of postal prices, including prices for cross-border mail between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, is the direct responsibility of postal operators. It is for postal operators and other carriers to ensure that they offer cross-border services that meet the needs of postal users in Northern Ireland and that their services are competitively priced, while covering the costs of their respective operations.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Royal Mail, as the UK\u2019s designated universal service provider, can negotiate suitable cross-border arrangements with the postal administration in the Republic of Ireland in the same way as it does for any other international destination, though its universal services must comply with the requirements of the Postal Services Directive on cross-border mail within the European Union and with Ofcom\u2019s regulatory framework which sets parameters on pricing for universal postal services. Other carriers offering services between the UK and the Republic of Ireland are responsible for setting their own pricing structures in response to market pressures.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Royal Mail works closely with An Post to provide customers with a high-quality cross border postal service. A Consumer Focus NI report of March 2010 (http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/northern-ireland/publications/cross-border-post-improving-mail-services-between-northern-ireland-and-the-republic-of-ireland) found that on reliability 85% of consumers and 75% of businesses rated the cross-border services as good and that the service exceeded the EU performance targets of delivery within 3 days of posting in both directions.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1513", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Swinson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Dunbartonshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jo Swinson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-15T13:36:48.8619812Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-09-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Postal Services: Republic of Ireland"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the current pricing structure of cross-border mail between the UK and Ireland.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1596", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Alasdair McDonnell"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Belfast South"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Alasdair McDonnell"}
], "uin" : "209442"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/91891", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/91891/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " HM Government does not collect or hold data for cross-border post between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Data relating to the volumes of mail between the UK and the Republic of Ireland are subject to commercial confidentiality between the national postal operators, Royal Mail and An Post, and other carriers operating between the two countries.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1513", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Swinson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Dunbartonshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jo Swinson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-15T13:58:31.1343594Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-09-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Postal Services: Republic of Ireland"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the total volume was of mail (a) dispatched to and (b) received from the Republic of Ireland in each of the last five years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1596", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Alasdair McDonnell"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Belfast South"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Alasdair McDonnell"}
], "uin" : "209570"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/91895", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/91895/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The current best estimate of non-compliance is published by the ONS in their low pay release[1], derived from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE)[2]. Figures show that non-compliance in the care sector is actually lower than non-compliance in the general economy.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> This estimate, as well as all estimates of non-compliance, has some limitations. However, there are no reasons to suppose that these limitations affect the social care sector more or less than the economy as a whole.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> [1] http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/ashe/low-pay/april-2011/stb-2011-low-pay-estimates.html<\/a><\/p> http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/ashe/low-pay/april-2012-results/stb-2012-low-pay-estimates.html<\/a><\/p>
<\/em><\/em><\/p>