Public libraries policy in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter. The funding of the public library service in Northern Ireland, including Newtownards library, is a matter for the Department for Communities, with provision and promotion of the service secured through Libraries Northern Ireland.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4032", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Stuart Andrew"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Pudsey"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Stuart Andrew"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-02-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-02-13T22:26:35.067Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "217"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-02-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Public Libraries: Finance"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking steps to ensure that (a) Newtownards Library and (b) other public libraries have sufficient funding to encourage more people to visit them.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "139176"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1582716", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1582716/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The life sciences sector is among the most valuable and strategically important in the United Kingdom\u2019s economy. The latest edition of the Government\u2019s Life Sciences Competitiveness Indicators shows that in 2020, the UK ranked sixth out of 10 comparator countries for our share of patients recruited to a subset of commercial global studies for novel medicines. The UK also ranked seventh for the time taken between clinical trial application and first dose to first patient. This is up from tenth in 2019.<\/p>
The indicators also show that, in 2020, the UK pharmaceutical industry spent over £5 billion on research and development (R&D) and has consistently been the largest industry to spend on R&D in the UK, making up more than a fifth of all R&D performed by industry between 2014 and 2020.<\/p>
The National Health Service in England is internationally competitive in adopting innovative medicines. Industry data shows that there are five treatments available in England for every four in Europe and almost a third more cancer drugs.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4423", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Will Quince"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colchester"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Will Quince"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-02-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-02-09T13:56:52.207Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-02-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Drugs: Manufacturing Industries"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of (a) the competitiveness of the UK pharmaceutical industry for (i) conducting clinical trials and (ii) research and development and (b) the impact of the level of use of innovative medicines in the NHS on outcomes for patients.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "137769"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1582718", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1582718/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
As set out in the British Energy Security Strategy, nuclear energy is a key part of the UK\u2019s low-carbon energy mix alongside solar, wind and other energy sources. These technologies are important in tackling climate change and diversifying the UK\u2019s supply, contributing to the UK\u2019s energy security and sustainable growth.<\/p>
<\/p>
We do not rule out the possibility that the Framework may be revised at some point in the future (for example to reflect changing standards in the green bond market or to include Nuclear energy profits) and, if so, we will be transparent about any revisions at that time.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4874", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Griffith"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Arundel and South Downs"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Griffith"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-02-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-02-07T16:56:29.813Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-02-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Environment Protection: Finance"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will amend the UK Government Green Financing Framework, published on 30 June 2021, to allow the proceeds of green bonds to finance nuclear energy projects.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "137770"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1582719", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Energy Security and Net Zero"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1582719/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Department considers the impact of international policies on UK investment to ensure the Government meets its net zero and economic growth ambitions.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1482", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Graham Stuart"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Beverley and Holderness"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Graham Stuart"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-02-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-02-09T12:03:00.617Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "215"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Energy Security and Net Zero"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Energy Security and Net Zero"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-02-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Energy: Investment"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make a comparative assessment of the competitiveness of the (a) UK and (b) US energy investment environment.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "137771"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1582720", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Energy Security and Net Zero"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1582720/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Department considers the impact of international policies on UK investment to ensure the Government meets its net zero and economic growth ambitions.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1482", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Graham Stuart"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Beverley and Holderness"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Graham Stuart"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-02-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-02-09T12:03:52.263Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "215"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Energy Security and Net Zero"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Energy Security and Net Zero"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-02-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Energy: Investment"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make a comparative assessment of the competitiveness of the (a) UK and (b) EU energy investment environment.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "137772"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1582724", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1582724/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Any loss of life is a tragedy, and the Government takes issues relating to loss of life extremely seriously. On 6 January 2023, HM Revenue and Customs wrote to the Treasury Select Committee to inform them that ten referrals have been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) where a taxpayer has sadly taken their life and used a disguised remuneration scheme. HMRC made the first of these referrals to the IOPC in March 2019. Following referral HMRC has conducted internal investigations, eight investigations have concluded and there was no evidence of misconduct by any HMRC officer. Two investigations are currently ongoing. HMRC is committed to learning and making improvements so as to avoid causing undue stress and, wherever possible, identify taxpayers who need extra help and give them the support they need.<\/p>
<\/p>
Taxpayers are also supported by HMRC\u2019s Extra Support Teams. These are teams of trained advisors who, where appropriate, signpost taxpayers to Voluntary and Community organisations. To further improve the emotional support offered to taxpayers, HMRC and Samaritans are working together to deliver an 18-month project. As part of the pilot, Samaritans will further strengthen the capability and confidence of HMRC\u2019s Extra Support Teams by providing additional guidance and coaching techniques to identify taxpayers who might be in vulnerable circumstances. Where needed, HMRC will signpost taxpayers to specialist emotional support through a dedicated Samaritans helpline.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4399", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Atkins"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Louth and Horncastle"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Atkins"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-02-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-02-07T19:42:16.19Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-02-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Tax Avoidance: Suicide"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people who were liable for the Loan Charge have taken their own lives.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "137773"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1582725", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1582725/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "