{ "format" : "linked-data-api", "version" : "0.2", "result" : {"_about" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?uin=HL3825", "definition" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/meta/answeredquestions.text?uin=HL3825", "extendedMetadataVersion" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?uin=HL3825&_metadata=all", "first" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=0&uin=HL3825", "hasPart" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?uin=HL3825", "isPartOf" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?uin=HL3825", "items" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1700716", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1700716/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

The approved In-Service Date for the first Fleet Solid Support ship is 2031. The Royal Navy expects to manage RFA Fort Victoria's operational status as necessary to maintain solid support ship availability during the capability transition period. Should opportunities arise that will expedite these timelines, then the Department will consider those in a value for money context.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4952", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for The Earl of Minto"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "The Earl of Minto"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-04-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-04-29T12:30:18.793Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-04-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Fleet Solid Support Ships"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of speeding up delivery times for the Fleet Solid Support ships.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3834", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord West of Spithead"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord West of Spithead"} ], "uin" : "HL3825"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1546237", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1546237/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

The Government is committed to supporting the rental market.<\/p>

<\/p>

On 23 September, the Government announced an increase in the nil-rate threshold of Stamp Duty Land Tax from £125,000 to £250,000 for all purchases of residential property. At Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced that this measure will end on 31 March 2025 as part of the Government\u2019s commitment to fiscal responsibility. It will remain in place until then to boost transactions by reducing the upfront costs of purchasing homes, including in the private rented sector, and support the hundreds of thousands of jobs and businesses reliant on the property industry.<\/p>

<\/p>

The Government keeps all tax policy under review.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4726", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Penn"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Penn"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-12-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-12-12T17:21:34.157Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-11-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Private Rented Housing: Taxation"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of recent tax changes on the supply of homes in the private rented sector.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3682", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Truscott"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Truscott"} ], "uin" : "HL3825"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1366784", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1366784/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

Free school meal (FSM) eligibility criteria is a devolved policy. In England, under the benefits-based criteria, 1.7 million of the most disadvantaged pupils are eligible for and claiming a free school meal. An additional 1.3 million infant aged children can also access a free, healthy and nutritious meal at lunchtime, following the introduction of the Universal Infant Free School Meal policy in 2014.<\/p>

Under the benefits-based criteria, to be eligible to receive FSMs, a pupil or their parent must be in receipt of specific welfare benefits and must make a claim to the school for FSMs. The criteria are available at: https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals<\/a>.<\/p>

Schools provide free school meals for eligible pupils during term time. Beyond that, billions of pounds of welfare assistance is in place to support families and children. Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak and during the period in which schools were largely closed, the department funded around £450 million supermarket vouchers through the National Voucher Scheme. Since November 2020, the Department for Work and Pensions has put in place funding to support vulnerable households across the country. The latest fund is the DWPs £500 million Household Support Fund to help families and individuals with essentials over the coming months as the country continues its recovery from the COVID-19 outbreak. This fund will allow local authorities to directly help the hardest-hit families and individuals with daily needs such as food, clothing and utilities.<\/p>

The recent Budget also confirmed the continuation of the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, with an investment of over £200 million per year. Operated through local authorities and taking place in schools and community venues across England, national delivery began at Easter 2021 and has run across the summer and will run in the Christmas holidays. It supports disadvantaged pupils and their families with enriching activities, providing them with healthy food, helping them to learn new skills, providing physical activity, nutritional education, and supporting socialisation and well-being. Local authorities are required to operate against the core HAF objectives including the provision of food that meets the school food standards but have freedom to determine the delivery approach, for example working with local partners, businesses and supermarkets.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4703", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Barran"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Barran"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-11-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "HL3822"} , {"_value" : "HL3823"} , {"_value" : "HL3824"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-11-17T14:49:03Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2021-11-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Free School Meals"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government how many children in England currently receive free school meals.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3691", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Roberts of Llandudno"} ], "uin" : "HL3825"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1193284", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1193284/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

In answering this question we have interpreted \u2018violent\u2019 as \u2018Violence Against The Person\u2019.<\/p>

<\/p>

The table below therefore provides information on the total numbers of prisoners that were held on both pre-trial and post-conviction remand for offences excluding those in the \u2018Violence Against The Person\u2019 offence group on 31 January, 29 February and 31 March 2020. It has not been possible to provide this information for April because the data will not be available until the end of July 2020 when the next Offender Management Statistics Quarterly will be published.<\/p>

Table 1: Remand prison population (excluding (alleged) \u201cViolence Against The Person\u201d offence group), as at 31 January to 31 March 2020; England & Wales<\/strong><\/p>

<\/p><\/td>

31-Jan-20<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

29-Feb-20<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

31-Mar-20<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Total 'non-violent' remand population<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

7,622<\/p><\/td>

7,709<\/p><\/td>

7,589<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

Data sources and quality<\/strong><\/p>

The figures in these tables have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.<\/p>

Source:<\/strong> PQ HL 3825 (Ministry of Justice; DASD-JSAS)<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4538", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Keen of Elie"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-05-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-05-20T12:47:55.763Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2020-05-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Remand in Custody"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prisoners were held on remand for non-violent offences in (1) January, (2) February, (3) March, and (4) April.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4163", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord German"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord German"} ], "uin" : "HL3825"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/800438", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/800438/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

Any compulsorily transferred staff would have their pay, terms and conditions protected under Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment legislation and have continued access to the NHS Pension Scheme under the Government\u2019s New Fair Deal guidance.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4545", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord O'Shaughnessy"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord O'Shaughnessy"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-12-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-12-18T16:21:02.01Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-12-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "NHS: Pensions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the number of former staff of NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts who moved to employment with a wholly owned subsidiary of those Trusts who have opted to come out of the NHS Pension Scheme in return for higher wages.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2024", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"} ], "uin" : "HL3825"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/651844", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Culture, Media and Sport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/651844/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

Analysis has shown that enough spectrum has been made available for PMSE to meet all demand. It is, therefore, up to industry to decide how they work within the constraints of the allocated spectrum and to plan their events accordingly.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4247", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ashton of Hyde"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ashton of Hyde"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2016-12-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2016-12-12T14:42:56.447Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "10"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2016-12-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Radio Frequencies"} , "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 Answer by Lord Ashton of Hyde on 17 November (HL3043), whether a contingency plan for the Programme Making and Special Events sector exists; if not, when they will start to draft a contingency plan; and which stakeholders will be consulted as the contingency plan is compiled.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4167", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Benjamin"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Benjamin"} ], "uin" : "HL3825"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/431562", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/431562/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

The European Commission\u2019s Annual Report on European SMEs 2014/15 found that, access to finance for SMEs across the EU has decreased in importance with only 13% (down from 15% in 2013) citing it as the most pressing problem in 2014 behind a number of other issues. The UK\u2019s SME Finance Monitor also found that 79% of SME loan and overdraft applications were successful in the 18 months to 2015 Q2, up from 67% in Q4 2013.<\/p>

The Government continues to take steps to improve access to finance. The British Business Bank, for example, is supporting £2.4 billion of finance to over 40,000 smaller businesses, and participating in a further £3.3 billion of finance to small mid-sized businesses, as of the end of June. In addition, the implementation of measures in the Small Business and Employment Act 2015 will require the largest banks to refer customers who have been declined finance to alternative providers via designated platforms.<\/p>

The report also highlights that finding customers remains a problem for SMEs but that this is relatively less problematic than in previous years. We are supporting SMEs by providing advice on a range of issues through Growth Hubs, which join up local resources; the My Business Support Tool which helps businesses find the support they need quickly; and the Business Support Helpline.<\/p>

Government has made public contract opportunities easier to find by making them all accessible on an improved single online portal. The Contracts Finder contains current public sector contracts (above £10,000 in Central Government and £25,000 in the wider public sector) and a forwardpipelineof potential contract opportunities up to 2020.<\/p>

Of the 50,000 plus businesses that make up the customer base of UK Trade & Investment, some 90% are SMEs.<\/p>

UKTI provides tailored help for SMEs, including: working out which markets suit their business; identifying export opportunities; introducing them to key contacts and setting up business meetings; and helping firms exhibit their goods and services at trade fairs.<\/p>
"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4284", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Neville-Rolfe"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-12-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-12-10T16:56:25.66Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-11-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Small Businesses"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what action they are taking in response to data published by the European Commission in its 2015 Annual Report on European SMEs, which found that access to finance and finding customers are some of the greatest issues faced by SMEs in the EU.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3786", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Cotter"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Cotter"} ], "uin" : "HL3825"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/170878", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/170878/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

We introduced a new version of the Life in the UK test in 2013, but there was no change to our policy on offering the test in Welsh or Scottish Gaelic. Demand for tests in these languages is very low and we have no record of any requests outside Wales or Scotland.<\/p>

<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-01-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-01-05T15:34:34.47Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-12-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "British Nationality: Assessments"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government why in England applicants have been unable to sit the Life in the United Kingdom citizenship test in Welsh or Scots Gaelic since 2013.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3691", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Roberts of Llandudno"} ], "uin" : "HL3825"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 8, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }