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44354

registered interest
date	20/03/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will take steps to ensure that the contracts for the Building Schools for the Future programme include provisions to ensure prompt payment to small and medium-sized businesses.
tabling member constituency	North Durham
tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
uin	193063
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2014 answer text <p>The Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme is coming to a close, with the final schemes moving in to construction. The Government's main programme to address the condition needs of the school estate is the Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP) and the majority of work will be procured using the Education Funding Agency's (EFA) Contractors' Framework, which commenced in November 2013.</p><p>All PSBP procurements carried out by the EFA through this Framework will require the use of project bank accounts (PBAs)</p><p>PBAs differ from traditional construction industry payment arrangements whereby the procuring party under the building contract makes payment to the main contractor, who in turn makes payment down his supply chain. This can lead to delay and cashflow problems for small and medium sized businesses, who typically make up a significant proportion of the supply chain.</p><p>Instead, the procuring party will make payment into a trust account established specifically for the project. The majority of members of the supply chain are nominated as beneficiaries of that trust account, and the building contract requires that payment must be made from the PBA to the supply chain as soon as possible after the PBA is placed in funds, typically within three to four working days (although varying slightly depending on the specific banking arrangements).</p><p>There are a small number of PSBP projects being procured through a private finance route. For these projects, the project agreement does not deal with construction payments as no payment is made until the project is operational. Before that, payments for construction works are made by the single-purpose company (SPC) set up to carry out the project, to its subcontractors, and then down the contractual chain. The SPC's solvency is, in its contracts with first-tier subcontractors, protected by industry-standard provisions with which PBAs are not compatible. We are considering whether more can be done to encourage prompt payment further down the contractual chain.</p> answering member constituency Yeovil answering member printed Mr David Laws question first answered 25/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1473 label Biography information for Mr David Laws
tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

44356

registered interest
date	20/03/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to improve opportunities for children in primary school to learn computer programming.
tabling member constituency	Belfast East
tabling member printed	Naomi Long
uin	193003
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2014 answer text <p>As part of the reforms to the national curriculum, the Department for Education is strengthening the teaching of programming in schools by replacing ICT with computing. The new computing programmes of study, which will be taught in maintained schools from September 2014, have a much greater emphasis on computer science and include a significant focus on programming. Primary school pupils at key stage 1 will be taught to understand what algorithms are, create and debug simple programs, and use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs. Building on this, primary school pupils at key stage 2 will be taught to design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs; and use logical reasoning to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs.</p><p>The Department is funding several projects to help teachers acquire the necessary subject knowledge and skills to teach the new computing curriculum. We are funding the British Computer Society (BCS) to help primary school teachers improve their subject knowledge through online teach-yourself resources and 800 in-school workshops. We are also funding BCS to build a network of 400 ‘Master Teachers'. A further £500,000 competitive match-funded scheme was announced on 4 February to support excellent computing teaching and lever additional investment and engagement from business.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 27/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	3920 label Biography information for Naomi Long

44359

registered interest
date	20/03/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to introduce his new national school funding formula.
tabling member constituency	South Staffordshire
tabling member printed	Gavin Williamson
uin	193118
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2014 answer text <p>On 13 March, I announced proposals to allocate £350 million to our least fairly funded local areas in 2015-16. This is the biggest step towards fairer schools funding in a decade. It puts us in a much better position to implement a national funding formula when the time is right – after the next spending review, when there are multi-year public spending plans, and we can give greater certainty to schools about how the formula will affect them.</p> answering member constituency Yeovil answering member printed Mr David Laws question first answered 27/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1473 label Biography information for Mr David Laws
tabling member	4108 label Biography information for Sir Gavin Williamson

44360

registered interest
date	20/03/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has any plans to increase the amount of funding allocated to schools in South Staffordshire constituency.
tabling member constituency	South Staffordshire
tabling member printed	Gavin Williamson
uin	193117
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2014 answer text <p>Earlier this month I announced plans to boost funding for around 60 of the least fairly funded local authorities, which will mean that every local area will attract at least a minimum level of funding for each of its pupils and schools. As Staffordshire already attracts funding above these levels, it will not receive additional money as part of these proposals. Staffordshire receives funding on a per pupil basis, so the amount allocated to schools in Staffordshire will increase in line with demographic growth.</p><p>Schools in Staffordshire local authority received over £22 million of pupil premium funding in 2013-14. This is a significant Government investment in addition to mainstream school funding. We will increase pupil premium funding rates for 2014-15 to £1,300 for every eligible primary pupil and £935 for every eligible secondary pupil, as well as expanding the scope of the pupil premium to cover more disadvantaged pupils than ever before.</p> answering member constituency Yeovil answering member printed Mr David Laws question first answered 26/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1473 label Biography information for Mr David Laws
tabling member	4108 label Biography information for Sir Gavin Williamson

44361

registered interest
date	20/03/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made for the number of three and four year olds who will benefit from his new early years premium; what the eligibility criteria is for those children; how those three and four year olds will be identified; what amount will be attached to each child; how the premium will be administered; whether all early years settings will be eligible to receive the premium for children in their care; and how many years that funding is guaranteed for.
tabling member constituency	Manchester Central
tabling member printed	Lucy Powell
uin	192995
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2014 answer text <p>The purpose of the £50 million funding through a Pupil Premium for early years, which the Government announced on 18 March, is to improve early years provision for disadvantaged three and four year-olds. We will consult on delivery of the Premium, including the eligibility criteria, prior to its introduction in April 2015. Funding decisions beyond 2015-16 will be determined in a future Parliament.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 27/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	4263 label Biography information for Lucy Powell

44364

registered interest
date	20/03/2014
answering body	Department for Energy and Climate Change
answering dept id	63
answering dept short name	Energy and Climate Change
answering dept sort name	Energy and Climate Change
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to the Answer of 3 December 2012, Official Report, column 590W, on wind power, what progress he has made on addressing the issue of manufacturers selling turbines which have been derated to allow them to benefit from higher tariffs; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	North Warwickshire
tabling member printed	Dan Byles
uin	192994
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2014 answer text <p>DECC takes the issue of turbine de-rating under the Feed-in Tariff scheme (FITs) seriously.</p><p> </p><p>To the end of September 2013, 110 turbines had been installed under the Feed-in Tariff scheme (FITs) in the 100-500kW band, representing just 2.2% of wind sites. Of these 110, eight, with a total installed capacity between 490 -500kW, had been de-rated.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon question first answered 26/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
tabling member	4112 label Biography information for Dan Byles

44365

registered interest
date	20/03/2014
answering body	Department for Energy and Climate Change
answering dept id	63
answering dept short name	Energy and Climate Change
answering dept sort name	Energy and Climate Change
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment he has made of the health effects of infrasound from wind turbine generators.
tabling member constituency	York Outer
tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
uin	192989
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2014 answer text <p>A number of independent peer reviewed research studies have concluded that there is no evidence of health effects arising from infrasound or low frequency noise, generated by windfarms that are built according to Government guidelines.</p><p> </p><p>For example, a comprehensive study undertaken in the UK in 1997 by ETSU for the Department of Trade and Industry (ETSU W/13/00392/REP) found no evidence that ground transmitted low frequency noise from wind turbines is at a sufficient level to be harmful to human health. These findings were confirmed by a study published in 2005 by the Applied and Environmental Geophysics Group of the School of Physical and Geographical Sciences at Keele University titled Microseismic and Infrasound Monitoring of Low Frequency Noise and Vibrations from Wind Farms1. In 2003 the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs published a report entitled 'A Review of Published Research on Low Frequency Noise and its Effects'2 and in 2004, BERR commissioned Hayes McKenzie to conduct an independent study to investigate the levels and effects of Low Frequency Noise from wind farms3.</p><p> </p><p><em>1</em><em> <a href="http://www.keele.ac.uk/geophysics/appliedseismology/wind/Final_Report.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.keele.ac.uk/geophysics/appliedseismology/wind/Final_Report.pdf</a></em></p><p><em>2</em><em> <a href="http://archive.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/noise/research/lowfrequency/documents/lowfreqnoise.pdf" target="_blank">http://archive.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/noise/research/lowfrequency/documents/lowfreqnoise.pdf</a></em></p><p><em>3 </em><em><a href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/explained/wind/onshore-offshore/page31267.html" target="_blank">http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/explained/wind/onshore-offshore/page31267.html</a></em></p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bexhill and Battle answering member printed Gregory Barker question first answered 25/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1389 label Biography information for Lord Barker of Battle
tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

44397

registered interest
date	20/03/2014
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the mortality rate for deaths caused by cancer has been in (a) Harlow constituency, (b) Essex and (c) England in the last 15 years.
tabling member constituency	Harlow
tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
uin	193024
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2014 answer text <p>The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 25/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd attachment 1 file name PQ 193024.pdf title Cancer Deaths - ONS Letter for Member
tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

44414

registered interest
date	20/03/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the UK meets its obligations on tackling the illegal wildlife trade under the 2014 London Declaration; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Chelmsford
tabling member printed	Mr Simon Burns
uin	193168
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2014 answer text <p>The Coalition Government takes the illegal wildlife trade very seriously.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office will continue to work with other departments to ensure that the Government delivers on the UK Commitment to Action on the Illegal Wildlife Trade.</p><p> </p><p>Border Force will continue to play a lead role for the UK in respect of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species, delivering risk based anti-smuggling controls at the border in line with agreed national priorities and taking account of latest available intelligence.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office is also providing specific funding of £136,000 for the National Wildlife Crime Unit in each of the next two financial years to ensure that the Unit can continue its important work, including as the UK focal point for international police cooperation on all wildlife crime related matters, such as initiatives on the illegal wildlife trade.</p><p> </p><p>Border Force and the National Wildlife Crime Unit will consider specific requests to provide practical assistance and training to help tackle the illegal wildlife trade.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Lewes answering member printed Norman Baker question first answered 26/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 28 label Biography information for Norman Baker
tabling member	46 label Biography information for Sir Simon Burns

44415

registered interest
date	20/03/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons there are differential rates for visas for dependents of British citizens coming from non-EU countries and visas for dependents of EU non-British citizens domiciled in Britain.
tabling member constituency	Bradford West
tabling member printed	Mr George Galloway
uin	193115
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Dependants of British citizens from non-EU countries who wish to enter the UK <br>are required to apply for entry under the Immigration Rules. In line with its <br>legislative powers, the Home Office sets immigration and nationality fees to <br>reflect the administrative cost of processing an application as well as <br>benefits and entitlements that may accrue if an applicant is successful. These <br>fees apply to foreign national family members of British citizens applying for <br>entry under the Immigration Rules. The Home Office believes that it is right <br>that those who use and benefit most from the immigration system contribute to <br>its running costs.<br><br>The rights of EU nationals to live and work in other European Union Member <br>States, and to be accompanied by their non-EU family members, are set out in <br>European Union law, in Directive 2004/38/EC (&quot;the Free Movement Directive&quot;), by <br>which all EU Member States are bound. The Free Movement Directive does not <br>cover the rights of EU citizens living in their country of nationality, so it <br>does not apply to British nationals living in the UK. The Free Movement <br>Directive requires Member States to issue entry clearance visas to non-EU <br>family members of EU nationals free of charge.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 193116 question first answered 31/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
tabling member	609 label Biography information for George Galloway