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99776

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Scottish Power
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he last reviewed the adequacy of prior investigations in connection with the nature of the warranties sold by Scottish Power to its customers between 1980 and 1999 and any potential losses suffered by such customers.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North East
tabling member printed	Mr William Bain
uin	211060
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>It is not the policy of the Secretary of State to announce or comment on confidential enquiries conducted using powers contained in the Companies Acts.</p><p>However, the Secretary of State has recently received further information regarding the Extended Warranty schemes sold by Scottish Power between 1997 and 2001 from the liquidators of two companies involved in administering the schemes. Officials are currently reviewing this information together with the conclusions of an earlier investigation to determine what further action, if any, is appropriate.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 27/10/2014 14:06:40 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1610 label Biography information for Mr William Bain

99778

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Scottish Power
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will reopen the enquiry into the nature of the warranties sold by Scottish Power to its customers between 1980 and 1999 and any potential losses suffered by such customers.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North East
tabling member printed	Mr William Bain
uin	211059
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>The Secretary of State has recently received further information regarding the Extended Warranty schemes sold by Scottish Power between 1997 and 2001 from the liquidators of two companies involved in administering the schemes. Officials are currently reviewing this information together with the conclusions of an earlier investigation to determine what further action, if any, is appropriate, within the limits of his powers of investigation under the Companies Acts.</p><p> </p><p>The liquidators have also notified other regulators who may have an interest in this matter and who will be considering their own courses of action.</p><p> </p><p>It should be noted that any decision whether or not to commence an investigation using s447 Companies Act 1986 is confidential and the existence or otherwise of such an investigation will not be announced or commented on.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 27/10/2014 14:09:30 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1610 label Biography information for Mr William Bain

99781

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
answering body	Department for Culture Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Broadband: Rural Areas
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to encourage competition in the rural broadband market.
tabling member constituency	Aberconwy
tabling member printed	Guto Bebb
uin	211122
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>Almost 100 publicly funded contracts to provide superfast broadband to rural communities have gone out to tender following an Open Market Review. As well as BT a number of smaller suppliers are now delivering projects in rural communities. In addition, 8 suppliers have been appointed to run pilot projects to assess the feasibility of providing superfast broadband to the hardest to reach areas.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 27/10/2014 11:46:05 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	3910 label Biography information for Guto Bebb

99794

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
answering body	Department for Culture Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Direct Marketing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to tackle nuisance telephone calls; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Woking
tabling member printed	Jonathan Lord
uin	211118
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>Tackling nuisance telephone calls is a priority for the Department. A range of options for reform are being pursued, which includes both legislative and non-legislative measures that will protect consumers more effectively.</p><p> </p><p>Our Nuisance Calls Action Plan of 30 March 2014, included proposals to enable the Office of Communications (Ofcom) to share information more easily with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) about companies who may be breaching the regulations. We made this measure effective on 15 July 2014 and it will help ICO to take enforcement action against companies deliberately breaching the rules.</p><p> </p><p>We are also soon to consult to lower the legal threshold, making it easier for ICO to take more enforcement action, including issuing monetary penalties to companies who currently manage to avoid having action taken against them. Work on improving the ability of communication service providers to trace calls is underway and led by Ofcom, with our encouragement. Consent and lead generation issues including how telephone numbers are captured and sold on, are also being considered by the Taskforce led by Which? that will report to the Department by the end of this year. Further details about the full range of measures outlined in our Action Plan can be viewed at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nuisance-calls-action-plan-unveiled%20" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nuisance-calls-action-plan-unveiled</a></p><p> </p><p>Steps taken to date include the Department having improved signposting and information about whom to contact when needing to report nuisance calls, a simpler complaints process, and greater use by regulators of their powers, including the ICO and Ofcom having to date issued monetary penalties totalling more than £2.2 million for nuisance telephone calls and SMS text messages. We will continue to work with regulators, consumer group representatives and the industry to deliver improved protection for the benefit of consumers.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 27/10/2014 11:44:55 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	4090 label Biography information for Mr Jonathan Lord

99795

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
answering body	Department for Culture Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Arts: Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what oversight he has of the allocation of the Arts Council England's funding to other organisations.
tabling member constituency	Colne Valley
tabling member printed	Jason McCartney
uin	211088
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>Funding decisions are made by Arts Council England, without Government input. Ministers establish the strategic priorities for ACE’s spending in each Spending Round and regularly meet with Arts Council England.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 27/10/2014 11:44:13 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	3953 label Biography information for Jason McCartney

99796

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
answering body	Department for Culture Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Mobile Phones
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with Ofcom on the merits of passive infrastructure sharing in partial not-spots; and what information he has on the changes that would be required to the upgrade and sharing elements of the electronic communications code to enable this.
tabling member constituency	Aberconwy
tabling member printed	Guto Bebb
uin	211165
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>The Government is committed to improving mobile coverage for all consumers, and is currently in discussions with Ofcom and relevant Mobile Network Operators. We have been looking at a number of options for improving coverage in partial not-spot areas, including passive infrastructure sharing and national roaming. We are also considering the impact of reforms to the Electronic Communications Code, in the broader context of supporting communications infrastructure in an effort to improve mobile network coverage. The Government is aware that reforms will need to balance the interests of all stakeholders involved.</p><p> </p><p>The Secretary of State is considering his position on Code reform and will outline plans shortly. The Government is committed to ensuring the UK has world-class mobile coverage.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 27/10/2014 11:45:29 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	3910 label Biography information for Guto Bebb

99892

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Data Protection
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to improve the level of transparency in the Government's use of personal data.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne East
tabling member printed	Mr Nicholas Brown
uin	211039
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>The UK has one of the most transparent regimes in the world in relation to the use of investigatory powers, which involve the accessing of personal data. The Interception of Communications Commissioner provides robust, independent oversight of the use of these investigatory powers and provides a published annual report to Parliament. This report includes statistics on public authorities’ use of interception and communications data powers, and his 2013 report contained more statistics than ever before. The Government remains committed to looking at what more can be done to enhance the transparency of our regime. The Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act 2014, which was passed in July, requires the Interception of Communications Commissioner to report on a twice yearly basis in the future. In addition, the Act provides for a review of investigatory powers to be conducted by the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, David Anderson QC. This review will be completed by 1 May 2015 and its findings will be reported to Parliament. The Government also announced, alongside the Act, the publication of an annual Government Transparency Report on investigatory powers.<br><br>The Government is fully committed to supporting a safe and secure online environment. That is why it is crucial that our law enforcement and <br>intelligence agencies have strictly regulated powers to ensure that those that would seek to do harm online, as well as in the real world, cannot carry out their activities with impunity. There are limits to what could be said publically about operational investigative techniques, as to do so would potentially help criminals to evade detection. However, crucial capabilities to access communications data are degrading because of rapidly changing technology and the increasing use of internet communications, whether or not those communications utilise encryption or anonymity techniques. Legislation is needed urgently to ensure that public authorities have the powers they need to investigate crime, safeguard national security and protect the public. We cannot allow cyberspace to become a haven for criminals, terrorists and paedophiles.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 211040 question first answered 27/10/2014 12:21:47 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
tabling member	523 label Biography information for Mr Nicholas Brown

99893

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Internet: Data Protection
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of online do not track tools on (a) Government efforts to gather communications data and (b) individual online privacy.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne East
tabling member printed	Mr Nicholas Brown
uin	211040
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>The UK has one of the most transparent regimes in the world in relation to the use of investigatory powers, which involve the accessing of personal data. The Interception of Communications Commissioner provides robust, independent oversight of the use of these investigatory powers and provides a published annual report to Parliament. This report includes statistics on public authorities’ use of interception and communications data powers, and his 2013 report contained more statistics than ever before. The Government remains committed to looking at what more can be done to enhance the transparency of our regime. The Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act 2014, which was passed in July, requires the Interception of Communications Commissioner to report on a twice yearly basis in the future. In addition, the Act provides for a review of investigatory powers to be conducted by the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, David Anderson QC. This review will be completed by 1 May 2015 and its findings will be reported to Parliament. The Government also announced, alongside the Act, the publication of an annual Government Transparency Report on investigatory powers.<br><br>The Government is fully committed to supporting a safe and secure online environment. That is why it is crucial that our law enforcement and <br>intelligence agencies have strictly regulated powers to ensure that those that would seek to do harm online, as well as in the real world, cannot carry out their activities with impunity. There are limits to what could be said publically about operational investigative techniques, as to do so would potentially help criminals to evade detection. However, crucial capabilities to access communications data are degrading because of rapidly changing technology and the increasing use of internet communications, whether or not those communications utilise encryption or anonymity techniques. Legislation is needed urgently to ensure that public authorities have the powers they need to investigate crime, safeguard national security and protect the public. We cannot allow cyberspace to become a haven for criminals, terrorists and paedophiles.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 211039 question first answered 27/10/2014 12:21:47 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
tabling member	523 label Biography information for Mr Nicholas Brown

99898

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Undocumented Migrants: Ports
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many clandestine migrants have been identified at (a) the UK's seaport and (b) the Port of Tilbury in each year since 2000.
tabling member constituency	Thurrock
tabling member printed	Jackie Doyle-Price
uin	211063
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>The following detections of clandestine migrants have been made across all UK sea ports since 2011 (to obtain data pre-2011 would be at disproportionate cost): 692 detections in 2011, 568 in 2012 and 678 in 2013. <br><br>In order to ensure the integrity and security of the UK border, Her Majesty’s Government does not comment on port specific statistics.<br><br>The figures quoted are management information, subject to internal quality checks and may be subject to change. The figures include those detected at a sea port and on ferries.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 27/10/2014 12:16:26 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
tabling member	4065 label Biography information for Dame Jackie Doyle-Price

99933

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Railways: Woking
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate he has made of overcrowding on rail services from Woking to London Waterloo.
tabling member constituency	Woking
tabling member printed	Jonathan Lord
uin	211109
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Transport (DfT) holds information on the number of passengers on board services from Woking to London when they reach London, however information for individual routes is considered commercially confidential and so cannot be released. An exception to this are those services which appear in the ‘Top 10 overcrowded trains’ lists that are published, which regularly include services between Woking and London Waterloo, and I recently travelled on this route to experience the crowding on it.</p><p> </p><p>The Department does not hold information on crowding on services leaving Woking which do not go to London.</p><p> </p><p>DfT publishes statistics showing overall passenger numbers and crowding levels on the route into London Waterloo in the publication <em>Rail passenger numbers and crowding on weekdays in major cities in England and Wales: 2013</em>, which is available in the Libraries of the House and online at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/rail-passenger-numbers-and-crowding-on-weekdays-in-major-cities-in-england-and-wales-2013" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/rail-passenger-numbers-and-crowding-on-weekdays-in-major-cities-in-england-and-wales-2013</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Devizes answering member printed Claire Perry grouped question UIN 211073 question first answered 27/10/2014 14:08:03 answering member 3974 label Biography information for Claire Perry
tabling member	4090 label Biography information for Mr Jonathan Lord