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988702

registered interest
date	16/10/2018
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Natural Gas: Northern Ireland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to increase access to the natural gas network in Northern Ireland.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	180144
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2018 answer text <p>The Government acknowledges the value that a gas connection can bring to households and businesses. However, as energy is a devolved matter, any extensions to the gas network in Northern Ireland would be a matter for a restored Northern Ireland Assembly.</p> answering member constituency Devizes answering member printed Claire Perry question first answered 24/10/2018 16:51:55 answering member 3974 label Biography information for Claire Perry
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

988703

registered interest
date	16/10/2018
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Manufacturing Industries: EU Countries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with representatives of European car manufacturing companies on their plans to retain manufacturing bases in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	180145
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2018 answer text <p>There has been cross-government engagement with key automotive businesses operating in the UK and EU since the referendum. Ministers meet regularly with senior automotive executives, both through the Automotive Council and individually, to discuss investments. As part of the Industrial Strategy, in partnership with the Automotive Council, an ambitious Automotive Sector Deal has been agreed. The Government is determined to ensure that the UK continues to be one of the most competitive locations in the world for automotive manufacturing.</p> answering member constituency Watford answering member printed Richard Harrington question first answered 24/10/2018 16:44:53 answering member 4068 label Biography information for Lord Harrington of Watford
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

988705

registered interest
date	16/10/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	School Leaving: New Businesses
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans his Department has to encourage school leavers to start up their own business ventures.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	180146
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2018 answer text <p>The Business GCSE (first taught from 2017) should help pupils to become commercially minded and enterprising. Financial literacy is statutory within the national curriculum as part of Citizenship for 11 to 16 year olds. Schools are also free to cover enterprise education within personal, social, health and economic education. Personal characteristics like resilience and problem-solving are crucial for setting up a business. Good schools offer a range of opportunities for pupils to develop these attributes through activities such as debating, sport, volunteering, the National Citizen Service or the Cadets.</p><p>The government’s careers strategy for England, published in December 2017, aims to give young people from all backgrounds the opportunity to learn from employers about work and entrepreneurship. It introduces a new expectation that every school should offer every young person at least seven encounters with employers, including those who are self-employed. Multiple encounters will inspire young people and give them the opportunity to learn about what work is like and what skills are important to successfully run a business and succeed in work.</p><p>The Careers &amp; Enterprise Company’s network of Enterprise Advisers of senior volunteers from business help schools and colleges to work with local businesses. Over 40 per cent of Enterprise Advisers come from businesses with less than 50 employees. Investment funding delivered by The Careers &amp; Enterprise Company to support schools and colleges has already provided more than 540,000 employer encounters for young people in England. This funding scales up proven programmes with track records, for example Young Enterprise. A new £2.5 million employer encounters investment fund has been launched and activity in schools and colleges will start from January 2019.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 24/10/2018 10:40:14 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

988706

registered interest
date	16/10/2018
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Wind Power: Construction
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many windfarms were built in each of the last three years.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	180147
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2018 answer text <p>The Information requested can be found online in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (REPD), which can be accessed at:</p><p>https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewable-energy-planning-database-monthly-extract</p><p>The REPD tracks all renewable energy projects, including onshore wind and offshore wind projects, equal to or greater than 1MW as they progress through the planning system to when they become operational.</p> answering member constituency Devizes answering member printed Claire Perry question first answered 24/10/2018 16:28:38 answering member 3974 label Biography information for Claire Perry
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

988707

registered interest
date	16/10/2018
answering body	Department for International Trade
answering dept id	202
answering dept short name	International Trade
answering dept sort name	International Trade
hansard heading	Overseas Trade
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union on the UK trading on WTO terms after the UK leaves the EU.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	180148
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2018 answer text <p>We firmly believe it is in the interests of both the EU and the UK to strike a deal. That remains the goal on both sides and we are confident that this will be achieved. But it is the job of a responsible Government to prepare for all scenarios, so we have already carried out very significant ‘no deal’ preparations for the unlikely event that we reach March 2019 without agreeing a deal and trade with the EU reverts to WTO terms.</p><p> </p><p>Consequently, no deal planning and trading on WTO terms forms a necessary part of the discussions across Whitehall between all members of Cabinet, including the Department for Exiting the European Union.</p> answering member constituency Meon Valley answering member printed George Hollingbery question first answered 22/10/2018 15:16:03 answering member 4016 label Biography information for Sir George Hollingbery
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

988708

registered interest
date	16/10/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Qualifications
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many examining boards are using the (a) A* to E and (b) numeral grading system.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	180149
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2018 answer text <p>There are four exam boards that offer GCSEs and A levels in England and Wales: AQA, Pearson, OCR, and WJEC. In Northern Ireland, GCSEs and A levels are also offered by the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA).</p><p> </p><p>Exam boards in England, Wales and Northern Ireland all use the A*-E grading scale for A level qualifications.</p><p> </p><p>For GCSE qualifications, the grade scale varies across the three countries. In England, the four exam boards are all using the 9-1 grading scale for reformed GCSEs as they are rolled out. Most GCSEs in Wales and Northern Ireland use an A*-G grading scale. A full explanation is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcse-and-a-level-differences-in-england-wales-and-northern-ireland/statement-from-the-qualification-regulators-on-changes-to-gcses-as-and-a-levels#availability-of-reformed-gcse-as-and-a-levels-in-england-wales-and-northern-ireland" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcse-and-a-level-differences-in-england-wales-and-northern-ireland/statement-from-the-qualification-regulators-on-changes-to-gcses-as-and-a-levels#availability-of-reformed-gcse-as-and-a-levels-in-england-wales-and-northern-ireland</a>.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 24/10/2018 14:26:52 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

988709

registered interest
date	16/10/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pupils: Absenteeism
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many fines were issued to parents for taking their children out of school during term time in 2017.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	180150
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2018 answer text <p>The statistical publication “Parental Responsibility Measures in England: 2016 to 2017” includes the numbers of penalty notices issued in England in table 1. The release is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/parental-responsibility-measures-2016-to-2017-academic-year" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/parental-responsibility-measures-2016-to-2017-academic-year</a>.</p><p>The most recent figures cover the 2016/17 academic year.</p><p>The Department collects and reports on parental responsibility measures information from schools in England only. Education statistics for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are available from the relevant departments.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 24/10/2018 15:30:05 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

988710

registered interest
date	16/10/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Extracurricular Activities: Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Government plans to increase funding for after school activities.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	180151
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2018 answer text <p>On 9 October 2017, the former Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the member for Putney, announced plans for a project to enable disadvantaged children and young people living in some of the most deprived parts of the country to participate in regular extra-curricular activities. This includes after school and holiday provision.</p><p>The project involved £22 million of funding during the remainder of the Government’s current spending period to enable children and young people to develop essential life skills and to have the best start in life. It can be viewed here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/plans-launched-to-drive-social-mobility-in-opportunity-areas" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/plans-launched-to-drive-social-mobility-in-opportunity-areas</a>.</p><p>The project, the Essential Life Skills programme, is making an important contribution to the Department’s vision for an education system that prepares young people for life in modern Britain, regardless of their background or where they live.</p><p>The Essential Life Skills programme is targeting disadvantaged children aged 5 to 18 across 12 Opportunity Areas during academic years 2017-18 and 2018-19. Within each Opportunity Area, local authorities are receiving grants to develop their own Essential Life Skills programme to meet the needs of pupils and young people in their communities.</p><p>Funding that schools receive, including the pupil premium, can be used in whichever ways are appropriate for their pupils within and after the school day. It is a matter for schools to decide how best to meet the needs of their pupils.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 24/10/2018 14:41:51 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

988712

registered interest
date	16/10/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	GCSE
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students resat their (a) maths and (b) English GCSEs in the academic year 2017-18.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	180152
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2018 answer text <p>The Department requires students who leave Key Stage 4 without a GCSE grade 4 or above in English and mathematics to continue to study these subjects as part of their 16-19 study programme. Students with prior attainment of grade 3 enrol on GCSE courses; students with prior attainment of a grade 2 or below can enrol in a range of stepping stone qualifications, including Functional Skills.</p><p> </p><p>It is up to providers to decide if and when students are ready to retake an examination. There is no requirement to repeatedly resit examinations.</p><p> </p><p>The number of students entered for an approved English GCSE (or equivalent) qualification in 2018 was 105,521; the number entered for an approved mathematics GCSE (or equivalent) qualification in 2018 was 136,204.<sup><sup>[1]</sup></sup></p><p> </p><p>This information is available as part of the ‘A level and other 16 to 18 results: 2017 to 2018 (provisional)’ national statistics, which were released on the 16th October 2018.</p><p> </p><p>Students who are continuing to study English and mathematics who are not yet at the end of 16 to 18 study, or who had previously achieved a grade 4/C or above in these subjects, will not be included in these figures.</p><p> </p><p>[1] at the end of 16-18 study.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 24/10/2018 15:09:46 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

988714

registered interest
date	16/10/2018
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Income Tax: Tax Allowances
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to increase personal income tax allowances for lower rate taxpayers after the UK leaves the EU.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	180153
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2018 answer text <p>In April, the government took a significant step towards meeting these commitments; the personal allowance increased from £11,500 to £11,850, and the higher rate threshold from £45,000 to £46,350.</p><p> </p><p>By year end 2018-19, these changes will have benefitted over 31 million individuals since the start of the last Parliament, 1.2 million people on the lowest incomes will have been taken out of income tax altogether, and a typical taxpayer will pay £1,075 less income tax, compared to 2010-11.</p><p> </p><p>As with all aspects of the tax system, the government will keep the personal allowance under review and any decisions on future changes will be taken as part of the annual Budget process in the context of the wider public finances.</p> answering member constituency Central Devon answering member printed Mel Stride question first answered 24/10/2018 15:52:52 answering member 3935 label Biography information for Mel Stride
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson