The Prime Minister announced in March 2015 that the National Minimum Wage will increase by 3% to a new rate of £6.70 per hour, effective from October 2015. This is the largest real-terms increase in the National Minimum Wage since 2006, and over 1.4 million of Britain\u2019s lowest-paid workers are set to benefit.<\/p>
In the March 2015 Budget, the previous Coalition Government committed to raising the tax free personal allowance to £11,000 by 2017-18. This means that since 2010, 103,000 people in Northern Ireland will have been lifted out of income tax altogether by 2017-18, and 698,000 people will see an average real terms gain of £561.<\/p>
As the Conservative manifesto at the 2015 General Election made clear, this Government plans to go further. We will raise the personal allowance to £12,500. This means that by the end of this decade one million more people throughout the UK will be lifted out of tax, and anybody who works for 30 hours a week or more on the increased national minimum wage will pay no income tax at all. We will also pass a new law ensuring that the personal allowance rises in line with the national minimum wage.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1500", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Theresa Villiers"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Chipping Barnet"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mrs Theresa Villiers"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-17T12:02:18.497Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "21"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Low Pay: Northern Ireland"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps the Government is taking to tackle low pay in Northern Ireland.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4477", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Harry Harpham"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Harry Harpham"} ], "uin" : "1848"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/349549", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/349549/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Over £14 million has been invested over the last two financial years to support the completeness and accuracy of the register, including in the run up to the General Election.<\/p>
The Electoral Commission is due to publish an analysis of the electoral registers used for these elections in June and the Government will consider further steps in the light of this report.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1584", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Penrose"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Weston-super-Mare"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "John Penrose"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-16T15:09:16.5Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Electoral Register"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to increase electoral registration.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4477", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Harry Harpham"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Harry Harpham"} ], "uin" : "1887"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/349552", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Energy and Climate Change"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/349552/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Renewables Obligation (RO) has been the main financial mechanism since 2002 for incentivising deployment of large-scale renewable electricity generation in the UK. It has succeeded in increasing amounts of renewable capacity from 3.1GW in 2002 to 24.2 GW in 2014, and increasing the level of renewable electricity in the UK from 1.8% in 2002 to 19.2% in 2014 [1].<\/p>
The RO closes to new capacity on 31 March 2017 as we transition to the Contract for Difference (CfD) regime which is capable of providing support for low-carbon generation in a more cost-effective way. However, to drive forward delivery of our manifesto pledge to end new subsidies for onshore wind, we announced on 18 June plans to introduce primary legislation to close the RO to new onshore wind projects from 1st April 2016 \u2013 a year earlier than planned. In order to control costs, we also closed the RO to solar capacity of 5MW and over in April this year.<\/p>
[1]<\/strong><\/em>Figures for 2014 are provisional. Source \u2018Energy Trends\u2019 (March 2015). <\/em><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4117", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrea Leadsom"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Northamptonshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrea Leadsom"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-29T15:57:32.153Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "63"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Energy and Climate Change"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Energy and Climate Change"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Renewables Obligation"}
, "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 and Climate Change, what her policy is on the future of the Renewables Obligation Scheme.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4075", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Christopher Pincher"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Tamworth"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Christopher Pincher"}
], "uin" : "2012"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/349559", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/349559/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The UK is deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Yemen. The UN estimates that over 21 million people (80% of the population) are in need of humanitarian assistance; 6 million face severe food shortages; and 1 million have been displaced as a result of the current conflict (2015 Humanitarian Needs Overview for Yemen, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Yemen). It is very difficult for humanitarian agencies to operate due to ongoing insecurity, and a lack of incoming supplies and fuel. Unless current trends are reversed, there is a real risk of a collapse in the country\u2019s health system and severe food and water crises.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/55", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Desmond Swayne"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "New Forest West"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Desmond Swayne"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-16T16:31:24.573Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Yemen: Armed Conflict"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in Yemen; and if she will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/253", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Laurence Robertson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Tewkesbury"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Laurence Robertson"}
], "uin" : "2017"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/349564", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/349564/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " In the Budget on 18 March 2015, the Government announced its intention is to allow widows, widowers and surviving civil partners of police officers who have died on duty and were members of the 1987 Police Pension Scheme to keep their survivor\u2019s benefits if they remarry, form a civil partnership or cohabit. There are no plans for this change to apply to widows and widowers of police officers who have died after retirement.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1528", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Mike Penning"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hemel Hempstead"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mike Penning"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-16T14:58:23.07Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Police: Pensions"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to allow widows and widowers of police officers who died after retirement from the police service to keep their pensions if they re-marry.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/253", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Laurence Robertson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Tewkesbury"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Laurence Robertson"}
], "uin" : "2070"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/349565", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/349565/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government has committed to increasing the average rate that providers are paid for the entitlement and in order to deliver this I can confirm that a cross-Government review of the cost of providing childcare is underway.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The objective of the review is to inform decisions on the level of funding providers require to deliver quality childcare provision at good value to the taxpayer, and to be consistent with the government\u2019s fiscal plans.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> A call for evidence to inform the review was launched on 15 June and will close on 10 August. This is part of a process of gathering the necessary evidence which will inform the outcome of the review and will report in the autumn.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>
We are currently consulting to improve the transparency of the operation of Business Improvement Districts. The consultation also includes proposals to increase powers available to them including simplifying the Neighbourhood Planning process and giving them the power to use the Community Right to Challenge.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4024", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Nuneaton"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Marcus Jones"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/349559/answer/previousversion/5222", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4024", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Nuneaton"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Marcus Jones"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-16T15:59:22.317Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Business Improvement Districts"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to improve the transparency of operation of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs); and what his policy is on increasing the powers made available to BIDs.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3933", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Charlotte Leslie"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bristol North West"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Charlotte Leslie"}
], "uin" : "1902"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/349563", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/349563/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "