Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he will assess the potential merits of inviting the Foreign Affairs Committee to undertake pre-appointment scrutiny of all political appointees to special trade envoy roles.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Trade Envoys are political appointees. The Department for Business and Trade conducts scrutiny and due diligence as part of the process for appointing Trade Envoys.
There are currently no plans for the Foreign Affairs Committee to undertake any pre-appointment checks for Trade Envoys.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to exempt veterans who are amputees from repeat Personal Independence Payment assessments.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) awards, including the rate payable and the duration, are set on an individual basis, based on the claimant’s needs and the likelihood of those needs changing. Regular reviews are a key feature of the benefit and ensure that payments accurately match the current needs of claimants. Award durations can vary from nine months to an on-going award, with a light touch review at the ten-year point.
For most claimants over 25, their first review will be a minimum of 3 years and, assuming they remain entitled, 5 years for their next review.
We know PIP can be improved, which is why we launched the Timms Review, working with disabled people and their organisations to ensure the benefit is fit for the future. We launched a Call for Evidence that closed last week and are beginning to carefully consider and analyse the responses provided. We have also outlined a varied approach to evidence gathering so people can share their views on how the benefit should be reformed.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of rising input costs on farms in West Dorset.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Food security is a priority for Government, and we are taking the impacts from developments from the Middle East conflict seriously. Defra is actively monitoring all risks across food supply chains, including regular engagement with industry, to identify emerging pressures and support preparedness.
Defra works closely with other departments to ensure food supply is fully incorporated as part of emergency preparedness, including consideration of dependencies on other sectors.
This Government is taking decisive action to support farmers and fishers by cutting red diesel to its lowest rate in over 20 years, reducing the rates on red diesel by a third.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help lower food costs for households in West Dorset.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is taking action to address food prices by working with the food industry on supply chain resilience, regulatory burden, and structural drivers of food costs. Measures already taken as part of wider efforts to reduce pressure on prices due to the Middle East conflict include tariff reductions on a variety of customer staples. The Government is developing plans to work with local authorities to support improved access to healthy and affordable food in areas in greatest need. Targeted support is available for lower income households through the recently uplifted Healthy Start, plans for extension of free school meals, and the Holiday Activity and Food Programme.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of rising fertiliser costs on farms in West Dorset.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is aware of the current price increase for fertiliser due to the conflict in the Gulf. Defra is assessing the impact on farmers of high prices, and impacts in the wider supply chain. Defra is working closely with the sector to understand risks and issues, and options for action where needed.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what information his Department holds on the number of pubs that are currently operated under tenancy or lease agreements with pub-owning companies in West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Pubs Code only applies to pub companies with over 500 tied tenants. The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) is responsible for regulating those covered by the Code and can provide support to tenants on any Code related issues.
Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 can provide commercial tenants with a statutory right to security of tenure in the correct circumstances. A tenant may also have a statutory right to claim cash compensation for improvements under Part I of the Act. The government does not hold data on the number of Section 25 notices issued.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many Section 25 notices have been issued by pub-owning companies to tenants in West Dorset constituency in each of the last five years.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Pubs Code only applies to pub companies with over 500 tied tenants. The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) is responsible for regulating those covered by the Code and can provide support to tenants on any Code related issues.
Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 can provide commercial tenants with a statutory right to security of tenure in the correct circumstances. A tenant may also have a statutory right to claim cash compensation for improvements under Part I of the Act. The government does not hold data on the number of Section 25 notices issued.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what protections are available to pub tenants who have made improvements to leased premises when facing lease (a) termination and (b) non-renewal by pub-owning companies.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Pubs Code only applies to pub companies with over 500 tied tenants. The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) is responsible for regulating those covered by the Code and can provide support to tenants on any Code related issues.
Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 can provide commercial tenants with a statutory right to security of tenure in the correct circumstances. A tenant may also have a statutory right to claim cash compensation for improvements under Part I of the Act. The government does not hold data on the number of Section 25 notices issued.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the use of Section 25 notices by pub-owning companies to regain control of pubs for direct company operation.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Pubs Code only applies to pub companies with over 500 tied tenants. The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) is responsible for regulating those covered by the Code and can provide support to tenants on any Code related issues.
Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 can provide commercial tenants with a statutory right to security of tenure in the correct circumstances. A tenant may also have a statutory right to claim cash compensation for improvements under Part I of the Act. The government does not hold data on the number of Section 25 notices issued.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of reductions to Motability mileage allowances on disabled people living in rural constituencies in the South West.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Responsibility for the terms and administration of the Scheme sits with Motability Foundation and its Board of Governors. The Department for Work and Pensions meets quarterly with Motability Foundation, to discuss the Schemes operation.
The changes to the leasing package were announced on 26 March and include reducing the mileage allowance from 20,000 per year to 10,000 per year. Changes only apply to new leases and there are no changes to the mileage allowance of existing leases. Motability Foundation have advised that approximately 75% of customers on the Scheme already use fewer miles than the proposed new mileage allowance.
Motability understand that this will affect customers differently and are keeping these changes under review.