Asked by: Mark Hoban (Conservative - Fareham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on making the stretch of motorway between junctions 4 and 11 of the M27 a smart motorway.
Answered by John Hayes
In the June 2013 spending round, 15 smart motorway interventions were confirmed for delivery post 2015. The M27 J4 – J11 was one of 15 locations identified.
The Highways Agency has been progressing traffic modelling, technical/environmental surveys, development of the operational concept and design work. This will support delivery of a programme of smart motorway solutions across the 15 locations.
Asked by: Mark Hoban (Conservative - Fareham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the P5+1 counterparts on the latest report into Iran's nuclear programme by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Director General’s report of 7 November 2014 on the status of Iran’s nuclear programme will be discussed at the IAEA Board of Governors on 20-21 November. All of the P5+1 sit on the Board and will be in attendance. The IAEA Director General’s reports update all members of the P5+1 on the status of Iran’s nuclear programme. The 7 November report confirms Iran’s adherence to the nuclear commitments agreed between the P5+1 and Iran under the JPoA.Asked by: Mark Hoban (Conservative - Fareham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the latest report into Iran's nuclear programme by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
On 7 November 2014, the IAEA Director General issued his latest report on the status of Iran’s nuclear programme, which will be discussed at the November Board of Governors (20 – 21 November). The report covers Iran's nuclear programme, the IAEA's efforts to address the Possible Military Dimensions (PMD) of Iran’s nuclear programme, and the nuclear aspects of the Joint Plan of Action (JPoA) with the E3+3. We are grateful for the IAEA’s work, and welcome the confirmation in the report that Iran continues to implement the JPoA.
Asked by: Mark Hoban (Conservative - Fareham)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department has taken to increase the level of access to credit to businesses in Fareham constituency in the last 12 months.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The British Business Bank has brought together the management of all the Government lending and investment programmes into a single, commercially minded institution which makes finance markets work better for small firms, allowing them to prosper, grow and support the UK economy.
Between October 1st 2013 and September 30th 2014, six businesses in the Fareham constituency obtained loans which were supported by our Enterprise Finance Guarantee programme. The total value of these loans was £780,000.
In the same period the Bank’s Start Up Loan programme provided loans to 13 entrepreneurs in the constituency with a total value of £56,050.
Asked by: Mark Hoban (Conservative - Fareham)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to support small and medium-sized businesses in Fareham constituency.
Answered by Matt Hancock
Small businesses are vital to our economy and our small business owners have driven this economic recovery. The Fareham constituency has benefitted from a number of support schemes. The Start-Up Loan Scheme has provided business advice and 13 loans, with a value of over £56,000, to people starting a business. Since October 2013, 6 businesses have benefitted from the Government’s Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme with a total value of £780,000.
We are committed to making Britain the best place in the world to start and grow a business, and are doing this in a number of ways:
• £10 billion of financing will be unlocked for smaller business over the next 5 years by our British Business Bank;
• Government grants of up to £3,000 for better internet connectivity are available to small businesses;
• The Business Support Helpline is available to provide bespoke information and advice;
• Cuts to corporation tax from 28% to 21%; and
• £2,000 cut from the National Insurance bills of small firms from the new Employment Allowance.
Asked by: Mark Hoban (Conservative - Fareham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2014, to the hon. Member for Vale of Glamorgan, Official Report, column 26W, on Bitcoin, what his policy is on the regulation of Bitcoin derivatives and other securities paired to digital currencies.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom
Bitcoin itself is not regulated. However, the UK’s regulatory perimeter in relation to derivatives is wide and would capture Bitcoin and digital currency derivatives that were futures, options or contracts for difference.
Asked by: Mark Hoban (Conservative - Fareham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his speech of 6 August 2014 on FinTech, what progress his Department has made on its programme of work exploring the potential of virtual currencies and digital money.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom
On 3 November the Treasury published a Call for Information, focused on the potential benefits and risks of digital currencies and looking into whether digital currencies could or should be regulated in the UK.
Asked by: Mark Hoban (Conservative - Fareham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the ability of businesses using digital currencies to open a UK bank account.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom
On 3 November the Treasury published a Call for Information on digital currencies. This Call for Information asks whether there are currently barriers to digital currency businesses setting up in the UK, and will consider access to UK bank accounts as part of this.
In October, the Financial Conduct Authority launched its Innovation Hub to provide support to innovative businesses. It has identified helping innovators access bank accounts as an area of priority.
Asked by: Mark Hoban (Conservative - Fareham)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many apprentices have been employed by companies in Fareham constituency in each of the last five years.
Answered by Nick Boles
Data for each of the last 3 years on the number of Apprenticeship starts by workplace location is shown in Table 1. Geographic information for workplace location is not available for earlier years.
Table 1: Apprenticeship starts by workplace location
| 2010/11 | 2011/12 | 2012/13 |
Fareham Constituency | 590 | 640 | 840 |
Source: Individualised Learner Record (ILR) | |||
Additional information on the number of workplaces employing apprentices by geography is published at:
Asked by: Mark Hoban (Conservative - Fareham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance he has issued to vendors accepting digital currencies as payment for goods and services.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has not issued guidance to vendors accepting digital currencies as payment for goods and services.
In August 2014 the Chancellor announced the Government would undertake a major programme of work looking at the benefits and risks of digital currencies, and look into whether they could or should be regulated.