Asked by: Michelle Thomson (Independent - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of people who have claimed widowed parent's allowance and bereavement allowance in the last five years would have received less money under the new bereavement support payment scheme.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Michelle Thomson (Independent - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the proportion of people who will be affected by proposed changes to support for bereaved parents.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
Bereavement Support Payment will be introduced from 6 April 2017 for new claimants only. Existing claimants of Widowed Parent's Allowance and Bereavement Allowance will remain on those benefits. We estimate that approximately 8,500 parents will claim Bereavement Support Payment in 2017/18.
Asked by: Michelle Thomson (Independent - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph B.18 of the Civil Aviation Authority's Guidance on the application of the airspace change process document, published in March 2016, whether guidance will be issued to airports on their needing to conduct an impact assessment on livestock, animals and biodiversity.
Answered by John Hayes
The Government will consult shortly on airspace matters. This consultation will include a draft of new guidance to the Civil Aviation Authority on the environmental factors it should take into account when exercising its air navigation functions.
It is expected that the revised guidance will be in place by the end of this year.
Asked by: Michelle Thomson (Independent - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department has taken to safeguard the Green Investment Bank's headquarters in Edinburgh and the jobs it supports after the planned privatisation of that bank.
Answered by Nick Hurd
Scotland has a strong renewable energy sector, and Edinburgh continues to offer a great deal in terms of renewable energy expertise and attractive investment opportunities. We have asked potential investors to confirm their commitment to the Green Investment Bank’s (GIB) green values and investment principles, and how they propose to protect them, as part of their bids for the company.
GIB is being sold as a going concern and potential investors will be buying into the company’s green business plan and forward pipeline projects. The Green Investment Bank’s Chairman, the noble Lord, Lord Smith of Kelvin is strongly committed to the Edinburgh office.
Asked by: Michelle Thomson (Independent - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what safeguards his Department has put in place to protect the focus of the Green Investment Bank on green investment after the planned privatisation of that bank.
Answered by Nick Hurd
The Government has set out its plans for the sale of the Green Investment Bank (GIB) in the document “Green Investment Bank: sale of shares” laid before Parliament on 3 March 2016.
As stated in that document, the Government has asked potential investors to confirm their commitment to GIB’s green values and investment principles and how they propose to protect them, as part of their bids for the company. In addition, the Government has approved the creation of a special share to protect GIB’s green purposes in future.
Asked by: Michelle Thomson (Independent - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government plans to maintain any control or stake in the new ownership structure of the Green Investment Bank after its planned privatisation.
Answered by Nick Hurd
The Government has always been clear about our plans to sell a majority of the Green Investment Bank (GIB) in order to achieve one of our key objectives, which is for GIB to be re-classified to the private sector once sold.
The decisions on the final size of stake of GIB to be sold will depend on the outcome of confidential discussions with bidders; driven by what best achieves our objectives for the sale, and, most importantly, what is in the best interests of the taxpayer.
Asked by: Michelle Thomson (Independent - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what safeguards his Department has put in place to prevent the immediate sale of assets by a new owner of the Green Investment Bank after its planned privatisation.
Answered by Nick Hurd
The Government has been clear that one of the reasons we are moving the Green Investment Bank (GIB) into the private sector is to enable the business grow and continue as an institution supporting investment in the UK green economy.
GIB is being sold as a going concern and potential investors will be buying into the company’s green business plan and forward pipeline of projects.
Asked by: Michelle Thomson (Independent - Edinburgh West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps are being taken to prevent cases of false self-employment in the construction industry.
Answered by Jane Ellison
The Government introduced legislation in Finance Act 2014 to tackle false self-employment arising through intermediaries. Where there is control over the worker, as a result of the legislation, an intermediary has to operate PAYE and pay National Insurance Contributions. It was estimated that this would lead to 200,000 workers being correctly treated as employed.
Since April 2015, intermediaries also have to submit a quarterly electronic return if they have made payments to a worker without deductions under PAYE. The first returns were made to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in July and November 2015, and HMRC is using the information to tackle false self-employment through intermediaries.
Asked by: Michelle Thomson (Independent - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect on the number of children who can enter the UK of the provisions of her Department's guidance, Implementation of section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 in France.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The guidance builds on the principles set out by the Home Secretary on 24 October. The criteria are intended to ensure that we are focusing on the most vulnerable children. We will be considering all those aged 12 and under, all children referred to us by the French authorities assessed as being at a high risk of sexual exploitation, and those nationalities most likely to qualify for refugee status in the UK, aged 15 or below. In doing this we are also establishing whether it is in each child’s best interests to come here. Since 10 October, we have transferred over 300 unaccompanied minors to the UK from France and, as the Home Secretary told Parliament on 24 October, we expect several hundred more children to be brought to the UK in the coming days and weeks.
Asked by: Michelle Thomson (Independent - Edinburgh West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his Department's objectives are in negotiating double taxation treaties with developing countries.
Answered by Jane Ellison
In negotiating double taxation treaties, the UK’s objective is to reach an agreement that allocates taxing rights on a basis acceptable to both countries.