Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department has a policy on engagement between British diplomats at the Embassy and High Commission level at global British missions and Official Opposition hon. Members.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The FCDO policy on engagement between parliamentarians and officials in our overseas Posts and in the UK sets out that all engagement must adhere to the principle of political impartiality, remain factual and focused only on current government policy, and follow correct clearance processes as outlined in the Civil Service code and Directory of civil service guidance, which can be found at GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require train companies to hold a public consultation before withdrawing the use of cash from catering services.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Catering services are a commercial matter for each train operating company. Train operators are responsible for considering the equality impacts of operational changes such as to catering payment methods, and are expected by the Department to take local needs into account.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 23 February 2024 to Question 14381 on Public Lavatories, for what reason this information is not held centrally.
Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Because this is a matter for local government and this department does not operate any public lavatories.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 14 December 2023 to Question 6351 on Local Government: Debt Collection, whether his Department monitors adherence by local authorities to the guidance it publishes.
Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
As has been the case under successive administrations, the collection of council tax is a responsibility of local authorities.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2024 to Question 12442 on Cross Country Trains: Overcrowding, what steps his Department is taking to tackle (a) overcrowding, (b) delays and (c) cancellations on Cross Country rail services.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
(a) The Department has authorised CrossCountry to acquire additional trains when they become available from another operator. CrossCountry is also authorised to deploy a number of these trains in 2024 if they can be made available. (b)(c) Train service performance by CrossCountry over recent months has been affected by heavy rain and storms that impact on railway infrastructure causing delays and cancellations, although they are held to account for factors under their control.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 16 February 2024 to Question 14382 on Beer and Cider: Tax Allowances, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the rules relating to off-site consumption of products covered by Draught Relief on the volume of beer and cider wasted at (a) beer and cider festivals and (b) community pubs.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government engaged extensively with external stakeholders as part of the development and delivery process for the new alcohol duty system, including in relation to Draught Relief.
HMRC has published guidance explaining the changes, including in relation to Draught Relief, and ran 3 webinars for businesses - a recording of the webinar is available at: HMRC email updates, videos and webinars for Alcohol Duty - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). HMRC has also worked with trade associations to ensure they share the guidance with their members.
HMRC has also published a tax information and impact note setting out the impact of the measure, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reform-of-the-alcohol-duty-system/reform-of-alcohol-duty-rates-and-reliefs#summary-of-impacts
The Government will evaluate the impact of the new rates and structures three years after the changes took effect on 1 August 2023.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 23 February to Question 14382 on Beer and Cider: Tax Allowances, what steps he has taken to raise awareness of the change in rules on takeaway draught sales for (a) beer and cider festivals and (b) community pubs.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government engaged extensively with external stakeholders as part of the development and delivery process for the new alcohol duty system, including in relation to Draught Relief.
HMRC has published guidance explaining the changes, including in relation to Draught Relief, and ran 3 webinars for businesses - a recording of the webinar is available at: HMRC email updates, videos and webinars for Alcohol Duty - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). HMRC has also worked with trade associations to ensure they share the guidance with their members.
HMRC has also published a tax information and impact note setting out the impact of the measure, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reform-of-the-alcohol-duty-system/reform-of-alcohol-duty-rates-and-reliefs#summary-of-impacts
The Government will evaluate the impact of the new rates and structures three years after the changes took effect on 1 August 2023.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to introduce step-free access at Brinnington Station.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
In 2022 we asked the industry to nominate stations for the next round of Access for All funding which the Prime Minister confirmed in October will be worth £350m. Brinnington station was not nominated and therefore will not be eligible for this funding. We are not aware of any other planned work at the station that would require compliance with current accessibility standards.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2024 to Question 12442 on Cross Country Trains: Overcrowding, how many times Ministers from his Department met Cross Country Trains to discuss overcrowding and cancellations on Cross Country rail services in (a) 2023 and (b) 2024.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
In line with the terms of the applicable contract, officials from the Department meet with CrossCountry Directors to discuss train service performance (including the level of cancellations and crowding) and other contractual matters:
(a) at least every four weeks in 2023 with additional meetings from time to time
(b) four times since 1 January 2024.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of adjusting the National Insurance (NI)/State Pension scheme rules so that any NI payments made before State Pension age are taken into account so that they can contribute to gaining a Full NI Qualifying Year.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
No such assessment has been made.
A person's working life is the period from the beginning of the tax year (6 April) in which they are aged 16, to the end of the tax year (5 April) before the one in which they reach State Pension age (known as the Final Relevant Year).
National Insurance contributions made during an individual’s Final Relevant Year count towards their National Insurance record however, contributions made in the tax year someone reaches State Pension age do not. This is because the administration of National Insurance records is carried out in line with tax years – from 6 April one year to 5 April the next year.
Over a working life, most people will build enough Qualifying Years to maximise their state pension.