Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with Ford on the long-term future of its plant in Bridgend.
Answered by Nick Hurd
The Department is in close contact with Ford, as part of its responsibility to actively manage all our key major manufacturers, and Ministers regularly see the company as a matter of course.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HM Revenue and Customs is taking to tackle tax avoidance in the property market.
Answered by Jane Ellison
In 2013 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) set up a dedicated Counter Avoidance Directorate, bringing together technical, policy and operational expertise from across the Department into one place, in order to concentrate their focus on tackling marketed tax avoidance schemes.
HMRC has a team within the Counter Avoidance Directorate that focuses on Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) avoidance. Budget 2013 contained a package of measures to tackle avoidance of SDLT. Since 2013 HMRC has settled over 4,000 enquires into this type of avoidance bringing in over £200 million additional tax.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his policy is on the future of volunteer gliding schools in Wales.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
I am fully supportive of Air Cadets having access to opportunities for gliding. To achieve this we require a laydown of Volunteer Gliding Squadrons that meet the needs of all of our Cadets.
However, we continue to consider if there are viable site options in Wales which can be explored further, and I am due to meet with my hon. Friend shortly to discuss this matter.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many consumers and organisations have made representations on the Chief Medical Officer's revised guidelines on alcohol consumption.
Answered by Jane Ellison
We have received 1,017 responses to the UK Chief Medical Officers’ alcohol guidelines consultation, including responses as part of a campaign and responses that did not answer some or any of the specific consultation questions.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many EU member states have adopted guidance recommending the same level of weekly alcohol consumption for men and women.
Answered by Jane Ellison
No other European country has carried out a full scientific review of their alcohol guidelines at least in the last ten years.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the Chief Medical Officer's revised guidelines on alcohol consumption on consumer behaviour.
Answered by Jane Ellison
The National Institute for Health Research has awarded funding to The University of Sheffield Alcohol Research Group to evaluate the new drinking guidelines. The details will be worked through once the conclusions of the consultation are published.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to adopt the recommendations made by the Chief Medical Officer on the consumption of alcohol.
Answered by Jane Ellison
The United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers’ alcohol guidelines give the public the latest and most up to date scientific information so that they can make informed decisions about their own drinking.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish all responses received to the Chief Medical Officer's consultation on the revised alcohol guidelines.
Answered by Jane Ellison
As with all consultations of this sort, individual responses to consultations are treated as confidential so not usually published.
However, the Department will provide a summary of all the responses for each of the consultation questions in the Government response to the advice that the UK Chief Medical Officers’ guidance.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support the Government is providing to tackle people-smuggling in the Mediterranean.
Answered by Theresa May
We have established an Organised Immigration Crime Taskforce of 100 officers from the NCA, Crown Prosecution Service, and the Home Office to disrupt organised immigration crime groups upstream, including through the Mediterranean routes, and in the UK. The UK is also supporting the EU Naval Forces Operation in the Mediterranean. We are determined to disrupt organised immigration criminal activities which impact adversely on our security and have such a wanton disregard for human life.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much her Department has spent on humanitarian assistance in (a) Syria and (b) neighbouring countries receiving Syrian refugees in the last two years.
Answered by Justine Greening
In the financial year 2014/15, the UK spent just under £150 million in humanitarian assistance inside Syria and around £125 million in the surrounding region. This has provided lifesaving support and helped ensure Syrian children can remain in education.