Asked by: Alistair Burt (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many complaints have been made to the DVLA about vehicle excise duty refunds in each month since October 2014.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Between October 2014 and August 2016, the DVLA has issued over 10.7 million vehicle excise duty refunds. The following table sets out the number of complaints about refunds received each month by the DVLA since October 2014.
October 2014 | 31 |
November 2014 | 45 |
December 2014 | 51 |
January 2015 | 114 |
February 2015 | 102 |
March 2015 | 74 |
April 2015 | 58 |
May 2015 | 64 |
June 2015 | 79 |
July 2015 | 95 |
August 2015 | 107 |
September 2015 | 110 |
October 2015 | 88 |
November 2015 | 67 |
December 2015 | 43 |
January 2016 | 50 |
February 2016 | 59 |
March 2016 | 53 |
April 2016 | 60 |
May 2016 | 32 |
June 2016 | 39 |
July 2016 | 35 |
August 2016 | 34 |
Asked by: Alistair Burt (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average time was for the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to allocate an assessor to a health case in (a) February 2015, (b) August 2014, (c) February 2014 and (d) 2010.
Answered by George Freeman
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman is independent of Government, accountable directly to Parliament. The Department does not, therefore, hold this information. However, we understand that the Ombudsman will be writing directly to the hon. Member with further detail on the question raised.
Asked by: Alistair Burt (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many cases before the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman are awaiting allocation of an assessor.
Answered by Oliver Letwin
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman publish information on staffing and their performance in their Annual Report and Resource Accounts which are laid before Parliament. I have asked the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to write to the Hon. Member with further detail on the specific questions raised. Copies of the reply will be placed in the House Library.
Asked by: Alistair Burt (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what average length of time a case with the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman has taken to conclude in each of the last five years.
Answered by Oliver Letwin
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman publish information on staffing and their performance in their Annual Report and Resource Accounts which are laid before Parliament. I have asked the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to write to the Hon. Member with further detail on the specific questions raised. Copies of the reply will be placed in the House Library.
Asked by: Alistair Burt (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people are employed by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman; and how many people were so employed (a) 12 months and (b) five years ago.
Answered by Oliver Letwin
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman publish information on staffing and their performance in their Annual Report and Resource Accounts which are laid before Parliament. I have asked the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to write to the Hon. Member with further detail on the specific questions raised. Copies of the reply will be placed in the House Library.
Asked by: Alistair Burt (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will visit the Black Cat roundabout in Bedfordshire to make an assessment of the extent of the improvement works being carried out and the effect of those works on neighbouring businesses.
Answered by John Hayes
I would be delighted to visit again the Black Cat roundabout.
Work on this important Pinch Point Scheme is now nearing completion and the impact that the work has had on neighbouring businesses will soon end.
I am keen to ensure that the impact of all construction work on local businesses is minimised wherever possible, as is the Highways Agency. I am aware that the close proximity of these particular works to neighbouring businesses has been the cause of some frustration, however, I am also aware of the efforts made by the Highways Agency to listen to local concerns and to address them during the construction phase where it has been possible to do so.
Once completed, the improvements made at the Black Cat Roundabout will benefit not only its near neighbours but the local and wider economies through safer and less congested journeys.
Asked by: Alistair Burt (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many serving firefighters have served in that capacity for over 40 years.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
This information is not held centrally.
Asked by: Alistair Burt (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what progress his Department has made in discussion with the Honours and Decorations Committee and the Cabinet Office on introducing a further medal or bar to the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for firefighters that far exceed 20 years' service.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The viability of awarding firefighters for service beyond the existing 20 years is currently being investigated by my Department. There are processes which need to be followed prior to discussion with the Honours and Decorations Committee taking place but officials are progressing the issue and will be in touch with the Committee in due course.
The number of medals awarded to firefighters in each of the last five year are as follows:
2010 - 1,737
2011 - 1,465
2012 - 1,011
2013 - 1,246
2014 - 1,147
These figures do not include Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales
Asked by: Alistair Burt (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many firefighters have been awarded a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in each of the last five years.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The viability of awarding firefighters for service beyond the existing 20 years is currently being investigated by my Department. There are processes which need to be followed prior to discussion with the Honours and Decorations Committee taking place but officials are progressing the issue and will be in touch with the Committee in due course.
The number of medals awarded to firefighters in each of the last five year are as follows:
2010 - 1,737
2011 - 1,465
2012 - 1,011
2013 - 1,246
2014 - 1,147
These figures do not include Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales
Asked by: Alistair Burt (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect of the closure of the Border Inspection Post at Heathrow Airport on the bio-pharmaceutical industry.
Answered by George Eustice
Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) that handle imported product of animal origin at UK ports and airports are provided by commercial operators. The BIP at Heathrow Airport is comprised of three separately managed inspection centres including one that handles imports of live animals. Norbert Dentressangle operates one of two inspection centres that are approved to handle different types of product of animal origin.
Defra has received representations from and on behalf of businesses that currently rely on the inspection centre currently operated by Norbert Dentressangle. Officials have responded informally to understand better these concerns.
I understand that the operator of the second animal product inspection centre at Heathrow has expressed an interest in providing alternative inspection facilities. Their facility will require some structural and other changes and these will need to be checked by the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Any fundamental change to the existing facility will also need to be approved by the Food and Veterinary Office of the European Commission. This could require an inspection of any new facilities.
I also understand that the parties involved are also exploring contingency measures that could operate whilst any planning and building work is carried out. The aim is to ensure that there is a continuous Border Inspection capability for all types of product of animal origin at Heathrow.
I appreciate the importance that the bio-pharmaceutical industry and other importers attach to the maintenance of inspection facilities for animal product at Heathrow Airport. I welcome the discussions that are currently taking place between various interested parties. Defra will continue to follow developments closely and officials will provide any advice needed to assist the possible development the other animal product inspection centre at Heathrow Airport.