Asked by: John Robertson (Labour - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what estimate he has made of the effect on tax revenue from Scotland of the recent fall in the price of oil.
Answered by Alistair Carmichael - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Justice)
The UK Government’s primary concern is to support the Scottish oil industry, which is so key to our economy.
The UK economy is equipped to deal with volatile revenues, but the recent fall this morning to $45.81 per barrel would have left an independent Scotland’s finances with an £19.9 billion black hole.
Asked by: John Robertson (Labour - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of social care budget changes on A&E attendances.
Answered by Norman Lamb
There has been no assessment made of the effect of social care budget changes on accident and emergency (A&E) attendances. However, the Government has legislated to establish the Better Care Fund from 2015-16 to provide better integrated care. One of the conditions of the Better Care Fund is to improve the delivery of health and social care by preventing people reaching crisis point, and to reduce the quantity of non-elective admissions to acute care, which may serve to ease the pressures on A&E departments.
Asked by: John Robertson (Labour - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that consumers are protected from high levels of campylobacter in poultry.
Answered by Jane Ellison
The United Kingdom Food Standards Agency (FSA) is working in partnership with industry to tackle Campylobacter, exploring a range of interventions targeted at different points in the food chain to reduce contamination levels before the meat reaches the consumer. Also, in publishing the quarterly results of its UK-wide microbiological survey of Campylobacter contamination in fresh whole chilled chickens at retail sale, the FSA is maintaining consumer awareness of the issue and encouraging retailer action.
The FSA has provided guidance for consumers on the safety measures that they can take to reduce their risk of spreading and contracting Campylobacter from raw poultry in the home and this featured in its Food Safety Week campaign earlier in the year.
Asked by: John Robertson (Labour - Glasgow North West)
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 effectiveness of international support for the Nigerian authorities in tackling Boko Haram.
Answered by James Duddridge
While attacks by Boko Haram continue across the North East of Nigeria, UK and other international support is assisting the Nigerian authorities to improve the coordination and effectiveness of their security operations. I led the UK delegation to the last meeting of regional Foreign Ministers in Abuja on 3 September where I stressed the importance of regional and international cooperation to help Nigeria end the threat from Boko Haram.
Asked by: John Robertson (Labour - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of whether the level of tribunal fees acts as a disincentive to women bringing a sex discrimination claim.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
Fees were introduced in Employment Tribunals on 29 July 2013 to reduce the burden on the taxpayer and to encourage parties to use alternative methods for resolving disputes. It is not the Government’s intention to deter anyone from bringing a valid claim to the tribunals.
The Government has committed to carry out a comprehensive review of the introduction of Employment Tribunal fees. An announcement on the scope and timing of the review will be made in due course.
Asked by: John Robertson (Labour - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Government Digital Service.
Answered by Lord Maude of Horsham
We have designed and created the award-winning and world-leading gov.uk, the central web domain for Government information. We are redesigning 25 major Government services to make them simpler, clearer and faster to use. That will not only provide savings to the taxpayer, but improve delivery for the public, focused on user need, not Government convenience.
Asked by: John Robertson (Labour - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many former refineries that have been converted to import and distribution terminals are currently under review by the Health and Safety Executive to meet post-Buncefield compliance regulations.
Answered by Mark Harper - Secretary of State for Transport
Since 2005 two refineries have indicated a transition to fuel import and distribution operations. One refinery conversion is nearing completion, and the other is at the planning stage.
All new and substantially modified fuel storage sites storing large quantities of gasoline (petrol) should meet the standards set out in the Process Safety Leadership Group (PSLG) Final Report published in 2009 before operations commence.
None of the former refineries are currently under review by HSE. They are subject to routine regulatory scrutiny under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (COMAH) by the COMAH Competent Authority.
Asked by: John Robertson (Labour - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when all licensed import and distribution terminals will be fully post-Buncefield compliant.
Answered by Dan Rogerson
In 2008 the Competent Authority (CA) published the containment policy, a framework for upgrading existing fuel sites so far as is reasonably practicable. Upgrades are being prioritised at higher risk sites and where measures are aimed at preventing release of fuel from tanks. In order to avoid disrupting operations and supplies, the upgrading work is being phased. All necessary upgrades are expected to be complete by 2028.
The 87 fuel terminals and 7 refineries have already completed many of the high risk and low cost improvements required. Improvement plans for upgrading storage tanks at the fuel terminals have also been agreed with the CA and progress against plans is monitored on an annual basis. A new risk assessment method for the very large tanks at the oil refineries was agreed with the CA in October this year and the refineries will submit their upgrading plans for approval by March 2015.
Asked by: John Robertson (Labour - Glasgow North West)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many former refineries have been converted to import and distribution terminals.
Answered by Matt Hancock
Of the peak 22 refineries operating in Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1974, seven are still operating as refineries and seven are now principally operating as oil import and distribution terminals.
Asked by: John Robertson (Labour - Glasgow North 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 difference between changes in (a) carers' benefits, (b) disability benefits and (c) older people's benefits and the rate of inflation in each of the last three years.
Answered by Steve Webb
Carers’ and disability benefits, and the additional State pension, must by statute be up-rated in line with prices. So the increase in those benefits over the last three years has reflected the increase in the Consumer Price Index.
The basic State pension has been increased with the triple lock (by the highest of average earnings, CPI or 2.5%), and the Standard Minimum Guarantee in Pension Credit has been up-rated in line with the cash increase in the basic State pension. In each of the last three years, this means that the Standard Minimum Guarantee has increased by more than the minimum requirement of the increase in average earnings. The resulting over-indexation of the Standard Minimum Guarantee has been funded through an increase in the savings credit threshold and the associated reduction in the Savings Credit maximum.
The table indicates the percentage increases in CPI; basic State Pension; average earnings; and the Standard Minimum Guarantee in each of the past three years.
| 2012/13 | 2013/14 | 2014/15 |
CPI | 5.2% | 2.2% | 2.7% |
Basic State pension | 5.2% | 2.5% | 2.7% |
Average earnings | 2.8% | 1.6% | 1.2% |
Pension Credit Standard Minimum Guarantee | 3.9% | 1.9% | 2.0% |