Asked by: Luke Graham (Conservative - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many new mobile phone masts are intended to be built by (a) EE and (b) the Extended Area Services project in Ochil and South Perthshire constituency under the Emergency Services Network programme.
Answered by Nick Hurd
I can confirm that EE are planning 5 new sites in the constituency of Ochil and South Perthshire that will provide the necessary coverage needed for the Emergency Services Network (ESN), subsequently there are no plans for any Extended Area Service (EAS) sites in the region.
Asked by: Luke Graham (Conservative - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the Scotland Office:
If he will discuss with the Scottish Government steps to prevent accounting errors which are detrimental to local government budgets; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Mundell
Local Government is a devolved matter in Scotland and all issues relating to local government budgets and accounting are the responsibility of the Scottish Government.
The Scottish Government and Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government both attend the CIPFA/LASAAC Accounting Code Board, where accounting rules and best practice for local authorities across the UK are discussed.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government officials also have ad hoc contact with Scottish Government officials to share best practice and discuss matters of mutual interest for Local Government Finance in England and Scotland.
Asked by: Luke Graham (Conservative - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's work in helping secure further investment into Scotland from mainland China and Hong Kong.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Department for International Trade (DIT) has a whole of UK approach to investment and actively promotes Scotland as one of the leading locations to invest in and set up business operations. There are also DIT officials based in Scotland, working on export and investment promotion. From April 2017 to date, working in collaboration with Scottish Development International (SDI), DIT has supported several investments into Scotland from China and Hong Kong, creating 176 jobs. DIT provides a pipeline of projects to the Devolved Administrations and works together to ensure projects land in the UK.
Asked by: Luke Graham (Conservative - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to lower the level of taxation for pilot training; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The Government is aware that airlines often require their pilots to make a contribution to their own training costs.
At Autumn Budget 2017, the government announced it would consult on extending the scope of tax relief available for self-funded work-related training by employees and the self-employed. This consultation was published on 13 March 2018.
In addition, the government is supporting the development of training schemes through the apprenticeship levy. The levy, which was launched on 6 April 2017, will fund a step change in apprenticeship numbers and quality. The levy helps to reverse the trend of underinvestment in training by employers and put control of funding for apprenticeships in employers’ hands. Employers have already developed new apprenticeship standards in aviation, which include Airside Ground Specialist and Aviation Operations Manager. The Commercial Airline Pilot standard is currently in development.
Asked by: Luke Graham (Conservative - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether organisations in Scotland will be able to access funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
Further to my answer of Parliamentary Question 131221, the UKSPF will support organisations in all parts of the UK to achieve sustainable inclusive growth based on our modern industrial strategy
Asked by: Luke Graham (Conservative - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is his policy for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to be available to managing authorities in all parts of the UK.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
The government has committed to create a United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Fund following Brexit. The fund will support all regions across the four nations of the UK to achieve sustainable, inclusive growth, based on our modern industrial strategy. Further details on the fund will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Luke Graham (Conservative - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how his Department contacts customers to advise them that they are going to be re-assessed for personal independence payments; whether they are notified of such reassessments in advance; and whether they receive a letter advising them that their claim has stopped after which they are able to appeal the decision.
Answered by Sarah Newton
All existing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claimants have been reminded since 2013 in their annual DLA uprating letters about Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and when they will be invited to claim and under what circumstances. Examples of the DLA uprating letter can be found on the PIP Toolkit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-personal-independence-payment-pip-toolkit.
Where DLA claimants are selected to claim PIP because their existing award is coming to an end, or they are randomly selected because they have a long or indefinite award of DLA, they are sent a letter. The letter explains that their DLA will end and that if they want to continue to receive support they must make a claim for PIP, provide information when requested and attend any potential assessment consultation. The letter also explains that we will continue to pay DLA until a decision has been made on their PIP claim. Examples of some of these invitations are also available from the PIP Toolkit.
Once a decision has been made on a claim to PIP, claimants are informed in the decision notification of the Mandatory Reconsideration and Appeal rights that apply.
Asked by: Luke Graham (Conservative - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance her Department has issued on conducting PIP assessments of people with degenerative diseases.
Answered by Sarah Newton
The Personal Independence Payment Assessment Guide provides comprehensive guidance for Health Professionals regarding all aspects of the assessment process, including for claimants with progressive conditions. The guide is updated regularly and published on GOV.UK
Asked by: Luke Graham (Conservative - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to publish further details on the setting up of a UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
The Government has committed to launch the UK Shared Prosperity Fund after the UK leaves the EU, using money returning to the UK from European structural funds. The Industrial Strategy White Paper announced that the Government would launch a consultation this year.
Asked by: Luke Graham (Conservative - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to improve geographic mobile phone coverage in rural areas in Scotland.
Answered by Margot James
Commercial roll-out and spectrum licence obligations have led to improved mobile coverage in Scotland. As of June 2017 indoor premises voice coverage in Scotland was 99% from at least one mobile network operator (MNO) and 87% from all four (up 6 percentage points from June 2016). Indoor premises data coverage was 98% from at least one MNO and 82% from all four (up 8 percentage points from June 2016).
However, geographic coverage is lower and the Government recognises that there is more to do. That is why we reformed the Electronic Communications Code in 2017,to make it cheaper to install digital infrastructure and this should also benefit rural areas in Scotland. I also welcome the Scottish Government's planning reforms in July 2017 that follow our 2016 reforms in England to support infrastructure rollout. We are committed to having good quality coverage where people live, work and travel and I welcome that Ofcom is considering new licence obligations for rural coverage as part of the upcoming 700 MHz spectrum auction.