To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many start-up loans have been awarded since the introduction of that scheme in (a) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, (b) South Lanarkshire, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK; and what the total value is of those loans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many start-up loans have been awarded since the introduction of that scheme in (a) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, (b) South Lanarkshire, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK; and what the total value is of those loans.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of the workforce was paid at least the living wage in (a) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, (b) South Lanarkshire, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK in each of the last five years.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of the workforce was paid at least the living wage in (a) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, (b) South Lanarkshire, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK in each of the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the oral Answer of 19 March 2015 from the Minister of State for Energy, when he plans to publish the advice he has received on the effect on security of supply of the potential closure of Longannet.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the oral Answer of 19 March 2015 from the Minister of State for Energy, when he plans to publish the advice he has received on the effect on security of supply of the potential closure of Longannet.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many young people living in (a) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, (b) South Lanarkshire, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK entered higher education in each of the last 10 years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many young people living in (a) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, (b) South Lanarkshire, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK entered higher education in each of the last 10 years.

According to National Grid, on 26 December less than 1% of power generated into the national grid in Scotland came from wind, meaning that electricity

generated south of the border and the doubling of output from the coal-fired Longannet power station in Fife kept our lights on. The Minister will be aware that Iberdrola, the Spanish owner of ScottishPower, which operates Longannet, has decided not to invest to make it compliant with the industrial emissions directive and is now threatening to announce the closure of that power station next week, jeopardising hundreds of skilled jobs. Given Iberdrola’s public statements, what discussions has the Minister had with the Spanish power company or National Grid about the implications of potential closure?

According to National Grid, on 26 December less than 1% of power generated into the national grid in Scotland came from wind, meaning that electricity

generated south of the border and the doubling of output from the coal-fired Longannet power station in Fife kept our lights on. The Minister will be aware that Iberdrola, the Spanish owner of ScottishPower, which operates Longannet, has decided not to invest to make it compliant with the industrial emissions directive and is now threatening to announce the closure of that power station next week, jeopardising hundreds of skilled jobs. Given Iberdrola’s public statements, what discussions has the Minister had with the Spanish power company or National Grid about the implications of potential closure?

I thank the Minister for that reply, but he will be aware that various public claims have been made by or on behalf of Iberdrola ScottishPower about the impact of closure on both security of supply and group resilience, and that National Grid has rejected those claims. What assessment has his Department made of the claims and their implications? Given the conflicting statements made in the public domain, will he publish the assessment and advice so that the veracity of the claims and counterclaims can be properly tested?

I thank the Minister for that reply, but he will be aware that various public claims have been made by or on behalf of Iberdrola ScottishPower about the impact of closure on both security of supply and group resilience, and that National Grid has rejected those claims. What assessment has his Department made of the claims and their implications? Given the conflicting statements made in the public domain, will he publish the assessment and advice so that the veracity of the claims and counterclaims can be properly tested?

In September last year, the Minister published statistics showing that only 206,000 of 529,400 personal independence payment applications had been cleared. When he published those statistics, he said:

“By the end of the year we expect that no-one will be waiting for an assessment for longer than 16 weeks.”

Yet when the updated figures were published in January, they did not include the number of those who had waited longer than 16 weeks. Will the Minister now ensure that those figures are published so we can see whether the anecdotal evidence we get from our constituents is correct?

In September last year, the Minister published statistics showing that only 206,000 of 529,400 personal independence payment applications had been cleared. When he published those statistics, he said:

“By the end of the year we expect that no-one will be waiting for an assessment for longer than 16 weeks.”

Yet when the updated figures were published in January, they did not include the number of those who had waited longer than 16 weeks. Will the Minister now ensure that those figures are published so we can see whether the anecdotal evidence we get from our constituents is correct?

I thank the Secretary of State for that reply. I am sure he will be aware that one festival the BFI helps to fund is the Glasgow film festival, the UK’s third largest and best festival, which is under way in Glasgow and is finishing on Sunday with the UK premier of “Force Majeure”. He has talked about the BFI funding, but given that the BFI’s grant in aid budget will be 10% lower next year than it was last year, what is he going to do to ensure that film festivals such as Glasgow’s continue to get that vital support?

I thank the Secretary of State for that reply. I am sure he will be aware that one festival the BFI helps to fund is the Glasgow film festival, the UK’s third largest and best festival, which is under way in Glasgow and is finishing on Sunday with the UK premier of “Force Majeure”. He has talked about the BFI funding, but given that the BFI’s grant in aid budget will be 10% lower next year than it was last year, what is he going to do to ensure that film festivals such as Glasgow’s continue to get that vital support?

Although it is not a universally rewarding experience being an away fan following Fulham, it is certainly the case that travelling supporters bring

vibrancy, atmosphere and colour to football fixtures. Given the largesse that now exists in the Premier League, does the Minister agree that it would be a good measure for clubs to take to ensure that there is a cap on the price of standard away tickets, so that some of the benefit of the additional TV revenue comes to the fans who help make the atmosphere of the games?

Although it is not a universally rewarding experience being an away fan following Fulham, it is certainly the case that travelling supporters bring

vibrancy, atmosphere and colour to football fixtures. Given the largesse that now exists in the Premier League, does the Minister agree that it would be a good measure for clubs to take to ensure that there is a cap on the price of standard away tickets, so that some of the benefit of the additional TV revenue comes to the fans who help make the atmosphere of the games?

What assessment he has made of the role of film festivals in promoting the creative industries in the UK.

What assessment he has made of the role of film festivals in promoting the creative industries in the UK.

If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

What assessment she has made of the effects of Government policies on disabled people's access to work.

What assessment she has made of the effects of Government policies on disabled people's access to work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what proportion of units that secured a capacity agreement in the first auctions of the capacity market were based in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) England; and how many units of what capacity were so secured.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what proportion of units that secured a capacity agreement in the first auctions of the capacity market were based in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) England; and how many units of what capacity were so secured.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the average cost to domestic consumers per kWh of electricity in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) each English region in each year since 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the average cost to domestic consumers per kWh of electricity in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) each English region in each year since 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the average cost to domestic consumers per kWh of gas in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) each English region in each year since 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the average cost to domestic consumers per kWh of gas in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) each English region in each year since 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the Rate of Return on Equity for each of the Distribution Network Operators under Distribution Price Control Review 5.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the Rate of Return on Equity for each of the Distribution Network Operators under Distribution Price Control Review 5.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many benefit sanctions were applied to claimants resident in (a) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, (b) South Lanarkshire, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK in each month since July 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many benefit sanctions were applied to claimants resident in (a) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, (b) South Lanarkshire, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK in each month since July 2010.

When he expects that a final decision will be made on the final pension age for the Ministry of Defence Police and Defence Fire and Rescue Services.

When he expects that a final decision will be made on the final pension age for the Ministry of Defence Police and Defence Fire and Rescue Services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of personal independence payment claims were disallowed pre-referral to the assessment providers in (a) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, (b) South Lanarkshire, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK in each month since April 2013; and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of personal independence payment claims were disallowed pre-referral to the assessment providers in (a) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, (b) South Lanarkshire, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK in each month since April 2013; and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate has been made of the number of (a) Fast Reserve, (b) Short Term Operating Reserve and (c) BM Start up Reserve services triggered by National Grid from units in (i) England, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Wales in...

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate has been made of the number of (a) Fast Reserve, (b) Short Term Operating Reserve and (c) BM Start up Reserve services triggered by National Grid from units in (i) England, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Wales in...