Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

Her Majesty's Government whether they are planning to extend the remit of the Grocery Code Adjudicator to cover the dairy sector.

Her Majesty's Government when the Rural Payments Agency will pay the outstanding amounts due to farmers for 2015; and what is the average length of time taken from submission of a claim to a payment being made by that agency.

Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the state of the dairy sector in England.

Her Majesty's Government when they last had discussions with representatives from farming organisations to discuss the shape of future farm support.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the commitment made in Transferring Care for People with Learning Disabilities - Next Steps, published in January 2015, to establish a reconfiguration taskforce to support local leaders to reshape services ...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of disruption to services on the East Coast mainline, what recent discussions they have held with Network Rail on its maintenance programme; and when the existing overhead electric wires will be replaced.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of (1) nursing home beds, and (2) residential care home beds, available in (a) 2005, (b) 2010, and (c) 2015.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the recent business rates revaluation, what are the average changes affecting (1) rural businesses, and (2) urban businesses.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government during the recent business rates revaluation, what regard was given to the impact on the turnover and profitability of businesses of seasonality in produce such as livestock, and of currency movements.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government over how long a period the recent rateable revaluation in respect of business rates was estimated.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact on rural businesses that are operating at narrow margins of the impact of increases in rateable values.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the criteria used to determine the increase in rateable value as regards business rates in the recent rates revaluation.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the appeals procedure against a proposed increase in rateable value; and what estimate they have made of the average length of time which will be required for an appeal to be considered.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact on rural areas of the proposed Industrial Strategy.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy on cyclists cycling on footpaths.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the comparative access and speed of the internet between urban and rural areas; and what proposals they have to improve internet access and speeds in rural areas.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the performance of the Rural Payments Agency over the last 12 months.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of what is a fair form of contract between private and public sectors in flood defence funding.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to attract more private funding into the construction of flood defences; and whether this will include providing a return to investors on their investment in such projects and allowing corporate investo...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) as a viable approach to the funding of flood defence projects; and what assessment they have made of the extent to which this approach would ensure...