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  • Caroline Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Caroline Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Wilson Doctrine has been consistently applied to the communications of the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion; and whether she has been subject to surveillance.

    Mr John Hayes

    The Government’s position on the Wilson Doctrine was set out by the Prime Minister in a written ministerial statement made on 4 November 2015.

    As the Prime Minister made clear, the Wilson Doctrine has never been an absolute bar to the targeted interception of the communications of Members of Parliament or an exemption from the legal regime governing interception. The Doctrine recognised that there could be instances where interception might be necessary.

    The Prime Minister announced that as matter of policy the PM will be consulted should there ever be a proposal to target any UK Parliamentarian’s communications under a warrant issued by a Secretary of State. This applies to Members of Parliament, members of the House of Lords, the Scottish Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Welsh Assembly and UK members of the European Parliament. It applies to all activity authorised by a warrant issued by a Secretary of State: any instance of targeted interception and, electronic surveillance and equipment interference, when undertaken by the Security and Intelligence Agencies. This is in addition to the rigorous safeguards already in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) and the Code of Practice issued under it which set out a series of robust safeguards for any instance of interception.

    It is long standing policy of successive Governments neither to confirm nor deny any specific activity by the Security and Intelligence Agencies. Under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 it is an offence for anyone to identify an individual interception warrant or an individual interception that takes place.

  • Roger Godsiff – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Roger Godsiff – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2015-10-14.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Prime Minister’s speech in Singapore of 28 July 2015, when he plans to initiate the consultation into making property ownership by foreign companies more transparent; what format he plans for that consultation to take; who he plans to invite to participate in that consultation; and when he plans for it to be concluded.

    Matthew Hancock

    The consultation on making property ownership by foreign companies more transparent will be launched in the near future. The format and scope will be decided on shortly. The

    consultation will allow stakeholders sufficient time to provide a considered response.

  • Alison Thewliss – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Alison Thewliss – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2015-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will increase the requirements placed on Network Rail to consult local communities on infrastructure planning.

    Claire Perry

    Network Rail has to comply with all relevant legislation in carrying out works on its network. It also has to comply with the terms of its Network Licence, enforced by the Office of Rail and Road, which includes provision on dealings with stakeholders and maintenance of long term plans for the network. Any changes to these licence requirements are a matter for the Office of Rail and Road.

    Network Rail works with over 60 Community Rail Partnerships (a government initiative). This involves local people in the development and promotion of local and rural routes, services and stations, aiming to increase passenger numbers and freight use and improve the revenue and efficiency of services.

  • Richard Burden – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Richard Burden – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2015-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for (a) Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and (b) Defence on supporting international efforts to protect UK ships against pirates.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Secretary of State for Transport has not had direct discussions recently with either the Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or the Secretary of State for Defence on the subject of piracy.

    The UK’s response to piracy involves many Government departments and the different teams working within them. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department for Business Innovation & Skills, Home Office, Department for Transport and Ministry of Defence work closely together in supporting international efforts to protect UK ships against pirates.

    The Foreign and Commonwealth Office lead the UK’s policy on piracy whilst my Department is responsible for the UK’s policy on maritime armed security guards.

  • Richard Burden – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Richard Burden – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2015-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support her Department has given to recycling initiatives of spoil wastes from harbour dredging.

    George Eustice

    There are a number of good examples where support has been provided to the successful, beneficial re-use and recycling of dredged materials, including land formation at Allfleet’s Marsh on Wallasea Island, beach replenishment in Poole Bay and land claim undertaken to construct the London Gateway Port in the Thames Estuary. In addition, in 2014 the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) published research on the potential to improve the co-ordination of such projects in the future.

    The UK Marine Policy Statement (2011) states that applications to dispose of wastes must demonstrate that appropriate consideration has been given to the internationally agreed hierarchy of waste management options for sea disposal, which includes recycling.

  • Richard Burden – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Richard Burden – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2015-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with the International Maritime Organisation on (a) disposal and (b) recycling of spoil waste from the dredging of harbours.

    George Eustice

    The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) provides the secretariat for the London Protocol, to which the UK is party.

    Under this global instrument (and the OSPAR Convention) that aims to protect the marine environment from pollution caused by dumping at sea, the UK has agreed guidelines on the management of dredged materials and the encouragement of its re-use and recycling. Moreover, we provide data on the disposal of dredged materials to the IMO (and the OSPAR Convention).

  • Ian Lavery – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Ian Lavery – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Lavery on 2015-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the total cost was of London International Shipping Week (LISW) 2013; how much of that cost was borne by his Department; and what those costs were for LISW 2015.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    London International Shipping Week is an industry-led and organised week, comprising over 80 events arranged by many organisations. The total cost of the week is not, therefore, information which is held by the Government.

    The Department hosted or jointly hosted a small number of key events in both years, costing just over £4,000 in 2013 and £5,500 in 2015.

  • Ian Lavery – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Ian Lavery – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Lavery on 2015-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many officials from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (a) spoke at and (b) attended scheduled events during London International Shipping Week 2015.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    Sir Alan Massey, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, spoke at a scheduled event to promote the UK Ship Register, and 39 officials attended scheduled events during London International Shipping Week 2015.

  • Ian Lavery – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Ian Lavery – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Lavery on 2015-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many officials in his Department worked at events scheduled as part of London International Shipping Week 2015.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    Department for Transport (DfT) and Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) officials (excluding Ministerial Private Secretaries) worked at the following events scheduled as part of London International Shipping Week 2015:

    • At the joint Government/Maritime UK Welcome Reception at Lancaster House, 28 officials worked in a voluntary capacity (as the event took place outside of normal working hours) to support the event.

    • At the “Celebration of International Partnership” reception, jointly hosted with the Ministry of Defence, 13 officials worked in a voluntary capacity (as the event took place outside of normal working hours) to support the Royal Navy in delivering the event.

    • Maritime security officials within DfT organised two security-related seminars which involved 5 and 3 officials respectively.

    • The MCA organised a reception to promote the UK Ship Register, at which 4 officials worked.

    In addition, 4 DfT and MCA officials delivered speeches/presentations at HMG events during the week and DfT Ministers attending government and industry organised events were accompanied by a Private Secretary.

  • Ian Lavery – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Ian Lavery – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Lavery on 2015-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many officials in his Department were involved in preparatory work for London International Shipping Week 2015.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Departmental team of three who lead on maritime promotion and partnership worked on the preparatory work for London International Shipping Week 2015, among their other duties, and were overseen by a Senior Civil Servant.

    Due to the importance, scale and complexity of the week, the core team received ad hoc support and advice from across the Department and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, many of whom were volunteers and assisted alongside their day to day duties.