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  • Jeremy Corbyn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Jeremy Corbyn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Corbyn on 2015-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has agreed arrangements with the Israeli government to ensure that all animal products exported from Israel to the UK originate wholly within Israel and not from Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

    George Eustice

    This Department has had no discussions with Israel about accepting animal products from the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

    The rules for the importation of animal products are laid down in European Union (EU) animal and public health legislation. Imports are only accepted from approved third countries. The decision to approve a third country is made at an EU level and is based on the animal and public health status of the country concerned.

    Israel is approved for a number of different categories of animal product. This approval is limited to Israel and does not include the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

  • Iain McKenzie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Iain McKenzie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain McKenzie on 2015-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the benefits and costs of a nationwide badger cull; and if she will make a statement.

    George Eustice

    The Government is committed to our strategy to make England free of bovine TB, of which culling badgers in areas where the disease is rife is a key element. The outcome of this year’s cull in Somerset indicates that industry-led culling can, in the right circumstances, deliver the level of effectiveness required to be confident of achieving disease control benefits.

    The results for Gloucestershire show that continued progress is needed taking into account the additional challenges of interference and harassment by activists. The cost of the badger cull pilots in 2013 was £6.3 million. The estimated cost of England failing to tackle bovine TB is estimated to be £1 billion in the next decade.

  • Greg Knight – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Greg Knight – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Knight on 2015-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research her Department has commissioned or carried out into the welfare of intensively-farmed dairy cattle which spend the majority or all of their lives indoors.

    George Eustice

    The Department funded a 3 year project in 2008 entitled “AW1026: A study to investigate the management and welfare of continuously housed dairy cows.”

    The final report has been published on our website and is available at the following link:

    http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu&Module=More&Location=None&ProjectID=15761&FromSearch=Y&Publisher=1&SearchText=AW1026&SortString=ProjectCode&SortOrder=Asc&Paging=10#Description

    “

  • Mark Williams – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Mark Williams – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2015-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has received an invitation to the Crans Montana Forum in Dakhla, occupied Western Sahara; and whether she plans to send a representative to that forum.

    Dan Rogerson

    An invitation to the Forum in Dakhla has not been received.

  • Caroline Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Caroline Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what briefing his Department provided on (a) the promotion and sale of arms and military equipment and (b) human rights to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales before his trip to the Middle East; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    At the request of the British Government, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales undertook official visits in February to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the State of Kuwait, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

    His Royal Highness’s visit to the Middle East was to help support Britain’s relationships in the region with key partners. His programme was designed to assist with key government objectives and the visit supported UK diplomatic, commercial and cultural interests in an important region of the world. Other themes of the tour included inter-faith dialogue, youth opportunities, and environmental sustainability.

    Details of all high-level briefings for Royal tours are always confidential.

  • Daniel Kawczynski – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Daniel Kawczynski – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Kawczynski on 2015-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of pressure being put on the Central Bank of Libya by terrorist organisations to release funds from that bank to those organisations; and if he will make available to that bank technical advice and assistance from the UK Government on security and fraud prevention in response to that pressure.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    The UK remains deeply concerned about the political and security crisis in Libya, and the increasing threat from terrorist entities in the country. On 22 January 2015 the United Nations Support Mission in Libya condemned a reported armed attack against the Central Bank branch in Benghazi and called for an independent inquiry. The EU Foreign Affairs Council stated on 9 February 2015 that the independence and proper functioning of the Central Bank of Libya, National Oil Corporation and other key financial institutions must be preserved and protected. The EU condemned actions against Libya’s national assets, financial institutions and natural resources, which risk depriving the Libyan people of the benefits of the sustainable development of their economy.

    We fully support the United Nations’ mediation efforts towards a ceasefire and a stable political settlement in Libya. Only political dialogue can address this crisis and protect those independent government institutions whose role is to safeguard Libya’s resources for the good of all Libyans. As part of the UN Security Council, the UK has condemned attempts to intimidate and obstruct the proper functioning of Libya’s financial institutions. In addition, the UK funds technical advice and training through the World Bank to Libyan institutions on public financial management. The programme is aimed at putting in place the foundations of more accountable and transparent processes, reducing the scope for fraud and corruption.

  • Tom Watson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Tom Watson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2015-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether a research analyst is advising his Department on the deployment of remotely piloted aircraft systems.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    No.

  • Andrew Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Andrew Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Smith on 2015-02-10.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which organisations his Department consulted on the projects proposed by the Government’s submission to the European Commission’s Special Task Force on investment in the EU.

    Mr David Gauke

    HM Treasury consulted with the Departments for Business Innovation and Skills; Communities and Local Government; Culture, Media and Sport; Energy and Climate Change; Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Transport; the Cabinet Office and the Devolved Administrations on the Government’s submission to European Commission’s Special Task Force. The approach to the projects list was agreed by the members of the European Affairs Committee.

  • Daniel Kawczynski – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Daniel Kawczynski – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Kawczynski on 2015-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what humanitarian aid is being provided to civilians in Ukraine caught up in the conflict in that country.

    Justine Greening

    In response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine the UK Government has so far committed £16.4 million of bilateral humanitarian support in Ukraine. In addition, the UK’s share of multilateral contributions through the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) and the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). stands at £4.35 million.

    “

  • Mark Durkan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Mark Durkan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Durkan on 2015-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent reports he has received on the UK’s programme of counter-narcotics assistance to Colombia; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    We receive regular updates on our ongoing programme of support to Colombia in the area of counter-narcotics. However, we do not release detailed information as to do so would risk undermining operational effectiveness and could prejudice the capability or security of those undertaking operations. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Home Office, National Crime Agency and Ministry of Defence are in regular dialogue to ensure this activity is in line with our international obligations.