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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-01-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to combat the (a) decline in the use of local shopping centres and (b) fall in employment rates by local shopping centres; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Marcus Jones

The Government is committed to helping our high streets and town centres thrive and is supporting them through a billion pound package of investment. This includes:

– targeted tax breaks;

– the doubling of small business rate relief;

– sensible planning changes to allow business to respond flexibly to changing market conditions; and

-taking action to tackle over-zealous parking practices.

As a result, we have seen some very positive signs that our local centres are fighting back. Vacancy rates are in decline, retail sales are up for the 31^st consecutive month and there was encouraging news on footfall over the festive period.

My Department also ran the Great British High Street Competition, which this year received nearly 200,000 votes from the general public. This shows that local people cherish their high streets and that, if the broader retail sector can adapt to their changing needs, it can thrive.

The devolution agenda also provides significant opportunities as we’re ensuring local areas that encourage growth reap the rewards. Councils will keep 100% of local taxes – including all £26 billion from business rates – by the end of this Parliament, providing a much stronger incentive to engage proactively with businesses in their local area.

I am also aware that, in my hon. Friend’s constituency of Romford, local partners are pushing forward a range of exciting and innovative programmes such as the redesign of the local market. This work is regenerating the wider area and creating jobs. I would like to applaud Romford for this work and suggest that others look to follow their example.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-01-11.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to ensure that any extra workload due to plans to require the filing of quarterly tax returns by small businesses does not reduce profits and productivity for such small businesses.

Mr David Gauke

I refer the honourable Members to my response of 11 January 2016 (with references 20876 and 21032).

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-01-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to encourage an increase in migration to the UK from Australia to the levels of such migration prior to 2008.

James Brokenshire

We value our close links with Australia and are committed to further strengthening our ties. Across all visa categories, total visas issued to Australian nationals grew by 10% in the year ending September 2015.

However, the Government is committed to reducing net migration to sustainable levels. We have capped the level of skilled economic migration from outside the EU, and have asked the Migration Advisory Committee to advise on restricting Tier 2 of the Points Based System for immigration to genuine skills shortages and highly specialist experts to ensure that we only grant visas to those who have the skills we really need in our economy. We have no plans to introduce specific targets for Australian migration to the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-01-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will ensure that his (a) Department will not enter into negotiations with Argentina without the full consent of the Falkland Islands government and (b) Department’s position remains to deny any transfer or reduction of British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands without the full consent of the Falkland Islanders.

Mr Hugo Swire

We are hopeful for an improvement in bilateral relations with Argentina. Our position on the Falkland Islanders’ right to self determination will not change.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-01-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when any Ministers in his Department last met Chagossian representatives; and when they next plan to do so.

James Duddridge

Ministers last met the Chagos Islands (British Indian Ocean Territory) All-Party Parliamentary Group in February 2015. Officials have held meetings with around 500 Chagossians in the last 12 months in London, Crawley, Manchester, Seychelles and Mauritius. The Government has recently undertaken a twelve week public consultation about a potential resettlement of the British Indian Ocean Territory, and I am now considering the results, with a view to the Government determining a way ahead on this important issue very soon. It would be inappropriate to meet Chagossians until the results of this consultation have been considered.