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

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

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Spelman on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what occasions British consular officials in Indonesia have visited Rebecca Prosser since her detention on 28 May 2015; how long each such visit lasted; and when the next such visit will take place.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    Members of the consular team in Jakarta have visited Rebecca Prosser twice. The first visit took place on 2 June, shortly after her arrest, and lasted 30 minutes. The second, which lasted over two hours, took place on 10 September when she was moved from house arrest into a detention facility. Normal practice is to visit detainees in Indonesia every three months.

    Consular staff are in regular contact with Ms Prosser’s employer’s representatives, her legal team and her family. Since court proceedings began, we have provided a weekly written update to Ms Prosser, her family and their MPs. Our most recent contact with Ms Prosser’s family was on 21 October.

  • Matthew Offord – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Matthew Offord – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Offord on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the human rights situation in Egypt.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    The Foreign and Commonwealth Office published its annual Human Rights and Democracy Report on 12 March 2015, which provides an assessment of the situation in Egypt. The report is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/human-rights-and-democracy-report-2014/human-rights-and-democracy-report-2014

  • Lady Hermon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lady Hermon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lady Hermon on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what records his Department holds on representations made by the Government to (a) the US Administration and (b) the Libyan government in 2008 about inclusion of compensation claims by victims of IRA/Libyan sponsored violence in the UK in the scope of the Libyan Claims Settlement Agreement; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    When it became clear in May 2008 that the US and Libya were proceeding on a bilateral agreement to settle outstanding claims, the UK Government made representations to the US and Libyan authorities to include UK victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA terrorism on the list of recipients. Unfortunately this proved not to be possible. The Libyans made clear that they had answered questions about their support for the IRA in 1995 and considered the matter closed.

    We want to see a just solution for all of the victims of Qadhafi-sponsored IRA terrorism, and we remain determined to make progress. Once stability returns, and our embassy re-opens, we will again encourage the Libyan authorities to engage with UK victims and their legal representatives seeking redress, including those seeking compensation.

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

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

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to introduce legislation to ban the sale of primates as pets.

    George Eustice

    Primates are wild animals with complex needs and it is already against the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to keep them in a domestic pet environment, particularly if kept alone rather than in a social group.

  • Henry Bellingham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Henry Bellingham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Henry Bellingham on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much revenue has been raised by the Agriculture and Horticulture Board through levies collected from the sale of pigs in the last 10 years.

    George Eustice

    Levies are raised by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board on pigs slaughtered for human consumption within England. Approximately 81% of this levy is paid by the pig producer, with around 19% also paid by the pig slaughterer or live exporter.

    Over the last 10 financial years ending 31 March 2015, £80 million in English pig levy has been collected. This is broken down as follows:

    2014/15 £9.023m

    2013/14 £8.735m

    2012/13 £8.555m

    2011/12 £8.235m

    2010/11 £7.735m

    2009/10 £7.564m

    2008/09 £6.921m

    2007/08 £7.986m

    2006/07 £7.631m*

    2005/06 £7.617m*

    The figures are for gross levy before deduction of levy collection costs, and are sourced from Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board Audited Annual Report & Accounts. The 2005/06 and 2006/07 figures are sourced from the Meat and Livestock Commission Annual Report and Accounts.

  • Gregory Campbell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Gregory Campbell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to bring forward a draft Wild Animals in Circuses Bill; and whether the definition of a travelling circus will be included in the Bill.

    George Eustice

    A draft Wild Animals in Circuses Bill was published in April 2013 and received pre-legislative scrutiny by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee at the time. The draft bill did not include a definition of a travelling circus. As the explanatory notes to the draft bill said, ‘travelling circus’ is a well understood term that does not require a definition. The Government’s view remains that by trying to define precisely the term ‘circus’, you are more likely to create potential loopholes. However, the introduction of a bill is a manifesto commitment and the Government will do so as soon as parliamentary time allows.

  • Paul Monaghan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Paul Monaghan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Monaghan on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he expects the Coastal Communities Fund to reopen for a further round of funding.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    Details of future funding arrangements for the Coastal Communities Fund are currently being considered as part of the 2015 Spending Review. An announcement about the timing of future funding rounds is expected after the Autumn Statement.

  • Jim Fitzpatrick – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Jim Fitzpatrick – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Fitzpatrick on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of cattle have been tested for bovine TB in each of the last three years.

    George Eustice

    Bovine TB is a devolved matter. The figures presented below are for England only.

    Year

    Number of cattle tested during year (millions)

    Cattle population at June 1 (millions)

    2012

    3.4

    5.4

    2013

    3.7

    5.4

    2014

    4.0

    5.3

    Figures for the number of cattle tested for bovine TB represent all cattle tested during a calendar year. Cattle population estimates are as at a single point in time (1 June 2015). It is not, therefore, possible to determine the proportion of the cattle population which was tested in each of these years. All herds in the designated High Risk and Edge Areas of England are subject to annual surveillance testing for bovine TB, except for herds in the part of Cheshire falling within the Edge Area, which is currently subject to six-monthly testing. In the designated Low Risk Area all herds are subject to four yearly surveillance testing for bovine TB, except for certain higher risk herds which are subject to annual testing. Herds in all risk areas may also be subject to additional TB testing as a result of TB breakdowns.

  • Helen Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Helen Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate she has made of the change in the number of jobs in each region attributable to changes to feed-in tariffs.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Our consultation on the feed-in tariff review reflects the need to balance sector support whilst keeping bills down for consumers. We strongly welcomed evidence from the sector during this review consultation, which ended on 23 October, and we asked a question about the impact on the wider economy, including jobs, in the consultation. We will respond in due course.

  • Gregory Campbell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Gregory Campbell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of reforms proposed in the review of the Feed-in Tariff scheme on the viability of future renewable energy projects.

    Andrea Leadsom

    We published an impact assessment on our proposals, which included the deployment projections for each option proposed. This is available here:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-a-review-of-the-feed-in-tariff-scheme.

    We will issue a revised Impact Assessment with the Government Response based on the evidence we received through the consultation. This will include information about the potential effects on the viability of future projects.

    “