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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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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.
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.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Barker on 2015-02-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions he or his officials have had with their counterparts in UK Trade & Investment, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the Bangalore/Mumbai Economic Corridor; what recent progress has been made on UK participation in that project; and if he will make a statement.
Amber Rudd
DECC Ministers and officials meet regularly with Ministers and officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and UKTI to discuss a range of issues. Her Majesty’s Government continues to engage with India on the Bangalore/Mumbai Economic Corridor (BMEC). BMEC was most recently discussed on 11 February in a meeting between Chief Executive of UKTI, Dominic Jermey, and Indian Commerce Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman. We are looking forward to seeing the outcome of the BMEC perspective plan.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-02-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what communications he has had with the European Commission in respect of his plans to hold a departmental golden share in the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant.
Matthew Hancock
DECC officials had initial discussions with the Commission on the possibility of a special (or ‘golden’) share for the Hinkley Point C project. Any arrangement will be designed to be fully compliant with existing EU legislation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Reynolds on 2015-02-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will take steps to limit the amount energy suppliers can charge consumers for the introduction of smart meters.
Amber Rudd
The Government has introduced regulation to ensure that there will be no upfront charges to consumers for the introduction of smart meters.
The Government’s approach to minimising costs and ensuring cost savings from smart metering are passed on to consumers is embedded in the strategy of mandating an energy supplier-led roll out. As commercial entities competing for customers, energy suppliers are incentivised to minimise costs and maximise cost savings. Where suppliers do not keep their customer offer and prices competitive, customers will be able to switch to a new energy supplier.
The Government and Ofgem are committed to further enhancing retail energy competition. To this end, Ofgem has referred the retail energy market to the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate if features of the market are having an adverse effect on competition and, if so, what reforms would make competition even more effective.