2014 – Page 413 – UKPOL.CO.UK

Baroness Byford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Byford on 2014-04-02.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the three crop rule included in the new Common Agricultural Policy relates to single parcels of land owned or rented by one person or company, or whether the entire holding can be treated as one parcel of land.

Lord De Mauley

The requirements of the crop diversification measure of greening, also known as the “three crop rule”, apply to the total arable area of a holding.

Farmers with between 10ha and 30ha of eligible arable land will usually need to grow at least two crops. Farmers with over 30ha of eligible arable land will usually need to grow at least three crops. Compliance with the measure will be assessed at the holding level, not the parcel level.

November 1, 2022

Huw Irranca-Davies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Huw Irranca-Davies on 2014-06-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether any alternatives to a full ban on the importation of Indian mangoes were (a) considered by his Department’s officials and (b) put forward to European Commissioners.

Dan Rogerson

The ban was imposed following persistent interceptions of plant pestson imports of Indian produce into the European Union (EU) and critical reports from the European Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office audits in 2010 and 2013. Despite assurances from India in response to these reports the level of interceptions remained high. The EU’s decision to introduce a ban was therefore fully justified and supported by all Member States including the UK, in line with our policy of strengthening plant health controls. Therefore, no alternatives to a ban were considered by Defra.

Protecting plant health is a key Defra objective. Plant pests and diseases such as those intercepted from India in recent years can cause serious damage to the UK glasshouse industry which is worth over £300 million per annum. However, I am aware of the importance of the mango trade and Defra officials are liaising with the Indian High Commission on what support the UK can offer to India to help it ensure compliance with EU import requirements.

The following table shows the number of consignments of mangoes imported into the UK in the last five years which were infested with Tephriditae (and therefore rejected) by country of origin. The European Commission is considering similar measures to those taken against India for other countries with high levels of interceptions of plant pests. Such consideration takes account of findings from all Member States, and covers all plant commodities and all pests identified.

Year	Country of origin	No. of consignments imported into the UK	No. of consignments infected with Tephritidae
2010	Dominican Republic	351	1
	India	1977	1
	Jamaica	228	3
	Pakistan	3302	6

2011	Dominican Republic	417	2
	India	1836	11
	Jamaica	262	3
	Pakistan	3690	19
	Puerto Rico	1	1
	Sri Lanka	144	1
	Uganda	138	1

2012	Bangladesh	146	1
	Brazil	445	1
	Costa Rica	70	2
	Dominican Republic	606	18
	Ghana	628	15
	India	3448	23
	Jamaica	332	24
	Kenya	2044	4
	Pakistan	5128	81
	Philippines	12	2
	Sri Lanka	189	10
	St Lucia	50	1
	Thailand	1050	3
	Uganda	104	2

2013	Brazil	316	3
	Dominican Republic	756	16
	Ghana	357	4
	Guinea	7	1
	India	3563	13
	Jamaica	516	17
	Kenya	1654	17
	Pakistan	5910	47
	Puerto Rico	104	1
	Sri Lanka	111	3
	U A E	1	1
	Vietnam	77	1

2014 (to 18/06/14)
	Brazil	106	1
	Dominican Republic	420	3
	Ghana	271	1
	India	401	1
	Jamaica	464	9
	Kenya	698	7
	Mexico	61	1
	Senegal	4	1
	Sri Lanka	69	3

Source: Fera and Europhyt

November 1, 2022

Simon Kirby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Simon Kirby on 2014-04-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will estimate the modal shift from car to railway use as a result of eliminating the weekday minimum fare resulting from the use of the Network Rail card; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond

It is not proposed to make any estimate of the modal shift that might result from the removal of the minimum fare applying on weekdays to the Network Railcard. The Network Railcard is offered on a commercial basis and therefore it would be for the train operators to consider any changes to its terms and conditions.

November 1, 2022

Huw Irranca-Davies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Huw Irranca-Davies on 2014-06-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made any representations to the Iranian government on (a) the need to respect trade union rights and International Labour Organisation conventions and (b) the detention and abuse of Shahrokh Zamani.

Hugh Robertson

Independent unions and labour organisations have been heavily repressed in Iran, and many members have been jailed or harassed. The UK has repeatedly called on Iran to fulfil its international and domestic obligations to allow freedom of expression to all Iranians.

We are aware of the detention of Shahrokh Zamani, a member of the Founding Board of the Syndicate of Paint Workers of Tehran, who was sentenced to prison for “acting against national security by establishing and or being a member of groups opposed to the system”. The UK has called for Iran to release all political prisoners.

November 1, 2022

Margaret Ritchie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2014-04-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he has taken to ensure the long-term viability of the system for paying benefits into Post Office card accounts under the universal credit programme.

Steve Webb

No decision has been made on the future of the POca but discussions are currently taking place between DWP, Post Office Ltd and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to consider the future needs of customers beyond 2015.

November 1, 2022

Jim Shannon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-06-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with devolved regional assemblies to agree a strategy to prevent bacillus cereus infections.

Jane Ellison

Bacillus cereus is a spore forming bacterium found widely in the environment in dust, soil and vegetation. There is limited prevention as it is a naturally occurring bacterium. However, the Food Standards Agency has published advice on their website which details information on potential food poisoning caused by Bacillus cereus.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) undertake inspections of manufacturing facilities with reference to the standards of Good Manufacturing Practice to verify that companies are producing medicines that are of the correct quality and safety. The manufacture of sterile products, such as Total Parental Nutrition, is subject to special requirements in order to minimise risks of bacterial contamination.

In the case of medicines, the MHRA and Public Health England (PHE) are currently investigating what has caused the recent incident where Total Parenteral Nutrition became contaminated with Bacillus cereus . Based on the information we currently have, we believe this is an isolated incident and the appropriate immediate action has been taken to avoid a recurrence.

The devolved administrations have been informed of the current incident involving Bacillus cereus. The investigations into the cause of this incident are still ongoing. The Department will continue to discuss matters with the devolved administrations for minimising Bacillus cereus infection.

The investigations being undertaken by MHRA and PHE are in their advanced stages and preliminary findings will be published as soon as possible. While the MHRA and PHE are undertaking their own investigations, it would be normal practice for the Coroner to report on the individual case he is currently considering.

November 1, 2022

Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-04-09.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2014, Official Report, column 18W, on employee ownership, for what reason the details of the Exchequer impact of the tax rules for the shares awarded under employee shareholder agreements since 1 September 2013 are not available.

Mr David Gauke

Employers are not required to provide details of any shares awarded under employee shareholder agreements to HM Revenue & Customs until they submit their annual employment-related securities return for 2013-14. No details or estimates of the total value of shares awarded under employee shareholder agreements since 1 September 2013 are currently available.

Estimates of the Exchequer impact of the capital gains tax exemption and the income tax and national insurance treatment of shares awarded under employee shareholder agreements in tax years to 2017-18 can be found at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/tiin/emp-shareholder-status.pdf

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November 1, 2022

Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2014-06-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions Ministers in his Department have had with the Nursing and Midwifery Council on its proposals to increase professional fees for nurses by £20 per annum later in 2014.

Dr Daniel Poulter

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is an independent body and it is therefore for the NMC Council to determine the level of the annual fee it charges for registration. On 26 March 2014, the NMC Council reviewed the level of this fee and agreed a proposal to increase it from £100 per annum to £120 in March 2015. The NMC is running a public consultation between 8 May and 31 July 2014, where its proposal is open to scrutiny. No decision on the proposed fee increase has been made at present.

Ministers keep the issue of professional regulation under regular review and the Department has frequent contact with professional regulators, including the NMC. On 12 March 2014, I met with representatives of the NMC for a regular update meeting. This meeting was not specifically set up to discuss the NMC registration fee, but during this meeting the NMC provided information about its fee review process.

November 1, 2022

Graham Evans – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Evans on 2014-04-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2014, Official Report, column 114W, on human trafficking: victim support schemes, how many of those referred were (a) men and (b) women, by country; what steps are taken to ensure after the victim exits the shelter into which they have been placed by the Salvation Army they are not re-trafficked or contact their former traffickers; and if she will make a statement.

Karen Bradley

The requested information on the gender of potential victims and the regions in
which they were found in January 2014 was provided in the Answer of 7 April
2014, Official Report, columns 114-5W, on human trafficking: victim support
schemes. However, this data was provided in a number of separate tables. The
information was not withheld and is provided below in an alternative format,
giving the same data broken down by individual case, in one table.

The victim care contract does not require support providers to maintain any
form of formal contact after the recovery and reflection period. However, some
survivors do maintain informal contact with their support provider. All support
providers will work with victims throughout their support period to help them
move on from the service. We are looking at what more we can do to help victims
reintegrate effectively.

Nationality	Gender	Region	Agency Type
Nigerian	Female	South	Self Referral
Lithuanian	Female	South	Police
Vietnamese	Male	East	NGO
Romanian	Female	West Midlands	NGO
Lithuanian	Male	South West	Police
Lithuanian	Male	South West	Police
Albanian	Female	Wales	Self Referral
Bulgarian	Female	South	Police
Polish	Male	West Midlands	GLA
Albanian	Female	Yorkshire	NGO
Nigerian	Female	South	Home Office
Sierra Leonean	Female	South	Home Office
Indian	Male	South East	Home Office
Vietnamese	Female	North West	Home Office
Nigerian	Female	South East	Home Office
Ugandan	Female	South East	Home Office
Vietnamese	Male	South East	Legal Representative
Ghanaian	Male	South	Police
Ghanaian	Male	South	Police
Romanian	Male	West Midlands	Police
Romanian	Male	West Midlands	Police
Romanian	Male	West Midlands	Police
Romanian	Male	West Midlands	Police
Romanian	Male	West Midlands	Police
Togolese	Female	East	Police
Nigerian	Female	South East	Local Authority
Czech	Male	Yorkshire	NGO
Albanian	Female	South East	Home Office
Ugandan	Female	East	Self Referral
Indian	Female	South East	Home Office
Albanian	Female	South East	Home Office
Albanian	Female	Not Known	Home Office
Albanian	Female	South	Police
Vietnamese	Female	Not Known	Home Office
Albanian	Female	South	Home Office
Slovakian	Male	Yorkshire	Local Authority
Slovakian	Female	Yorkshire	Local Authority
Nigerian	Female	South	Other
Moroccan	Female	West Midlands	Home Office
Cameroonian	Male	North East	Other
Not known	Female	South	Home Office
Nigerian	Female	Not Known	Home Office
Chinese	Male	West Midlands	NGO
Hungarian	Male	Yorkshire	NGO
Polish	Male	Yorkshire	Police
Nigerian	Female	South	NGO
Albanian	Female	Yorkshire	Home Office
Lithuanian	Male	South West	Police
Romanian	Female	West Midlands	Police
Czech	Male	North West	Other
Sri Lankan	Female	South	Police
Pakistani	Male	Yorkshire	Home Office
Vietnamese	Male	South	Legal Representative
Romanian	Female	South	Other
Albanian	Female	South	Home Office
Albanian	Female	Yorkshire	Home Office
Nigerian	Female	South	NGO
Albanian	Female	West Midlands	NGO
Kenyan	Female	East	Home Office
Hungarian	Female	South East	Police
Slovakian	Male	Yorkshire	Local Authority
Slovakian	Female	Yorkshire	Local Authority
Kenyan	Female	South	Self Referral
Cameroonian	Female	North West	NGO
Albanian	Female	South	Police
Slovakian	Female	West Midlands	Police
Albanian	Male	South East	Police
Iranian	Male	South	NGO
Nigerian	Female	Yorkshire	Home Office
Albanian	Female	Yorkshire	Home Office
Albanian	Female	Yorkshire	Home Office
Albanian	Female	Yorkshire	Home Office
Albanian	Female	South	Home Office
Albanian	Female	South East	Other
Czech	Female	South West	NGO
Bulgarian	Male	South West	Police
Hungarian	Male	South	NGO
Albanian	Female	South	Home Office
Albanian	Female	South	NGO
Nigerian	Female	Wales	Home Office
Polish	Male	Yorkshire	Police
Ugandan	Female	South	Legal Representative
Vietnamese	Male	East Midlands	Legal Representative
Slovakian	Male	Yorkshire	Police
Slovakian	Female	Yorkshire	Police
Albanian	Female	South	Legal Representative
Ethiopian	Female	South	NGO
Albanian	Female	South	NGO
Iraqi	Female	East Midlands	NGO
Albanian	Female	Yorkshire	NGO

November 1, 2022

Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-06-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she authorised the UK’s classification of (a) Google, (b) Facebook, (c) webmail services and (d) other companies that operate in the UK as external communications.

James Brokenshire

External Communication is defined within the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000 and the statutory Interception of Communications Code of Practice which was approved by Parliament and came into force on 1 July 2002. The Government has no present plans to amend the definition of external communication.

Under RIPA, interception warrants are issued by the Secretary of State.

November 1, 2022

Tag: 2014