The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Kane on 2016-04-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if his Department will re-introduce its strategy for abolition of the death penalty.
Mr David Lidington
I refer the Honourable Member to the answer given by my noble friend Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 25 January 2016 in reply to The Marquess of Lothian’s question (HL5007). https://wqa.parliament.uk/Questions/Details/28566
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anne Main on 2016-05-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to meet the EU’s nitrogen dioxide emissions target.
Rory Stewart
The UK currently meets the EU legal requirements for almost all pollutants, but we know there is still more to do and that the UK faces significant challenges in meeting EU requirements for nitrogen dioxide.
The national air quality plan, published in December last year, sets out a comprehensive approach for meeting the air quality challenges by implementing a new programme of Clean Air Zones. The plan combines targeted local and national measures, forming part of a wider approach that exploits new and clean technologies, such as electric and ultra-low emission vehicles.
The Government has committed over £2 billion since 2011 to increase the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles, support green transport initiatives and support local authorities to take action.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Valerie Vaz on 2016-07-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what arrangements were made for the declaration of (a) financial and (b) other interests by technical advisers to the independent review of the Investigatory Powers Bill before their appointment.
Mr Ben Wallace
The Government has published the Terms of Reference for the Independent Review of Bulk Powers, which set out the composition of the review team. It was for David Anderson, as the independent reviewer to select the team best equipped to carry out the review and to critically appraise the need for bulk capabilities. David Anderson also published a summary for each member of the team setting out their experience and the diverse qualities which they will bring to the review.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Gardiner on 2016-09-14.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Interministerial Group on Clean Growth plans to continue to meet.
Ben Gummer
Clean growth continues to be a priority for this Government. The full list of Interministerial Groups is currently being finalised.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rosie Cooper on 2016-01-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to ensure that borough councils in two-tier authority areas provide sandbags to all residents to protect their properties during incidents of flooding.
James Wharton
It is up to individual local authorities to set their policies for sandbag distribution and allocation to residents based on flood risk.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2016-02-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans his Department has for consultation with (a) civil society groups, (b) the devolved administrations and (c) Northern Ireland to inform its report for the third cycle of the Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review.
Dominic Raab
We have not yet been informed of the date of the third Universal Periodic Review of the UK.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-03-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Oral Answer of 14 March 2016, Official Report, on unemployment, if he will publish the Government’s employer engagement strategy referred to in that Answer.
Priti Patel
In December 2015 the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills published ‘English Apprenticeships: Our 2020 Vision’, which sets out how government will engage with employers and increase the quality and quantity of apprenticeships, achieving three million new starts by 2020. This is available on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeships-in-england-vision-for-2020
A new approach to working with employers is in development. This is a new engagement strategy and is an internal work plan. We have no plans to publish it at this time. The strategy aims to ensure that we engage with the right employers in the right sectors in the most productive ways.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nadine Dorries on 2016-04-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the strength of German-Russian relations and their (a) effect on European energy security and (b) implications for the UK.
Mr David Lidington
Germany’s relations with Russia like those of all other EU Member States, have been significantly impaired by Russia’s aggressive behaviour in recent years. Germany has adopted all measures agreed by EU and NATO Member States in respect of their economic and political relationship with Russia.
It is an overriding principle that in their dealings with Russia, all EU Member States ensure that they fully comply with EU legislation, including internal energy market legislation and competition law. This legislation provides a clear and stable framework that enables the delivery of sustainable, secure and competitive energy and supports long term investment in Europe’s and the UK’s energy market.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stewart Malcolm McDonald on 2016-05-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance the Government has offered to the Canadian government to help tackle the wildfire emergency in Alberta.
Mr Hugo Swire
On 7 May, The Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) wrote to his Canadian counterpart, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to offer support to the Canadian efforts to tackle the fires. The British Army Training Unit at Suffield, Alberta, has offered assistance to the Alberta Provincial Government. The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) and I have repeated these messages to the Canadian Foreign Minister and the Canadian High Commissioner in London.
On 5 May the UK Space Agency was notified of a request by Canadian Authorities for imagery of the wildfires. This request was authorised and satellite imagery of the affected areas was released.
The Canadians have so far not requested any further assistance from the British Government, though the messages of support have been warmly received.
We will continue to liaise closely with our Canadian colleagues and stand ready to assist should they request our help.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Eilidh Whiteford on 2016-07-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of extending the Shared Accommodation Rate to social rented housing on the ability of single people under the age of 35 to access general needs social rented housing.
Caroline Nokes
Full impact and equality impact assessments will be undertaken in due course.
Single people under 35 will be exempt from the Shared Accommodation Rate if they fall into one of the categories below:
For those who are not covered by these exemptions, they will be able to apply for Discretionary Housing Payments if they need help meeting the shortfall in their rent.