Tag: Andrew Rosindell

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-02-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will reverse its decision to impose an annual charge to Australian and New Zealand citizens for use of the NHS.

James Brokenshire

The Impact Assessment published on 4 February 2016, alongside the draft Immigration (Health Charge) (Amendment) Order 2016, estimates that a net additional £41 million could be raised for the NHS in present value, over 5 years, in 2016-17 prices, by applying the health charge to Australian and New Zealand nationals and reducing the annual health charge for Youth Mobility Scheme visa applicants from £200 to £150.

The Impact Assessment can be viewed at the link below and is also available in the Vote Office (Commons):

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2016/9780111143278/impacts

These changes are subject to affirmative resolution and will be debated in the House of Commons and House of Lords. If they are approved by Parliament, the Government plans to implement the changes from 6 April.

The Government think it only fair that Australian and New Zealand nationals contribute to the UK’s health service in the same way as other non-EEA nationals.

The changes will only apply to Australian and New Zealand nationals who plan to enter the UK for a temporary period of more than six months; visitors will not need to pay the charge and Australians and New Zealanders will continue to benefit from our reciprocal healthcare agreements.

Further, the Government has in recognition of the close and important links between our countries, agreed during discussions with the Australian and New Zealand Governments, to reduce the health charge that applies to the Youth Mobility Scheme from £200 to £150 in line with students. This is the category used by more than half of Australian and New Zealand nationals granted visas to the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-02-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many new apprenticeships were created in East London in 2015.

Nick Boles

Information on the number of Apprenticeship starts by region, Local Authority and Parliamentary constituency is published as a supplementary table (first link) to a Statistical First release (second link). Latest published data includes Apprenticeship starts reported to date for August to October 2015. Data up to and including January 2016 will be published at the same link following publication of the next Statistical First Release on 23^rd March 2016.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/493777/apprenticeships-starts-by-geography-learner-demographics-and-sector-subject-area.xls

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/learner-participation-outcomes-and-level-of-highest-qualification-held

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-03-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she has made an assessment of the effect of the group calling itself the new IRA on the security situation in Northern Ireland.

Mrs Theresa Villiers

The threat from Northern Ireland related terrorism in Northern Ireland is considered to be SEVERE. This means an attack is highly likely.

The so-called new IRA is one of a small number of dissident republican groupings that aspire to undermine Northern Ireland’s democratic institutions through the use of violence. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and MI5 work tirelessly to limit the threat that these groupings pose.

This Government will always give its fullest possible backing to the PSNI and other agencies who do such an effective job in keeping people in Northern Ireland safe and secure. Under this Government there will be no let-up in our efforts to ensure that terrorism does not succeed.

I report regularly to the House on the threat from Northern Ireland Related Terrorism. The most recent is available at:

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2015-12-15/HCWS394/

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-04-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the process is for approval of additions or removals of mandatory days for flying the national flag from the list published by his Department on the gov.uk website; which official of his Department has responsibility for that list; and how often that list is revised.

David Evennett

My officials discuss any additions or changes with the Lord Chamberlain’s Office. The Designated Days for the flying of the Union Flag are agreed each year and published on the DCMS presence on GOV.UK. There are currently no plans to change the list.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-04-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the extent of damage to historical artifacts by ISIS/Daesh in Palmyra.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We have no diplomatic presence in Syria and so are unable to provide an accurate assessment of the damage to Palmyra ourselves.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-04-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to improve dental standards amongst primary school age children.

Alistair Burt

We are committed to improving the oral health of school children. Public Health England (PHE) has produced a toolkit to support local authorities in their responsibility to improve dental health and reduce inequalities among children and young people in their area. It supports local authorities to invest in programmes which have demonstrated improvement in children’s dental health, for example targeted community-based fluoride varnish programmes, targeted tooth brushing programmes and water fluoridation. PHE has also this year published a toolkit to support the consideration of water fluoridation as a measure to reduce levels of tooth decay.

Sugar consumption is the primary cause of tooth decay in children. The Sugar Swaps campaign was launched in January 2015, helping families reduce their sugar consumption through making simple swaps to their diets. In addition PHE has developed guidance for dental teams on preventing dental disease in young children. Advice on prevention of dental disease has also been published by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-05-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the proposals of the French government to sell assets to raise capital to fund Hinkley Point C on the viability of that project.

Andrea Leadsom

EDF and the French Government have agreed a way forward on financing of the company. The chairman of EDF has begun a non-binding consultation with the company council ahead of a final investment decision, which is a commercial matter for EDF. The British Government and EDF are both confident that Hinkley will go ahead. The French Government also remain fully committed to the project.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-05-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to place unaccompanied refugee children from European countries with foster families or in local authority care homes.

James Brokenshire

As announced on 4 May we will be consulting closely with local authorities to find suitable places within the UK for these children.

Local authorities will be required to provide the right support, care and accommodation to meet the child’s specific needs. Statutory agencies at a local level are best placed to understand and meet the needs of all children and will continue to make decisions about the right accommodation and support services for those who are looked after.

Unaccompanied children will be eligible for foster care if it is considered that that this placement type will provide appropriate support and best meet their individual needs.

The UK has well-established and effective safeguarding procedures to ensure the safety of children who come to the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-06-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people not granted entry clearance or temporary admission were permitted to live in private accommodation before being deported in (a) 2014 and (b) 2015.

James Brokenshire

The Home Office does not record the number of persons who have been deported or who have absconded having been permitted to live in private accommodation.

The Right to Rent scheme denies illegal migrants access to the private rented sector. It has been in operation in parts of the West Midlands since 1st December 2014, and across England since 1st February 2016. The scheme requires landlords to carry out checks on prospective tenants before they rent property to them, and to refuse a tenancy to anyone who cannot show that they have the right to rent. The scheme is not retrospective, and does not apply to tenancies which were in place before the scheme came into effect in the relevant area.

Therefore, in order to keep the scheme light touch and in line with the Right to Work scheme, landlords (like employers) are not required to tell the Home Office when they have completed right to rent checks.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-06-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to hire and train trade negotiators.

Mr Hugo Swire

I refer my honourable friend to my answer of 30 June given in response to PQ 41301.