Tag: Andrew Rosindell

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-12-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she plans to take to ensure that her Department’s policy on the management of bovine TB in non-bovine farmed animals does not have a detrimental impact on species kept by zoos.

George Eustice

On 28 August 2015 Defra issued a call for views on TB controls for non-bovine species, including companion and zoo animals. The call for views closed on 20 November 2015 and responses including those from the professional zoo community are being considered. Any proposals for regulatory changes flowing from the exercise would be subject to consultation in the normal manner.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-12-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team has made on prosecuting and eliminating corruption in the Turks and Caicos Islands in the last 12 months.

James Duddridge

The Special Investigation and Prosecution Team has completed its investigations following the findings of Sir Robin Auld’s Commission of Inquiry that there was a high probability of systemic corruption in government and the legislature and among public officers in the Turks and Caicos Islands. As a result of those investigations, the trial of a number of individuals, including former Premier Michael Misick and several of his Cabinet Ministers, is expected to start this week.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-12-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2015 to Question 18970, what measures are being taken to stop the Daesh trade in oil and hydrocarbon products.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

The Coalition’s military efforts in Syria are an important part of the strategy to cut off Daesh oil revenues. The UK has launched strikes targeting Daesh oil facilities in Omar oil field. In total, Coalition airstrikes have damaged or destroyed over 260 oil infrastructure targets so far, taking out crucial Daesh oil facilities and convoys. The UK has led international efforts to make it illegal for any state, company or individual to trade in oil and oil products with Daesh, including co-sponsoring UN Security Council Resolution 2199 in February 2015. The Chancellor was in New York on 17 December for the first ever meeting of Finance Ministers at the UN Security Council to strengthen the sanctions regime against Daesh. We are also working with the private sector to ensure Daesh cannot access the spare parts and fuel additives it needs for its oil industry to function.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-01-06.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to increase the affordability of homes in the Greater London area for people under the age of 30.

Greg Hands

The Government is committed to making the aspiration of home ownership a reality for as many households as possible. At the Spending Review the Government announced a series of measures which will help people under 30 in Greater London and elsewhere become homeowners.

These include plans to deliver 200,000 Starter Homes to be sold at a 20% discount to first time buyers under 40 and 135,000 Help to Buy: Shared Ownership homes. Government also announced that it will introduce London Help to Buy, increasing the value of Help to Buy equity loans in London to 40% from 25%, as well as extending the Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme for a further year to 2021. These schemes are also supported by the recently launched Help to Buy: ISA, through which the Government tops up mortgage deposit savings for first time buyers by up to £3,000.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-01-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, further to the Answer of 26 October 2015 to Question 12448, what criteria are used by her Department to determine the amount of aid provided to emerging economies like China and India.

Mr Desmond Swayne

As referred to in my response to Question 12448, we use a range of criteria to determine allocations to countries, and to meet the objectives of the UK Aid Strategy. Regarding the two partner countries referred to in the question, DFID closed its bilateral aid programme to China in March 2011 and now works in partnership with China on global development issues. The UK ended its traditional aid programme to India at the end of 2015. The new partnership with India will include technical assistance (sharing skills and expertise), investments in private sector projects that help the poor and generate a financial return for the UK taxpayer, and working together on global development issues such as trade and nutrition.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-01-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of accidental fatalities in the armed forces which occur during training exercises.

Penny Mordaunt

Deaths in training are rare. We do, however, take our duty of care to our personnel very seriously. Risk is inherent in many activities carried out by the Armed Forces, from adventurous training to training exercises and operations. This is especially true where activities involve weapon systems, vehicles or strenuous physical activity.

This risk is rendered as low as reasonably practicable during training by ensuring that its design and delivery are subject to strict safety procedures and rigorous risk analysis. This allows the Services to provide realistic and effective training which balances the risks with the need to provide a safe training environment.

We have a range of mechanisms to ensure supervision and welfare support for trainees of all ages, such as the tiered Duty Holder construct which make specific individuals personally accountable and responsible for potential Risk to Life decisions. Training regimes are also subject to internal or external assurance and audit inspections including by OFSTED.

In the event of a training fatality, or indeed any other fatality, a thorough investigation would be convened. This can include a Service Inquiry, internal investigation, police investigations or investigations by, for example, the Health and Safety Executive. Fatalities will normally be the subject of a Coroner’s Inquest. A Service Inquiry may take place if it is considered that anything further of consequence to any of the regular or reserve forces may be learned. This is an independent investigation designed to establish the circumstances surrounding an accident and make recommendations in order to prevent reoccurrence and enhance safety.

On 1 April 2015 we established the Defence Safety Authority (DSA). This brings together the Defence safety regulators across all environments (including maritime, air, land, nuclear, ordnance and fire) and accident investigators into a single independent organisation led by a 3 star officer. The DSA is responsible for the regulation of Defence Health, Safety and Environmental Protection. Its purpose is to provide independent assurance to the Defence Secretary that his policy on safety in Defence is being promoted and implemented in the conduct of Defence activities. The Director General of the Defence Safety Authority is now the primary Convening Authority for all Service Inquiries pertaining to safety-related fatalities and major equipment loss across the whole of Defence.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what role his Department has played in advising the Sovereign on the UK’s position on the future use, style and designation accorded to UK nationals of British dual nationals of the Queen’s Commonwealth realms; and what changes there have been to established practice in the last two years.

James Duddridge

I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 18 January 2016 (PQ 22935). The recognition of foreign honours is a matter for the Royal Prerogative.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-02-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of the events in Cologne at New Year 2015-16 in respect of information given to new immigrants to the UK on legal and cultural issues.

James Brokenshire

We expect all immigrants to the UK to abide by the law and to respect our shared values, and those who wish to stay permanently have to take the Knowledge of Life in the UK Test which reinforces this expectation. For those that do not respect the law, we will consider removal and exclusion. We keep all our immigration polices under regular review.

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 2016-02-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times Russian military (a) aircraft and (b) ships have entered British territory in the last 12 months; what the average response time was for the armed forces on each of those occasions; and what the type and model was of the aircraft or ship on each of those occasions.

Penny Mordaunt

I can confirm that there have been no unauthorised incursions by Russian military aircraft into UK sovereign airspace in the last twelve months.

There have been three authorised Treaty inspection flights by Russian military An-30b aircraft in UK airspace under the auspices of the multi-national Open Skies Treaty. On each occasion the UK received advance notice of the aircraft’s arrival and it was hosted for the duration of its mission at RAF Brize Norton.

For information on Russian naval assets entering UK territorial waters I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 24 March 2015 by the previous Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Mark Francois) to Question number 218391.