The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-09-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the strategic military importance of Gibraltar to the UK and her allies.
Mike Penning
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 12 September 2016 to Question 45163.
Our assessment of Gibraltar’s strategic importance is shared by our allies and partners, a number of whom make regular use of the military facilities there.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-10-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department is offering the Democratic Republic of Congo to achieve peace and economic growth.
James Wharton
We remain concerned both by ongoing violent conflict in eastern DRC, and nationwide political tensions relating to democracy and human rights. Stability and economic growth are at the very heart of our strategy for the Great Lakes region, which is implemented by DFID, MoD and the Foreign Office. Politically, we are engaging at the highest levels, including via the UN and EU system, to seek a resolution to the current political impasse and conflict in eastern DRC.
British Military officers and stabilisation experts are embedded in the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC, shaping a more agile force, better able to protect civilians. We fund an £80 million programme to build peace in eastern DRC by establishing a durable political settlement at regional and national levels and addressing root causes of conflict, such as land reform.
The UK also supports economic growth and prosperity in DRC through a £100 million private sector development programme. The programme works with micro, small and medium enterprises to facilitate access to markets and raise incomes, and helps reform the broader business environment, making it more attractive to international investors.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-11-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the contractual status is of the China/EDF deals; whether those contracts make provision for their terms to be reassessed at a future date; and if she will make a statement.
Andrea Leadsom
The agreements announced on 21 October between EdF and CGN show the commitment of all sides to the Project – EDF has confirmed it will take a 66.5% stake in Hinkley with China General Nuclear (CGN) taking 33.5 per cent, demonstrating a clear commitment from both parties. The Government and EDF have finalised the Contract for Difference and ancillary documentation which offers increased price certainty for the electricity produced from Hinkley Point C. The Funded Decommissioning Programme has been approved and will make sure that the tax payer doesn’t pick up the cost of decommissioning the plant in the future. My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State will take her final decision on the Contract for Difference when EDF and CGN have signed the full investment documentation. I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made by the Secretary of State on 21 October, Official Report, Column 45WS:
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-11-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his Department’s aims are for the visit of Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
Mr Hugo Swire
The Government was pleased to welcome Prime Minister Modi to the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Modi is the head of world’s largest democracy. The visit was a celebration of a rich, wide-ranging and mature relationship between our two countries, symbolised by 1.5 million Britons of Indian origin. We want to deepen our extensive trade and investment links further. We will also discuss how to enhance our defence and international security partnership to enable both our countries to address together the many common global threats we face.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-11-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the likelihood of success of the planned peace talks between the Yemeni government and Houthis in that country; and what steps the Government is taking to support agreement on an immediate ceasefire at those talks.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
We welcome the commitment by President Hadi that the Government of Yemen will participate in UN negotiations, and the commitment by the Houthis, conveyed to UN Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, of their willingness to discuss Yemen’s return to sustainable peace and long-term stability. We encourage all parties to get behind the UN political process to achieving a lasting peace, and to enter peace talks in good faith and with no pre-conditions. We welcome the announcement by the UN Special Envoy that these talks are forthcoming. I discussed the importance of making progress in these talks with President Hadi on 25 November. We fully and actively support the UN’s efforts, in accordance with Security Council Resolution (SCR) 2216, which remains the framework to achieving lasting ceasefire and a mechanism for the withdrawal of forces, release of political prisoners and the resumption of an inclusive political process.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-12-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Prime Minister’s Oral Statement of 26 November 2015, Official Report, columns 1489-94, what assessment he has made of the level of co-ordination among the 70,000 ground forces referred to as international partners fighting ISIS.
Michael Fallon
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 1 December 2015 to Question number 17826 to the hon. Member for Brighton Pavilion (Caroline Lucas).
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 his Department’s plans are for making progress on the UK’s renegotiation with the EU before the next EU summit.
Mr David Lidington
The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), The Chancellor of the Excheque (Mr Osborne), my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton and I have continued to meet our counterparts to discuss the UK’s renegotiation since September and we will continue to do so. There will be a substantive discussion at the December European Council as planned.
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 7 December 2015 to Question 18442, on Ilois: resettlement, if he will undertake work to investigate all available sources of funding before a decision is taken on resettlement; and if he will seek funding from the Secretary of State for International Development, the US, the EU, the private sector and external funding organisations for such resettlement.
James Duddridge
The Government will consider all funding sources in its decision on resettlement.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-01-06.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the (a) potential effect on the UK economy of the decision by the US Federal Reserve to raise US interest rates and (b) potential effect of this decision on interest rates in the UK.
Harriett Baldwin
Higher US interest rates are a sign of confidence in the US economy, whose strong recovery has supported demand as the world’s largest economy and UK’s closest economic and financial partner. The UK’s monetary policy framework, set out in the Bank of England Act 1998, gives operational responsibility for monetary policy to the independent Monetary Policy Committee. Decisions on setting Bank Rate are for the judgement of the MPC.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-01-18.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his policy is on proposals made by his German counterpart that an EU-wide petrol tax be levied to fund aid for Syrian refugees; and if he will make a statement.
Mr David Gauke
The financing system for the EU budget for 2014-2020 was agreed in 2013, when the Prime Minister secured the UK objectives of no new own resources or EU-wide taxes to finance EU spending, and no change to the UK rebate. This House ratified that deal last summer.
The Government’s position remains unchanged. The UK retains its veto over any proposed change to the financing system for the EU budget, and over any EU tax legislation. The Government will not sign up to anything that undermines the UK’s tax sovereignty.