The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-05-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps the Government is taking to increase British trade with Mexico.
Anna Soubry
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-06-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will estimate the cost to the EU economy of strikes by air traffic controllers across Europe in 2014 and 2015.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Government has made no such estimate and does not have comprehensive data on how airlines adjusted their schedules during the strikes, or the impacts on passengers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-06-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of the retaking of Sirte on Daesh; and what steps his Department is taking to help restore stability to that city.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
Daesh is losing in Libya, as they are in Iraq and Syria. I welcome the courage of the Libyan forces who have faced them and are fighting Daesh in Benghazi, in Sirte, and elsewhere. This is a clear signal to Daesh from the Libyan people: Daesh is not wanted in Libya, they are not welcome, and they will be defeated.
The conflict in Sirte is not over and fighting there is continuing. After months of conflict the humanitarian situation in Sirte is expected to be serious, as it is across Libya. In addition to the humanitarian aid the UK is already providing to Libya, the UK has contributed $1m and a UK stabilisation adviser to the UNDP Stabilisation Facility, an initiative of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), supported by UNDP and the international community. The Facility will support the Libyan GNA to restore critical infrastructure destroyed by conflict and improve basic service delivery. This is a facility for all Libya and will benefit municipalities in the East, West and South of the country.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-09-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to increase the level of defence spending that goes to small firms.
Harriett Baldwin
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor (Philip Dunne) gave on 27 June 2016 to Question 905485 to the hon. Member for Daventry (Chris Heaton-Harris). |
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-10-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to promote the use of construction equipment manufactured in the UK.
Jesse Norman
Construction equipment is a key sector for the UK economy, with revenues in excess of £11bn from 1500 UK companies employing 40000 people. Most of the equipment used on construction sites is provided by plant hire companies directly to the contractor or sub-contractor on a project by project basis. It is not something that either the client or the contractor generally purchases directly. That is why we believe that the most important thing the Government can do to promote the use of construction equipment manufactured in the UK is by working with the sector to improve its competitiveness and productivity. The Department also works closely with the Department for International Trade to help showcase the UK industry globally to help ensure it remains an important and growing part of the UK’s manufacturing footprint.
The construction equipment sector is represented on the Automotive Council and has played an important role in setting the direction and long-term strategic priorities for the industry. A number of the sector’s manufacturers and their suppliers are involved in key innovation and development projects and programmes supported and funded by the Advanced Propulsion Centre and Innovate UK. The Government has also supported the UK industry through schemes such as the Regional Growth Fund and the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI).
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-11-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to (a) recruit more teachers and (b) otherwise ensure that schools do not experience a shortage of teaching staff.
Nick Gibb
Teaching continues to be a hugely popular career. There are more teachers in England’s classrooms than ever and record levels of high quality graduates are entering the profession. There are now 454,900 full time equivalent teachers, an increase of 5,200 from 2014 and 13,100 from 2010.
Teacher recruitment remains a challenge as the economy improves. The Government has increased Scholarships and bursaries and for the best qualified graduates in priority subjects. We have also supported the growth of Teach First and announced a £67m package to recruit an additional 2,500 mathematics and physics teachers to improve the knowledge and skills of 15,000 existing teachers. For 2016/17, initial teacher training providers will have freedom to recruit as many trainees as they need within limited controls.
The School Direct training route has been allocated over 17,500 training places this year, representing 40 per cent of all training places. We are also supporting schools to retain good teachers by improving pupil behaviour, tackling unnecessary workload and increasing pay flexibility.
We are also creating a National Teaching Service (NTS). By 2020 this will have placed 1,500 high-performing teachers and middle leaders in underperforming schools in areas of England that struggle to recruit or retain high quality teachers. A pilot NTS scheme, starting in North West England in September 2016, will aim to attract 100 teachers and middle leaders into the region.
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 steps the Government is taking to support the establishment of an independent, international and impartial body to investigate violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in Yemen.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
We remain deeply concerned about the human rights situation and alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law in Yemen. The UK fully and actively supports the UN’s efforts to achieve a political solution to bring an end to the conflict. I discussed the importance of progress with President Hadi of Yemen on 25 November. This will help create the conditions for the legitimate Government to improve its capacity to protect human rights.
The UK has previously engaged the Yemeni Government – both bilaterally and through the UN Human Rights Council – on a wide range of human rights issues. We continue to raise the importance of compliance with international human rights law by all sides to the conflict. The UK welcomes the September UN Human Rights Council resolution which contains mechanisms for monitoring the human rights situation in Yemen.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has been tasked to help Yemen investigate human rights abuses and violations, but it will be up to Yemen to decide on how it sets up its own domestic mechanism. The UK welcomes Yemen’s commitment to cooperate with the UN on the protection of human rights.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-12-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, from where the Royal Navy will attain the remaining personnel necessary to crew the two new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Philip Dunne
The Royal Navy has attracted significant investment as a result of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, including an increase in personnel to 30,600 by 2025. This level of investment continues to ensure delivery of Continuous Carrier Capability from both Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers.
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 policy is on the future of the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
James Duddridge
The Special Investigation and Prosecution Team was set up following Sir Robin Auld’s Commission of Inquiry in 2008-2009 which identified a high probability of systemic corruption in the Turks and Caicos Islands. As a result of its investigation, criminal charges were brought against a number of individuals, including former Premier Michael Misick. The trial is expected to start this month and is likely to run for several months. The start of the trial is an important moment for Turks and Caicos Islands that will ensure justice is seen to be done and draw a line under past allegations of systemic corruption. Given that the trial is only just about to start and its outcome is unknown, it is difficult to make firm conclusions on Special Investigation and Prosecution Team’s future at this point. The Turks and Caicos Islands authorities would be involved in any decision as Special Investigation and Prosecution Team works for them not the UK.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-12-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received from his French, US and German counterparts on the UK’s decision to extend airstrikes to Syria.
Michael Fallon
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 10 December 2015 to Question 18966.