Tag: Andrew Rosindell

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

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to improve its ability to efficiently shift its involvement from providing short-term humanitarian assistance to long-term development projects in regions experiencing protracted crises.

Mr Desmond Swayne

We are increasing our capacity to deal with protracted and multiple crises. We have set up a new team to develop thinking on our overall approach to protracted crises, and are working across the department to share lessons and build on best practice.

We are also working with international partners to develop solutions for protracted crises – and more appropriate medium term financing. The UK co-hosted the “Supporting Syria and the Region” conference in London on 4 February 2016 which raised over $12bn in pledges, of which $6.1 billion has been committed for 2017-20 to enable partners to plan ahead. We are approaching the UN World Humanitarian Summit 2016 with an ambitious set of objectives to secure commitment to implementing a new approach to protracted displacement.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-05-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to prevent the spread of the Zika virus to the UK following travel to South America for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Jane Ellison

The risk to the United Kingdom population posed by Zika virus – and of the mosquito species which transmit the virus establishing itself in the UK – remains extremely low.

The Government is ensuring the UK and those travelling to countries with active Zika transmission by mosquitoes are protected. Up-to-date travel advice is in place, and clinical advice is available to UK medical professionals. Public Health England has been working with Royal Colleges to provide guidance to healthcare professionals on managing symptomatic patients (including pregnant women) returning from areas with active transmission of Zika. This has been cascaded by appropriate Royal Colleges. Furthermore, NHS Blood and Transplant will defer donors returning from areas with active Zika transmission from donating for 28 days.

On 13 May 2016 the Department of Health, along with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, convened an Olympic and Paralympic health advisory group. The group brought together academic experts and cross-government representatives to support the British Olympic Association (BOA) and British Paralympic Association (BPA) in updating their guidance to athletes and staff travelling to Brazil for the Olympics and to ensure consistency with that provided to the travelling public. Zika virus was a key topic for discussion along with other potential health risks. The BOA and BPA are updating their guidance in light of discussions at the meeting and with further input from the academics and clinicians present. The Foreign Office will link this to their wider consular campaign ‘Stay ahead of the Games’.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-06-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of trade negotiators employed by the EU are UK nationals.

Anna Soubry

Of the 596 officials, temporary staff and contract officials working in the Directorate General for Trade of the European Commission, the statistical bulletin of the European Commission from February of this year shows that 32 of these were UK nationals, i.e. approximately 5.4%.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-09-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the strategic military importance of Gibraltar to the UK.

Mike Penning

The UK continually monitors our defence presence in Gibraltar and routinely adjusts our force posture and resources as appropriate. Gibraltar is, and will remain a key centre for the UK’s Defence interests and the UK Government takes its responsibility for protecting the sovereignty of Gibraltar very seriously. The UK maintains a permanent military presence in Gibraltar in recognition of its enduring geo-strategic importance as the gateway to the Mediterranean, assuring maritime transit routes and maintaining access to Cyprus and the Suez Canal in support of UK national interests.

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 prioritise the sourcing of UK-made components and materials for the construction of Hinkley Point C.

Jesse Norman

The Department has been clear with EDF as the developer of Hinkley Point C, as well as all other potential new nuclear developers in the UK, that we expect substantial involvement of UK industry in their projects. Government has taken steps through the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, with the support of Nuclear Industry Association and the National Skills Academy for Nuclear, to develop UK skills and capabilities, and to identify manufacturing opportunities. This has contributed to UK firms being in a good position to supply components and materials for new nuclear construction. The UK content figure has steadily increased as we have worked with the UK supply chain to help them succeed in winning contracts and EDF now expects 64% of the value of Hinkley Point C to be spent in the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-11-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, by what proportion UK military capabilities have been reduced in the last five years; and what assessment he has made of the resources available to the armed forces to defend the UK in the event of a major conflict.

Michael Fallon

The Strategic Defence and Security Review in 2010 set out a clear plan for the future structure of the Armed Forces to ensure they could meet new and emerging threats to our security. We are currently conducting a Strategic Defence and Security Review which will consider the threats to the UK and the resources required to meet current and future threats. We are also committed to making no further reductions in the number of Armed forces personnel, including an Army of 82,000, and we have some of the most sophisticated aircraft, ships and submarines in the world. We will spend 2% of our GDP on defence, in line with NATO targets, and have the largest defence budget in the EU and the second largest in NATO.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-11-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will assess the extent to which grants made by her Department to third parties are used for activities designed to influence her Department, other departments or Parliament.

George Eustice

Grants are made to third parties so that those organisations can deliver Defra’s objectives. They are not made to such organisations for use to influence Defra, other Departments or Parliament.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-11-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what consultations he has had with the chief ministers of the UK Overseas Territories on the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR); if he will take steps to ensure that the security interests and requirements of the Overseas Territories are adequately addressed in the SDSR; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon

The Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) consulted widely with external stakeholders and internal staff. As reflected in chapter four of the SDSR, the Government takes seriously its responsibility to support communities in the Overseas Territories and their right to safety, security and determination. My hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office responsible for the Overseas Territories (James Duddridge), has written to the Chief Ministers to inform them of the SDSR’s outcome and he looks forward to discussing the conclusions further at the Joint Ministerial Council on 1 and 2 December.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what binding measures have been agreed at COP21 which commit China and the US to reducing their carbon emissions.

Andrea Leadsom

The 21^st Conference of Parties (CoP) in Paris delivered an historic and unprecedented legally binding agreement that takes a significant step forward towards reducing, on a global scale, the emissions that cause climate change.

For the first time, all countries, including China and the US, are legally bound to: set out their plans to reduce emissions; take domestic mitigation measures towards implementing those plans; revisit those plans every five years in light if a global stocktake of progress towards the long term goal in the Agreement; and report on progress made to implement and achieve these plans and subject their report to independent review and multilateral consideration.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much the UK contributed to the European Defence Agency (EDA) during 2014-15; and what the benefit is to the armed forces of membership of the EDA which they do not receive from NATO membership.

Mr Julian Brazier

The UK contribution to the European Defence Agency (EDA) budget for Financial Year 2014-2015 was £3.319 million. The UK has held the budget at zero nominal growth since 2010.

A recent review by Cranfield University of the UK’s EDA membership found it enables the UK to influence coherent capability development across Member States; 22 of which are also in NATO. Specific benefits include membership of the EDA Military Airworthiness Authorisation Forum, the Helicopter Training Programmes, and the Single European Sky initiative, which support interoperability through harmonisation of military airworthiness regulations across Member States, and de-risk future combined operations.

The Review also identified benefits to UK Defence industry: the ability to influence European Defence industry initiatives, enabling UK Defence industry access to EDA programmes and the building of confidence of cross border procurement, all of which help contribute to reducing the cost of Defence capability and thus the delivery of the most effective capabilities to UK Armed Forces.