Tag: Andrew Rosindell

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.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-01-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to allow US border guards to patrol UK airports.

James Brokenshire

The US operates border pre-clearance facilities at a number of international airports to allow passengers on flights to the US to clear US customs and immigration controls before they arrive in the US. The US Government seeks to negotiate such arrangements with the relevant UK airports, as any interested airport would need to adapt its operations accordingly. However the introduction of pre-clearance operations would also require approval by the UK Government. We continue to discuss pre-clearance with the US but no formal agreement has yet been reached.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his Department will take steps to expand the number of places in medicine courses in universities.

Ben Gummer

The Department of Health and Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) have periodically reviewed the total number and distribution of undergraduate medical students, basing targets for these students on information provided by the Centre for Workforce Intelligence and local workforce plans that estimate how many doctors we need to work in the National Health Service.

Since the establishment of Health Education England (HEE) in April 2013, responsibility for reviewing the target intake for medical students has sat with them.

HEE is currently reviewing the target intake for medical students and will submit recommendations to the Department in the spring. Any changes to medical student numbers will need to be agreed with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and HEFCE who also contribute to the funding of undergraduate medical education.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will take further steps to hold to account housing associations which do not provide adequate maintenance and repair services to their tenants.

Brandon Lewis

Registered providers are required to comply with the Home standard. This requires them to provide a cost-effective repairs and maintenance service which has the objective of completing repairs right first time. If the Social Housing Regulator finds that a registered provider has failed to comply with the standard and that there has been, or is a risk of, serious harm to tenants, it can issue a Regulatory Notice and could if appropriate take enforcement action against those providers.

A tenant with a complaint against their landlord should raise it with their landlord in the first instance. Should the complaint remain unresolved tenants can contact a Designated Person (a local housing authority councillor, MP or recognised tenant panel) who has a role in seeking to resolve disputes and complaints. They can also take the matter to the Housing Ombudsman.

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 the Garter King of Arms and the College of Arms have in the formulation of policy and practice on the rules and regulations governing the use, style and designation accorded to UK nationals and UK dual nationals of the Queen’s Commonwealth realms.

James Duddridge

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 Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the value of financial contributions to the EU in 2015 that were attributable to London and the South East of England.

Mr David Gauke

Contributions to the EU are paid directly from HM Government and thus are not attributable to any one part of the UK.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much the Government expects to accrue to the public purse from the planned annual charge on 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 visa’s to the UK.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what criteria Arts Council England uses to allocate funding to theatre companies; and how much such funding has been disbursed to theatre companies in each of the last three years.

Mr Edward Vaizey

Arts Council England (ACE) assesses all applications for funding against the specific criteria for each programme, as well as one or more of its 5 goals of excellence, opportunity, resilience, leadership and young people. ACE investment in theatre over the last 3 years is:
£136,024,252 in 2013/14; £148,745,455 in 2014/15; and £138,018,756 to date (23 Feb 2016) in 2015/16.