Tag: Andrew Rosindell

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for the Israeli/Palestine peace process of Mahmoud Abbas’s speech at the United Nations on 30 September 2015.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

President Abbas’ speech at the 2015 UN General Assembly underlines the urgent need for progress towards a two state solution. We urge Israel and the Palestinian Authority to work together to meet their obligations under the Oslo Accords. We also encourage Israel and the Palestinian Authority to continue with their existing security cooperation. I was encouraged to hear that President Abbas reiterated his commitment to this cooperation when he spoke, on 9 October, to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymead and Weybridge (Mr Hammond).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-26.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that employers use the correct pension classification code and pay their due amount as contributions.

Mr David Gauke

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publishes detailed guidance for employers on the GOV.UK website about National Insurance Contributions category letters.

https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-rates-letters

All employers with an occupational pension scheme receive a reference number (Employer Contracted-Out Number) from HMRC. This allows the employer to use specific category letters which indicate that they are paying contracted-out contributions when they make their Real Time Information returns to HMRC. There are also automated checks in place to identify if an incorrect category letters has been used and these are then followed-up with the employer.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership on food prices in the UK.

Anna Soubry

An independent assessment of the potential economic impact of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) on the UK was carried out for the Government by the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR). This assessment demonstrated that TTIP offers an enormous economic benefit: in growth, exports, high quality jobs and reduced prices, worth up to £10 billion a year to the UK economy.

The CEPR study did not look at food prices specifically but it projects that output in our agricultural sector will be largely unaffected by TTIP.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to support refugee camps near the Syrian border in order to tackle the root causes of migration to Europe.

Justine Greening

DFID works to give Syrians hope and opportunities, so they will not have to risk their lives fleeing the region. The UK has been at the forefront of the response to the crisis in Syria and the region. To date, we have pledged over £1.1 billion, our largest ever response to a humanitarian crisis. Beyond addressing immediate needs, the UK is working with host countries to support their long-term resilience and expand opportunities for refugees, for example through funding to Lebanese and Jordanian municipalities for the running of essential public services.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to promote commemoration of the 600th anniversary of the battle of Agincourt; and what plans his Department has to ensure that similar anniversaries are appropriately commemorated in the future.

Tracey Crouch

In the March 2015 budget, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that £1millionmwould be allocated for the commemoration of the 600th anniversary of the battle of Agincourt.The fund is administered by the Agincourt 600 charity,providing grants for events and Agincourt related educational projects. DCMS officials have been working closely with Agincourt 600 in the run up to this important anniversary.

TheGovernment and the Heritage Lottery Fundmade the decision towilldeliver a £10million mcontestable fund to ensure that similarhistoricanniversaries are appropriately commemorated.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the recent announcement by President Putin of a Russia-led Central Asia taskforce, what assessment he has made of the security implications for (a) NATO and (b) the conflict against the Taliban.

Michael Fallon

We are aware of this statement. The Russians have not released any details of such a task force.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding has been made available to each local authority in London and Essex to resettle refugees in each of the next three years.

Richard Harrington

On 2 October local authorities received a letter to confirm that the first 12 months of a refugee’s resettlement costs (under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme) are fully funded by central government using the overseas aid budget. To ensure that local authorities can plan ahead and continue to respond to the overwhelmingly generous response of the British people, the Government will also provide additional funding to assist with costs incurred in future years. These arrangements will be applied to all cases since the 20,000 expansion was announced.

We do not currently operate any of our other resettlement schemes in London and Essex.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps her Department plans to take to safeguard new nuclear energy facilities constructed in the UK with Chinese involvement from future Chinese cyber attacks; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom

In the UK nuclear security is overseen by the independent Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR). The Nuclear Industries Security Regulations 2003 (as amended) require those holding Sensitive Nuclear Information to have in place robust security measures approved by ONR in order to protect this information. The ONR conducts inspections to ensure compliance with security requirements and has powers of enforcement in the event of a breach.

As part of the National Cyber Security Programme (NCSP) DECC has funded: 1) enhanced cyber security training; 2) a rigorous cyber incident response exercising programme; 3) forums and briefings for senior industry personnel to raise awareness of cyber threats; and, 4) work to ensure new nuclear power plants will be cyber secure by design. This work is undertaken in collaboration with industry and the ONR to ensure that there is a process of continuous improvement for cyber security in the civil nuclear sector.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of any potential effects of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership on food standards in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) could be worth £10 billion to the UK and is about encouraging exports and economic growth. It is not about lowering standards. All food entering the European Union (EU) from the United States of America must adhere to the EU’s import rules and TTIP will not change that. Any changes to food safety standards in the EU must be subject to a robust scientific risk assessment and agreed by Member States.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of legal costs to his Department in defending service personnel in relation to actions carried out in the course of duty; what estimate he has made of the proportion of such costs which relate to cases where the accused service personnel are acquitted; and if he will make a statement.

Penny Mordaunt

The total legal costs borne by the Ministry of Defence relating to actions carried out by Service personnel while on duty are over £100 million. The costs of providing the defence for Service personnel facing specifically Courts Martial or a Service Civilian Court, amounted to approximately £750,000 in financial year 2014-15. The costs of providing the defence for current and former Service personnel facing criminal investigations relating to operations in Northern Ireland during the "Troubles" period, has amounted to approximately £142,000 since 7 February 2014. The expenditure on behalf of defendants in Courts Martial or Service Civilian courts related to 394 individuals, of whom 95 were acquitted. The relevant criminal proceedings in Northern Ireland are ongoing.

The vast majority of Defence litigation expenditure relates to civil cases. As an example, £31 million was spent on the Al-Sweady Public Inquiry which concluded that all of the serious allegations that were raised, were wholly without foundation.