Tag: Andrew Rosindell

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the attack on UK military vehicles in Kabul on 11 October 2015.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

The attack on a NATO convoy on 11 October is a reminder of the threat under which our troops in Afghanistan continue to work, in partnership with the Afghan Government and others in the international community, to build and sustain a peaceful and democratic Afghanistan. We always seek to draw on knowledge and experience acquired as a result of such incidents. Our commitment as part of the NATO mission and in honour of those who have given so much in this endeavour is unwavering.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress she has made in resolving the political situation in Northern Ireland.

Mr Ben Wallace

It is essential that the cross-party talks deliver a way to implement the Stormont House Agreement and also a means to address the continuing impact of paramilitary organisations.

The Northern Ireland parties are engaging intensively on these issues but time is short and a resolution is needed urgently.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received from his Russian counterpart on the deployment of UK troops to the Baltic states.

Michael Fallon

None.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Japanese counterparts on security reforms in that country.

Mr Hugo Swire

We welcome Japan’s recent security reforms, which will allow Japan to play a greater role in international peace and security. During his visit in August, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), discussed with the Japanese Foreign Minister the opportunities these reforms will create for even closer bilateral cooperation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that automotive manufacturers have not falsified emissions data in the same manner as Volkswagen has done.

Andrew Jones

In the UK, the Vehicle Certification Agency conducts tests on vehicles and components to ensure they meet the minimum standards required by European and UN-ECE legislation.

Emissions tests are carried out to determine that the level of pollutants emitted from a vehicle is below the required limits. The test is a laboratory based test under controlled conditions in order to achieve repeatable results.

The Department for Transport recognises the current test cycle for emissions is outdated and no longer represents normal driving patterns. Discussions have taken place over recent years to replace this with an updated more relevant laboratory test. The Department anticipates this will be implemented from 2017. In addition, a new real world driving emissions test is being implemented to ensure emissions in normal driving comply with the legal obligation. These new tests will remove the ability of car manufacturers to falsify test results.

All new vehicles are tested in accordance with EU law to ensure that they meet the legislated requirements for emissions. There is no evidence that these emissions tests have been falsified in the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what future plans his Department has to co-ordinate with the armed forces of the Russian Federation in tackling ISIS.

Michael Fallon

The UK is part of the Global Coalition against ISIL. Russia is not. We attach great importance to the US and Russian discussions on safe separation and air safety, and call on Russia to do all it can to minimise the risk to Coalition aircraft fighting ISIL.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policy of recent military defeats by Afghan forces; and what discussions he has had with his Afghan counterparts on the insurgency at Kunduz.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We enjoy a close security dialogue with the National Unity Government in Kabul. The Commander Joint Forces Command, the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff and the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Mr Fallon) have all visited Afghanistan recently to discuss the security situation with Afghan counterparts. When the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) assumed full responsibility for national security at the end of 2014, we and they understood that there would inevitably be testing times ahead. The ANDSF have responded well. The Taliban attack on the city of Kunduz was a setback for ANDSF, but government forces have regained control of the city. NATO will be working with the Afghan Government to identify lessons from this incident and the fighting season more broadly. NATO and the UK remain committed partners of the Afghan Government. The Taliban should accept President Ghani’s invitation now to end the fighting and join the peace process.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to prevent a similar incident to the airstrikes in Afghanistan which killed Medecins Sans Frontieres doctors occurring in future.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

It is essential that there is a rigorous process to determine the circumstances surrounding the airstrike on the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) trauma centre in Kunduz in order to prevent something like this occurring again. We await the conclusions of the investigations currently being undertaken by NATO and by the governments of the United States and Afghanistan, and any lessons that these offer.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the potential for future UK airstrikes in Syria.

Michael Fallon

I have not held discussions with my Russian counterpart.

I have regular conversations with my US counterpart on a range of subjects, including the campaign against ISIL, and most recently met him on 9 October 2015. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has said, there is a strong case to do more against ISIL in Syria, but the UK will not join Coalition air strikes against ISIL in Syria without the endorsement of Parliament.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the recent conflict at Temple Mount.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We have made representations to the Government of Israel stating that it is vital that the longstanding status quo in respect of access to Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif, and other historic sites, be preserved. In recent weeks, Her Majesty’s Ambassador in Tel Aviv raised this with senior Israeli officials and the Israeli President. Our National Security Adviser also raised this with his Israeli counterpart. Most recently, on 12 October, the Charge d’Affaires at our Embassy in Israel raised this issue with Israel’s Deputy Defence Minister, requesting that restrictions on visitors be lifted.