Tag: Caroline Lucas

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2015 to Question 11184, on China: nuclear power, what guarantees are in place to ensure that details of the operation of nuclear power stations that represent a potential threat in the hands of a foreign power do not reach the Chinese government; what access the Chinese government will have to the details of (a) operational information and (b) security regulations relating to those UK nuclear power stations with Chinese (i) investment and (ii) involvement in construction; whether input will be sought from Chinese (A) investors and (B) government officials for reviews of the regulatory framework for security in the civil nuclear industry; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom

The Nuclear Industries Security Regulations 2003 (as amended) require those holding Sensitive Nuclear Information to have in place robust security measures approved by the Office for Nuclear Regulation in order to protect this information. The Nuclear Industries Security Regulations are in the public domain.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation conducts inspections to ensure compliance with security requirements and has powers of enforcement in the event of a breach.

All employees and contractors in the civil nuclear industry are subject to robust personnel security and vetting arrangements in line with policies set out by Government in the annual Security Policy Framework.

The Department keeps the regulatory framework for civil nuclear security under review. It may from time to time consult on possible changes to the regulatory framework. It maintains a dialogue with investors on issues relating to nuclear new build, but has no plans at present to consult investors in new nuclear build specifically on any changes to the regulatory framework.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-10-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2015 to Question 9704, whether current funding levels for (a) torture prevention and (b) death penalty projects will be maintained in 2015-16 under his Department’s Human Rights and Democracy Programme.

Mr David Lidington

In 2015/16, the Human Rights and Democracy Programme has allocated £700,000 on torture prevention projects and just under £600,000 for projects promoting the abolition of the death penalty. These sums were not not decided in advance. Project proposals were considered on a case-by-case basis by the Programme Team and evaluated against criteria including: value for money, project design, evidence of need, viability, sustainability, and risk and stakeholder management. These funding levels for torture prevention and death penalty projects will remain unchanged for the remainder of 2015/16. The budget for all Foreign and Commonwealth Office programmes for 2016/17 and beyond is currently under consideration as part of the Government’s Spending Review, which will conclude in November 2015.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2015 to Question 11184, on China: nuclear power, if she will publish details of the arrangements for managing the relationship between Chinese National Nuclear Corporation, the Office for Nuclear Regulation and the UK security services.

Andrea Leadsom

Security in the civil nuclear sector is a top priority for the Government.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation is an independent regulator which regulates security in the civil nuclear industry including in relation to new nuclear build in the UK.

The security services and other Government bodies have a role in protecting key infrastructure, including the civil nuclear sector. There is a longstanding convention of successive Governments not commenting in detail on security and intelligence matters.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-10-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Prime Minister’s oral statement of 7 September 2015, Official Report, column 30, on counter-terrorism, whether the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s legal adviser was consulted on the legal basis for the military action against Reyaad Khan in Syria.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

Successive Governments have upheld the principle of legal professional privilege, which means they do not disclose whether legal advice has been sought, or the content of any such advice that may have been obtained. I would also refer you to the Attorney General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Kenilworth and Southam’s (Jeremy Wright) answer of 12 October (PQ 10450).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-10-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer to Question 3393 of 30 June 2015, when the UKTI Defence and Security Organisation priority markets list for 2015-16 will be published.

Anna Soubry

UKTI Defence and Security Organisation expects to publish the next list of priority markets before the end of the financial year. Until then, the current list remains extant.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-10-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 June 2015 to Question 4073, on what date the planned visit of President Sisi of Egypt to the UK will take place; and whether he plans to discuss the supply of military, security and police equipment with President Sisi during his visit.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) has invited President Sisi to the UK and the visit will take before the end of this year. Discussions will take place with President Sisi on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including trade and security.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-10-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with her counterpart in Malta on the chairing of the environment sessions when Malta takes up European Presidency in 2017.

Rory Stewart

There have not, as yet, been any discussions at ministerial level with Malta on the chairing of environment sessions during the Maltese Presidency of the European Union in 2017.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-10-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will amend the terms of reference of the Pitchford inquiry into undercover policing to include operations by UK undercover officers that took place outside of the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Mike Penning

The terms of reference for the Statutory Inquiry into Undercover Policing, which were published on 16 July 2015, require the Inquiry to “inquire into and report on undercover police operations conducted by English and Welsh police forces in England and Wales since 1968”. There are no plans to amend the terms of reference.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-10-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information she holds on surveillance of hon. Members’ communications; and if she will make a statement.

Mr John Hayes

The Government’s position on the Wilson Doctrine was set out by the Prime Minister in a written ministerial statement made on 4 November 2015.

As the Prime Minister made clear, the Wilson Doctrine has never been an absolute bar to the targeted interception of the communications of Members of Parliament or an exemption from the legal regime governing interception. The Doctrine recognised that there could be instances where interception might be necessary.

The Prime Minister announced that as matter of policy the PM will be consulted should there ever be a proposal to target any UK Parliamentarian’s communications under a warrant issued by a Secretary of State. This applies to Members of Parliament, members of the House of Lords, the Scottish Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Welsh Assembly and UK members of the European Parliament. It applies to all activity authorised by a warrant issued by a Secretary of State: any instance of targeted interception and, electronic surveillance and equipment interference, when undertaken by the Security and Intelligence Agencies. This is in addition to the rigorous safeguards already in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) and the Code of Practice issued under it which set out a series of robust safeguards for any instance of interception.

It is long standing policy of successive Governments neither to confirm nor deny any specific activity by the Security and Intelligence Agencies. Under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 it is an offence for anyone to identify an individual interception warrant or an individual interception that takes place.