The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-04-18.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information he holds on what discussions have taken place between HM Revenue and Customs and former Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair or his advisers about (a) Mr Blair’s tax affairs and (b) charges brought in under the Finance Act 2006 as they relate to those tax affairs.
Mr David Gauke
HM Revenue and Customs does not divulge details about an individual’s tax affairs.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-05-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Ethiopian government on the killing of protestors in the Oromia region since December 2015.
James Duddridge
The UK Government remains deeply concerned about the handling of demonstrations in Oromia and the reported deaths of a number of protestors, and has repeatedly made representations to the Ethiopian Government over the ongoing situation in Oromia. Justine Greening, the Secretary of State for International Development, raised our concerns with Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on 21 January, as did I, with the Ethiopian Foreign Minister, Dr Tedros, at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa on 27 January. Our Ambassador did the same in a meeting with Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on 26 April.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has been appointed to look into the handling of the protests in Oromia, and we await the publication of its report. We will continue to urge the EHRC and the Government of Ethiopia to ensure that their report is credible, transparent and leads to concrete action.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-06-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in how many applications to appeal a decision on (a) an asylum application and (b) an application for refugee family union in the First Tier Tribunal Asylum and Immigration Chamber the applicant paid a fee in the latest period for which figures are available.
Mr Shailesh Vara
There were 2,890 applications to appeal an asylum decision where a fee was paid by the applicant in the calendar year 2015.
The number of applications to appeal a refugee family union decision is not collected by HM Courts and Tribunals Service.
Notes to figures:
1. The figure includes asylum, protection and revocation of protection appeals because they come under the umbrella term of ‘asylum’.
2. Figures provided are taken from internal management information and not subject to the same quality checks as Official Statistics.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-06-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 23 May 2016 to Question 39080, if she will make it her policy to lay the Committee on Climate Change report on the compatibility of UK onshore petroleum with meeting UK carbon budgets and the Government’s response before Parliament prior to any decision is taken to reverse (a) the planning decision against fracking made by Lancashire County Council and (b) any other planning decisions that are made by local authorities concerning the extraction of shale gas.
Andrea Leadsom
Further to the Answer to Question 39080, we are continuing to consider the report and will lay it before Parliament with our response in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to the concluding observations and recommendations of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on the UK’s sixth periodic report in relation to welfare support for asylum-seekers; and if she will make a statement.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The report recommends that the cash allowance provided to destitute asylum seekers, currently set at £36.95 per week, is raised. The level of the allowance is reviewed regularly to ensure that it is sufficient to cover essential living needs of individual asylum seekers and we will announce the result of this year’s review later this year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 2 March 2016 to Question 28220, which areas have locally determined arrangements for issuing iodine tablets in the event of a radiation emergency involving an operational nuclear reactor; to which nuclear reactors those arrangements are linked in (a) the UK, (b) other countries and (c) areas that have a pre-disposition to households in the detailed planning area; what other arrangements his Department has in place for issuing iodine tablets in areas that do not have pre-distribution to households; and if he will make a statement.
Mike Penning
Locally determined arrangements for issuing stable iodine tablets in the event of a radiation emergency involving the operating reactor of a nuclear powered warship/submarine are in place at: HMNB Clyde, HMNB Devonport, HMNB Portsmouth, Port of Southampton, BAE Systems at Barrow-in-Furness, Portland Port, Loch Goil and Loch Ewe.
Arrangements for responding to radiation emergencies involving operational nuclear reactors in other countries are a matter for the country concerned.
Some pre-distribution of stable iodine tablets to households in the off-site emergency planning zone takes place at Loch Ewe, Portland Port and BAE Systems Barrow-in-Furness
The arrangements for issuing stable iodine tablets in areas that do not have pre-distribution to households are determined by the relevant Local Authority having responsibility for the off-site plan. At some locations the department supports the arrangements through the provision of local Ministry of Defence personnel to assist in the distribution of stable iodine tablets.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to consult stakeholders in the development of proposals for a post-Common Agricultural Policy system of farm support.
George Eustice
Following the decision to leave the European Union, we now have an unprecedented opportunity to redesign our policies to ensure that our agricultural industry is competitive, productive and profitable and that our environment is improved for future generations. We look forward to hearing from the industry, NGOs and the public on what is needed to drive agriculture and the environment forward to help us develop new policies.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-10-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which stations on the Govia Thameslink Railway Southern routes operate unstaffed some or all of the time; and if he will make a statement.
Paul Maynard
Within the GTR network, there are 156 stations on the Southern route. Of these:
UNSTAFFED
Aldrington, Amberley, Ashurst, Appledore, Belmont, Birkbeck, Bishopstone, Banstead,
Box Hill & Westhumble, Collington, Cooksbridge, Cowden, Doleham, East Worthing, Edenbridge, Epsom Downs, Faygate, Fishbourne, Fishersgate, Glynde, Godstone, Hever, Holmwood, Leigh, Newhaven Harbour, Normans Bay, Nutbourne, Nutfield, Ockley, Ore, Penhurst, Pevensey Bay, Southease, Three Oaks, Warnham, Winchelsea.
Total – 35 stations
PARTLY STAFFED – STAFFED FOR SOME PART OF THE DAY
Arundel, Balcombe, Berwick, Billingshurst, Bosham, Burgess Hill, Buxted, Chipstead, Christ’s Hospital, Cooden Beach, Crowborough, Dormans, Durrington-On-Sea, Earlswood,
Edenbridge Town, Emsworth, Eridge, Ewell East, Ford, Goring-By-Sea, Ham Street, Hampden Park,
Hassocks, Hurst Green, Ifield, Kingswood, Lingfield, Littlehaven, London Road, Moulescoomb,
Newhaven Town, Pevensey & Westham, Plumpton, Preston Park, Pulborough, Purley Oaks, Rye, Salfords, Seaford, Southbourne, Southwick, Tadworth, Tattenham Corner, Uckfield, Upper Warlingham, Warblington, West Worthing, Whyteleafe, Whyteleafe South, Wivelsfield, Woldingham, Woodmansterne.
Total – 53 stations
FULLY STAFFED – STAFFED FROM THE FIRST TO LAST TRAIN
Angmering, Ashstead, Balham, Barnham, Battersea Park, Bexhill, Bognor Regis, Brighton, Carshalton, Carshalton Beeches, Caterham, Cheam, Chichester, Coulsdon South, Coulsdon Town, Crawley, Dorking, East Croydon, East Dulwich, East Grinstead, Eastbourne, Epsom, Falmer, Gatwick Airport, Gipsy Hill, Hackbridge, Haywards Heath, Horley, Horsham, Hove, Kenley, Lancing, Leatherhead, Lewes, Littlehampton, Merstham, Mitcham Eastfields, Mitcham Junction, Norbury, North Dulwich, Oxted, Peckham Rye, Polegate, Portslade, Purley, Queens Road Peckham, Redhill, Reigate, Reedham, Riddlesdown, Sanderstead, Selhurst, Shoreham-By-Sea, South Bermondsey, South Croydon, Streatham, Streatham Common, Streatham Hill, Sutton, Thornton Heath, Three Bridges, Tulse Hill, Waddon, Wallington, Wandsworth Common, West Norwood, Worthing.
Total – 68 Stations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-11-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to press for the ending of the use of EU Common Agricultural Policy payments to support Spanish bullfighting.
George Eustice
Bulls kept for bullfighting are no longer eligible for direct Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments under the Beef Special Premium Scheme.
The Government takes animal welfare very seriously and is working with the European Commission and other Member States to raise standards within the EU and internationally, and to address concerns surrounding the treatment of animals in particular countries, including in bullfighting; and will continue to look to reduce any incentives to such activities.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-11-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish the cost benefit analysis of the year 1 and 2 badger cull pilots; for what reasons the roll-out to Dorset of the badger culls went ahead prior to the publication of that cost benefit analysis; and if she will make a statement.
George Eustice
The expected benefits of the policy remain in line with those in the ‘Measures to address bovine tuberculosis in badgers’ impact assessment published in 2011.