Tag: Christopher Chope

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christopher Chope on 2016-02-11.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the implications are for the Government’s policy on balanced budgets of the decision of the Scottish Government not to enhance the powers of the Scottish Fiscal Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Hands

The Treasury is continuing to discuss all elements of the fiscal framework with the Scottish Government, including the Scottish Affairs Committee’s recommendation that economic forecasting for the Scottish government should be done by a body independent of government.

The UK government remains optimistic that a deal can be reached that is fair for taxpayers across the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christopher Chope on 2016-03-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what automatic access (a) the UK would have to the markets of other WTO members and (b) other WTO members would have to the markets of the UK if the UK leaves the EU.

Anna Soubry

The paper published on 2^nd March entitled “Alternatives to membership: possible models for the United Kingdom outside the European Union” makes clear that if the UK were to leave the EU, then unless we were able to negotiate a preferential trade deal under WTO rules neither the UK nor the EU could offer each other better market access than that offered to all other WTO members. Furthermore, our privileged access to 53 markets outside the EU through the EU’s Free Trade Agreements would be terminated. We could seek to negotiate new agreements, but this would take many years. It would be difficult to replicate the terms that we currently enjoy.

A WTO-only arrangement would create a particularly difficult dilemma for the UK over trade tariffs. We could extend the tariffs that the EU currently applies to all WTO members to UK imports from the EU, but this would make those imports more expensive. Conversely, lowering UK tariffs would make imports cheaper, but there is no guarantee that this would be reciprocated. In addition, our guaranteed access to global services markets, including within the EU, would revert to the basic level of access that WTO members offer through the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christopher Chope on 2016-03-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 21 March 2016 to Question 30132, on repatriation: EEA Nationals, how many of those people who were served with administrative removal papers in 2014 are still in the UK; and how many of those people who were forcibly removed have since returned to the UK.

James Brokenshire

The Home Office does not hold data on the number of people who are still in the UK having been served administrative removal papers in 2014. After an EEA national has been served with administrative removal papers, they have 30 days to leave the country. This period is set out in the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006.

All those served with administrative removal papers are given a 12-month re-entry ban. Currently, this re-entry ban can only be lifted if the EEA national can provide evidence that their re-admission will not lead to a further abuse of free movement rights and/or that they will be immediately exercising Treaty Rights upon their return. Of the 1,019 individuals who were forcibly removed in 2014, 163 sought re-entry and only 19 were granted re-admission to the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christopher Chope on 2016-06-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what public consultation the Forestry Commission has carried out on the future ownership and use of the Cannon Hill plantation in Ferndown, Dorset.

Rory Stewart

We are committed to keeping the public forest estate in England in trust for the nation and for it to continue to be sustainably managed. The Forestry Commission has not carried out any public consultation on the ownership of Cannon Hill plantation. The Forest Design Plan approved in 2009, which sets out how the area is to be managed, would have been the subject of a public consultation during the preparation and approval process.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christopher Chope on 2016-09-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which local authorities in England have held referendums seeking increases in council tax beyond the maximum threshold in each of the last three years.

Mr Marcus Jones

Over the last three years, one local authority held a referendum to increase council tax beyond the threshold. A referendum was held on Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposal to increase council tax.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christopher Chope on 2016-10-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State plans to respond to the letter of 22 September 2016 from the hon. Member for Christchurch seeking further information to the Answer of 8 September 2016 to Question 45756.

Mr Marcus Jones

I replied to my hon Friend on 17 October 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christopher Chope on 2015-10-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make finances available from her Department’s budget to fund payments owed by the Zimbabwean government for former employees of the Southern Rhodesian government until such time as the Zimbabwean government is able to meet its legal commitment to those employees.

Grant Shapps

The government sympathise with the plight of those former public servants who are entitled to a Zimbabwe government pension. For years there have been problems with late payment or non-payment of pensions, and the benefits have been severely eroded. Officials from the FCO, and the British Embassy in Harare last raised Pensions with the Zimbabwean government in September.

As acknowledged by the OSPA, the responsibility for payment of these pensions rests squarely with the Zimbabwean government. The UK does not have any legal obligation or responsibility for the pensions of Zimbabwe former public service workers. This is because since 1923, the former Southern Rhodesia’s civil and public servants have been appointed on local terms.

Zimbabwe public service pensioners do not qualify for the payment of overseas pensions.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christopher Chope on 2015-11-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that a sufficient supply of large goods vehicles drivers is available for the road haulage industry.

Andrew Jones

The Department is working with its motoring services agencies to reduce times and delays in obtaining a driving test appointment and medical licence renewals.

In order to reduce waiting times for LGV driving tests the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is currently recruiting examiners and is focusing its efforts particularly in areas where waiting times are higher. To date, DVSA has recruited 78 new driving examiners during 2015/16 with a further 65 either attending or are booked on to new entrant courses. DVSA has also offered posts to a further 41 potential examiners.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) are now dealing with vocational applications with no declared medical condition within 5 working days. DVLA has also made some changes to improve the processing of applications where a driver has declared a medical condition. However processing these applications relies on the timeliness of third parties including medical professionals and drivers.

The latest estimates from the Labour Force Survey show that the number of HGV drivers employed across all sectors such as manufacturing and retail has continued to grow since the 259,000 low in 2013 to 299,000 drivers in 2015.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christopher Chope on 2016-01-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many new statutory regulations on business have been introduced since May 2015; and how many regulations on businesses have been repealed in that time.

Anna Soubry

Under the provisions of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015, the Government will list the measures it has made since May 2015 affecting business in its annual report to Parliament on delivering the Business Impact Target. The first report will be published in summer 2016. However, details of legislation made by all Government departments, their associated impacts; and regulations that have been repealed can be found on the Legislation.Gov website.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christopher Chope on 2016-02-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research her Department has undertaken on the best available means of countering coastal flooding and beach erosion at Avon Beach, Christchurch.

Rory Stewart

The Poole and Christchurch Bays Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) assessed options for managing the Avon beach and has set a policy of ‘holding the line’. This means its defences will be maintained and upgraded or replaced in their current position where funding permits. The SMP is available on line at:

www.twobays.net/index.htm.