Tag: Deidre Brock

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Deidre Brock on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to remove or reduce the fee incurred when paying vehicle excise duty via credit card.

Andrew Jones

The fee charged when paying vehicle excise duty (VED) by credit card is to meet the costs of processing credit card payments. The fee is provided for in the Road Vehicles (Payment of Duty by Credit Card) (Prescribed Fee) Regulations 2005. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) must comply with HM Treasury’s “Managing Public Money” guidance and recover costs from those who use its services.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) regularly reviews all the fees and charges it makes for the services it provides, including the fee incurred when paying vehicle excise duty (VED) using a credit card. Paying VED using a debit card is free of charge. Customers can also pay for VED by cash, cheque or debit card at a Post Office® and direct debit is now offered as an additional way for people to pay their VED.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Deidre Brock on 2016-05-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to safeguard the existing rights under EU treaties of non-UK EU citizens living in the UK in the event of a vote to leave the EU.

James Brokenshire

Article 50 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union deals with the process of exiting the EU.

More detail is set out in the Government’s White Paper: ‘The process for withdrawing from the European Union’, published on 29 February. The White Paper is available on the GOV.UK website, using the following link: www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-process-for-withdrawing-from-the-european-union

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Deidre Brock on 2016-06-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to review the role of the Ministry of Defence Police in safeguarding the Trident nuclear deterrent.

Mark Lancaster

As part of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, we are reviewing a series of options that may change the way we provide our policing and guarding at some sites. Further work is required to assess the feasibility and implementation of these options and, at the appropriate time, we will initiate formal consultation with the Ministry of Defence Police staff associations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Deidre Brock on 2016-07-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to devolve to Scotland the areas of law and policy on the environment formerly dealt with by the EU after the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.

George Eustice

Until we leave the EU, current arrangements for farming, fisheries, food and drink, rural affairs and our environment remain in place. Defra will continue to ensure the right policies are in place for a cleaner, healthier environment for everyone.

We are now preparing to negotiate our exit. Defra officials will be working with the new Department for Exiting the European Union to look at future support for the environment. The Government will work very closely with the Devolved Administrations, Parliament, and a wide range of other interested parties on this approach.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Deidre Brock on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his policy is on the European Communities (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2007 remaining in effect in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.

Jesse Norman

The Department is working with industry organisations and interests across Government. This input will inform the Government’s approach as we shape our future relationship with Europe.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Deidre Brock on 2016-10-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what provision is in place to support employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants after a successful ESA appeal during the interim period before the reinstatement of that benefit and payment of arrears.

Penny Mordaunt

If an employment and support allowance claimant appeals following mandatory reconsideration, benefit can be paid at the assessment phase rate pending the appeal hearing. Following a successful appeal the payment will be backdated to cover the period of mandatory reconsideration, provided medical evidence is supplied.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Deidre Brock on 2016-06-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were prevented from travelling to the UK by the authority to carry scheme in each month of its operation.

James Brokenshire

The Authority to Carry Scheme 2015, made under sections 22 and 23 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, entered into force on 31 March 2015. Our records indicate that for each full month of its operation to date the number of individuals in respect of whom a carrier was refused authority to carry to the UK has been as follows:

Month/Year	Number of individuals in respect of whom a carrier was refused authority to carry to the UK
April/15	67
May/15	56
June/15	77
July/15	77
August/15	80
September/15	90
October/15	106
November/15	92
December/15	89
January/16	69
February/16	61
March/16	79
April/16	82
May/16	107
	Total: 1,132

This is provisional management information that is subject to change. It has not been assured to the standard of Official Statistics.

Individuals liable to be subject of a refusal of authority to carry include those who have been excluded from the UK, who have been deported from the UK and those who are using an invalid travel document such as a lost, stolen or cancelled passport.

The details of the Scheme are published at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/authority-to-carry-scheme-2015

The operation of the Scheme is just one part of the Government’s multi-layered approach to border security.

This includes the Home Secretary’s power to excluded individuals whose presence in the UK she considers is not conducive to the public good or is justified on public security grounds; a visa regime where applicants are subject to checks before a visa is issued and applications may be refused; guidance to airlines to help them decide who is incorrectly documented and should not travel to the UK and checks on all passengers arriving at the border on scheduled services which can result in refusal of entry to the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Deidre Brock on 2016-07-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is her Department’s policy that women detained at Yarl’s Wood are handcuffed when attending hospital.

James Brokenshire

Home Office policy remains that there should be a presumption against using handcuffs to escort detainees for medical visits. The decision to use handcuffs is made on the basis of an individual risk assessment, and we monitor the use of restraint by custody officers closely to ensure that the use of restraint is reasonable, necessary and proportionate.

Management information shows that from May 2015 to May 2016 there have been 31 incidents when a woman has been handcuffed when attending hospital from Yarl’s Wood immigration removal centre.

Month	Incidents of handcuff use
May 2015	0
June 2015	0
July 2015	0
August 2015	0
September 2015	1
October 2015	6
November 2015	6
December 2015	4
January 2016	5
February 2016	5
March 2016	1
April 2016	3
May 2016	0

This is provisional management information that is subject to change. It has not been assured to the standard of Official Statistics:

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Deidre Brock on 2016-07-20.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is his policy that existing money laundering regulations made under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 should remain in force in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.

Simon Kirby

Tackling money laundering and terrorist financing is a priority for the Government. The UK is a leading member of the international standard setter for anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing, the Financial Action Task Force, and supports full compliance with the standards which we implement domestically. The UK will continue to cooperate closely with our international partners to improve the effectiveness of the standards, and to ensure the global anti-money regime is robust and responsive to emerging threats.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Deidre Brock on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his policy is on devolving power to the Scottish Government to seek on behalf of Scottish institutions continued participation in the European Research Council after the UK leaves the EU.

Joseph Johnson

The nature of the relationship between UK institutions and the European Research Council will be a matter for future discussions. The Government is determined to ensure that the UK continues to play a leading role in European and international research and innovation and is committed to working with the Scottish Government and the other devolved administrations to achieve this aim.