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Tag: Desmond Swayne

  • Desmond Swayne – 2023 Parliamentary Question on the Church of England’s Assets and their Historic Involvement with Slavery

    Desmond Swayne – 2023 Parliamentary Question on the Church of England’s Assets and their Historic Involvement with Slavery

    The parliamentary question asked by Desmond Swayne, the Conservative MP for New Forest West, in the House of Commons on 26 January 2023.

    Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)

    Whether the commissioners have made an estimate of the proportion of the Church’s assets that may have a link to a historic involvement with slavery.

    The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Andrew Selous)

    The Church Commissioners have not tried to draw a direct line from historical investments to current assets, given the myriad inflows and outflows over 300 years. Our forensic accountants estimate that investments linked to the slaving activities of the South Sea Company were equivalent to several hundred million pounds in today’s money. That is deeply shameful to acknowledge, and while no amount of money will ever be enough to repair the horrors of the past, the Church Commissioners have decided to invest £100 million over the next nine years in a better future for all, particularly in those communities affected by historical slavery.

    Sir Desmond Swayne

    Can my hon. Friend assure me that the not disproportionate £100 million will be spent to reduce the shocking persistence of slavery in the present?

    Andrew Selous

    The £100-million fund will enable impact investment grant funding and research in response to the findings in the Church Commissioners’ report. An oversight group will be established to help the Church Commissioners shape and deliver that response. Today the Church Commissioners, as award-winning ethical investors, punch well above their weight in combating modern slavery and human rights violations all around the world.

    Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)

    While we cannot and should never ignore the Church’s historical involvement with slavery, is it not better to focus on the missionary work that churches did over the years, with the spread of the Gospel and the best story ever told: that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners?

    Andrew Selous

    I do not think it is a question of either/or. When the chief executive of the Church Commissioners was on the “Today” programme recently explaining why we have done this, he was contacted later that day by a global majority heritage individual who had stayed away from the Church for 40 years and is now going to come back again. I say also to the hon. Gentleman that full churches do not tend to fall down.

  • Desmond Swayne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Desmond Swayne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Desmond Swayne on 2016-10-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will visit the New Forest to see the effect of wetland restorations.

    Dr Thérèse Coffey

    In May this year, my predecessor visited the New Forest, to see the benefits of wetland restoration; reversing the long term damage caused by artificial deepening and widening of the watercourses in the 19th and early 20th century. This restoration work is expected to help restore the Site of Special Scientific Interest to a favourable condition. It wouldn’t now be appropriate for me to revisit, during a time when the planning application is being assessed.

  • Desmond Swayne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Desmond Swayne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Desmond Swayne on 2016-10-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Forestry Commission is taking to reduce potential conflicts of interest arising from contracts to carry out wetland restoration projects; and if she will make a statement.

    Dr Thérèse Coffey

    Potential conflict of interest is addressed by the existence of a formal partnership agreement which sets out the basis on which the Verderers of the New Forest, the Forestry Commission and the New Forest National Park Authority will work together to implement the Verderers’ New Forest Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) Agreement. The partnership has appointed a project board to steer and oversee the implementation of the HLS agreement and the board’s terms of reference enable it to address any potential conflicts of interest.

  • Desmond Swayne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Desmond Swayne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Desmond Swayne on 2016-07-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to the public purse of the Latchmore Wetland Restoration Project in the New Forest.

    Dr Thérèse Coffey

    The planned Latchmore Wetland Restoration Project is being undertaken by the Forestry Commission as part of the New Forest Higher Level Stewardship Scheme. The Forestry Commission estimates that the cost of the project will be £1.5 million. The majority of this funding is being provided by the European Union under the Common Agricultural Policy.

  • Desmond Swayne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Desmond Swayne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Desmond Swayne on 2016-07-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish the habitats regulation assessment for the Latchmore Wetland Restoration Project in the New Forest.

    Dr Thérèse Coffey

    A habitat regulations assessment has not been undertaken. Where a project is carried out with the written consent of Natural England and is necessary to the management of the site, as in the case of the Latchmore Wetland Restoration Scheme, there is no requirement for an assessment under The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010.

    A voluntary Environmental Impact Assessment has been undertaken by the Forestry Commission as part of the planning application for the Latchmore Wetland Restoration and this is available on the planning authority web site, the New Forest National Park Authority.

  • Desmond Swayne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Desmond Swayne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Desmond Swayne on 2016-10-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the new high commissioner for St Lucia will be accredited to the Court of St James.

    Sir Alan Duncan

    The request is proceeding in line with normal procedures. We will respond to the St Lucia High Commission when the process is completed.

  • Desmond Swayne – 2022 Parliamentary Question on the Running Costs of the Government Estate

    Desmond Swayne – 2022 Parliamentary Question on the Running Costs of the Government Estate

    The parliamentary question asked by Sir Desmond Swayne, the Conservative MP for New Forest West, in the House of Commons on 8 December 2022.

    Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)

    What steps his Department is taking to reduce the running costs of the Government estate.

    The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Alex Burghart)

    Since 2010 the size of the central general purpose estate has been reduced by 30%, which has cut annual running costs by £1.6 billion. The “Government Property Strategy 2022-2030”, published in August, commits us to making further estate operating cost savings of £500 million by 2025 by relocating London roles, co-locating in multi-agency hubs, and selling surplus property.

    Sir Desmond Swayne

    The German Government have limited temperatures in public buildings to 19°C. Double that and add 30, and it is a balmy 68° in English money. We could put on an extra layer and do a lot better, couldn’t we?

    Alex Burghart

    I feel that my right hon. Friend could survive in sub-19°C temperatures without an extra layer, but, as he will know, the Health and Safety Executive issues advice on temperatures in workplaces. Regulations suggest that the minimum temperature for indoor working should be at least 16°C, or 13° where rigorous physical effort is required. We have the flexibility to take that action, should we wish to do so.

    Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)

    Could use be made of empty Government properties? Given that bitterly cold weather is hitting the UK with a vengeance this week, have the Minister and the Cabinet Office considered making properties in city centres available to provide warm and dry places for those who are struggling with homelessness?

    Alex Burghart

    As ever, the hon. Gentleman has raised an important issue, and if he has any specific buildings in mind, I shall be happy to meet him to discuss it.

  • Desmond Swayne – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Matt Hancock and the Conservative Whip

    Desmond Swayne – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Matt Hancock and the Conservative Whip

    The parliamentary question asked by Desmond Swayne, the Conservative MP for New Forest West, in the House of Commons on 1 December 2022.

    Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)

    What steps her Department is taking to support the film and television industry.

    The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Michelle Donelan)

    As set out in our broadcasting White Paper earlier this year and when I visited Pinewood and Shepperton studios last week, the Government are taking action to support British broadcasters and our world-leading film and television industries. That includes ensuring that public service content is easy to find on a wide range of TV platforms; delivering our £21 million UK global screen fund; and continuing to support our screen sector tax reliefs, which provide nearly £1 billion of support to more than 1,000 projects.

    Sir Desmond Swayne

    Given the sheer spunk of the contribution that my right hon. Friend the Member for West Suffolk (Matt Hancock) has made to television, it would be churlish not to restore the Whip, wouldn’t it?

    Michelle Donelan

    As my right hon. Friend knows, that is not a decision for me, but we can always depend on the right hon. Member for West Suffolk to attack a challenge with gusto, and I was not surprised at all to see him taking on all sorts of animal parts during the show. It has become a little bit of a thing for my predecessors to join that show, but I hope I can provide reassurance that I have no intention of ever doing so.

    Mr Speaker

    Never say never.

    Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West) (Lab)

    Of course, a very important part of our film and television industry is the music that goes with it and the composers who provide that music. At this juncture, it would be wrong of me to not recognise and send sympathy to the family of Christine McVie, one of Britain’s greatest ever songwriters, who sadly passed away yesterday. [Hon. Members: “Hear, hear.”]

    I was glad to hear what the Minister of State aid about AI earlier, because that will affect film and TV composers, as well as other people within the industry. Will she ensure that in undertaking the AI review, the Government listen very carefully to the views of songwriters and composers who work in the film and television industry during their consultation?

    Michelle Donelan

    I echo the hon. Member’s sympathies. Of course, we will listen to all relevant voices, and I am happy for the hon. Member to meet with either myself or the Minister of State, who is responsible for this.

  • Desmond Swayne – 2021 Speech on Covid-19 Restrictions

    Desmond Swayne – 2021 Speech on Covid-19 Restrictions

    The speech made by Sir Desmond Swayne, the Conservative MP for New Forest West, in the House of Commons on 14 December 2021.

    On a typical winter’s day, between 200 and 350 people will die of flu. Do we hide behind our masks? Do we lurk at home, working from home? Do we demand that people provide their bona fides before going to a venue? Do we require people to be vaccinated as a condition of keeping their jobs?

    The question whether the measures before the House today are proportionate comes down to a matter of opinion. Do we take seriously some of the extraordinary extrapolations that we have been given, particularly given the previous record? The fact is that those are things that might take place, and we have to balance them against the known costs and damage to enterprise, economy and society.

    In the end, it comes down to a matter of opinion—a matter of our prejudice. Typically, we are capable of organising our lives and making those decisions for ourselves. We decide what our risk appetite is and what we are or are not prepared to encounter. Notwithstanding the carnage on our roads, which is certainly killing more people than covid at the moment, some of us still decide to drive. It is a matter of opinion.

    It comes down to letting loose the dogs of war—getting the fear factor into it and getting the officials, the members of SAGE, Independent SAGE and SPI-M and all those who speak in their private capacity out there twisting the fear lever. What about the Health Protection Agency? What Stalinist minds thought up that nomenclature? Get them out there, twisting the fear button, and by and large you will get the reaction that you want: people will crave more enforcement and fiercer measures to protect them from the great danger that is out there. Let hospitality be just collateral damage—let the industry endure the deluge of cancellations at what should be its most productive time. That is the situation that we have delivered.

    The Government, having administered this Ministry of fear, are absolutely complicit with their officials and organisations who have designed and delivered it. In doing so, they have abandoned any principle of social democracy or liberal democracy, absolutely beyond anything that we have endured in recent living memory, in the history of this pandemic. As a consequence, having abandoned what might have been their ideology, they are rudderless and so much more at risk of the opinions and predictions of the advisers to whom they are in hock.

  • Desmond Swayne – 2020 Speech on the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill

    Desmond Swayne – 2020 Speech on the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill

    The speech made by Desmond Swayne, the Conservative MP for New Forest West, in the House of Commons on 14 September 2020.

    The Prime Minister has warned us that a threat has been made to interpret the agreement in such a way as to exclude the possibility of the people of Northern Ireland having access to goods from the rest of the United Kingdom—a threat that clearly shows that those who have made it have abandoned any notion of their binding obligation to negotiate in good faith and make best endeavours to secure an agreement. The Government would be utterly negligent if they were not to take precautions to prevent that from arising; it would be outrageous.

    The Chairman of the Justice Committee, my hon. Friend the Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Sir Robert Neill), has said that the powers that the Government envisage arming themselves with should be used in only the most extreme circumstances. I put it to you, Madam Deputy ​Speaker, that breaking up the economic integrity of the United Kingdom is just such a circumstance. This Bill is a precaution. It is a deterrent. The best way to prevent ourselves from being in the position of needing these powers is to arm ourselves with them.

    There is a principle in international law, which is that no country can be bound by an obligation that it made when that obligation is interpreted in such a way as to undermine the very integrity of that country. That is a principle of international law, and there is only one court that can arbitrate in those circumstances. That is the court of international opinion, and the world can see exactly what is going on. The world has had its own dealings with the European Union and its negotiations. It has seen its infractions of the World Trade Organisation. It has seen what it has done over the European convention on human rights, and it knows what is going on.

    There are those who have said that there is somehow a comparison to be made between the powers that we envisage in this Bill and what China is doing in Hong Kong. That is such a grotesque comparison as to undermine any argument that they might have.