Tag: Diana Johnson

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-09-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many trade negotiators his Department plans to employ by the end of the current fiscal year.

Mr Robin Walker

Britain has been at the forefront of the free trade-supporting countries in the EU for the last 40 years. The Department for Exiting the EU now has over 200 staff plus the expertise of over 120 officials in Brussels, and is growing fast. The overall size and scope of the new Department, including staffing and budget, are regularly reviewed. We will ensure we are appropriately staffed to deal with all aspects of the forthcoming negotiation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-10-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many claims under the Human Rights Act 1998 against British soldiers in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan the Government subsequently found to be spurious in each year since 2009-10.

Mike Penning

Legal actions citing the Human Rights Act, whether judicial reviews or personal injury claims, are normally brought against the Secretary of State for Defence rather than against individual Service personnel (on the basis that the Ministry of Defence is vicariously liable for their acts). The Courts allow or dismiss claims in whole or in part. There have been approximately 1,400 such judicial review claims and 1,000 personal injury claims stemming from our military oprations in Iraq and Afgahnistan. The vast majority of them have not yet been heard, as they are queued behind a small number of lead cases. It is the view of the Government, based on the findings of the Al-Sweady public inquiry and other evidence, that large numbers of these claims are likely to be exaggerated or spurious.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-10-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how (a) much funding from the public purse has been allocated to and (b) many full-time equivalent staff were employed by (i) UK Visas and Immigration and (ii) the UK Human Trafficking Centre for their work in relation to the National Referral Mechanism in each of year since 2009-10.

Sarah Newton

Staff in the Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Unit (MSHTU, formally UKHTC), and the Home Office UKVI who engage in work related to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) often undertake additional or different work based on changing priorities. It is therefore not possible to provide figures on the budget and full-time equivalent staff dedicated to the NRM function.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-10-19.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what support the Government plans to provide to Hull for the national LGBT+ Pride festival in 2017; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Dinenage

The Government is considering different options for celebrating and supporting pride events in 2017 and will provide further details in due course.

At Pride this year, the Government demonstrated its commitment to LGB&T equality in different ways: we flew the rainbow flag on top of the government buildings; the Prime Minister Theresa May issued a statement of solidarity with the LGB&T community ahead of the Brighton Pride, and I released an op-ed ahead of the Portsmouth Pride.

We are looking forward to celebrating the diversity of our communities at Pride next year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-10-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many full-time equivalent officials were employed in his predecessor’s renegotiation of the UK’s relationship with the EU in 2015-16; and if he will estimate the total cost to the public purse of that renegotiation process.

Mr David Jones

All departments were equipped with the resources they needed to manage the renegotiation of the UK’s relationship with the EU in 2015-16. As a new department we do not hold data on staffing within other departments during that process or the estimated costs.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-10-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect on the UK’s obligations as agreed in the August 2015 joint ministerial declarations, Managing migratory flows in Calais, of the French government’s decision to close the Calais camp for refugees and migrants.

Mr Robert Goodwill

Although the decision to clear the camp in Calais is a matter for the French Government, the UK and France remain committed to working together to protect our shared border in Calais and address the humanitarian challenges in the camps.

Both governments are clear that those in northern France in need of protection should claim asylum in France and those not in need should return to their home country.

Our priority is to ensure the safety and security of children in the camps. The UK Government has made clear its commitment to transfer unaccompanied refugee children under the 2016 Immigration Act, where it is in their best interests, and to ensure those with close family in the UK are brought here using the Dublin Regulation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-01-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to his contribution of 9 September 2015, Official Report, column 88WH, when he expects the National Archives to publish those documents on contaminated blood from 1986 to 1995.

Jane Ellison

The documents have been transferred to The National Archives. They have advised that the documents will be released by 3 March 2016.

It should be noted that, as part of his inquiry, Lord Penrose had access to all documents on blood safety from the period in question, held by the Department.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2015-10-28.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will bring forward proposals to add the (a) Surveillance Camera Commissioner and (b) Office of the Biometrics Commissioner to Schedule 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Matthew Hancock

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) already extends to over 100,000 public authorities. We constantly keep the list of bodies covered by the FOIA under review.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2015-11-16.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) investigations and (b) enforcement actions into money laundering offences have been commenced by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Financial Services Authority in each of the last five years.

Harriett Baldwin

This is an operational matter for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), who are operationally independent from Government. The question has been passed on to the FCA. The FCA will reply directly to the honourable member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2015-12-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the makes and models of cars bought by the Government Car Service in each of the last five years; and what the carbon dioxide output of each of those cars is.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The attached table lists the make, model, and carbon dioxide emissions for cars procured by the Government Car Service in the last five years.