Tag: Gareth Thomas

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2015-11-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2015 to Question 14459, whether the Civil Aviation Authority plans to make the conclusions of the review into the safety of operations at RAF Northolt publicly available; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The review was conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in response to concerns raised by the operator of Biggin Hill Airport. The CAA has advised Biggin Hill of the conclusions of the review. The CAA remains satisfied that operations by civil aircraft at Northolt are safe. The CAA has no plans to publish the conclusions of the review but will continue to ensure that all operators using RAF Northolt have access to all relevant information about the aerodrome.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-01-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many grants his Department awarded to projects for which the range of values in the Department’s benefit-cost ratio assessment included negative values in each of the last six years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robert Goodwill

Major transport schemes which are subject to ministerial approval include a value for money assessment in which benefits and costs are assessed. Since 2011 – the first year for which data is readily available – the Department has given final funding approval and awarded a grant to one major transport schemes whose costs exceeded its benefits:

– Sheffield Tram Train Pilot. Approval of this scheme was granted on the basis that it is a pilot designed to test the range of issues, costs and opportunities involved in introducing the tram train concept to the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-01-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to encourage the teaching and examination of GCSE and A-level (a) Gujarati and (b) Hindi; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb

Awarding organisations currently offer GCSEs and A levels in a range of languages, which includes Gujarati. Hindi is not currently offered. The Department is working with awarding organisations, and Ofqual, to consider how best to enable the current range of languages to be maintained at GCSE and A level in future years.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-02-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional funding she plans to commit to tackling illegal immigration; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire

The Chancellor the Exchequer announced the 2015 Spending Review to Parliament on 25th November 2015. Home Office ministers are in the process of allocating budgets for the next financial year to ensure that the department supports its key objectives of preventing terrorism, cutting crime and controlling immigration.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-04-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many meetings the UK Ambassador to Afghanistan has had with non-governmental organisations in that country in the last six months; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

Our Ambassador in Afghanistan regularly meets a full range of international and Afghan civil society representatives in Afghanistan and will continue to do so. The UK has made long-term commitments to the country’s future through financial aid and political support. The international and Afghan civil society community will continue to play an important role in the future stability and prosperity of Afghanistan and remains a key relationship for the Embassy.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-06-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to improve the ability of Border Force to gather and exploit information to improve its performance in enforcing general maritime security; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire

Border Force works very closely with law enforcement partners to harness the collective knowledge of risks associated with maritime and aviation security. This includes intelligence flows to Border Force and partner agencies from overseas partners, the maritime and aviation industries, voluntary organisations and the public. Border Force also works with the NCA through a series of Joint Border Intelligence units to share and develop intelligence across all modes including maritime and aviation.

The National Maritime Information Centre (NMIC), for which Border Force provides the executive lead, acts as the focal point for all agencies maritime information and provides the UK with unified maritime situational awareness to assist in countering potential threats to UK Maritime Security.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-06-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many employers received (a) one, (b) between two and four and (c) more than five fixed penalty fines for illegally employing immigrants in each of the last seven years.

James Brokenshire

The information provided refers to civil penalties for illegal working served to employers and is included in the table below.

The data provided is for initial penalties only and penalties may have been reduced or cancelled at the objection or appeal stage.

N.B The data provided is sourced from a Home Office management information system which is not quality assured under National Statistics protocols.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-06-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what training and assistance the UK Border Force provides to transport carriers and port operators who are required to collect Advance Passenger Information to identify false documents; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire

Border Force has worked closely with carriers and port operators to ensure that Exit Checks are carried out in accordance with Home Office requirements.

Immigration Enforcement’s Risk and Liaison Overseas Network (RALON) has staff in key locations providing training and support for airlines and their handling agents operating services to the UK. Training covers UK visa requirements, security safeguards in passports, national identity cards, travel documents and visas, and how to identify cases of impersonation. In addition to the safeguards described above, RALON staff also raise awareness of current trends or specific types of abuse that the UK is encountering.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-10-11.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which agreed EU directives have not yet been transposed directly into UK law; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Gummer

Until exit negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a full member of the European Union and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force. During this period the Government will continue to negotiate, implement and apply EU legislation. The outcome of these negotiations will determine what arrangements apply in relation to EU legislation in future once the UK has left the EU.

The only agreed EU directive which has not yet been transposed directly into UK law from the perspective of the Cabinet Office is as follows:

Directive 2014/55/EU on electronic invoicing in public procurement has yet to be transposed.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-10-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will bring forward proposals for a further round of Regional Growth Funding; and if he will make a statement.

Margot James

Following the 2015 Spending Review no future rounds are proposed. The economic context has changed since 2011 when the first round of the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) was launched. The economy has recovered significantly and the employment rate has now reached record levels. The RGF is already achieving its task to deliver jobs and sustainable private sector led growth to areas previously dependent on the public sector.