Tag: Gareth Thomas

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 prosecutions of people involved in providing transport for illegal immigrants there have been in the each of the last seven years.

James Brokenshire

Individuals prosecuted for smuggling illegal immigrants/stowaways in their vehicles – in the period 2014 to 2016 as set out below:

2014/2015 – 52

2015/2016 – 88

Prior to March 2014, this information was not recorded centrally.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-09-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the result of the EU referendum on the timetable for a decision on Heathrow expansion.

Mr John Hayes

As we move into the new world beyond our membership of the European Union, it is important that we are an outward-facing nation with strong business ties around the world. It is important that we get the decision on runway capacity right. We will take that decision and move ahead with our plans, ensuring that we have the right links for the future.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will publish a review of the effectiveness of Local Economic Partnerships; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Percy

The effectiveness of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) is assessed by this Department and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on an on-going basis. My Department does not publish information on internal conversations or assessment of LEPs. We are currently assessing LEPs’ proposals for a further round of Growth Deals, which includes an assessment of their growth strategy, the strength of their governance and partnerships and their record of delivery. We intend to announce Growth Deals later this year.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many representations he has received from business groups on the reform of business rates in the last six months; if he will publish such representations; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Marcus Jones

The Government’s recent consultation on Business Rates Retention received 21 representations from businesses or associated representative bodies. The Government will publish its response to the outcome of this consultation in due course. To ensure business views are fully taken into account government has also established a business interest group, to contribute to the policy and technical debate.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which agreed EU directives have not yet been transposed directly into UK law; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones

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.

There are currently 23 EU Directives relating to my Department’s responsibilities awaiting transposition into UK law.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-10-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the potential income for each local authority in England from 100 per cent receipt of business rates; what effect the extension of small business rate relief and the uprating of the multiplier by the Consumer Price Index will have on that estimate; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Marcus Jones

We recently conducted a consultation on our approach to the implementation of 100% Business Rates Retention. This consultation included questions on how to take account of changes in need over time, how to manage volatility in business rates income and how to distribute funding between different tiers of government. My officials are currently considering the 454 responses we have received to this consultation and we will publish a summary of the responses and our proposed way forward in due course. In the meantime, we will continue close collaboration with the Local Government Association, other groups representative of local government, and individual local authorities, in taking this work forward.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2015-11-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding her Department plans to spend through multilateral development banks in the next three years; how much her Department spent through such banks in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Desmond Swayne

The table below shows DFID’s spend on core contributions to multilateral development banks in the last five financial years.

(£ Thousands)

2010/11	2011/12	2012/13	2013/14	2014/15
1,128,200	1,295,600	1,280,100	1,473,100	1,689,200

Spending plans for the next five years will be determined following the outcome of the Spending Review allocation to DFID and the subsequent business planning exercise.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2015-12-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many serious fraud cases are under investigation by Merseyside Police Force; and if she will make a statement.

Mike Penning

This information is not held centrally. Information about the number of cases under investigation may be obtainable from the individual force.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-01-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Burundian counterparts on its government (a) halting violence involving its security forces, (b) engaging in dialogue with opponents and (c) accepting the presence of 5,000 African Union peacekeepers within its borders; and if he will make a statement.

James Duddridge

The UK is playing a lead role in building a single, consistent international response to the crisis in Burundi. In mid-December, I visited Burundi and urged the Burundian Government in the strongest terms to take steps to end the violence that has gripped the country. I stressed that only an inclusive dialogue would foster the conditions for the people of Burundi to be able to live their lives in safety and security. On 5 January I wrote to the Minister of External Relations and International Cooperation, Alain Nyamitwe, urging him to do everything in his power to ensure that his government attends, without preconditions, the next round of the Inter Burundi Dialogue in Arusha. At the African Union Summit this week I will urge the Burundian Government to accept the deployment of troops being offered by the African Union to protect civilians, re-establish security and create the conditions on the ground for reconciliation to take place. I also regularly raise the issue of Burundi with Foreign Ministers and Envoys in the region, to encourage a regional response to the crisis.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-02-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much the RAF has spent on the marketing of RAF Northolt for civilian flights in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne

The RAF has spent £3,600 on marketing for this purpose over the last five years.