Tag: Gregory Campbell

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2015-10-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make representations on reducing the gender pay gap at the BBC during forthcoming discussions on the BBC Charter.

Mr Edward Vaizey

The Charter Review is looking at the BBC’s mission, purpose and values; scale and scope of its services and operations; the way it is funded; and also governance and accountability.

Last week, the Government announced new measures to eradicate gender inequality in the workplace, including forcing larger public sector employersto publish information about their bonuses for men and women and extending plans for gender pay gap reporting.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2015-12-01.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the conclusion of its thematic review of the annuities market as to whether consumers are being treated fairly in the current financial climate.

Damian Hinds

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) places a duty on the firms that they regulate to treat their customers fairly, and the FCA have wide-ranging powers of enforcement in pursuit of this objective.

The FCA’s Retirement Income Market Study, which followed on from the work of the Thematic Review of Annuities and was published in March 2015, recommended greater use of annuity comparisons to encourage greater shopping around by consumers. The FCA are currently conducting behavioural tests on options for presenting these comparisons in the most effective way, and expect to report on these findings and any proposed rule changes in 2016. In addition, the FCA’s Retirement Outcomes Review, which will be published early next year, will assess issues from the Thematic Review – including the issue of eligible consumers not purchasing enhanced annuity products.

The FCA also plan to consider consumers’ wider information needs in light of market developments following the pension freedoms.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2015-12-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has had recent discussions with the Tunisian government on the safety of UK citizens who plan to travel to that country during 2016.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

Both the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), and I discussed security with the Tunisian authorities during our recent visits. Our current travel advice advises against all but essential travel to the larger part of Tunisia, except some border areas where we recommend against all travel.

We continue to work with the Tunisians to enhance their ability to counter the terrorist threat and protect tourists; our security support has increased significantly since the Sousse attack.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-01-06.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the change in the proportion of the working age population employed by the public sector in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland between 2010 and 2015.

Mr Rob Wilson

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much and what proportion the UK contributed to the EU humanitarian and development budget in each of the last two years.

Mr Nick Hurd

UK contributions to EU Official Development Assistance (ODA), including development assistance and humanitarian aid, for the last two years was as follows:

2013 £ million	2014 £ million
1,220	1,144

British share of overall EU spend is approximately 15%. The UK continues to work hard to ensure EU development aid focuses on the poorest and most fragile countries and that the EU becomes more open and transparent about the challenges it faces in implementing aid projects.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-01-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions the National Crime Agency has used the European Arrest Warrant system in the last two years.

James Brokenshire

The National Crime Agency issued 219 European Arrest Warrants( EAWs) in 2013, and issued 228 EAWs in 2014.

The National Crime Agency received 5,522 EAWs in 2013, and received 13,460 EAWs in 2014. The substantial increase in the number of EAWs received between 2013 and 2014 is due to the preparatory work necessary for connection to the second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-01-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether any trade missions to Iran are planned involving businesses from the UK in 2016.

Anna Soubry

The UK government fully supports expanding our trade relationship with Iran. UK Trade and Investment will be leading a whole of government approach to engage with UK companies to ensure that UK businesses are well equipped to benefit from the commercial opportunities that will arise from sanction relief.

There is a desire on both sides to build a long-term bilateral relationship based on future partnership, where trade and investment is a key pillar. We plan to take further trade delegations to Iran in the near future across a number of sectors where UK companies are best placed to benefit from commercial opportunities.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-01-28.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, in how many deaths in the last two years consumption of an excess of prescription drugs was the primary cause.

Mr Rob Wilson

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-02-08.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of combining the ISA and personal pension systems.

Mr David Gauke

The Chancellor of the Exchequer keeps all taxes under review.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-02-23.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many investigations have been opened by HM Revenue and Customs under IR35 in the last two years.

Mr David Gauke

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) opened 216 interventions under IR35 in the year 2013/14 and 199 in the year 2014/15. HMRC has increased the number of IR35 inquiries in recent years and has at least 250 open at any one time.

The Government published a discussion document on 17 July 2015, inviting views on options for reforming IR35. The discussion period closed on 30 September and the Government will announce next steps in due course.