Tag: Gregory Campbell

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-01-04.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in Northern Ireland were (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted for their part in offences connected with fuel laundering between 1 January and 30 June 2015.

Damian Hinds

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is not a prosecuting authority. Where cases do proceed to the criminal courts in Northern Ireland the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland (PPSNI) carries out the prosecution.

HMRC’s records do not differentiate between the forms of fuel fraud it investigates and so they cannot identify arrests and convictions solely for fuel laundering. In the period between 1 January and 30 June 2015, there were 4 successful prosecutions and convictions relating to oils fraud.

HMRC fights fraud on a wide range of fronts, from special units performing thousands of roadside checks to raiding laundering plants. The UK has recently introduced, jointly with the Republic of Ireland, an improved new marker for rebated fuel, which will make it much harder to launder marked fuel and sell it at a profit.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-01-11.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of progress in implementing the OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting Action Plan.

Mr David Gauke

The G20 Leaders endorsed the package of measures developed under the ambitious G20/OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project at the Antalya Summit, 15-16 November 2015.

The UK has already taken action to implement two of the internationally agreed BEPS outputs with domestic legislation to introduce country-by-reporting and rules to address hybrid mismatches.

Several BEPS outputs need to be implemented through changes to double tax treaties. Over 90 countries are working with the OECD to develop a Multilateral Instrument, which will simultaneously update their bilateral treaties. The UK chairs the group, which is scheduled to complete its work by the end of 2016.

The G20 has called on the OECD to develop a framework by early 2016 to monitor the implementation of the BEPS project globally involving all countries that commit to implement the BEPS outputs.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-01-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the accessibility of mobile broadband services and wifi on public transport was (a) on the last date for which figures are available and (b) in 2010.

Claire Perry

Modes of public transport vary significantly with different factors influencing the availability of mobile broadband services which is generally outwith the control of the transport operator. It is not monitored and no data are available.

Wi-Fi equipment has and continues to be installed by public transport operators to improve internet connectivity for passengers. Generally, the decision to install Wi-Fi is a commercial decision for the relevant operator and, where relevant, subsidising authority. With the exception of the Department for Transport-controlled rail franchised services, it has not been monitored and no data are available.

On all Department for Transport-controlled rail franchises, in England and Wales, free Wi-Fi is being introduced. Currently around 30% of train carriages operating within the DfT controlled franchises and serving around 50% of rail passenger journeys have Wi-Fi available. Our intention is for 90% of passenger journeys to benefit from free Wi-Fi by the end of 2018. No figures are available for 2010.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-01-19.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is his policy to change the rate of fuel duty applied to certain isolated and rural areas in response to changes in oil price.

Damian Hinds

The rural fuel duty rebate scheme offers a 5 pence per litre discount on fuel duty for fuel sold in qualifying areas. The rebate does not vary with the price of wholesale oil.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-01-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make changes to the clinical guidelines for motor neurone disease to improve diagnosis and treatment.

George Freeman

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing robust, evidence-based guidance for the National Health Service. NICE is currently developing a clinical guideline on the assessment and management of motor neurone disease, and expects to publish its final guidance in February 2016. NICE is also producing a quality standard on motor neurone disease and its anticipated publication date is August 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-02-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of the UK military action in Syria in the last 12 months.

Michael Fallon

It is not possible to separate out the costs of UK military action in Syria from that of wider Counter-Daesh operations due to the inter-related nature of the UK’s military activity in Iraq and Syria. Information on the net additional costs of Counter-Daesh operations during the financial year 2015-16 will be published in the Ministry of Defence’s Annual Report and Accounts, with £75 million approved by Parliament at Main Estimates in July 2015 to meet the initial net additional costs of such operations in 2015-16. We will update this estimate in our 2015-16 Supplementary Estimates due to be laid before the House by Her Majesty’s Treasury shortly.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-02-22.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people in employment earn (a) the national minimum wage rate which will apply from 1 April 2016 and (b) between that rate and one per cent above that rate.

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 2016-02-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the Kantar Worldpanel 2014 dataset on sales-weighted average sugar content in soft drinks; and whether he plans to review the Government’s voluntary approach to the food and drink industry in relation to calorie reduction in soft drinks.

Jane Ellison

As part of its review to identify possible actions to reduce sugar intakes and inform the Government’s thinking on sugar, Public Health England considered the current evidence on sugar in food and drinks. We are considering this alongside other evidence as we develop our Childhood Obesity Strategy which will be launched in the summer. It will look at everything that contributes to a child becoming overweight and obese including sugar. It will also set out what more can be done by all.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-04-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to make announcements on progress on his plans for the next BBC Charter.

Mr Edward Vaizey

The Government will set out its plans for the future of the BBC in a White Paper in May.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-05-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if she will set the emissions target recommended by the Independent Committee on Climate Change in the Fifth Carbon Budget.

Andrea Leadsom

This Government remains firmly committed to meeting our climate change target of an at least 80% emissions reduction by 2050. The fifth carbon budget, which covers the period 2028-2032, is an important step on the way to 2050.

Discussions on this budget are continuing and we will make an announcement as soon as those discussions conclude.