Tag: Gregory Campbell

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what Armed Forces Day events in Northern Ireland during June 2016 his Department plans to support.

Mark Lancaster

Armed Forces Day events provide opportunities for the nation to show their support of the Armed Forces. These events are community-led and can come in many different forms, from the national event through to local events organised by councils, ex-service organisations, community groups and schools. These events can be followed on Twitter using #SaluteOurForces.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not directly support specific Armed Forces events; other than the national event which will be held this year in Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, on Saturday 25 June. We do invite local authorities and community organisations to consider hosting an event and to apply for funding from the Ministry of Defence.

Part-funding applications have been received for the Northern Ireland Regional Armed Forces Day event, which is scheduled to take place in Antrim on 18 June. Events will also be hosted in Articlave, Portglenone and Belfast on 25 June.

As events are registered by their organisers, they will be published on the Armed Forces Day website: www.armedforcesday.org.uk

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-09-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Northern Ireland University Air Squadron has reached its capacity of student places planned when it was set up.

Mark Lancaster

Of the 24 student places available, 14 are currently filled.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-10-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total cost to the public purse has been of all (a) salaries, (b) transport, (c) hotel stays, (d) redundancy payments, (e) pension entitlements and (f) all other associated costs since the announcement of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

Sarah Newton

On 12 March 2015 the former Home Secretary established the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse under the Inquiries Act 2005.

Its remit is to look at the extent to which state and non-state bodies have failed in their duty to protect children from sexual abuse. The Inquiry is independent of the Government and is responsible for the management of its own budget.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2015-10-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will discuss with the four home nations football associations allegations of corruption within FIFA and steps to rebuild public confidence in the administration of international football.

Tracey Crouch

I am in regular contact with The Football Association on a number of issues, including good governance and reform of FIFA. The Football Association are in regular contact with their Home Nation counterparts.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2015-11-24.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many fuel laundering plants were discovered in Northern Ireland in 2014; and how many of those plants were (a) fully operational at the time of discovery and (b) within ten miles of the border of the Republic of Ireland.

Damian Hinds

31 fuel laundering plants were discovered in Northern Ireland in 2014. All 31 were considered to be operational at the time of discovery.

Area specific information cannot be supplied as it is likely to be used by those minded to undermine HMRC’s strategy in dealing with fuel fraud and as such have a detrimental impact

on its ability to assess and collect tax.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2015-12-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the animal licensing review will include a review of how to tackle internet sales of rare animals.

George Eustice

The proposed review of local authority licensing of animal activities will encompass the Pet Animals Act 1951 which regulates the selling of pet animals, including the sale of animals on-line.

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.