Tag: Gregory Campbell

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-01-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent assessment her Department has made of the terrorist threat from dissident Irish Republicans to the UK mainland.

Mrs Theresa Villiers

The threat to Great Britain from Northern Ireland Related Terrorism is currently assessed to be MODERATE, meaning an attack is possible but not likely. There were no Northern Ireland Related Terrorism attacks in Great Britain last year, but there were 16 in Northern Ireland where the threat is considered to be SEVERE. This means an attack is highly likely. Threat levels are of course kept under regular review.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to assist people with restricted visibility pursuing careers and training opportunities.

Justin Tomlinson

The government has a wide variety of measures to help visually impaired and other disabled people prepare for, enter and remain in employment. These include:

• Work Choice and Specialist Employability Support (SES), which help to prepare participants for work and move them into employment;

• New Enterprise Allowance (NEA), which offers support to unemployed people who wish to start their own businesses. Disabled jobseekers who are accepted onto the NEA scheme may also be entitled to receive an Access to Work grant; and,

• Access to Work, which provides practical and financial support with the additional costs faced by individuals whose health or disability affects the way they do their job, including some costs associated with new employment opportunities and supported internships. Access to Work has recently set up a specialist team visual impairment to further improve the service offered to the visually impaired people, who comprise the second largest group of Access to Work users.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-01-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, by how much levels of pollution have changed in the UK territorial seas in the last five years.

George Eustice

Inputs into the marine environment of the six most hazardous polluting substances (cadmium, lindane, mercury, zinc, copper and lead) have fallen significantly over the last 25 years. In the five years to 2013 inputs of five of the substances have declined while mercury inputs were stable. These trends are reported in the UK’s Biodiversity Indicators, published this month.

The volume of oil accidentally spilled varies widely from year to year, is generally small and of relatively minor significance, with no major spills in UK waters having occurred over the last five years.

Assessments of contaminants in the recent UK Marine Strategy Part 3, published in December, have shown that most problems (i.e. where concentrations or biological effects parameters exceed assessment thresholds) are local in nature and close to the sources, particularly in industrialised estuaries and coasts, and largely caused by historic pollution.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will discuss freedom of religion with his Iranian counterpart.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

I discuss many issues with my Iranian counterparts. I have repeatedly called on the Iranian Government to end all persecution of individuals on the basis of their faith, and to guarantee the human rights of all Iranians, regardless of belief, and I will continue to do so.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-02-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans the armed forces have to commemorate the Battle of the Somme.

Mark Lancaster

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is the lead Government Department for the Somme Centenary Commemorative Programme.

The Ministry of Defence and Her Majesty’s Armed Forces are providing significant support to the three major events in Thiepval, London and Manchester and also providing support to a large number of other events that are being run by Regiments and other military organisations. These other events are taking place not only in France at the scene of the Battle but also in regions across the United Kingdom.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people automatically enrolled into workplace pensions between October 2012 and October 2013 have since withdrawn from that scheme.

Justin Tomlinson

The Information requested is not routinely recorded for management information purposes and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Research from 2013 shows that between nine and ten per cent of automatically enrolled workers had opted out of their pension scheme. Our latest figures show that since the roll out of automatic enrolment, nearly 6 million people have now been automatically enrolled, and opt outs have remained much lower than were originally anticipated. We expect that around nine million workers will be newly saving or saving more by 2018. The Department is doing further analysis into workplace pension participation and opt out rates.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-04-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions his Department has held with football associations and police forces on ensuring security and protection for fans travelling abroad for the European Championships.

David Evennett

My Department has regular discussions with both the Home Office and the FCO on a range of matters in relation to the 2016 UEFA European Football Championships taking place in France this summer. Departments are in contact with the relevant football associations, and fans attending the tournament will be encouraged to follow the Government’s official travel advice.

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

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the (a) average amount in tax relief paid per higher rate tax relief payer and (b) total amount of tax relief for personal pension payments was in (i) 2013-14 and (ii) 2014-15.

Mr David Gauke

Information on the cost of pensions tax relief is published in HM Revenue and Customs’ National Statistics table PEN6, available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/registered-pension-schemes-cost-of-tax-relief

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-07-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to seek a referral to the International Criminal Court of acts committed against religious and ethnic minorities in Syria and Iraq as genocide.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We are appalled by these acts but we judge that such a referral to the International Criminal Court by the UN Security Council is not practical at this time. When efforts were made by the Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the ICC in 2014, this was vetoed by Russia and China. We continue to look at every available option to ensure accountability in Syria and Iraq, and to work with our international partners on what can be done both to assist the victims and to bring those responsible to justice.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make urgent representations to the Pakistani government on the case of Asia Bibi.

Alok Sharma

I remain concerned about Ms Asia Bibi ahead of her Supreme Court hearing due this week. We raise regularly our concerns about misuse of the blasphemy laws with the Pakistani Government, and continue to urge Pakistan to adhere to its international obligations and uphold the rule of law. During his visit to Pakistan in March, the former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), made clear our concerns about minority communities and misuse of the blasphemy laws. The UK supported the EU statement of October 2014 following the decision of the Lahore High Court to uphold the conviction of Ms Bibi. We will continue to work with our EU and other international partners to ensure our views are made clear to the Pakistani authorities.