The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-10-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many legally trained staff are contracted to his Department for the purposes of their legal expertise; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Robin Walker
The Department for Exiting the European Union has a dedicated legal team that is provided by the Government Legal Department. That team includes 28 qualified lawyers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-10-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has for phytosanitary certification measures for the importation of plant material after the UK leaves the EU.
George Eustice
We recognise that the UK’s exit from the EU may have implications for the way in which current UK plant health services operate, including phytosanitary certification on imports, quarantine measures to mitigate the highest risk pests and diseases, and plant passporting.
We are considering the implications and possible options as part of our planning for, and negotiations on, the UK’s exit.
Continuing to deliver a risk-based, proportionate plant health regime that effectively protects the UK from plant pests and diseases, whilst maximising the free movement of goods, remains of the highest priority.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many people have received the disability students’ allowance in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
Joseph Johnson
Information on students awarded and paid Disabled Students’ Allowance is published annually by Student Loans Company (SLC) in the Statistical First Release ‘Student Support for Higher Education England’. The latest statistics are available at the following link: http://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/financial-support-awarded/england-higher-education.aspx
Payments to full-time undergraduate students are presented in table 3b on page 21 and payments to part-time undergraduates and postgraduates in tables 5a and 5b on page 31.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent review her Department has conducted of the threat posed to UK agriculture by invasive species; and if she will make a statement.
George Eustice
Defra commissioned Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International to produce a report, entitled “The Economic Cost of Invasive Non-native Species on Great Britain”, which was published in 2010. The report sets out the economic impacts of invasive non-native species to a range of sectors, including agriculture.
The Great Britain Non-native Species Secretariat undertakes risk assessments on potentially invasive non-native species and has completed 75 to date. These risk assessments consider the impacts on a wide range of sectors including agriculture.
An updated Great Britain Invasive Non-native Species Strategy was published in August which sets out a comprehensive framework for delivering action to address the impacts from these species.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing safe-standing facilities at higher tier sports stadia.
Tracey Crouch
The Government believes that all-seater stadiums are the best means to ensure the safety and security of fans at football in England and Wales. All-seater stadiums have helped improve crowd management, crowd behaviour and policing. They also provide more comfortable facilities to enjoy football matches.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has received from his Turkish counterpart on the ongoing situation in Iraq and Syria; and if he will make a statement.
Mr David Lidington
We regularly discuss the situation in Syria and Iraq with the Turkish Government. I last met with my Turkish counterpart in August where we discussed the need to support a political solution in Syria and the Iraqi government’s efforts to combat ISIL. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge has spoken with the Turkish Foreign Minister a number of times in the last month, where both Ministers made clear that the UK and Turkey would continue to cooperate closely on the situation in Syria and Iraq.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received from his Russian counterpart on Russian military operations in Syria and Iraq; and if he will make a statement.
Mr David Lidington
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has received a number of representations from the Russian Government regarding military operations in Syria and Iraq. Most recently, the Russian Ambassador to the UK met FCO officials on 8 October 2015.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance and support her Department is providing to refugees based in Turkey; and if she will make a statement.
Mr Desmond Swayne
Turkey hosts almost 2.1 million refugees from Syria, the highest number of refugees of any country in the region surrounding Syria. We commend the generosity that Turkey has shown towards those fleeing the conflict in Syria. The UK has allocated £34 million to support Syrian refugees in Turkey, including food, shelter and primary healthcare. The UK is also working in partnership with Turkish institutions on targeted projects to build their capacity to tackle irregular migration. The EU is currently working in partnership with the Turkish government to explore options for increased support to Turkey. The UK is engaged in this process.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of public health measures designed to limit sugar consumption; and if he will make a statement.
Jane Ellison
We requested that Public Health England (PHE), an executive agency of the Department responsible for improving the nation’s health and wellbeing, prepare evidence for the Government on reducing sugar consumption. This was published on 22 October and can be found on the GOV.UK website. Ministers are considering the evidence and working closely with PHE to develop policy in this area.
Sugar Reduction: The evidence for action is available at:
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what support his Department is providing to local authorities to meet localised demand for parking spaces; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Marcus Jones
Local authorities have the power and responsibility to provide adequate parking provision in their area. They are best placed to understand and ensure the parking needs of their local communities are met. It would be inappropriate for Central Government to intervene in this matter. Communities now have the opportunity to challenge local authorities’ parking policies if they think provision is inadequate. This is set out at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-challenge-parking-policies.