Tag: Kate Hoey

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hoey on 2016-02-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that rail companies improve their passenger safety procedures.

Claire Perry

Britain is known for having one of the safest railways in Europe for both passengers and for workers, but we cannot be complacent.

The Office of Rail and Road’s duty is to ensure that those responsible for keeping Britain’s railways safe for passengers and providing a safe place for staff to work do so.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hoey on 2016-07-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will request that Heathrow Airport complies with all the conditions set out by the Airports Commission in its final report, published in July 2015, before making an announcement on airport expansion in the UK.

Mr John Hayes

A number of important decisions on airport capacity were taken by the Government in December 2015, including to accept the case for expansion in the South-East and the three schemes shortlisted by the Airports Commission. However, we must take the time to get the decision right on a preferred scheme.

The Government believes it is essential that expansion via any of the shortlisted schemes is accompanied by a strong package of measures to mitigate the impacts on communities and the environment, and will set out any requirements in this area on a preferred scheme promoter in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hoey on 2015-11-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which (a) retired civil servants and (b) former Ministers travelled to Libya at public expense between 2002 and October 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

Between 2002 and October 2011 the Government funded visits to Libya for current officials and Ministers as part of regular diplomatic relations.

No retired civil servants or former ministers visited Libya at public expense

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hoey on 2016-01-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on support for the self-determination movement in Bahrain; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

On the matters of self-determination and legitimate government, we believe that governance of Bahrain is a matter for all political parties in Bahrain. That is why we encourage all political parties, including Al Wefaq who boycotted elections in November 2014, to engage constructively in political dialogue in order to reach an inclusive political settlement. Although we were disappointed by the opposition’s decision to boycott the 2014 elections, we commended the participation of a broad range of candidates which saw 14 independent Shia candidates win seats, of which three were women.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hoey on 2016-04-15.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received from business groups (a) opposing and (b) supporting his plans to require small businesses to submit quarterly digital tax returns; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Gauke

The Government has committed to ensuring free software is available for those with the simplest affairs in order that businesses can meet the requirements of Making Tax Digital. In addition, many businesses are already using digital record-keeping tools to deal with their tax affairs.

The Government has received a number of representations from individuals, businesses, professional bodies and the software industry about Making Tax Digital. Both I and officials from HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs have discussed the reforms with a wide range of professional bodies and advisory groups representing small businesses and the self-employed. Extensive consultation will take place throughout 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hoey on 2015-11-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which (a) retired civil servants and (b) former Ministers have travelled to Libya at public expense since October 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

Since 2011, the Government has funded visits to Libya by current officials and Ministers as part of regular diplomatic relations. In addition, in periods when the security situation in Libya permitted it, a number of visits to Libya, including by Jonathan Powell the Prime Minister’s Envoy to Libya, have been funded by HMG.

No retired civil servants or former ministers have visited Libya at public expense.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hoey on 2016-01-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the report of Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain on the Bahraini government’s implementation of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry report; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We have noted the report by Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain which assesses the progress the Government of Bahrain is making against the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry Report (BICI). In June 2014, the UN Human Rights Council presented similar findings by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. That is why we continue to encourage the Government of Bahrain to ensure full implementation of the BICI recommendations, as well as those accepted in their UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review, and we are offering UK assistance to help them achieve this.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hoey on 2016-04-14.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the number of small businesses which will not be able to afford the digital accounting software to enable them to submit digital tax returns; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Gauke

The Government has committed to ensuring free software is available for those with the simplest affairs in order that businesses can meet the requirements of Making Tax Digital. In addition, many businesses are already using digital record-keeping tools to deal with their tax affairs.

The Government has received a number of representations from individuals, businesses, professional bodies and the software industry about Making Tax Digital. Both I and officials from HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs have discussed the reforms with a wide range of professional bodies and advisory groups representing small businesses and the self-employed. Extensive consultation will take place throughout 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hoey on 2015-11-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what was discussed at the meeting between Sir John Scarlett and Moussa Koussa in the UK in 2001.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

It has been the policy of successive governments not to comment on meetings involving intelligence officials.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hoey on 2016-02-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many and what proportion of members in Northern Ireland of each trade union opted to pay the political levy; and which of those trade unions’ headquarters are in (a) Great Britain and (b) Northern Ireland.

Nick Boles

The latest Annual Report of the Certification Officer shows that 4,954,606 union members in Great Britain paid the political levy in the period 2013-2014. This represents 70.67% of the total number of individuals who were union members in the same period.^[1]

Employment law is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and I am not able to respond to the questions relating to Northern Ireland.

[1] Political Funds of Trade Unions, 2013-2014, Annual Report 2015/2016 of the Certification Officer, page 68-69, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449387/CO_Annual_Report__2014-2015_.pdf

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