Tag: Lord Empey

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Empey on 2016-03-01.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the EU, UN, and Interpol with regard to the pursuit of criminal gangs that exploit refugees and migrants in Europe.

Lord Bates

The Government takes a system-wide approach to tackling organised immigration crime and we are working with international partners to smash the criminal gangs that are fuelling this terrible trade in people. The UK has been at the forefront of calls in the EU for a robust approach to tackling organised immigration crime, including through Europol and encouraging all Member States to contribute intelligence to its Joint Operations Team Mare initiative.

In June 2015 the Prime Minister announced the creation of the Organised Immigration Crime Taskforce bringing together officers from the National Crime Agency, Border Force, Immigration Enforcement and the Crown Prosecution Service to exploit every opportunity at source, in transit countries and in Europe to tackle organised crime groups criminal operations. The Taskforce funding was subsequently expanded in November 2015 to increase resources to 100 dedicated officers until 2020. The Taskforce is working with international partners actively sharing intelligence and progressing criminal investigations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Empey on 2016-05-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have agreed the reduction to the Block Grant for the Northern Ireland Executive as a result of the decision to introduce a lower rate of Corporation Tax in Northern Ireland from April 2018, and if so, what is the new Block Grant figure.

Lord O’Neill of Gatley

In 2015 the government legislated to make a lower Northern Ireland Corporation Tax rate possible. The Northern Ireland Executive are committed to introducing a rate of 12.5%, to be introduced in 2018.

Now Northern Ireland’s own political leaders must press on with the reforms necessary to put the Executive’s finances on the sustainable footing required to complete Corporation Tax devolution.

As set out in the Stormont House Agreement, the Executive would then meet the direct and behavioural costs of any reduction in corporation tax in Northern Ireland, and we are continuing to work with the Executive on the funding arrangements which would deliver this outcome.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Empey on 2016-09-15.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what financial or other assistance they are making available to the Palestinian territories currently governed by the State of Israel.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

DFID provided £72 million in financial year 2015/16 in support of Palestinian development to help build Palestinian institutions, deliver basic services and promote economic development.

As the Secretary of State has recently taken up her new role, she is conducting a full examination of our work in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) to ensure UK taxpayers’ money is spent in the right places and in the right way.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Empey on 2015-10-20.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to amend the Climate Change Act 2008 to alleviate the costs of power for large energy users in the United Kingdom.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

The Climate Change Act does not impose specific costs on large energy users in and of itself. Instead, the Act sets up a long term target to reduce emissions across the whole economy. It is for the Government to decide the cost effective way of meeting that target and Government is mindful of the impact of policies on energy intensive users.

For energy intensive sectors, voluntary Climate Change Agreements (CCAs) allow 90% reduction from the Climate Change Levy (CCL) for electricity in return for signing up to stretching energy efficiency improvement targets agreed with Government. Metallurgical and mineralogical sectors have been exempt from paying the CCL since April 2014. In addition, the Government has paid over £131m in compensation to eligible energy intensive industries, for the indirect impacts of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and Carbon Price Support mechanism on their electricity prices. Further relief measures are currently being considered by the European Commission.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Empey on 2015-10-21.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when and where the Mobile Infrastructure Project will be rolled out in Northern Ireland.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe

The Mobile Infrastructure Project is being rolled out in Northern Ireland up to the end of March 2016.

There are currently 7 masts in build phase. These are located in:

• Derry and Strabane District

• Fermanagh and Omagh (2 sites)

• Lisburn and Castlereagh

• Mid Ulster (3 sites)

Planning permission was received for 4 sites. These sites are located in:

• Mid Ulster (3 sites)

• Newry, Mourne and Down

Planning applications were submitted but decisions awaiting for 5 other sites. These are located in:

• Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon

• Derry and Strabane District

• Fermanagh and Omagh (2 sites)

• Mid Ulster

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Empey on 2015-10-21.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government under what circumstances value added tax can be applied to school uniforms.

Lord O’Neill of Gatley

Children’s clothing, including a school uniform, is VAT zero-rated if it is designed for young children and is of a size that would fit the average child aged under 14 years. Larger sizes of clothing are standard rated irrespective of the age of the wearer.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Empey on 2014-06-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to recover records of royal pardons granted between 1987 and 1997.

Baroness Randerson

The review of Departmental record keeping ordered by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is ongoing.

Northern Ireland Office officials continue to seek information on use of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy (RPM) for the years 1987 to 1997. This includes contact with other Government Departments where relevant material might be held.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Empey on 2014-06-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Office of the Attorney General has any records of royal pardons granted between 1987 and 1997.

Lord Wallace of Tankerness

The Attorney General has no formal role in the issue of Royal Pardons and therefore there are no records of Royal Pardons held by the Attorney General’s Office.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Empey on 2014-06-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the reported loss of records of royal pardons granted between 1987 and 1997 applies to the whole of the United Kingdom.

Lord Faulks

The exercise of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy may currently take one of three forms:

i) The grant of a Free Pardon;

ii) The grant of a conditional Pardon;

iii) Remission of all or part of a penalty

By Constitutional convention, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (in succession to the Home Secretary) is responsible, in England and Wales (and the Channel Islands), for recommending to Her Majesty the exercise of the prerogative of mercy to grant a Royal Pardon. In Northern Ireland the responsibility lies with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for reserved matters and the Justice Minister for Northern Ireland for devolved matters. In Scotland it is devolved to the First Minister. The Secretary of State for Defence also has the responsibility in relation to members of the armed forces.

Each department or administration is responsible for maintaining their records. I am not aware of any problems with retrieving such records for this period relating to royal pardons granted on the recommendation of the Secretary of State for Justice.