The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-06-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if his Department will produce a new Strategy for Abolition of the Death Penalty.
Mr David Lidington
I refer the Hon. Member to my answer of 14 January in response to Written Question 21761 of 11 January from the Hon. Member for Birmingham Hall Green (Mr Godsiff ).
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-10-10.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax credits claims have been reinstated by HM Revenue and Customs as a result of (a) adjustments and (b) cancellations by Concentrix in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency.
Jane Ellison
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not hold the data broken down specifically by constituency areas. HMRC is currently focused on resolving the outstanding cases but will be preparing regional analysis, which will be available in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2015-11-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the development of Watchkeeper.
Mr Philip Dunne
Development costs are not separately identified as they are included within the main Demonstration, Manufacturing and Initial Support contract with Thales UK. The current total financial approval for development and delivery of Watchkeeper to Full Operating Capability is £927 million.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2015-12-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he last met with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to discuss the rollout of universal credit across Scotland.
David Mundell
I and my officials have regular engagement with colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions on a range of important matters, including the rollout of universal credit and fulfilling our commitment to devolve employment support currently delivered by the Work Programme and Work Choice. In addition, I also discuss Welfare related issues in my regular meetings with Local Authorities across Scotland.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-01-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2015 to Question 18729 and the oral contribution of the Financial Secretary to the Treasury of 6 January 2016, Official Report, columns 274-5, whether he has discussed the introduction of the new Work and Health Programme in Scotland with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
David Mundell
Further to my answer of 10 December 2015, UK and Scottish Government officials are discussing the introduction of the new Work and Health Programme and broader welfare reforms, including the implications for Scotland in the context of the devolution of welfare powers in the Scotland Bill. In due course, I would expect these issues to be discussed by the Joint Ministerial Welfare Group, which I co-chair with the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights and is attended by DWP and HM Treasury Ministers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-02-01.
To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, what recent assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the potential effect of the date of the EU referendum on mayoral, local, and devolved institutions’ elections.
Mr Gary Streeter
The Electoral Commission recently wrote to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, following that Committee’s recent evidence session, on a number of issues, including the potential impact of the date of the referendum if it were to be held in June. A copy of the letter is available on the Committee’s website.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-02-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, which (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department attended the Scottish Steel Task Force meeting on (i) 29 January 2015, (ii) 13 November 2015, (iii) 26 November 2015, (iv) 11 December 2015 and (v) 14 January 2016.
Anna Soubry
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) was not present at the first meeting of the Scottish Steel Task Force which took place on 29th October 2015. However, BIS was represented by a Grade 6 level official at the meetings on 13 and 26 November 2015 and 14 January 2016, as well as at the most recent meeting on 4 February 2016. Officials from the Scotland Office have attended all meetings of the Task Force. There was no meeting on 29 January 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-05-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether her Department will implement the recommendations made by the Committee on Climate Change in its report of November 2015, The fifth carbon budget – The next step towards a low-carbon economy.
Andrea Leadsom
This Government remains firmly committed to meeting our climate change target of an at least 80% emissions reduction by 2050. The fifth carbon budget, which covers the period 2028-2032, is an important step on the way to 2050.
Discussions on this budget are continuing and we will make an announcement as soon as those discussions conclude.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-06-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has visited a food bank in Scotland since February 2016.
David Mundell
I have not visited a food bank in my capacity as Secretary of State for Scotland.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-10-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2016 to Question 45526, what representations he has received on the new charge brought against Nabeel Rajab by authorities in Bahrain.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
Our Ambassador to Bahrain most recently raised the case of Nabeel Rajeb with the Bahraini Foreign Minister, Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa, on 17 October. An Official from our Embassy in Bahrain has attended all of the hearings to date, including most recently on 6 October. We will continue to monitor the case closely.