Tag: Margaret Ferrier

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-01-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the conclusions of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s assessment of the neoniocotinoid imidacloprid, published on 6 January 2016.

George Eustice

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has published a “Preliminary Pollinator Assessment to Support the Registration Review of Imidacloprid”. The Agency aims to produce the final assessment at the end of 2016. The preliminary assessment indicates a risk to honey bees from uses of imidacloprid on cotton and some uses on citrus. Risks from use on a number of other crops were low and a shortage of data meant that the risks from use on other crops were uncertain.

The US assessment cannot be read across to the UK situation as there are many differences in the crops, methods of applying the pesticide and environmental conditions.

The European Food Safety Authority has begun a scientific evaluation of the risk to bees from imidacloprid, as well as two other neonicotinoids (clothianidin and thiamethoxam). The UK will participate fully in that review.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-01-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2015 to Question 7427, what discussions he has had with Ministers of the Scottish Government on the implications of holding a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU within eight weeks of elections to the Scottish Parliament.

David Mundell

The UK Government has held discussions with representatives from the Devolved Administrations throughout the renegotiation process and the UK’s renegotiation is a standing agenda item at the Joint Ministerial Committee’s Europe meetings.

The Prime Minister has been clear that the referendum must follow a renegotiation of the UK’s relationship with the EU. Timing will therefore depend on progress of the renegotiation. The Government has made no decisions on the date, except to specifically rule out holding it on 5 May 2016 and 4 May 2017, to avoid coinciding with the various elections, including elections in Scotland, which are scheduled to take place on those days.

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 Welsh Tata Steel Task Force meeting on (i) 20 January and (ii) 1 February 2016.

Anna Soubry

No Ministers from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) attended the meetings of the Welsh Tata Steel Task Force on 20 January and 1 February 2016. However, my noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Wales Office (Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth) was present at the meeting on 1^st February. A Senior Civil Service official from BIS attended both meetings.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-05-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he made of the cost of Part Two of the Leveson Inquiry.

Mr Edward Vaizey

Criminal proceedings connected to the subject matter of the Leveson Inquiry, including the appeals process, have not yet completed. We‎ have always been clear that these cases must conclude before we consider Part 2 of the Inquiry, including any estimate of cost.

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.