Tag: Mark Williams

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2016-01-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2015 to Question 1543, on Western Sahara: referendum, whether any referendum would put forward a choice between independence for Western Sahara and integration of that region with Morocco.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

The terms and choices of a referendum on the status of Western Sahara are for Morocco and the Polisario Front to agree as the two parties to the dispute. The UK fully supports UN-led efforts to encourage both parties to agree a lasting and mutually acceptable political solution that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2016-02-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many applications for emergency authorisation for the use of neonicotinoids have been received in 2016; and how many of those applications have been granted.

George Eustice

No applications have been received in 2016 for the emergency authorisation of neonicotinoids.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2016-02-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many applications for emergency authorisation for the use of neonicotinoids have been received in 2016; and how many of those applications have been granted.

George Eustice

No applications have been received in 2016 for the emergency authorisation of neonicotinoids.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2016-03-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what value of dairy produce was imported from each country of origin in each of the last five years.

George Eustice

The HMRC data has been provided on a ‘country of despatch’ basis, rather than the requested ‘country of origin’ basis, as ‘country of despatch’ trade data is considered a more accurate representation of actual levels of trade.

The table below shows the value of dairy produce imported into the UK, for the last five years, according to HMRC trade statistics:

£/million
Country	2011	2012	2013	2014	*2015
Irish Republic	689.1	662.6	767.3	702.6	594.1
France	484.2	510.0	559.5	568.4	392.0
Germany	286.3	283.5	336.5	345.1	241.4
Netherlands	169.2	237.2	277.2	252.1	187.3
Belgium	216.3	209.5	239.4	196.0	142.0
Italy	174.1	162.4	168.5	174.5	111.9
Denmark	214.1	195.1	153.1	160.0	70.7
Greece	44.8	44.9	53.7	60.7	70.2
Poland	28.4	31.9	42.0	43.4	41.2
Spain	31.8	36.8	44.3	39.6	31.9
Cyprus	16.3	17.2	20.4	26.6	22.2
Others	96.8	95.9	102.6	134.7	91.9
Grand Total	2,451.4	2,487.0	2,764.4	2,703.6	1,996.9

Source: HM Revenue and Customs. Data prepared by the Food & Trade Statistics team, Great British Food Unit, Defra.

*2015 data are subject to amendments. Totals may not add up to the sum of their components due to rounding.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2016-04-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if his Department will raise with the Moroccan ambassador to the UK the death of Brahim Saika in Gulemin police station on 15 April 2016.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

The British Embassy in Rabat raised the case of Mr Brahim Saika with Morocco’s National Human Rights Commission, CNDH, on 18 April 2016. The Commission had been following the case closely and is preparing its report on his detention and death. We will consider any further action in the light of the Commission’s report.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2016-05-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what her Department’s policy is on restricting the import of cheap, inferior-quality coal to the UK.

Andrea Leadsom

The decision of where to source coal is a commercial decision for companies. Through our efforts to decarbonise our electricity system, we are increasing the diversity of our energy mix and reducing our reliance on unabated coal.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2015-11-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will (a) discuss with the Moroccan Ambassador to the UK and (b) instruct the British Ambassador to Morocco to investigate the condition and treatment of Ali Aarrass who is on hunger strike in Sale prison.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

Non-Government Organisations reported on 10 November that Ali Aarrass suspended his hunger strike after 72 days. We monitor the human rights situation in Morocco closely.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2016-07-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations at the meeting of the UN Security Council on 26 July 2016 that MINURSO must be enabled to fulfil its original mandate.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We continue to make clear our expectation that MINURSO be returned to full functionality in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2285.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2015-10-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what fiscal steps he plans to take to help unincorporated businesses with the introduction of the living wage.

Nick Boles

The Government believes that the new National Living Wage is affordable given the strength of the UK economy and labour market.

The Government will publish a full impact assessment for the introduction of the National Living Wage alongside the implementing regulations. This will contain a section on the impact on small businesses which includes many unincorporated businesses.

The Government is reducing Corporation Tax to 19% from 2017-18 and then to 18% from 2020-21; setting the Annual Investment Allowance at a new permanent level of £200,000; and increasing the Employment Allowance by £1,000 to £3,000 from 2016-17. The increase in the employment allowance means a business could employ four people on the National Living Wage and pay no National Insurance Contributions.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2015-10-20.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support the Government is giving to unincorporated businesses via the taxation system.

Mr David Gauke

The government is committed to supporting unincorporated businesses. At Budget 2015, the government announced that it would transform the tax system over the course of this Parliament by introducing digital tax accounts for everyone, removing the need for annual tax returns.

In addition, the government has introduced cash basis accounting so that the smallest businesses can report their income and expenses to HMRC in a simpler way.

Building on recommendations by the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS), the government will consult in autumn 2015 on abolishing Class 2 NICs and reforming Class 4 NICs. This will simplify the NICs system and reduce the administrative burden of NICs for millions of self-employed individuals.

At Summer Budget 2015, the Chancellor announced the Annual Investment Allowance would rise to its highest ever permanent level from January 2016.

The allowance enables businesses, including unincorporated businesses, to write down 100% of all qualifying investment in plant and machinery against its taxable profits up to £200,000, providing a cash flow benefit to companies who invest.