Tag: Martyn Day

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-02-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment the Prime Minister has made of the potential effect of the investor state dispute settlement clause of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership on public services managed by the Scottish government.

Anna Soubry

The inclusion of investment protections and investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) provisions in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) should not affect how public services are provided in Scotland or the rest of the UK. Investment protection seeks to protect businesses and individuals who have made investments overseas from unfair or discriminatory treatment and ISDS is about providing an independent legal means to resolve disputes which have arisen under the treaty. The proposals cannot force governments to open markets or privatise public services.

The UK has bilateral investment agreements with over 90 countries which contain ISDS provisions and there has never been a successful claim brought against the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-03-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how the Government plans to use its position on the UN Security Council to help facilitate diplomatic negotiations on protecting civilians in Burundi; and if the Government will negotiate for a UN police peacekeeping mission with a Chapter VII mandate.

James Duddridge

The UK has been at the forefront of UN Security Council efforts to seek an end to violence in Burundi in order to protect civilians. Under the UK’s Presidency, the Security Council passed Resolution 2248 in November 2015, which among other things authorised the Secretary General to send a mission to Burundi to help create conditions for dialogue. Dialogue is crucial to securing a peaceful and stable outcome to the current crisis. During my visit to Burundi in December 2015 I used meetings with Burundian Foreign Minister Alain Nyamitwe, and Major General Prime Niyongabo, Army Chief of Staff, to press the Government of Burundi to engage in inclusive dialogue without preconditions. At the African Union (AU) Summit in January, I also discussed the situation in Burundi with AU Chairperson Madame Zuma, AU Peace and Security Commissioner Chergui and Burundian Foreign Minister Nyamitwe. The UK also made these points as part of a Security Council visit to Burundi in January this year. We have urged the Burundian government to accept an international peacekeeping deployment, which would render a Chapter VII mission unnecessary.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-05-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made on the effect of the CXL duty on (a) the number of jobs in and (b) exports from the UK’s cane refining sector in the years up to (i) 2017 and (ii) 2025.

George Eustice

No assessment has been made of the effect of the CXL duty on the number of jobs in and exports from the UK’s cane refining sector. An economic modelling paper assessing the effect of the ending of the EU sugar quota regime on the price of white sugar within the EU was published in November 2015. This paper is particularly focussed on the likely impact on the cane refining industry in the EU. However it does not model any changes to the structure of either the beet or cane refining industries. The paper can be found on the GOV.UK website.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-09-08.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the implications for small businesses of his Department’s plans to introduce quarterly digital tax returns by 2020.

Jane Ellison

The Government launched the Making Tax Digital consultations on 15 August. The consultations included an initial impact assessment alongside an overview of the potential costs and savings. This initial assessment shows a reduction in businesses’ on-going administrative costs in the medium term; these proposals do not mean four tax returns a year.

The Government will publish an updated assessment in the Tax Information and Impact Note to be published alongside draft legislation

These reforms will bring the tax system into the 21^st Century, contributing to HM Revenue and Customs’ overall target to reduce administrative burdens for business by £400m.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to provide financial assistance to local authorities which are increasing their insurance cover against the risk of terrorism.

Mr Marcus Jones

Local authorities are democratically elected organisations, and as such are responsible for managing their budgets and insurance arrangements in line with local priorities and risks.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2015-11-30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to assist financially those military veterans who retired with fewer than 22 years’ service before 5 April 1975.

Mark Lancaster

No estimate has been made of the cost of resolving legacy pension issues although it would likely cost the tax-payer billions of pounds; the issue of pre-1975 pensions does not just affect the Armed Forces, but is common to all other public service schemes in existence prior to the Social Security Act 1973.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-01-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans the Government has to seek legislative consent from the Scottish Parliament for the proposed repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Dominic Raab

This Government was elected with a clear mandate to replace the Human Rights Act with a Bill of Rights. We will bring forward proposals for consultation in due course, and will fully engage with the Devolved Administrations.

It would be premature to comment on the application of the Sewell Convention until the package of legislation is settled.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-02-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is a mixed-competence agreement that will require ratification by the national parliaments of all EU member states.

Anna Soubry

We expect that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) will be a “mixed” agreement, covering areas of both EU and Member State competence. In that case, it will be subject to agreement by each EU Member State, the EU Council and the European Parliament. As part of this process the agreement will be subject to Parliamentary scrutiny before it is ratified by the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-03-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if the Government will make an assessment of the potential merits of developing an atrocity prevention lens framework similar to that used by the UN Office for the Prevention of Genocide to assist in decision-making on where to commit or remove bilateral aid and other aid assistance programmes.

Mr Nick Hurd

The UK continues to be strongly committed to early and effective international action to prevent mass atrocities, which are of grave concern to the Government. The National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 (SDSR) underlined the importance the Government attaches to upholding international humanitarian law and to the prevention of mass atrocities through effective implementation of the UN agreed principle of the Responsibility to Protect.

The Government’s overseas network, strong international partnerships, and early warning mechanisms give the UK significant insight into emerging risks. HMG also produces an internal risk report on countries at risk of instability, which highlights regions in which there are increasing risks of instability, conflict and mass atrocities. The report draws on a wide range of sources and includes indicators that highlight the risk of mass atrocities occurring. The data assessment reflects best practice from NGOs and partner governments’ and is kept under regular review. Policy-makers also take into account atrocity risk analysis from partner governments, the UN and NGOs.

As set out in the SDSR and the UK Aid Strategy, the response to conflict, atrocity and other risks uses diplomatic, development, defence and law enforcement capabilities in an integrated manner. As such, addressing and preventing conflict, instability and state failure is a key priority running through UK aid policies and programmes. This includes the prevention of identity-based mass violence, alongside other forms of violence and instability.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-06-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterparts in the Iranian government on violations of human rights through executions, torture and arbitrary arrests in that country.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

The UK regularly raises our human rights concerns with the Iranian authorities, both in London and Tehran, and will continue to do so. Iran’s human rights record remains a serious cause for concern, particularly its use of the death penalty, torture, treatment of prisoners (including appropriate access to medical care) and restrictions on the freedom of religion and belief. We continue to urge Iran to abide by its international commitments to ensure all Iranians enjoy the rights and freedoms they are entitled to.