Tag: Martyn Day

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to obtain a special status for UK agricultural products from specific geographical origin within the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.

George Eustice

Negotiations on the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) concluded in 2014 and the agreement is expected to come into force in early 2017. CETA represents a good outcome for the UK. Economic analysis suggests the UK could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of this agreement.

Our most important GI (Geographic Indication) product, Scotch Whisky, will receive greater protection in the market and the agreement removes both tariff and non-tariff barriers to British food and drink exports to Canada.

We will be working with the EU Commission, other Member States, the UK food industry and trade organisations to extend GI recognition under CETA for EU protected food name products not included in the initial negotiating list. In particular for UK products where exports to Canada have substantially increased since the CETA negotiations started in 2011.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-07-13.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of the change in the value of the pound since following the EU referendum on private pension funds.

Simon Kirby

There has been some turbulence in financial markets following the vote to leave the EU, including a sharp adjustment to the price of sterling. However, markets have continued to function effectively, and we will continue to work closely with the Bank of England to provide stability and support to markets. HM Treasury does not make direct assessments of the value and funding position of private pension funds.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-09-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding her Department has provided to support victims of human trafficking in each year since 2010.

Sarah Newton

The Home Office and Ministry of Justice jointly fund the Adult Victims of Modern Slavery Care and Coordination Contract in England and Wales. Since July 2011, The Salvation Army has been delivering this service. The total Government funding over this period has been:

Year	Funding
2011-2012
(July-June)	£2.3 million
2012-2013
(Jul-Jun)	£3.8 million
2013-2014
(July-June)	£3.9 million
2014-2015
(July -March)	£4 million
2015-2016
(April -March)	£9 million

The Home Office estimates that in 2013 there were between 10,000 and 13,000 potential victims of modern slavery in the UK.

In 2015 there were 3,266 of victims of human trafficking and other forms of modern slavery referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) – the UK’s framework for referring and supporting victims of human trafficking and modern slavery.

In addition, 427 potential victims of modern slavery were identified in England and Wales via the “duty to notify” requirement which requires specified public bodies to report to the Government all potential adult victims of modern slavery encountered in England and Wales who do not wish to be referred to the NRM. Similar provisions will shortly be in place in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2015-12-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the timescale is for reaching a decision on the proposals to add Dupuytren’s Contracture to the list of industrial injuries disablement benefit diseases.

Justin Tomlinson

The proposal to add Dupuytren’s Contracture is still under consideration and a decision on this will be made in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-01-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to grant right of abode in this country to former British-Hong Kong servicemen.

James Brokenshire

I have agreed to undertake a thorough assessment of the request that this group are offered right of abode in the United Kingdom, based on their employment in Hong Kong. This is under consideration.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-02-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will increase aid to Jordan in order to help that country cope with the inflow of Syrian refugees.

Mr Desmond Swayne

At the Supporting Syria and the Region Conference, the Prime Minister announced that the UK will more than double our total pledge to the Syria crisis from £1.12 billion to over £2.3 billion. This funding will support those in need inside Syria and in the surrounding region which is dealing with the impact of the crisis, including Jordan. Final country allocations are still being decided but it is clear that aid from the UK in Jordan will rise compared to previous years.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-03-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to increase the UK’s energy storage capacity for excess energy from renewables; and what financial support she is making available to increase the capacity of pumped hydro systems.

Andrea Leadsom

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is investigating the potential barriers to deployment of energy storage and possible mitigating actions, focussing in the first instance on removing regulatory barriers but also considering whether more needs to be done to stimulate investment in energy storage. DECC plans to issue a call for evidence in spring 2016 on this area.

DECC has provided more than £18m of innovation support since 2012 to develop and demonstrate a range of energy storage technologies. This support has included a grant to a UK pumped hydro storage company to analyse the potential for wider deployment of new pumped hydro storage facilities in novel sites around Great Britain – for example, in disused quarries or other brownfield sites or using drinking water reservoirs.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-07-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to (a) ensure effective consultation with the Muslim community on the provision of the proposed Counter-Extremism and Safeguarding Bill and (b) respond to any concerns of that community on those provisions during proceedings on that Bill.

Sarah Newton

As announced in the Queen’s Speech debates we will consult widely on all the provisions of the Counter Extremism and Safeguarding Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech before legislation is introduced.

We want to hear the views of a wide range of groups, including the Muslim community, and will make sure they have sufficient time to properly consider the proposals and that full consideration is given to all views expressed.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-09-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of people in the UK who have been trafficked.

Sarah Newton

The Home Office and Ministry of Justice jointly fund the Adult Victims of Modern Slavery Care and Coordination Contract in England and Wales. Since July 2011, The Salvation Army has been delivering this service. The total Government funding over this period has been:

Year	Funding
2011-2012
(July-June)	£2.3 million
2012-2013
(Jul-Jun)	£3.8 million
2013-2014
(July-June)	£3.9 million
2014-2015
(July -March)	£4 million
2015-2016
(April -March)	£9 million

The Home Office estimates that in 2013 there were between 10,000 and 13,000 potential victims of modern slavery in the UK.

In 2015 there were 3,266 of victims of human trafficking and other forms of modern slavery referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) – the UK’s framework for referring and supporting victims of human trafficking and modern slavery.

In addition, 427 potential victims of modern slavery were identified in England and Wales via the “duty to notify” requirement which requires specified public bodies to report to the Government all potential adult victims of modern slavery encountered in England and Wales who do not wish to be referred to the NRM. Similar provisions will shortly be in place in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2015-12-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he expects to publish the outcomes of his Department’s BBC Charter Review consultation.

Mr Edward Vaizey

The Government’s BBC Charter Review Public Consultation closed in October. Over 190,000 people responded to the consultation – the second largest response to any Government consultation. We are in the process of reading and analysing all the responses, and will publish the results once this exercise is completed.