Tag: Nigel Dodds

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-10-28.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the implementation of the recommendations on money laundering and terrorism financing of the G7 Financial Action Task Force.

Harriett Baldwin

The international standards for anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing are set by the Financial Action Task Force of which the UK is a leading member. The UK has a comprehensive anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regime, and we are committed to ensuring our financial system is a hostile environment for criminal finances. The UK was last assessed by the FATF in 2007 and our high level of compliance with the standards exempted us from the detailed follow-up most countries must complete. The UK will next be evaluated beginning in 2017 and the Treasury and Home Office are already making the necessary preparations for this assessment.

To this end, the Government recently published the UK’s first National Risk Assessment of money laundering and terrorist financing which is a requirement of the FATF standards. We are now preparing an Action Plan to address the findings of the NRA. The Action Plan will be a core component of our preparations for our FATF evaluation.

The FATF has now completed fourth round evaluations of Spain, Belgium, Norway, Australia, and Malaysia to assess both technical compliance and effectiveness. These reports, and those of the previous rounds, are publicly available on the FATF website (www.fatf-gafi.org).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-11-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the operation of the National Crime Agency in Northern Ireland.

Mike Penning

Since 20 May 2015, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has been operating with full powers in Northern Ireland. As the NCA reported to the Northern Ireland Policing Board on 01 October 2015, the scope of NCA’s crime-fighting capability within the jurisdiction has increased. During the period April-June 2015, the NCA recorded 26 disruptions against organised crime groups and high priority threats operating in Northern Ireland. The NCA has worked in partnership with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the support that the NCA provides law enforcement partners, particularly the PSNI has been enhanced.

The NCA is committed to playing its role in tackling serious and organised crime in Northern Ireland. The NCA will be fully engaged in delivering the commitment outlined in ‘A Fresh Start: The Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan’ to undertake a concerted and enhanced effort to combat serious and organised and cross border crime.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-12-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to increase the level of co-ordination with other governmental agencies and departments to prevent the trade of puppies through UK ports.

James Brokenshire

Border Force works with and supports the lead department – the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – which is responsible for imports of live animals, including puppies. Border Force meets regularly with Defra to exchange ideas and explore opportunities for increased cooperation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2016-02-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what representations she has received on the effect on Northern Ireland of proposals for new runway capacity in the London area.

Mrs Theresa Villiers

I have discussed the importance of air connectivity between Northern Ireland and London and the work of the Airports Commission with Ministers in the Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and airport operators.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2016-06-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with her Irish Republic counterpart on security co-operation since the latest published security assessment of the threat posed by Irish republican terrorists.

Mrs Theresa Villiers

I am in regular contact with Irish ministers on security and other matters. Political and operational co-operation is strong and the Irish authorities are having considerable success disrupting the activities of dissident republican terrorists and bringing them to justice.

I commend the PSNI and AGS for their work on tackling the terrorist threat and their efforts to keep people safe on both sides of the border. The establishment of the Joint Agency Task Force on organised crime adds another important dimension to this already effective co-operation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2016-09-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on co-operation with NATO over maritime security.

Sir Alan Duncan

Cooperation between NATO and the EU in maritime security, as well as in other areas of security policy, is a key priority for HMG, and one which we raise regularly in discussions with EU and NATO counterparts.

The UK strongly supported the tasking from the NATO Warsaw Summit in July for improving such cooperation, where we believe NATO and the EU have complementary roles to play. In the current operations, this mean cooperation in the Aegean Sea, to tackle irregular migrant flows between Greece and Turkey, and co-ordination in respect of Operation Sophia in the Mediterranean Sea, and anti-piracy activities in the Indian Ocean.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-10-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with NATO and EU governments on implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2178 on foreign terrorist fighters.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

Ministers and officials consistently call for all states to implement fully the recommendations of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2178 on foreign terrorist fighters, both bilaterally and in multilateral fora.

Experts from the UK have presented at technical sessions of the Counter-ISIL Coalition, the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee and the EU, discussing our work in this area and the implementation and passing of legislation in line with recommendations contained in UNSCR 2178 to combat this threat.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-11-17.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on tax credits since 25 October.

Damian Hinds

Treasury Ministers have regular discussions with Ministers of the devolved administrations and with politicians of all parties on a range of topics.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-12-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with (a) the NI Executive, (b) business leaders, (c) third sector representatives on the potential effects of the UK leaving the EU.

Mr Ben Wallace

The Government is focused on delivering a successful renegotiation: it believes it can and will succeed in reforming and renegotiating our relationship with the EU and campaigning to keep the UK in the EU on that basis.

I meet regularly with NI Executive Ministers, business leaders and third sector representatives to discuss a range of issues and will continue to do so.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2016-02-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with (a) the Northern Ireland Executive and (b) airport operators in Northern Ireland and Great Britain on the Airports Commission: Final Report, published in July 2015.

Mrs Theresa Villiers

I have discussed the importance of air connectivity between Northern Ireland and London and the work of the Airports Commission with Ministers in the Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and airport operators.