The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-12-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with business and tourism representatives in Northern Ireland on the Davies Commission and increased airport capacity in the south east of England.
Mr Robert Goodwill
There have been no discussions with business and tourism representatives in Northern Ireland on the Davies Commission and increased airport capacity in the south east of England.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2016-06-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with the devolved administrations on her Department’s priorities.
Sir Desmond Swayne
DFID Ministers have met Scottish Government Ministers on two occasions in the past year. DFID officials have met officials of the devolved administrations to discuss respective priorities on a number of occasions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2016-07-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions she has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Joint Agency Task Force; and if she will make a statement.
Mrs Theresa Villiers
I attended a Security Interface meeting on 4 July 2016 with Clare Sugden MLA, Minister of Justice for Northern Ireland, representatives of PSNI and senior representatives of the Department of Justice. We received an update on the work of the Joint Agency Task Force. The Task Force has presented its first report to the meeting of Justice Ministers in the framework of the Intergovernmental Agreement on co-operation on criminal justice matters, with an update on operational activity undertaken to date.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2016-09-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of training of assessors for asylum applications where religious persecution is the reason for the application.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Home Office carefully considers all asylum claims on their individual merits, including claims based on religious persecution. We grant protection to those who genuinely need it in accordance with our international obligations under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights.
Published guidance on the interviewing and consideration of asylum claims is regularly reviewed and takes into consideration the views of stakeholders, including religious groups. The current training and support available for asylum caseworkers includes a the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees endorsed Foundation Training Programme. This, and follow-on courses, covers all aspects of the asylum interview and decision making process, including the assessment of credibility and country information in religious based claims. Real-life case studies and role-play are used throughout the training programme to reinforce knowledge and understanding of the issues.
We are carefully considering the report and recommendations of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief published in June 2016 and will provide a response in due course.
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 recent representations he has made to the Russian government on full implementation of its obligations under the Minsk agreements.
Mr David Lidington
In all ministerial and senior official contacts with Russia, the UK Government continues to emphasise the importance of full implementation of the Minsk Agreements. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge ( Mr Hammond) raised the issue of Ukraine when he met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the margins of the Iran nuclear negotiations in Vienna in July 2015, and again in the margins of the Syria talks in Vienna in October 2015. I raised it when I met the Russian Ambassador to the UK, Alexander Yakovenko in June 2015.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-11-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with the Northern Ireland executive about (a) the licensing of road hauliers and (b) tackling transportation of illicit fuel.
Mr Ben Wallace
Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office have not had any direct discussions with the NI Executive about (a) licensing of road hauliers and (b) tackling transportation of illicit fuel. Matters relating to (a) the road hauliers and (b) tackling transportation of illicit fuel are for the DVA and HMRC respectively.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-11-30.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive about comparative support between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK for charities for encouraging young people to get involved in social action.
Mr Rob Wilson
Officials from the Office for Civil Society have regular contact with their counterparts in Northern Ireland on a range of matters of mutual interest, including better charity regulation. I would personally welcome any further contact and future collaboration in driving forward our mutually important agenda.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2016-06-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with her US counterpart on levels of corruption in states in receipt of international aid.
Sir Desmond Swayne
The Secretary of State met with Gayle Smith on 18 April for the annual DFID-USAID development dialogue in Washington DC.
My senior officials and those of USAID engage frequently and the UK and USA are working closely to follow up on commitments made in our respective country statements at the Prime Minister’s Anti-Corruption Summit on 12 May.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2016-07-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions the Government has had with the Gibraltar authorities on the potential implications of the outcome of the EU referendum.
Sir Alan Duncan
The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Mr Johnson) met the Chief Minister of Gibraltar in London on 16 July. The then Minister for Europe, my Rt Hon Friend the member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington) spoke to the Chief Minister twice by telephone on 24 June about the outcome of the referendum. He also met the Chief Minister on 28 June in London to discuss the potential implications, and again on 11 July alongside the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for West Dorset (Mr Letwin). In addition, officials continue to be in frequent contact with their Gibraltarian counterparts.
In all of these discussions, the former Minister of State made clear the outcome of the referendum does not affect the United Kingdom’s steadfast and longstanding commitment to Gibraltar, and its guarantee to stand by the double-lock on sovereignty.
The Government has also confirmed that, as it prepares for the process to leave the EU, we will fully involve Gibraltar to ensure that all of its interests are taken properly into account. In the meantime, the Government will continue to take whatever action is necessary to safeguard Gibraltar, its people and its economy, including maintaining a well-functioning Gibraltar-Spain border.
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 about access to all areas of East Ukraine for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission.
Mr David Lidington
For the Minsk peace process to succeed, Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) monitors must be given full and unhindered access to east Ukraine. I discussed implementation of the Minsk Agreements in detail with Prime Minister Yatseniuk, Foreign Minister Klimkin and OSCE Special Representative Martin Sadjik when I visited Ukraine between 6-8 October. I also raise access for OSCE monitors regularly with the Russian Ambassador to the UK, most recently in June 2015. We also continue to raise it as a point of priority when discussing Ukraine with bilateral partners and in multilateral fora including the EU, OSCE and the UN.