The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-11-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the Northern Ireland Executive on the Airports Commission: Final report, published July 2015.
Mr Robert Goodwill
There have been no recent discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Airports Commission’s Final Report.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-12-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on improving access to high-quality services for people affected by Parkinson’s disease.
Jane Ellison
No discussions have taken place between Ministers of the Department and the Northern Ireland Executive on improving access to high-quality services for people affected by Parkinson’s disease.
As health is a devolved matter these issues are not regularly discussed between Ministers and their counterparts in the devolved administrations, however research and evidence of best practice is made widely available throughout the United Kingdom.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2016-06-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate she has made of cost to the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland of the EU referendum.
Mr Ben Wallace
The European Union Referendum (Counting Officers’ and Regional Counting Officers’ Charges) Regulations 2016 sets out a Maximum Recoverable Amount for Northern Ireland of £3,292,686. The cost of the referendum will be charged to the Consolidated Fund.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2016-07-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much her Department has spent on information technology and equipment since 2010.
Mrs Theresa Villiers
Since 2010, my Department has spent £3.96m on information technology and equipment, including IT support and maintenance. This represents expenditure up to the end of the 2015-16 financial year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2014-07-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to ensure that UK assistance to the Democratic Republic of Congo is not misused or misappropriated.
Justine Greening
DFID takes seriously tackling the misuse or misappropriation of UK Aid, and has a range of robust controls and measures in place to safeguard the UK taxpayers’ money.
In the DRC this includes regular rigorous risk assessments of the fiduciary environment to determine the way in which UK Aid is provided. Currently this means DFID funds in DRC are channelled through United Nations agencies and NGOs, rather than provided directly to the government. All partners selected are subject to pre-funding due diligence checks and regular scrutiny during implementation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2014-07-15.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the success of steps taken to encourage and facilitate first time buyers and young people to get onto the property ladder.
Andrea Leadsom
The Help to Buy scheme is helping hardworking people realise their home-owning aspirations across the UK. Over 27,000 households have bought a new home through Help to Buy so far, and 85 per cent of these have been first-time buyers. Between 2011/12 and 2013/14 11,000 first time buyers were helped through the FirstBuy scheme
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2014-07-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his objectives are in negotiations with the Kenyan government on a memorandum of understanding for continued use of the Nanyuki training facility.
Mr Mark Francois
The current Memorandum of Understanding concerning UK and Kenyan military co-operation includes UK use of training facilities in Kenya. This covers all activities until April 2015, when a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is due to be signed. Constructive dialogue on the MOU continues, and we anticipate a successful outcome which will reflect the positions and requirements of the Kenyan and UK Governments, and permit continued military training in Kenya.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-01-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic, humanitarian or consular assistance his Department has provided to Ms Maud Kells, the missionary from County Tyrone who was shot and wounded in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mr David Lidington
I was very concerned to hear the reports of a British national hospitalised after this shooting. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials in London and the Democratic Republic of Congo are providing consular assistance through direct contact with her, the charity she works for and the local doctors to ensure that she is being provided with medical treatment and support. We understand that the matter is being investigated by the local authorities. Background Ms Maude Kells a 75 year old Christian charity worker (WEC International) was shot in the shoulder on Sunday 4 January currently being treated in Nyunkunde Hospital, DRC. Post are in contact with Ms Kells, doctors and WEC International. The hospital has reported that Ms Kells is recovering well considering her injuries and she may be discharged in a few days time. Post confirm local authorities investigating. Press lines -“We can confirm the hospitalisation of a British national in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We are providing consular assistance.”
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2014-07-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support religious tolerance of Christians in India.
Mr Hugo Swire
Our High Commissioner to India, Sir James Bevan recently met India’s Minister of Minority Affairs, Dr Najma Heptulla, on 16 June to discuss a range of minority issues, including the protection of religious freedoms. Our High Commission in New Delhi also discusses minority issues, including religious tolerance of Christians, with the Indian National Commission for Minorities and with other relevant State level authorities. Minority rights were also discussed at the EU-India human rights dialogue on 27 November 2013. We will continue to maintain a dialogue with the new Indian government about minority rights issues.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-01-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many community grant applications have been received from HQ 38 (Irish) Brigade in Northern Ireland; how many such applications were successful; and how much was disbursed in respect of those applications in each year since the inception of that scheme.
Anna Soubry
The first community grant application from HQ 38 (Irish) Brigade was submitted in January 2015. There have been no previous applications submitted because there have been no Community Covenants signed in Northern Ireland.
Despite this, good progress has been made on Covenant issues during 2014 with nearly all of the measures in the Covenant now extending to Northern Ireland. HQ 38 (Irish) Brigade provides a focus for taking Covenant issues forward in the region. The Armed Forces Covenant annual report, laid before the House on 16 December 2014, highlights this progress. I am planning to visit Northern Ireland soon, and I will take the opportunity to see for myself the progress that has been made and its effect on the Armed Forces Community in the Province.
We will continue to engage with the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that the needs of the Armed Forces community are met.