Tag: Nigel Evans

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to reduce the likelihood of future flooding in Whalley, Ribchester and surrounding areas.

Rory Stewart

The Environment Agency (EA) has spent approximately £750,000 on flood defence schemes in the villages of Slaidburn and Bolton by Bowland over the last decade.

Since the December 2015 flooding, the EA has given one-to-one help and advice to over 100 residents. As part of the works to repair bank erosion at Whalley Bridge, the EA is contributing £20,000 to reduce flood risk by removing gravel from the river channel.

Currently there is a review of flood risk in the Lower Calder which will develop options and predicted costs to address the Main River flooding. The EA aims to report at the end of the year. In 2017, a review of flood risk in Ribchester will commence.

Lancashire County Council is currently bidding for £2 million in Grant in Aid to address surface water flooding in Whalley and Billington. The Environment Agency’s flood and coastal erosion risk management investment programme is refreshed annually to accommodate change, maximise opportunities and integrate new projects. The Regional Flood and Coastal Committee will endorse changes and new additions to the programme, which are then prioritised nationally according to the partnership funding process.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-10-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the composition and remit is of the review she has established to advise her on the future of St Helena airport.

Rory Stewart

The independent Panel is currently being established, a process which will consider its proposed composition and its remit.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2015-11-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the reasons were for the Ministry of Defence Police withholding a Special Investigation Branch report of Lt. Col. Jolleys’ circumstances from a fraud trial in which he was convicted of failing to declare changes to his circumstances.

Mark Lancaster

A Special Investigation Branch Report was served as evidence at Lt Col Jolleys’ trial and was provided to his Defence team pre-trial.

It will take time to gather the further information and I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department is planning to give to countries affected by the Zika virus.

Mr Hugo Swire

British officials across the Americas have been working closely with their counterparts on steps to understand and prevent the spread of the disease. We have focused particularly on Brazil, which has seen the highest number of cases in the region. On 26 January, the UK announced a new Zika research project between Glasgow University and Fiocruz, a leading biomedical research centre in Brazil. The following day, a scientist from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine arrived in Recife to support Zika research led by the Pan American Health Organsation. Discussions are also ongoing between FCO officials and the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency with regards to combating this virus. On 1 February, the World Health Organisation (WHO) categorised the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. This declaration by the WHO allows for the immediate allocation of emergency funds to support their necessary medical research. The United Kingdom is already the WHO’s second largest donor, providing a £15 million assessed contribution in 2015 in addition to a further, voluntary, contribution from the Department For International Development (DFID) of £14.5 million.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-05-04.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what research his Department has conducted or commissioned on the effectiveness of tobacco licensing schemes in tackling the illicit market in tobacco; and what the outcomes of such research were.

Damian Hinds

HMRC has not conducted or commissioned any research into the effectiveness of tobacco licensing schemes in tackling the illicit market in tobacco.

The World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Illicit Trade Protocol, to which the UK is a signatory, requires parties to consider whether to introduce tobacco licensing schemes for participants in the supply chain.

HMRC is currently undertaking a public consultation on the possible benefits of licensing participants in the supply chain in tackling the illicit trade in tobacco products. The consultation closes on 20 May and also covers the implementation of a licensing scheme for tobacco manufacturing machinery, a further requirement of the Protocol.

HMRC will publish a summary of responses later in 2016.

The consultation is published on GOV.UK:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/503011/Tobacco_Illicit_Trade_Protocol___licensing_of_equipment_and_the_supply_chain.pdf

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps the Government is taking to improve the (a) electronic and (b) physical connectivity of rural villages in Wales.

Guto Bebb

We are introducing the Universal Service Obligation, guaranteeing internet connectivity to half a million rural properties throughout the UK that fall outside existing plans. We have also secured deals with the Mobile Network Operators to deliver mobile coverage to 90% of the UK’s landmass and to 95% of premises in Wales.

Recognising the importance of transport costs to rural communities, we have frozen fuel duty for six successive years, the longest freeze for 40 years.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-10-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate her Department has made of the public expenditure that is required to extend the life of RMS St Helena.

Rory Stewart

Through its commitment of Financial Aid to the Government of St Helena, DFID subsidises the costs of the service provided by the RMS St Helena. The subsidy is the difference between the actual costs of operating the service and the actual revenue generated. So it is not possible to calculate the subsidy in advance and without knowing, for example the levels of occupancy on each service and operating costs. For the period between April and July 2016 the RMS service returned a profit of £220,000 so no subsidy was required. The cost of subsidising the operations of the RMS St Helena in FY 2015/16 was £620,000.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2015-11-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the reasons were for the Ministry of Defence Police denying Lt. Col. Jolley his own military records for him to use at his trial in 2013.

Mark Lancaster

A Special Investigation Branch Report was served as evidence at Lt Col Jolleys’ trial and was provided to his Defence team pre-trial.

It will take time to gather the further information and I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-02-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports his Department has received on the extent of radicalisation in the Palestinian Territories.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We condemn all violence and all incitement to commit violence. We are concerned by reports of radicalisation, which may, in turn, encourage violence in the region. We have seen reports referring to Hamas. Hamas must renounce violence, recognise Israel and accept previously signed agreements. We have also received reports on the role school textbooks play in this area. An extensive study, conducted by a joint Israeli and Palestinian research team in 2013, found the need for textbooks on both sides to do far more to promote a more positive portrayal of each other, reflecting the principles of co-existence, tolerance, justice and human dignity.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-05-04.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information he holds on the average number of small independent retail shops that closed in each (a) week, (b) month and (c) year of the most recent period for which figures are available.

Mr Rob Wilson

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.