The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-03-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ministry of Defence (a) military and (b) civilian personnel are based at the Muwaffaq airbase in Jordan.
Penny Mordaunt
There are no Ministry of Defence personnel based at the Muwaffaq airbase in Jordan.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Newlands on 2016-04-08.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress his Department has made on its review of the treatment of VAT in airside retail shops.
Mr David Gauke
On 31 December 2015, the Chancellor announced a review of the tax treatment of airside retail sales, with a view to identifying options for passengers to receive more of the direct benefits. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has completed its initial fact finding.
The Government is keen to identify options that provide overall best value for travellers. This means fully understanding the potential impacts of possible changes on travellers, retailers and airports, and I have asked HMRC to explore these thoroughly. Once this work has been completed, decisions on the best way forward will be made in the autumn.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-05-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will raise the murder of the Korean-Chinese pastor Han Choong Yeol on 30 April 2016 in China with his Chinese counterpart; and if he will request that his Chinese counterpart investigate whether the North Korean security services were involved in that murder.
Mr Hugo Swire
I have no plans to raise this case with the Chinese Government. We have a regular dialogue with the Chinese about the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), which covers the effective implementation of UN sanctions to prevent North Korea from developing nuclear weapons, and encouraging China to confront human rights violations by the North Korean regime, most notably the important principle of non-refoulement. I raised both points with Chinese Vice Minister Chen Fengxiang in December.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Joan Ryan on 2016-06-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has carried out of the effect of the closure of the emergency department at Chase Farm Hospital in 2013 on other hospital emergency departments in (a) Enfield and (b) North London.
Ben Gummer
This is a matter for the local National Health Service.
The closure of the emergency department at Chase Farm Hospital was informed by the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey (BEH) Clinical Strategy, which took full account of the likely effects and implications of that closure.
The BEH Clinical Strategy has been through a rigorous due process, including a thorough planning and development phase, a public consultation and a number of gateway reviews and checkpoints.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-09-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2016 to Question 42107, on Islamic State, what factors would need to change for a referral to the International Criminal Court to be considered practical; what discussions the Government has had with (a) Russia, (b) China and (c) other permanent members of the UN Security Council on securing their vote for a referral; and what the Government’s latest assessment is of (i) Russia’s and (ii) China’s policy on that issue.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
We expect that any Security Council resolution at this time seeking to refer the situations in Iraq or Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC) would be blocked, as it was when efforts were made to refer the situation in Syria to the ICC in 2014. We continue to work with our international partners, including other permanent members of the UN Security Council, to look at every available option to assist the victims of Daesh and bring those responsible for crimes to justice.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2016-10-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her oral contribution of 18 October 2016, Official Report, 301WH, which directives are no longer fit for purpose; and if she will make a statement.
Dr Thérèse Coffey
The Government is currently considering future arrangements for existing EU legislation in preparation for the repeal of the European Communities Act 1972. This ‘Great Repeal Bill’ will end the authority of EU law and return power to the UK. The Bill will effectively convert current EU law into our domestic law. We look forward to working with the industry, rural communities and the wider public to shape our plans for a future outside the EU when we can assess the benefits of moving to an outcomes-focussed regulatory framework.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stella Creasy on 2015-11-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what meetings he has had with (a) the Low Pay Commission, (b) Which? and (c) members of the Trade Union Congress to discuss the payment and administration of service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges on the income of employees.
Nick Boles
The Government’s Call for Evidence into tips, gratuities, cover and service charges closed on 10 November 2015. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has received formal or informal evidence from the named bodies. Where any clarification is required or the Government wishes to seek further information, we will request further discussions with these bodies, where appropriate.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Yasmin Qureshi on 2015-12-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of his Department’s science budget was spent on neurological research in the period from 2010 to 2014.
Joseph Johnson
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Torfaen (Mr Nick Thomas-Symonds) on 7 December in response to question 18131.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Phil Boswell on 2016-01-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the implication for her policies of the conclusion of the Social Market Foundation report, Educational Inequalities in England and Wales, published in January 2016 that, based upon the performance of 11-year-olds, the geographic area in which a child is born has become a more powerful predictive factor in school performance for those born in 2000 compared to those born in 1970.
Mr Sam Gyimah
We refer the Right Honourable MP to our response to PQ 22192, submitted to Parliament on Tuesday 19 January, which provides information on our policies to deliver educational excellence everywhere so that every child in England reaches their potential, regardless of background.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Law on 2016-02-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether lease contracts on buildings currently housing HM Passport Office interview offices that are facing closure would allow for the proposed timeframe of office closures to be extended.
James Brokenshire
Sites which host flexible interview teams are operated by Her Majesty’s Passport Office as managed office space. Rental agreements vary, but most require one month notice.
In Blackburn, Bristol, Crawley, Leicester and Sheffield HM Passport Office holds a licence to occupy the premises until September 2018, with an opportunity to break the licence in September 2016.
A date to cease interviewing in March 2016 has been set to enable staff to work with the Home Office career transition service and focus on finding alternative employment prior to the offices being decommissioned.