The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Monaghan on 2016-04-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to establish an Infrastructure Police Force to replace the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, British Transport Police and Ministry of Defence Police.
Mike Penning
The Strategic Defence and Security Review made a commitment to “integrate infrastructure policing further and to review the options to do this” and this review is underway.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Empey on 2016-05-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what additional financial resources and staff are being made available to assist unaccompanied children coming to the UK from refugee camps (1) in Europe, and (2) outside Europe.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Our Syrian resettlement programme is working well and local authorities across the country have been closely involved in this. Alongside this programme we will consult local authorities on how best to implement the resettlement scheme for children at risk announced on 21 April and the provisions of the Immigration Act 2016 for the admission to the UK of unaccompanied refugee children from elsewhere in the EU. This will be done as part of our wider discussion with local authorities and other partners, including non-governmental organisations, about unaccompanied children who arrive in the UK and claim asylum here and about the implementation of new arrangements to relieve the pressure on particular local authorities by transferring these children to the care of other local authorities. The Home Office funds local authority care for unaccompanied asylum seeking children and funding arrangements form part of the ongoing discussion with local authorities. We are determined to ensure that no local authority is asked to take more unaccompanied children than local services are able to deal with and that impacts are managed in a fair and controlled way.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2016-07-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the outcome of the EU referendum.
Mr Philip Hammond
I have been holding, and will continue to hold, discussions with my international counterparts on the outcome of the EU referendum. Last week I met international counterparts at the NATO summit. I will meet many more overseas counterparts at the Asia–Europe Meeting in Ulaanbaatar later this week. I will also attend the Foreign Affairs Council, which will include an informal dinner on 17 July with my European counterparts to discuss the referendum outcome and an EU and Gulf Cooperation Council Summit Dinner on 18 July.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2016-09-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which of the recommendations made by the APPG for Yemen in its report, Conflict in Yemen, the forgotten crisis, published in October 2015 have been adopted by his Department.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
We welcomed the report and share the APPG’s concern about the serious humanitarian crisis in Yemen. A political solution is the best way to bring long-term stability to Yemen and end the conflict. The UK continues to strongly support the work of UN Special Envoy, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, and his tireless efforts in working with all parties to bring about peace in Yemen. The UK has continued to engage including at senior levels in support of the UN Special Envoy’s work. Along with my US, Saudi Arabian and Emirati counterparts, we released a Communiqué calling for an immediate return to the Cessation of Hostilities after meetings held on 21 September at the United Nations General Assembly.
We are aware of reports of alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) by actors in the conflict and take these very seriously. It is important that all sides conduct thorough and conclusive investigations into incidents where it is alleged that IHL has been breached. We regularly raise the importance of compliance with IHL with the Saudi Arabian Government and other members of the military Coalition. Saudi Arabia has publicly stated that it is investigating reports of alleged violations of IHL, and that lessons will be acted upon. We have also raised our concerns with the Houthis on the importance of compliance with IHL.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-11-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect that the decision of the Quality Contract Scheme board on the Quality Contract proposed to be run by Nexus for Tyne and Wear will have on city devolution deals.
Andrew Jones
The Quality Contract Scheme Board’s report concerns an individual case brought under existing legislation. It is not about the bus franchising powers which will be included in the Buses Bill.
The Government is determined that local transport authorities with ambitious plans to grow and develop should be given the powers they need, and we will legislate through the Buses Bill to deliver on our devolution commitments.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2015-11-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 92 of the consultation document entitled, Tackling Exploitation in the Labour Market, (a) how many prosecutions and (b) what penalties have been applied for each of the existing offences that are in the remit of the Director of Labour Market Enforcement.
Karen Bradley
The list of offences that will be in the remit of the Labour Market Enforcement Director are subject to public consultation. The following figures are available for prosecutions and penalties for offences that are being considered for inclusion in the Director’s remit.
There have been nine prosecutions relating to National Minimum Wage underpayment since the first prosecution took place in 2007. Criminal prosecution is reserved for the most serious cases. Penalties totalling over £3.9 million has been issued.
There were three prosecutions (one failed) for suspected breaches of Employment Agencies Standards (EAS) Regulations in 2013-14. Fines totalling £5,200 were issued and total compensation and costs awarded to workers was £6,041. Information on prosecutions prior to 2013/14 can be found in EAS Annual Reports online.
During 2013/14 and 2014/15, there were six and nine prosecutions respectively for offences contained within the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004. Penalties included fines and custodial sentences for these and other non labour market offences.
The Modern Slavery Act offences, which could fall within the remit of the Director, came into force on 31st July 2015. Data is not yet available for those offences.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-01-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of trends in the numbers of sham (a) marriages and (b) civil partnerships since March 2015.
James Brokenshire
Since the marriage referral scheme commenced on 2nd March 2015, the number of marriages considered to be a sham has reduced slightly although these numbers are too small to indicate any trend.
Referrals under Section 24 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and allegations have remained stable since March.
From the data extract it is not possible to determine if a notification under the scheme relates to a Civil Partnership or a Marriage as the referrals are identical.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2016-02-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office raised the alleged breaches of international humanitarian law outlined in the final report of the UN Panel of Experts on Yemen with the Saudi Arabian government during his recent visit to Rome.
Mr Philip Hammond
We regularly raise the importance of compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) with the Saudi Arabian government and other members of the military coalition. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), raised this issue of IHL compliance on 4 February with the Saudi Ambassador in London. The Saudi Arabian government has its own internal procedures for investigations and they announced more detail of how they investigate such incidents on 31 January.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Laurence Robertson on 2016-03-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to encourage vets, re-homing centres and dog wardens to scan stray dogs for microchips.
George Eustice
It is already best practice for vets, re-homing centres and dog wardens to scan strays and they have a duty of care to do so. To assist dog wardens, the Kennel Club has provided free scanners to all local authorities. We will also be reminding these parties of the need to scan dogs.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-04-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many families comprised of foreign nationals are claiming housing benefit in the UK.
Justin Tomlinson
The information requested is not readily available, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.