Tag: Patrick Grady

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2016-01-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) total cost and (b) cost per sortie mission flown has been of UK military action in Syria since 2 December 2015.

Penny Mordaunt

It is not possible to separate out the costs of UK military action in Syria from that of wider Counter-Daesh operations due to the inter-related nature of the UK’s military activity. However, information on the net additional costs of Counter-Daesh operations during the financial year 2015-16 will be published in the Ministry of Defence’s Annual Report and Accounts, with £75 million approved by Parliament at Main Estimates in July 2015 to meet the initial net additional costs of such operations in 2015-16. We will update this estimate in our 2015-16 Supplementary Estimates which Her Majesty’s Treasury plan to lay before the House in February.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2016-02-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what protocols his Department has in place for supporting and communicating with UK citizens who (a) survive and (b) witness terrorist attacks overseas.

James Duddridge

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s crisis response mechanisms aim to ensure British nationals affected by a crisis overseas receive rapid and professional assistance. During crises, we communicate with affected British nationals through Travel advice and via consular officials in country and in London. Alongside the support offered to all British nationals overseas during a crisis, victims of terrorism may be offered additional assistance according to the circumstances of each situation through our Exceptional Assistance Measures policy. Consular officers work closely with police family liaison officers and overseas authorities to provide support, assistance and information to bereaved families. Through our partnerships with victim support organisations in England, Wales and Scotland we can refer bereaved families to specialist support on return to the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2016-03-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to protect ancient woodland along the route of High Speed 2.

Mr Robert Goodwill

HS2 Ltd has sought to design HS2 to avoid environmental impacts, including those on ancient woodlands, wherever reasonably practicable. Where this is not possible mitigation or compensation measures will be undertaken.

High Speed Two Information paper E2: Ecological Impact, outlines how ecological impacts have been assessed and how they will be mitigated or compensated for during construction of the proposed scheme. To compensate for the unavoidable loss of ancient woodland, the nominated undertaker will use best practice measures such as re-using the ancient woodland soils. Furthermore, we are extending the Chilterns Tunnel to avoid impacts on the ancient woodlands at Mantles Wood, Farthings Wood and Sibley’s Coppice.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2016-06-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of bilateral investment treaties between the UK and developing countries on the ability of (a) infant industries and (b) small and medium-sized enterprises in such countries to contribute to poverty reduction.

Sir Desmond Swayne

Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) commit both Governments to provide a reciprocal standard of treatment towards each other’s investors, including: protection and security against discriminatory action, fair and equitable treatment and a commitment not to expropriate without compensation. The content of BITs do not place specific obligations on or provide support to domestic companies, including infant industries and SMEs, aimed at delivering wider policy objectives.

Since 2012, through the Investment and Sustainable Development Programme, DFID has provided technical and legal assistance to 24 developing countries to develop and negotiate international investment agreements (including BITs) that best reflect their own interests.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2016-09-02.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of country-by-country reporting regulations on the competitiveness of the UK economy.

Jane Ellison

The Government has consistently pushed for broad international agreement on public country-by-country reporting. This will ensure that public country-by-country reporting achieves its transparency objectives of requiring multinationals to disclose information on their activities, profits and taxes paid across the full range of countries in which they operate.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2016-10-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many (a) full-time, (b) part-time and (c) full-time equivalent staff are employed at each of her Department’s offices in the UK.

Rory Stewart

DFID has the following employees located in each of its UK offices:

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2015-11-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to tackle religious intolerance in schools.

Nick Gibb

Religious intolerance in schools is unacceptable. All schools are required to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. Schools should be places where we promote the understanding of other cultures for example, through the National Curriculum programme for citizenship, which includes teaching about the diverse range of identities in the UK and the importance of respecting others.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2016-01-11.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on which occasions officials of his Department have met representatives of the Royal Bank of Scotland in each of the last five years; and what topics were discussed at each such meeting.

Harriett Baldwin

HM Treasury officials meet regularly with representatives of financial services firms, including Royal Bank of Scotland, to discuss a wide range of domestic and international financial services issues. However, the Department does not maintain a registry of working level meetings.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2016-02-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support the Government has provided to witnesses, survivors and the families of victims of the terrorist attack in Sousse, Tunisia, on 26 June 2015.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

Immediately after the terrorist attack in Sousse, a helpline was set up to provide advice to British nationals in the area. At the height of the crisis there were 140 FCO, Police, MoD and DfT staff in Tunisia. Rapid Deployment Teams comprising of consular staff and Red Cross psychosocial experts were sent to Tunisia to assist those affected. We worked with the tour operators to help those families who wished to return to the UK. Some of the injured and the 30 deceased were repatriated back to the UK using military assets. The next of kin were offered support via Police Family Liaison Officers. This support was offered through our Exceptional Assistance Measures policy (EAM) which we have the discretion to use in extremis after a terrorist attack.

The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) established an ad hoc Ministerial Committee, supported by a Joint Unit based in the FCO, to coordinate Government assistance to British nationals affected over the longer term. The Committee has oversight of arrangements for a fitting memorial service, a physical memorial, compensation and a programme to provide support for those experiencing difficulties with mental health. We have partnerships with victim support organisations in England, Wales and Scotland to refer bereaved families to specialist support, and have a dedicated support page with further information on GOV.UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) deportation and (b) forced removal processes were halted after the intended deportee had boarded their deportation flight and before that flight had departed in each year since 2010.

James Brokenshire

This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.