Tag: Rachael Maskell

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rachael Maskell on 2016-07-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made on publishing the Natural Environment Plan.

George Eustice

Government remains committed to developing a long term, 25 year plan for the environment. Following the decision to leave the EU, we now have a real opportunity to shape a long-term vision for the type of environment we want in this country. To deliver this vision, we will develop a fresh and striking new approach that includes a fundamental review of our environmental policy framework.

Development of this new approach to the environment will need to be informed by significant input from interested parties across many sectors. Everyone’s input into this process will be vital. Further information on the next steps and timings will be provided in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rachael Maskell on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the net pay deductions from the salaries of Ministry of Defence fire fighters and fire officers reflect the full difference in the value of pension benefits accrued compared with staff of similar grades working for local authorities.

Mark Lancaster

The Net Pay Deduction (NPD) for Fire Officer grades, or abatement in the case of Fire-fighters, is the adjustment to the salaries of Defence Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) personnel to allow for the differences between their pension arrangements and those of Local Authority Fire and Rescue Service ("LAFRS") employees.

For Fire-fighter grades the abatement figure is a comparison of member contribution rates between the Civil Service Pension Schemes and the Local Authority Fire Pension Schemes. The abatement calculation makes allowance for the impact on the value of pension benefits which arises because MOD Fire-fighters pensions are based on an abated salary. The calculation of the abatement ignores differences in pension benefits accrued between the schemes being compared.

For Fire Officer Grades the NPD has been calculated primarily by considering the differences in member contribution rates between the different pension schemes.

The current NPD is 5.9% of pre-tax basic pay. In practice, an adjusted NPD, equal to 3.54% of pre-tax pay, is applied to Fire Officer salaries; this does not reduce the tax payable by the officer. For Fire Officers the NPD does not affect the salary used for pension purposes, so both pension benefits and member contributions are calculated based on salary before application of the NPD. The current NPD rate was introduced in 1993 and according to available information the calculation of the NPD ignores differences in pension benefits accrued between the schemes but may have taken account of wider pay issues.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rachael Maskell on 2016-03-15.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the staff who manage the gardens within the Downing Street estate are employed as civil servants; whether such staff are enrolled under the civil service pension scheme; and under what terms and conditions such staff are employed with what pension entitlement.

Matthew Hancock

The staff who manage the gardens within the Downing Street estate are not civil servants. The Royal Parks agency are contracted to manage and maintain the gardens in Downing Street.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rachael Maskell on 2016-07-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of future tariffs on trade with EU countries on the food and farming industry.

George Eustice

Until we leave the EU, current arrangements will remain in place. The nature of our future trading relationship with the EU will be a matter for the new Prime Minister and their Cabinet.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rachael Maskell on 2016-03-15.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the staff who manage the gardens in Dorneywood country residence are employed as civil servants; whether such staff are enrolled under the civil service pension scheme; and under what terms and conditions such staff are employed with what pension entitlement.

Harriett Baldwin

Dorneywood is a charitable trust and its staff are employed by the charity. Therefore, Government keep no details of its staff’s pensions affairs.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rachael Maskell on 2016-07-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made on publishing the Food and Farming Plan.

George Eustice

Following the result of the EU Referendum, we now have an opportunity to consider our long term vision for food and farming outside of the EU.

It remains essential that the UK has a thriving food and farming industry with high animal welfare and environmental standards, access to international markets and a long term commitment to boosting productivity through innovation and skills. We are now focused on taking forward the actions that support these objectives, in order to develop our long term vision. To do this, we will continue to work with a wide range of interests to develop that vision, and to work together to deliver it.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rachael Maskell on 2016-03-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the gardeners employed by the Royal Parks are enrolled in the civil service pension scheme; and how many such gardeners are enrolled in each version of that scheme.

Mr Edward Vaizey

Since 1992 landscape maintenance and allied work in The Royal Parks (TRP) has been contracted out, and there are no gardeners employed by the contractors that are eligible for the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) .

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rachael Maskell on 2016-07-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps she has taken to prevent increases in bovine TB herd-to-herd infection rates.

George Eustice

The most recent new measures to protect England from bovine TB were introduced on 6 April as part of the Government’s comprehensive strategy, which is on track to deliver TB-free status for over half of the country by 2019. These measures included:

• New legislation to require farmers in the Low Risk Area of England to arrange for post-movement testing of cattle coming from the rest of England and from Wales.

• Tighter movement restrictions, with all herds in the High Risk Area of England affected by a new TB breakdown needing to pass two strict tests before movement restrictions are lifted. This will increase the chances of finding all infected animals in those herds, helping to reduce recurrent breakdowns and to protect other herds.

• Government-funded pre-sale testing, enabling sellers to provide additional assurance for buyers and mitigate the low risk of undetected TB spreading to new herds.

• The opportunity for herd owners to arrange private Interferon Gamma blood tests to diagnose TB, subject to certain conditions.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rachael Maskell on 2016-03-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the staff who manage the gardens in Chevening country residence are employed as civil servants; whether such staff are enrolled under the civil service pension scheme; and under what terms and conditions such staff are employed with what pension entitlement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

No members of the Civil Service are employed at Chevening.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rachael Maskell on 2016-07-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the outcome of the EU referendum on access by farmers to new Countryside Stewardship scheme agreements.

George Eustice

Until negotiations conclude and the UK leaves the EU, all existing arrangements remain in place, including rural development programmes. We are having ongoing discussions with the Treasury because it is important that there is continuity, particularly for agri-environment schemes, without prejudice to future decisions. An update on future funding under current EU schemes will follow shortly.