Tag: Scott Mann

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Scott Mann on 2016-07-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will take steps to provide financial support to coastal communities to develop their capacity to manage local fishing waters after the UK leaves the EU.

George Eustice

The precise nature of our relationship with the EU is still being determined and will be subject to negotiation. We will be looking at a future package for fishing, including potential support measures, and will work closely with industry and other key interests to develop these new arrangements.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Scott Mann on 2016-07-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department plans to take to (a) help expedite implementation of neighbourhood plans and (b) prevent delays resulting from judicial review of such plans.

Gavin Barwell

We are committed to supporting communities throughout the process and encouraging more communities to join them. Reforms in the Housing and Planning Act 2016 will help to speed up and simplify the neighbourhood planning process. We are looking to introduce a new package of measures that would further strengthen the neighbourhood planning process when Parliamentary time allows over the course of the second session.

The neighbourhood planning legislation means that most challenges to neighbourhood planning decisions need to be brought within six weeks of the decision that is being challenged, rather than three months for most other judicial review proceedings, with no discretion to extend the time limit. This helps ensure that any associated delays are minimal. The establishment of the Planning Court in 2014 also means that it is more likely that these cases will be heard quickly by a specialist planning judge.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Scott Mann on 2016-07-21.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of replacing Vehicle Excise Duty with a roads fund fuel levy that charges motorists excise duty based upon how many miles they drive; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison

No assessment has been made of a roads fund fuel levy as described by the Hon. Member. The government has previously considered calls to replace Vehicle Excise Duty with a supplement on fuel duty, but has concluded that this would not be fair. It would have a disproportionate burden on certain groups such as businesses and households in rural areas without ready access to public transport alternatives.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Scott Mann on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when his Department plans to implement the long service compensation cap for the Pension Protection Fund.

Richard Harrington

I am committed to implementing the Pension Protection Fund long service cap and hope to be able to make an announcement shortly.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Scott Mann on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Chinese government on the treatment of dogs during that country’s Yulin Dog Meat Festival.

Alok Sharma

The United Kingdom Government takes seriously all reports of animal cruelty. We are committed to raising standards of animal welfare and to phasing out cruel and inhumane practices both in the UK and overseas. However, there are limits to what the UK can do. Consumption of dog meat is legal in the People’s Republic of China and the UK has no legal grounds to intervene or take trade measures to prevent this.

We have instead focused our efforts on co-operation with China to tackle the illegal wildlife trade. We also work through the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), to promote the welfare of a range of species internationally, such as stray dogs and farmed animals. We encourage China, as a member of OIE, to meet the required standards.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Scott Mann on 2016-10-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to promote British-made produce in the UK and abroad.

George Eustice

The Great British Food Unit brings together expertise from within Defra, the Department for International Trade and Embassies to promote top quality British food and drink around the world. The five year Great British Food Campaign celebrates the best of the UK’s Food and Drink industry and aims to build a world-leading brand for British food and drink.

2016 is the Year of Great British Food. Within the UK, a series of events, partnerships and promotional activity is celebrating the richness of Great British Food and highlighting the best of our food and drink provenance, heritage and culture, working with leading food entrepreneurs and in partnership with the food and drink industry.

Encouraging companies to start exporting or to increase exports is a priority for this government. The Great British Food Unit has developed nine campaigns in 18 priority countries with the aim of boosting exports by hundreds of millions over the next five years. The campaigns target large existing markets or markets with significant growth potential – Australia and New Zealand; France; Germany; India; Japan; Mexico and Latin America; USA and Canada; China; UAE and Gulf.

In England, the ‘Exporting is Great’ Export Hub Truck tour (10 to 14 October 2016) is supporting new exporters in getting the information and support they need to begin exporting. The truck is visiting the South West, the Midlands, the Northern Powerhouse regions and the South East.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Scott Mann on 2016-10-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she plans to support fishing communities to take advantage of British territorial fishing waters after the UK leaves the EU.

George Eustice

Our fishing industry is of vital important to coastal communities and leaving the EU creates the opportunity to improve the management of UK industry in the future.

Defra officials will be working with the Department for Exiting the European Union to look at future policies for fisheries. We will continue to work closely with industry and other key stakeholders to develop these new arrangements.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Scott Mann on 2015-12-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funding and other resources her Department has provided for Syrian refugee camps.

Mr Desmond Swayne

The UK has pledged over £1.1 billion in response to the Syria crisis, of which £559 million has been allocated to support refugees in the region and vulnerable host communities. The vast majority of refugees in the region live in host communities rather than camps.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Scott Mann on 2015-12-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to change the distribution of Common Fisheries Policy quotas for inshore fishing fleets.

George Eustice

Defra is in the final stages of a permanent quota realignment exercise which will represent a 14% uplift in the amount of quota the inshore fleet currently receives.

We have also announced that the inshore fleet will be the principal beneficiaries of any quota uplift received as a result of the introduction of the demersal landing obligation.

For species subject to the discard ban from January 2016, we have announced that the non-sector pools will receive the first 100 tonnes of any quota uplift received and 10% of any remaining uplift. For 2016 this represents more than 1,000 tonnes of uplift to support the non-sector in their adaptation to the landing obligation and includes key stocks such as haddock, whiting and plaice.

In the Celtic Sea there will be an estimated additional 126 tonnes of whiting and 142 tonnes of hake to support the non-sector.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Scott Mann on 2016-03-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effects on rural communities of disbursements from the community transport minibus fund.

Mr Patrick McLoughlin

The Community Transport Minibus Fund will provide over 300 organisations with a new minibus so that they can continue to provide vital services to help elderly residents, people with learning and physical disabilities and those who do not have access to a commercial bus service.

Approximately one third of the organisations obtaining vehicles through the Fund are based in rural areas.