Tag: Stephen Doughty

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2016-02-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what UK bilateral and (b) multilateral funding to support health care system strengthening in countries determined by the WHO to be affected by, or at risk from the Zika virus, has been in each of the last six years.

Mr Nick Hurd

The table below shows UK bilateral disbursements, against a number of OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) health related classifications, to countries on the WHO list of those affected, or likely to be affected, by the Zika virus. These include basic health care, communicable disease control, health education and health personnel development, all of which contribute to strengthening health systems.

Table: UK ODA spend on health 2009-2014

£’000	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
Barbados	3
Brazil	13	1,461	2,779	491	1,233	87
Costa Rica		191
Dominican Republic		10		16
Ecuador				3	5
Guatemala	26
Guyana			2	2
Haiti						1,000
Honduras					9
Mexico	61	1,061	105	835	202	363
Nicaragua	219	0
Paraguay			3	2
Venezuela		7
Total	322	2,730	2,890	1,349	1,448	1,450

Source: Statistics on International Development 2015

The UK has also provided support to these countries through core contributions to multilateral organisations, but data on expenditure on specific sectors to specific countries is not available.

DFID and the Department of Health will request the World Health Organisation to provide further guidance on which countries beyond those currently affected are at greatest risk from Zika, including the risks to other regions including Sub Saharan Africa and South Asia; this is scientifically very challenging.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2016-02-09.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Business Premises Renovation Allowance scheme is planned to close.

Mr David Gauke

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not collate information at the aggregate level requested.

The Business Premises Renovation Allowance (BPRA) is an incentive designed to bring derelict or unused business properties back into use, by providing 100 percent relief for renovation of vacant properties in disadvantaged areas.

In 2012 HMRC noticed a spike in the cost of BPRA. Investigations revealed that this increase was due to marketed avoidance. HMRC challenges avoidance wherever they see it. Where taxpayers choose to press their case to litigation, HMRC wins around 80% of cases heard in court.

In addition, legislation was introduced in Finance Act 2014 to prevent future avoidance. The NAO complimented the speed with which HMRC addressed this avoidance and tightened the legislation.

The costs of BPRA are published annually in HMRC’s Estimated cost of minor tax allowances and structural reliefs, which can be viewed using the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/487097/Dec15_minorallowances_reliefs_Fi…pdf

Budget 2011 announced that Business Premises Renovation Allowance would be extended to 31 March 2017 for Corporation Tax and 5 April 2017 for Income Tax.

“

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2016-02-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many staff leaving employment at her Department in the last three years have subsequently been rehired within 12 months by the (a) Foreign and Commonwealth Office, (b) Ministry of Defence, (c) Department for Energy and Climate Change, (d) Department for Culture, Media and Sport, (e) Cabinet Office and (f) HM Treasury.

Mr Nick Hurd

DFID would not record or have access to details of former employees who have been rehired by other government departments.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2016-03-16.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people were registered with HM Revenue and Customs as self-employed (a) wholly and (b) partly for the purposes of tax and national insurance in Cardiff South and Penarth constituency in each of the last 24 months.

Mr David Gauke

The latest available data for the numbers of individual taxpayers with self-employment income, by constituency level, is for 2012-13. There were estimated to be 4,000 individuals with self-employment income in Cardiff South and Penarth out of 48,000 with income from any source.

These estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes and are taken from table 3.15 of the HM Revenue and Customs Personal Income statistics publication. The estimate for 2013-14 is due to be published on the 31st March 2016.

No information on the purpose for individuals registering for Self Assessment is collected.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2016-04-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people received payments from the Financial Assistance Scheme in each (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) government region in the last year; and how many of those recipients were former members of the Allied Steel and Wire pension scheme in that year.

Justin Tomlinson

The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2016-07-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether she plans to delay or revisit the (a) bilateral aid review and (b) multilateral aid reviews in response to the EU referendum result.

Rory Stewart

The Secretary of State is currently considering the outcomes of the Department for International Development’s Multilateral and Bilateral Aid Reviews, ahead of their publication.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2016-09-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK armed forces personnel are stationed in (a) Saudi Arabia, (b) Yemen, (c) Oman, (d) Qatar and (e) UAE.

Mike Penning

There are around 100 military personnel based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including at the Defence section within the British Embassy in Riyadh. These personnel provide mentoring and advice to the Saudi Arabian National Guard as part of the British Military Mission to the Saudi Arabian National Guard. Personnel also work on the Saudi Arabia National Guard Communications Project to acquire and support, modern communications capabilities for the Saudi Arabian National Guard and work on the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Saudi Armed Forces Projects, supporting the United Kingdom’s commitment to the defence of Saudi Arabia through the supply of modern military aircraft, naval vessels, weapons and associated support services to the Saudi Armed Forces. We have a small number of liaison personnel who work at the Saudi MOD and Operational Centres. We do not discuss specific numbers for reasons of safeguarding operational security.

There are no UK Armed Forces personnel based in Yemen.

There are around 195 military personnel based in Oman, including at the Defence section within the British Embassy in Muscat; personnel on Loan Service to the Omani Armed Forces and others on temporary assignments in the region. These numbers change on a daily basis according to the tasks assigned.

There are seven military personnel permanently assigned to Qatar (three within the Defence Section in the Embassy and four Loan Service officers working in training establishments). There are also a number of temporary personnel who work at Al Udeid airbase but we do not discuss specific numbers for reasons of safeguarding operational security.

There are six military personnel permanently assigned to the UAE (three within the Defence Section in the Embassy at Abu Dhabi; one within the Defence Section in the Dubai Consulate; and two Loan Service officers working with the UAE Electronic Warfare and Signals departments). There are also a number of temporary personnel at Al Minhad airbase but we do not discuss specific numbers for reasons of safeguarding operational security .

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2015-11-09.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister has had discussions with (a) the UN Secretary General, (b) the President of the International Criminal Court and (c) the President of the International Court of Justice on the recent amendments to the ministerial code and compliance with international treaties.

Matthew Hancock

The government publishes details of ministers’ meetings with external organisations as part of its wider commitment to transparency at www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministers-transparency-publications.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2016-01-12.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, who his Ministerial private office informed of his plans to visit Cardiff on 7 January 2016; by what method they so informed those people and on what date those communications took place.

Harriett Baldwin

The Chancellor’s visit to Cardiff on 7 January 2016 was made in accordance with the specifications of the Ministerial Code.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2016-02-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will estimate the value of exports from firms based in Cardiff South and Penarth constituency to (a) the EU (b) the US and (c) China in each year of the last six years.

Anna Soubry

Regional trade statistics at the constituency level are not available. Data showing the value of exports of goods from firms registered for VAT in Wales to the EU, the US and China in each year of the last six years are available from the HM Revenue and Customs’ Regional Trade Statistics database.