Tag: Tom Brake

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-09-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s policies of the cases of (a) Ali al Nimr, (b) Dawoud al Marhoon and (c) Abdullah al Zaher who were sentenced to death as children for participating in political protests in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We remain concerned about the cases of Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, Dawood al-Marhoon and Abdallah al-Zaher and continue to follow them closely. We most recently got assurances on 7 September and our expectation remains that they will not be executed. Our Embassy in Riyadh also frequently raise our concerns and will continue to do so.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government has made to Russia on the breaking of the ceasefire in Aleppo.

Sir Alan Duncan

The UK supported the Governments of France and Spain in their efforts to pass a UN Security Council Resolution on 8th October, calling for an immediate end to the bombardment of Aleppo. This resolution was vetoed by Russia. The UK’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations condemned Russia’s use of the veto in the strongest possible terms, as "a cynical abuse of the privileges and responsibilities of permanent membership". We have called repeatedly on Russia at the highest levels to implement a ceasefire in Syria, and to use its influence to deliver this. The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Mr Johnson) raised his concerns directly with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov during their meeting on 21 September, and the Prime Minister discussed the situation in Syria with President Putin on 4 September at the G20 Summit. I also refer the Hon. Member to the Foreign Secretary’s statement of 11 October (Hansard 11 October 2016, Column 165).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of mental health support available to British nationals affected by the terrorist attacks in (a) Tunis on 18 March 2015, (b) Sousse on 26 June 2015, (c) Paris on 13 November 2015 and (d) Nice on 14 July 2016; and what estimate he has made of the average waiting time to receive such services.

Nicola Blackwood

Following the terrorist attacks in Tunisia, Paris and Brussels a programme was put in place to support those affected by the incidents. It will be evaluated over the next five months. The findings will be available in March/April 2017 and will help to inform future policy direction. In addition the programme has been under internal review and ongoing improvements have been made as a result.

For those people affected by the terrorist attacks in Nice, the Department will make every effort to contact individuals to inform them of the possible symptoms of trauma related ill-health and advice about treatment. This is in line with evidence-based recommendations made by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-10-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will make an assessment of whether the Airports Commission considered the full potential for increased long distance rail passenger and rail freight movement between the UK and mainland Europe through using the full capacity of the Channel tunnel.

Mr John Hayes

The Airports Commission considered and consulted on a wide range of possible options to make best use of the UK’s existing airports and runways, and proposals for adding new airport capacity in the longer-term.

It received 52 proposals, including propositions involving better high speed rail provision and use of the Channel Tunnel as an alternative to airport expansion. The Commission concluded that the scope for further rail growth on short-haul European routes is limited by some clear constraints, including rail line and tunnel capacity out of the UK – given that there is only one railway link that connects the UK with continental Europe.

The Commission’s assessment was published in its December 2013 Interim Report, which included its conclusion that there was a case for at least one net additional runway in London and the South East by 2030, and a proposed short-list of options.

On 14 December 2015, the Government formally announced that it accepted the case for additional runway capacity in the South-East and agreed with the Airports Commission’s shortlist of options.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2015-12-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has had discussions with the (a) London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) and (b) Mayor of London on releasing the LLDC West Ham United Football Club contract.

Tracey Crouch

The contract relating to West Ham United Football Club’s use of the Olympic Stadium is between the West Ham and the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC). Any decision regarding whether to release contract details is a matter for the LLDC.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-01-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions his Department held with its French counterpart on the potential effect on Anglo-French defence contracts of a British exit from the EU.

Mr Julian Brazier

None.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-02-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the conclusions of the report by the Carers Trust, A charge on caring, published in September 2015, that an increasing number of local councils are considering charging carers for the support that they receive to help them in their caring role.

Alistair Burt

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 October 2015 to Question 13008.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-02-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential effect on the number of people employed in Wales who are from non-EU countries of the salary threshold increase for Tier 2 visa applications to £35,000.

James Brokenshire

The Government announced in 2012 that from 6 April 2016 Tier 2 visa holders who apply for settlement in the UK will be required to meet a minimum annual salary requirement of £35,000. PhD level roles and those in recognised shortage will be exempt from the £35,000 threshold.

Data of the number of people employed in specific regions of the United Kingdom is not available. The Home Office holds individual records showing the working location of Tier 2 (General) migrants, but centralised records show the registered address of the Tier 2 Sponsor, which is normally that organisation’s Head Office.

The Home Office published a full impact assessment on the changes to Tier 2 settlement rules when they were laid before Parliament on 15 March 2012. This includes the impact on the top ten occupations and is available on the gov.uk website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/117957/impact-assessment-tier2.pdf

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-03-10.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment the Government has made of the value to the economy of the Scotch whisky industry.

Damian Hinds

There is no alcohol duty payable on exported Scotch Whisky.

The government is committed to supporting the Scotch Whisky industry. The duty on spirits was cut at March Budget 2015 and, to continue this support, Budget 2016 announced a duty freeze for spirits this year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-03-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2016 to Question 29390, what definition of principle of distinction his Department uses to assess whether an incident counts as a violation of international humanitarian law.

Penny Mordaunt

International Humanitarian Law is founded in customary international law but now extensively codified in international agreements, most notably the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Additional Protocols. The UK’s interpretation of the principles of proportionality, military necessity, humanity and distinction is set out in the Ministry of Defence’s Joint Service Publication (JSP) 383, the Manual of the Law of Armed Conflict, which is available online (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/jsp-383).