Tag: Tom Brake

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will estimate the number of (a) UK firms that trade with other EU member states and (b) people employed by those firms.

Anna Soubry

HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics on the number of firms trading with the EU are publically available through the UKTradeInfo website.

HM Treasury estimates that 3.3 million UK jobs are linked to EU exports. Further details are publically available through the GOV.UK Website.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-04-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether it is the Government’s policy not to disclose the content of its Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessments.

Mr David Lidington

Requests to release the content of Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) assessments are considered on a case by case basis under the Freedom of Information Act. However, the content of individual OSJA assessments, including candid assessments of state security capabilities and effectiveness, may be exempt from release under the provisions of the Act.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-04-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to Ministers: quarterly return October to December 2015, published on 24 March 2016, whom he met during the visit to Saudi Arabia that began on 27 October 2015; and what the agenda was at those meetings.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

During his visit to Saudi Arabia on 27 October 2015 the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) met His Majesty King Salman, Crown Prince and Minister of the Interior His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Naif, Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defence His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Commander of the National Guard His Royal Highness Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, and Foreign Minister His Excellency Adel Al Jubeir. The agenda of these meetings covered regional issues, human rights, security cooperation and migration.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-05-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the outcome of the last round of the UK-China human rights dialogue; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Hugo Swire

The 22nd round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue was held in Beijing on 21-22 April 2015. It provided for detailed, expert engagement on a wide range of human rights concerns, resulting in a frank exchange of views. Our current assessment of the human rights situation in China can be seen in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-06-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he plans to bring forward regulations on the testing of electrical installations in rental properties.

Brandon Lewis

The Government is committed to protecting tenants and, as part of this, introduced an enabling power into the Housing and Planning Act 2016, allowing regulations to protect private sector tenants from electrical hazards in the home to be set. We are currently conducting further research and working with the sector to understand what, if any, legislative requirements are needed and envisage this work being completed this year. This will ensure any introductions are beneficial and strike the right balance by protecting tenants while not over burdening the sector.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-07-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has received representations from the police on increasing resources related to criminal record check disclosure requests.

Sarah Newton

The Disclosure and Barring service works directly with each police force to agree a budget annually based on the expected numbers of local checks and considers any requests for additional resources as part of these discussions.

In 2015/16 the Disclosure and Barring Service had a target of processing 85% of all applications within 21 days. Some of the over four million applications received each year need to be referred to one or more police forces for further checks and the Disclosure and Barring Service funds Police disclosure units.

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 steps the Government is taking to ensure that organisations providing humanitarian relief in (a) Madaya, (b) Daraya and (c) Aleppo have unimpeded access to the children in those areas.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

The UK continues to call for full and sustained cease fire and humanitarian access to all besieged and hard-to-reach areas across Syria.

The town of Madaya was reached on 25 September by a UN interagency convoy which delivered a range of desperately needed aid. This was the first convoy to reach Madaya since 30 April.

The town of Daraya is now in regime hands and much of the population has been evacuated. The Assad Regime and its backers must ensure the protection of all of Daraya’s inhabitants and that opposition fighters are treated in accordance with international humanitarian law.

The situation in Aleppo is atrocious as a result of increased bombardment by the regime and its backers in recent weeks, as well as a block on all humanitarian supplies. Fresh water supplies have also been cut off. The UK is working urgently with our international partners to pressure the regime and its backers to end the siege of Aleppo.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-09-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 April 2016 to Question 32492, to which countries RAF Reaper or Watchkeeper drones have been deployed on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sorties since 4 April 2016.

Mike Penning

From 4 April until 20 September 2016, UK Reapers have continued to be deployed on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sorties in Iraq and Syria. Watchkeeper has not been deployed during the period in question.

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 plans to make to the international community on the alleged chemical weapons attacks in Dafur.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We are concerned by the allegations of the use of chemical weapons in Sudan and we are aware that the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is looking into these. The use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere is contrary to international law and must be wholly condemned. We were also concerned to read the other allegations made in the Amnesty report, which highlight the need for access to conflict-affected areas. Ensuring access for UNAMID throughout Darfur is a crucial next step. We have made this clear in the UN Security Council, and have also raised this in the context of the report directly with the Government of Sudan in London, Khartoum and New York.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has received on the compatibility with (a) Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention and (b) other elements of international law of the Israeli Supreme Court’s rejections of cases where demolition orders have been contested; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

​While we have not received any representations on these specific issues, we have repeatedly raised our opposition to demolitions with the Israeli authorities and have urged them to provide a legal route for Palestinian construction. On 7 September, during a meeting with Israeli Defence Minister Lieberman in London, I raised our concerns about demolitions.