Tag: Tommy Sheppard

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tommy Sheppard on 2016-03-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to deploy (a) Fijian soldiers serving in the British Army and (b) other Army resources for humanitarian purposes in Fiji in response to the recent cyclone.

Penny Mordaunt

The Ministry of Defence’s humanitarian relief deployments are typically in response to either a request from the Department for International Development or directly from the government affected. The UK did not receive a request for assistance from the Fijian government and so currently has no plans to deploy personnel or assets.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tommy Sheppard on 2016-07-20.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to process tax credits claims for terminally ill people; and if he will consider introducing a fast track system as applied to claims for other allowances.

Mr David Gauke

HMRC provide a tailored support service for vulnerable customers. If a customer who is terminally ill advises HMRC that they require extra help, HMRC’s ‘Needs Enhanced Support’ team will help the customer throughout the claims procedure, accelerating the process where appropriate.

There are no current plans for HMRC to introduce a specific fast track service for tax credit customers who are terminally ill.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tommy Sheppard on 2016-03-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much her Department plans to spend on emergency aid relief in Fiji in response to the recent cyclone in that country.

Mr Desmond Swayne

The UK is assisting Fiji in response to Tropical Cyclone Winston. We are contributing technical support to strengthen United Nations Children’s Fund capacity with water, sanitation and hygiene coordination and are ready to consider further requests for humanitarian experts should it be required. DFID has also offered to provide support to the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Co-ordinations team and will remain in contact with Agencies in the region.

The UK is also funding MapAction, a UK-based NGO. Two of their volunteers have now deployed to Fiji to provide GIS and Mapping capability. The UK also makes core contributions to the UN Agencies, the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department and the Red Cross, all of whom are contributing to the response. Stephen O’Brien, Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has recently announced US $8 million for Fiji from the Central Emergency Response Fund, to which the UK is biggest contributor, having donated in excess of $855m in the last 10 years.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tommy Sheppard on 2016-10-10.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who was principally responsible for the administration of the estates and rents of the Duchy of Lancaster between November 2005 and May 2006.

Sir Patrick McLoughlin

Between November 2005 and May 2006 the role of the Chancellor was vacant. During that period the Duchy was administered by the Chief Executive and Clerk of the Council, along with the Duchy Council.

Since I have taken up the role, I have been carrying out a number of duties related to the Duchy, including meetings with Duchy staff, a visit to a Duchy property and various appointments and responsibilities associated with the office.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tommy Sheppard on 2016-03-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of immigration cases were designated as complex in (a) 2015, (b) 2014 and (c) 2013.

James Brokenshire

Following feedback from customers and partners UKV&I introduced new service standards in January 2014. As such statistical information for 2013 is not available.

The table below shows the number and proportion of immigration cases designated as complex in 2014 and 2015

Following feedback from customers and partners UKV&I introduced new service standards in January 2014. As such statistical information for 2013 is not available. Our records indicate the average waiting time (days) for immigration cases that are designated as complex is as follows.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tommy Sheppard on 2016-10-10.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to update the List of Ministerial Responsibilities.

Ben Gummer

An updated version of the list of Ministerial Responsibilities will be published shortly.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tommy Sheppard on 2016-03-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average waiting time was for immigration cases designated as complex in (a) 2015, (b) 2014 and (c) 2013.

James Brokenshire

Following feedback from customers and partners UKV&I introduced new service standards in January 2014. As such statistical information for 2013 is not available.

The table below shows the number and proportion of immigration cases designated as complex in 2014 and 2015

Following feedback from customers and partners UKV&I introduced new service standards in January 2014. As such statistical information for 2013 is not available. Our records indicate the average waiting time (days) for immigration cases that are designated as complex is as follows.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tommy Sheppard on 2016-10-10.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what correspondence he has received from English Heritage on Duchy of Lancaster properties under the guardianship of English Heritage in the last 12 months.

Sir Patrick McLoughlin

The Minister for the Cabinet Office has received no correspondence from English Heritage on Duchy of Lancaster properties under the guardianship of English Heritage in the last 12 months.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tommy Sheppard on 2016-03-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Israeli counterpart on the use of administrative detention in that country.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We remain concerned about Israel’s extensive use of administrative detention which, according to international law, should be used only when security makes this absolutely necessary. Officials regularly raise concerns about the treatment of administrative detainees with their Israeli counterparts.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tommy Sheppard on 2016-10-10.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will estimate the proportion of time Ministers in his Department spent on the management of matters relating to the Duchy of Lancaster in the last three months.

Sir Patrick McLoughlin

Between November 2005 and May 2006 the role of the Chancellor was vacant. During that period the Duchy was administered by the Chief Executive and Clerk of the Council, along with the Duchy Council.

Since I have taken up the role, I have been carrying out a number of duties related to the Duchy, including meetings with Duchy staff, a visit to a Duchy property and various appointments and responsibilities associated with the office.