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1126998

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Department for International Trade
	answering dept id	202
	answering dept short name	International Trade
	answering dept sort name	International Trade
	hansard heading	Overseas Trade: The Gambia
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what actions they are  taking to increase the amount of trade between the UK and The Gambia.
	tabling member printed	Lord German
	uin	HL15759
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>As the Prime Minister set out during her visit to Africa last Summer, the Government is committed to seeing a step change in our relationship with Africa in order to drive forward trade and investment. The Africa Trade Services Unit was set up to act as the single point of contact for UK companies exporting to Africa. The Unit responds to all Africa trade enquiries, including those related to Gambia, and can support UK companies through the delivery of trade services.</p><p> </p><p>The UK remains committed to ensuring developing countries can reduce poverty through trading opportunities. The Taxation (Cross-Border Trade) Act 2018 enables the UK to put in place a trade preferences scheme for developing countries that maintains the same level of access as the EU's Generalised Scheme of Preferences, which will grant duty-free, quota-free access to Least Developed Countries, including The Gambia.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 21/05/2019 11:48:36 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
	tabling member	4163 label Biography information for Lord German

1127012

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Pollinators
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to (1) highlight the importance to the planet of bees and other pollinators such as butterflies and bats, and (2) protect pollinator species.
	tabling member printed	Lord Pendry
	uin	HL15773
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>Protecting pollinators is a priority for this Government. The Government supports two major events to raise awareness of the importance of bees and other pollinators and encourage people to take action.</p><p> </p><p>Firstly, our ‘Bees’ Needs’ campaign, which we run with a number of partners. In July 2018, with the generous support of our hosts, Shaftesbury PLC, we put on a week long event in Carnaby Street (renamed ‘Carnabee’ Street for the week) to raise awareness of the steps we can all take to protect pollinators. With immense gratitude to our hosts Shaftesbury PLC, this event will be repeated this year from 8 to 14 July.</p><p> </p><p>Defra also organises, in partnership with the Green Flag Awards, an annual Bees’ Needs Champions Awards to recognise and celebrate examples of exemplary initiatives undertaken by schools, local authorities, universities, community groups and bee farmers to support pollinators.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is taking a range of other steps to protect pollinator species. In 2014 we published a ten year National Pollinator Strategy, setting out how the Government, conservation groups, farmers, beekeepers and researchers can work together to improve the status of the 1,500 or so pollinating insect species in England.</p><p> </p><p>We are also creating habitat for pollinators. In 2015, we introduced new and simple wildlife ‘packages’ within Countryside Stewardship to make it easier for farmers to provide flower rich margins or pollen and nectar plots on fields to support wild pollinators.</p><p> </p><p>The Government also recently announced £60,000 to develop pollinator habitat mapping and is supporting largescale projects to bring landowners and conservationists together to provide habitat in Devon and Hampshire. Natural England, our statutory nature conservation adviser, continues to work with a range of landowning and NGO partners to support the recovery of threatened species such as the barberry carpet moth, shorthaired bumblebee and chequered skipper butterfly.</p><p> </p><p>We are supporting monitoring work. In collaboration with research institutes and volunteer organisations, we have established a pollinator monitoring and research partnership to gather further data and improve our understanding of the status of pollinators and pollination services in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>We are taking steps to reduce pressures on pollinators. We have implemented science led restrictions on neonicotinoids based on scientific evidence that they carry risks to pollinators. We continue to tackle threats from invasive species, such as the Asian hornet, and protect honey bees from pests and diseases through the National Bee Unit’s nationwide team of bee inspectors.</p><p> </p><p>We are safeguarding honey bee health. Collaboration has been a central tenet of the work by the Government and Bee Inspectors to protect honey bee health. Along with beekeeping associations, the Government has carried out a decade of work under the Healthy Bees Plan, drafted in 2009 as a means of sustaining our honey bee population. We will be reviewing this work this year and using valuable lessons from this to develop our future strategy.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 21/05/2019 15:04:18 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	457 label Biography information for Lord Pendry

1126803

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Students: Loans
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much money has been repaid to the Student Loans Company in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
	tabling member printed	David Simpson
	uin	254787
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>Statistics covering student loans, debt and repayment are published annually by the Student Loans Company (SLC). The statistics are published separately for each government administration. Information on repayments by financial year can be found in table 1 of each of the publications:</p><p><a href="https://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/student-loans-debt-and-repayment.aspx" target="_blank">https://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/student-loans-debt-and-repayment.aspx</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The next release in the student loans, debt and repayment series is confirmed for 13 June 2019, which will include repayment statistics for the financial year 2018-19.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 21/05/2019 16:30:13 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1126811

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Railways: Fares
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the cost of rail fares to the EU from the UK will be affected by the UK leaving the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
	tabling member printed	David Simpson
	uin	254788
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>Fares for international passenger services between the UK and the EU are set by the relevant train operator on a commercial basis. Any potential change in fares is therefore a commercial matter for the operators concerned.</p> answering member constituency Epsom and Ewell answering member printed Chris Grayling question first answered 21/05/2019 14:35:53 answering member 1413 label Biography information for Chris Grayling
	tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1126812

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Port of Dover: Large Goods Vehicles
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to reduce congestion of lorries going to the port of Dover after the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
	tabling member printed	David Simpson
	uin	254789
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government remains focused on ensuring the UK’s smooth and orderly withdrawal from the EU with a deal as soon as possible. As a responsible government, we’ve been preparing to minimise any disruption in the event of no deal for over two years.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Transport has worked closely with the Kent Resilience Forum on developing plans, also known as Operation Brock, to be used as a contingency in the event of cross-Channel travel disruption at the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel, whatever the cause.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Operation Brock has been designed to ensure that the M20 will be kept open and traffic will continue to flow in both directions. It consists of three phases: a contraflow queuing system on the M20, between Junctions 8 and 9; temporary holding areas at Manston Airfield for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) heading to Europe via the Port of Dover; and, if necessary, temporary holding areas on the M26 (Brock M26) for HGVs heading to Europe via Eurotunnel. The M20 contraflow element will allow non-port traffic to continue to use the M20 in both directions when HGVs are stored on the coast-bound carriageway.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has also been taking steps to minimise the number of hauliers and other vehicles arriving at Dover and Eurotunnel without the essential documentation for EU border controls in a no deal scenario. This should help to reduce the risk of significant disruption at ports and on the Kent road network from the introduction of new EU customs processes.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Epsom and Ewell answering member printed Chris Grayling question first answered 21/05/2019 13:29:52 answering member 1413 label Biography information for Chris Grayling
	tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1126813

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces: Weapons
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps she is taking to help ensure that weapons used by British armed forces are (a) fit for purpose and (b) modern.
	tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
	tabling member printed	David Simpson
	uin	254790
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>As explained in the report on the Modernising Defence Programme published in December 2018, we plan to modernise and transform our Armed Forces by embracing new and innovative technologies to ensure we retain military advantage over potential adversaries and by investing to improve the readiness and availability of defence equipment. We will spend over £186 billion on equipment and support over the decade from April 2018 to March 2028 to ensure that our Armed Forces are fit for the defence and security challenges of the future.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 21/05/2019 15:01:17 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
	tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1126815

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Novartis: North East Lincolnshire
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support people affected by the potential closure of the Novartis plant in North East Lincolnshire.
	tabling member constituency	Great Grimsby
	tabling member printed	Melanie Onn
	uin	254841
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>DWP offer a Rapid Response Service (RRS). This is a redundancy service designed to give support and advice to employers and their employees when faced with the prospect of redundancy. It is coordinated nationally by the National Employer and Partnership Team (NEPT) and is managed by Jobcentre Plus. Each Jobcentre Plus district deploy resources according to the situation and the requirements of the workforce. This service is available to be deployed in Grimsby and surrounding area should Novartis require support from Jobcentre Plus. The RRS is delivered in partnership with a range of national and local partners, including National Careers Service and local service providers.</p><p> </p><p>The range of support available from Jobcentre Plus and partners may include:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Information advice and guidance.</li><li>Connecting people to jobs in the labour market.</li><li>Help with job search including CV writing, interview skills, where to find jobs and<br> how to apply for them.</li><li>Help to identify transferable skills and skills gaps (linked to the local labour<br> market).</li><li>Training to update skills, learn new ones and gain industry recognised<br> certification that will improve employability.</li><li>Help to overcome barriers to attending training or securing a job or <br> self-employment such as child care costs, necessary tools, work clothes, travel<br> costs etc.</li><li>On-site presentations to those affected.</li><li>Jobs Fairs and Job Clubs where appropriate.</li></ul> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 21/05/2019 16:58:43 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma previous answer version 119072 answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4464 label Biography information for Melanie Onn

1126821

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Overseas Students: English Language
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2019 to Question 249833, what proportion of students (a) passed and (b) failed the English language test with each approved provider in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester East
	tabling member printed	Keith Vaz
	uin	254742
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is not held centrally by the Home Office.</p><p>Individuals may be required to take an English language test for a number of reasons. It is not limited to student applications.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 21/05/2019 13:16:42 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	338 label Biography information for Keith Vaz

1126822

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Educational Testing Service
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2019 to Question 249832 on Educational Testing Service, what the settlement was of the legal action his Department took against ETS.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester East
	tabling member printed	Keith Vaz
	uin	254743
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>I can confirm that a financial settlement was reached with ETS Global BV in early 2018. The terms of this settlement prevent release of further details at this time.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 21/05/2019 13:15:24 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	338 label Biography information for Keith Vaz

1126823

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Educational Testing Service: Prosecutions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 10 May 2019 to Question 249830 on Educational Testing Service: Prosecutions, how many test centres the 25 convicted individuals operated.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester East
	tabling member printed	Keith Vaz
	uin	254744
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>Criminal investigations in this area have focused on those who played a key role in facilitating this fraud and not solely those who directly operated test centres.</p><p><br>Of the 25 convicted so far, 10 were directly involved in the running of 7 different test centre. The other 15 played key roles such as recruiting students or acting as proxy test takers.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 21/05/2019 13:13:56 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	338 label Biography information for Keith Vaz