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167674

registered interest
date	03/12/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Tobacco: EU Law
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of the revised EU Tobacco Products Directive on the JTI Gallaher factory.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	217070
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2014 answer text <p>Over regulation, and in particular the new tobacco products directive, have been blamed for the closure of the JTI factory in Ballymena. I believe this is part of a wider picture.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The demand for cigarettes is falling. Smoking rates have continued to decline in the UK. In 1974 almost half of the UK population smoked. Rates had fallen to 18.7% last year. Around 68% of current smokers also want to quit and are increasingly aware of the health harms that smoking causes. The tobacco industry has recognised this declining market and consumer health concerns and are diversifying into electronic cigarettes and ‘heat not burn’ technology.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The directive itself is aimed at harmonising European rules for the marketing of tobacco products to ensure that barriers to trade across the union are minimised for those continuing to trade in this commodity. These new rules include specific measures aimed at protecting trade, with an enhanced track and trace system to be implemented to protect the revenue of legitimate businesses. It is true, and right, that in deciding these trade rules a high level of health protection was sought for all citizens across the EU and the European Commission’s impact assessment accepts that there is likely to be a further reduction in tobacco consumption of 2% as a result of the directive.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>However, this is just part of the picture on job losses. Job losses have resulted, in greater measure from the actions of the industry itself, for example from the mechanisation and streamlining of tobacco production than from tobacco control measures implemented by this Government.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department of Health is currently finalising proposals to transpose the revised Tobacco Products Directive into UK law, and will consult on these proposals in early 2015. The Department will consider those proposals in due course.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman question first answered 10/12/2014 15:30:24 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn

167695

registered interest
date	03/12/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Mortgages
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make representations at EU level to prevent an EU Mortgage Credit Directive from (a) significantly altering current regulatory practice in the UK and (b) increasing costs and administration for businesses and consumers.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	217072
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2014 answer text <p><strong>The UK already has a robust regulatory regime to protect consumers in the UK mortgage market.</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Throughout the negotiation of the Mortgage Credit Directive (MCD), the UK focused on aligning its requirements as far as possible with the existing UK regulations, with a view to minimising the impact on UK industry and consumers.</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>The Government’s proposed approach to the implementation of the MCD, as with the negotiations, is to minimise the impact on the UK market. For this reason the Government is proposing to build on the existing UK regulatory regime in our transposition of the MCD, rather than copy out the Directive into UK legislation.</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>This approach is set out in more detail in the Government’s consultation on the Implementation of the EU MCD, which closed on 31 October. A summary of responses to the consultation will be published in due course.</strong></p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 10/12/2014 17:55:54 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn

167704

registered interest
date	03/12/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Help to Buy Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to help home buyers aged over 40 acquire mortgages.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	216970
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2014 answer text <p>The government has taken steps to support people who aspire to own their own home. The Help to Buy scheme has helped over 71,000 people to buy their home, and is available for first time buyers and those moving house. As announced in the Autumn Statement, the government is also cutting stamp duty for 98% of people who pay it by reforming the way that it is charged.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is responsible for the rules that protect consumers taking out a mortgage. In April this year the requirements on firms around responsible lending were strengthened with the introduction of the new rules known as the Mortgage Market Review. The operation of these rules is a matter for the FCA, whose day-to-day operations are independent from government.</p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 10/12/2014 17:59:36 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn

167716

registered interest
date	03/12/2014
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Arms Trade: Israel
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with other EU member states on export licences granted to Israel.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	217060
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2014 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Defence has not held any discussions with other EU member states on export licences granted to Israel.</p> answering member constituency Ludlow answering member printed Mr Philip Dunne question first answered 10/12/2014 17:30:57 answering member 1542 label Biography information for Philip Dunne
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn

167725

registered interest
date	03/12/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Adoption and Foster Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of guidelines and practices used balancing between improving access to adoption and foster services for accredited prospective parents ensuring the safety of children in care.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	217074
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Education has not made a formal assessment of the effectiveness of these guidelines and practices for approved adopters. However, there are clear eligibility criteria and statutory guidance on approving and assessing prospective adopters and foster carers.[1] The Government believes that these standards provide adequate safeguards for children in care.</p><p>[1] <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/321968/Adoption_Statutory_Guidance_2014.pdf" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/321968/Adoption_Statutory_Guidance_2014.pdf</a></p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/336073/Stat_guidance_FFA__8_July_2014.pdf" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/336073/Stat_guidance_FFA__8_July_2014.pdf</a></p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fostering-services-assessment-and-approval-of-foster-carers" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/fostering-services-assessment-and-approval-of-foster-carers</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Crewe and Nantwich answering member printed Mr Edward Timpson question first answered 10/12/2014 17:01:52 answering member 1605 label Biography information for Edward Timpson
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn

167804

registered interest
date	03/12/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	National Crime Agency: Northern Ireland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of the National Crime Agency not being fully operational in Northern Ireland on the opportunity for people living in Northern Ireland to be employed in that agency.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	217073
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2014 answer text <p>The National Crime Agency (NCA) has a flexible, UK-wide operational capability, prioritising the deployment of its resources against the highest risks and undertaking targeted operations to cut serious and organised crime affecting <br>our communities. The NCA's People Strategy delivers a flexible response in which the workforce is placed in areas of operational demand. There is nothing to preclude the employment of people living in Northern Ireland. For example, <br>NCA officers based in Northern Ireland work on Civil Recovery and Tax casesrelating to England and Wales in the absence of consent for the NCA to take on full functions in Northern Ireland. All NCA vacancies across the United Kingdom are advertised in the spirit of open and fair competition. The NCA recruit in this fashion to secure the best candidates for these demanding roles</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Staffordshire Moorlands answering member printed Karen Bradley question first answered 10/12/2014 14:58:03 answering member 4110 label Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn

167835

registered interest
date	03/12/2014
answering body	Prime Minister
answering dept id	23
answering dept short name	Prime Minister
answering dept sort name	Prime Minister
hansard heading	Syria
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Prime Minister, whether he plans to discuss (a) an increase in the number of refugees from Syria resettling in the EU and (b) measures to help the families of such refugees at the next European Council.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	216961
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2014 answer text <p>The proposed agenda for the European Council on 18-19 December can be found on the european-council.europa.eu website.</p> answering member constituency Witney answering member printed Mr David Cameron question first answered 10/12/2014 16:10:01 answering member 1467 label Biography information for Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn