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447221

registered interest
date	25/01/2016
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	Animal Products: Imports
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to prohibit the importation of trophies secured from the killing of (a) lions, (b) elephants and (c) other mammals in (i) Tanzania, (ii) Zimbabwe and (iii) other African countries.
tabling member constituency	Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
tabling member printed	Dr Paul Monaghan
uin	23807
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2016 answer text <p>The international rules for the import and export of hunting trophies are established under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). A hunting trophy of an endangered species can only be exported if the exporting country is satisfied that the hunt was both legal and sustainable. CITES controls are implemented at an EU-wide level and the UK works with other EU Member States to agree a collective approach.</p><p> </p><p>In light of growing concerns about the sustainability of the hunting of some species, the EU has introduced stricter controls on the import of hunting trophies of six species, including lions and African elephants. These require that both the exporting and importing country must be satisfied that the animal was hunted sustainably. As a result the import of hunting trophies of certain species from certain countries is currently prohibited by the EU, including lion trophies from Cameroon and Mozambique and elephant trophies from Tanzania. Imports of lion and elephant trophies from Zimbabwe are currently allowed into the EU as they are considered to be sustainable. The import of lion trophies from Tanzania is under consideration by the Scientific Review Group, which brings together the Scientific Authorities of EU Member States to provide advice on CITES matters and which is expected to decide at its next meeting whether the importation of lion trophies from Tanzania should be prohibited.</p><p> </p><p>A full list of EU CITES trade suspensions can be found at: <a href="http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32015R0736" target="_blank">http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32015R0736</a></p><p> </p><p>I recognise that there are real concerns about the impact of trophy hunting on lion conservation. As I announced in Parliament on 24 November 2015, the Government will ban lion trophy imports within the next two years unless there are improvements in the way hunting takes place in certain countries, judged against strict criteria. We will work with our European and international partners, and experts in the field, to reach a common approach to this issue.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 02/02/2016 08:57:26 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
tabling member	4383 label Biography information for Dr Paul Monaghan

447222

registered interest
date	25/01/2016
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	Ivory: Africa
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to (a) close the trade and sale of ivory and (b) end the importation of ivory from countries such as (i) Tanzania, (ii) Zimbabwe and (iii) other African countries.
tabling member constituency	Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
tabling member printed	Dr Paul Monaghan
uin	23808
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2016 answer text <p>The Government is deeply concerned by the continued poaching of elephants for their ivory, which is why we are committed to maintaining the current global ban on any international trade in new ivory.</p><br /><p>The UK does not permit trade in raw ivory tusks of any age, from Tanzania, Zimbabwe or any other country. We are pressing for this approach to be taken across the whole of the European Union. In implementing our manifesto commitment to press for a total ban on ivory sales, we will work with our international partners and interested parties at home to take into account their views about how we best achieve this and over what timeframe.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 29/01/2016 15:34:43 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
tabling member	4383 label Biography information for Dr Paul Monaghan

447370

registered interest
date	25/01/2016
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	Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much her Department has spent on badger culling to date; and what estimate she has made of spending on badger culling in the financial years (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17, (c) 2017-18, (d) 2018-19 and (e) 2019-20.
tabling member constituency	Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
tabling member printed	Dr Paul Monaghan
uin	23968
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2016 answer text <p>Bovine TB is the greatest animal health threat to the UK. Based on current expenditure it will cost the taxpayer £1 billion over the next decade if we do not take rigorous action now. The Government is delivering a comprehensive strategy to eradicate the disease and protect the future of our dairy and beef industries. This includes strengthening cattle testing and movement controls, improving biosecurity, and badger control in areas where TB is rife.</p><p> </p><p>To date, Defra has spent the following on badger control for the purposes of eradicating bovine TB:</p><p> </p><p>2012/2013 – £2.5m</p><p>2013/2014 – £6.3m plus an additional £3.5m on policing costs</p><p>2014/2015 – £3.1m plus an additional £1.4m on policing costs</p><p> </p><p>Costs for 2015/2016 are currently being finalised and will be published in due course.</p><p> </p><p>Planning is underway for future years, but we expect the costs to government per area to decrease in line with the estimates contained in Table 4 of the Badger Control Policy: Value For Money Analysis published in December 2015:</p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bovine-tb-badger-control-policy-value-for-money-analysis" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/bovine-tb-badger-control-policy-value-for-money-analysis</a>.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 01/02/2016 14:40:36 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4383 label Biography information for Dr Paul Monaghan

447371

registered interest
date	25/01/2016
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	Bovine Tuberculosis: Vaccination
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken to secure alternative supplies of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine for the purpose of preventing the spread of tuberculosis in the badger population (a) through the EDGE Scheme and (b) in other ways.
tabling member constituency	Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
tabling member printed	Dr Paul Monaghan
uin	23969
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2016 answer text <p>The only Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine authorised for use in badgers in the UK is produced by a single Danish manufacturer. Following advice from Public Health England on the need to prioritise available stocks for humans, the Government has taken the decision to suspend attempts to source BCG vaccine for the Badger Edge Vaccination Scheme and other private badger vaccination deployment projects in England until the supply situation is resolved. This follows the decision of the Welsh Government to do the same. Our long-term research to develop an oral TB vaccine for badgers and an effective TB vaccine for cattle is not expected to be affected by the current supply issue.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 29/01/2016 12:24:25 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4383 label Biography information for Dr Paul Monaghan

447407

registered interest
date	25/01/2016
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Drugs: Decriminalisation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to decriminalise drug use and encourage the implementation and enforcement of anti-discrimination and protective laws, based on human rights standards, to eliminate stigma, discrimination, social exclusion and violence against young people who inject drugs based on actual or presumed behaviours and HIV status.
tabling member constituency	Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
tabling member printed	Dr Paul Monaghan
uin	23967
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2016 answer text <p>The Government has no intention of decriminalising drugs in the UK. Decriminalisation would not eliminate the crime committed by the illicit trade, nor would it address the harms associated with drug dependence and the misery that this can cause to families and communities.</p><p>The Government’s approach to drugs, based on our balanced 2010 Drug Strategy, remains clear. We must prevent drug use in our communities and support people dependent on drugs through treatment and recovery. At the same time, we have to stop the supply of illegal drugs and tackle the organised crime behind the drugs trade.</p><p>There are promising signs our approach is working, with a downward trend in drug use over the last decade and more people recovering from dependency now than in 2009/10.</p> answering member constituency Staffordshire Moorlands answering member printed Karen Bradley question first answered 28/01/2016 16:10:59 answering member 4110 label Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley
tabling member	4383 label Biography information for Dr Paul Monaghan

447422

registered interest
date	25/01/2016
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Drugs: Decriminalisation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to provide alternatives to criminalization and incarceration of people with drug-use disorders and to encourage alternatives to imprisonment facilitating the eventual rehabilitation, re-skilling and reintegration of drug users.
tabling member constituency	Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
tabling member printed	Dr Paul Monaghan
uin	23966
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2016 answer text <p>We are currently trialling ‘Liaison and Diversion’ services. These services place health professionals at police stations and courts to assess suspects for a range of health problems, including drug misuse, and make referrals to treatment and support. Information shared with the criminal justice system can be used to inform decisions, supporting diversion into treatment as part of an alternative to charge or to custody where appropriate.</p><p>We are also interested in problem-solving courts, such as drug courts, given evidence of success in other jurisdictions. Officials are now working with members of the judiciary to consider how the problem-solving approach might be developed for England and Wales.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 02/02/2016 13:13:20 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4383 label Biography information for Dr Paul Monaghan

446075

registered interest
date	19/01/2016
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Shipping: Oil
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the effect of a written objection being made by a consultation body specified in Regulation 2 of the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010 (as amended) for the determination of an application for an oil transfer licence.
tabling member constituency	Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
tabling member printed	Dr Paul Monaghan
uin	23228
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2016 answer text <p>The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is the Competent Authority that assesses applications for an Oil Transfer License (OTL). All written representations made during a public consultation are considered with the application and used to inform the analysis and the decision</p><br /><p>The MCA will approve or deny the application, direct the applicant to do additional work to address concerns and/or seek additional stakeholder consultation and engagement where appropriate.</p><br /><p>In accordance with the ‘Merchant Shipping (Ship to Ship Transfers) Regulation 2010 (as amended), the MCA will inform the applicant in writing of the decision, with any associated caveats to the License, if granted. Officials will also write to all individuals or consultation bodies who responded to the public consultation informing them of the decision and the justification for it.</p><br /><p>Representations and decision correspondence are retained by the MCA and kept on file for a minimum of 20 years. Records of any other stakeholder engagement undertaken during an OTL consultation or subsequent to it are retained by the MCA for a minimum of five years.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 27/01/2016 13:19:57 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	4383 label Biography information for Dr Paul Monaghan

437902

registered interest
date	14/12/2015
answering body	Department for Energy and Climate Change
answering dept id	63
answering dept short name	Energy and Climate Change
answering dept sort name	Energy and Climate Change
hansard heading	Electricity Generation: Costs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what comparative assessment she has made of the cost of generating electricity from existing (a) conventional hydro-electric and (b) gas fired plants.
tabling member constituency	Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
tabling member printed	Dr Paul Monaghan
uin	19828
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2015 answer text <p>In comparing the costs of different electricity technologies in the future, DECC typically use the levelised costs of electricity generation. Levelised costs include capital and operating costs over the lifetime of a plant, as well as DECC estimates of projected fuel and carbon costs.</p><br /><p>The most recent levelised cost estimates are available in the DECC Electricity Generation Costs report, available at:</p><br /><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/269888/131217_Electricity_Generation_costs_report_December_2013_Final.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/269888/131217_Electricity_Generation_costs_report_December_2013_Final.pdf</a></p><br /><p>These include levelised cost estimates for (a) conventional hydro-electric sources and (b) gas fired plants.</p><br /><p>We are currently undertaking a comprehensive review of our evidence on levelised costs of electricity generation.</p><br /><p>The above levelised costs however do not take into account all of the wider positive or negative impacts that a plant may impose on the electricity system. So far, DECC’s electricity modelling has considered these wider whole system impacts through a system wide cost-benefit analysis. DECC is currently undertaking a project, which aims to further DECC’s understanding of the whole system impacts of electricity generation technologies.</p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 17/12/2015 17:13:00 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
tabling member	4383 label Biography information for Dr Paul Monaghan

437903

registered interest
date	14/12/2015
answering body	Department for Energy and Climate Change
answering dept id	63
answering dept short name	Energy and Climate Change
answering dept sort name	Energy and Climate Change
hansard heading	Hydroelectric Power: Costs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when calculating grants and tax incentives whether her Department assesses the levelised cost of hydro plant over the expected actual lifespan or the shorter lifespan allowed in the levelised cost calculation when allocating grants and tax incentives.
tabling member constituency	Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
tabling member printed	Dr Paul Monaghan
uin	19868
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2015 answer text <p>In comparing the costs of different electricity technologies in the future, DECC typically use the levelised costs of electricity generation. Levelised costs include capital and operating costs over the lifetime of a plant, as well as DECC estimates of projected fuel and carbon costs.</p><br /><p>The most recent levelised cost estimates are available in the DECC Electricity Generation Costs report, available at:</p><br /><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/269888/131217_Electricity_Generation_costs_report_December_2013_Final.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/269888/131217_Electricity_Generation_costs_report_December_2013_Final.pdf</a></p><br /><p>For hydro plants, DECC assumes a plant lifetime of 41 years for levelised cost purposes. This is taken from the below Arup report (section 6.8.4):</p><br /><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/66176/Renewables_Obligation_consultation_-_review_of_generation_costs_and_deployment_potential.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/66176/Renewables_Obligation_consultation_-_review_of_generation_costs_and_deployment_potential.pdf</a>.</p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 17/12/2015 17:13:33 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
tabling member	4383 label Biography information for Dr Paul Monaghan

432895

registered interest
date	27/11/2015
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Bank Services: Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what correspondence the Government has had with the Bank of Scotland on implementation of the Access to Banking Protocol and the (a) closure of branches and (b) reduction of banking services in the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross constituency.
tabling member constituency	Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
tabling member printed	Dr Paul Monaghan
uin	18038
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/12/2015 answer text <p>The Government welcomed the industry-wide Access to Banking protocol announced in March 2015. From the first of May this year, each participating bank has committed to carry out a number of steps if it is closing a branch. This includes establishing the impact of a branch closure before it takes place; finding suitable alternative provision; and putting in place suitable alternative measures before a branch is closed.</p><br /><p>There is a commitment to review the operation of the protocol after one year. In August, the Minister for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise and I wrote to the Chief Executive of the British Bankers’ Association and requested an update on progress towards the appointment of an independent reviewer. A copy of the letter was also sent to the Chief Executives of the banks that are signatories to the Access to Banking protocol.</p><br /><p>Banks and building societies need to balance customer interests, market competition, and other commercial factors when considering their strategy.</p><br /><p>Decisions on the opening and closing of individual bank branches are taken by the management of each bank on a commercial basis without intervention from Government.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin grouped question UIN 18039 18040 18041 question first answered 07/12/2015 16:16:18 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	4383 label Biography information for Dr Paul Monaghan