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458903

registered interest
date	09/03/2016
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	Carbon Emissions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if she will assess the progress all Government Departments are making on meeting the Government's carbon reduction targets and what steps the Government is taking to meet the target set in (a) the fourth carbon budget period 2023 to 2027 and (b) the fifth carbon budget period 2028 to 2032.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	30479
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2016 answer text <p>Each year the Government sets out its progress to meeting carbon reduction targets in response to the annual progress report from the Committee on Climate Change. The latest response was published in October 2015:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/committee-on-climate-changes-2015-progress-report-government-response" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/committee-on-climate-changes-2015-progress-report-government-response</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has made good progress to date and is on track to meet the second and third carbon budgets. Indeed, UK has reduced emissions by around 30% since 1990 and last year we cut emissions by 8% against a backdrop of a growing economy.</p><p> </p><p>Options to meet the fourth carbon budget will be developed in this Parliament. We will say more on our approach to reducing emissions in the 2020s after we set the fifth carbon budget in June, in accordance with the Climate Change Act.</p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 15/03/2016 14:34:08 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

459019

registered interest
date	09/03/2016
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Zimbabwe: Missing Persons
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the government of Zimbabwe on (a) the provision of information on Itai Dzamara and (b) the ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	30483
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2016 answer text <p>Since the abduction of human rights defender Mr Itai Dzamara in March 2015, the UK has worked closely with international partners to raise awareness of his case and to put pressure on the Government of Zimbabwe to investigate it. We regularly raise Mr Dzamara’s disappearance in the course of our discussions with the Government of Zimbabwe. Following a number of statements in 2015, the EU Delegation to Zimbabwe released a further statement on 9 March, in agreement with EU Heads of Mission in Zimbabwe, marking the one year anniversary of Mr Dzamara’s disappearance and expressing its deep disappointment at the lack of progress in this case. We urge the Government of Zimbabwe to take effective steps to prevent the disappearance of human rights defenders and other activists and to investigate existing cases.</p><p>The UK is not a signatory to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and therefore has not made representations to the Government of Zimbabwe to ratify it. However, there is an existing UK framework which protects human rights, prevents arbitrary arrests and holds national security organisations to account.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 15/03/2016 15:15:48 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

458473

registered interest
date	08/03/2016
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	Renewable Energy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to increase the UK's energy storage capacity for excess energy from renewables; and what financial support she is making available to increase the capacity of pumped hydro systems.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	30232
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2016 answer text <p>The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is investigating the potential barriers to deployment of energy storage and possible mitigating actions, focussing in the first instance on removing regulatory barriers but also considering whether more needs to be done to stimulate investment in energy storage. DECC plans to issue a call for evidence in spring 2016 on this area.</p><p> </p><p>DECC has provided more than £18m of innovation support since 2012 to develop and demonstrate a range of energy storage technologies. This support has included a grant to a UK pumped hydro storage company to analyse the potential for wider deployment of new pumped hydro storage facilities in novel sites around Great Britain – for example, in disused quarries or other brownfield sites or using drinking water reservoirs.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 14/03/2016 13:13:59 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

456924

registered interest
date	02/03/2016
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	Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to obtain a special status for UK agricultural products from specific geographical origin within the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	29515
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/03/2016 answer text <p>Negotiations on the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) concluded in 2014 and the agreement is expected to come into force in early 2017. CETA represents a good outcome for the UK. Economic analysis suggests the UK could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of this agreement.</p><p> </p><p>Our most important GI (Geographic Indication) product, Scotch Whisky, will receive greater protection in the market and the agreement removes both tariff and non-tariff barriers to British food and drink exports to Canada.</p><p> </p><p>We will be working with the EU Commission, other Member States, the UK food industry and trade organisations to extend GI recognition under CETA for EU protected food name products not included in the initial negotiating list. In particular for UK products where exports to Canada have substantially increased since the CETA negotiations started in 2011.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 10/03/2016 13:22:39 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

456942

registered interest
date	02/03/2016
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Oil: Origin Marking
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to require all oil products sold in the UK to carry a Certificate of Origin to ensure that they do not come from Daesh-controlled areas.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	29457
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2016 answer text <p>There is no evidence of oil products originating from Daesh-controlled areas reaching the UK market. The majority of Daesh’s oil is refined and sold within the territory it controls with the rest being sold in other parts of Syria and Iraq, including to the Asad regime, and smaller amounts being smuggled onto the regional black market. By halting and reversing Daesh’s territorial advance, Global Coalition military action has squeezed Daesh’s revenue sources. Our targeting of Daesh’s oil facilities has reduced its production capability by 25%, which equates to approximately 10% of their total income.</p><p>In parallel to this military assault on Daesh’s oil facilities, the UK has led efforts to create and enforce an international sanctions regime to cut Daesh off from trading with international markets, including in oil products. This regime is underpinned by UN Security Council Resolutions 2178, 2199, 1267 and 2253. We work closely with our regional partners to ensure these sanctions are fully implemented. We also work closely with the oil industry in the UK, and further afield, to prevent Daesh procuring the equipment and fuel additives it needs to keep its oil production going.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 11/03/2016 13:55:07 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

457024

registered interest
date	02/03/2016
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Egypt: Royal Engineers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential terrorist and security threat to the corps of Royal Engineers who will be deployed in March to provide short-term engineering support to the multinational force and observers in Sinai.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	29578
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2016 answer text <p>As is the case with all operational deployments, a full risk assessment was conducted prior to the decision to deploy Royal Engineers to support the Multi-National Force Observers (MFO) mission in Sinai. This covered the full range of risks to our personnel and identified appropriate measures to mitigate risk.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 09/03/2016 16:13:41 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

457027

registered interest
date	02/03/2016
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Egypt: Freedom of Expression
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will discuss the imprisonment of Ahmed Naji with his Egyptian counterpart; and if he will make representations on the freedom of expression in Egypt during that discussion.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	29516
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2016 answer text <p>My officials are aware of Mr Naji's case and will continue to follow further developments.</p><p>Political progress is essential for Egypt's long-term stability. This includes freedom of expression in all its forms. We also want to see better protection of Egyptians' constitutional rights. Ministers and officials regularly raise our concerns with their Egyptian counterparts.</p><p>We will continue to urge the Government of Egypt to demonstrate its commitment to freedom of speech, including the right of freedom of expression for journalists and writers to operate. The UK has clearly stated that freedom of expression is fundamental to building a democratic society.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 09/03/2016 15:59:55 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

457030

registered interest
date	02/03/2016
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Burundi: Peacekeeping Operations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how the Government plans to use its position on the UN Security Council to help facilitate diplomatic negotiations on protecting civilians in Burundi; and if the Government will negotiate for a UN police peacekeeping mission with a Chapter VII mandate.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	29459
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2016 answer text <p>The UK has been at the forefront of UN Security Council efforts to seek an end to violence in Burundi in order to protect civilians. Under the UK’s Presidency, the Security Council passed Resolution 2248 in November 2015, which among other things authorised the Secretary General to send a mission to Burundi to help create conditions for dialogue. Dialogue is crucial to securing a peaceful and stable outcome to the current crisis. During my visit to Burundi in December 2015 I used meetings with Burundian Foreign Minister Alain Nyamitwe, and Major General Prime Niyongabo, Army Chief of Staff, to press the Government of Burundi to engage in inclusive dialogue without preconditions. At the African Union (AU) Summit in January, I also discussed the situation in Burundi with AU Chairperson Madame Zuma, AU Peace and Security Commissioner Chergui and Burundian Foreign Minister Nyamitwe. The UK also made these points as part of a Security Council visit to Burundi in January this year. We have urged the Burundian government to accept an international peacekeeping deployment, which would render a Chapter VII mission unnecessary.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 09/03/2016 15:41:05 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

457031

registered interest
date	02/03/2016
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Overseas Aid
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if the Government will make an assessment of the potential merits of developing an atrocity prevention lens framework similar to that used by the UN Office for the Prevention of Genocide to assist in decision-making on where to commit or remove bilateral aid and other aid assistance programmes.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	29460
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2016 answer text <p>The UK continues to be strongly committed to early and effective international action to prevent mass atrocities, which are of grave concern to the Government. The National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 (SDSR) underlined the importance the Government attaches to upholding international humanitarian law and to the prevention of mass atrocities through effective implementation of the UN agreed principle of the Responsibility to Protect.</p><p>The Government’s overseas network, strong international partnerships, and early warning mechanisms give the UK significant insight into emerging risks. HMG also produces an internal risk report on countries at risk of instability, which highlights regions in which there are increasing risks of instability, conflict and mass atrocities. The report draws on a wide range of sources and includes indicators that highlight the risk of mass atrocities occurring. The data assessment reflects best practice from NGOs and partner governments’ and is kept under regular review. Policy-makers also take into account atrocity risk analysis from partner governments, the UN and NGOs.</p><p>As set out in the SDSR and the UK Aid Strategy, the response to conflict, atrocity and other risks uses diplomatic, development, defence and law enforcement capabilities in an integrated manner. As such, addressing and preventing conflict, instability and state failure is a key priority running through UK aid policies and programmes. This includes the prevention of identity-based mass violence, alongside other forms of violence and instability.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 09/03/2016 17:14:07 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

457032

registered interest
date	02/03/2016
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Pakistan: Blasphemy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he will make representations to the government of Pakistan on its blasphemy laws and the potential for the death penalty to be imposed for breach of those laws.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	29461
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2016 answer text <p>UK Ministers regularly raise the blasphemy laws, which have been misused against both Muslims and others, with the authorities in Pakistan. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) and the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) have discussed human rights concerns, including blasphemy laws, with Prime Minister Sharif.</p><p>I raised our concerns directly with the Pakistani High Commissioner in London. As a priority, I encourage the Government of Pakistan to reduce the number of offences attracting the death penalty, which currently includes blasphemy, and to abide by its international obligations. The Foreign Secretary reiterated UK opposition to the death penalty during his visit to Pakistan this week.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 11/03/2016 12:21:30 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day