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901286

	registered interest
	date	10/05/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Business: Government Assistance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to support businesses and entrepreneurs.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	142910
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2018 answer text <p>We know how vital businesses are to the UK economy. So we will continue to work hard to support everyone who wants to start and grow their own business. Through our Industrial Strategy we aim to make Britain the best place to start and grow a business.</p><p> </p><p>We want to ensure small business owners have access to the support they need to start, grow and export. The Business Support Helpline, GOV.UK and a network of 38 Growth Hubs across England provide access to information, advice and support business growth. We are developing an Export Strategy to support businesses to access international markets. For Small &amp; Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) looking to export, UK export finance will announce a new guarantee to banks designed to increase the flow of money in the supply chain.</p><p> </p><p>We also want small businesses to have the access to finance they need to grow. So we are helping through the British Business Bank which supports over £4bn of finance to over 65,000 UK SMEs. This includes delivering 54,000 Start-Up Loans worth £400m since 2012. Going forward we plan to unlock over £20bn of investment in innovative and high potential businesses, including establishing a new £2.5bn investment fund within the Bank.</p><p> </p><p>Tackling late payments and ensuring small businesses have access to government contracts are also important issues we are working to address. The Small Business Commissioner will help with payment issues, dispute resolution and sourcing advice across the UK. And we are opening up public procurement to SMEs, with a commitment to one pound in every three of central government spend going to SMEs by 2022.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We have launched a review into what actions could be most effective in improving productivity and growth of SMEs in what has been called the ‘long tail’ of lower productivity firms.</p><p> </p><p>We will carry on focusing on the needs of businesses through the delivery of our Industrial Strategy and as we work to secure the best and most ambitious Brexit deal for the whole of the United Kingdom.</p> answering member constituency Burton answering member printed Andrew Griffiths question first answered 16/05/2018 12:57:37 answering member 3936 label Biography information for Andrew Griffiths
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

905634

	registered interest
	date	16/05/2018
	answering body	Department for International Trade
	answering dept id	202
	answering dept short name	International Trade
	answering dept sort name	International Trade
	hansard heading	Treaties: Investment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many international investment agreements to which the UK is a signatory include protections against expropriations without compensation.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	144966
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2018 answer text <p>The UK is a signatory to over 90 bilateral investment treaties (BITs). The UK is also a party to the plurilateral Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), which has 53 other parties including the EU. The ECT and all of the UK’s BITs currently in force include protections against expropriation without compensation.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chelsea and Fulham answering member printed Greg Hands question first answered 24/05/2018 10:23:58 answering member 1526 label Biography information for Greg Hands
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

1046887

	registered interest
	date	23/01/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Railways
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of the disused national rail network remains in the ownership of Network Rail.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	211842
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2019 answer text <p>Highways England is now responsible for the vast majority of the historic railways estate. This includes legacy bridges, abutments, tunnels, cuttings, viaducts and similar properties associated with closed railway lines, and sales. Network Rail is still responsible for a small proportion of disused railway lines which have been retained due to their close proximity or connection to currently operational railway lines. Network Rail’s records however do not distinguish between disused and operational railway lines, and therefore it is not possible to precisely indicate how much disused network they own.</p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 30/01/2019 14:48:43 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

1046890

	registered interest
	date	23/01/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Railways: Oxfordshire
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of the disused Yarnton-Witney-Fairford branch line remains in the ownership of Network Rail.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	211843
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/01/2019 answer text <p>Network Rail no longer owns the disused Yarnton-Witney-Fairford branch line. The Highways England Historical Railways Estate is now responsible for the historical railways estate.</p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 31/01/2019 16:01:24 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

994287

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2018
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Airspace
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority on the implementation of Class E airspace with transponder mandatory zones in the UK; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	183506
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2018 answer text <p>There have been no specific discussions with the CAA on the implementation of Class E airspace in UK. In accordance with the Air Navigation Directions 2017, the policy on the classification of airspace and its implementation lies with the independent airspace regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority.</p><p> </p><p>However, as The Government continues to modernise our airspace, it needs to be mindful of longer term changes that will have an impact on wider airspace management. This includes the increasing need to enable the safe integration, rather than segregation, of all aircraft. This is why, as part of the Aviation Strategy, The Department is working with the CAA to explore a new policy on mandating electronic identification for all users.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 31/10/2018 13:22:07 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

1661367

	registered interest
	date	18/09/2023
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Aviation: Nature Conservation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Habitats Directive on airfield planning applications.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	200084
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2023 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government is supportive of airport growth where it can be delivered within its environmental obligations.</p><p> </p><p>Every development proposal should be judged by the relevant planning authority, taking careful account of all relevant considerations, including environmental impacts and proposed mitigations.</p><p> </p><p>Airport planning applications need to take into account the European Commission Habitats Directive where they could lead to significant impacts on areas of nature conservation, which could include a Habitat Regulations Assessment of the implications of the plans for that site.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 16/10/2023 16:35:12 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

1524320

	registered interest
	date	19/10/2022
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Independent Investigation into East Kent Maternity Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of the report of the Independent Investigation into East Kent Maternity Services, published on 19 October 2022; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	67158
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2022 answer text <p>A written statement to the House of Commons and the House of Lords was made on 19 October 2022 regarding the publication of the report of the independent investigation into maternity and neonatal services in East Kent Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Dr Caroline Johnson MP, also made an oral statement to the House on 20 October 2022.</p><p>The Department has established an independent working group, chaired by the Royal College of Midwifery and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, which will help guide the maternity transformation programme to take forward the next steps from the reports into maternity services at East Kent and Shrewsbury and Telford.</p><p>Together with the NHS, the Department will consider actions from both reports to form a coherent national delivery plan for maternity services.</p> answering member constituency Lewes answering member printed Maria Caulfield question first answered 03/11/2022 15:20:01 answering member 4492 label Biography information for Maria Caulfield previous answer version 26794 answering member constituency Sleaford and North Hykeham answering member printed Dr Caroline Johnson answering member 4592
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

1563499

	registered interest
	date	20/12/2022
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Iran: Guided Weapons
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of Iran’s ballistic missile programme.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	114803
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/01/2023 answer text <p>Iran's ballistic missile programme destabilises the region and threatens European security. UN Security Council Resolution 2231 (UNSCR 2231) calls on Iran not to undertake activities related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering a nuclear-weapon, including launches using such technology. Alongside France and Germany, we have written regularly to the UN Secretary-General, including on 23 November, to draw attention to Iranian missile-activity inconsistent with UNSCR 2231. We have also urged Iran to refrain from such activity in UN Security Council meetings, including on 19 December. We urge Iran to fully abide by UNSCR 2231 and all other relevant resolutions.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 13/01/2023 12:07:38 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

1639404

	registered interest
	date	22/05/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Israel: Palestinian Islamic Jihad
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to condemn Iran for its alleged support for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s recent attacks on Israel.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	186220
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/05/2023 answer text <p>The UK Government regularly assesses the impact of Iran's destabilising activity throughout the region, including its political, financial and military support to several militant and proscribed groups, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Such activity compromises the region's security, its ability to prosper and escalates already high tensions, with consequences for the international community. It is for this reason that we currently have over 350 sanctions in place against the Iranian regime. PIJ and other terrorist groups must cease their campaign of violence, for which there is no justification. As the Foreign Secretary said in his 14 May statement, we welcome the current Egyptian-brokered ceasefire and urge all sides to de-escalate tensions.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 31/05/2023 14:16:59 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

1639405

	registered interest
	date	22/05/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Gaza: Israel
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with his international partners to help support Israel to tackle terrorist threats from the Gaza Strip.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	186221
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/05/2023 answer text <p>The Foreign Secretary wrote to his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen on 10 May to express the UK's enduring support for Israel's right for self-defence. In his 14 May statement, the Foreign Secretary welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and militant factions in Gaza, brokered by Egypt. The ceasefire must now be honoured to prevent the loss of further civilian life. The UK will support all efforts to promote dialogue and create a pathway towards sustainable peace.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 31/05/2023 14:41:06 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts