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1167403

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Cash Dispensing: Fees and Charges
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of interchange fee reductions on the number of free-to-use ATMs.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	7626
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>The Government has not carried out a formal assessment of the effect of interchange fee reductions on the number of free-to-use ATMs.</p><p> </p><p>Although the management and deployment of ATMs is a commercial matter for ATM market participants, the Government recognises that widespread access to cash remains extremely important to the day-to-day lives of many consumers and businesses in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>The number of free-to-use ATMs increased for over a decade up to 2017, with the majority of ATMs clustered in areas of high demand and footfall. LINK, the scheme that runs the UK’s ATM network, saw this situation as unsustainable. Therefore, in January 2018, LINK announced reductions to the interchange fee, while taking steps to preserve the broad geographic spread of free-to-use ATMs. This included protections for remote free-to-use ATMs, one kilometre or further from the next nearest free-to-use ATM or Post Office.</p><p> </p><p>In July 2018, LINK responded to lower transaction volumes at ATMs by cancelling the third reduction of interchange fees due in January 2020 and putting on hold the 4th reduction that was due in January 2021.</p><p> </p><p>More recently, LINK committed to protecting free access to cash on high streets – where there are five or more qualifying retailers – and announced £1 million to fund requests for new ATMs from local areas with poor access to cash. Furthermore, UK Finance – the trade association for the UK banking and financial services sector – has launched a Community Access to Cash Initiative, offering grants to local communities to improve cash access.</p><p> </p><p>As of June 2019, there were 48,500 free-to-use ATMs in the UK, which represented 78% of the total number of ATMs. This remains 21% higher than a decade ago.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 7628 question first answered 04/11/2019 16:02:09 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1167492

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Cash Dispensing: Fees and Charges
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of interchange fee reductions on the number of free-to-use ATMs.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	7628
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>The Government has not carried out a formal assessment of the effect of interchange fee reductions on the number of free-to-use ATMs.</p><p> </p><p>Although the management and deployment of ATMs is a commercial matter for ATM market participants, the Government recognises that widespread access to cash remains extremely important to the day-to-day lives of many consumers and businesses in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>The number of free-to-use ATMs increased for over a decade up to 2017, with the majority of ATMs clustered in areas of high demand and footfall. LINK, the scheme that runs the UK’s ATM network, saw this situation as unsustainable. Therefore, in January 2018, LINK announced reductions to the interchange fee, while taking steps to preserve the broad geographic spread of free-to-use ATMs. This included protections for remote free-to-use ATMs, one kilometre or further from the next nearest free-to-use ATM or Post Office.</p><p> </p><p>In July 2018, LINK responded to lower transaction volumes at ATMs by cancelling the third reduction of interchange fees due in January 2020 and putting on hold the 4th reduction that was due in January 2021.</p><p> </p><p>More recently, LINK committed to protecting free access to cash on high streets – where there are five or more qualifying retailers – and announced £1 million to fund requests for new ATMs from local areas with poor access to cash. Furthermore, UK Finance – the trade association for the UK banking and financial services sector – has launched a Community Access to Cash Initiative, offering grants to local communities to improve cash access.</p><p> </p><p>As of June 2019, there were 48,500 free-to-use ATMs in the UK, which represented 78% of the total number of ATMs. This remains 21% higher than a decade ago.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 7626 question first answered 04/11/2019 16:02:09 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1167399

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Musicians
	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 potential merits of agreeing a two-year, multi-entry touring visa on a reciprocal basis with the EU in order to preserve touring as economically viable for UK musicians.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	7624
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>We will announce the details of the UK’s future immigration system early next year.</p><p>We recognise that international collaboration plays a vital part in the contribution that the creative industries make to the UK’s rich culture and economy. The future system will work in the best interests of the whole of the UK, including that of the creative sector.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Ribble answering member printed Seema Kennedy question first answered 04/11/2019 16:57:03 answering member 4455 label Biography information for Seema Kennedy
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1167423

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2019
	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	Bahrain: Human Rights
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department made of the (a) human rights situation in Bahrain since the execution of three men in that country in July 2019 and (b) efficacy of the UK Government's technical assistance programme to Bahrain.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	7627
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>Bahrain remains a Foreign and Commonwealth Office human rights priority country, partly because of the use of the death penalty. Following the execution of three men in July 2019, Lord Ahmad issued a statement expressing deep concern and the UK raised the matter at the September Human Rights Council in Geneva. In addition, I called Dr Sheikh Abdullah, Bahraini Undersecretary for International Affairs following the executions, to express our disappointment. The Government of Bahrain is fully aware of the UK’s clear and longstanding position; we oppose the death penalty in all circumstances and all countries.</p><p>On British assistance, we are committed to supporting Bahrain-led reform and are confident of its positive impact across a variety of areas including building effective and accountable institutions, strengthening the rule of law, and police and justice reform. We continue to monitor events closely, regularly raising human rights concerns with the Government of Bahrain at senior levels, both in private and public, and most recently at the UK-Bahrain Joint Working Group on 17 October.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 04/11/2019 15:34:08 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1167401

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2019
	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	Musical Instruments: EU Countries
	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 a transitional period with the EU on the application of CITES to allow musicians and others to continue to travel with their instruments which may contain materials covered by CITES regulation.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	7625
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2019 answer text <p>If we leave the EU without a deal, all Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) items that are currently freely traded between the UK and the EU, including musical instruments, will require CITES permits or an import notification. This would mean movement of CITES specimens between the UK and the EU would need to follow the same processes as those currently in place for movement between the UK and the rest of the world. We are working hard to make sure we maintain continuity and minimise disruption for those who trade and move CITES listed species, and have been working closely with the music industry on this issue.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to import/export permits, there are other options which may be more appropriate for musicians looking to move musical instruments. Travelling Exhibition Certificates can be issued to cover instruments that are owned by orchestras (rather than individuals). We have also been increasing awareness of CITES Musical Instrument Certificates. These can be used for non-commercial purposes, including performing, to allow musicians to travel with their own instruments across the UK border in place of CITES import/export permits. These are valid for multiple movements for three years and can be used by individual musicians travelling alone or with an ensemble. They also allow travel outside the EU. In September, we announced the addition of Dover, Eurotunnel, and Holyhead to the list of ports to be designated for CITES movement after exit.</p><p> </p><p>At the recent CITES Conference of the Parties, a decision was made to change annotation number 15 which relates to rosewood species, such as <em>Dalbergia</em>. This will exempt musical instruments made of this wood (including finished musical instrument parts and accessories) and small finished items up to 10kg. This exemption allows a person to travel to any country in the world with a musical instrument or finished product containing less than 10kg of a rosewood or a Bubinga without a CITES permit. The EU Commission are preparing legislation to implement this amendment to the CITES Appendices by amending the Annexes of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations.</p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 05/11/2019 17:21:08 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1167037

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Coinage
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of producing 50 pence coins to commemorate the UK leaving the EU on 31 October 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	7027
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>We do not comment on the cost of producing coins as this is commercially sensitive information. The cost of producing these coins will be partially offset by the value gained from recycling them.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 04/11/2019 13:55:58 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1167038

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Coinage
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of melting down the 50 pence coins produced to commemorate the UK leaving the EU on 31 October 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	7028
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>We do not comment on the cost of producing coins as this is commercially sensitive information. The cost of producing these coins will be partially offset by the value gained from recycling them.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 04/11/2019 13:53:39 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1167109

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Customs: Northern Ireland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost to (a) businesses and (b) the public purse of the customs checks to be implemented between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK under the Prime Minister's EU Withdrawal Agreement; and what the timeframe is for the implementation of those customs checks.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	7033
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>As a responsible government, the Government will take into account both the internal cost and the cost to business to deliver on all aspects of the Withdrawal Agreement.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s impact assessment for the Withdrawal Agreement Bill sets out the direct impacts of the revised Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol (published on 17 October 2019) in relation to the movement of goods between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.</p><p> </p><p>Initial delivery assessments were a key consideration during the negotiations. Some changes will be needed to government and trade systems and processes in order to implement this arrangement and the Government will engage closely with affected businesses to ensure that delivery of any new requirements can take place as quickly and smoothly as possible.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 04/11/2019 08:28:17 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1167062

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2019
	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	Sri Lanka: Power Stations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 30 April 2019 to Question 245704 on Sri Lanka: Power Stations, what progress has been made by the Sri Lankan Government on providing compensation to residents; and what assessment he has made of the (a) sufficiency and (b) effect on residents of that compensation.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	7029
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2019 answer text <p>We are aware of the challenges Sri Lanka faces around water management and quality. Staff at the British High Commission in Colombo raise the issue of water quality in northern Sri Lanka regularly, including during a recent visit to Jaffna in August.</p><p>We understand that compensation has been offered to those affected by water pollution caused by the Chunnakam Power plant. We hope that the settlement will be adequate compensation for the victims of contamination, and that measures are taken to ensure clean water.</p><p>A number of public bodies in Sri Lanka including the national water supply and drainage board have conducted tests and further investigations into the contamination are ongoing.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler grouped question UIN 7030 question first answered 05/11/2019 08:30:34 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1167063

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2019
	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	Sri Lanka: Power Stations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the water pollution in Northern Sri Lanka caused by the Chunnakam power plant, what steps his Department has taken to help secure an independent international investigation into the (a) effects and (b) impact of that water pollution on the community resident in that area.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	7030
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2019 answer text <p>We are aware of the challenges Sri Lanka faces around water management and quality. Staff at the British High Commission in Colombo raise the issue of water quality in northern Sri Lanka regularly, including during a recent visit to Jaffna in August.</p><p>We understand that compensation has been offered to those affected by water pollution caused by the Chunnakam Power plant. We hope that the settlement will be adequate compensation for the victims of contamination, and that measures are taken to ensure clean water.</p><p>A number of public bodies in Sri Lanka including the national water supply and drainage board have conducted tests and further investigations into the contamination are ongoing.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler grouped question UIN 7029 question first answered 05/11/2019 08:30:34 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake