0 751 188227 1 53 false Rendition and Torture: Inquiries Edinburgh South House of Commons 2018-11-12T10:01:03.867Z Aylesbury Mr David Lidington false 2018-11-12 Biography information for Sir David Lidington <p>I refer the Honourable Gentleman to the answer given by the Minister of State for Europe and the Americas on 12 September 2018 to the Honourable Member for Leeds North West, (reference 171734).</p><p> </p> Ian Murray Cabinet Office Cabinet Office Biography information for Ian Murray 2018-11-05 To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the June 2018 report of the Intelligence and Security Committee on rendition and torture, what progress has been made on restarting a judge-led inquiry into those issues; and if he will make a statement. Cabinet Office 188228 2018-11-12T11:54:56.6Z Rutland and Melton Sir Alan Duncan false 2018-11-12 Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan <p>The UK operates one of the most robust export licensing systems in the world. It considers whether the goods might be used in a way which is inconsistent with the Consolidated EU &amp; National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. We also retain powers to revoke licences, once issued, if circumstances or information available to us change. End user certificates are considered as part of the process already.</p><p>We believe that our existing system is robust and delivers a high level of assurance. The Government is always looking to see how it can improve its export controls and we are in contact with countries who carry out some limited end use checks to see if there is anything we can learn from their experience.</p><p>​</p><p>​</p> To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the merits of strengthening the consolidated criteria for the sale of arms products by introducing an end use criteria post sale. 1 Foreign and Commonwealth Office Edinburgh South false 16 2018-11-05 Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ian Murray Arms Trade Foreign and Commonwealth Office Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership 2014-10-28T16:04:43.4543869Z West Suffolk Matthew Hancock false 2014-10-28 Biography information for Matt Hancock West Suffolk Matthew Hancock <p>The Government has consistently pushed for an ambitious agreement under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations in line with the recently published mandate.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The European Commission has explicitly ruled out public services from the scope of any market liberalisation in TTIP, and it has therefore not been necessary to discuss any exclusions related to specific public services.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Commission has provided further details on the treatment of public services, available online at: <a href="http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2014/may/tradoc_152462.pdf" target="_blank">http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2014/may/tradoc_152462.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> Edinburgh South Ian Murray Business, Innovation and Skills 1 To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what work his Department has conducted on identifying specific policy areas and sectors for which the UK will seek exemptions from the scope of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; and what representations the UK has made to the EU on exemption of such policy areas or sectors. 26 false 2014-10-22 211430 Business, Innovation and Skills Department for Business, Innovation and Skills 189650 2018-11-14T16:29:14.347Z Romsey and Southampton North Caroline Nokes false 2018-11-14 Biography information for Caroline Nokes <p>The UK has a proud history of providing protection to those who need it and this Government is committed to delivering a fair and humane asylum system.</p><p>We recognise that asylum interviews are a vital part of the asylum process, ensuring that decision makers have available all relevant evidence so that they can make an informed decision. To that end, we have published detailed Home Office policy guidance setting out how caseworkers are expected to conduct asylum interviews, which was developed in collaboration with external partners, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). We are currently reviewing this policy and intend to publish a revised version by the end of the year.</p><p>We systematically assess the quality of asylum decisions against a detailed audit framework drawn up in consultation with external partners, including the UNHCR, which includes checks on compliance with existing asylum policies and relevant case law.</p> false Edinburgh South 2018-11-09 1 Home Office Home Office Asylum To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to (a) the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund and (b) other sources of funding available to his Department, what recent steps his Department has taken to develop and implement new guidance on the conduct of asylum interviews, and how the effectiveness of that guidance is being monitored and evaluated; and if he will make a statement. Ian Murray 1 Home Office 2018-11-14T15:36:46.203Z Maidenhead Mrs Theresa May false 2018-11-14 Biography information for Mrs Theresa May <p>I refer the hon. Member to the press release issued on 6 November 2018 which is available on the <a href="http://gov.uk/" target="_blank">gov.uk</a> website:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/five-new-business-councils-to-advise-the-prime-minister-on-post-brexit-opportunities" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/five-new-business-councils-to-advise-the-prime-minister-on-post-brexit-opportunities</a></p> 1 Prime Minister Ian Murray Edinburgh South 2018-11-09 Business To ask the Prime Minister, who the business representatives are on the five new business councils formed by the her who will advise on how to create the best business conditions in the UK after the UK leaves the EU. Prime Minister Prime Minister 189651 23 false 202 International Trade International Trade To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether staff (a) in positions related to his Department in overseas missions have been made redundant and (b) in his Department have been (i) offered, (ii) taken and (iii) refused reduced salaries in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. 2018-11-14T18:00:29.047Z Meon Valley George Hollingbery false 2018-11-14 Biography information for Sir George Hollingbery <p>In the past 12 months the Department for International Trade (DIT) has undertaken restructuring in overseas missions to generate efficiencies, and ensure we have the requisite capacity and capability to deliver our departmental objectives across the global network. This restructuring activity has, in some locations, included redundancies.</p><p>There are a range of circumstances where staff in DIT would be offered a reduced salary. A reduction in salary may result when staff members reduce their hours of work, accept a role at a lower grade or move from a role where London pay ranges apply to one where National pay ranges apply.</p> Department for International Trade false 189652 Ian Murray Department for International Trade: Staff 1 Edinburgh South 2018-11-09 2018-11-14T17:58:38.537Z Beverley and Holderness Graham Stuart false 2018-11-14 Biography information for Graham Stuart <p>The Department delegated budgets to Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioners (HMTCs) for the first time in 2018-19. There are 9 HMTCs across 9 overseas regions. The budgets include the costs of locally engaged staff, non-pay related expenditure and devolved marketing expenditure in each of the regions. The total budget delegated at the beginning of the 2018 financial year was £59.2m and spend at the end of October 2018 was £29.8m.</p> false 1 Trade Promotion International Trade 189653 To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the budget was for the Government's Trade Commissioners in each of the last two years, what the actual spend was in each of those years; what the budget is for the 2018-19 financial year; and how much has been spent in the 2018-19 financial year to date. 202 Ian Murray International Trade Department for International Trade 2018-11-09 Edinburgh South 16 2018-11-09 Ian Murray false Foreign and Commonwealth Office 189654 To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, further to the Answer of 10 July 2018 to Question 160081 on Yemen: UN Security Council, what recent steps his Department is taking to use the UK’s penholder status on Yemen at the UN Security Council to bring a new resolution forward. Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1 Edinburgh South Foreign and Commonwealth Office 2018-11-14T16:26:12.893Z North East Bedfordshire Alistair Burt false 2018-11-14 Biography information for Alistair Burt <p>The UK continues to fulfil its role as penholder on Yemen in the UN Security Council by coordinating sessions with the Security Council President that respond to developments in Yemen and the will of the Council as a whole. Both the Foreign Secretary and I have recently visited the Middle East to have constructive discussions with the Saudi-led Coalition on pathways to achieve de-escalation and reduce tensions. The Foreign Secretary was clear that both sides would need to play their part in confidence-building measures. Meanwhile, the UK will continue discussions with partners on how the UN Security Council can support the UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths' on the political process and improving the humanitarian situation. This will include discussions on the draft UN Security Council Resolution on Yemen ahead of a Security Council briefing on the issue on 16 November.</p><p> </p><p> </p> Yemen: UN Security Council Edinburgh South Ian Murray Yemen: Military Intervention International Development 2018-11-15T17:26:06.51Z North East Bedfordshire Alistair Burt false 2018-11-15 <p>The UK continues to raise concerns with the Saudi led-Coalition about the potential impact of any assault on the port and city of Hodeidah and is monitoring the resumption of hostilities in and around Hodeidah closely.</p><p> </p><p>We have consistently made clear, the Coalition must ensure that any further military operations in and around Hodeidah are conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law, including on the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and do not disrupt commercial and humanitarian flows both through the port and onwards across the country. For their part, the Houthis must not compromise civilian facilities (such as Hodeidah port as well as schools, hospitals and food storage facilities) and allow unhindered access to humanitarian agencies throughout areas they control.</p><p> </p><p>UK aid partners continue to deliver life-saving support on the ground as part of our £170 million response in Yemen this year, including cash transfers to 21,000 people displaced from Hodeidah, as well as access to 75,000 litres of clean water a day.</p><p> </p> 189655 2018-11-09 To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to safeguard the 300,000 civilians trapped in Hodeidah, Yemen. International Development Department for International Development 20 false 1 1 189656 20 2018-11-09 Yemen: Humanitarian Aid 2018-11-15T17:40:13.557Z North East Bedfordshire Alistair Burt false 2018-11-15 <p>The UK continues to raise concerns with the Saudi led-Coalition about the potential impact of any assault on the port and city of Hodeidah and is monitoring the resumption of hostilities in and around Hodeidah closely.</p><p> </p><p>We have consistently made it clear, the Coalition must ensure that any further military operations in and around Hodeidah do not disrupt commercial and humanitarian flows both through the port and onwards across the country. For their part, the Houthis must not compromise civilian facilities (such as Hodeidah port and food storage facilities) and allow unhindered access to humanitarian agencies throughout areas they control.</p><p> </p><p>UK aid partners continue to deliver life-saving support on the ground as part of our £170 million response in Yemen this year, including cash transfers to 21,000 people displaced from Hodeidah, as well as access to 75,000 litres of clean water a day.</p> Ian Murray Department for International Development International Development International Development false Edinburgh South To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that humanitarian provision reaches the 300,000 civilians trapped in Hodeidah, Yemen. 1 10