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99825

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
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	Japanese Knotweed
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 current legislative proposals there are for the better control of Japanese knotweed.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne East
tabling member printed	Mr Nicholas Brown
uin	211038
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>Japanese knotweed is listed on Schedule 9 and subject to Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it an offence to plant this species in the wild or cause it to grow in the wild.</p><p>Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 provides local authorities with a discretionary power to require the landowner to clean up 'land adversely affecting the amenity of the neighbourhood’. Local authorities also have the power to undertake clean-up works themselves under Section 215 and to recover costs from the landowner. However, the decision whether to take action in individual cases is a matter for the local authority concerned, which will need to take into account all the local circumstances.</p><p>Since 20 October, local councils and police have the power to issue Community Protection Notices (CPNs) under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. CPNs can be used against individuals or businesses who are acting unreasonably and who persistently or continually act in a way that has a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality. If this test is met then a written warning should be given. If this warning fails to stop the anti-social behaviour then a CPN may be issued. This will require an individual or business to stop the anti-social behaviour identified in the notice, for example to control or prevent the growth of Japanese knotweed or any other invasive species. A breach of a CPN is a criminal offence.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 27/10/2014 17:15:33 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
tabling member	523 label Biography information for Mr Nicholas Brown

99826

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
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	Japanese Knotweed
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 discussions she has had with the property and mortgage industries regarding the impact of Japanese knotweed on property values.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne East
tabling member printed	Mr Nicholas Brown
uin	211037
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>The Secretary of State has not had any discussions with the property and mortgage industries regarding the impact of Japanese Knotweed on property values.</p><p>The Government does not intervene directly in such matters as it is the right of mortgage lenders to choose to whom they lend money and what conditions should apply to any agreement, which could include the seller having to provide insurance.</p><p>An information paper was published in 2011 by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors to encourage mortgage lenders to view Japanese knotweed as just one of the many factors that may affect property value. It advocates that mortgage lenders draw up knotweed management plans with the buyer and, where possible, owners of affected neighbouring properties.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 27/10/2014 17:17:48 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
tabling member	523 label Biography information for Mr Nicholas Brown

99892

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Data Protection
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to improve the level of transparency in the Government's use of personal data.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne East
tabling member printed	Mr Nicholas Brown
uin	211039
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>The UK has one of the most transparent regimes in the world in relation to the use of investigatory powers, which involve the accessing of personal data. The Interception of Communications Commissioner provides robust, independent oversight of the use of these investigatory powers and provides a published annual report to Parliament. This report includes statistics on public authorities’ use of interception and communications data powers, and his 2013 report contained more statistics than ever before. The Government remains committed to looking at what more can be done to enhance the transparency of our regime. The Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act 2014, which was passed in July, requires the Interception of Communications Commissioner to report on a twice yearly basis in the future. In addition, the Act provides for a review of investigatory powers to be conducted by the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, David Anderson QC. This review will be completed by 1 May 2015 and its findings will be reported to Parliament. The Government also announced, alongside the Act, the publication of an annual Government Transparency Report on investigatory powers.<br><br>The Government is fully committed to supporting a safe and secure online environment. That is why it is crucial that our law enforcement and <br>intelligence agencies have strictly regulated powers to ensure that those that would seek to do harm online, as well as in the real world, cannot carry out their activities with impunity. There are limits to what could be said publically about operational investigative techniques, as to do so would potentially help criminals to evade detection. However, crucial capabilities to access communications data are degrading because of rapidly changing technology and the increasing use of internet communications, whether or not those communications utilise encryption or anonymity techniques. Legislation is needed urgently to ensure that public authorities have the powers they need to investigate crime, safeguard national security and protect the public. We cannot allow cyberspace to become a haven for criminals, terrorists and paedophiles.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 211040 question first answered 27/10/2014 12:21:47 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
tabling member	523 label Biography information for Mr Nicholas Brown

99893

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Internet: Data Protection
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 effectiveness of online do not track tools on (a) Government efforts to gather communications data and (b) individual online privacy.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne East
tabling member printed	Mr Nicholas Brown
uin	211040
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>The UK has one of the most transparent regimes in the world in relation to the use of investigatory powers, which involve the accessing of personal data. The Interception of Communications Commissioner provides robust, independent oversight of the use of these investigatory powers and provides a published annual report to Parliament. This report includes statistics on public authorities’ use of interception and communications data powers, and his 2013 report contained more statistics than ever before. The Government remains committed to looking at what more can be done to enhance the transparency of our regime. The Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act 2014, which was passed in July, requires the Interception of Communications Commissioner to report on a twice yearly basis in the future. In addition, the Act provides for a review of investigatory powers to be conducted by the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, David Anderson QC. This review will be completed by 1 May 2015 and its findings will be reported to Parliament. The Government also announced, alongside the Act, the publication of an annual Government Transparency Report on investigatory powers.<br><br>The Government is fully committed to supporting a safe and secure online environment. That is why it is crucial that our law enforcement and <br>intelligence agencies have strictly regulated powers to ensure that those that would seek to do harm online, as well as in the real world, cannot carry out their activities with impunity. There are limits to what could be said publically about operational investigative techniques, as to do so would potentially help criminals to evade detection. However, crucial capabilities to access communications data are degrading because of rapidly changing technology and the increasing use of internet communications, whether or not those communications utilise encryption or anonymity techniques. Legislation is needed urgently to ensure that public authorities have the powers they need to investigate crime, safeguard national security and protect the public. We cannot allow cyberspace to become a haven for criminals, terrorists and paedophiles.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 211039 question first answered 27/10/2014 12:21:47 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
tabling member	523 label Biography information for Mr Nicholas Brown

93764

registered interest
date	16/10/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Internet: Data Protection
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential for online personal information and big data to be used for discriminatory practices by organisations and agencies.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne East
tabling member printed	Mr Nicholas Brown
uin	210878
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2014 answer text <p>The Government is committed to protecting the privacy and data security rights of individuals, and does recognise that the potential exists for online personal information and data to be misused by organisations and agencies, including for discriminatory purposes. For this reason, stringent safeguards are in place to ensure personal data is protected and handled appropriately.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Data Protection Act 1998 and Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights impose clear legal limits on how organisations can record, store, alter, use or disclose personal data. In addition the Information Commissioners Office, the UK’s independent authority for upholding information rights, provides advice to citizens, rulings on eligible complaints and can take action when the law on data privacy is broken.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government is also currently working with the Information Economy Council, business groups, regulators, the third sector, and consumer bodies to develop a framework of trust and privacy principles for businesses. The framework will be in addition to existing data protection legislation and is being developed to help create greater public confidence in how companies use and re-use their personal data.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 23/10/2014 16:00:16 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	523 label Biography information for Mr Nicholas Brown

93774

registered interest
date	16/10/2014
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Baha Mousa Inquiry
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken in response to Recommendation 44 of the Gage Report into the death in custody of Baha Mousa.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne East
tabling member printed	Mr Nicholas Brown
uin	210843
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the Written Ministerial Statement of 27 March 2014, (Office Report,column 32WS),in which I explained that the Ministry of Defence have considered Sir William Gage’s recommendation but have not felt it necessary to modify further the existing inspection regime which already possesses the required levels of independence:<br><br>&quot;As envisaged in recommendation 44 of the Inquiry’s report, the Department has given careful consideration to the possibility of an independent inspection of the UK’s Afghan detention facilities by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons. However, UK detention facilities in Afghanistan continue to be inspected by the Provost Marshal (Army) every six months, and annually by the Army Inspector; they are also visited regularly by the International Committee of the Red Cross to ensure compliance with International Humanitarian Law. On balance, we believe that this triple inspection regime is already fit for purpose and does not require further amendment.&quot;</p> answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois question first answered 27/10/2014 16:43:57 answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois attachment 1 file name Baha Mousa Report.doc 27 March 2014.doc title Hansard Extract 27 March 2014. previous answer version 24048 answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois
tabling member	523 label Biography information for Mr Nicholas Brown

93808

registered interest
date	16/10/2014
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	Weed 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, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Schedule 9 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in controlling the spread of (a) Japanese knotweed and (b) other non-native plant species.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne East
tabling member printed	Mr Nicholas Brown
uin	210844
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2014 answer text <p>Listing species on Schedule 9 is just one measure, adopted in line with the GB Invasive Non-Native Species Strategy, used to tackle the establishment and spread of invasive non-native plants. The GB Strategy is currently in the process of being reviewed. However, without the restrictions provided by section 14(2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it would be legal to plant, or cause to grow in the wild, those species listed on the Schedule, including Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 23/10/2014 12:07:04 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
tabling member	523 label Biography information for Mr Nicholas Brown

93845

registered interest
date	16/10/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Internet: Data Protection
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps she has taken to ensure that the public is properly informed of how to ensure the safety and security of their personal details online.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne East
tabling member printed	Mr Nicholas Brown
uin	210842
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2014 answer text <p>The Government takes the issue of cyber crime extremely seriously. Cyber Streetwise is the Government’s national campaign to increase online security by encouraging both members of the public and SMEs to take simple actions to protect themselves and their information online as they would do in ‘real life’. Cyber Streetwise first launched in January 2014 and is funded by the Government’s National Cyber Security Programme. Following its initial success, Phase 2 of the campaign launched this week with a newly designed website, including a dedicated section on protecting your online privacy.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Staffordshire Moorlands answering member printed Karen Bradley question first answered 22/10/2014 16:49:57 answering member 4110 label Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley
tabling member	523 label Biography information for Mr Nicholas Brown

93862

registered interest
date	16/10/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Prisoners
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the statement made by the then Prime Minister to the House on 2 March 1972 on the use of the five techniques relating to interrogation of prisoners is still the policy of the Government.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne East
tabling member printed	Mr Nicholas Brown
uin	210845
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>None of the five techniques which the 1972 Committee considered is permissible under current law. <br><br>UK police forces are required to adhere to the provisions PACE Code H and Schedule 8 to the Terrorism Act 2000, which deal respectively with the detention of individuals who are suspected of being involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism and the procedures which must be followed in those cases. <br><br>Independent Custody Visitors, lay individuals who visit designated places of detention of terrorist suspects additionally review and report on the condition of their detention, to the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation who annually reports on the operation of the Terrorism Acts. The Independent Reviewer plays a vital role in scrutinising UK counter-terrorism legislation to ensure that it is fair, effective and proportionate.<br><br>In 2010, the Government published the ‘Consolidated Guidance to Intelligence Officers and Service Personnel on the Detention and Interviewing of Detainees Overseas, and on the Passing and Receipt of Intelligence Relating to Detainees’. This guidance set out the principles, consistent with UK domestic law and international law obligations, which govern the interviewing of detainees overseas and the passing and receipt of intelligence relating to detainees. This guidance must be adhered to by officers of the UK’s intelligence and security agencies, members of the UK’s Armed Forces and employees of the Ministry of Defence.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 27/10/2014 12:20:08 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
tabling member	523 label Biography information for Mr Nicholas Brown

93563

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Surgical Mesh Implants
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will review his policy on polypropylene transvaginal mesh implants in response to recent court judgements in the US.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne East
tabling member printed	Mr Nicholas Brown
uin	210655
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2014 answer text <p>A working group, chaired by NHS England and including patient representatives, clinical representatives, the Department and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, has been set up to understand and address the concerns which have been raised about transvaginal mesh implants.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman question first answered 22/10/2014 15:19:50 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
tabling member	523 label Biography information for Mr Nicholas Brown