Freeports offer significant advantages to SMEs, including reduced taxes, simplified customs, improved infrastructure, and most notably, the fostering of business clustering environments. Plymouth and South Devon Freeport is focussed on developing incubator units at the new innovation centre which will provide an ideal environment to encourage SMEs. With Freeports now operational, they will continue engagement with SME bodies, ensuring they are well-informed and supported to capitalise fully on these collaborative environments and other advantages Freeports offer.<\/p>
On 20 November we were delighted to announce that Plymouth City Council were provisionally allocated £19,946,417 in Round 3 of the Levelling Up Fund which we hope will accelerate Plymouth's waterfront regeneration.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4726", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Penn"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Penn"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-12-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-12-07T13:06:56.243Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "211"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-11-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Plymouth and South Devon Freeport: Small Businesses"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that the Plymouth Freeport project contributes to creating a favourable environment for small businesses to access finance opportunities.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1796", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Taylor of Warwick"} ], "uin" : "HL574"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1466555", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1466555/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
As set out in the Integrated Review (March 2021), the UK is committed to and strategically focussed on the Indo-Pacific region. The UK's close partnership with the US, Australia, New Zealand, and other likeminded partners such as Japan, across the region, is an important part of our Indo-Pacific focus and ambitions to build a 'network of liberty' that champions freedom, sovereignty and democracy across the region and globally. The Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary visited Australia in January 2022 for talks to strengthen economic, diplomatic and security ties. On 8 March David Quarrey, the UK's previous Deputy National Security Adviser and the US' Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell, announced that the US and the UK will work together to invest in partnerships with the Pacific Islands.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-06-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "HL575"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-06-13T12:06:12.057Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "208"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-05-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "China: Solomon Islands"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the recent security agreement between China and the Solomon Islands, what steps they will take in conjunction with the governments of (1) Australia, and (2) the United States, to assist (a) Figi, (b) Papua New Guinea, and (c) other small Pacific island states, in response to any strategic plan from the government of China covering police and cybersecurity measures and marine spatial mapping.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/497", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Blencathra"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Blencathra"} ], "uin" : "HL574"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1328009", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1328009/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Pesticides can only be used if they are authorised and this process addresses the issues identified in these studies. Authorisation of each pesticide product depends on the outcome of a detailed risk assessment which includes impacts on people, animals and the environment. If there are found to be unacceptable risks to, for example, pollinators and aquatic invertebrates, the product is not authorised. A specific pesticide which posed unacceptable risks to non-target organisms would not be authorised. This process considers effects on local populations of insects and so limits the risks to other animals such as birds that feed on them.<\/p>
<\/p>
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) lies at the heart of our approach to maximise the use of non-chemical control techniques and minimise the use of chemical pesticides. IPM means that pesticide users can reduce the associated risks (including indirect effects), combat pest resistance, and support agricultural productivity. This includes increasing the use of nature-based, low toxicity solutions and precision technologies, with potential to enhance biodiversity, including to benefit pollinators.<\/p>
<\/p>
Our approach is detailed in the draft revised \u2018National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides\u2019 (NAP), which sets out the ambition to improve indicators of pesticide usage, risk and impacts. This was the subject of a recent public consultation, with over 1500 responses now being analysed. The summary of responses will be published by the end of summer 2021 and the revised NAP later this year.<\/p>
<\/p>
Furthermore, our new schemes that reward the delivery of environmental benefits \u2018The Sustainable Farming Incentive\u2019, the \u2018Local Nature Recovery scheme\u2019 and the \u2018Landscape Recovery scheme\u2019 will encourage actions that support IPM and biodiversity, including conserving and enhancing habitats for bees and other pollinators.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1547", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Benyon"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Benyon"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-06-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "HL572"} , {"_value" : "HL624"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-06-08T15:20:36.497Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2021-05-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pesticides"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the research by Professor Ralf Schulz of the University Koblenz and Landau 'Applied pesticide toxicity shifts towards plants and invertebrates, even in GM crops', published in Science in April, which shows that as pesticides become more specific, they become more toxic to \u2018non-target organisms\u2019 like pollinators and aquatic invertebrates.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/248", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Jones of Cheltenham"} ], "uin" : "HL574"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1176276", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1176276/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
I would like to take the opportunity to recognise the good work that Habitat for Humanity do through their community house building and renovation projects, both in the UK and abroad. MHCLG has considered a number of funding proposals for social investment organisations to help finance community-led housebuilding schemes.<\/p>
While discussions are ongoing in some cases, no such investment has yet been made or agreed by MHCLG. Ministers are considering all budgets in the round and allocations for future years will be considered at the forthcoming Budget and Spending Review. While HM Treasury usually leads on mortgage policy and regulation , MHCLG keeps various approaches to increasing home ownership under review.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4169", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Viscount Younger of Leckie"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-01-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-01-30T17:41:57.19Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2020-01-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Housing"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the work of Habitat for Humanity in the UK and abroad; and what consideration they have given to using (1) self-build volunteer work, (2) revolving funds, and (3) interest-free mortgages, in parts of England and Wales where there are urgent housing needs.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2018", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hylton"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hylton"} ], "uin" : "HL574"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1167734", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1167734/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We are in regular dialogue with relevant NGOs on a range of migration issues. We have routine discussions of Search and Rescue and the situation of migrants in Libya with Médecins sans frontières.<\/p>
We remain committed to supporting Greece's efforts to manage migration effectively. We are working with the Greek Government, who retain responsibility for the situation of migrants in the country, to this end. United Kingdom vessels have rescued 16,000 migrants in the Aegean since 2015.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-11-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-11-05T17:26:12.337Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-31", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Europe: Refugees"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last had discussions with UNICEF and Médecins Sans Frontières about (1) the refugees on the Greek Islands, (2) rescues from the Mediterranean, including children aged 5 to 17, and (3) unaccompanied minors who have reached France.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2018", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hylton"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hylton"} ], "uin" : "HL574"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 5, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }