Tag: Adrian Sanders

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adrian Sanders on 2014-06-25.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions under the Export Control Order 2008 have taken place in each year since 2008.

Mr David Gauke

There has been one prosecution/conviction under the Export Control Order 2008 since 2008, however there have been a number of successful prosecutions under other export control legislation. Details of those prosecutions can be found in the Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls in the House of Commons library. The report for the most recent complete year (2013-2014) is due to be published in mid-July.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adrian Sanders on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make it his policy to introduce a legal requirement for pubcos to offer a free-of-tie option in the public house sector.

Jo Swinson

The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill, introduced to this House on 25 June 2014, does not include provision for mandatory free-of-tie. The Government recognises that some tenant groups and campaigners support this option, which might appear to offer a simple way of ensuring that tied tenants are no worse off than free-of-tie tenants. We looked carefully at this measure but have decided not to introduce it.

The responses to the Government’s consultation on a Statutory Code and Adjudicator for the pubs sector raised concerns that mandatory free-of-tie would create uncertainty for pub-owning companies and have an unpredictable impact on the wider pubs sector which could even undermine the tied model. Even among the polarised views in the industry, there is strong support for the tie as a business model. What is important to the Government is that there are protections in place so that the tied model operates fairly. The reforms being taken forward in the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill will rebalance the relationship between pub-owning companies and their tied tenants, without threatening the balance of the wider industry.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adrian Sanders on 2014-06-25.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has held with his counterpart in the British Virgin Islands on tax evasion and avoidance in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Gauke

The Treasury engages in regular discussions with the British Virgin Islands on tax issues, including avoidance and evasion.

Following the commitments made at the G8 the British Virgin Islands, along with all of the UK’s Overseas Territories with financial centres and the Crown Dependencies have taken significant steps forward on tax transparency putting them at the forefront of this agenda globally.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adrian Sanders on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the level of corruption in the Seychelles and the consequent effect on the UK’s and International Monetary Fund’s financial commitments to that country.

Mark Simmonds

Transparency International ranked Seychelles as the 47th least corrupt country globally in their 2013 Corruption Perceptions Index. This was an improvement of four places from 2012. The UK does not provide direct financial assistance to Seychelles but contributes to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) whose support has enabled the country to enact a comprehensive program of economic reforms since 2008. The IMF has robust systems in place to ensure the proper use of assistance given to the Government of Seychelles.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adrian Sanders on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to bring section 67(9) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 into force.

James Brokenshire

We have no plans to bring section 67 (9) of the Regulation of Investigatory
Powers Act 2000 into force as provisions to which it relates in sections 65(c)
and (d) of RIPA are themselves not in force.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adrian Sanders on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what reforms his Department plans to make to the Work Programme following the downgrading of the project’s rating from green to amber by the Major Projects Authority.

Esther McVey

The Major Projects Authority has not downgraded the Work Programmes project rating. The rating was amber in 2012/13 and has remained amber in 2013/14.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adrian Sanders on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will place in the Library a copy of the risk register for the universal credit programme.

Esther McVey

In line with standard practice, as the Universal Credit risk register includes details of a sensitive nature the Department will not be putting the risk register into the public domain.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adrian Sanders on 2014-06-30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps his Department has taken to further the provision of high speed broadband in the Heart of the South West area.

Mr Edward Vaizey

Devon and Somerset has already received nearly £32 million to provide superfast broadband to 95% of premises by early 2016. We have recently announced a further £22.75 million to extend coverage to 95% by 2017 . Devon and Somerset will also be the location for one of the pilots looking at the potential to go beyond 95% coverage.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adrian Sanders on 2014-06-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what future foreign visits the Minister for Sport, Tourism and Equalities has planned in relation to her departmental duties; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Helen Grant

A number of visits have been proposed by other government departments but I currently have no plans for any further foreign visits at this time.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adrian Sanders on 2014-06-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the cost was of the Minister for Sport, Tourism and Equalities’ recent visit to Brazil; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Helen Grant

Details of Ministers’ visits overseas are published quarterly and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/expenses-and-hospitality

The latest data available at this time is:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dcms-meetings-and-hospitality-data-october-to-december-2013

“