Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Government plans to publish its response to the Farm Inspection and Regulation Review, published on 13 December 2018.
Answered by George Eustice
We welcome the findings of the Farm Inspection and Regulation Review, including the notion of a changed regulatory culture encouraging constructive partnerships between Government and industry and a “shared endeavour” as it sets out. The Government will set out its response in due course.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he will direct the Chief Executive of HMRC to hold meetings with honourable Members with constituencies that (a) include and (b) are close to Roadchef Motorway Services on the (i) M5 and (ii) M6 on outstanding issues in the dispute between HMRC and the Roadchef Employee Benefits Trust.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The administration of the tax system is a matter for HM Revenue and Customs. It would not be appropriate for Treasury Ministers to become involved in the administration of the tax system in specific cases.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether reference copies of statutory instruments are available in hard copy via the public library service; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Hard copies of statutory instruments are not available from public libraries, but can be purchased from The Stationery Office at https://www.tsoshop.co.uk, or accessed online from legislation.gov.uk.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of religious freedom and tolerance in Eritrea.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are concerned by reports on the lack of religious freedom and tolerance in Eritrea. We raise human rights with the Government of Eritrea regularly, including religious freedoms. The former Minister for Africa raised our concerns with the Eritrean President's senior adviser in July, as did our Ambassador in Asmara with the same advisor in August. At the 41st session of the OHCHR Human Rights Council on 24 June to 12 July the UK reiterated calls for Eritrea to respect freedom of religion or belief.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent estimate he has made of the number of Eritrean troops fighting in Yemen.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
We monitor the conflict in Yemen closely. However, we are not aware of how many Eritrean troops may be in Yemen.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Sudanese counterpart on the removal of their troops from Yemen.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Sudan is a member of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. UK policy is that the use of any national force in another country must be authorised under international law. British Embassy Khartoum routinely engages with the recently appointed civilian government in Sudan on key priority areas and how we can support them, including on human rights and rule of law.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what role the troika of UK, US and Norway has had in Sudan’s constitutional settlement.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Along with Africa Union and Ethiopian mediation efforts the Troika (UK, US and Norway) engaged frequently with members of the Transitional Military Council and the Forces of Freedom and Change to encourage an agreement. The UK and our Troika partners welcomed the signing of a Constitutional Declaration on 17 August setting out the process of transition to civilian-led government. On 22 August the UK, with Troika countries, issued a statement congratulating Dr. Abdalla Hamdok on his appointment as Prime Minister and commended his commitment to freedom, peace and justice (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dr-abdalla-hamdok-made-prime-minister-of-sudan-troika-statement).
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has discussed term limits for governing and elected officials in Sudan with (a) military leaders and (b) civilian members of the (i) sovereign council and (ii) legislative council and (c) Ministers of that country.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK welcomes the Constitutional Declaration signed on 17 August which sets out the plan for Sudan's transition to civilian-led government. We are engaging with the Sovereign Council and newly appointed Prime Minister to support reform and change in Sudan. On 11 September, our Ambassador in Khartoum met with Prime Minister Hamdok to discuss how the UK can provide practical support to the Prime Minister's priorities of establishing peace across Sudan and reforming the economy. We look forward to working with the Cabinet, including the new Foreign Minister Asma Mohamed Abdalla. Our Ambassador in Khartoum has also met with a number of civilian members of Sudan's Sovereign Council, including Mohamed Hasan al Ta'yushi on 2 September and Aisha Musa on 22 September, to discuss a range of issues such as the importance of civilian roles in democracy. As part of the agreed process of transition to civilian rule set out in the Constitutional Declaration the Sovereign Council acts in lieu of a head of state during the 39 month transition period. The UK does not take a view on term limits of governing and elected officials in Sudan, but we do support the establishment of proper democratic processes in line with the agreed Constitutional Declaration.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Sudanese counterpart on the process of appointing a new President in that country.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK welcomes the Constitutional Declaration signed on 17 August which sets out the plan for Sudan's transition to civilian-led government. We are engaging with the Sovereign Council and newly appointed Prime Minister to support reform and change in Sudan. On 11 September, our Ambassador in Khartoum met with Prime Minister Hamdok to discuss how the UK can provide practical support to the Prime Minister's priorities of establishing peace across Sudan and reforming the economy. We look forward to working with the Cabinet, including the new Foreign Minister Asma Mohamed Abdalla. Our Ambassador in Khartoum has also met with a number of civilian members of Sudan's Sovereign Council, including Mohamed Hasan al Ta'yushi on 2 September and Aisha Musa on 22 September, to discuss a range of issues such as the importance of civilian roles in democracy. As part of the agreed process of transition to civilian rule set out in the Constitutional Declaration the Sovereign Council acts in lieu of a head of state during the 39 month transition period. The UK does not take a view on term limits of governing and elected officials in Sudan, but we do support the establishment of proper democratic processes in line with the agreed Constitutional Declaration.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the troika of the US, UK and Norway has made to the new governing coalition in Sudan on tackling breaches of law and order in Darfur.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
On 22 August the UK and Troika partners (Norway and the US) issued a statement that commended the new Prime Minister of Sudan's commitment to peace, freedom and justice, and highlighted the need to establish peace within its borders. We urge the Sudanese armed movements and the Government of Sudan to engage constructively to achieve a peaceful solution to the conflict in Darfur, one that brings security and stability to all in Sudan. This was reiterated in a statement by the UK at the UN Security Council on 26 August (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dr-abdalla-hamdok-made-prime-minister-of-sudan-troika-statement).