Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff in his Department have been assigned to work on the Convention of Biological Diversity; and how many Ministers in his Department plan to attend the conference from 25 April to 8 May 2022.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity represents an historic opportunity to secure an agreement to ambitious global action over the next decade. The UK is committed to playing a leading role in developing an ambitious post-2020 global biodiversity framework to be adopted at COP15. The COP is due to take place in Kunming, China, later this year; though, due to the coronavirus pandemic, we expect a delay to the planned dates of 25 April to 8 May. Minister Lord Goldsmith will head the UK delegation.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is the lead department for the Convention on Biological Diversity, working closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Cabinet Office. A core team is in place in DEFRA, drawing on expertise across DEFRA, its specialist arms-length bodies, working with other Government departments, civil society organisations and society at large. This includes working with the FCDO and our Posts across the diplomatic network, through which we are engaging host governments to support the delivery of our objectives. Nature is one of the key priorities in the UK’s COP26 Presidency, and so the Cabinet Office COP26 Unit is also supporting preparations for COP15 to ensure successful delivery of our COP26 objectives.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Minister will be leading the work of the National Economic Recovery Taskforce (Logistics) to tackle supply chain shortages following the recent Government reshuffle.
Answered by Michael Ellis
Government Ministers responsible for the supply chain ecosystem are working collectively, and in close partnership with industry, to drive the development and delivery of plans to strengthen supply chain resilience, supporting economic recovery and levelling up.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of the vehicles used by his Department for Government business are electric vehicles.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
The Cabinet Office uses vehicles from the Government Car Service, alongside other providers.
The Government Car Service is already electrifying its vehicles, with nearly 50% of their fleet either full battery electric or plug-in hybrid.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effect on UK trade flows of the end of the EU Exit transition period.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Statement published on 11 March. (https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2021-03-11/hcws841).
The Reasonable Worst Case Scenario planning assumptions published on 23 September related specifically to the potential for disruption to freight travelling at the end of the Transition Period. The Government is using a broad range of approaches to planning and preparing for the next phases of border controls.
Freight levels have increased since the beginning of the year, and volumes are now at the equivalent 2020 levels. The Border Operations Centre in the Cabinet Office is monitoring border flow.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's research and analysis, Reasonable Worst Case Scenario for borders at the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020, published on 23 September 2020, whether his Department plans to update that research for the introduction of the enforcement of import controls on EU goods from July 2021; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Statement published on 11 March. (https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2021-03-11/hcws841).
The Reasonable Worst Case Scenario planning assumptions published on 23 September related specifically to the potential for disruption to freight travelling at the end of the Transition Period. The Government is using a broad range of approaches to planning and preparing for the next phases of border controls.
Freight levels have increased since the beginning of the year, and volumes are now at the equivalent 2020 levels. The Border Operations Centre in the Cabinet Office is monitoring border flow.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the readiness of (a) inland and (b) port border infrastructure by July 2021 for the introduction and enforcement of EU import controls.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Statement published on 11 March. (https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2021-03-11/hcws841).
The Reasonable Worst Case Scenario planning assumptions published on 23 September related specifically to the potential for disruption to freight travelling at the end of the Transition Period. The Government is using a broad range of approaches to planning and preparing for the next phases of border controls.
Freight levels have increased since the beginning of the year, and volumes are now at the equivalent 2020 levels. The Border Operations Centre in the Cabinet Office is monitoring border flow.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Cabinet Office Policy Paper entitled The Border Operating Model updated on 8 October 2020, what testing has been undertaken of the Check an HGV is Ready to Cross the Border web service.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
I refer the hon. Member to the letter from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to the Chair of the Future Relationship with the European Union select committee dated 7 October 2020 and published on the committee website.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Smart Freight system will require verification of completed customs declarations.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
Smart Freight will enable a driver or haulier to check and confirm that goods they are carrying are accompanied by customs and import/export documentation and are thus ready to cross the border.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent progress the Government has made on EU trade deal negotiations; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to PQ 39669 on 4 May 2020.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the process by which people travelling overseas are able to register to vote by proxy.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Electors who are registered to vote but will be travelling abroad during the time of an election are able to apply for a proxy vote for that particular poll or polls. The application must be made in writing, it must include specific information about the elector and their proxy, and the reason for applying for a proxy.