Asked by: Martin Whitfield (Labour - East Lothian)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the contribution of the Scotch Whisky industry to (a) rural employment and (b) investment.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Scotch Whisky industry provides vital employment and investment to communities across Scotland. It is estimated that 7,000 people are directly employed by the industry in rural areas of Scotland.
Asked by: Martin Whitfield (Labour - East Lothian)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people have been employed by the Scotch Whisky industry in the last five years.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
More than 10,500 people are directly employed in the Scotch Whisky industry in Scotland, and over 42,000 jobs across the UK are supported by the industry.
Asked by: Martin Whitfield (Labour - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether she plans to launch a competition for SKYNET 6 Enduring Capability.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Department's default is competition, and this is the case for the SKYNET 6 Enduring Capability project. The SKYNET 6 team continually reinforces this message directly with industry through conferences, industry briefing days and in regular 1-2-1 meetings with key industrial partners.
Asked by: Martin Whitfield (Labour - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps her Department is taking to include SMEs in the SKYNET programme.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Department is following the Small to Medium Enterprise principles outlined in the National Security Through Technology 2012 white paper. The SKYNET 6 Programme is taking a very proactive approach to incentivise and incorporate SMEs across the whole programme.
The current SKYNET 5 programme already exceeds the 25% SME target which provides a strong foundation for the SKYNET 6 programme.
Asked by: Martin Whitfield (Labour - East Lothian)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Government plans to respond to the Bus Services Act 2017: accessible information consultation.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The Government understands the importance of accessible on-board information in helping bus passengers to travel with confidence, and in Summer 2018 published a public consultation on proposals to require its provision on local bus services throughout Great Britain.
We continue to analyse responses to the consultation and expect to announce our next steps regarding the making of Regulations and publication of guidance later in the year.
Asked by: Martin Whitfield (Labour - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the estimated cost is of SKYNET 6.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The estimated costs for the entire programme, out to the 2040s, is £7 billion.
Asked by: Martin Whitfield (Labour - East Lothian)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to ensure that (a) British blue badge holders continue to receive the parking concessions that they are entitled to in EU and EFTA member states and (b) EU and EFTA members state citizens who hold blue badges continue to receive the parking concessions that they are entitled to in the UK in the event that the UK leaves the EU on or before 31 October 2019.
Answered by Chris Grayling
The Government is considering all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU, including the implications for the continued recognition of Blue Badges. Whilst we are confident of agreeing continued mutual recognition, as this would be in the interest of both the UK and the EU, the negotiation of the arrangements for our exit from the EU are ongoing and no decisions on this topic have yet been taken.
Asked by: Martin Whitfield (Labour - East Lothian)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to amend the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations Act to reduce the maximum glare permitted by automobile headlights.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Regulations are already in place to help prevent headlights from causing glare, and there are no plans to change national law.
Before vehicles can be sold or registered in the United Kingdom manufacturers must ensure compliance with international vehicle approval requirements, which include defined beam patterns and intensities to minimise the occurrence of glare. The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 prohibit the use of headlights that can cause undue dazzle or discomfort to other road users. Vehicle users have a responsibility to ensure their vehicles are maintained correctly, and headlight aim is checked at the annual roadworthiness inspection (MOT test) to ensure it is within acceptable limits.
Asked by: Martin Whitfield (Labour - East Lothian)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to ensure that dual nationals have to submit only UK documents when applying to renew their British passport.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
There are no plans to amend the policy to limit document requirements to UK documents only for dual nationals. HM Passport Office does seek to minimise documentary requirements for renewal applications but there are circumstances where additional information is needed which may include overseas documents or those relating to dual nationality.
Asked by: Martin Whitfield (Labour - East Lothian)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the suitability of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary joining the Alpha Pensions scheme as directed by the Public Service Pensions Act 2013.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
As is the case with other Public Sector employees, the Civil Nuclear Police Authority’s employees will move into the Alpha Pensions scheme. A decision to modify the statutory scheme ultimately rests with HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office. BEIS officials are engaging with all interested parties to provide certainty for CNPA and its staff.