Asked by: Joanna Cherry (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria his Department used to select existing cross channel operators in the absence of an invitation to tender being published when awarding contracts for additional shipping freight capacity under Regulation 32 of The Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
I refer the hon Member to my Rt hon Friend's Written Statement of 7 January [HCWS 1233].
A negotiated procurement procedure without prior publication was concluded as allowed for by Regulation 32 of The Public Contracts Regulations 2015. An accelerated competitive process was carried out in order to ensure that capacity can be in place in time for a No Deal exit whilst at the same time securing value for money for the taxpayer.
Asked by: Joanna Cherry (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria his Department used to identify new entrants to the market in the absence of an invitation to tender being published when awarding contracts for additional shipping freight capacity under Regulation 32 of The Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
I refer the hon Member to my Rt hon Friend's Written Statement of 7 January [HCWS 1233].
A negotiated procurement procedure without prior publication was concluded as allowed for by Regulation 32 of The Public Contracts Regulations 2015. An accelerated competitive process was carried out in order to ensure that capacity can be in place in time for a No Deal exit whilst at the same time securing value for money for the taxpayer.
Asked by: Joanna Cherry (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what unforeseeable events led his Department to award contracts for additional shipping freight capacity under Regulation 32 of The Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
I refer the hon Member to my Rt hon Friend's Written Statement of 7 January [HCWS 1233].
A negotiated procurement procedure without prior publication was concluded as allowed for by Regulation 32 of The Public Contracts Regulations 2015. An accelerated competitive process was carried out in order to ensure that capacity can be in place in time for a No Deal exit whilst at the same time securing value for money for the taxpayer.
Asked by: Joanna Cherry (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information his Department holds on the number of people who have received leave to remain (a) under the destitution domestic violence concession and (b) as a victim of domestic violence under paragraph 289B of the Immigration Rules in each of the last three years.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The published statistics relating to individuals granted leave to remain under the destitution domestic violence concession and Indefinite Leave to Remain in the United Kingdom as a victim of domestic violence are recorded together as part of published Migration Statistics and can be located via the link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release
Asked by: Joanna Cherry (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing a period of respite for victims of domestic abuse to seek legal advice before deciding whether to access the destitution domestic violence concession; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
This Government remains committed to tackling incidents of domestic abuse.
We have consulted on what more can be done to protect domestic abuse victims through a 12-week public consultation exercise that closed on 31 May.
We are currently analysing the 3,200 plus responses received and will carefully consider what future courses of action are necessary. The existing Destitute Domestic Violence Concession (DDVC) provides eligible individuals with a period of three months’ leave outside the immigration rules, allowing them to seek legal advice or other support.
Asked by: Joanna Cherry (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information his Department holds on the number of people who have received leave to remain (a) under the destitution domestic violence concession and (b) as a victim of domestic violence under paragraph 289B of the Immigration Rules in each of the last three years.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The published statistics relating to individuals granted leave to remain under the destitution domestic violence concession and Indefinite Leave to Remain in the United Kingdom as a victim of domestic violence are recorded together as part of published Migration Statistics and can be located via the link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release
Asked by: Joanna Cherry (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing a period of respite for victims of domestic abuse to seek legal advice before deciding whether to access the destitution domestic violence concession; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
This Government remains committed to tackling incidents of domestic abuse.
We have consulted on what more can be done to protect domestic abuse victims through a 12-week public consultation exercise that closed on 31 May.
We are currently analysing the 3,200 plus responses received and will carefully consider what future courses of action are necessary. The existing Destitute Domestic Violence Concession (DDVC) provides eligible individuals with a period of three months’ leave outside the immigration rules, allowing them to seek legal advice or other support.
Asked by: Joanna Cherry (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Minister for the Home Office, what guidance the Government is providing to EU nationals on registering for settled status before the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The settled status scheme for resident EU citizens and their family members will open for voluntary applications in late 2018. They do not need to apply for settled status before the UK leaves the EU, and will have until 30 June 2021 to do so.
The application system will be streamlined, user-friendly and draw on existing government data to minimise the burden on applicants to provide evidence.
We will publish further details in advance of the scheme opening including comprehensive guidance on procedures for applying and eligibility criteria. We have recently launched a targeted communications campaign using a variety of media to ensure that EU citizens are aware of any updated information and over 200,000 have subscribed to a mailing list to receive regular updates. We are also holding four, monthly user group meetings with representatives of EU citizens and their employers to seek input in to the design of the scheme and provide further information about its progress.
Asked by: Joanna Cherry (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made on the effect of the modern slavery strategy on preventing human trafficking.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The 2017 UK Annual Report on Modern Slavery details the steps the Government has taken to prevent and tackle modern slavery, including through implementation of the Modern Slavery Strategy. The report provides an assessment of performance across a range of indicators and future plans to build on this. The report is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2017-uk-annual-report-on-modern-slavery
Asked by: Joanna Cherry (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with the Information Commissioner on Cambridge Analytica.
Answered by Margot James
Ministers have been in regular contact with the Information Commissioner on this matter.