Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons the Financial Conduct Authority is allowed to give Part FCA Regulated accreditation to companies which are then permitted to market themselves as FCA regulated to investors.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
This is a matter for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is operationally independent from Government. The question has been passed on to the FCA. The FCA will reply directly to the honourable member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has received a request from the (a) Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and (b) Attorney General's Office for documents as part of the SFO's investigation into GPT Special Project Management.
Answered by Gavin Williamson
It would not be appropriate for me to comment on a live criminal investigation.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, when did Department received a request from the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to give consent to a prosecution in relation to the SFO's investigation into GPT Special Project Management and aspects of the conduct of that organisation's business in Saudi Arabia; and what his Department's response was to the SFO's request.
Answered by Geoffrey Cox
I am not able to provide any specific information about an on-going investigation by the Serious Fraud Office. I can confirm that I am aware of this case and I receive regular case updates in relation to it.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether spending plans for the Department for Transport in the next Spending Review will align with environmental objectives and the Climate Change Act.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
We will continue to ensure that spending decisions take full account of our environmental obligations, including at the next Spending Review. Departments are expected to follow Green Book guidance when appraising proposals, and it requires them to account for any environmental impacts, including those which affect air quality, natural capital, noise, water quality, and greenhouse gas emissions.
The Department for Transport is committed to ensuring that the transport sector plays a full part in delivering the emissions reductions required to meet our legally binding carbon budget commitments, as well as other environmental objectives.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate his Department has made of the savings accrued to the public purse identified by School Resource Management Advisers in relation to (a) the sale of unused buildings and land, (b) catering, (c) letting of facilities, (d) transport costs, (e) energy costs, (f) premises costs, (g) exam fees, (h) marketing, (i) recruitment and (j) IT systems and computers.
Answered by Nick Gibb
In 2017-18, School Resource Management Advisers (SRMAs) identified the potential for over £35 million savings and revenue generation opportunities as part of a pilot programme. The Department is now working with schools and academy trusts to compile data on the areas where SRMAs’ recommendations have been realised and actual savings made. This work will support schools to better manage their resources and deliver excellent education.
Schools spend more than £10 billion per year on non-staffing costs and the Department is supporting schools to get the best value for all their purchases through deals on insurance, recruitment, agency supply and many other categories. For example, advertising vacancies alone costs schools in the region of £75 million per year, and our Teaching Vacancies site provides free listings for all schools in England.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) the British Horseracing Authority and b) Cheltenham racecourse on the deaths of three horses during the meeting at that course in March 2019.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Defra is keen that the welfare needs of racehorses are well met, both during their racing lives and afterwards. The loss of any racehorse is a tragedy.
Since the end of last year, I have been in regular dialogue with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) about racehorse safety both at Cheltenham and in racing in general. As the BHA are responsible for racehorse safety at tracks, I have not had any direct contact with Cheltenham racetrack.
I have recently written to the Chair of the BHA requesting an update on the cause of the fatalities at this year’s event and why they were not prevented by the policies that were put in place, as a result of the seven fatalities at last year’s Festival. I will also discuss these concerns when I meet the newly appointed independent Chair of the racing industry’s new Horse Welfare Board, Barry Johnson, who is a former Chair of World Horse Welfare as well as a former President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
I am also seeking clarity on the roles and responsibilities of the Horse Welfare Board to ensure that it will be able to make recommendations that the racing industry will implement.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
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 ability of the British Horseracing Authority to ensure the welfare of racehorses following the deaths of three horses at the Cheltenham festival in March 2019.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Defra is keen that the welfare needs of racehorses are well met, both during their racing lives and afterwards. The loss of any racehorse is a tragedy.
Since the end of last year, I have been in regular dialogue with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) about racehorse safety both at Cheltenham and in racing in general. As the BHA are responsible for racehorse safety at tracks, I have not had any direct contact with Cheltenham racetrack.
I have recently written to the Chair of the BHA requesting an update on the cause of the fatalities at this year’s event and why they were not prevented by the policies that were put in place, as a result of the seven fatalities at last year’s Festival. I will also discuss these concerns when I meet the newly appointed independent Chair of the racing industry’s new Horse Welfare Board, Barry Johnson, who is a former Chair of World Horse Welfare as well as a former President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
I am also seeking clarity on the roles and responsibilities of the Horse Welfare Board to ensure that it will be able to make recommendations that the racing industry will implement.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure the welfare of racehorses at the Cheltenham festival in 2020 following the deaths of three horses at the 2019 festival.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Defra is keen that the welfare needs of racehorses are well met, both during their racing lives and afterwards. The loss of any racehorse is a tragedy.
Since the end of last year, I have been in regular dialogue with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) about racehorse safety both at Cheltenham and in racing in general. As the BHA are responsible for racehorse safety at tracks, I have not had any direct contact with Cheltenham racetrack.
I have recently written to the Chair of the BHA requesting an update on the cause of the fatalities at this year’s event and why they were not prevented by the policies that were put in place, as a result of the seven fatalities at last year’s Festival. I will also discuss these concerns when I meet the newly appointed independent Chair of the racing industry’s new Horse Welfare Board, Barry Johnson, who is a former Chair of World Horse Welfare as well as a former President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
I am also seeking clarity on the roles and responsibilities of the Horse Welfare Board to ensure that it will be able to make recommendations that the racing industry will implement.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to support convenience retailers in Birmingham, Hall Green that lost an estimated £194,659 due to shop theft; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
I chair the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG) which brings together partners including the police, trade bodies and retailers and is overseeing a range of work to tackle retail crime.
This includes the collation and dissemination of good practice and developing guidance on the use of Impact Statements for Business, which give victims of business crime the opportunity to set out the impact the crime has had on the business, including, for example, financial loss. The NRCSG also continues to work with retailers to improve the management and response to shop theft using a partnership approach.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the The Attorney General, for what reasons three former Credit Suisse employees, Andrew James Pearse, Surjan Singh and Detelina Vaneva Subeva who are subject to an extradition request from US authorities, have not been charged under UK law.
Answered by Robert Buckland
Charging decisions are matters for the Directors of the Crown Prosecution Service and the Serious Fraud Office, who act independently. Such decisions are made by applying the Code for Crown Prosecutors. I cannot comment on individual cases.