Asked by: Alister Jack (Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the timeframe is for the first publication from the Cryptoassets Taskforce.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Cryptoassets Taskforce will publish a report in Q3 2018.
The first meeting of the Taskforce was held on May 21st, and attended by senior leaders from government and the financial regulators, including the Director General of Financial Services at HM Treasury, a Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, and the Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority.[1]
Officials from across all three organisations continue to meet on a regular basis and are working closely together. Officials are also engaging with industry stakeholders and international counterparts, and held an industry roundtable on 24 July.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cryptoassets-taskforce-meets-for-the-first-time
Asked by: Alister Jack (Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has identified the port of Cairnryan as a route for human trafficking; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
Tackling human trafficking and modern slavery, both in the UK and overseas, is a priority for the government.
The tackling of human trafficking is a devolved matter for the Scottish Government. At the border, intelligence-led operations to disrupt traffickers and protect victims is the key to Border Force’s response to the threat of Modern Slavery. Through the Modern Slavery Threat Group, Border Force work alongside UKVI, IE and other law enforcement agencies to identify and disrupt modern slavery offenders.
It is not Border Force Policy to release port specific information as it could compromise operational and National Security.
Asked by: Alister Jack (Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to tackle human trafficking in Scotland.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The tackling of human trafficking is a devolved matter and the Scottish Government works closely with Police Scotland, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, Procurator Fiscal Service and other key partners to address this crime and support victims. This includes co-ordination with the Home Office and UK-wide bodies including Border Force and Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority.
The Scottish Parliament passed legislation in 2015 entitled “Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act” to tackle human trafficking in Scotland. Since then, a range of work has taken place to implement the Scottish Government’s Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy, focussing on three action areas: identifying and supporting victims, identifying and disrupting perpetrators, and addressing the conditions that foster trafficking and exploitation. The Scottish Government will soon publish the first annual progress report on implementation of the Strategy.
Asked by: Alister Jack (Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using emergency services masts to improve mobile phone coverage in rural parts of Scotland and the UK.
Answered by Margot James
In delivering the Emergency Services Network (ESN), the mobile network operator EE is delivering around 500 new sites (up to 291 of which will be funded by the Government) and upgrading its entire existing network. Over 300 of these new sites are in Scotland and all new sites are open to incoming site share applications from other Mobile Network Operators. Additionally, in the more remote areas of Great Britain, the Government, as part of its Extended Area Service (EAS) Programme, will deliver approximately 300 further sites for ESN and, potentially, for commercial coverage. 123 of these EAS sites will be in Scotland.
Asked by: Alister Jack (Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway)
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 mobile phone operators on improving mobile phone coverage in rural parts of Scotland.
Answered by Margot James
Ministers regularly meet the Mobile Network Operators to discuss a range of issues including improving mobile phone coverage across the whole of the UK, including Scotland.
Asked by: Alister Jack (Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Scotland on devolving powers to the Scottish Parliament after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by David Lidington
I continue to have regular conversations with the Secretary of State for Scotland on the return of powers from Brussels to Holyrood following exit from the EU. Furthermore, we are both part of JMC(EN) where this, amongst other issues, has been discussed with the devolved administrations.
Asked by: Alister Jack (Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has for the West Freugh facility in Dumfries and Galloway.
Answered by Guto Bebb
The Ministry of Defence West Freugh establishment is expected to continue delivering test, evaluation and training support services under the Long Term Partnering Agreement with QinetiQ which runs until 2028.
Asked by: Alister Jack (Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many training exercises have been carried out at the West Freugh facility in Dumfries and Galloway in the last five years.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Thirty-two training exercises were undertaken at the Ministry of Defence West Freugh establishment during the last five financial years (2013-14 to 2017-18).
Asked by: Alister Jack (Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff are employed at the West Freugh facility in Dumfries and Galloway.
Answered by Guto Bebb
There are 30 staff employed at the Ministry of Defence (MOD) West Freugh establishment (26 QinetiQ and four sub-contracted staff). No MOD personnel are employed there.
Asked by: Alister Jack (Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has for the Dundrennan range in Dumfries and Galloway.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Ministry of Defence does plan to develop and enhance the training facilities at Dundrennan Range, but these plans are in the very early stages of development.