Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of implementing Scotland's deposit return scheme as a pilot scheme for a future UK-wide deposit return scheme.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Government has confirmed that it will introduce a deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks containers in England, subject to consultation. The specific model, scope and scale of any scheme is being considered as part of this consultation, which is also being undertaken with the Welsh government and the Northern Ireland administration.
As waste and recycling policy is a devolved matter, the devolved administrations can decide policy separately. The Government is therefore unable to specify how a DRS in Scotland should be implemented, nor at this point are we considering specifically a pilot scheme. However, ministers and officials have met to discuss progress and recognise the benefits of a coherent system across the UK. DRS in England could form part of a coherent system across the UK and we will continue to work closely with the devolved administrations on this policy area.
The role of a Deposit Management Organisation in managing the operation of a DRS, including being responsible for the maintenance of Reverse Vending Machines, is currently being considered as part of our consultation. We will consider alternative approaches as part of our analysis of the consultation responses.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what alternatives to the proposed deposit management organisation for maintaining reverse vending machines his Department considered for inclusion in the proposals for a UK-wide deposit return scheme.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Government has confirmed that it will introduce a deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks containers in England, subject to consultation. The specific model, scope and scale of any scheme is being considered as part of this consultation, which is also being undertaken with the Welsh government and the Northern Ireland administration.
As waste and recycling policy is a devolved matter, the devolved administrations can decide policy separately. The Government is therefore unable to specify how a DRS in Scotland should be implemented, nor at this point are we considering specifically a pilot scheme. However, ministers and officials have met to discuss progress and recognise the benefits of a coherent system across the UK. DRS in England could form part of a coherent system across the UK and we will continue to work closely with the devolved administrations on this policy area.
The role of a Deposit Management Organisation in managing the operation of a DRS, including being responsible for the maintenance of Reverse Vending Machines, is currently being considered as part of our consultation. We will consider alternative approaches as part of our analysis of the consultation responses.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions the Government has had with (a) peer-to-peer lenders and (b) other organisations in the fintech sector on proposals for regulation of the sector in the Financial Conduct Authority's July 2018 CP18/20 consultation paper.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government has regular conversations with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the peer-to-peer (P2P) lending sector and other Fintech organisations on a range of topics, including the FCA’s proposed new rules for P2P lending.
The Government has implemented a proportionate, principles based regime for P2P lending that balances the need for consumer protection with allowing the sector to grow and evolve. As the FCA’s CP18/20 makes clear, P2P lending is an increasingly important source of finance for small businesses, and the Government remains supportive of the industry. As the independent conduct regulator for the financial services industry, the FCA is best placed to set the appropriate regulatory requirements for P2P lending.
The UK has been independently ranked by EY and Deloitte as the world’s leading hub for Fintech – the best place in the world to start and grow a Fintech firm. The Government is committed to ensuring that it remains the best place in the world for Fintech, and has set out how it intends to do that in the ambitious Fintech Sector Strategy, launched in March 2018.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the international competitiveness of the UK's fintech sector of the Financial Conduct Authority's proposals for regulation of the peer-to-peer lending sector in its July 2018 CP18/20 consultation paper.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government has regular conversations with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the peer-to-peer (P2P) lending sector and other Fintech organisations on a range of topics, including the FCA’s proposed new rules for P2P lending.
The Government has implemented a proportionate, principles based regime for P2P lending that balances the need for consumer protection with allowing the sector to grow and evolve. As the FCA’s CP18/20 makes clear, P2P lending is an increasingly important source of finance for small businesses, and the Government remains supportive of the industry. As the independent conduct regulator for the financial services industry, the FCA is best placed to set the appropriate regulatory requirements for P2P lending.
The UK has been independently ranked by EY and Deloitte as the world’s leading hub for Fintech – the best place in the world to start and grow a Fintech firm. The Government is committed to ensuring that it remains the best place in the world for Fintech, and has set out how it intends to do that in the ambitious Fintech Sector Strategy, launched in March 2018.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions the Government has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the potential effect on the strength of the UK's peer-to-peer lending sector of the proposals on marketing restrictions in the FCA July 2018 CP 18/20 consultation paper.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government has regular conversations with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the peer-to-peer (P2P) lending sector and other Fintech organisations on a range of topics, including the FCA’s proposed new rules for P2P lending.
The Government has implemented a proportionate, principles based regime for P2P lending that balances the need for consumer protection with allowing the sector to grow and evolve. As the FCA’s CP18/20 makes clear, P2P lending is an increasingly important source of finance for small businesses, and the Government remains supportive of the industry. As the independent conduct regulator for the financial services industry, the FCA is best placed to set the appropriate regulatory requirements for P2P lending.
The UK has been independently ranked by EY and Deloitte as the world’s leading hub for Fintech – the best place in the world to start and grow a Fintech firm. The Government is committed to ensuring that it remains the best place in the world for Fintech, and has set out how it intends to do that in the ambitious Fintech Sector Strategy, launched in March 2018.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department funds aid programmes that support female garment factory workers in Bangladesh.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The UK supports garment factory workers, more than 70% of whom are female, by improving building safety and working conditions, empowering workers, and urging buyers to take responsibility for their supply chains.
DFID provided £7.4m (2013-2017) to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to improve factory conditions post Rana Plaza collapse. The subsequent ‘Better Jobs in Bangladesh’ programme provides £6.6m (2017-2023) for sustainable inspection and remediation. The UK is also providing £22.43m (2014-2021) to enhance the provision of skills training in the RMG and Construction sectors. This is helping female workers enter higher paid jobs in the sector.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Bangladeshi counterpart on reported protests and clashes between garment factory workers and police forces in that country; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Mark Field
To date I have not made representations to the Government of Bangladesh regarding protests by garment factory workers or their clashes with police. Officials at our High Commission in Dhaka continue to monitor the situation, and reports of violence are concerning. Bangladesh remains a Human Rights Priority Country for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and freedom of expression, including the freedom of assembly, is a key concern. I raised more general concerns regarding freedom of expression in Bangladesh with Information Minister Tarana Halim on 14 December. The Foreign Secretary raised his concerns regarding freedom of expression with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 24 September 2018 at the UN General Assembly in New York.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, if he will place in the Library his advice on the legal implications of any changes made to the Withdrawal Agreement text between the UK and the EU ahead of the forthcoming vote on that Agreement.
Answered by Geoffrey Cox
The Government understands the legitimate desire of Parliament to understand the legal implications of the Withdrawal Agreement and will look at what assistance it can provide the House. The Government has already published a collection of material to support public and parliamentary assessment of the deal. In addition, on 14 January, I agreed to the Government publishing a letter from me to the Prime Minister about the exchange of letters between the Prime Minister and the Presidents of the European Council and Commission.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many independent election observers (a) his Department and (b) other nations provided for the general election in Bangladesh; and what assessment he has made of the legitimacy of that election.
Answered by Mark Field
In partnership with USAID and the Swiss Development Cooperation, the Department for International Development supported a total of 4542 domestic observers deployed during the Bangladesh Election. The EU sent a two person Election Expert Mission. The Government of Bangladesh refused permission for deployment of 9300 observers from 15 NGOs. On 1 January I released a statement expressing my concern about the conduct of the Bangladesh general election. There have been numerous credible allegations of irregularities, blocks on proper observation and the intimidation of voters. I repeated my concerns regarding the election to the Bangladesh High Commissioner when we met on 10 January. I have urged the Government of Bangladesh to carry out a full, credible and transparent resolution of all complaints related to the conduct of the elections.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government has taken to raise concerns with the Israeli Government on the imminent demolition of Khan al-Ahmar.
Answered by Alistair Burt
We have raised concerns with the Israeli authorities at senior levels, including with the Israeli Prime Minister and Israeli Attorney General, urging them not to go ahead with their plan to demolish the village. Officials from our Consulate General in Jerusalem continue to visit Khan al-Ahmar, most recently on 18 December. The same day, our Permanent Representative to the UN made clear during a UN Security Council debate on the situation in the Middle East that "we welcome the temporary postponement of plans to demolish the Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar but we remain gravely concerned about the fate of this community. The United Nations has said this demolition could amount to forcible transfer in violation of International Humanitarian Law. As I’ve said before in this Chamber, the Israel Government is not obligated to demolish Khan al-Ahmar. It has the power to change its mind and we urge it to do so”.