Asked by: Bernard Jenkin (Conservative - Harwich and North Essex)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the recent statement of the Irish Prime Minister on the use of Irish airspace by UK airlines in the event of no deal being reached under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union; what advice the Government is providing to UK airlines as a result of that statement; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Chris Grayling
The ability of UK airlines to fly through Irish airspace is not dependent upon the result of our negotiations with the EU.
Airspace use is governed and guaranteed by an international treaty – the International Air Services Transit Agreement – to which both the UK and Ireland are signatories.
Asked by: Bernard Jenkin (Conservative - Harwich and North Essex)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans his Department has to ensure that in the event of no agreement being reached under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union there will be a UK immigration policy that does not give special preference to EU migrants.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The Prime Minister has been clear that as a responsible Government we continue to prepare for a range of outcomes, including the unlikely scenario in which no mutually satisfactory agreement can be reached. We are therefore stepping up our preparations across government. The Department for Exiting the European Union and the centre of government are working with all departments to make sure that the preparations for exit from and new partnership with the EU are on track.
The Government is considering a range of options for the future immigration system and will set out details later this year. Free movement will end, we will control immigration in the national interest, and EU migration will be subject to UK law.
Asked by: Bernard Jenkin (Conservative - Harwich and North Essex)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many staff work in his Department's Planning and Analysis Directorate.
Answered by Suella Braverman
All departments are equipping themselves with the resources they need to get the best deal for the UK. The Department for Exiting the European Union continues to recruit the brightest and the best from across the civil service, the wider public sector and the private sector, in a range of professions, including the Government Economics Service (GES).
The Department now has over 650 staff based in the UK, plus the expertise of over 120 officials in Brussels. We regularly reviews headcount to ensure we are appropriately resourced to deliver the Department’s objectives to secure the best possible deal on the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU, and build a deep and comprehensive future partnership between the UK and the EU.
Asked by: Bernard Jenkin (Conservative - Harwich and North Essex)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the White Paper entitled The future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union, publish in July 2018, Cm 9593, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on innovation within UK agriculture of ongoing harmonisation under a common rulebook set out in that white paper.
Answered by George Eustice
Our proposal for a common rulebook, as part of a free trade area for goods, would cover only those rules for products that must be checked at the border. It does not cover other rules where we want regulatory flexibility in order to help our sectors to innovate and flourish. In this regard we have already announced that we will be leaving the Common Agricultural Policy and introducing a new agricultural policy that works in the best interests of land managers in England.
Asked by: Bernard Jenkin (Conservative - Harwich and North Essex)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the Government's policy is on the future of (a) NHS Property Services Ltd and (b) Community Health Partnerships; what the purpose and remit is of each of those organisations; and for what reasons their functions have not been amalgamated.
Answered by Philip Dunne
NHS Property Services Ltd (NHSPS) was established and became operational on 1 April 2013 to hold many of the properties that had been owned by the primary care trusts that were abolished at that time under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. The ongoing high level objectives for NHS Property Services Ltd can be broadly summarised as:
- The provision of a high quality property service and the achievement of significant efficiency savings; and
- Timely and value for money disposals of assets declared surplus by the National Health Service to release capital for investment for the benefit of frontline NHS services.
Community Health Partnerships (CHP) was established much earlier to improve access to community based health and social care services by improving the NHS estate through public private partnerships established by the NHS Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) programme.
CHP is the public sector shareholder in each of the 49 LIFT Companies across England, which currently provide 339 serviced buildings for the provision of primary and community healthcare. In 2013, CHP became head tenant for the NHS LIFT estate, collecting the rents and ensuring that the buildings are adequately managed to support the provision of the services delivered in them.
Sir Robert Naylor’s review of the NHS estate published in March 2017 recommended the establishment of a ‘powerful new NHS Property Board’. The Government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations of the Naylor Review and will respond in due course.
Asked by: Bernard Jenkin (Conservative - Harwich and North Essex)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the (a) number and (b) nature of road traffic incidents recorded at the junction of Harwich Road and the A120 east of Colchester and at Pellens Corner nearby over the last 12 months; and how many times the ambulance service has been required to attend those incidents.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Validated collision data for 2016 is expected to be made available by the Department for Transport on the 28th September 2017. Data for 2017 will not be available until June 2018. However, validated data is available for the three year period 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2015 for the A120 Pellens Corner, including the Harwich Road junction and can be broken down as follows:
Year | Severity | ||
Fatal | Serious | Slight | |
2013 | 0 | 4 | 12 |
2014 | 1 | 5 | 12 |
2015 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
Asked by: Bernard Jenkin (Conservative - Harwich and North Essex)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the reasons are for the time taken to commence the construction of the new roundabout at the junction of Harwich Road and the A120 east of Colchester; and when that construction is planned to begin.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Following feedback from public consultation, the design of the new roundabout, known as Pellens Corner, had to be revised.
Highways England recently awarded a contract for the construction of the new roundabout, and survey investigation work commenced on 17 July to enable the design and construction programme to be finalised.
The construction of the new roundabout is expected to commence later this summer.
Asked by: Bernard Jenkin (Conservative - Harwich and North Essex)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what (a) the cost to the public purse has been of and (b) advice he has sought or received from the Electoral Commission on Government plans to promote public awareness of the (i) forthcoming EU referendum and (ii) need for timely registration in order to participate in that referendum.
Answered by John Penrose
The referendum on membership of the European Union is a decision of fundamental importance for the future of the country. The Government is committed to helping ensure that everyone who is eligible to vote in this referendum is able to do so.
The Electoral Commission’s public awareness campaign plays an essential role in explaining to the electorate the importance of registering to vote. As it has done previously ahead of the 2015 General Election, the Government aims to complement and amplify the Electoral Commission’s work to maximise the number of people reached by voter registration communications to ensure that electors can have their say on 23 June. The Government will allocate up to £7.5m for a range of voter registration activity, including funding local authorities and civil society organisations.
The Electoral Commission and Cabinet Office have been in regular dialogue on encouraging voter registration.
Asked by: Bernard Jenkin (Conservative - Harwich and North Essex)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of all activity related to promoting the Government's policy of remaining in the EU, including staff costs and the writing and publishing of documents and web pages by the date of the EU referendum.
Answered by John Penrose
The Government published details of the cost of the production, distribution and publication of its EU Referendum leaflet and associated website on 6th April 2016. The Government continues to take forward its policy on the full range of European business, including the Referendum, as part of the normal work of Departments. Departments will account for expenditure in the normal way, through Annual Report and Accounts.
Asked by: Bernard Jenkin (Conservative - Harwich and North Essex)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of (a) the outstanding student loan debt held by non-UK EU citizens, (b) the proportion of that debt that will be repaid and (c) the proportion of that debt that is outstanding.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Student Loans Company (SLC) administers student loans for each of the UK Government Administrations. Statistics covering English loans to EU domiciled borrowers are published annually by SLC in the Statistical First Release ‘Student Loans in England’.
http://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/student-loans-debt-and-repayment/england.aspx
At the end of the financial year 2014-15, the overall Higher Education English Income Contingent Repayment (ICR) loan balance outstanding was £64.7 billion. Of this, around 1.5% (£958 million) was held by EU domiciled borrowers.
Between 75% and 80% of the total value of loans from borrowers of all domiciles are expected to be repaid. An estimate for loans to EU domiciled borrowers is not available. Borrowers do not have to repay until they are earning over the relevant repayment threshold. Repayment is income contingent at 9% of any income over the repayment threshold.
SLC has arrangements in place to collect repayments from borrowers who move away from the UK; SLC establishes a 12 month repayment schedule based on the borrower’s income and provides information on the methods of repayment available.
SLC sets up fixed repayment schedules for borrowers who do not remain in contact and will place those borrowers in arrears. Further action, including legal action, can then be taken to secure recovery. European Commission regulations allow the SLC to obtain judgments in UK courts, which can be enforced by courts in other EU countries.