Asked by: David Duguid (Conservative - Banff and Buchan)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve (a) the provision of and (b) intercept times for emergency towing vessels around the coast of the UK.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has commissioned a study to review the risks presented to and from shipping within the UK Exclusive Economic Zone and to assess the availability and adequacy of emergency towage arrangements. An analysis of Hazard Contact time and Intercept time is integral to this study.
The study is being undertaken by Fraser-Nash Consultancy Ltd, and the final report will be delivered to the MCA later this month. Further distribution of the report is anticipated in the Autumn.
Asked by: David Duguid (Conservative - Banff and Buchan)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the Scotch beef sector of the (a) European Commission and (b) Irish Government's emergency support for the Irish beef sector.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Following careful consideration of evidence which demonstrated a sustained period of low prices, the European Commission took the decision to grant exceptional aid to the Irish beef sector. The Irish Government is entitled to provide additional money to match this fund under the same conditions which are linked to rebalancing the sector. At this stage it is too early to comment on what effect this has had on the markets, but my department continues to monitor the situation.
Asked by: David Duguid (Conservative - Banff and Buchan)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's policy is on securing ferry space for exports of (a) Scottish seafood and (b) other perishable or time-sensitive goods in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Chris Grayling
The Government-secured freight capacity is intended to support the supply of Category 1 goods which are currently reliant on the Short Straits. A list of types of goods in this category has been published at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/critical-goods-for-government-secured-freight-capacity.
Asked by: David Duguid (Conservative - Banff and Buchan)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance his Department has issued to Scottish live seafood exporters on preparations in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
Delivering a deal with the EU remains our top priority, but as with any responsible Government, we are planning for all scenarios.
To continue exporting to the EU if the UK leaves without a deal, UK seafood exporters would need to provide a catch certificate and an export health certificate for most fish and fish products. We have published detailed guidance on the gov.uk website and have held several events nationally to help the industry prepare to abide by these rules imposed by the EU. These events have included demonstrations of the IT systems which exporters would need to use, and the processes they would have to follow in the event of leaving the EU without a deal.
Fisheries management is a devolved matter. That will not change as a result of leaving the EU. The UK Government has worked closely with the Scottish Government, as well as the Welsh Government and DAERA, to ensure consistency and help prepare the sector as a whole.
Asked by: David Duguid (Conservative - Banff and Buchan)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what certification would be required for live seafood exporters based in Scotland exporting to the EU 27 in the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
Delivering a deal with the EU remains our top priority, but as with any responsible Government, we are planning for all scenarios.
To continue exporting to the EU if the UK leaves without a deal, UK seafood exporters would need to provide a catch certificate and an export health certificate for most fish and fish products. We have published detailed guidance on the gov.uk website and have held several events nationally to help the industry prepare to abide by these rules imposed by the EU. These events have included demonstrations of the IT systems which exporters would need to use, and the processes they would have to follow in the event of leaving the EU without a deal.
Fisheries management is a devolved matter. That will not change as a result of leaving the EU. The UK Government has worked closely with the Scottish Government, as well as the Welsh Government and DAERA, to ensure consistency and help prepare the sector as a whole.
Asked by: David Duguid (Conservative - Banff and Buchan)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with NICE on the prescription of medicinal cannabis oil for patients with (a) cerebral palsy and (b) arthritis.
Answered by Seema Kennedy
The Department has not discussed with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) the prescription of medicinal cannabis oil for patients with cerebral palsy and arthritis.
NICE is the independent expert body that develops authoritative, evidence-based guidance for the National Health Service on whether drugs and other treatments represent a clinically and cost effective use of NHS resources. NICE is developing guidance on the prescribing of cannabis-based medicinal products by October 2019. It will be based on the best available international evidence and will have been produced using NICE’s world-renowned process for delivering such guidance.
Following a public consultation on the draft scope, the guidance will focus on the use of cannabis-based products in the treatment of chronic pain, intractable nausea and vomiting, spasticity and severe treatment-resistant epilepsy, conditions where the evidence is currently most advanced. A consultation on the draft guidance is expected in the summer.
Asked by: David Duguid (Conservative - Banff and Buchan)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department next plans to meet with representatives of (a) the Scottish Government and (b) Scottish business to discuss the allocation of funds raised by the apprenticeship levy.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
The Treasury meets with the Scottish Government regularly to discuss matters of mutual interest.
The Scottish Government will receive £239 million in 2019-20, which represents a population share of the Apprenticeship Levy forecast. Skills is devolved in Scotland and it is for the Scottish Government to determine how to use this funding.
Asked by: David Duguid (Conservative - Banff and Buchan)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on animal welfare standards at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down.
Answered by Ben Wallace
The UK has stringent requirements for the welfare standards of animals used in science. The requirements are set out in the Guidance on the operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) that explains how the act is administered and enforced https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-on-the-operation-of-the-animals-scientific-procedures-act-1986
All establishments that use animals in science must fully comply with the Code of Practice for the housing and care of animals bred, supplied or used for scientific purposes. The Code provides advice about the way in which those responsible under ASPA may comply with those requirements. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/animal-research-technical-advice#code-of-practice-for-the-care-and-accommodation-of-animals
All licensed establishments are inspected by the Home Office Animals in Science Regulation Unit to provide assurance of compliance with the requirements of ASPA. All Home Office inspectors are fully registered medical practitioners in the UK or Members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Asked by: David Duguid (Conservative - Banff and Buchan)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his Department's policy is on the statutory immunity of the Financial Conduct Authority in cases where it is found to have acted negligently.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA) provides the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with immunity from liability in damages, including damages arising as a result of negligence. It is important, however, to bear in mind that this statutory immunity does not confer immunity from (i) claims that property rights protected by Article 1 Protocol 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998 have been unlawfully interfered with, or (ii) claims for judicial review of the FCA's actions.
The statutory immunity of the FCA is important in enabling it to take a robust approach to regulation. This immunity allows the FCA to focus its resources on pursuing its objectives without the distraction of claims that may frustrate these efforts, or the risk that firms can delay supervisory interventions through vexatious litigation.
The FCA’s statutory immunity is held to account by an Independent Complaints Commissioner who can consider complaints about the way the FCA has carried out, or failed to carry out, its role. The Commissioner has powers to recommend the payment of compensation and to require the FCA to publish its response to the recommendation, for example where it decides not to pay compensation.
Asked by: David Duguid (Conservative - Banff and Buchan)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to increase the accountability of the Financial Conduct Authority; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government has taken steps to make the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) accountable to HM Treasury, Parliament and the public.
For example, under the Financial Services Act 2012, the FCA is required to produce annual reports and accounts which are laid before Parliament. It is subject to a full audit by the National Audit Office, which has the ability to launch VFM studies on the FCA. Both the FCA CEO and Chair have regular meetings with the Treasury Select Committee.
HM Treasury has the power to direct the FCA to investigate and report on possible regulatory failure. HM Treasury also makes appointments to the FCA Board (including the CEO and Chair). The Government has also legislated to create a single complaints scheme with an independent Complaints Commissioner responsible for investigating complaints against the financial regulators, including the FCA. FCA rules are subject to judicial review and the Upper Tribunal can also review the merits of certain firm specific decisions.
The Government believes that the existing accountability mechanisms are appropriate.