First elected: 7th June 2001
Left House: 30th March 2015 (Retired)
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
These initiatives were driven by Hugh Robertson, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Hugh Robertson has not been granted any Urgent Questions
Hugh Robertson has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
Hugh Robertson has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
Hugh Robertson has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
The Government’s intention is that all pub-owning companies with tied tenants, including family brewers but not micro-businesses, should be in scope of the measures for a Pubs Code and Pubs Code Adjudicator in Part 4 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill. The Government published a revised draft Pubs Code on 14 November which reflects a number of requirements we consider it would be proportionate to move to the enhanced Code and, as such, would not apply to pub-owning companies with fewer than 500 tied pubs, including family brewers.
The Government has tabled amendments that specify that the requirements to produce an annual Compliance Report, to have a Code Compliance Officer and rent assessments signed off by a RICS valuer, will apply only to large pub-owning companies. This is in addition to the Parallel Rent Assessment requirement which has always been in the enhanced Code. In addition, the revised draft Code also reflects a number of other requirements that have also moved to the enhanced Code. These are the requirement to ensure that tenants complete pre-entry training, requirements around Business Development Managers, and the requirement to provide a tenant with information about rent deposit arrangements. The Government has reached these conclusions following the discussions in Public Bill Committee and the constructive meetings with hon Members, including my hon Friend the Member for Faversham and Mid Kent.
The Government recognises that the beer and pubs industry, including family brewers, makes a significant contribution to the UK economy. It is an industry we want to see grow and flourish and the measures in the Bill are intended to do just that. According to the British Beer and Pub Association, it is an industry that contributes £22 billion to UK GDP, generates £11 billion in tax revenue and supports almost one million jobs.
The Government’s intention is that all pub-owning companies with tied tenants, including family brewers but not micro-businesses, should be in scope of the measures for a Pubs Code and Pubs Code Adjudicator in Part 4 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill. The Government published a revised draft Pubs Code on 14 November which reflects a number of requirements we consider it would be proportionate to move to the enhanced Code and, as such, would not apply to pub-owning companies with fewer than 500 tied pubs, including family brewers.
The Government has tabled amendments that specify that the requirements to produce an annual Compliance Report, to have a Code Compliance Officer and rent assessments signed off by a RICS valuer, will apply only to large pub-owning companies. This is in addition to the Parallel Rent Assessment requirement which has always been in the enhanced Code. In addition, the revised draft Code also reflects a number of other requirements that have also moved to the enhanced Code. These are the requirement to ensure that tenants complete pre-entry training, requirements around Business Development Managers, and the requirement to provide a tenant with information about rent deposit arrangements. The Government has reached these conclusions following the discussions in Public Bill Committee and the constructive meetings with hon Members, including my hon Friend the Member for Faversham and Mid Kent.
The Government recognises that the beer and pubs industry, including family brewers, makes a significant contribution to the UK economy. It is an industry we want to see grow and flourish and the measures in the Bill are intended to do just that. According to the British Beer and Pub Association, it is an industry that contributes £22 billion to UK GDP, generates £11 billion in tax revenue and supports almost one million jobs.
UK Trade & Investment was tasked with delivering £11bn of UK-wide economic legacy from the London 2012 Games by 2016.
This target was achieved 14 months after the Games; £11.6bn reported in October 2013.
The latest figures show that the figure of economic benefit achieved through export growth and attracting new investment now stands at £14.2bn.
This Government is dedicated to continuing the implementation of this report.
I continue to press the football authorities for improvements in their governance of the sport, however significant improvements have been made. For example, the FA Board now meets Sport England governance requirements. Both the Premier League and The FA are providing funding to the supporter groups, including the Football Supporters Federation and Supporters Direct. All Premier League and Football League clubs are now required to have a designated Supporter Liaison Officer and Financial Fair Play rules. These requirements aim to improve financial stability and management across the Leagues. The Expert Group on barriers to supporter ownership and engagement, were proposed by Supporters Direct, and recently launched on 21 October.
Following the 2012 Downing Street summit on racism in football, The FA are also now delivering against a whole sport Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Plan called “Football’s for Everyone”. This plan seeks to build equality and inclusion in football.
Lastly, I am also pleased to note that the FA Inclusion Advisory Board reports quarterly to DCMS on their progress.
The most recent estimate for tourism numbers and spend delivered as a result of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games was set out in VisitBritain’s ‘Shifting the Dial Report (July 2013). This showed there were 685,000 visits from overseas to the UK in July, August and September 2012 primarily due to, or involved attending an official ticketed event at the London 2012 Olympic or Paralympic Games. This rose to 871,000 visits if you include live free to view or cultural events such as the London 2012 Festival. These visits resulted in spend of £925 million. Overall for 2012, there was an increase in visits from overseas to the UK of 0.9% on 2011 to 31.1 million.
Supported by VisitBritain’s GREAT Britain campaign, established as a means of promoting Britain as a great place to visit, study and do business with on the back of London 2012, there was a record 32.8 million inbound visits in 2013, up 5.6% on 2012. This also resulted in record spend (in nominal terms) up 12.7% on 2012 to £21 billion.
In the academic year 2014/15 the base rate of funding for all full time 16-19 students funded by the Department for Education (including grammar school sixth forms) was £4,000. This is set out in the ‘Funding rates and formula’ guidance: www.gov.uk/government/publications/funding-guidance-for-young-people-2013-to-2014-rates-and-formula.
The funding allocation for each institution includes factors that allocate additional funding for disadvantaged students, the nature of the learning programme, and area costs. As these factors are particular to each institution, the average per student will differ in each institution.
It is not possible to give an average for grammar schools, as the Department does not identify them as a separate category from school sixth forms.
It is not possible to give figures for 2005 and 2010 that are comparable to 2014/15, as there were significant differences in the funding systems used in those years.
The Highways Agency maintains databases containing indicative “end of life” dates for different types of asset. For carriageway assets, these dates may change for reasons such as the level of use, severe weather and damage from incidents. Concrete surfaces such as those on the M20 between junctions 8 and 9 have an indicative design life of approximately 40 years. This section was laid in 1991; therefore the indicative end of life is around 2031. However, as the current need for retexturing some short stretches of the M20 between junction 9 and 8 indicates, it may be that end of life will arrive before 2031. The Highways Agency will continue to monitor the M20 and as appropriate will bring forward partial or complete resurfacing schemes using modern quieter surfacing.
The forthcoming scheme between junctions 8 and 9 of the M20 is to retexture the existing concrete carriageway, rather than resurface. The concrete on this stretch of road has worn down and become smoother over time and so there is a need to install grooves to improve skid resistance, to increase safety for road users. The Highways Agency will resurface this stretch at the end of its serviceable life with a material that has lower noise generating properties.
In the 12 month period ending June 2014, 1.79 million foreign registered road goods vehicles travelled from Great Britain to mainland Europe. This was a 15 per cent increase on the previous 12 month period. Statistics are available for outward traffic only to minimise reporting burdens as inbound data would be so similar.
The HGV Road User Levy was introduced on 1 April 2014 for goods vehicles over 12 tonnes. After five calendar months to 31 August 2014, £20.1m revenue had been collected through the foreign operator payment system from vehicles registered in 80 different countries. This revenue came from the purchase of 752,000 levies ranging from daily to annual time restrictions. In Great Britain, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency have issued 978 fixed penalty notices for £295k to vehicles from 44 different countries and indicate a compliance rate of over 95% from vehicles stopped.
The European Anti Fraud Office (OLAF) report on food aid in Tindouf refugee camps was undertaken from 2003, drafted in 2007 and released in 2015 following an intervention by the EU Ombudsman. The report cites three key elements to the fraud: the diversion of food aid, the inflation of refugee numbers in camps and the use of unpaid labour. The evidence may encourage the European Commission to look at measures to reduce the risk of fraudulent practices.
We have no access to independent figures on the number of refugees living in the Tindouf camps. The UK supports the language in the UN Secretary General’s latest report on the situation in Western Sahara (S/2014/258), which cites a figure of 90,000 refugees.
UK Service personnel were not additionally eligible for the UNPROFOR Medal, the United Nations Special Service Medal, the NATO Medal, or the WEU Mission Service Medal in respect of the same period of operational service. Permission to accept and wear more than one of these medals will have been granted only when each period of qualifying service could be clearly differentiated. Concurrent qualification was not admissible.
Applications to receive the UN Special Service medal within 12 months of leaving theatre was a directive issued by the United Nations, to which the UK was obliged to adhere.
Information regarding eligibility to receive the medal in recognition of Service with the British Detachment in Sarajevo was originally promulgated to Armed Forces personnel and Ministry of Defence staff through Defence Council Instructions. This was the usual method of issuing instructions and guidance pertaining to medals at that time. For those who had already left service, information was available from their relevant medal office or Regimental Association.
UK Service personnel were not additionally eligible for the UNPROFOR Medal, the United Nations Special Service Medal, the NATO Medal, or the WEU Mission Service Medal in respect of the same period of operational service. Permission to accept and wear more than one of these medals will have been granted only when each period of qualifying service could be clearly differentiated. Concurrent qualification was not admissible.
Applications to receive the UN Special Service medal within 12 months of leaving theatre was a directive issued by the United Nations, to which the UK was obliged to adhere.
Information regarding eligibility to receive the medal in recognition of Service with the British Detachment in Sarajevo was originally promulgated to Armed Forces personnel and Ministry of Defence staff through Defence Council Instructions. This was the usual method of issuing instructions and guidance pertaining to medals at that time. For those who had already left service, information was available from their relevant medal office or Regimental Association.
UK Service personnel were not additionally eligible for the UNPROFOR Medal, the United Nations Special Service Medal, the NATO Medal, or the WEU Mission Service Medal in respect of the same period of operational service. Permission to accept and wear more than one of these medals will have been granted only when each period of qualifying service could be clearly differentiated. Concurrent qualification was not admissible.
Applications to receive the UN Special Service medal within 12 months of leaving theatre was a directive issued by the United Nations, to which the UK was obliged to adhere.
Information regarding eligibility to receive the medal in recognition of Service with the British Detachment in Sarajevo was originally promulgated to Armed Forces personnel and Ministry of Defence staff through Defence Council Instructions. This was the usual method of issuing instructions and guidance pertaining to medals at that time. For those who had already left service, information was available from their relevant medal office or Regimental Association.
Eligible Service personnel can no longer claim the UN Special Service Medal. The eligibility for this medal commenced on 3 July 1992 and ran until 12 January 1996. Applications for this medal could only be made within 12 months of leaving theatre.
The information was originally promulgated to Armed Forces personnel and Ministry of Defence staff through Defence Council Instructions (DCIs). This was the usual method of issuing instructions and guidance pertaining to medals at that time.
Her Majesty authorised the acceptance and wear of categories 2 and 3 of the UN Special Service Medal for the Sarajevo Airlift. Category 2 medals were awarded to personnel who served on the ground for 90 days or more with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) detachments at Ancona, Split and Zagreb. Category 3 medals were awarded to aircrew that completed 100 landings at Sarajevo.
Detailed information on the rules governing the wearing of medals can be found in Joint Service Publication (JSP) 761 - Honours and Awards in the Armed Forces, which is available on-line at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/honours-and-awards-in-the-armed-forces-jsp-761
The Ministry of Defence accepted Sir John Holmes's recommendations. The Cabinet Office subsequently published guidance in October 2014, which has been agreed by the Honours and Decorations Committee and endorsed by HM The Queen, in relation to the principle of double-medalling and the acceptance of awards by foreign governments. The acceptance and wear of a foreign award by a British citizen is subject to approval by the Sovereign. Decisions of this kind are for the Foreign Secretary in the first instance.
This guidance can be found on the Government website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/awarding-military-campaign-medals-guidance.
No such discussions have been held. One of the central principles of the UK honours system is that only one form of medallic recognition is acceptable for a single period of service (no double-medalling). UK awards take precedence over those presented by multinational forces and awards have already been instituted to recognise the service of British personnel in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Therefore UK personnel are not permitted to wear the NATO awards.
The Sarajevo airlift began in July 1992 and ran until January 1996. Members of the UK Armed Forces who took part in the airlift and met the eligibility criteria were entitled to be awarded the UN Special Service Medal. UN medals are usually awarded in theatre by the UN Commanding Officer. The information on the number of medals awarded in this case could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
UK personnel could also apply to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Medal Office within one year of their return to the UK for the UN Special Service Medal. The MOD Medal Office has issued 67 such medals to UK personnel.
Between 1992 and 2002, members of the UK Armed Forces served in the former Yugoslavia under the command of the UN Protection Force or NATO. UK personnel who served within this period and met the eligibility criteria were entitled to receive either the UN Medal or NATO Service Medal. Eligibility for the UN Medal commenced on 1 March 1992 and ran until 31 December 1995. Eligibility for the NATO Service Medal commenced on 1 July 1992 and ended on 31 December 2002.
UK personnel serving between 1992 and 1995 were not permitted to receive both awards for the same period of service. This would have contravened a central principle of the UK honours system of no double-medalling, which states that only one form of medallic recognition is acceptable for a single period of service. Therefore, personnel serving between 1992 and 1995 received either the UN Medal or the NATO Service Medal, depending on whether they were under UN or NATO command. Personnel serving from 1996 onwards would be entitled only to the NATO Service Medal.
Both medals were approved by Her Majesty to be accepted and worn.
At 1 April 2014, there were 8,970 members of the Regular Army Reserve of Officers.
The Army encourages those who are eligible when leaving the Service to consider joining the Army Reserve. This includes an attachment or visit to a Reserve unit to provide awareness of the reserve opportunities in the area where they have chosen to live. Reserve service is also promoted at employment fairs for service leavers, Career Transition Workshops and as part of interviews by Regimental Careers Management Officers.
Following discharge from the Regular Army, both officers (Captain and below) and soldiers are actively encouraged to join the Army Reserve as part of the annual reporting letter which they receive on the anniversary of their discharge from the Army. This includes advice on the financial incentives available to individuals who may wish to join the Army Reserve including up to £10,000 for ex-regular officers and soldiers who undertake a full reservist commitment of a minimum of 27 days training per annum and the tax-free bounty available to those undertaking a reduced commitment of 19 days annual training.
Between 1 April 2013 and 30 June 2014, 265 ex-regular officers have joined the trained strength of the Army Reserve.
The Regular Army Reserve of Officers allows the Army to recall individuals who have previously served in the Army to assist in the nation’s defence and provide a national strategic Reserve capability. Under Army 2020 the Regular Army Reserve of Officers will, as now, provide a valuable pool of skills and expertise that can be called upon as and when a situation of national crisis demands it. There are no plans to change the role of the Regular Army Reserve of Officers as part of the plans to increase the size of the Army Reserve to 30,000 as the two are constituted for different roles and capabilities.
The Regular Army Reserve of Officers allows the Army to recall individuals who have previously served in the Army to assist in the nation’s defence and provide a national strategic Reserve capability. Under Army 2020 the Regular Army Reserve of Officers will, as now, provide a valuable pool of skills and expertise that can be called upon as and when a situation of national crisis demands it. There are no plans to change the role of the Regular Army Reserve of Officers as part of the plans to increase the size of the Army Reserve to 30,000 as the two are constituted for different roles and capabilities.
An environmental impact assessment is required for development proposals which are likely to have a significant impact on the environment. The procedure for establishing whether an environmental impact assessment is necessary (the screening process) is set out in planning regulations and explained in planning guidance (http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/).
The guidance makes it clear that only a very small proportion of developments should require a formal environmental impact assessment. We have consulted on proposals to reduce the number of residential cases that local planning authorities have to screen (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/339528/Technical_consultation_on_planning.pdf ) and we will publish the Government's response in due course.