Asked by: Jacob Rees-Mogg (Conservative - North East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many outstanding (a) official investigations and (b) legal cases there are led by the European Commission and involving UK nationals employed within EU institutions who have acted as whistle-blowers against alleged malpractice or fraud; what steps the Government is taking to pursue these investigations and cases notwithstanding the negotiations on the UK leaving the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Suella Braverman
The Government does not monitor or track cases which the EU has instigated against its own staff, including if those staff are of UK nationality as these individuals have no connection with HMG. The European Commission is best to placed to answer how many outstanding cases there are.
Asked by: Jacob Rees-Mogg (Conservative - North East Somerset)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information he holds on the current status of the EU's review of compensation due to Robert McCoy; what official UK involvement there has been in investigating the criminal allegations originally made by him; what legal support has been provided to him; if he will ensure that all outstanding anti-fraud cases relating to EU institutions and involving UK nationals as eye-witnesses are resolved as part of negotiations on the UK leaving the EU; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
The UK Government does not monitor official investigations or legal cases that the EU has initiated against its own staff, irrespective of nationality. The conduct of these investigations and cases is a matter for the EU.
Asked by: Jacob Rees-Mogg (Conservative - North East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on delays and overcrowding experienced by commuters on the Great Western Railway (GWR) from Bristol to London; what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that GWR improves its service; and what mechanisms his Department has in place to scrutinise the delivery of that service against its contractual obligations.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Secretary of State receives letters, Parliamentary Questions and Freedom of Information requests from MPs, Peers, stakeholders and passengers about Great Western Railway performance. Great Western Railway has agreed a change to its franchise agreement to include a new obligation to implement a performance improvement plan. The plan includes a wide range of activities across the whole franchise area to improve performance for passengers. Ministers have discussed GWR performance with senior representative from FirstGroup. Officials meet Great Western Railway regularly to discuss progress on the plan.
Asked by: Jacob Rees-Mogg (Conservative - North East Somerset)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to Table C5 of the 2017 Autumn Budget 2017 and Table B.4 of the Office for Budget Responsibility's Economic Economic and Fiscal Outlook November 2017, when the forecast own resources contribution to the EU of £3.5bn in 2019-20 and subsequent years will be reallocated to domestic UK spending, what plans he has for these monies; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
The Office for Budget Responsibility’s independent forecast has maintained EU contributions past the point of exit in order to produce a fiscally neutral forecast; they have made no assumptions on the outcome of future policy decisions. The funding choices we take after exiting the EU will be based on the UK’s domestic priorities and will also be affected by the then economic environment and the fiscal position. We are determined to secure the very best deal we can for households and businesses in these negotiations and to seize the opportunities ahead by laying the foundations of a stronger, fairer Britain outside the EU.
Asked by: Jacob Rees-Mogg (Conservative - North East Somerset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many non-UK EU-EEA citizens worked as (a) doctors, (b) registrars, (c) trainee-doctors (foundation year 1 and 2), (d) nurses, (e) health visitors, (f) midwives, (g) ambulance staff and (h) scientific/therapeutic/technical staff in (i) June 2016 and (ii) June 2017.
Answered by Philip Dunne
NHS Digital publishes workforce statistics and the requested information is available from their publications page on the NHS Digital website at the following links:
Asked by: Jacob Rees-Mogg (Conservative - North East Somerset)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of EU-EEA citizens living in the UK.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Asked by: Jacob Rees-Mogg (Conservative - North East Somerset)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will publish the joint value for money guidance for UK Official Development Assistance agreed with HM Treasury to complement Managing Public Money.
Answered by Rory Stewart
UK Official Development Assistance value for money guidance is a routine internal Her Majesty’s Government document which signposts Official Development Assistance spending departments to a range of other sets of guidance in the public domain. These include the UK Aid Strategy, Managing Public Money, HM Treasury’s Green and Magenta Books, Cabinet Office Public Procurement Policy Guidance and Commercial Operating Standards, DFID Smart Rules, Overseas Security and Justice Assistance guidance, Aid Transparency Index indicators, Consolidated Budgeting Guidelines, Government Reporting Manual and The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development / Development Assistance Committee directives.
Asked by: Jacob Rees-Mogg (Conservative - North East Somerset)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's preparations for the UK leaving the EU with (a) an agreement on future partnership and (b) no agreement with the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Following the referendum in June 2016, the Department for International Trade (DIT) continues to make rigorous preparations for a range of possible outcomes from the UK's negotiations with the EU. This is the job of a responsible government.
This preparation includes consideration of possible alternatives to a negotiated agreement, to ensure continued prosperity for business, workers and consumers across the UK.
Asked by: Jacob Rees-Mogg (Conservative - North East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's preparations for the UK leaving the EU with (a) an agreement on future partnership and (b) no agreement with the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by George Eustice
The Prime Minister has been clear that we need to plan for every eventuality. Defra has put in place a major programme of work to prepare for the UK’s departure from the EU, planning for a number of scenarios, including no agreement. I keep the effectiveness of these preparations under continual review.
Asked by: Jacob Rees-Mogg (Conservative - North East Somerset)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's preparations for the UK leaving the EU with (a) an agreement on future partnership and (b) no agreement with the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by James Brokenshire
The role of the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is to ensure the smooth working of the political settlement in Northern Ireland. It represents Northern Ireland interests within the UK Government and represents the UK government interests and policy in Northern Ireland.
Accordingly, responsibility for relevant policies including border, customs and immigration is held by other Whitehall Government Departments and the Northern Ireland Executive rather than by NIO. My officials however are working with officials across government, in close coordination with the Department for Exiting the European Union, to ensure that appropriate preparations have been made and plans are in place for all scenarios.
The UK Government is determined to make a success of Exit for the whole of the UK, including Northern Ireland.