Asked by: Joan Walley (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on human rights in Western Sahara.
Answered by Hugh Robertson
Her Majesty's Government has regular discussions with their US counterparts, including on Western Sahara. We support UN efforts to find a negotiated settlement.
Asked by: Joan Walley (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many vehicles have been seized by police officers as a result of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency classification database errors since July 2013.
Answered by Damian Green
The Home Office does not hold this information. The police have the power under the Road Traffic Act 1988 to seize vehicles driven without licence or insurance. Enforcement of vehicle seizures is an operational matter for the police.
Asked by: Joan Walley (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vehicles have been crushed as a result of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency database errors since July 2013.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) does not hold the information requested.
If the DVLA is made aware of any enforcement action taken as a result of an error, officials consider compensating for any losses incurred. Each case is considered individually.
Asked by: Joan Walley (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many seized vehicles have been released by police officers as a result of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency correction of database errors since July 2013.
Answered by Damian Green
The Home Office does not hold this information. The police have the power under the Road Traffic Act 1988 to seize vehicles driven without licence or insurance. Enforcement of vehicle seizures is an operational matter for the police.
Asked by: Joan Walley (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will request the Driving Standards Agency and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to waive charges arising from car seizures as a result of database classification errors.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency does not seize and impound cars.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) adopts a compliance and enforcement approach to ensuring vehicle excise duty is paid. This includes reminder letters and late licensing penalties as well as court prosecutions and the wheelclamping and/or removal of unlicensed vehicles.
If the DVLA is made aware of any action taken as a result of an error, officials will consider refunding any charges incurred. Each case is considered individually.
Asked by: Joan Walley (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he next plans to meet representatives of organisations that have made representations on the environmental effects of the shale gas industry.
Answered by Dan Rogerson
The Secretary of State has no such planned engagements at present but always welcomes meeting a broad range of organisations to understand their needs and concerns. The UK Government is committed to the development of the shale gas industry in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.
Asked by: Joan Walley (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to meet representatives of Cuadrilla and other members of the shale gas industry.
Answered by Dan Rogerson
The Secretary of State has no such planned engagements at present but always welcomes meeting a broad range of organisations to understand their needs and concerns. The UK Government is committed to the development of the shale gas industry in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.
Asked by: Joan Walley (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will establish shale gas extraction exclusion zones in sensitive areas for wildlife and water resources.
Answered by Dan Rogerson
Each application for shale gas exploration and extraction will be assessed on its merits and operators will require planning permission from the local minerals planning authority. The Environment Agency will object to shale gas extraction infrastructure or activity within a Source Protection Zone (SPZ) 1 (i.e. drinking water protected zone). Outside SPZ1, the Agency will also object when the activity would have an unacceptable effect on groundwater based on a site specific assessment.
In England, an environmental impact assessment is required if a particular development is located wholly or partly in a ‘sensitive area'.
Planning authorities assess each application on a case by case basis. There is a general presumption against approving a permit in such areas.