Asked by: Mark Williams (Liberal Democrat - Ceredigion)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure the continuation of legal aid in the form of duty solicitor provision in Ceredigion.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
Details of the steps we are taking in Ceredigion can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/legal-aid-crime-tender-2015 (3 procurement areas update: 28 July 2015)
Asked by: Mark Williams (Liberal Democrat - Ceredigion)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he next plans to publish an updated National Infrastructure Plan.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The date for publication of the National Infrastructure Plan will be confirmed in due course.
Asked by: Mark Williams (Liberal Democrat - Ceredigion)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether windfarms that were subject to appeal or judicial review at the time of her announcement on ending the onshore wind subsidy on 18 June 2015 will qualify for that subsidy.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Following my rt hon Friend's the Secretary of State’s Written Ministerial Statement and Oral Statement to Parliament on 18 (HCWS40) and 22 June (Column 617) 2015 respectively, DECC is engaging with the onshore wind industry and other stakeholders to hear their views on our proposed grace period criteria as we frame the terms of the legislation. The precise grace period eligibility requirements will be determined through the legislative process and are subject to approval by Parliament. It will be for the developer of each individual project to determine in due course whether they meet those eligibility requirements and to apply for the grace period.
Asked by: Mark Williams (Liberal Democrat - Ceredigion)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the cost was to local authorities in England of (a) collecting and (b) disposing of road sweepings in the latest period for which figures are available.
Answered by Marcus Jones - Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
Data on the expenditure by local authorities on Street cleansing (not chargeable to Highways) is published online in the Revenue Outturn Cultural, Environmental, Regulatory and Planning Services (RO5), which is available at the following link:
http://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing
Asked by: Mark Williams (Liberal Democrat - Ceredigion)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information his Department holds on how many (a) Saharawi people and (b) Moroccan settlers live in the part of Western Sahara under Moroccan control.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The population of Western Sahara is approximately 540,000 (UN, 2012). We are not aware of any accurate data on the composition of the population.
Asked by: Mark Williams (Liberal Democrat - Ceredigion)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether he has received an invitation to the Crans Montana forum in Dakhla, occupied Western Sahara; and whether he plans to send a representative to that forum.
Answered by Matt Hancock
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has received and declined an invitation to this forum and my Department does not plan to send a representative. We are aware of reports that the African Union has called for the forum to be cancelled but we do not intend to make any assessment.
Asked by: Mark Williams (Liberal Democrat - Ceredigion)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has received an invitation to the Crans Montana Forum in Dakhla, occupied Western Sahara; whether he plans to send a representative to that forum; and what reports he has received on the African Union's call for that forum to be cancelled.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
I have not received an invitation to this forum and I do not plan to send a representative. I am aware of reports that the African Union has called for the forum to be cancelled.
Asked by: Mark Williams (Liberal Democrat - Ceredigion)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the declaration by the African Union that the Crans Montana Forum in Dakhla, occupied Western Sahara, should be cancelled.
Answered by Matt Hancock
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has received and declined an invitation to this forum and my Department does not plan to send a representative. We are aware of reports that the African Union has called for the forum to be cancelled but we do not intend to make any assessment.
Asked by: Mark Williams (Liberal Democrat - Ceredigion)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the declaration by the African Union that the Crans Montana Forum in Dakhla, occupied Western Sahara, should be cancelled.
Answered by Dan Rogerson
Having received no invitation, no assessment has been made.
Asked by: Mark Williams (Liberal Democrat - Ceredigion)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has received an invitation to the Crans Montana Forum in Dakhla, occupied Western Sahara; and whether she plans to send a representative to that forum.
Answered by Dan Rogerson
An invitation to the Forum in Dakhla has not been received.