Asked by: Philip Hollobone (Conservative - Kettering)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to restore the full value of the UK's rebate from the EU as part of the process of renegotiating the UK's membership.
Answered by David Lidington
The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), has been clear about the four objectives at the heart of our renegotiations: economic governance, competitiveness, sovereignty and migration/welfare. These were explained in the Prime Minister’s letter of 10 November to President Tusk and, as the Prime Minister explained in his statement on 5 January, were discussed in detail during the December European Council meeting.
The financing system for the EU budget, which determines the UK’s contributions to the EU from 2014 to 2020, including the rebate, was agreed in 2013 when the Government secured an historic real-terms cut to expenditure and protected the rebate. Parliament ratified that deal last year.
Asked by: Philip Hollobone (Conservative - Kettering)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many illegal incursions there have been into Gibraltarian waters from Spain by (a) official Spanish vessels and (b) civilian and other vessels in 2015 to date.
Answered by David Lidington
Between 1 January and 8 July, there were 234 unlawful incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW) by Spanish State vessels. Unlawful incursions are violations of international law by foreign State vessels. The Government does not record the numbers of non-State vessels entering BGTW. They would not, in any event, constitute unlawful incursions.
Asked by: Philip Hollobone (Conservative - Kettering)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the proposal by Iran under a nuclear deal for a 24-day notification period for access to nuclear facilities in that country by International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
A comprehensive nuclear deal with Iran that addresses our proliferation concerns will need to be fully verifiable by the International Atomic Energy Agency. This must include robust monitoring of Iran’s nuclear activities, and Iran’s implementation of it's Additional Protocol, in order to reassure the international community that Iran’s nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful.
Asked by: Philip Hollobone (Conservative - Kettering)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the threat to the security of Israel from the cross-border tunnel system and the rocket arsenal Hezbollah has developed in southern Lebanon.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We are concerned by continuing reports that Hizballah maintains a cross-border tunnel system in Southern Lebanon and significant stockpiles of missiles which could threaten Israel. These weapons are in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which mandates that “there will be no weapons or authority in Lebanon other than that of the Lebanese state”. Following fighting which took place between Hizballah and the Israel Defence Forces in January, we have continued to urge all parties to cooperate with UN Interim Force in Lebanon in order to maintain calm along the border and to refrain from further provocative acts. We continue to monitor the situation closely.
Asked by: Philip Hollobone (Conservative - Kettering)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the extent to which Hamas is attempting to rebuild its terrorist infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We hold regular discussions with Palestinian, Israeli and international contacts on the issue of Hamas’ capability. We have assessed that Hamas are seeking to rebuild infrastructure, including the tunnel network, in Gaza.
Asked by: Philip Hollobone (Conservative - Kettering)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy in the P5+1 talks is on Iran's capability to build a nuclear weapon.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The UK is committed to ensuring that Iran does not develop a nuclear weapons capability. A comprehensive agreement between the E3+3 [P5+1] and Iran is the best way to ensure the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme.
Asked by: Philip Hollobone (Conservative - Kettering)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the approach of the new Palestinian government to the peace process with Israel.
Answered by Hugh Robertson
President Abbas was clear that new interim technocratic government will uphold a commitment to the principle of non-violence, a negotiated two state solution, and an acceptance of all previous agreements and obligations, including Israel's legitimate right to exist. Reuniting Gaza and the West Bank under a government committed to these principles is a necessary condition for resolving the Israel-Palestinian conflict. We now look to the new government to demonstrate these commitments through its actions as well as its words.