Asked by: Robert Courts (Conservative - Witney)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding has been allocated to each of the schemes available to farmers in England under the Agricultural Transition Plan for Financial Years (a) 2021-22 and (b) 2022-23.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We will not have fixed allocations (or 'pillars', as they were known whilst we were in the EU) of money ring-fenced to different schemes. Instead, we will learn as we go and find the best ways to manage the overall budget to respond to demand in a way that helps us achieve our intended outcomes. This means we will keep the allocation of funding between different schemes under review over time.
Asked by: Robert Courts (Conservative - Witney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of Iran’s ballistic missile programme.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Iran's ballistic missile programme destabilises the region and threatens European security. UN Security Council Resolution 2231 (UNSCR 2231) calls on Iran not to undertake activities related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering a nuclear-weapon, including launches using such technology. Alongside France and Germany, we have written regularly to the UN Secretary-General, including on 23 November, to draw attention to Iranian missile-activity inconsistent with UNSCR 2231. We have also urged Iran to refrain from such activity in UN Security Council meetings, including on 19 December. We urge Iran to fully abide by UNSCR 2231 and all other relevant resolutions.
Asked by: Robert Courts (Conservative - Witney)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of the report of the Independent Investigation into East Kent Maternity Services, published on 19 October 2022; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
A written statement to the House of Commons and the House of Lords was made on 19 October 2022 regarding the publication of the report of the independent investigation into maternity and neonatal services in East Kent Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Dr Caroline Johnson MP, also made an oral statement to the House on 20 October 2022.
The Department has established an independent working group, chaired by the Royal College of Midwifery and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, which will help guide the maternity transformation programme to take forward the next steps from the reports into maternity services at East Kent and Shrewsbury and Telford.
Together with the NHS, the Department will consider actions from both reports to form a coherent national delivery plan for maternity services.
Asked by: Robert Courts (Conservative - Witney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Chinese Government on (a) the treatment of dogs and (b) general hygiene practices during that country's Yulin Dog Meat Festival which is taking place from 21 to 30 June 2020.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The UK Government is committed to raising standards of animal welfare at home and abroad. The sale and consumption of dog meat is legal in many countries, including China, and there are no international norms, laws or agreements governing this. We believe that it is necessary to work with Governments around the world to gain agreement on animal welfare standards, and to phase out cruel and inhumane practices. There is no suggestion that the event will break any local or international laws. We have previously raised our concerns on specific animal welfare issues with the Chinese authorities and will continue to do so.
Asked by: Robert Courts (Conservative - Witney)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his timescale is for announcing the (a) Chair and (b) terms of reference of the proposed Royal Commission on Criminal Justice announced in the Queen's Speech of December 2019.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Royal Commission is an important opportunity to address some of the key issues affecting the criminal justice system.
As we emerge from this unprecedented pandemic, we are carefully addressing the scope, terms of reference and membership of the Commission. In doing so we intend to embrace the lessons we can learn from the present crisis with Covid-19 to help make the system more resilient.
As this work develops, further announcements will be made in due course.
Asked by: Robert Courts (Conservative - Witney)
Question to the HM Treasury:
What fiscal steps he is taking to improve broadband connections in rural communities.
Answered by Rishi Sunak - Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union
We want to deliver gigabit-capable broadband across the country as soon as possible.
We have already committed over £1 billion to support the rollout of next-generation digital infrastructure, and, at Conference, the Chancellor announced an ambition to invest £5bn to support gigabit broadband rollout in the hardest to reach areas.
We will set out further details of our approach in our National Infrastructure Strategy later this year.
Asked by: Robert Courts (Conservative - Witney)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Safety Authority report into the loss of a C130J Hercules in Iraq in August 2017, published May 2019, which stated that the resourced position of 20 crews will be insufficient to deliver a sustainable force beyond 2019, what additional (a) financial and (b) personnel resources have been allocated to the C130J force to ensure its sustainability.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The increased resource position provided by the most recent planning round meets Defence requirements. Decisions on the number of resourced crews beyond that date have not been finalised and will be undertaken as part of normal budgetary cycles. This process considers and prioritises safety above all other enhancements.
Asked by: Robert Courts (Conservative - Witney)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the (a) capabilities and (b) strength of the armed forces.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The Ministry of Defence launched the Modernising Defence Programme in January last year which looked across the spectrum at our current and planned capabilities, right through to our business practices.
It is an ambitious programme, but we are confident that Defence is making the right capability investments and policy approaches to ensure we remain one of the strongest Defence players in Europe.
Asked by: Robert Courts (Conservative - Witney)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's disposal of surplus aircraft by sale or gifting since January 2013, what the (a) average price paid by the buyer, (b) total cost of commissions paid to third-party agencies and (c) total revenue returned to the public purse was for each type of those surplus aircraft so disposed.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Information on aircraft sales and gifting from December 2016 to December 2018 is provided in the tables below. Further information outside of these dates could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Additionally, I am also withholding information on prices, costs and revenues, as disclosure would prejudice commercial interests as well as relations between the United Kingdom and other states.
Aircraft Sales: December 2016 – December 2018
Aircraft Type | Tail Number |
Jet Provost T5A | XW418 |
Harrier GR3 | XZ994 |
Wessex | XS520/ XP137 |
Meteor | WH132 |
Wessex HC Mk2 | XR528 |
Hawk TMk1 | XX292/ XX226/ XX290/ XX175 |
Hunter T.8C | WV396 |
Jet Provost T5A | XW420 |
Bulldog | XX665 |
Tornado GR4 | ZA549 |
Meteor F. Mk. 8 | VZ568/7261M |
Puma HC Mk1 | XW208 |
Chinook HC Mk1 | ZA717 |
Typhoon T3 | ZJ800 |
Hercules C1/C3 | XV200/ XV177 |
Lynx HMA Mk8 | ZD566/ XZ722 |
Lynx AH Mk9A | ZG884/ ZG886/ ZG916 |
Wessex HU Mk5 | XT771/ XT761 |
Sea King Mk4 | ZF116 |
Lynx AH Mk9A | ZF539/ ZG887/ ZG888/ ZG914 |
Harrier T8 | ZD990 |
Sea Harrier FA2 | ZH807 |
The aircraft sales were made through a contractor under the marketing agreement held with the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The MOD does not hold details of contractor marketing routes.
Government to Government Aircraft Sales: December 2016 – December 2018
Aircraft Type | Tail Number |
Sea King Helicopters | ZH544/ ZH545/ ZA295/ ZA296/ ZA299/ ZF117/ ZG821 |
Hercules Mk5 | XH880/ XH886/ XH881/ XH884 |
Aircraft Gifting Cases: December 2016 – December 2018
Aircraft Type | Tail Number |
Sea King HAR Mk3 | XZ593 |
Lynx AH Mk7 | ZD280 |
Hawk TMk1 | XX308 |
Jaguar GR1 | XX824 |
Wessex HC Mk2 | XR529 |
Asked by: Robert Courts (Conservative - Witney)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's disposal of surplus aircraft by sale or gifting since January 2013, which of those surplus aircraft so disposed were advertised as being for sale by competitive bid; and whether those surplus aircraft so advertised were procured by a preferred purchaser.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Information on aircraft sales and gifting from December 2016 to December 2018 is provided in the tables below. Further information outside of these dates could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Additionally, I am also withholding information on prices, costs and revenues, as disclosure would prejudice commercial interests as well as relations between the United Kingdom and other states.
Aircraft Sales: December 2016 – December 2018
Aircraft Type | Tail Number |
Jet Provost T5A | XW418 |
Harrier GR3 | XZ994 |
Wessex | XS520/ XP137 |
Meteor | WH132 |
Wessex HC Mk2 | XR528 |
Hawk TMk1 | XX292/ XX226/ XX290/ XX175 |
Hunter T.8C | WV396 |
Jet Provost T5A | XW420 |
Bulldog | XX665 |
Tornado GR4 | ZA549 |
Meteor F. Mk. 8 | VZ568/7261M |
Puma HC Mk1 | XW208 |
Chinook HC Mk1 | ZA717 |
Typhoon T3 | ZJ800 |
Hercules C1/C3 | XV200/ XV177 |
Lynx HMA Mk8 | ZD566/ XZ722 |
Lynx AH Mk9A | ZG884/ ZG886/ ZG916 |
Wessex HU Mk5 | XT771/ XT761 |
Sea King Mk4 | ZF116 |
Lynx AH Mk9A | ZF539/ ZG887/ ZG888/ ZG914 |
Harrier T8 | ZD990 |
Sea Harrier FA2 | ZH807 |
The aircraft sales were made through a contractor under the marketing agreement held with the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The MOD does not hold details of contractor marketing routes.
Government to Government Aircraft Sales: December 2016 – December 2018
Aircraft Type | Tail Number |
Sea King Helicopters | ZH544/ ZH545/ ZA295/ ZA296/ ZA299/ ZF117/ ZG821 |
Hercules Mk5 | XH880/ XH886/ XH881/ XH884 |
Aircraft Gifting Cases: December 2016 – December 2018
Aircraft Type | Tail Number |
Sea King HAR Mk3 | XZ593 |
Lynx AH Mk7 | ZD280 |
Hawk TMk1 | XX308 |
Jaguar GR1 | XX824 |
Wessex HC Mk2 | XR529 |