Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Restoration and Renewal Client Board, what the Client Board's planned timetable is for proposals on restoration and renewal to be considered by hon. Members.
Answered by Charles Walker
The R&R Client Board last month published the strategic case for the R&R Programme. This set out that three options for how to deliver the R&R works to the Palace will be developed in detail over the next year. This detailed work, which will include robust cost, timescale and risk estimates for all three options, is expected to be presented to the Houses in 2025 to enable an evidence-based decision on how best to restore the Palace.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the terror attack in the southern West Bank on 19 March 2024.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
This terror attack serves as a reminder of the daily security challenges Israel faces. There can be no justification for such acts of violence. Every Israeli and Palestinian has the right to live in peace and security. As we have stated previously, for there to be a lasting peace, Israel's security must be assured. We continue to monitor the situation closely, and we continue to have regular discussions with Israeli counterparts on all aspects of the conflict.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to encourage international events organisers to hold events in the UK.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The UK has a strong track record of hosting international events.
From the Women’s Euros to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, these events bring economic and social benefits across the country, and allow us to showcase the UK to the world. My department works with organisations including VisitBritain and UKSport to encourage international event organisers to hold events in the UK.
UKSport recently published its new major event hosting target list for the coming decade, and we will continue to work closely with UKSport and national governing bodies to ensure we develop a strong pipeline of future hosting opportunities that drive significant economic and social benefits for communities across the UK.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of reports of activity by Iran-backed terrorist groups in the West Bank.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Iran poses an unacceptable threat to Israel, including through its long-term support for proscribed groups such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas operating in Gaza and the West Bank. This . Iran must bear responsibility for the actions of its proxies and partners.
We introduced a new sanctions regime designed to target Iran and its proxies and partners' hostile and destabilising activity last December. We immediately used these new powers to designate individuals and an entity responsible for Iran's support to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
The Foreign Secretary condemned in the strongest terms Iran's attack on Israel in a call with the Iranian Foreign Minister on 14 April, and made clear that Iran must stop these attacks and de-escalate.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make it his policy to change the travel advisory guidance on Israel so that areas not directly affected by the Gaza conflict are no longer classified as essential travel only.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Travel advice is constantly under review and regularly updated. How the FCDO determines travel advice can be found at the dedicated gov.uk site:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/about-foreign-commonwealth-development-office-travel-advice#how-we-compile-travel-advice
Specific advice for travelling to Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories can be found at the dedicated Gov.uk site: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/israel
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to reduce inflation.
Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Responsible decisions to support the Bank mean the UK has now turned a corner on inflation, but the government remains committed to ensuring inflation returns sustainably to its 2% target. There are four key things the government is doing to further reduce inflation whilst supporting growth:
The OBR has concluded that measures in the Spring Budget – primarily freezes to fuel and alcohol duty – will reduce CPI inflation by 0.2% in 2024-25.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make representations to his Sri Lankan counterpart on water pollution around the Channakan power plant in the north of Sri Lanka.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are aware of the challenges Sri Lanka faces around water management and quality, particularly by communities in the Northern Province. The British High Commission Colombo regularly meets a range of stakeholders in the Northern Province to hear their experiences and issues. A number of public bodies in Sri Lanka, including the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, have conducted tests into the water quality, after concerns were raised by local communities. The UK Government supports the International Water Management Institute, an international water management research organisation, to provide solutions to increasing water scarcity in Puttalam and Kilinochchi.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make it her policy to publish league tables on the performance of activities of local trading standards bodies.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Trading Standards provide a range of services that fall under the remit of a number of Departments. However, Trading Standards services are delivered by Local Authorities, who are responsible for their operation and effectiveness. As Local Government is independent of Central Government, the Department for Business does not therefore have a remit to assess the performance of Trading Standards and would not therefore produce or publish league tables of such bodies.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make it her policy to assess the performance of local authority trading standards bodies.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Trading Standards provide a range of services that fall under the remit of a number of Departments. However, Trading Standards services are delivered by Local Authorities, who are responsible for their operation and effectiveness. As Local Government is independent of Central Government, the Department for Business does not therefore have a remit to assess the performance of Trading Standards and would not therefore produce or publish league tables of such bodies.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of Barnet trading standards.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Trading Standards provide a range of services that fall under the remit of a number of Departments. However, Trading Standards services are delivered by Local Authorities, who are responsible for their operation and effectiveness. As Local Government is independent of Central Government, the Department for Business does not therefore have a remit to assess the performance of Trading Standards and would not therefore produce or publish league tables of such bodies.