Became Member: 20th October 2000
Left House: 3rd April 2015 (Retired)
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
These initiatives were driven by Lord Ashcroft, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
Lord Ashcroft has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
Lord Ashcroft has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
The International Education Strategy recognised the huge contribution that overseas students make to the UK and all genuine overseas students are welcome to study in the UK.
The Government and the higher education sector are taking every opportunity to promote the UK’s offer and the warm welcome the UK extends to international students, including through using the ‘Britain is GREAT’ campaign. For example, the High Commission in Delhi began work last year (with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK Trade and Investment and the British Council) to promote UK education at outreach events, exhibitions and road shows in some of India’s biggest cities. The ‘Britain is GREAT’ campaign is also promoting UK education across a range of other countries.
A large number of EU treaties offer some level of protection to investors or investment. All of these are publically available and can be found on the EUR-lex database of law at http://eur-lex.europa.eu.
Fifty-four peers who were Members of the House of Lords at the time of the last General Election have not attended a sitting of the House since then. This figure includes six Members who hold disqualifying judicial offices, three Members who resigned under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 (one of whom has since died), two Members who have retired under the informal retirement scheme, twenty-two Members who have taken leave of absence, twenty Members who have died and one who has not yet taken the oath (having been disqualified until the end of June 2014). A list of their names has been placed in the Library of the House.
As the noble Lord will understand, we cannot comment on individual gallantry cases.
In line with long-established convention, the Government does not comment on the proceedings of Cabinet or its committees.
All military and civilian gallantry awards may be awarded posthumously; honours made in the Orders of Knighthood may not be awarded posthumously.
I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave on 16 June 2014, (Official Report) Column Ref WA126.
The universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) programme is a great success. Evidence collected from local authorities and multi-academy trusts in August 2014 suggested that 98.5% of schools would be providing hot meals from the start of the autumn term; and the Department for Education is not aware of any schools which are not offering free meals to all their infant pupils. Over 1.6 million infant pupils (85.2% of all infant pupils) took a free school meal on autumn census day in October 2014 – 1.3 million more than were estimated to have taken a free school meal in the January 2014 school census, prior to the introduction of UIFSM. We know from pilots run between 2009 and 2011 that the introduction of universal free school meals helps to improve social skills, increase attainment and encourage healthy choices, as well as saving hard-working families money.
Construction of the St Helena Airport is more than 60% complete. It is currently within budget and on target to open for commercial flights in early 2016.
The Offering Memorandum sent by the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Government for a bond issue guaranteed by DFID in 2011 is not a document owned by her Majesty’s Government. It would therefore not have been appropriate for DFID to place a copy of it in the Library of the House, although my previous answer did make clear that the Noble Lord could obtain a copy of the document by requesting it from the TCI Government.
Freedom of Information requests cover documents held by Her Majesty’s Government. DFID therefore sought the consent of the TCI Government before agreeing to release the TCI document.
The TCI Government issued US$170 million of bonds in 2011 under the terms of an Offering Memorandum. This was guaranteed by DFID. It would not be appropriate for her Majesty's Government to place a Turks and Caicos Islands Government document in the Library of the House. A copy might be requested, however, from the Turks and Caicos Islands Government.
The National Benefit Fraud Hotline is one of 10 service lines delivered by Capita on behalf of DWP as part of the Network Services Directorate Call Off. There are multiple performance requirements within the contract to assure DWP that Capita are delivering a quality value for money service, the key ones being that Capita answer 90% of customer calls offered to them, and that they maintain a quality score of 89% for these calls against key quality criteria. These requirements are consistent with those in in-house DWP contact centres.
Capita are consistently achieving both of the above metrics with calls answered scores as high as 98% and quality scores as high as 97% in recent weeks.
DWP regularly audit the Capita quality team and undertake activities to ensure that scoring is in alignment with that of DWP.
We remain concerned about relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia. We have called on both sides to engage in dialogue and to respect the commitment they made in the December 2000 Algiers peace agreement to refrain from using force against each other. We will continue to encourage both Eritrea and Ethiopia to engage bilaterally and internationally to resolve their differences, particularly on the ongoing border dispute. We hope progress can be made towards demarcation in accordance with the decision of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission.
The Government does not disclose the detail of operational cooperation with foreign partners
We remain concerned about the human rights situation in Eritrea, including shortcomings in the rule of law, reports of arbitrary detention, and limits on the freedom of speech. We have made clear to the Eritrean government that they should invite the Special Rapporteur to the country and engage constructively with the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea.
We have also asked Eritrea to clarify its plans to implement the recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, the importance of which the Eritrean Permanent Representative highlighted in his statement.
The United Kingdom provides bilateral assistance on tackling organised crime to a range of international partners in line with the UK’s Serious and Organised Crime Strategy. It does so to tackle international organised crime and minimise the threat it poses to the UK. In order to maintain operational security the UK does not disclose the detail of such operational cooperation.
I can confirm that the answer given by the former Senior Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my noble Friend, the right hon. Baroness Warsi on 17 June 2014 still stands.
We welcome the statement by the International Democrat Union (IDU) on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The UN General Assembly’s Third Committee has sent an important signal that systematic and widespread human rights violations will no longer be ignored by the international community. We join the IDU in urging all members of the UN to vote for the final adoption of this resolution, which strikes an appropriate balance between pursuing accountability for human rights violations and encouraging the DPRK to address international concerns through engagement and concrete actions.
The Government is not aware of a statement by the International Democrat Union on Trade issued on 24 November.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is aware of the statement adopted by the International Democrat Union on 21 November 2014, concerning the imprisonment of former Slovenia Prime Minister Janez Janša. Our Embassy in Ljubljana understands that Mr Janša is continuing to appeal the conviction that lead to his imprisonment on 20 June, and will continue to monitor the ongoing judicial proceedings of this case.
I refer the noble Lord to my response of 26 September, Official Report, Column WA427.
The United States is our most important bilateral ally and we have regular discussions on a range of sensitive issues. It is our longstanding position not to comment on discussions of that nature.
The accession process of countries from the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the European Union does not involve steps specifically aimed at ensuring that British citizens are compensated for any deprivation of property during the Tito era. However the criteria for EU accession for candidate countries do include a requirement to implement measures to ensure that the rule of law is firmly embedded within the judicial and political system. This includes respect for private property, and we note that the European Commission has highlighted specifically the need for progress on restitution of property in its most recent annual enlargement Progress Reports on the Western Balkans countries published on 8 October. Furthermore, all Western Balkan countries have ratified the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms, the First Protocol of which enshrines the principle of respect for private property.
Some Western Balkans countries have, in recent years, made progress on the restitution of private property. Serbia invited applications for restitution and received 75,000 of them. Montenegro and Albania have been slower to implement their legislation on restitution, as highlighted in successive annual country Progress Reports by the European Commission. In 2012, the Commission recognised progress regarding restitution of property in Macedonia seized under the former Yugoslav Communist regime, despite administrative and judicial delays. In May, Albania (which was not part of the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) submitted an action plan to the Council of Europe, aiming to create, by June 2015, an effective mechanism to enforce decisions on restitution of, or compensation for, property nationalised during the Communist regime. The Kosovo Property Claims Commission and Kosovo Property Agency continue to resolve outstanding private property disputes resulting from the 1998-99 armed conflict. Over 40,000 claims have been decided. Bosnia and Herzegovina has made no progress on restitution of private property in the last four years. Despite earlier attempts to enact a legal framework, there is none in place.
The UK has extended a number of Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (IPPA) to the Overseas Territories when the Territories have provided a case for doing so and the other country agreed. These are the IPPAs currently in force that have been extended to Overseas Territories:
UK-Antigua & Barbuda IPPA (Gibraltar)
UK-Belize IPPA (Cayman Islands, Turks & Caicos Islands)
UK-Dominica IPPA (Gibraltar)
UK-Grenada IPPA (Bermuda, Gibraltar, Turks & Caicos Islands)
UK-Guyana IPPA (Bermuda, Gibraltar, Turks & Caicos Islands)
UK-Hungary IPPA (Bermuda, Gibraltar, Turks & Caicos Islands)
UK-Indonesia IPPA (Bermuda)
UK-Korea Republic IPPA (Turks & Caicos Islands)
UK-Mauritius IPPA (Gibraltar)
UK-Panama IPPA (Cayman Islands)
UK- Philippines IPPA (Turks & Caicos Islands)
UK-Singapore IPPA (Turks & Caicos Islands)
UK-St Lucia IPPA (Cayman Islands, Turks & Caicos Islands)
UK-Thailand IPPA (Turks & Caicos Islands)
UK-Tunisia IPPA (Bermuda, Gibraltar, Turks & Caicos Islands)
Records of all treaties involving the United Kingdom concluded between 1834 and 31 March 2014 can currently be found through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)’s UK Treaties Online service at: http://treaties.fco.gov.uk/treaties/treaty.htm
Details of treaties involving the United Kingdom since March 2014 can be found on the FCO Treaty Section’s pages on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/uk-treaties
The US Government has assured us that there have been no cases of rendition through the UK, our Overseas Territories including Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory), or the Crown Dependencies, apart from the two cases in 2002, about which the then Foreign Secretary informed the House in 2008.
In 2013, the Government of Pitcairn and Her Majesty's Government commissioned two independent pieces of analysis – into the appetite amongst the Pitcairn diaspora for return to the island, and on the broader economic potential of the island. Both reports recognised that unless the population of the island increases, it will be a challenge to maintain the longer-term viability of the community.
The United States is our most important bilateral ally and we have regular discussions on a range of sensitive issues. It is our longstanding position not to comment on discussions of that nature. With regard to Mr Belhaj allegedly stopping over in Diego Garcia, I refer the noble Lord to the response given by my noble friend, the former Senior Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Baroness Warsi), on 17 June 2014, Official Report, Column WA36, that, aside from the two cases of rendition through Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory) in 2002, there have been no other instances in which US intelligence flights landed in the UK, our Overseas Territories, or the Crown Dependencies, with a detainee on board since 11 September 2001.
Since 2000, in accordance with provisions of the 1966 Exchange of Notes, some members of the US Military at Diego Garcia have been confined in accordance with the United States Uniform Code of Military Justice.
The UK and Turks and Caicos Islands governments have agreed a framework for management of public finances that includes principles of good financial management as well as the debt ceilings. Key requirements are that net debt is less than 110 per cent of revenue by the end of the financial year 2015/16 and less than 80 per cent of revenue by the end of the financial year 2018/19, and that debt service is less than 10 per cent of annual operating revenue and liquid assets at least 25 per cent of annual operating revenue.
The Turks and Caicos Islands government has run a surplus for the last two years and continues to be on track to meet the provisions of the agreed framework document. In accordance with the Turks and Caicos Islands legislation, surpluses are paid into a Sinking Fund. The Sinking Fund may only be used for the purposes of paying down debt. However, how the debt is repaid is ultimately a delegated matter for the Turks and Caicos Islands government.
As I said in my answer of 17 June, aside from the two cases of rendition through Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory) in 2002, there have been no other instances in which US intelligence flights have landed in the UK, our Overseas Territories, or the Crown Dependencies, with a detainee on board since 11 September 2001. Though my answer of 2 July referred to this previous answer, it did not specifically repeat the reference to the two cases in 2002, and I want to clarify that for my noble friend.
The Turks and Caicos Islands and other British Overseas Territories are small, open and dynamic economies that offer opportunities for investment and trade. UK Ministers and Territory leaders have agreed, through the Joint Ministerial Council last year, an ambitious practical agenda to support our shared vision for the Territories as vibrant and flourishing communities, proudly retaining aspects of British identity and generating opportunities for their people. This agenda includes working together to promote trade and investment opportunities in the Territories, to deliver on the G8 tax and transparency agenda, and to maintain high standards of governance and rule of law. The EU has recently agreed improved market access for Territory services and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) have opened their overseas market introduction service to Territory companies.
The Government is committed to continuing to build a strong partnership with the Turks and Caicos Islands government to help them develop their economy. Since 2008, the UK has supported far reaching reform, including strengthening of economic governance and the management of public finances, and provided a loan guarantee worth up to $260 million. Further, the UK agreed to proposals for the redevelopment of passenger facilities at Providenciales International Airport. The redevelopment should increase its capacity and improve the customer experience. It is expected to be completed later this year.
The Government is continuing to support reform in the Turks and Caicos Islands, including through a Technical Assistance programme supporting capacity building work across a number of Ministries (budget of £1.5 million in financial year 2014-15).
There are no proposals for the UK to give debt relief to the Turks and Caicos Islands, a British Overseas Territory.
The Turks and Caicos Islands are not in receipt of a loan from the British Government. In 2011, the UK provided a loan guarantee worth up to $260 million in response to the Territory’s governance and economic crisis. The British Government expects the Turks and Caicos Islands government to finance its borrowing independently and on an affordable and sustainable basis from the end of 2015/16 without a UK guarantee.
The Government of St Lucia has requested UK Police assistance with the investigation into the death of Oliver Gobat. In order to consider this request the British Government will require assurances that any person convicted of the alleged crime will not be sentenced to death and we are discussing this with the St Lucians. The Government opposes the use of the death penalty in all circumstances.
I refer my noble friend to my previous response in which I said that no US intelligence flights with a detainee on board have landed in the UK, our overseas territories, or the Crown Dependencies since 11 September 2001.
Aside from the two cases of rendition through Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory) in 2002, there have been no other instances in which US intelligence flights landed in the UK, our overseas Territories, or the Crown Dependencies, with a detainee on board since 11 September 2001.
We are not aware of any reports that suggest that the Liberation and Justice Movement in Sudan has been involved in the conflict in South Sudan.
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) distinguish between tax avoidance and tax planning. Tax avoidance is bending the rules of the tax system to gain a tax advantage that Parliament never intended. It often involves contrived, artificial transactions that serve little or no purpose other than to produce a tax advantage. It involves operating within the letter – but not the spirit – of the law. Tax avoidance is not the same as tax planning. Tax planning involves using tax reliefs for the purpose for which they were intended. For example, claiming tax relief on capital investment, saving in a tax-exempt ISA or saving for retirement by making contributions to a pension scheme are all legitimate forms of tax planning. While such actions may reduce the total amount of tax paid, they are not tax avoidance, because they involve using tax reliefs in the way that Parliament intended when it passed the relevant legislation.
In line with the Own Resources system – which underpins Member State contributions to the EU budget – adjustments are made to Member State contributions towards the end of each year, as a result of statistical revisions to factors underlying the contributions.
As the Prime Minister said in his statement following the October European Council last year, in some years the UK adjustment has been negative and in some years we contribute a little bit more. This happens every year. However, what has never happened is for €2 billion to be demanded.
The Prime Minister also made clear that it was an unacceptable way for the Commission to suddenly present a bill like this for such a vast sum of money and with so little time to pay it.
Commission Vice-President Georgieva confirmed that there was no way that Member States could have known the net figure until 17 October 2014.
Following intensive discussions with the Commission and at the November ECOFIN meeting, the Government halved the bill for the UK, delayed the bill, will pay no interest on the bill, and has changed the rules of the European Union so that such unacceptable behavior never happens again.
Statistics on Stamp Duty Land Tax receipts by consideration band can be found in Table 3.1 of the ‘UK Stamp Tax Statistics 2013-14’ publication. The following table provides data, from that publication, for the estimated yield attributable to residential property within the £1 million to £2 million and above £2 million consideration bands for 2012-2013 and 2013-2014:
£1,000,001-£2,000,000 | Above £2,000,000 | ||
Non-corporate bodies | Corporate bodies | ||
2012-2013 | 585 | 800 | 70 |
2013-2014 | 805 | 1,010 | 70 |
Amounts: £ million. Figures may not sum due to rounding conventions
The European Commission are responsible for calculating Member State contributions to the EU Budget using data provided by Eurostat, who collate and validate the data from Member States’ national statistical institutions, including for the UK the Office for National Statistics.
The Prime Minister has been clear that it was completely unacceptable for the European Commission to demand a payment upfront on such a large scale and provide a month in which to pay it.
European Finance Ministers met on the 7 November, and the Chancellor secured an agreement which meant the UK paid nothing on 1 December. Instead the payment will be made in instalments next year, and no fines or interest will be applied. The UK will also not pay £1.7 billion. The British rebate will apply in full, and apply simultaneously with the payment, not a year in arrears as normal. This means the Government has halved the bill, to around £850 million.
Lastly, the UK won agreement to change the regulations to ensure this never happens again. In the future, if any country receives an adjustment demand that is excessive, it will have the same opportunity to phase payments so that they are more affordable.
The Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) forecast of March 2014, estimates the UK’s net contribution to the EU Budget for 2014-15 as £9.1 billion.
Full information can be found in Table 2.21 of the OBR’s “economic and fiscal outlook supplementary fiscal table”[1].
[1] http://budgetresponsibility.org.uk/economic-fiscal-outlook-march-2014/.
There were 7,022 Visa applications made in Nepal and processed in New Delhi between Jan - Sep 2014. Of these, 5,251 were approved.
All visa applications are considered under the Immigration Rules. As the Immigration Rules do not state that there needs to be a demand for specific graduates in the students’ home country, the degree subject is not a consideration for the Entry Clearance Officer.
Any student application refused under PBS Tier 4 of the Immigration Rules can be subject to an Administrative Review (AR). The AR is conducted by an official at a more senior grade than the original decision maker.