Asked by: Alan Mak (Conservative - Havant)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the strength of diplomatic and economic relations between China and the UK.
Answered by Lord Swire
Our relationship with China is strong and prosperous. We are building on the global partnership established during last year’s Chinese State Visit, by cooperating on international challenges and boosting trade and investment. We also have frank discussions on difficult issues including steel over-capacity, human rights and the South China Sea.
Asked by: Alan Mak (Conservative - Havant)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to increase the personal allowance during this Parliament.
Answered by David Gauke
The Government is committed to raising the income tax personal allowance from £10,600 to £12,500 by the end of this parliament. This is alongside our commitment to raise the higher rate threshold to £50,000. Over 30 million individuals will benefit from these changes.
Summer Budget 2015 confirmed that the personal allowance will increase to £11,000 in 2016-17, and £11,200 in 2017-18.
Asked by: Alan Mak (Conservative - Havant)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, On how many occasions the Law Officers have referred a criminal sentence to the Court of Appeal for review because it was felt to be unduly lenient in the last 12 months.
Answered by Robert Buckland
In the year to 31st December 2014, the Law Officers personally considered 469 cases and referred 128 offenders to the Court of Appeal under the unduly lenient sentence scheme. Leave was granted by the Court in 95% of cases which included some of the most serious violent and sexual offences, including murder, rape and sexual assault.
Asked by: Alan Mak (Conservative - Havant)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress he has made on his plans for a British Bill of Rights; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Dominic Raab
The Government was elected with a mandate to reform and modernise the UK human rights framework. The UK has a proud tradition of respect for human rights which long pre-dates the 1998 Human Rights Act. But the 1998 Act opened the system to abuse, which has damaged the credibility of human rights.
We will bring forward proposals for a British Bill of Rights, which will replace the Human Rights Act. Our Bill will protect fundamental human rights, but also prevent their abuse and restore common sense to the system.
The Queen’s Speech included a clear commitment to bring forward proposals for a Bill of Rights in this parliamentary session. We will then legislate after full consultation.