Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with Ofcom on enforcement of the Broadcasting Code.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Ofcom on a range of issues.
As the UK’s independent broadcasting regulator, it is rightly a matter for Ofcom to determine whether there has been a breach of the Broadcasting Code, and whether to take any action.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) reducing and (b) abolishing VAT on (i) maintenance and (ii) energy-efficiency improvements on historic and cultural buildings.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will provide additional financial support to help the creative sector meet (a) energy and (b) maintenance costs.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an estimate of the total annual cost to UK businesses of completing customs declarations on trade across the EU-GB border, in each year since the UK left the EU.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Financial Secretary (Treasury)
HMRC is working on an estimate, using insight from research with businesses to better understand the processes involved for traders and the administrative costs of complying with customs declarations after EU Exit.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he (a) has taken and (b) plans to take steps with the devolved Administrations to achieve the (i) mission, (ii) goal and (iii) targets of the Kunming-Montreal Agreement 2022.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
The UK Government and devolved administrations are committed to working together to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Through the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, which advises all four countries of the UK on UK-wide and international nature conservation, we coordinate at all levels to further our ambitious biodiversity agenda. In combination with relevant Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, all parts of the UK have contributed towards, and will adopt, a joint National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, which will outline national targets and commitments that help deliver the goals and targets of the GBF.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she (a) has taken and (b) plans to take with the devolved Administrations to integrate (i) climate and (ii) nature plans.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
DESNZ works closely with the Devolved Administrations on climate and net zero issues, including through the Interministerial Group for Net Zero, Energy and Climate Change which supports effective engagement and collaboration in areas of shared interest between the UK administrations. The group last met on 13 March.
Many UK Government departments play a vital role in delivering carbon budgets, with DEFRA ensuring that nature-based solutions are a core part of Government action to tackle climate change. Integration of climate and nature plans is a matter for my Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on policy priorities in advance of COP 29.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State continues to have ongoing discussions with colleagues concerning Departmental business.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will continue to lead on international climate policy across Government, working closely with other Departments to raise ambition and drive forward action to deliver on the Paris Agreement at COP29 and at other key international meetings, including the G7 and G20.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she (a) has taken and (b) plans to take with the devolved Administrations to achieve the (i) mission, (ii) goal and (iii) targets of the Paris Agreement 2015.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
DESNZ works closely with the devolved administrations (DAs) on international climate obligations and reporting to the UNFCCC. DESNZ worked with the DAs on the development of the 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and this year will be seeking their views for the 2035 NDC. This reflects the role the DAs play in the UK-wide drive to decarbonise the economy. DESNZ accredited 20 delegates from DAs to attend COP28 and will accredit DAs delegates to attend COP29.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she (a) has taken and (b) plans to take with the devolved Administrations to improve coordination of efforts towards achieving the UK's international (i) climate and (ii) biodiversity obligations.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
DESNZ works closely with the devolved administrations (DAs) on international climate obligations and reporting to the UNFCCC. DESNZ worked with the DAs on the development of the 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and this year will be seeking their views for the 2035 NDC. This reflects the role the DAs play in the UK-wide drive to decarbonise the economy. DESNZ accredited 20 delegates from DAs to attend COP28 and will accredit DAs delegates to attend COP29.
Through the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, which advises UK-wide and international nature conservation, the four nations will coordinate to further our ambitious biodiversity agenda.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people who were given (a) entry clearance and (b) leave to remain on the grounds of family life as a partner under Immigration Rules Appendix FM were granted access to public funds following a successful change of conditions application in each year since 2012.
Answered by Tom Pursglove
The number of applications for Entry Clearance and to stay in the UK that are made on the basis of family life as a partner or parent and any exceptional circumstances in compliance with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the number of applicants granted access to public funds following a successful entry clearance or leave to remain change of conditions application, do not form part of any current transparency data or migration statistics and is not published.
The transparency data does, however, include a range of processing data and the latest data can be found at:
www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data#uk-visas-and-immigration.