Asked by: Greg Hands (Conservative - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
What recent discussions he has had with the Irish Government on ensuring that there is no hard border on the island of Ireland.
Answered by Julian Smith
I have regular discussions with the Irish Government concerning the UK's exit from the EU.
The Government is fully committed to ensuring there will be no hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland. The Prime Minister has negotiated a new deal which ensures that will be the case.
Asked by: Greg Hands (Conservative - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
What recent assessment he has made of the efficacy of recommendations of the Alternative Arrangements Commission on arrangements on the Irish border after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by James Duddridge
I welcome the report by the Alternative Arrangements Commission co-chaired by my Right Honourable Friend and I thank him for his continued engagement.
We have considered it alongside input from technical experts and businesses to inform our approach to removing the backstop and avoiding a hard border in Northern Ireland in the context of negotiations on the future agreement between the UK and the EU.
Asked by: Greg Hands (Conservative - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what has been Transport for London's budget for the British Transport Police (a) each year since 2015 and (b) what that budget proposal is for (i) 2019-20, (ii) 2020-21 and (iii) 2021-22.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Transport for London’s budget for the British Transport Police is a matter for the Mayor of London to determine and the Department does not hold this data.
Asked by: Greg Hands (Conservative - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many British Transport Police officers there have been on the Transport for London network in each of the last five years; and how many of those officers are planned to work on the Transport for London network in (a) 2019 and (b) each of the next three years.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The table below shows the budgeted number of British Transport Police (BTP) police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) funded by TfL for the TfL network. BTP reimburse TfL with funding for vacant posts throughout the year.
Year | Police Officer budgeted TfL establishment | PCSO budgeted TfL establishment |
2015/16 | 775 | 141 |
2016/17 | 813 | 128 |
2017/18 | 808 | 126 |
2018/19 | 760 | 100 |
2019/20 | 759.5 | 100 |
The above data is at 1 April of each year. The data for the current year is subject to review.
The policing resource for future years is subject to negotiation between TfL, BTP and the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA).
Asked by: Greg Hands (Conservative - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
What plans he has to strengthen the UK's relations with Pacific Alliance countries.
Answered by Alan Duncan
Latin America is an increasingly important partner to the UK. We have strong and close relationships with all four member states of the Pacific Alliance: Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. Trade with the bloc increased by 4.5% from 2017 to 2018. We are strengthening partnerships using tools like the Prosperity Fund, Conflict Stability and Security Fund and International Climate Finance to implement programmes of mutual interest, for example in good governance, green growth, security and justice reform, infrastructure and rural and urban development in order to create the conditions for sustainable economic growth and increased trade.
Asked by: Greg Hands (Conservative - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Home Office:
What recent steps he has taken to assist victims of motor vehicle theft.
Answered by Nick Hurd
We recognise the distressing and disruptive impact vehicle theft can have on victims, and we are determined to ensure we do all we can to prevent these crimes.
In January, I chaired the first meeting of a new Vehicle Theft Taskforce which brings together industry, the police, and others to help ensure the response is as robust as it can be.
Asked by: Greg Hands (Conservative - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department (a) owns or (b) leases the former Kodak processing unit at 26-38 Rylston road in Fulham; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Department does not own or lease the former Kodak processing unit at 26-38 Rylston Road, Fulham.
Asked by: Greg Hands (Conservative - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
What plans he has to change the time limit on the entitlement of UK citizens living overseas to register to vote in UK parliamentary elections.
Answered by Chloe Smith
British citizens living abroad retain strong links with the United Kingdom, no matter how far they have travelled.
The Government is supporting my Hon friend the Member for Montgomeryshire’s Private Member’s Bill on Overseas Electors which delivers our manifesto commitment to introducing votes for life.
Asked by: Greg Hands (Conservative - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
What plans he has to change the time limit on the entitlement of UK citizens living overseas to register to vote in UK parliamentary elections.
Answered by Chloe Smith
British citizens living abroad retain strong links with the United Kingdom, no matter how far they have travelled.
The Government is supporting my Hon friend the Member for Montgomeryshire’s Private Member’s Bill on Overseas Electors which delivers our manifesto commitment to introducing votes for life.