Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Simmonds and John Bercow

Tuesday 4th March 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mark Simmonds]

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising that important issue. It is something that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office takes extremely seriously across the world. It is vital that Pakistan guarantee the rights of all its citizens regardless of faith and ethnicity. The UK Government are extremely active and raise issues of religious freedom on a regular basis. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met faith leaders in Lahore last year, and my right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Warsi has had frank discussions not just with the Prime Minister but with the national security adviser of Pakistan and the then Minister for National Harmony. We did so both on a bilateral and multilateral basis.

[Mr Speaker]

We shall leave the Minister now to recover his breath.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Simmonds and John Bercow

Tuesday 21st January 2014 Commons Chamber

[Duncan Hames]

Supporters of Christian Aid from St Andrew’s church in Chippenham who met me before Christmas will welcome the Government’s decision to publish a register of company beneficial ownership and the leadership they have shown on the matter, but given that so much money is leaving developing countries for our overseas territories, it is very important that similar transparency is shown there. If the consultations that are currently being launched by the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands provide a further opportunity for the Government to present evidence to encourage them to publish a register, will he please take that opportunity in the hope that that might happen?

[Mr Speaker]

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will get back to his normal form, having recovered from his splendid paternity leave.

[Mark Simmonds]

The first thing that needs to be said is that the overseas territories and Crown dependencies have responded extremely positively and have taken steps in response to the Prime Minister’s G8 agenda of tax, trade and transparency by signing up to multilateral conventions on tax matters and signing agreements automatically to exchange tax information—a significant step change in tax transparency—as well as setting out action plans and consultations as regards setting up registers of beneficial ownership and making them accessible to the public.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mark Simmonds]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who has a particular passion and knowledge in this important area. The purpose of the summit is to draw together the work being done in a range of states, supported by the UK, the USA and interested African states such as Gabon. The purpose is not just to talk about what can be achieved; we want real results on security, the environment and the economy, reducing demand as well as cutting off the supply.

[Mr Speaker]

Last but not least, I call Valerie Vaz.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Simmonds and John Bercow

Tuesday 23rd April 2013 Commons Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mark Simmonds)]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise this important issue on behalf of his constituent, but he will also be aware that many others have been affected by the withdrawal of pension payments. Hopefully his concerns will be assuaged by the fact that I have met representatives of civil servants who used to work in Zimbabwe who are not getting their pensions. I have also discussed the issue with the Zimbabwean Finance Minister, as part of the challenge to try to find a satisfactory resolution, but I am happy to meet my hon. Friend and his constituent to discuss the matter further.

[Mr Speaker]

Last but not least, the Reverend William McCrea.

Points of Order

Debate between Mark Simmonds and John Bercow

Monday 20th February 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

On a point of order relating to the Code of Conduct, on which no further points of order may arise, I call Mr Mark Simmonds.

[Mark Simmonds (Boston and Skegness) (Con)]

It has been brought to my attention that on 31 January and 16 March 2011, I inadvertently omitted to draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests relating to strategic advice that I provide to a social enterprise health care provider. I would like to take this opportunity both to correct the record and to apologise.

[Mr Speaker]

We are grateful to the hon. Gentleman.