Asked by: Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness against his objectives of Tony Blair in his role as Quartet Special Representative in the Middle East.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The UK works closely with Tony Blair as the Quartet's Special Representative in our joint efforts to support the peace process. Tony Blair visited Gaza last month to meet Palestinian Gaza-based Ministers and local business and community leaders. I met Tony Blair on 9 March to discuss how to make progress on Gaza and the Middle East Peace Process.
The Quartet has an important role to play in bringing Israelis and Palestinians together as we urgently seek to move the peace process forward.
Asked by: Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last met Tony Blair to discuss his work as Quartet Special Representative in the Middle East.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
I met Tony Blair on 9 March to discuss the Middle East Peace Process. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) last spoke to Tony Blair on 7 August 2014, where they discussed the Gaza conflict.Asked by: Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question
To ask the Prime Minister, what proposals he has received to secure greater public accountability for the earnings of former Prime Ministers; and what replies he has sent to those proposals.
Answered by Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton
The Ministerial Code requires former Ministers to seek advice from the independent Advisory Committee on Business Appointments about all appointments and employment they intend to take up in the two years after leaving ministerial office. These rules have applied under successive Governments, and there are no plans to revise them.
Asked by: Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question
To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make it his policy that former Prime Ministers be prohibited for life from working for an overseas government and that their activities be subject to indefinite scrutiny by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.
Answered by Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton
The Ministerial Code requires former Ministers to seek advice from the independent Advisory Committee on Business Appointments about all appointments and employment they intend to take up in the two years after leaving ministerial office. These rules have applied under successive Governments, and there are no plans to revise them.
Asked by: Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what account he took of the fact that Killarney-Comércio Internacional, Lda is registered as an offshore company before deciding to proceed with the sale to them of the building until recently used as the Lewes Magistrates' Court; what due diligence was carried out into this company and its relationship with (a) Quora and (b) Whitbread Plc prior to the sale; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
The Ministry of Justice was aware of the relationship between Quora and Killarney-Comércio Internacional, Lda during commercial negotiations and before exchange of contracts. The application for planning permission was submitted under both names. The disposal, including due diligence, is carried out in accordance with central guidance on the disposal of surplus property assets and we will ensure we get the best value for the taxpayer. We remain in commercial negotiations as the sale has not yet been completed.
Whitbread PLC is not a party to the contract.
Asked by: Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, which overseas visits undertaken by HRH The Duke of York since 2011 were carried out partly or wholly on behalf of his Department; which countries were visited and what official events took place during each such visit; and what the cost to the public purse of (a) travel and (b) other expenses was of each such visit.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The Duke of York announced that he was relinquishing his role as the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment in July 2011. Since 1st January 2012, HRH honoured two pre-existing commitments approved by the Royal Visits Committee (see below) through to the end of March 2012 in support of UK Trade & Investment objectives.
Switzerland (Davos) 26-28 January 2012
During the World Economic Forum at Davos, The Duke of York hosted the UK Reception, which as well as supporting British Business, provided an opportunity to promote the London Olympics 2012 and the Global Investment Conference. His Royal Highness also held a number of bilateral meetings throughout the Forum with Heads of State, Ministers and business leaders.
The cost to UKTI for this visit was £12.9k
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Thailand (Creative & Media and Food & Drink) 28 February – 2 March 2012
During his visit to Thailand, The Duke of York called on The King and Queen of Thailand and Princess Maha Chakri Sirindthorn. His Royal Highness met with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Commerce and the Vice Chairman of Charoen Pokphand Group Company Limited. His Royal Highness attended a lunch for Thai companies, a dinner for British companies and a dinner with representatives of the "Next Generation" – a group of young thought leaders. The Duke of York visited the British Council's "Everything Forever Now" Exhibition at the Thailand Creative and Design Centre, Sahaviriya Steel Industries plc, Reckitt Benkiser and opened the Tesco Lotus Zero Carbon Store, Bang Pru. His Royal Highness also met with the Royal British Legion at the Embassy
The cost to UKTI for this visit was £8.8k
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Asked by: Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government plans to provide (a) funding and (b) other support for a reception hosted by HRH The Duke of York at the World Economic Forum to be held in Davos from 21 to 24 January 2015.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom
There has never been a cost to HM Government for the reception hosted by HRH The Duke of York at Davos.
Asked by: Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which overseas visits undertaken by HRH The Duke of York since 2011 were carried out partly or wholly on behalf of her Department; which countries were visited and what official events took place during each such visit; and what the cost to the public purse of (a) travel and (b) other expenses was of each such visit.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Since 2011 there have been no visits undertaken by HRH The Duke of York wholly or partially on behalf of the Department of Education. Since relinquishing his role as the United Kingdom’s Special Representative for Trade and Investment in 2011, The Duke of York has travelled officially on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government, as part of the programme of visits for the Royal Family approved by the Royal Visits Committee. Some of the visit programmes may have included events linked to education but this information is not held by this Department.
Asked by: Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish by 16 January 2015 the Shale Gas Rural Economy Impacts report; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Dan Rogerson
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bassetlaw, John Mann, on 11 September 2014, Official Report, column 723W.
Asked by: Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timetable is for implementation of each of the recommendations of her Department's review of new psychoactive substances.
Answered by Baroness Featherstone
In our response to the new psychoactive substances expert panel’s report, published on 30 October 2014, the Government set out a timetable for delivery of a number of the actions we are taking both under the present Parliament and beyond. Some of these have already been delivered. For example, Public Health England (PHE) has already delivered a new toolkit to help local areas to prevent and respond to the use of NPS. Other actions are underway, such as work with key enforcement partners to issue and/or update guidance to further tackle the supply of NPS generally as well as in "headshops". In addition, the Government continues to ensure that the Misuse of Drugs 1971 controls keep pace with the evolving NPS market. This includes controlling MT-45 and 4,4’-DMAR as Class A drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
Work has begun on developing legislative proposals for a general ban on new psychoactive substances similar to that introduced in Ireland. The Government is moving swiftly so that new legislation is ready to be introduced at the earliest opportunity, notwithstanding the lack of appropriate legislative vehicle in this Parliament. In addition, statutory consultation has been initiated with the ACMD on the legislative proposal to adopt a new definition to ban all synthetic cannabinoids based on their effects on the brain.