Asked by: Paul Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, for what reasons the Government has not joined the World Tourism Organisation.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
Our international standing is highly important - not only to inbound tourism but in wider trade terms. Currently the UK government is not considering membership of the World Tourism Organisation but it is an organisation we remain in contact with to ensure the UK is participating fully in international tourism discussions.
Asked by: Paul Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on support for the Scottish agricultural sector.
Answered by David Mundell
I meet regularly with Cabinet colleagues to discuss a wide range of matters. Just last month, I met with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to discuss a number of issues relating to the Scottish Agricultural Sector.
Asked by: Paul Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the gross value is of uncollected aggregate levy tax outstanding as a consequence of retrospectively revoking certificates of exemption previously issued in respect of the extraction and mining of shale rock.
Answered by Jane Ellison
HM Revenue and Custom (HMRC) has collected approximately £9.2 million from 10 UK businesses in relation to exemptions from aggregates levy that the European Commission ruled were unlawful state aid.
As the number of businesses with outstanding aggregates levy due is less than five, HMRC cannot provide statistics on the gross value of uncollected aggregate levy tax outstanding as this could lead to the identification of individual taxpayers.
Asked by: Paul Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) people and (b) companies are being pursued by his Department for failing to collect aggregate levy tax as a consequence of certificates of exemption that have been retrospectively revoked after having been previously issued in respect of the extraction and mining of shale rock.
Answered by Jane Ellison
HM Revenue and Custom (HMRC) has collected approximately £9.2 million from 10 UK businesses in relation to exemptions from aggregates levy that the European Commission ruled were unlawful state aid.
As the number of businesses with outstanding aggregates levy due is less than five, HMRC cannot provide statistics on the gross value of uncollected aggregate levy tax outstanding as this could lead to the identification of individual taxpayers.
Asked by: Paul Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of Egypt on recent UN reports of human rights abuses in that country.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We are aware of recent statements by UN special rapporteurs expressing concern at restrictions placed on human rights defenders and civil society in Egypt. In December, the spokesperson for the then UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, expressed concern over the arrest of prominent Egyptian human rights defender Azza Soliman.
We are concerned about the decreasing space for civil society to operate in Egypt. Ministers and senior officials regularly raise our concerns with the Egyptian authorities in both London and Cairo. During my meeting with the Egyptian Ambassador on 8 December, I raised our concerns about the arrest of human rights defender Azza Soliman. In the same meeting I reiterated concerns, outlined in my statement from 1 December, about a proposed new law on Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
We have also raised our concerns about human rights at the UN. During the most recent session of the UN's Human Rights Council in September we raised concerns about restrictions on civil society in both our national statement and through the EU statement.
We will continue to monitor the human rights situation in Egypt closely, and to urge the Egyptian government to ensure full implementation of the provisions for the free operation of civil society, contained in the constitution, including through a revised NGO law that conforms to international standards and protects freedom of expression.
Asked by: Paul Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, at what rank and in which section of the armed forces is the officer responsible for day-to-day management of RAF Tain Air Weapons Range.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Air Weapons Range Tain, formerly RAF Tain, is part of and managed by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), its day to day operation is supported by Landmarc Support Services.
The Principal Training Safety Officer (PTSO), an Army Lieutenant Colonel, has overall responsibility for Air Weapons Range Tain. The Training Safety Officer (TSO), a Ministry of Defence (MOD) civilian C2 grade, has delegated responsibility for the day to day management of Air Weapons Range Tain.
All air activity at Tain is managed through 1 Group RAF and all ground activity at the range is managed through the PTSO/TSO, users are also responsible for their specific exercises.
Asked by: Paul Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, at what rank and in which section of the armed forces is the officer who holds overall responsibility for management of RAF Tain Air Weapons Range.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Air Weapons Range Tain, formerly RAF Tain, is part of and managed by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), its day to day operation is supported by Landmarc Support Services.
The Principal Training Safety Officer (PTSO), an Army Lieutenant Colonel, has overall responsibility for Air Weapons Range Tain. The Training Safety Officer (TSO), a Ministry of Defence (MOD) civilian C2 grade, has delegated responsibility for the day to day management of Air Weapons Range Tain.
All air activity at Tain is managed through 1 Group RAF and all ground activity at the range is managed through the PTSO/TSO, users are also responsible for their specific exercises.
Asked by: Paul Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much of his Department's spending falls under the definition of official development assistance in the current financial year.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The FCO's Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocation for FY 2016/17 is £466m.
Asked by: Paul Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to discuss with his international counterparts plans to expedite air drops in Syria.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Getting humanitarian aid to Syrians trapped in besieged areas is one of our top priorities. Over 570,000 people remain in areas besieged by the Syrian regime. We have regular discussions with our international partners, including on methods for delivering humanitarian assistance to besieged populations in Syria. There are huge obstacles to carrying out airdrops, not least the risk to aircraft from regime air defences or terrorist groups. However, we rule nothing out and maintain every effort to help those in besieged areas. Most recently on 19 December we helped secure UN Security Council Resolution 2328 which demanded full access for the UN across Syria.
Asked by: Paul Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in Saudi Arabia on future arms deals with the UK.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Mr Johnson) has discussed issues relating to the continued export of arms from the UK to Saudi Arabia regularly with his counterpart, including most recently during his visit to Riyadh on 11 December 2016 and again on 15 December 2016.