Richard Arkless

Scottish National Party - Former Member for Dumfries and Galloway

First elected: 7th May 2015

Left House: 3rd May 2017 (Defeated)


Richard Arkless is not a member of any APPGs
4 Former APPG memberships
Bees, Consumer Protection, Greece, Scottish Sport
Justice Committee
6th Jul 2015 - 3rd May 2017


Division Voting information

Richard Arkless has voted in 282 divisions, and 1 time against the majority of their Party.

11 Sep 2015 - Assisted Dying (No. 2) Bill - View Vote Context
Richard Arkless voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 11 Scottish National Party No votes vs 14 Scottish National Party Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 118 Noes - 330
View All Richard Arkless Division Votes

All Debates

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Ben Wallace (Conservative)
(26 debate interactions)
Jeremy Wright (Conservative)
(20 debate interactions)
Rupa Huq (Labour)
(16 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Home Office
(100 debate contributions)
Ministry of Justice
(51 debate contributions)
HM Treasury
(15 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Criminal Finances Act 2017
(21,195 words contributed)
Prisons and Courts Bill 2016-17
(3,799 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Richard Arkless's debates

Dumfries and Galloway Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Richard Arkless has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Richard Arkless

26th April 2017
Richard Arkless signed this EDM as a sponsor on Wednesday 26th April 2017

SUCCESS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS

Tabled by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
That this House congratulates the University of St Andrews on its continued success in higher education league tables; notes that St Andrews was recently ranked first in Scotland and third in the UK by the Complete University Guide; further notes that this marks a rise in two places from 2016 …
51 signatures
(Most recent: 26 Apr 2017)
Signatures by party:
Scottish National Party: 50
Independent: 1
26th April 2017
Richard Arkless signed this EDM on Wednesday 26th April 2017

CHRIS GREEN OBE AND WHITE RIBBON UK

Tabled by: Gavin Newlands (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire North)
That this House congratulates Chris Green on being awarded an OBE for services to equality in the Queen's honours list; notes that Chris set up White Ribbon UK in 2004, recognising the positive role that men can play in ending violence against women; understands that from 2005 to 2008 Chris …
27 signatures
(Most recent: 26 Apr 2017)
Signatures by party:
Scottish National Party: 24
Labour: 1
Liberal Democrat: 1
Independent: 1
View All Richard Arkless's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Richard Arkless, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Richard Arkless has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Richard Arkless has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

Richard Arkless has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Richard Arkless has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
3 Other Department Questions
30th Nov 2015
To ask the Rt. hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington representing the House of Commons Commission, what consideration has been given to moving to digital voting in the House.

The Commission has given no formal consideration to a move to digital voting in the House. Its responsibility in this matter is limited to any financial or staffing implications of any change to the present system, were a change to be agreed by the House.

In January 2015 the Speaker’s Commission on Digital Democracy recommended that the House should move to record votes using Members’ security passes but retain the tradition of walking through division lobbies. The House has not yet been invited to respond to this recommendation. House officials have undertaken some preparatory studies in the event of the House deciding to endorse this proposal. Members wishing to pursue the issue can seek a debate via the Backbench Business Committee or raise it with the Procedure Committee. It would also be open to Ministers to bring forward proposals.

Accurate recording of divisions and timely publication of division lists are critical business activities of the House of Commons. The House Service has therefore been investigating means of electronic recording of divisions since October 2014, with a view to improving the timely publication of division lists, making division data more accessible to the public and easier to analyse, and improving accuracy. A trial was held in the House in March 2015 in which seven divisions were recorded in part by division clerks on tablet devices. Full implementation of tablet recording of divisions is expected to take place early in 2016. In the meantime, any divisions held under the new English votes for English laws procedure will be recorded on tablet devices, because the tablets can generate the results required under the ‘double-majority’ system. Electronic recording of votes by division clerks will not in itself alter the requirement for Members to vote by walking through the lobbies.

17th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what progress has been made towards a resolution of the Scottish Power cashback mis-selling dispute since his meeting in July 2015 with the CEO of the Insolvency Service.

I have asked my officials to seek an update from Scottish Power on what steps they are taking in this matter.

17th Nov 2015
To ask the Rt. hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will provide an update on whether there are plans for a review of security protocols for the Parliamentary Estate and what communication the Serjeant at Arms office has had with relevant government departments on increasing the security of the House and the safety of staff.

It is a long-standing practice that we do not comment in public on the security of Parliament. However, I can assure the hon. Member that arrangements are kept under continual review and those working on the Estate are advised of any changes. If he has particular concerns the Parliamentary Security Director and the Serjeant at Arms would be happy to meet with him.

9th Feb 2017
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate his Department has made of how many staff and negotiators government departments will need to recruit for the negotiations on the UK leaving the EU.

All departments are equipping themselves with the resources they need to get the best deal for the UK. We are not in a position to give a final total for particular groups of staff as recruitment is ongoing and we will not be giving a running commentary on negotiations.

10th Jan 2017
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has carried out an impact assessment of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on his Department's public procurement policies.

The current public procurement rules will continue to apply until the UK has left the EU following the successful conclusion of exit negotiations. The future options for our procurement policies are being considered carefully.

30th Nov 2015
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many community projects have benefited from monies allocated by Scotland's Big Lottery Fund in Dumfries and Galloway constituency in the last five years.

Information on the community projects in the Dumfries and Galloway constituency that have benefited from monies allocated by the Big Lottery Fund in Scotland in the last five years is available on the Big Lottery Fund websitehttps://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/about-big/big-lottery-fund-in-your-constituency.


7th Feb 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Consumer Ombudsman regime.

The Consumer Ombudsman is run by Ombudsman Services, a not for profit private sector company. Chartered Trading Standards Institute, who act on behalf of my rt. hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, have audited and approved Ombudsman Services as being compliant with the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Regulations.

The Government is committed to an ADR landscape that works for all those who wish to use it. I meet regularly with consumer representatives and enforcement bodies to discuss a range of issues, including ADR.

A number of detailed responses to a call for evidence in June were received that related to the ADR regime. The Department is considering these responses carefully and a response will be published in due course.

6th Feb 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when in Spring 2017 he plans to implement the changes to the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.

The Renewable Heat Incentive reforms will be implemented on the date the updated regulations for the scheme come into force. It is intended these changes will be implemented in spring 2017; the specific date is not known as yet, as it is subject to Parliamentary processes.

13th Jan 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to reform the domestic renewable heat incentive scheme.

The Government response[1] to the consultation ‘The Renewable Heat Incentive: A reformed and refocused scheme’ was published on 14 December 2016 and outlines changes to reform the domestic renewable heat incentive scheme. It is intended that these changes will be implemented in spring 2017.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-renewable-heat-incentive-a-reformed-and-refocused-scheme

12th Jan 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether preparations are in progress on current or future nuclear waste disposal activity in Dumfries and Galloway.

The management of radioactive waste is a devolved matter.

12th Jan 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what nuclear waste disposal activities have been conducted within Dumfries and Galloway in the last 10 years.

The management of radioactive waste is a devolved matter.

1st Dec 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to devolve the Met Office functions for mountain weather forecasting to Scotland.

The Met Office delivers a range of safety critical services to the whole of the United Kingdom through the Public Weather Service, including mountain forecasts. The Public Weather Service is overseen by the Public Weather Service Customer Group, which includes an independent chair and representatives from all of the devolved administrations.

7th Nov 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of reasons for the disparity between the trade price of kerosene and that offered to individual consumers; what role his Department plays in regulating and monitoring this disparity; and if he will make a statement.

There is an open market for the supply of petroleum products, including jet kerosene and heating oil, in the UK which provides the best long term guarantee of competitive prices. The Government does not control prices but we do monitor the UK national average cost of jet kerosene and heating oil.

The average cost for wholesale kerosene in September 2016 was 26 pence per litre, 1p more expensive than the corresponding month in 2015, and down 22p since its 2014 peak (Jan 2014).

The average cost for retail kerosene in September 2016 was 37 pence per litre, 1p more expensive than the corresponding month in 2015, and down 22p since its 2014 peak (Jan 2014).

The value of the pound sterling has been decreasing against the dollar which means crude oil, which is traded in dollars, becomes more expensive for UK refiners to import. Analysis suggests that on average, at a national level, crude price changes are fully passed through into kerosene prices within a month.


In addition, the price of kerosene is influenced by a range of factors, including refinery capacity, stock levels, distribution costs, retail margins and seasonal factors The supply of kerosene in more remote areas is influenced by increased logistical costs.

I encourage households that use kerosene to heat their homes to join an oil buying group and to shop around for the best deal.

9th Mar 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will increase the national minimum wage for under 18s to the same rate as the adult level.

For younger workers, the priority is to secure work and gain valuable experience – something that is reflected in the existing age structure of the National Minimum Wage.

On 14th April my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced an increase in the 16-17 year old National Minimum Wage rate by 3.4% (13p) to £4.00 per hour. This is the fastest and largest increase since 2008.

27th Jan 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment has been made of the effects of the reduction in the feed-in tariff on 14 January 2016 on small scale hydro producers.

The Government published an impact assessment alongside the Government Response to the FIT Review consultation on 17 December, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/486084/IA_-_FITs_consultation_response_with_Annexes_-_FINAL_SIGNED.pdf

This impact assessment set out the impact of deployment caps and tariff changes to different technologies. For the hydro sector, new tariffs are designed to provide a target rate of return of 9.2% for efficient and well-sited installations and could support around 880 installations between 2016-19.

Andrea Leadsom
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
7th Feb 2017
5G
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to support the rollout of 5G.

The Government is committed to ensuring that the UK seizes the opportunity to be a world leader in 5G. At the 2016 Autumn Statement, the Government announced £1bn of new funding to boost the UK’s digital infrastructure, including significant funding for a new programme of fibre and 5G trials. We will be publishing further details on this programme at Budget, alongside a new 5G strategy.

12th Jan 2017
5G
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether 100 per cent geographical coverage will be a condition for the future spectrum licences for 5G mobile networks.

No decision has yet been taken.

1st Nov 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department will make an assessment of the benefits to the UK mobile market of imposing a cap on the total amount of mobile spectrum that individual operators can hold.

Ofcom is responsible for the health of the UK mobile market, in line with its statutory duties. We expect Ofcom to consider arguments for and against spectrum caps in its forthcoming consultation on rules for the auction.

1st Nov 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of mobile spectrum distribution on the data capacity of the UK's mobile networks.

The Government has noted MNOs' representations on the issue of spectrum distribution and network capacity.

1st Nov 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the benefits of the forthcoming release of 2.3GHz and 3.4GHz for the availability of high-speed mobile broadband in rural areas.

As noted in the initial conclusions of Ofcom's digital communications review published in February 2016, this spectrum "is best suited to providing additional capacity than increasing coverage" (para 3.49, p.30). Improving mobile coverage remains a key priority for Government and as a result of a licence obligation on O2 98% of UK premises should have indoor 4G coverage by end-2017.

7th Jun 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assistance the Government plans to provide to broadband suppliers to meet the terms of the Universal Services Obligation.

Universal Service Providers responsible for delivering the broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) will be designated by Ofcom following changes to primary and secondary legislation. No decision has been taken yet on funding the USO’s delivery .

7th Jun 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support the Government is providing to remote rural communities on obtaining reliable access to broadband.

Public investment in improving broadband is nearly £1.7 billion, including £790 million of UK government funding, to bring superfast broadband to areas of the UK where it would not otherwise be available. Superfast broadband is now available to 90 per cent of UK premises and this will reach 95 per cent by December 2017.

The Government has also implemented a basic broadband scheme to enable all premises to gain access to speeds of at least 2Mbps. This allows residents to gain access to every government service available online.

Furthermore, in November 2015 the Prime Minister announced the Government’s intention to introduce a new broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) with the aim to provide a safety net for those homes and business in the hardest to reach parts of the UK without access to superfast broadband.

11th Apr 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether he plans to increase the funding available for disability sports which are not currently paralympic sports.

Government recognises the importance of sport and physical activity to disabled people who take part at both grassroots and the elite level. Our new sport strategy, 'Sporting Future: A New Strategy for an Active Nation', published in December 2015, emphasises the importance of getting people active, particularly those groups currently under-represented, including disabled people.

Sport England is investing over £170 million in England to get more disabled people playing both Paralympic and non-Paralympic sports; and it will shortly publish its own strategy for England, following a wide public consultation, setting out how it intends to deliver against the government's sport strategy, including how it will promote grassroots sport and physical activity for all.

Elite disability sport is funded by UK Sport whose role it is to ensure that the resources available to support Paralympic athletes are targeted to maximise medal success.

11th Apr 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions his Department has had with television channel and radio station providers on inclusion and the representation of disability in mainstream media.

The government is encouraging the industry to be proactive in increasing diversity on and off screen - including in the representation of disabled people. I have hosted a number of roundtables that have addressed this issue, including a conference in January, which raised the wider issue of lack of representation of disabled people in the creative industries.

11th Apr 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage music venues to improve ticket and seating arrangements for disabled people.

We believe that everyone should have access to arts and culture - having a disability should not be a barrier to enjoying Britain’s awe-inspiring cultural treasures. That is why we are working with venues and organisations representing disabled people to identify barriers to access, while at the same time seeing how we can share examples of best practice and what more cultural venues need to do to be accessible to people with disabilities. Our recently published Culture White Paper makes a specific commitment to work with the cultural sector to improve physical access to venues.

We support the work of Attitude is Everything, which works with audiences, artists, and the music industry to improve deaf and disabled people’s access to live events. My ministerial colleague Ed Vaizey also held a roundtable meeting with Justin Tomlinson, Minister for Disabled People to look at access to cultural venues and events for disabled people. Additionally, provisions in the Equality Act 2010 require providers of services to the public (for example music venues), to make a ‘reasonable adjustment’ so that disabled people are not placed at a “substantial disadvantage” to non-disabled people.

30th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department has taken to provide to internet service providers detailed information relating to the broadband Universal Services Obligation announced by the Prime Minister on 7 November 2015.

The Government’s Universal Service Commitment will allow universal access to speeds of at least 2 Megabits per second through the option of satellite broadband connections by the end of 2015.

In addition, an £8 million Market Test Pilot fund is piloting a number of technologies and funding models, including satellite solutions. The results of these pilots will help inform future policy to extend superfast broadband coverage beyond 95%. Avanti, a broadband provider using satellite technology, is currently operational in Dumfries and Galloway and providing superfast coverage.

30th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government is taking steps to promote satellite broadband access in areas where fixed line broadband is limited or available at slower speeds than average.

The Government’s Universal Service Commitment will allow universal access to speeds of at least 2 Megabits per secondto any household in the UK,through the option of satellite broadband connections by the end of 2015.

20th Oct 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effect of the Government's proposed changes to tax credits on the number of children able to access free school meals.

The government’s changes to tax credits will have no effect on the number of children accessing free school meals (FSM) in England. All households receiving out-of-work benefits continue to be entitled to FSM, while changes to Child Tax Credit will have no impact. The number of children growing up in workless households has decreased by 480,000 since 2010, a record low. This has led to the number of households claiming FSM decreasing and we expect this to continue as the economy continues to improve.

13th Apr 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with local authorities in Northern Ireland and Scotland about the illegal trafficking of puppies from the Republic of Ireland; and what assessment she has made of the effect on such trafficking of the transfer in Scotland of search powers from Trading Standards to local port authorities.

The Government takes the illegal movement of dogs and puppies seriously and it is committed to working with the Devolved Administrations, delivery bodies, enforcement agencies and non-government organisations to tackle this issue.

Whilst there have been no recent Ministerial meetings on the illegal movement of dogs, Defra’s Chief Veterinary Officer has recently discussed the issue with his Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland counterparts. Additionally, there have been discussions on this issue between other Defra officials and officials within the Devolved Administrations.

Defra has not carried out an assessment of the impact of transferring Trading Standards search powers to local port authorities in Scotland as this is a devolved matter. However, we will continue to work closely with the Scottish Government and other interested parties to ensure that there is a full exchange of ideas and information on combating the illegal importation of puppies.

26th Jan 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to support milk producers in ensuring milk prices in supermarkets are maintained.

We support the farming industry by reducing red tape, funding research to foster innovation, extending the tax averaging period for self-employed farmers and working to open up new export markets.


To provide some relief to hard-pressed farmers we secured a £26.6m aid package for the UK from the European Commission – the third largest of all Member States. Dairy farmers across the UK are being paid a one-off, flat rate payment linked to milk production. The majority of payments were made by the RPA on 16 November 2015.


The Government is working with the food industry – including supermarkets, retailers, manufacturers and caterers – on even more consistent labelling and branding of British dairy products, improving transparency across the supply chain and allocating more space on shop shelves. This will make it easier for consumers and food businesses to know when they are buying British dairy products.


A number of supermarkets have pledged to pay a premium over and above the current market price and we should welcome that. It won’t solve the problem but it will give some respite to farmers.

16th Dec 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many hectares of trees have been (a) felled and (b) replanted on Forestry Commission land in England in each year since 2000.

The area felled in any one year on the public forest estate in England is not recorded separately, but the total area that has been felled and which is in the process of being either restocked, or being converted to another land use, such as open habitats for landscape or conservation reasons, is recorded. This is given in the table below, along with the area restocked each year and the expenditure on restocking operations.


Year ending 31 March

Total felled area 1 (thousand hectares)

Restocked area 2 (thousand hectares)

Expenditure associated with restocking 3 (£ ,000s)

2001

7.9

2.1

5,181

2002

8.4

2.3

5,779

2003

7.9

2.3

5,979

2004

8.1

2.2

5,735

2005

8.1

1.9

5,635

2006

7.5

2.5

6,356

2007

8.2

1.9

6,562

2008

8.3

2.1

5,915

2009

8.7

1.8

5,924

2010

9.2

1.5

5,880

2011

8.1

2.5

7,340

2012

8.2

2.2

7,384

2013

8.6

2.2

6,448

2014

8.7

2.1

7,399

2015

8.6

2.3

7,884


1 ‘Felled area’ is the area of the public forest estate that is recorded as felled on the sub-compartment database, the Forestry Commission’s electronic record of current land use. Because there is generally a two to four year gap between felling and restocking, or the reclassification as another land use, the total area classified as ‘felled’ is significantly greater than that which is felled in any one year.


2 ‘Restocked area’ is the area of the public forest estate that has previously been felled and which is recorded as having been restocked in the previous 12 months, including by natural regeneration and replanting.


3 Expenditure associated with restocking is all money spent on activities directly attributed to restocking after felling, including preparation of the site and maintenance during the initial establishment phase.

16th Dec 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much Forestry Commission England spent on replanting in each year since 2000.

The area felled in any one year on the public forest estate in England is not recorded separately, but the total area that has been felled and which is in the process of being either restocked, or being converted to another land use, such as open habitats for landscape or conservation reasons, is recorded. This is given in the table below, along with the area restocked each year and the expenditure on restocking operations.


Year ending 31 March

Total felled area 1 (thousand hectares)

Restocked area 2 (thousand hectares)

Expenditure associated with restocking 3 (£ ,000s)

2001

7.9

2.1

5,181

2002

8.4

2.3

5,779

2003

7.9

2.3

5,979

2004

8.1

2.2

5,735

2005

8.1

1.9

5,635

2006

7.5

2.5

6,356

2007

8.2

1.9

6,562

2008

8.3

2.1

5,915

2009

8.7

1.8

5,924

2010

9.2

1.5

5,880

2011

8.1

2.5

7,340

2012

8.2

2.2

7,384

2013

8.6

2.2

6,448

2014

8.7

2.1

7,399

2015

8.6

2.3

7,884


1 ‘Felled area’ is the area of the public forest estate that is recorded as felled on the sub-compartment database, the Forestry Commission’s electronic record of current land use. Because there is generally a two to four year gap between felling and restocking, or the reclassification as another land use, the total area classified as ‘felled’ is significantly greater than that which is felled in any one year.


2 ‘Restocked area’ is the area of the public forest estate that has previously been felled and which is recorded as having been restocked in the previous 12 months, including by natural regeneration and replanting.


3 Expenditure associated with restocking is all money spent on activities directly attributed to restocking after felling, including preparation of the site and maintenance during the initial establishment phase.

14th Dec 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will seek a ban on the sale of puppies from retail outlets; and if she will make a statement.

Under the Pet Animals Act 1951 local authorities can already apply conditions to individual pet shop licences. This includes, for example, restricting the species that can be sold. The power to apply conditions to an individual licence is in section 1(3) of the 1951 Act and is intended to help secure the welfare requirements set out in that section.

3rd Dec 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress has been made with the US and Scottish Governments on lifting the US import ban on haggis.

The United States does not accept imports of haggis containing sheep lungs. Former Secretary of State for Defra, Owen Paterson, lobbied US authorities during his visit in 2014 and the Government continues to encourage the US to adjust its ban on UK haggis. Scottish haggis producers are developing a US-specific recipe to allow them to access the market once the wider EU negotiations on lifting the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy restrictions on EU lamb are concluded.

7th Mar 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether he will announce the future dates of Joint Ministerial Committee meetings with the devolved administrations on Exiting the EU between now and the triggering of Article 50.

Dates for the Joint Ministerial Committee are agreed by consensus across the four governments. Dates of JMC(EN) meetings are not usually publicised in advance.

7th Mar 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether he plans to establish an agreed UK position involving the devolved administrations before triggering Article 50.

We are committed to working closely with the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that we get the best possible deal for all parts of the United Kingdom. This is exactly why we have set up a Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations, which brings together the UK Government and devolved administrations to develop a UK-wide approach. All of the devolved administrations have outlined to the Government their priorities for our future relationship with the EU. We welcome all proposals and are committed to carefully considering the options put forward. But we have been clear that no part of the UK will get a veto.

6th Feb 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Scottish Government's report entitled, Scotland's Place in Europe, published on 20 December 2016, whether he plans to accept any of the proposals of that report within his future negotiating framework.

The UK Government's White Paper sets out the basis for the Government's 12 negotiating objectives to build a global UK with a strong new partnership with the EU after our exit.

The third chapter of this White Paper sets out that as we leave the EU we strengthen the precious union between the four nations of the United Kingdom. To this end we are working to ensure we get the best possible deal for the whole of the UK.

The Scottish Government set out their position in their Brexit paper just before Christmas and it was formally presented to the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU negotiations in January. The Secretary of State has also met with Michael Russell, Scottish Government Minister on Scotland's Place in Europe, to discuss the report.

We continue to look closely at their proposals and the evidence underpinning their position - and there are a number of areas where we are in agreement - on ensuring access to the Single Market for goods and services, securing UK nationals' status in the EU, protecting workers rights, and ensuring that Scottish and other British universities should continue to have access to the best of European talent, and research collaboration. But our guiding principle must be to ensure that, as we leave the European Union, no new barriers to living and doing business within our own Union are created.

The White Paper also sets out that no decisions currently taken by the devolved administrations will be removed from them and we will use the opportunity of bringing decision making back to the UK to ensure that more decisions are devolved.

We will continue to engage all of the devolved administrations, including the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament, throughout the process. At the January plenary session of the Joint Ministerial Committee, ministers agreed to intensify their work ahead of the triggering of Article 50 and to continue at the same pace thereafter.

13th Jan 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister and other Cabinet colleagues on the content of Scotland's plan for the UK leaving the EU, Scotland's place in Europe, published on 20 December 2016.

The paper will be discussed in detail at the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations (JMC(EN)) taking place on Thursday 19 January.

JMC(EN) has been set up to discuss each government’s requirements for the future relationship with the EU as we seek to agree a UK approach to the negotiations, and is chaired by the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU.

Discussions on the proposals have also taken place on a bilateral basis with the Scottish Government following the publication of the paper, and in line with our objective to seek a deal that works for all parts of the UK.

7th Oct 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what the Government's policy is on maintaining the provisions of European Commission Directive 2008/94/EC on the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer; and what assessment the Government has made of the effect the UK leaving the EU will have on the operation of the Pension Protection Fund.

The Government has clearly stated that the UK does not need to be part of the EU to have strong protections for workers' rights. At every step of these negotiations we will work to ensure the best possible outcome for the British people, seizing opportunities to make Britain a country that truly works not just for a privileged few, but for everybody.

8th Sep 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether his Department plans to protect the free movement rights of volunteers coming to the UK from the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

The Prime Minister has been clear that free movement cannot continue as it has in the past and one of the opportunities of Brexit is that we will be able to control the number of people coming to Britain from the EU. The precise way in which the Government will control the movement of EU nationals, including volunteers, is yet to be determined. We will be considering all options available to us based on the best available evidence.

8th Sep 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether his Department has estimated the number of EU citizens who come to the UK each year to take up voluntary work.

The Prime Minister has been clear that free movement cannot continue as it has in the past and one of the opportunities of Brexit is that we will be able to control the number of people coming to Britain from the EU. The precise way in which the Government will control the movement of EU nationals, including volunteers, is yet to be determined. We will be considering all options available to us based on the best available evidence.

24th May 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions the Government has had with (a) the World Health Organisation and (b) other stakeholders on the response to the spread of the Zika virus in South America.

The Department for International Development is working with the Department for Heath, who are leading the UK government’s response to Zika, and Public Health England and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This includes supporting the World Health Organisation in galvanising an effective international response.

We are not only concerned exclusively by the spread of Zika in the Americas but are equally concerned by the possible spread to other parts of the world - in the Caribbean, Africa and Asia where countries have less capacity to cope with such a disease.

The UK is supporting and commissioning research to better understand the Zika virus, its epidemiology and impacts, with particular focus on the risk to developing countries, and research into interventions to address this virus. This includes:

  • DFID and Wellcome providing funding to commission Zika research on specific topics including understanding the spread of the disease and variation between Zika strains, the effectiveness of new and existing approaches to vector control.
  • A general call for research proposals jointly issued by the Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust, and the Newton Fund for rapid turnaround projects. These studies will include disease surveillance, epidemiology, Zika transmission, research into Zika virus and clinical outcomes.
  • The Department of Health’s UK Vaccine Network funding the University of Glasgow to develop a Zika vaccine.

DFID is in the process of allocating more resources to the WHO for disease control preparedness, including Zika and Yellow Fever, including £4 m for Africa, £1.3 m for the Caribbean and £4 m for the rest of the world. DH and DFID officials along with representatives from key agencies – European Commission Humanitarian Aid & Civil Protection (ECHO), Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Inst Pasteur, EU Research Brussels, Paul Allen Foundation, as well as Canada, Japan, France and Australia - participated in a WHO/Donor Teleconference on 20 April to further coordinate response to Zika.

28th Jan 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether she has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the implications for aid of the 1955 tax treaty between the UK and Malawi.

The Secretary of State for International Development has had no discussions on the 1955 tax treaty between the UK and Malawi with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Issues relating to tax treaties are a matter for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

9th Feb 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has for the UK to ratify the UN Declaration on the Construction of Main International Traffic Arteries 1950.

The Department for Transport has no current plans to ratify this Declaration.

12th Jan 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if the Government will continue to recognise the A75 (E18) and other main roads as Euro-Routes after the UK leaves the EU.

The E-Route numbering network is not part of the functions of the EU or the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The UK Government hasn’t ratified the E-Route Treaty and no decision has been taken on whether the UK will join the scheme in the future.

10th Dec 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to encourage an increase in the number of HGV drivers in the UK to meet demand for such drivers.

The Department’s agencies are taking action on HGV driver testing and licensing. This includes recruiting 78 new driving examiners, as well as 65 in training and 41 offered posts. Licence renewal times where there are not medical issues have reduced and changes are being made to the operation of parts of the medical renewals process. The Department is working with other parts of Government to encourage and enable more people to become lorry drivers, including via apprenticeships and action related to Jobcentre Plus.


I note that over 55,000 tests were conducted in 2014-15, the highest total since 2008-09. Further, the number of Large Goods Vehicle practical and theory tests of all types conducted during July to September 2015 was 34 per cent higher than in the same quarter of 2014.