Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment he has made of the total value to the British economy of (a) trade with and (b) tourism from Saudi Arabia.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon gentlemen’s Parliamentary Question of 6 February is attached.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the scientific basis for the Government's decision to close amusement arcades in tier 3 of the covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The tiered approach of Local COVID Alert Levels that was in effect prior to 5 November was designed to reduce transmission of the virus which is transmitted through close contact. The baseline of the Tier 3: Very High Alert Level which applied until 5 November, did not include closure of amusement arcades. The government worked with local areas to identify other premises that should be closed.
The government continues to regularly make available scientific evidence supporting its COVID-19 response, including at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/scientific-evidence-supporting-the-government-response-to-coronavirus-covid-19.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the turnout among (a) members of the armed forces serving abroad and (b) their family members living with them abroad, in the recent General Election.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Members of the armed forces serving abroad, or away from home in the UK, can vote with a postal vote or by proxy or in person if they are in their constituency on polling day.
Data that segments voters into categories of profession or other demographics is not collected as this could impact the secrecy of the ballot. In any event many armed forces personnel will have registered as ordinary electors and not in any manner that would identify them as service personnel at the time of voting.
We will continue to work with stakeholders to support the voting process for overseas electors, including armed forces serving abroad.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he plans to take to assist members of the armed forces serving abroad to take part in future elections.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Members of the armed forces serving abroad, or away from home in the UK, can vote with a postal vote or by proxy or in person if they are in their constituency on polling day. We work with the British Forces Post Office to ensure that mail specifically for service personnel, sent to forces post office addresses, is delivered as quickly as possible. We also work Royal Mail on overseas deliveries, through a specific provision to expedite dispatch of mail to overseas addresses.
We will continue to work with these stakeholders and others to support the voting process for overseas electors, including armed forces serving abroad.