Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Home Office:
What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the temporary accommodation provided by her Department for asylum seekers.
Answered by Kevin Foster
Contingency accommodation - whether this be hotels across the United Kingdom or at the Napier barracks and Penally training camp - was set up in response to the enormous pressures placed on our asylum system by the coronavirus pandemic.
We expect the highest standards from providers and have instructed them to make improvements as part of our contract governance and following inspections, an independent audit and the interim report from the Independent Chief Inspector.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on public health of the UK implementing travel restrictions similar to those implemented by New Zealand during the covid-19 pandemic.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
The Government’s travel corridor policy remains a critical part of the COVID-19 response as it reduces the risk of importing infections from abroad, while at the same time permitting inbound travel from certain destinations without the need for travellers to self-isolate where the risk of importing COVID-19 is deemed sufficiently low. Travel corridors are informed by risk assessments provided by the Joint Biosecurity Centre, working closely with Public Health England.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he last discussed with Cabinet colleagues the potential merits of the UK implementing covid-19 travel restrictions similar to those implemented by New Zealand.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
The Government’s travel corridor policy remains a critical part of the COVID-19 response as it reduces the risk of importing infections from abroad, while at the same time permitting inbound travel from certain destinations without the need for travellers to self-isolate where the risk of importing COVID-19 is deemed sufficiently low. Travel corridors are informed by risk assessments provided by the Joint Biosecurity Centre, working closely with Public Health England.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government has made an economic assessment of the potential merits of the UK implementing covid-19 travel restrictions similar to those implemented by the New Zealand Government.
Answered by Robert Courts
Our approach to tackling coronavirus is driven by the latest scientific and medical advice. This advice has not recommended a long-term border closure similar to other countries such as New Zealand.
The need for border measures is reviewed every 28 days, to ensure that they remain in line with the latest scientific evidence, and that they continue to be effective and necessary. An economic assessment is completed before measures are implemented and impacts captured through the review process.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much emergency covid-19 funding the Government has provided to (a) professional, (b) semi-professional, (c) amateur and (d) youth football in England since the start of the outbreak.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Sports and physical activity providers and facilities are at the heart of our communities, and play a crucial role in supporting adults and children to be active.
Government has provided unprecedented support to businesses through tax reliefs, cash grants and employee wage support, which many sport clubs have benefited from. An income scheme announced in July by the Secretary of State for Local Government, aims to support local authorities who have incurred irrecoverable loss of income from sales, fees and charge which they had reasonably budgeted for. On 22 October, the Government announced a £100m support fund for local authority leisure centres. In addition, Sport England’s Community Emergency Fund has also provided £210 million directly to support community sport clubs and exercise centres through this pandemic.
We are continuing to work with organisations to understand what they need and how we may be able to support them.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment the Government has made of the potential effect of free ports on business rates receipts for local authorities.
Answered by Steve Barclay
The UK Government plans to establish Freeports across the UK as soon as possible. These will be national hubs for trade, innovation and commerce, regenerating communities across the UK. Freeports will spread jobs, investment and opportunity to towns and cities up and down the country by unleashing the economic potential of our ports.
In the UK Government’s recently published consultation response, we outlined that that the UK government is evaluating options for local authorities to retain business rates as part of the Freeports programme. This would apply in England only, or where decisions are not devolved. Further details will be included in the Bidding Prospectus, which will be published in due course.
Where policies are devolved, as in Scotland, the implementation and design of Freeports, including any infrastructure funding, will be a matter for each devolved administration to decide upon - although the UK Government will provide any assistance necessary if requested. The UK Government continues to work collaboratively and openly with the devolved administration in Scotland to deliver at least one Freeport in Scotland as soon as possible.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether funding has been allocated for any infrastructure costs associated with the roll out of free ports in the UK.
Answered by Steve Barclay
The UK Government plans to establish Freeports across the UK as soon as possible. These will be national hubs for trade, innovation and commerce, regenerating communities across the UK. Freeports will spread jobs, investment and opportunity to towns and cities up and down the country by unleashing the economic potential of our ports.
In the UK Government’s recently published consultation response, we outlined that the Freeports model on offer will provide some seed capital from the UK Government to address infrastructure constraints relevant to Freeports and their surrounding area. This would apply in England only, or where decisions are not devolved. Further details will be included in the Bidding Prospectus, which will be published in due course.
Where policies are devolved, as in Scotland, the implementation and design of Freeports, including any infrastructure funding, will be a matter for each devolved administration to decide upon - although the UK Government will provide any assistance necessary if requested. The UK Government continues to work collaboratively and openly with the devolved administration in Scotland to deliver at least one Freeport in Scotland as soon as possible.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many job placements have been provided through the Kickstart Scheme in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Scotland.
Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)
I refer the honourable member to my answer to question 107629, answered on 2 November 2020.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many businesses have enrolled in the Kickstart Scheme in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Scotland.
Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)
I refer the honourable member to my answer to question 107629, answered on 2 November 2020.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when discussions first took place on an oil and gas sector deal.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
In 2018, the upstream oil and gas industry sent BEIS its first proposal for a Sector Deal. This proposal was not formally pursued as a complete package but certain aspects were taken forward, such as establishment of the National Decommissioning Centre which opened in January 2019. Following our manifesto commitment to a transformational oil and gas Sector Deal aligned to the energy transition, we have re-commenced discussions with the industry, which we are committed to delivering this Parliament.
Discussions have been held at both official and Ministerial levels and have also involved the Oil and Gas Authority. This conversation will develop further over the next few months as the sector seeks to develop its proposals and consults with a wide range of stakeholders.
Whilst there is no formal timescale for concluding a Sector Deal we recognise that the challenges facing the sector from the collapse of the oil price and the operational challenges of Covid-19 provide an opportunity to channel the Sector Deal as part of the recovery for the sector.
The meeting of the MER UK Forum on 11 June will provide an opportunity for the sector to bring forward its ideas for a Sector Deal proposal and to discuss these with industry leaders and Ministers.