Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Mingyang Smart Energy turbine manufacturing facility was subject to national security checks.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
We cannot comment on individual investment cases, but investment into the energy sector is subject to the highest levels of national security scrutiny, and we will continue to work closely with industry to build secure supply chains and ensure the UK remains one of the most attractive investment destinations in the world.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the ARAP eligibility standard operating procedure was first changed to give the relevant Other Government Department the power to reject a member of the Afghan (a) CF 333 and (b) ATF 444 unit applying to the scheme.
Answered by James Heappey
There is no ARAP eligibility standard operating procedure that provides a relevant Other Government Department with the power to reject an application.
When considering Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme applications under Category 4, Ministry of Defence (MoD) caseworkers seek input into decision-making from other parts of the MoD, Other Government Departments and governmental bodies, where they are likely to hold useful information relating to an individual's application.
Every individual application is considered on a case-by-case basis in line with our published ARAP criteria, including applications considered under Category 4.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to allow oral appeals for Penalty Charge Notices for people with dyslexia.
Answered by Guy Opperman
Under Regulation 5 of The Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Representations and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2022 drivers may make representations to the local authority issuing the Penalty Charge Notice in accordance with procedures put in place by the local authority. The regulations also allow for drivers and any representatives to attend adjudication hearings in person.
In establishing such processes, local authorities have statutory duties as set out in the Equality Act 2010. Section 149 places a Public Sector Equality Duty on all public bodies, including local authorities and the independent adjudicator to eliminate unlawful discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between persons who share relevant protected characteristics, including age and disability amongst others.
It is the responsibility of local authorities to ensure their processes, including appeals against Penalty Charge Notices are designed to comply accordingly and are accessible to everyone.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of Paperchase's administration and sale on independent (a) small designers and (b) card publishers.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
There are no plans to make an assessment. Any impact on suppliers as a result of Paperchase's administration and sale remains a commercial decision for the new owner.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) tests and (b) trials of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) that were conducted (i) in-house and (ii) in conjunction with industry were carried out by the RAF 126 Squadron since its formation; if he will list the names of the UAVs; and whether any of those UAVs (A) have been recommended for acquisition, (B) are in the process of acquisition and (C) are in service.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
Since the formation of 216 Squadron in 2020 there have been no completed tests or trials conducted either in-house or with industry. 216 Squadron personnel have participated in several technical demonstrations as military advisers and subject matter experts in partnership with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.
A trial was planned for June 2023 using the Callen-Lenz 'Koios' Air vehicle and the Blue Bear Systems Research 'Centurion' Ground Control Station but this activity was cancelled due to competing resource priorities.
No UAVs have been recommended by 216 Squadron for acquisition into service.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has (a) had discussions with his US counterpart on and (b) put in place mechanisms for civilian harm tracking in relation to UK-US military operations.
Answered by James Heappey
UK Ministers and officials speak regularly with US counterparts to ensure coherence and alignment between our two nations, including on joint military activities. The UK has robust procedures to ensure that all military operations, including airstrikes, are conducted in full compliance with International Humanitarian Law and in a manner that reflects the UK’s clear commitment to the protection of civilians.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the 2022 Political Declaration on strengthening the protection of civilians from the humanitarian consequences arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, what steps he is taking to (a) prevent and (b) mitigate the potential impact on civilians of military strikes in Yemen.
Answered by James Heappey
The UK is proud to be a signatory of the 2022 Political Declaration on use of explosive weapons in populated areas. The UK has robust procedures to ensure that all military operations, including airstrikes, are conducted in full compliance with International Humanitarian Law and in a manner that reflects the UK's clear commitment to the protection of civilians. In planning military strikes in Yemen, as with all military operations, particular care was taken to minimise any risk of civilian casualties. As my Rt Hon friend the Prime Minister made clear in his statement to the House on 15 January (Column 577), we have seen no evidence of any collateral damage or civilian casualties arising from the strikes conducted by the Royal Air Force on Houthi military facilities.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the potential risk to civilians of a closure of Hudaydah port.
Answered by David Rutley
Yemen is almost entirely reliant on imports for food, importing approximately 90 per cent of food staples such as wheat. Hodeidah Port is key to food security in Yemen, as it receives 40 to 50 per cent of the country's food imports, as well as essential food aid.
The disruption to shipping in the Red Sea caused by Houthi attacks, risks driving up costs of supplies of food and humanitarian aid in the region, including to Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Lebanon.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with reference to the Answer of 27 November 2023 to Question 3279, how many government-funded foreign infrastructure projects included delivery partners that were (a) state owned enterprises and (b) companies registered in the People's Republic of China in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
The UK has funded a large number of foreign infrastructure projects, including through the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) and British International Investment (BII). PIDG and BII both operate with high standards of due diligence and a low tolerance for operational and compliance risk, including compliance breaches from downstream partners. The lifecycle of individual PIDG and BII projects often span multiple years, and involve close working relationships with a large number of delivery partners globally, meaning that risks can be spotted, communicated, and acted upon in a timely manner. The information requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the National Security Council has carried out a national security risk assessment of the potential threat posed by Chinese-made cellular internet of things modules.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
It is a long-established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees, and how often they have met, is not normally shared publicly.