Interpol Presidency Election

Debate between Tom Brake and Harriett Baldwin

Tuesday 20th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Harriett Baldwin]

It is a UN organisation with a very wide membership—193 states, if I remember the figure correctly—but it is also possible to be a member of Interpol without necessarily being accepted internationally as a state, through observer status. The point I will make to my hon. Friend is that organised crime does not have boundaries, so it is really important that Interpol’s coverage is wide. We would not want parts of the world to be safe havens or exempt from the ability of police forces to co-operate with each other. It is an important aspiration that Interpol’s coverage be as wide as possible

[Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington) (LD)]

Given the concerns that already exist about the way in which Interpol red notices work, will the Government undertake to secure confirmation in advance from countries that people like Mr Browder will visit that they will not seek to apply any spurious or bogus red notices that might be issued through Interpol at the instigation of, for instance, the Russians?

[Harriett Baldwin]

I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman will appreciate that I cannot possibly make a sweeping statement of that nature from the Dispatch Box about all possible future examples. That would be too wide, but I think that, in terms of the use of the red notices, one can refer to the framework with which one is dealing, the reassurance given by article 3 of the constitution of Interpol and the checks and balances that I referred to.

Yemen

Debate between Tom Brake and Harriett Baldwin

Tuesday 24th April 2018 Commons Chamber

[Harriett Baldwin]

My hon. Friend raises a very important point. The UK welcomes the approval by the Yemeni authorities in Aden allowing the import of oral cholera vaccines, which should allow 400,000 doses to be administered in southern Yemen. Discussions on vaccinations in the rest of the country are continuing. The partnership with UNICEF in Yemen is allowing UK aid to be spent on vital immunisations against other outbreaks, including diphtheria, as well as helping to train staff on the ground on how to deal with new cases.

[Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington) (LD)]

First, I join calls from the Opposition Benches for arms sales to Saudi Arabia to be suspended, and echo the condolences to those killed in the wedding party.

The Ministry of Defence has previously confirmed that British forces are in the Saudi-led coalition operations room to provide training and advice

“on best practice targeting techniques to help ensure continued compliance with International Humanitarian Law.”

What went wrong? Was this latest strike in compliance with international humanitarian law, and what are its humanitarian consequences?

[Harriett Baldwin]

Of course, we welcome the fact that the Saudi-led coalition has acknowledged that a full investigation needs to take place to answer the questions that the right hon. Gentleman has asked. We urge that that investigation happen as quickly as possible. It does need to be published so that lessons can be learned.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Tom Brake and Harriett Baldwin

Monday 30th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Harriett Baldwin]

As the right hon. Gentleman knows, we are of course the industry’s biggest customer. He will also know that there are great examples of international collaboration. For example, we are purchasing 138 planes from the 3,000 in the F-35 programme, and 15% of each of those 3,000 planes is being built in the north-west of England. We have also been selected as the global hub for the repair and maintenance of those planes.

[Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington) (LD)]

How are the UK Government helping defence suppliers to innovate and secure part of the £1.4 billion that is spent on repairing the UK’s nuclear weapons systems? Does the Minister agree that it would help those suppliers if there was transparency and accountability about the weapons not working effectively?

[Harriett Baldwin]

That is another example of where we work closely with companies in the defence supply chain on a range of ways in which they can innovate. We put a premium on innovation right across the defence industrial base, and the right hon. Gentleman draws attention to one of the areas where human innovation has been outstanding.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Tom Brake and Harriett Baldwin

Tuesday 19th January 2016 Commons Chamber

[Harriett Baldwin]

My hon. Friend asks a salient question. The FCA is investigating this matter, and he will be aware that new rules—the markets in financial instruments directive II—will require firms to keep information for a considerable period, but this is the subject of ongoing discussions.

[Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington) (LD)]

23. Will the Minister agree that one of the biggest problems with the banking culture is that banks are too big to fail, and will she consider the issue of diversity in the sector, including, for instance, new lending platforms and market disruptors? In particular, will she consider new primary duties on the FCA to consider the issue of diversity?

[Harriett Baldwin]

I am sure the right hon. Gentleman will welcome the announcement we are expecting on Wednesday from the Bank of England, the FCA and the Prudential Regulation Authority about their working together to back innovation in the financial sector. A key part of our long-term economic plan is to back competition in the banking sector, which is why I am pleased there were eight new entrants to the banking sector in the last Parliament. In this Parliament, we are aiming for 15.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Tom Brake and Harriett Baldwin

Thursday 25th April 2013 Commons Chamber

[The Deputy Leader of the House of Commons (Tom Brake)]

The McKay commission reported on 25 March on how the House of Commons might deal with legislation that affects only part of the UK. This is a very important issue, which is why the Government asked this expert commission to look at it. The report makes a helpful contribution, and we will give it very serious consideration before responding substantively.

[Harriett Baldwin]

I look forward to that response. I would like to know whether the Leader of the House intends to act on those proposals in the next Session of Parliament.

[Tom Brake]

I thank my hon. Friend for that question. I know that she has pursued this matter vigorously in recent months. Clearly, the McKay commission has produced a serious report. It continues a menu of options and the Government will want to consider the recommendations very carefully before coming to any firm conclusions.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Tom Brake and Harriett Baldwin

Thursday 17th January 2013 Commons Chamber

[Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con)]

2. When he expects to receive a report from the Commission on the consequences of devolution for the House of Commons.

[The Deputy Leader of the House of Commons (Tom Brake)]

A report from the McKay commission is expected by the end of the current Session of Parliament.

[Harriett Baldwin]

I am delighted to hear that we will get the report in this Session of Parliament. Does the Deputy Leader of the House share my aspiration that by the end of this Parliament we will ensure that English-only legislation is voted on with a majority of English MPs?

[Tom Brake]

I am aware that my hon. Friend is pursuing this matter vigorously—indeed, she made her own submission—but it is right that we wait until we have carefully considered the arguments and options in the report before taking a view. I am sure the House will want to do the same.