Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will set out the timetable for the payment of compensation for people affected by infected blood.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
I refer the Honourable Lady to the statement I made in the House on 19 April 2023, following the publication of Sir Brian Langstaff’s second interim report.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to publish the response of the Government to the Sir Robert Francis KC Infected Blood Compensation Study; and what the method of payment will be for those people in Wales receiving an interim payment as part of the Infected Blood inquiry.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
I refer my Hon Friend to the statement I made in the House on 15 December.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing civil servants in his Department to receive their Imperial Service Medal whilst still serving, as is the case with his Department's service personnel.
Answered by Julia Lopez
The Imperial Service Medal (ISM) is awarded to recognise long and faithful service in the Civil Service by an individual in an eligible grade. The ISM is awarded on the recommendation of the employing department on the retirement, redundancy, resignation, or transfer to the private sector of an individual with at least 25 years of meritorious service. Eligibility for the ISM is set in Statute and there are currently no plans to change the qualifying criteria.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he has taken to negotiate with the Greek Government the granting of special permits to allow the up to 180 days that are permitted per year under Schengen rules to be used in a single block of any length up to 180 days by travellers from the UK.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
The 90 days in a rolling 180-day period is the standard length of stay that the EU offers to the nationals of eligible third countries that reciprocate visa-free travel access for EU citizens. There is no precedent for the EU offering a longer length of visa-free stay than 90 / 180 days to the nationals of any third country and the Government does not typically enter into bilateral agreements on visa-free travel. Both the UK and the EU provide visa-free arrangements for tourists and short-term business visitors.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he has taken to facilitate freight traffic through Holyhead Port since 1 January 2021.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
HMG worked with Welsh Government and local stakeholders to share planning assumptions about potential disruption ahead of the end of the Transition Period and put in place contingency plans, including to manage potential traffic disruption at Holyhead. As there has not been significant traffic disruption to the port, additional facilitative steps have not been needed.
We recognise the need to provide as much support to traders, ports and hauliers as possible. The Government has introduced a range of measures to help the industry meet new export requirements, including training, webinars and extensive guidance on GOV.UK. We are increasing our communication and engagement efforts to ensure that traders are confident using Welsh routes.