Q: (Andrew Rosindell) To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) Havering and (b) other London boroughs with significant elderly and vulnerable populations receive supplies of covid-19 vaccines proportionate to the number of residents in high priority groups.
A: (Nadhim Zahawi, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care) The COVID-19 vaccine programme has expanded rapidly in the last month, with over 140 vaccination sites across London, including 44 hospital hubs, 101 local vaccination services and two vaccination centres currently in operation. This network of vaccination sites has been designed to fit the expected vaccine supply and demand and to ensure safe and easy access for the whole population. For the provision of vaccines and their onward deployment, the Government closely monitors the clearly defined supply chain plans for manufacturing, transport, storage and distribution. Targeted deliveries are being made to areas where there are more people left to vaccinate in the priority cohorts, proportionate to the at-risk population they have registered.
Q: (Andrew Rosindell) To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with Commonwealth counterparts on preparations for Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee and co-ordinating celebrations.
A: (Nigel Adams, Minister of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) The 2022 Platinum Jubilee will be a major occasion marking 70 years for Her Majesty The Queen as Head of State of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories, as Head of State of 15 Commonwealth Realms, and as Head of the Commonwealth.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will work with the Royal Household and other Government Departments to ensure that the Platinum Jubilee is appropriately celebrated in the UK. British Embassies and High Commissions around the world will also mark the occasion. In addition to the Jubilee, the United Kingdom is scheduled to host the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in this special year.
Commonwealth Realms or other Commonwealth countries may choose to hold their own celebrations in recognition of this special landmark but these will be a matter for the Governments of each country.
Q: (Andrew Rosindell) To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support covid-19 vaccination programmes in Commonwealth countries.
A: (Nigel Adams, Minister of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) The UK is committed to rapid, equitable access to safe and effective vaccines, treatments and tests globally. The UK has committed £548m for the COVAX Advanced Market Commitment to support access to COVID-19 vaccines for up to 92 developing countries, a number of which are in the Commonwealth, by contributing to the supply of 1.3 billion doses in 2021, and vaccinations for up to 500 million people.
Q: (Andrew Rosindell) To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with representatives of the Royal Navy on proposals to fly the Red Ensign from Royal Navy ships and shore establishments to mark Merchant Navy Day on 3 September 2021.
A: (James Heappey, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence) The Royal Navy has previously celebrated the close links between the RN and the Merchant Navy (MN) on both Merchant Navy Day and other occasions, and will continue to do so.
In recognition of the close links between the RN and MN, all Naval Regional Commanders encouraged RN establishments within their regions to fly the Red Ensign on 3 September 2020. The intent is that this tradition will continue to grow in the coming years
Q: (Andrew Rosindell) To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to (a) commemorate Merchant Navy Day on 3 September and (b) promote the links between the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy.
A: (James Heappey, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence) The Royal Navy has previously celebrated the close links between the RN and the Merchant Navy (MN) on both Merchant Navy Day and other occasions, and will continue to do so.
In recognition of the close links between the RN and MN, all Naval Regional Commanders encouraged RN establishments within their regions to fly the Red Ensign on 3 September 2020. The intent is that this tradition will continue to grow in the coming years.
Q: (Andrew Rosindell) To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reducing beer duty to taxation levels in other European countries.
A: (Kemi Badenoch, Exchequer Secretary) The tax cuts at Budget 2013, 2014 and 2015 – followed by further duty freezes in 2016, 2017 and 2018 – mean that the average tax charged on a typical pint of beer is estimated to be 16p lower this year than it otherwise would have been since ending the beer duty escalator in 2013. All taxes are kept under review, including consideration of international comparisons, and any major announcements are made at fiscal events.
Q: (Andrew Rosindell) To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the evidence from HMRC that a rise in the number of Social Investment Tax Relief investments during 2018-19 may be due to increased awareness of SITR resulting from the Government’s consultation on the scheme in summer 2018.
A: (Jesse Norman, Financial Secretary to the Treasury) The Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR) was introduced in 2014 to incentivise risk finance investments in qualifying social enterprises and charities. HMRC statistics show that up to 2018-19, about 110 enterprises have used the scheme to raise £11.2 million.
The Government keeps all taxes and reliefs under review in order to ensure they continue to meet policy objectives and represent value for money for taxpayers. The Government previously published a Call for Evidence in 2019 on SITR’s use to date. A response to the consultation will be published in due course and a decision on SITR’s future will be announced at the Budget ahead of its sunset clause in April 2021.
