Below is a list of some of Kerry's most recent written questions to Ministers, and their responses. To view more
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Written Answers - Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Animal Welfare: Circuses (20 Feb 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of the ban on the use of wild animals in circuses in Greece on progress towards a ban in the UK.
Written Answers - Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Embassies: Civil Partnerships (7 Feb 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to take steps to increase the number of British embassies authorised to perform civil partnership registrations.
Written Answers - Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Tibet: Human Rights (7 Feb 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of China on the welfare of Dhondup Wangchen.
Oral Answers to Questions - Home Department: Financial Services Bill (6 Feb 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: At the time of the collapse of Barings, I was working at Abbey National Treasury, which was involved in a joint venture trading derivatives with Barings. I was one of those brought in to clear up the mess, for which-I hasten to add-I was not responsible. It was clear from what happened at Barings that there was a huge gulf between what the traders understood about their trading...
Written Answers - Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: China: Animal Welfare (6 Feb 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chinese Government on the illegal trade in ivory and endangered species.
Work Capability Assessments (1 Feb 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: My hon. Friend makes a powerful case. I went to an appeal with someone with ME who scored zero points. She took with her the medical evidence from the experts at the hospital; when the panel looked at it, it was a case of giving it a tick and telling her that of course she was not fit to work. However, those dealing with the form-filling and Atos stage were not prepared to consider it.
Written Answers - Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Animal Welfare: Circuses (1 Feb 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the recent ruling of the Austrian Constitutional Court discussing an application brought by Circus Krone to challenge Austria's ban on the use of wild animals in circuses, what steps her Department will take to introduce a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.
Oral Answers to Questions - Justice: Prison Places (31 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: What arrangements his Department has put in place to deal with any future shortfall in prison places.
Oral Answers to Questions - Justice: Prison Places (31 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: I thank the Secretary of State for that response. I understand that possible shortfalls are predicted in particular regions as opposed to on a national level. The Minister will know that maintaining family links during a period of imprisonment is a critical factor in reducing reoffending on release. Will he assure the House that steps will be taken to ensure that prisoners are kept as close...
Falkland Islands (31 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: As ever, it is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Crausby. I congratulate the hon. Member for Hexham (Guy Opperman) on securing this debate. The good turnout today is a testament to the desire in this House to reiterate our support for the people of the Falkland Islands. As we mark the 30 years since the Falklands war, it is important to remember not only those who fought but...
Falkland Islands (31 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: As ever, it is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Crausby. I congratulate the hon. Member for Hexham (Guy Opperman) on securing this debate. The good turnout today is a testament to the desire in this House to reiterate our support for the people of the Falkland Islands. As we mark the 30 years since the Falklands war, it is important to remember not only those who fought but...
Falkland Islands (31 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: I do not think that entering into negotiations or discussions with another country necessarily thwarts or flouts the right to self-determination. It is fairly well established that we will respect the right of the people in the overseas territories to determine their fate, and we have reiterated that over and again.
Written Answers - Treasury: Revenue and Customs: Bristol (31 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which tax office will take over the work of the Bristol office following its closure.
Written Answers - Treasury: Revenue and Customs: Closures (31 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria he took into account in determining the tax offices for closure before 2015.
Written Answers - Treasury: Tax Collection (31 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the potential effects of the closure of HM Revenue and Customs offices on the collection of tax revenues.
Written Answers - Culture Media and Sport: Trade Promotion: China (30 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what support his Department is giving to the UK Now promotion of UK culture in China.
Written Answers - Culture Media and Sport: Music: USA (30 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent meetings (a) he and (b) his officials have had with music industry representatives on the ability of musicians who wish to perform in the US to obtain a visa.
Written Answers - Culture Media and Sport: Music: USA (30 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) the US embassy and (b) US Citizenship and Immigration Services on the ability of UK musicians to obtain visas to tour or perform in the US.
Human Rights - (26 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Rosindell. I congratulate the Members present on their contributions. I, too, will not attempt a world tour of human rights, but I pay tribute to the Members who have talked in detail about the situation in countries such as Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Colombia and Sri Lanka.
Oral Answers to Questions - Treasury: Topical Questions (24 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: The Public Accounts Committee has serious concerns that large companies are treated more favourably than other taxpayers” by HMRC. That once again gives the lie to the Government's claims that we are all in this together. What action will the Chancellor or the Minister take to ensure greater transparency and accountability in HMRC, and to assure ordinary taxpayers who are...
House of Commons Commission: Food: Waste (24 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the answer of 19 July 2010, Official Report, column 51W, on Commons food waste, what estimate the Commission has made of the monetary value of food waste generated by House of Commons food outlets in each month since April 2010; what the outcome was of its review in...
Written Answers - Justice: Hunting: Prosecutions (24 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were (a) cautioned, (b) proceeded against and (c) convicted of an offence under the provisions of the (i) Game Act 1831, (ii) Deer Act 1991, (iii) Protection of Badgers Act 1992, (iv) Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, (v) Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996, (vi) Animal Welfare Act 2006, (vii) Conservation (Natural Habitats)...
Oral Answers to Questions - Work and Pensions: Troubled Families (Employment) (23 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: In Bristol, we had the pilots for family intervention projects that involved working with families who had a multitude of problems to tackle some of these issues. Does the Minister accept that this is not just about working through one Department such as his own?
Other Departments such as the Department of Health and the Department for Education, as well as drugs funding, will need to be...
Oral Answers to Questions - Work and Pensions: Executive Pay (23 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: It is often not the management or those in executive roles who get the highest pay packages, particularly in the financial sector. For example, I have heard a rumour that at least one of the traders at RBS is going to get a higher bonus than Stephen Hester. Can the Minister tell us whether his proposals, particularly on transparency, will cover traders too?
Opposition Day - [Un-allotted Day]: Food Prices and Food Poverty (23 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: Does my hon. Friend share my concern that the Secretary of State for Education has decreed that free schools and academies do not have to meet the same nutritional standards in school meals as state schools?
Oral Answers to Questions - Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Topical Questions (19 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: The Minister will know that there is widespread opposition in the south-west to badger culls in our local communities, not least because the scientific evidence shows that such culls are completely ineffective in curbing bovine tuberculosis. Now that the two pilot areas have been announced, what steps will the Minister be taking to consult local people?
Written Answers - Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Food Waste (19 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to reduce the level of food wasted by food retailers and manufacturers.
Oral Answers to Questions - Wales: First Great Western (18 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: Does the Minister think that electrification of the First Great Western line will boost house prices along the route and, if so, would he advise my constituents in Bristol and the good people of Wales perhaps to wait a while before selling their homes?
Oral Answers to Questions - Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Burma (17 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: The Opposition join the Foreign Secretary in welcoming the release of political prisoners in Burma although, as he has acknowledged, many hundreds of men and women remain in prison there for their political beliefs. Will he tell the House what he did to push the Burmese regime to allow greater access for the world's media, particularly in the run-up to the elections in April
Written Answers - Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Animal Welfare: Circuses (17 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the oral answer of 13 October 2011, Official Report, column 468, on wild animals in circuses, what the international legal responsibilities are which prevent a ban on wild animals in circuses.
Oral Answers to Questions - Transport: Topical Questions (12 Jan 2012)
Kerry McCarthy: In Bristol, the city council is being forced to make savings of £2 million, directly affecting its subsidy to First Bus.
Routes are being cancelled, operating times are being cut and fares, which are already far too high, are still rising. What efforts are Ministers making to ensure that local bus routes remain operational and affordable?