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  • Baroness Hamwee – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Baroness Hamwee – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hamwee on 2016-09-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have commenced negotiations for the disposal of the Cedars family accommodation centre property.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    On 21 July 2016, the Government announced its decision to close the Cedars pre-departure accommodation facility. The Cedars property is held on a leasehold basis. We have not yet commenced formal discussions with the landlord over the future of the site.

  • Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 2016-09-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people were convicted of food crime following the horsemeat scandal in 2013.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    The City of London Police investigation into how food products became adulterated with horsemeat led to three men being charged with fraud offences on 26 August 2016.

    The charges follow a complex international criminal investigation that saw the City of London Police, which is the National Policing Lead for Fraud, working in partnership with the Food Standards Agency and Crown Prosecution Service, as well as law enforcement agencies from across the United Kingdom and Europe.

  • Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 2016-09-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what criteria they will use to decide whether the National Food Crime Unit should have direct enforcement powers.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    The review of the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) will consider the following issues:

    – Current and likely future reactive demand from food crime;

    – Current and likely future proactive opportunities to disrupt and prevent food crime;

    – Gaps between reactive/proactive demand and current response;

    – The current and future role of local authorities, the police service, other government departments/agencies and the wider food crime response landscape, including the international response and cross border collaboration post European Union exit;

    – Value for money of current and potential responses; and

    – The current form and function of the NFCU, and whether this meets current and future demand.

    In the first Food Crime Annual Strategic Assessment, the NFCU highlighted the limitations of current intelligence and reporting, and the difficulties in estimating the scale and impact of food crime. The review will therefore take these limitations into account when considering the current and future demands and opportunities, and make reasonable judgements where evidence is incomplete or lacking.

  • Lord Laird – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord Laird – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2016-09-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the qualifying criteria for servicemen to be considered as mobilised, and how mobilisation is recognised.

    Earl Howe

    The Reserve Forces are a valuable and highly valued component of the Armed Forces. Under the Reserve Forces Act 1996 the Secretary of State for Defence can authorise the mobilisation of Reserve Forces if it appears to him that it is necessary or desirable to use them to contribute to the delivery of the nation’s security. All reservists are liable for mobilisation. The maximum period for which a reservist may be mobilised is up to one year in a four year period.

    We aim to provide at least 28 days notice of mobilisation. In selecting individuals for mobilisation we will, as far as practicable, take into account their personal circumstances, including employment. The flexibility in selecting individuals for mobilisation will depend on the scale, urgency and nature of the threat. Employers and reservists can appeal against a mobilisation.

    When a reservist reports for military service, a medical inspection is carried out and their physical fitness is measured to ascertain their wellbeing and fitness to deploy. Training appropriate to the nature of the task will be given prior to deployment.

    Once mobilised individuals are paid as regulars and receive relevant allowances. In addition, reservists and their employers are entitled to claim financial assistance which mitigates the financial impact of the mobilisation.

  • Lord Lester of Herne Hill – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Lord Lester of Herne Hill – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill on 2016-09-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the draft BBC Charter and Agreement will be laid before Parliament.

    Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen

    The BBC’s draft Charter and Framework Agreement published was published on Thursday 15th September.

  • Lord Lexden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Lexden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Lexden on 2016-09-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the challenges that educational institutions face as a result of the points-based Tier 4 of the visa arrangements for overseas students.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    International students make an important contribution during their time here, and they help make our education system one of the best in the world. The UK remains the second most popular destination in the world for international higher education students and we want to continue to attract the brightest and best to study at our world-leading institutions.

  • Baroness Smith of Basildon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Baroness Smith of Basildon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Smith of Basildon on 2016-09-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many prosecutions for female genital mutilation have been taken, or are pending, under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 in each year from 2005 to date.

    Baroness Mobarik

    There has been one prosecution under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 since it came into force.

    The Crown Prosecution Service is unable to report data on pre-charge decisions by offence, because the applicable offence(s) are only confirmed when a defendant is charged and the case proceeds to a first hearing in court.

  • Baroness Smith of Basildon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Baroness Smith of Basildon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Smith of Basildon on 2016-09-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many cases under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 have been referred to the Crown Prosecution Service in each year from 2005 to date.

    Lord Keen of Elie

    While the Crown Prosecution Service and the police work with each other at an early stage on Female Genital Mutilation cases to ensure all avenues of enquiry can be pursued, the CPS only records data on the Case Management System following a positive decision to charge a case.

    The Casework Management System records that one FGM case was charged in 2014 and resulted in an acquittal in 2015.

  • Baroness Smith of Basildon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Baroness Smith of Basildon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Smith of Basildon on 2016-09-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many applications have been made for legal aid that relate to female genital mutilation.

    Baroness Mobarik

    Up to 31 March 2016, 50 applications had been made for legal aid that can be identified as relating to female genital mutilation. This includes all applications for civil legal representation in proceedings concerning Female Genital Mutilation Protection Orders. There may be other legally-aided cases involving issues related to female genital mutilation that cannot be identified from the information recorded by the Legal Aid Agency.

  • Baroness Smith of Basildon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Baroness Smith of Basildon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Smith of Basildon on 2016-09-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Female Genital Mutilation Protection Orders have been (1) applied for, and (2) granted, since the Serious Crime Act 2015 came into force.

    Lord Keen of Elie

    Statistics on Female Genital Mutilation Protection Orders are available on gov.uk. Up to 31 March 2016, 60 applications had been submitted, and 46 Orders had been made.