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  • Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2016-09-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Turkey concerning that government’s response to the attempted coup d’état in July.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    The UK Government has unreservedly condemned the failed attempt to overthrow the democratically elected government of Turkey on 15 July. Both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary spoke to their Turkish counterparts on the day following the coup attempt. The Minister for Europe and the Americas visited Turkey on 20-21 July to reiterate the UK’s support for democracy in Turkey, the first Minister to do so following the coup attempt. During his visit he stressed the need for Turkey to respect human rights and the rule of law, and the importance of taking measures under the State of Emergency that are proportionate and justified. The Foreign Secretary met his Turkish counterpart on 7 September in London.

  • Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2016-09-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their latest assessment of the human rights situation in Zimbabwe.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    ​The British Government’s view is that the human rights situation in Zimbabwe has worsened in recent weeks. We have been particularly concerned by police violence in response to recent protests and demonstrations. As set out in the EU Statement of 30 August, the freedom to demonstrate and present petitions is enshrined in the Zimbabwean constitution, along with other fundamental human rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression, assembly and association.

    This Government made a 2015 manifesto commitment to stand up for the rule of law and human rights in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe remains one of the 30 UK Human Rights Priority Countries, where we monitor and report regularly on human rights and support programmes designed to make abuses less likely. We regularly call, both bilaterally and in partnership with others, for an end to human rights abuses and the restoration of internationally accepted standards.

  • Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2016-09-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their latest assessment of the human rights situation in North Korea.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    The UK is deeply concerned about the appalling human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The UN Commission of Inquiry report, published in 2014, highlighted the severe and systematic human rights violations perpetrated by the regime on its own people. These include summary executions, torture, lack of judicial process, forced labour and prevention of freedom of expression and religion. There is no evidence that the situation is improving. The UK Government will continue to work closely with partners and through international fora to raise its significant concerns about human rights in the DPRK and press for substantial reforms to improve the lives of North Korean citizens. The UK regularly raises our concerns about human rights violations directly with the regime through our Embassy in Pyongyang. The UK will support the annual resolution on DPRK human rights at the forthcoming UN General Assembly to maintain international attention on that country’s dire human rights record. I include with this answer a copy of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights Report 2015 which includes a fuller assessment of the human rights situation in the DPRK.

  • Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2016-09-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to recent reports about cuts by the World Food Programme in aid to internally displaced people in parts of Rakhine State and Kachin State, Burma.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    DFID funds significant food assistance for internally displaced people in Burma through a number of partners. We do not fund the World Food Programme (WFP) for such assistance, but we are informed of their programming decisions. DFID officials visit Rakhine and Kachin regularly to listen to affected communities. We ensure that WFP is made aware of any concerns raised about their assistance. DFID will monitor the impact of recent changes.

  • The Earl of Listowel – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The Earl of Listowel – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Earl of Listowel on 2016-09-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assurances they have received from the media, or its representative bodies, that the issue of children being named before they are charged will be addressed through the new system of press regulation.

    Lord Ashton of Hyde

    The Government is committed to a free and open press and does not interfere with what the press does and does not publish, as long as the press abides by the law. The new system of independent press self-regulation protects press freedom and the industry develops its own standards and codes. The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) handles complaints about its members under the Editors’ Code of Practice. The Independent Monitor for the Press (IMPRESS) is currently consulting on its new Standards Code.

  • Baroness Masham of Ilton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Baroness Masham of Ilton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton on 2016-09-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the replenishment target of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is met at the Pledging Conference in Montreal on 16 September.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    My Right Hon Friend, the Secretary of State for International Development, announced an investment of £1.1billion in the Global Fund, including a commitment to double private sector contributions for tackling malaria, up to a maximum of £200million, and £90 million tied to successful delivery against a performance agreement.

    The UK’s investment will fund 40 million bednets to tackle malaria; provide enough lifesaving anti-retroviral therapy for 1.3 million people with HIV; and support the treatment of 800,000 people with tuberculosis.

  • Baroness McGregor-Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Baroness McGregor-Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness McGregor-Smith on 2016-09-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of the UK’s energy supply was produced from fossil fuels in each year between 1997 and 2015.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    The proportion of the UK’s energy supply produced from fossil fuels in each year between 1997 and 2015 is shown in the table.

    Year

    Proportion (%)

    1997

    88.1

    1998

    88.3

    1999

    88.6

    2000

    89.9

    2001

    89.6

    2002

    89.5

    2003

    89.8

    2004

    90.2

    2005

    89.9

    2006

    90.1

    2007

    91.2

    2008

    91.2

    2009

    88.9

    2010

    89.5

    2011

    87.3

    2012

    87.1

    2013

    85.8

    2014

    84.3

    2015

    82.0

    Data are published by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics (DUKES) 2016, table 1.1.1.

  • Lord Ramsbotham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Lord Ramsbotham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ramsbotham on 2016-09-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the final report of the review of the youth justice system will be published.

    Lord Keen of Elie

    The estimated total cost of the review of the youth justice system is £350,000. This figure is subject to audit at the end of the 2016-17 financial year and may change.

    Ministers are currently considering Charlie Taylor’s review of the youth justice system. The final report and the government’s plans for reform of the youth justice system will be published later in the autumn.

  • Lord Ramsbotham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Lord Ramsbotham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ramsbotham on 2016-09-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the total cost of the review of the youth justice system.

    Lord Keen of Elie

    The estimated total cost of the review of the youth justice system is £350,000. This figure is subject to audit at the end of the 2016-17 financial year and may change.

    Ministers are currently considering Charlie Taylor’s review of the youth justice system. The final report and the government’s plans for reform of the youth justice system will be published later in the autumn.

  • Lord Sharkey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Sharkey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Sharkey on 2016-09-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the absence of proposals in the Neighbourhood Planning Bill, whether they still plan to put the National Infrastructure Commission on a statutory basis; if so, when, and if not, why not.

    Lord O’Neill of Gatley

    To allow the Neighbourhood Planning Bill to focus on essential planning measures, legislation for the National Infrastructure Commission has not be included at this time.

    The Commission is an important part of the government’s overall approach on infrastructure and has already made a significant impact through its first three reports.

    We remain fully committed to the Commission which has a crucial role to play in setting out the country’s infrastructure priorities. We are considering how it can best support the government’s new industrial strategy.