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  • Baroness Tonge – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Baroness Tonge – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2014-06-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the use of the phrase cleaning the stables” by Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and others in relation to Israeli operations in Palestinian areas; and what impact they consider such language will have on relations between the communities there.”

    Baroness Warsi

    The Government has made no assessment on this issue. However, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has made clear that it is vital that all security operations are conducted with due care and proportionate use of force.

  • Lord Ahmed – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Ahmed – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ahmed on 2014-06-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the Bodu Bala Sena Buddhist Power Force” in Sri Lanka.”

    Baroness Warsi

    In the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Human Rights and Democracy Report for 2013, we note that non-governmental organisations documented hundreds of attacks against minority religions, including violence, vandalism, and hate speech in Sri Lanka. We also note that statements by nationalist Buddhist groups, including the Bodu Bala Sena, fuelled concern over rising religious tensions.

    Our High Commissioner to Colombo has discussed these matters with members of the Government of Sri Lanka. We have encouraged early action to promote peaceful co-existence between all communities, noting the importance of ensuring any acts of violence, intimidation or threats are thoroughly investigated and those responsible brought to justice. Officials from our High Commission in Colombo also met with representatives of the Bodu Bala Sena last year in order to discuss the organisation’s activities and religious tensions in Sri Lanka. During the meeting, British officials expressed concern at attacks directed at Muslim and other minority religious communities.

  • Lord Ahmed – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Ahmed – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ahmed on 2014-06-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any representations to the government of Sri Lanka regarding the murder of Muslims and the destruction of commercial property in Colombo.

    Baroness Warsi

    I refer my noble Lord to the reply I gave on 25 June 2014, Official Report, columns WA171-172.

  • Lord Ahmed – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Ahmed – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ahmed on 2014-06-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to ban the leader of the Bodu Bala Sena, Mr Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara, from entering the United Kingdom.

    Lord Taylor of Holbeach

    The Home Office does not routinely comment on individual cases. This is because the Home Office has obligations in law to protect this information.

    I can confirm that any visa application from Mr Gnanasara would be considered in accordance with the Immigration Rules.
    Under the Prevent strategy, the Unacceptable Behaviours policy has prevented a cross section of extremists from entering the UK. This includes excluding individuals for public speaking or publishing material that foments, justifies or glorifies terrorist violence or fosters hatred which might lead to inter-community violence in the UK or otherwise can be demonstrated as providing support for extremists.
    Coming to the UK is a privilege we refuse to extend to those who would subvert our shared values.

  • Bridget Phillipson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Bridget Phillipson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his strategy is for supporting victims of crime.

    Damian Green

    The Government is committed to providing more support than ever to victims of crime, and giving them a louder voice in the criminal justice system. We have implemented a new Victims’ Code that tells people what to expect at every stage of the process. We’re aiming to spend up to £100 million – more than ever before – to support victims to cope and, where possible, recover from the effects of crime.

  • Charlie Elphicke – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Charlie Elphicke – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlie Elphicke on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent representations he has received on reform of the Human Rights Act 1998; and if he will make a statement.

    Damian Green

    I have not received any recent representations on the reform of the Human Rights Act 1998. The Coalition Agreement makes it clear that there will be no major changes to the human rights framework before the election.

  • Stewart Jackson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Stewart Jackson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stewart Jackson on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to encourage prisons in the (a) public and (b) private estate to enable offenders to take part in meaningful paid work and training; and if he will make a statement.

    Jeremy Wright

    We want to see more prisoners engaged in meaningful work and training and, since this Government came to power, the number of hours worked in public sector prisons workshops has risen from 10.6 million to 13.1 million, with a further 1.5 million hours delivered in private prisons.

    We are committed to delivering still more, including through commercial contracts, and we expect prisoners to engage in purposeful activity if they want to earn their privileges.

  • Debbie Abrahams – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Debbie Abrahams – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Debbie Abrahams on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to promote access to justice.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    The Government’s overall reform programme to promote access to justice aims to deliver a simpler justice system that is more accessible to the public; limit the scope for inappropriate litigation and the involvement of lawyers in issues which do not need legal input; and support people in resolving their disputes through simpler, more informal remedies.

  • Robert Halfon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Robert Halfon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Halfon on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assistance his Department makes available to families bereaved by homicide.

    Damian Green

    The Government is committed to ensuring that families bereaved by homicide get the necessary support. The Ministry of Justice grant funded national Homicide Service provides tailored and intensive support based on families’ needs. We also fund a number of organisations that provide peer support and specialist counselling services to the bereaved.

  • Gareth Johnson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Gareth Johnson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Johnson on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that there are sufficient prison places to accommodate people who receive custodial sentences.

    Jeremy Wright

    We are building new accommodation at four existing prisons, changing the role of prisons we do not need for their original purpose, and bringing back into use capacity we did not need in the past. As a result, 2,000 additional prison places will have been opened by April next year, and there will be more adult male prison places at the end of this Parliament than this Government inherited.

    A new 2,000 place prison in Wrexham will also be opened in 2017.