The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assumptions about numbers returning to work underpin the benefit cost savings forecast for Help to Work in the Autumn Statement; and if he will make a statement.
Esther McVey
The information requested is not available.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the proportion of new homes planned for construction in 2014-15 that will be (a) wheelchair accessible and (b) built to lifetime homes standards.
Stephen Williams
DCLG does not collect information on the number of wheelchair-accessible or lifetime homes standard planned for 2014-15.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his sources of advice are on security and terrorism in the part of Western Sahara not occupied by Morocco.
Hugh Robertson
We are open to all relevant sources of information on security and terrorism East of the Berm including MINURSO, which has a presence in this area.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the UK position is on the future status of Jerusalem.
Hugh Robertson
The Government considers that Jerusalem has the status of a corpus separatum as defined by the 1947 UN Partition Plan. Although we accept de facto Israeli control of West Jerusalem we do not recognise Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem, which we consider to be occupied territory. Jerusalem holds particular significance for many groups around the globe, especially the three Abrahamic faiths of Islam, Judaism and Christianity.
We believe that a solution to Jerusalem must be sought as part of a negotiated settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and the solution must allow for all those people for whom Jerusalem means so much to access and enjoy it.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Sheridan on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the president of Sudan regarding the death sentence given to Meriam Yehya Ibrahim.
Mark Simmonds
The President of Sudan is indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and has refused to cooperate. In common with other EU countries, we have a policy of having no contact with fugitives from the ICC unless it is essential. However, we have raised Meriam’s conviction in the strongest terms with Sudanese Ministers, including by summoning the Chargé d’Affaires to the Foreign Office on 19 May, at the request of the Foreign Secretary. Immediately following her conviction, I released a statement describing her conviction as barbaric and calling upon the Government of Sudan to respect the right to freedom of religion and international human rights laws as enshrined in its own constitution. The Parliamentary-Under Secretary of State at the Department for International Development, my Hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Ms Featherstone), also raised this issue with the Foreign Minister of Sudan on 20 May.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Sheridan on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of his policy on binding votes for remuneration committees.
Jenny Willott
The Government’s reforms to increase the transparency of executive pay include a requirement that quoted companies put their remuneration policy to a binding vote of the company’s shareholders, at minimum, every three years.
Shareholders also have an annual advisory vote on the annual remuneration report, covering what has been paid. Where this is rejected, the company will be required to re-submit their remuneration policy to a binding vote at the AGM the following year.
It is too soon to form firm conclusions about the impact of the Government reforms, which only came into force in October last year.
The Government is monitoring the impact of the reforms and will be taking stock of their impact after the voting season is over.
The Government is keeping this policy area under review.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Sheridan on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will request UK-based companies to make publicly available impact studies on how their sourcing practices affect small-scale farmers in developing countries.
Lynne Featherstone
The UK Companies Act 2006 includes reporting requirements for UK-domiciled businesses to report on the social and environmental impacts of their investments. DFID does not lead on UK company reporting, but we are working closely with other Government Departments, including the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to support improved transparency and accountability of UK businesses, in particular where they impact on development.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Sheridan on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with Kellogg’s about its working relationships with small-scale farmers.
Lynne Featherstone
Kellogg’s is not currently one of DFID’s partners on the issue of working relationships with small-scale farmers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Sheridan on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with (a) UK-based companies and (b) companies selling products in the UK about the effect of their sourcing practices on small-scale farmers in developing countries.
Lynne Featherstone
We regularly have discussions with UK based companies about a range of issues including supply chains and how they can improve development impacts.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Sheridan on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with (a) UK-based companies and (b) companies selling products in the UK about (i) how they are ensuring women in the supply chain are empowered to get their rights and (ii) whether they have signed up to the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles.
Lynne Featherstone
We have regular discussions with UK based companies about a range of issues including supply chains and women’s economic empowerment.