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Keith Vaz – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2016-05-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how the Government is ensuring accountability for (a) abuses of the ceasefire and (b) breaches of international law by all parties of the conflict in Yemen.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We encourage all parties to respect the ceasefire that began on 10 April and worked closely with the UN to achieve this. The commitment of the parties to continue the work of the Coordination and De-escalation Committee, established at the talks in December, is positive and we encourage all parties to work towards a sustainable peace. We are aware of reports of alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) by actors in the conflict and take these very seriously. We regularly raise the importance of compliance with International Humanitarian Law with the Saudi Arabian Government and other members of the military coalition and continue to engage with them on this. We have also raised our concerns with the Houthis on the importance of compliance with IHL.

01/01/2023
Keith Vaz – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2016-05-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how the Government is supporting the current UN-sponsored peace talks in Yemen; and what steps his Department is taking to bring an end to the conflict.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

A political solution is the best way to bring long-term stability to Yemen and end the conflict. We fully support the UN facilitated talks which began on 21 April in Kuwait. We are working closely with the UN to encourage parties to engage in good faith, without preconditions, and to respect the ceasefire which started on 10 April. The UK strongly supports the work of UN Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed and commends his efforts to getting both sides to where we are now.

01/01/2023
Keith Vaz – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2016-05-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to tackle extremism and facilitate youth engagement in Yemen.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

Peace talks are the top priority. A political solution is the best way to bring long-term stability to Yemen. We are working closely with the UN to encourage parties to engage in good faith, without preconditions in the UN-facilitated talks which started on 21 April in Kuwait. Our support to the UN Council Resolution 2216 shows our commitment to engaging with civil society and youth as conditions allow. We are working closely with international partners to share learning and expertise in the support of positive alternative messages, and disruption of poisonous extremism propaganda.

01/01/2023
David Anderson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Anderson on 2016-05-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the implications for his policies are of the 19 January 2016 Motion for a Resolution of the European Parliament on the situation in Ethiopia and the report by UN special rapporteurs of 21 January 2016 on Ethiopia’s use of force against Oromo protestors; and if he will make a statement.

James Duddridge

The UK Government is aware of both the European parliament’s Motion for a Resolution on the situation in Ethiopia and the UN special rapporteurs’ report on Ethiopia’s alleged use of force against protestors in Oromia. We remain deeply concerned about the handling of demonstrations in Oromia and the reported deaths of a number of protestors, and have repeatedly made representations to the Ethiopian Government over the ongoing situation in that region. Justine Greening, the Secretary of State for International Development, raised our concerns with Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on 21 January, as did I, with the Ethiopian Foreign Minister, Dr Tedros, at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa on 27 January. Our Ambassador also raised the issue with Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on 26 April. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and raise our concerns with the Ethiopian government, including on the use of force.

We will continue to work with our partners, including the US, in urging the Ethiopian government to use restraint in their handling of the protests in Oromia.

01/01/2023
David Anderson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Anderson on 2016-05-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the implications for his policies are of the position of the US State Department on Ethiopia’s use of anti-terror legislation to detain politicians and protestors, set out in its press release of 29 April 2016; and if he will make a statement.

James Duddridge

The UK Government is aware of both the European parliament’s Motion for a Resolution on the situation in Ethiopia and the UN special rapporteurs’ report on Ethiopia’s alleged use of force against protestors in Oromia. We remain deeply concerned about the handling of demonstrations in Oromia and the reported deaths of a number of protestors, and have repeatedly made representations to the Ethiopian Government over the ongoing situation in that region. Justine Greening, the Secretary of State for International Development, raised our concerns with Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on 21 January, as did I, with the Ethiopian Foreign Minister, Dr Tedros, at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa on 27 January. Our Ambassador also raised the issue with Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on 26 April. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and raise our concerns with the Ethiopian government, including on the use of force.

We will continue to work with our partners, including the US, in urging the Ethiopian government to use restraint in their handling of the protests in Oromia.

01/01/2023
Jess Phillips – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2016-05-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on the establishment of an independent international investigation into reported violations of international humanitarian law in the conflict in Yemen.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We want to see the Saudi Government investigate allegations of breaches of international humanitarian law (IHL) which are attributed to them; and for their investigations to be timely, thorough and conclusive. Saudi Arabia has publicly stated that it is investigating reports of alleged violations of IHL, and that any lessons learned will be acted upon. We are also concerned by reports of alleged IHL violations by Houthi/Saleh pro-government forces. We have raised our concerns with the Houthis on the importance of compliance with IHL and the need for thorough and conclusive investigations.

01/01/2023
Jess Phillips – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2016-05-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions the Government has had with the Saudi Arabian government on the progress of that country’s national commission to investigate violations of international humanitarian law in the conflict in Yemen.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

As announced by the Saudis on 29 February, British and other foreign advisors will provide advice to the independent committee that will assess Saudi Arabian military activity in Yemen. We are standing by to assist this activity as required.

01/01/2023
David Amess – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2016-05-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 21 April 2016 to Question 34094, by what deadline clinical commissioning groups will be required to report on whether they have increased investment in mental health services above their overall increase in allocation each year.

Alistair Burt

Spending on mental health is expected to increase to £11.7 billion and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are required to continue to increase their spend on mental health each year.

NHS England’s published planning guidance for 2015/16 for commissioners made the expectation clear that each CCG’s spend on mental health services in 2015/16 should increase in real terms, and grow by at least the same percentage as each CCG’s allocation increase.

Detail on planned spend on mental health is captured as part of the National Health Service financial plan returns for 2016/17 with follow up as part of the plan assurance process. This information is being assessed during May by NHS England.

01/01/2023

Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-05-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of hotel bookings his Department made for its (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison

The Department implemented the Crown Commercial Services solution for travel awarded to Redfern Ltd on 1 July 2012 with all information taken from that system. Hotel bookings prior to that date were facilitated via an alternative provider with the information requested not being readily available. Total spend on hotel bookings by financial year broken down by Ministers, special advisers and all officials is in the table below split by overseas and United Kingdom arrangements.

Table 1

REDFERN TRAVEL LTD	*July 2012-2013	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	Grand Total
Hotels Accommodation (Overseas) Total of which:	£19,771	£36,941	£86,181	£72,738	£215,631
Minister	£153	£223	£808		£1,184
Official	£19,618	£36,718	£85,306	£72,738	£214,380
Special Adviser			£67		£67

Hotels Accommodation (UK) Total of which:	£242,946	£369,386	£319,169	£272,203	£1,203,703
Minister	£118	£1,491	£747	£312	£2,667
Official	£242,828	£367,895	£318,337	£271,785	£1,200,845
Special Adviser			£85	£107	£192
Grand Total -UK and Overseas	£262,717	£406,326	£405,350	£344,941	£1,419,334

Expenditure information taken from the Department’s I-Expenses system, Table 2, contains hotel costs incurred by officials that was later reimbursed. There are no hotel transactions relating to Ministers or special advisers within the system however additional information on expenses for Ministers and special advisers may exist where claimed via the manual expense claim form (EXP1). Investigation of this source to identify costs associated with hotels would incur disproportionate costs.

Table 2
I-EXPENSES	This covers Accommodation UK and overseas for all staff. *No Ministers or Special Adviser costs

Sum of Amount
Financial Year	Expense Type	Total
2012-13	130 Hotels Accommodation (UK)	£15,861
	131 Hotels Accommodation (Overseas)	£14,128
2012-13 Total		£29,990
2013-14		£18,123
2014-15	130 Hotels Accommodation (UK)	£8,252
	131 Hotels Accommodation (Overseas)	£12,107
2014-15 Total		£20,358
2015-16	130 Hotels Accommodation (UK)	£4,933
	131 Hotels Accommodation (Overseas)	£6,918
2015-16 Total		£11,851
Grand Total		£80,322

01/01/2023

Gloria De Piero – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gloria De Piero on 2016-05-09.

Alistair Burt

The information requested is not collected in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following table.

Number of dentists with National Health Service activity, for specified years ending 31 March – selected organisations

Organisation Name	2009-10	2012-13	2014-15
Nottinghamshire County Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT)	331	..	..
NHS Mansfield and Ashfield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)	..	87	85
NHS Newark and Sherwood CCG	..	48	53
NHS Nottingham North and East CCG	..	96	103
NHS Nottingham West CCG	..	52	60
NHS Rushcliffe CCG	..	56	69

Sources: Health and Social Care Information Centre; NHS Dental Services of the NHS Business Services Authority

Notes:

1. Dentists are defined as performers with NHS activity recorded in each financial year by FP17 forms.

2. Dentists will be counted more than once if they have a contract in more than one CCG or PCT (2009-10).

Therefore a total for the specified CCGs is not provided in 2012-13 and 2014-15.

3. Data consists of performers in General Dental Services (GDS), Personal Dental Services (PDS) and Trust-led Dental Services (TDS).

4. ‘ .. ‘ denotes data not applicable

5. As at 1 April 2013 CCG replaced PCTs. 2009-10 data are not available by CCG.

01/01/2023