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  • Gavin Robinson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Gavin Robinson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Robinson on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the Armed Forces Covenant applies to Northern Ireland.

    Mark Lancaster

    Since the launch of the Armed Forces Covenant in 2011 the Ministry of Defence has worked closely with Northern Ireland Government Departments, Service charities and other groups to build on existing measures to support the Armed Forces Community. In 2013, the Select Committee on Northern Ireland Affairs reported that, less some specific areas, Covenant measures were being applied in Northern Ireland.

    I acknowledge that the Armed Forces Covenant does not enjoy the same level of awareness or appreciation in Northern Ireland as in other parts of the UK. However, I am clear that every effort is being made to implement the Covenant against the particular nuances of the Northern Irish political and legal environment. The Ministry of Defence and other parties work tirelessly to ensure good relationships help develop improved understanding of specific needs and I have been impressed by the way in which solutions to these needs are generated in a focussed and professional manner. Such provision is fully commensurate with the aims and objectives of the Covenant, whether it is branded as such or not.

    Service personnel in Northern Ireland are well-catered for under the auspices of the Covenant and are at no particular disadvantage, although more work is needed to identify the needs of those within the veterans community. This work is ongoing, well-resourced, and fully recognised as activity provided within the scope of the Armed Forces Covenant.

  • Ruth Cadbury – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Ruth Cadbury – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ruth Cadbury on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Government plans to review legislation on joint enterprise.

    Mike Penning

    Joint enterprise law has enabled some of the most serious offenders to be brought to justice. It ensures that if a crime is committed by two or more people, all those involved can potentially be charged and convicted of that offence.

    The Justice Committee made recommendations for a review of the law during the last Parliament, which the Government has been considering carefully.

    Ministers are also mindful that the Supreme Court is looking at a case which might change the way the law in this area is applied. The Government will decide how to proceed after the Court has delivered its judgment.

  • Mark Pritchard – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Mark Pritchard – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will introduce tele-teaching in prisons and young offending facilities to improve general education and reduce reoffending rates.

    Andrew Selous

    A review of the quality of education in adult prisons and young offender institutions for 18-20 year olds is currently being led by Dame Sally Coates and will report in due course. Options for improving education outcomes will be considered, including looking at the most effective use of Distance Learning and ICT. Dame Sally is due to report later this year.

    The review of the youth justice system in England and Wales being led by Charlie Taylor will also consider education in the youth secure estate and will conclude later this year.

  • Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many times pest controllers have been called to each prison and youth estate in each of the last five years.

    Andrew Selous

    The information requested is not held centrally.

  • Jake Berry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Jake Berry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jake Berry on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many applications by grandparents for permission to apply for a child arrangement order were active in the final quarter of 2015.

    Caroline Dinenage

    This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  • Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to his contribution during the Urgent Question on 11 January 2016, Official Report, column 1573, when he was first made aware of the allegations made by Panorama about Medway Secure Training College.

    Andrew Selous

    The Secretary of State was first made aware of Panorama’s investigation on 30 December 2015. The Panorama team briefed the Secretary of State on the nature of their allegations on 6 January. The Youth Justice Board (YJB) was informed on 30 December 2015. To ensure the safety of the children at Medway, the YJB ceased placements into the centre with immediate effect. The YJB has increased their own monitoring at Medway and the independent advocacy service provided by Barnardo’s.

  • Keir Starmer – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Keir Starmer – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keir Starmer on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he has taken to introduce a Victims’ Law since May 2015.

    Mike Penning

    In the Queen’s Speech we made a commitment to bring forward measures to increase the rights of victims of crime. Further detail on our plans will be published in due course.

  • Stephen Phillips – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Stephen Phillips – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Phillips on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to ensure the economic empowerment of women in the developing world.

    Justine Greening

    The economic empowerment of women is a top priority for my Department. In September 2015 at the UN General Assembly and Post-2015 Summit, the UK and UNWomen hosted the event Transforming Economies: Empowering Women and Girls. The Call to Action launched at this event secured over 150 commitments to action from governments, development institutions, civil society and the private sector. These will all help deliver the Global Goal targets for women’s economic empowerment.

    We support a wide range of programmes to increase women’s opportunities for employment, ownership and control over economic assets and ability to start and run businesses. Since 2011, DFID have helped 2.5m women to improve their land and property rights and 35m women to access financial services.

  • Ms Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Ms Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ms Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department has taken with the UN and others to establish a regular, scheduled UN-facilitated cargo flight service into Yemen.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    DFID has provided £1 million to the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) to establish a regular flight between Djibouti and Sana’a for the exclusive use of the humanitarian community. UNHAS has provided 88 flights since the crisis began, carrying 2,129 passengers and 8.6 metric tons of essential medical supplies. 14 UN agencies and 28 NGOs are now using the service. We are also working with UNHAS to establish other regular flight services to Yemen.

  • Ms Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Ms Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ms Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to support the access of (a) all children in Yemen and (b) children displaced by the conflict in that country to high-quality education.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    UK humanitarian aid to Yemen is currently focused on urgent life-saving needs, in particular food, nutrition, health, water and sanitation. However, DFID has also supported education in Yemen through the Social Fund for Development (SFD). Since 2010, more than 240,000 children have attended schools supported by SFD. DFID support to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to rehabilitate two schools is also helping 3,500 refugee and Yemeni children to resume education.