The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2015-11-30.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when construction of the first new SSBN ballistic missile submarine will start at Barrow.
Earl Howe
Whole Boat construction of the first Successor submarine is expected to begin in 2016 subject to the programme’s investment decision
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2015-11-30.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the designed operational life of HMS Vanguard.
Earl Howe
In common with most Royal Navy ships and submarines, the initial operational life planning estimate for the Vanguard class submarines was 25 years. The planning estimates of in-service life for all defence platforms are routinely reviewed and amended when appropriate.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2015-11-30.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they will take to cut off oil supplies to ISIL, and the revenue obtained from them, before they engage in military action in Syria.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The UK has led efforts at the UN to make it illegal for any state, company or individual to trade in oil and oil products with Daesh, including co-sponsoring UN Security Council Resolution 2199 in February 2015. This resolution requires all states to prevent the transfer of economic resources to Daesh. We have worked to ensure that individuals involved in brokering oil deals between Daesh and the Assad regime have been sanctioned by the EU. We work closely, and continually, with allies particularly in the region, to ensure Resolution 2199 is implemented, sanctions are enforced and all smuggling is stopped. We are also working with the private sector to ensure it takes seriously its responsibilities to ensure Daesh cannot access the spare parts and fuel additives it needs for its oil industry to function. On Wednesday 2 December, the democratically-elected House of Commons voted to support UK military action against Daesh in Syria.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2015-11-30.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they have taken to ensure that local authorities do not enter into contracts with companies that also work in countries that they believe are breaking, or have broken, international law and the Geneva Convention.
Lord Bridges of Headley
The new Public Contracts Regulations 2015 impose a legal obligation on public authorities when awarding contracts above certain thresholds to treat EU and GPA suppliers equally. Decisions on sanctions for breaking international law and the Geneva Convention are for the Government’s foreign policy, and it is inappropriate and illegal for local authorities in some cases to prejudice suppliers on the basis of their "beliefs". This policy has been in place for many years under successive governments.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2015-11-30.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about the number of Palestinians killed or injured in October and November.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We are deeply concerned by the recent violence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the number of deaths and injuries of both Palestinians and Israelis during this time. Since the start of the current violence we have spoken regularly to both the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority on the urgent need to de-escalate the tensions. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), discussed the violence with the Israeli Head of Military Intelligence on 24 November. The Deputy Head of Mission at our Embassy in Tel Aviv also raised the issue of the current violence with Israel’s National Security Council Director on 18 November.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2015-11-30.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about reports that Israeli vehicles entered the northern Gaza Strip near Jabalia and created earth mounds to prevent Palestinian farmers from accessing their land.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
While we have not made representations on this specific issue, our Ambassador in Tel Aviv discussed the need to create economic sustainability in the West Bank and Gaza with the Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs, Public Security and Information on 19 November. Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv also discussed the issue of access to Gaza with the Head of the Civil Department of the Israeli Office for the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) on 24 November. During this meeting we welcomed the indefinite continuation of permissions for agricultural exports to Israel and the lifting of restrictions on exporting textiles, furniture and scrap metal to Israel.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2015-11-30.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning the right of Palestinians to education.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
While we have not raised the specific issue of the right of Palestinians to education, the British Government provides financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) to provide essential services, including education. Consequently UK aid will support 35,000 children through primary school over the next four years. We also consistently urge Israel to ease movement and access restrictions across the Occupied Palestinian Territories, not least because of the impact the restrictions have on children and continuity of their education.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2015-11-30.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning the use of hollow-point bullets by the Israel Defence Forces.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have not raised this specific issue with the Israeli authorities. However, our Ambassador in Tel Aviv regularly raises UK concerns over the use of force, including lethal force, most recently on 19 November with the Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs and Public Security. Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv also raised the issue of force with the Head of the Civil Department of the Israeli Office for the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Civil Department, on 24 November and the Israeli National Security Council on 18 November.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick on 2015-11-30.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they plan to take to promote racial diversity in the film industry.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
This Government is committed to promoting diversity in the film industry. We support the British Film Institute’s (BFI) newly launched £1 million Diversity Fund, which works to provide professional development opportunities to people from underrepresented groups, as well as funding to organisations that are looking to support diversity projects. The BFI has also recently extended its Diversity Standards to cover all Film Fund Lottery schemes which support film development, production and distribution, and widen access to film in the UK.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick on 2015-11-30.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report 2015, which found that women are being paid the average wage men earned in 2006.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
New figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that the gender pay gap in the UK remains the lowest on record.
There are now also more women on FTSE Boards and running businesses than ever before, and this year the UK was ranked as the best place in Europe for female entrepreneurs.
I am proud of our achievements, but recognise there is still more we must do. This is why the government is introducing new regulations that will require larger employers to publish their gender pay gap information. This will encourage companies to take action and drive change on this important issue.