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  • Lord Moonie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord Moonie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moonie on 2015-12-01.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what additional costs have been incurred as a consequence of activities by UK armed forces in the Middle East in this financial year, and whether those costs will be funded by contingencies or from additional funds provided by HM Treasury.

    Earl Howe

    The additional costs that have been incurred as a consequence of activities by UK Armed Forces in the Middle East to date this Financial Year are currently estimated at £102.1 million. This includes Counter Daesh in Iraq and Syria, and Defence activity in the wider Gulf region. These additional costs have been met from the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, the Deployed Military Activity Pool and the HM Treasury Special Reserve.

  • Lord Moonie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord Moonie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moonie on 2015-12-01.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much ordnance has been released by UK armed forces over the Middle East this year, and what plans they have to order replacement stocks.

    Earl Howe

    From 1 January 2015 to 3 December 2015 the UK Armed Forces released 589 weapons in support of operations in the Middle East. All were targeted against Daesh in Iraq and Syria.

    Munitions stockpiles are sufficient to support operational demand. Stockpiles are determined through an ongoing process which links industrial capacity to Defence requirements to ensure adequate replenishment of stocks.

  • Lord Moonie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord Moonie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moonie on 2015-12-01.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many UK military personnel are currently forward deployed in support of operations in the Middle East.

    Earl Howe

    There are over 2,000 military personnel deployed to the Middle East supporting military operations and the UK military presence in the Gulf.

  • Lord Moonie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Moonie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moonie on 2015-12-01.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much NHS England pays for paracetamol, and how much paracetamol it procures annually.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    NHS England has advised that it does not procure paracetamol. This is done by dispensing contractors in primary care and by hospital trusts in secondary care.

  • Lord Laird – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Lord Laird – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2015-12-01.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Dunlop on 24 November (HL3723 and HL3752), whether the answer includes all security service personnel who served in Northern Ireland.

    Lord Dunlop

    I have nothing further to add to my earlier response of 27 November 2015 (HL3723 and HL3752).

  • Lord Laird – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Lord Laird – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2015-12-01.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Dunlop on 25 November (HL3646), on what dates over the last 24 months the government of the Republic of Ireland attended in any capacity meetings held under section 1 of the 1998 Belfast Agreement; where the meetings were held; and what was discussed.

    Lord Dunlop

    The Government has held regular meetings with the Irish Government over the last two years. The Irish Government has not been in any negotiations or been involved in discussions about Strand one issues under the Belfast Agreement. As the Government set out in its Northern Ireland manifesto at the election, we are committed to upholding the well-established three-stranded approach.

  • Baroness Rebuck – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Baroness Rebuck – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Rebuck on 2015-12-01.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of prisoners’ access to course-specific books and study materials to support their studies towards recognised further or higher education qualifications, and what plans they have to improve current arrangements.

    Lord Faulks

    Offender Learning and Skills providers are responsible for ensuring learners can access course specific books and study materials. Books may also be accessed through prison libraries and sent by families and friends.

    On 8 September the Secretary of State asked Dame Sally Coates to lead a review of education in prisons which will report in due course.

  • Baroness Rebuck – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Baroness Rebuck – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Rebuck on 2015-12-01.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to reintroduce automatic post-study work visas, in particular for postgraduate international students working at recognised higher education institutions in the UK.

    Lord Bates

    We have an excellent post-study offer for international graduates seeking to undertake skilled work in the UK after their studies. There is no limit on the number who can remain, if they secure a graduate job paying an appropriate salary.

    The Government has no plans to reintroduce the Tier 1 (Post Study Work) visa, which saw large numbers of fraudulent applications and graduates who remained unemployed or in low-skilled work. We closed this visa category in 2012 and have replaced it with a more selective system.

  • Lord Kilclooney – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Lord Kilclooney – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kilclooney on 2015-12-01.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Dunlop on 1 December (HL3644), which UK members and UK associate members attended the British–Irish Parliamentary Assembly in Cheltenham on 16 and 17 November.

    Lord Dunlop

    The Northern Ireland Office is not responsible for the administration of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly.

    However, I am advised by the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly secretariat that the following full members of the UK delegation to the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly took part in the Assembly’s plenary session held in Cheltenham from 15 to 17 November 2015:

    David Anderson MP

    Lord Bew

    Baroness Blood

    Andrew Bridgen MP

    Deidre Brock MP

    Oliver Colvile MP

    Lord Dubs

    Mark Durkan MP

    Paul Farrelly MP

    Lord Glentoran

    Helen Jones MP

    Danny Kinahan MP

    Rt Hon Lord Mawhinney

    Conor McGinn MP

    Nigel Mills MP

    Laurence Robertson MP

    Andrew Rosindell MP

    Lord Skelmersdale

    Robin Walker MP.

    In addition, a number of full and associate members who had initially committed to attend the plenary session withdrew at short notice.

  • Lord Scriven – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Scriven – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Scriven on 2015-12-01.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the Upper Tribunal’s decision in MSM (journalists; political opinion; risk) Somalia [2015] UKUT 00413 (IAC), what plans they have immediately to revise their country-specific bulletins, and how they will now apply their discretion to asylum and immigration cases.

    Lord Bates

    We do not believe our country specific bulletins are at odds with the Upper Tribunal’s decision in MSM (Somalia) such that they require urgent revision. However, we are constantly reviewing our country information and guidance to ensure we reflect the most up-to-date situation and caselaw.

    A fundamental principle of the 1951 Refugee Convention is that each case is considered on its own merits. That is the approach taken by the Home Office.