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  • Andrew Rosindell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Andrew Rosindell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the number of new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa.

    Grant Shapps

    DFID is focussing its bilateral programme on reducing new HIV infection rates in southern Africa, the region hardest-hit by the epidemic. Our efforts are focused on the integration of HIV prevention and treatment services within sexual and reproductive health programmes. A particular emphasis is on the needs of women and girls and those populations most at risk.

    DFID is increasingly working through multilateral organisations, which can work in many more countries than the UK can reach on its own and at a much larger scale. That is why the UK made a commitment of up to a £1 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) for the 2014–16 replenishment.

  • Stephen Gethins – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Stephen Gethins – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Gethins on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will take steps to ensure that all parties involved in the conflict in Yemen allow unimpeded humanitarian access (a) into and (b) within the country to reach people in need.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    The UK continues to call on all parties to facilitate rapid, safe and unhindered access to all people in need in Yemen, and to lift any restrictions on commercial and humanitarian shipping.

    The UK is one of the largest donors to the crisis in Yemen and has announced £75 million to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, focused on the most urgent life-saving needs. UK aid is providing vital medical supplies, water, food and emergency shelter, as well as supporting UN work to co-ordinate the international humanitarian response.

  • Stephen Gethins – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Stephen Gethins – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Gethins on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect of the ongoing de facto blockade of Yemen by the government of Yemen and the Saudi-led coalition on (a) aid and (b) commercial supplies to that country.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    The conflict in Yemen has resulted in severe restrictions on imports of humanitarian and commercial supplies into the country, including essential fuel, food and medicines. According to the UN, since April, Yemen has received 2.1 million metric tonnes of food (90% through commercial imports and 10% through humanitarian aid) but only 25% of its estimated fuel needs.

    The UK continues to call on all parties to facilitate unimpeded and immediate humanitarian access to all people in need in Yemen, and to lift any restrictions on commercial and humanitarian shipping.

    The UK is one of the largest donors to the crisis in Yemen and has announced £75 million to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, focused on the most urgent life-saving needs. UK aid is providing vital medical supplies, water, food and emergency shelter, as well as supporting UN work to co-ordinate the international humanitarian response.

  • Stephen Gethins – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Stephen Gethins – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Gethins on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the risk of famine in Yemen; and what assessment she has made of the possible humanitarian implications of famine in the Middle East and North Africa.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    The UN World Food Programme has warned that Yemen is “one step away from famine”. Over 12 million people – almost half of the population – are struggling to find enough food to eat. Of those, 6 million people are facing severe food shortages. In Hodeidah city alone, UNICEF have warned that 96,000 children are starving and at risk of dying. The ongoing conflict continues to affect imports of commercial and humanitarian supplies – especially essential fuel, food and medicines – into Yemen and the distribution of food to those who need it most.

    The UK is one of the largest donors to the crisis in Yemen and has announced £75 million to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, focused on the most urgent life-saving needs. UK aid is providing vital medical supplies, water, food and emergency shelter, as well as supporting UN work to co-ordinate the international humanitarian response.

    Despite severe food shortages, there has not yet been a significant movement of people from Yemen to neighbouring countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Djibouti and Somalia have received the highest number of refugees since the escalation of the conflict in Yemen in March 2015.To improve the living conditions of migrants and refugees from Yemen in Djibouti, the UK is supporting the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organisation for Migration with in-kind assistance consisting of shelter kits, water containers, family kitchen sets, blankets, hygiene kits and solar lanterns. The UK is also providing a package of food, health and shelter assistance to refugees from Yemen in Somalia.

  • Andrew Rosindell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Andrew Rosindell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to amend the US-UK extradition treaty to make the legal requirements for extradition the same for US and UK citizens.

    James Brokenshire

    Under the UK-US Treaty there is no practical difference in the treatment of UK and US nationals, or indeed the nationals of any other country. This was also the conclusion of the independent Review of the UK’s Extradition Arrangements which the Home Secretary asked Sir Scott Baker to conduct, which stated “We have concluded that the United States/United Kingdom Treaty does not operate in an unbalanced manner” and that “there is no practical difference between the information submitted to and from the United States”. Changes were made to the operation of the Treaty in the last Parliament, such as the introduction of the ‘forum bar’ under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. The Government believes that the Treaty is operating fairly.

  • Thangam Debbonaire – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Thangam Debbonaire – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Thangam Debbonaire on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons her Department did not renew the Choices contract in detention centres; and what assessment the Government has made of the effect of that decision on the number of people in detention taking up voluntary return and being removed from the UK.

    James Brokenshire

    Additional packages of assistance for those detained pending removal to depart the UK were stopped in March 2014. This reflects the need for those who are here illegally to make a voluntary return at the earliest stage. This should occur before enforcement action and detention is required. Since this change, the overall number of illegal migrants whose voluntary departure is facilitated by the Home Office and its partners has continued to increase.

  • Kate Osamor – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Kate Osamor – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Osamor on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to clarify the administrative requirements on applicants for indefinite leave to remain (a) in general and (b) in respect of whether the date on a letter from her Department on the date on which it is received by an applicant dictates the period within which the applicant must respond.

    James Brokenshire

    The administrative requirements to which applicants for indefinite leave to remain are subject are set out at https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/settle-in-the-uk. Once the applicant has navigated to the correct application form, detailed guidance relevant to the specific application is provided. This information is reviewed regularly, with a view to ensuring it is as clear as possible. Applicants may receive letters requesting further information. Two of these specify that the information must be submitted within a given number of working days of the date of the letter, while the third does not. This is now being clarified.

  • Kate Osamor – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Kate Osamor – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Osamor on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will conduct a review into the efficiency and effectiveness of administrative handling of cases.

    James Brokenshire

    There are no plans for a specific review of the administrative handling of immigration applications. UKVI is, however, committed to the principles of continuous improvement and to applying these to ensure processes are efficient and effective.

  • Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department’s consultation, Enabling closer working between the Emergency Services, whether firefighters employed by police and crime commissioners will retain the right to take part in industrial action; and if he will make a statement.

    Greg Clark

    The Department for Communities and Local Government, the Home Office and the Department of Health led joint consultation ‘Enabling closer working between the Emergency Services’ has made clear that should Police and Crime Commissioners assume responsibility for fire and rescue services, the important distinction between operational policing and firefighting will be maintained. The consultation did not propose to change the current rules around industrial action.

  • Thangam Debbonaire – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Thangam Debbonaire – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Thangam Debbonaire on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many transit visas for Syrian nationals have been (a) granted and (b) refused in each of the last five years.

    James Brokenshire

    The information requested is shown in the attached table.

    The latest quarterly Home Office immigration statistics on entry clearance visas are published in ‘Immigration Statistics, April-June 2015’, available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-statistics