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  • Rosie Cooper – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Rosie Cooper – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rosie Cooper on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the extent of persecution of Christian communities in the Middle East.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    We are deeply concerned by the difficulties facing many Christians and religious minorities in the Middle East and deplore all discrimination and constraints on freedom of religion.

    We are committed to supporting the fundamental human right to freedom of religion or belief. We support this right for Christian communities in the Middle East by regularly urging governments at senior levels to uphold the rights of all minorities; building international consensus on freedom of religion or belief; and supporting practical projects on community dialogue with civil society and faith groups.

  • Mike Freer – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Mike Freer – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Freer on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the military capability of Hamas.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    We assess that Hamas maintains the ability to launch rocket attacks and armed attacks through tunnels on Israel from within Gaza.

    We call on Hamas to renounce violence, recognise Israel and accept previously signed agreements.

  • Dame Joan Ruddock – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Dame Joan Ruddock – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dame Joan Ruddock on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he plans to take in response to the conclusions of the Vienna Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons, held in December 2014.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    The UK was represented at the Vienna conference by our Permanent Representative to the International Organisations in Vienna, Susan le Jeune. As the Vienna Conference was a discussion platform there were no formal follow up outcomes agreed. However as stated at the Conference, the UK will continue to follow the step-by-step approach to disarmament through the existing UN disarmament machinery and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

  • Thomas Docherty – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Thomas Docherty – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Thomas Docherty on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other EU member states on proposals to amend EU treaties.

    Mr David Lidington

    I have already visited 24 Member States to discuss EU reform with my counterparts, most recently, Warsaw on 6 March. Leaders across Europe agree that the EU needs to change. We are setting out the case for Britain’s view of the reforms required to make the EU fit for purpose in the 21st Century. We have already made progress: the June European Council agreed that EU reform was necessary and that the UK’s concerns should be addressed.

  • Fiona O’Donnell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Fiona O’Donnell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona O’Donnell on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his priorities are for the UK’s relationship with Sri Lanka.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    The UK will work to reinvigorate its relationship with the people of Sri Lanka and President Sirisena’s government. We already have strong links in trade, education, tourism and between our people. The President’s election is a new opportunity for Sri Lanka to build a stable, prosperous and inclusive future for all Sri Lankans. President Sirisena’s early visit to the UK from 7-11 March clearly expressed a renewed friendship between our two countries. The UK has offered support to the newly elected President and Prime Minister as they seek to implement their ambitious reform programme and take steps to reconcile all Sri Lankan people. However, we have been clear we want to see Sri Lanka deliver on its commitments to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights by September.

  • Andrew Griffiths – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Andrew Griffiths – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Griffiths on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children were excluded from school for (a) possession and (b) supply of illegal drugs in each of the last five years.

    Mr Nick Gibb

    The Department for Education does not collect information on the number of pupils excluded from school for the possession and supply of illegal drugs. The Department publishes information on the number of pupils excluded permanently or for a fixed period for ‘drug and alcohol’ related reasons. Guidance to schools clarifies that this category includes exclusions for alcohol abuse, drug dealing, inappropriate use of prescribed drugs, possession of illegal drugs, smoking and substance abuse.

    Information showing the number of drug and alcohol related exclusions for 2008/09 to 2012/13 has been included in the attached Excel document. Further information on permanent and fixed period exclusions can be found in the “Statistics: exclusions” series [1].

    [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-exclusions

    “

  • Andrew Griffiths – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Andrew Griffiths – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Griffiths on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were admitted to A&E departments for (a) alcohol-specific and (b) alcohol-related reasons in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

    Jane Ellison

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 January 2015, Question number 220836.

    “

  • Andrew Griffiths – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Andrew Griffiths – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Griffiths on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the number of registered sex offenders who travel abroad each year.

    Lynne Featherstone

    Public protection is a priority for this government, and the notification requirements for registered sex offenders form an invaluable tool in the management of offenders within the community. The UK has some of the toughest
    powers in the world to deal with sex offenders and we are committed to ensuring that the system is as robust as it can be.

    In 2012 this government extended and strengthened the system, including requiring offenders subject to the to the notification requirements to notify the police of all foreign travel.

    Registered sex offenders are managed by the local police force, and data on the number of registered sex offenders who travel abroad are not held centrally.

  • John Stanley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    John Stanley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Stanley on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will issue a direction to the Chief Executive of Network Rail to reply to the letter of 3 June 2014 from the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling, and his subsequent letter pressing for a reply, regarding the establishment of a business and innovation centre at the Station Masters House at Edenbridge Town Station.

    Claire Perry

    Network Rail operates at arm’s-length from the Department, without day-to-day supervision, and is not expected to involve Ministers in its regular operational decisions such as the establishment of a business and innovation centre at Edenbridge Town station.

    However, this is an unacceptable delay and Network Rail advises that Mark Carne’s reply to the right Hon Member for Tonbridge and Malling is due to be sent on 23 January.

    Network Rail held a site meeting in December with the train operator Southern and the group proposing to use the Station Masters House, to look at the rooms in question and to discuss the proposals for future use. Network Rail is continuing its discussions about the lease with all parties to find a way forward in the near future. Both Network Rail and Southern are supportive of this proposal.

  • Grahame M. Morris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Grahame M. Morris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame M. Morris on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, which organisations he has consulted on the negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

    Matthew Hancock

    The Government is committed to full and effective consultation on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and has discussed it with a broad range of stakeholders across the UK. Organisations consulted include business representative bodies, such as the CBI and the Federation of Small Business, and trades unions including the TUC, Unison, the GMB and others. We have also regularly consulted Which? to discuss the potential benefits to consumers and of a coalition of civil society campaigners, including the Trade Justice Movement, Friends of the Earth, War on Want and the World Development Movement.