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  • Lord Ahmed – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Ahmed – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ahmed on 2014-06-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the Bodu Bala Sena Buddhist Power Force” in Sri Lanka.”

    Baroness Warsi

    In the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Human Rights and Democracy Report for 2013, we note that non-governmental organisations documented hundreds of attacks against minority religions, including violence, vandalism, and hate speech in Sri Lanka. We also note that statements by nationalist Buddhist groups, including the Bodu Bala Sena, fuelled concern over rising religious tensions.

    Our High Commissioner to Colombo has discussed these matters with members of the Government of Sri Lanka. We have encouraged early action to promote peaceful co-existence between all communities, noting the importance of ensuring any acts of violence, intimidation or threats are thoroughly investigated and those responsible brought to justice. Officials from our High Commission in Colombo also met with representatives of the Bodu Bala Sena last year in order to discuss the organisation’s activities and religious tensions in Sri Lanka. During the meeting, British officials expressed concern at attacks directed at Muslim and other minority religious communities.

  • Baroness Tonge – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Baroness Tonge – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2014-06-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the use of the phrase cleaning the stables” by Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and others in relation to Israeli operations in Palestinian areas; and what impact they consider such language will have on relations between the communities there.”

    Baroness Warsi

    The Government has made no assessment on this issue. However, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has made clear that it is vital that all security operations are conducted with due care and proportionate use of force.

  • Lord Barnett – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Barnett – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Barnett on 2014-06-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions the Chancellor of the Exchequer has had with the Governor of the Bank of England on possible increases in interest rates; and what was the outcome of those discussions.

    Lord Deighton

    The UK’s monetary policy framework, set out in the Bank of England Act 1998, gives operational responsibility for monetary policy to the independent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). The Chancellor of the Exchequer has frequent discussions with the Governor of the Bank of England on a wide range of issues on the UK economy.

  • Lord Smith of Finsbury – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Smith of Finsbury – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Smith of Finsbury on 2014-06-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the decision by the government of the United States to deny certain Ugandan officials entry into the United States following the passage of the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Act in February; whether they have plans to introduce similar measures in the United Kingdom; and whether they intend to encourage other European Union countries to enact similar measures.

    Baroness Warsi

    The UK shares the concerns of the US about the Anti-Homosexuality Act in Uganda and notes the US’s recent decision to apply existing visa mechanisms, redirect some healthcare support, end support for a community policing project, and cancel a military aviation exercise in response to the passing of the legislation. The UK is working closely with international partners to register its concerns, to seek assurances about the protection of individuals, and to initiate dialogue about improving protection of minority rights.

    The UK is engaging closely with civil society groups in Uganda working to support inclusivity, diversity, and tolerance, and to consult with them about the most appropriate next steps.

    With our support, EU Heads of Mission in Kampala met the Ugandan government on 28 March to initiate a strengthened political dialogue under Article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement. Discussions are ongoing.

  • Lord Mawson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Mawson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mawson on 2014-06-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many full-time equivalent general practitioners have been employed by the National Health Service in each of the last five years.

    Earl Howe

    General Practitioners (GPs) are independent contractors who hold contracts with NHS England to provide primary healthcare services for the National Health Service.

    The annual National Health Service General and Personal Medical Services workforce census, published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, shows the numbers of GPs working in the NHS in England at 30 September each year. The numbers of full-time equivalent GPs working in the NHS in England from 2009 to 2013 are shown in the following table. The latest available statistics are as at 30 September 2013 and were published on 25 March 2014.

  • Lord Laird – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Lord Laird – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2014-06-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many paramilitary prisoners were released on licence after the Belfast Agreement of 1998.

    Baroness Randerson

    Northern Ireland Office officials are currently undertaking a consolidation exercise with officials in the Northern Ireland Prison Service to confirm the answer to this question. I will write to the Noble Lord once this exercise has been completed.

  • Lord Laird – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Lord Laird – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2014-06-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many suspects of terrorist-related offences have been given assurances by letter that they will not be subject to investigation.

    Baroness Randerson

    The administrative scheme relating to so-called “On the Runs” did not promise people that they would not be subject to investigation. Rather, the letters issued were only a statement of fact at a particular point in time that the individuals concerned were not sought for arrest.

    As the Noble Lord may be aware the Report by Lady Justice Hallett into the “On the Runs” administrative scheme will be published by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 17 July 2014.

  • The Earl of Courtown – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The Earl of Courtown – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Earl of Courtown on 2014-06-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the value of trade between the United Kingdom and (1) Brazil, (2) Russia, (3) India, and (4) China.

    Lord Livingston of Parkhead

    According to the latest UK Economic Accounts, UK trade of goods and services in 2013 with the BRIC countries were as follows:

    UK Exports

    UK Imports

    Total Trade

    £ million

    £ million

    £ million

    Brazil

    4,314

    3,024

    7,338

    Russia

    7,347

    8,002

    15,349

    India

    7,661

    8,778

    16,439

    China

    15,701

    34,755

    50,456

    Source: UK Economic Accounts Q1 2014

  • The Earl of Courtown – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The Earl of Courtown – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Earl of Courtown on 2014-06-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many non-clinical or managerial staff were working in the National Health Service on (1) 1 April 2010, and (2) 1 April 2014.

    Earl Howe

    In the provisional monthly National Health Service hospital and community health service (HCHS) workforce statistics, published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, the category of NHS Infrastructure Support Staff records the numbers of non-clinical staff working in the NHS in England. This includes administrative and clerical staff working in central functions; hotel, property and estates; as well as managers and senior managers.

    The numbers of NHS Infrastructure Support staff as at 31 March 2010 and 31 March 2014 are shown in the following table. The statistics for March 2014 are the latest available and therefore March 2010 data is also used to ease comparability. The April 2014 statistics will be published on 22 July 2014.

  • The Earl of Courtown – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The Earl of Courtown – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Earl of Courtown on 2014-06-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much income tax was collected in the last financial year, broken down by sector.

    Lord Deighton

    The latest available information on the industry distribution of PAYE income tax deducted from pay is published here:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/306815/table2-10-0414.pdf

    “