The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2014-03-26.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many Government contracts have been given to Airwave; and what the (a) value and (b) duration is of each such contract.
Mr Nick Hurd
Since January 2011, as part of the Government’s transparency programme, details of contracts above the value of £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder at:
https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Yasmin Qureshi on 2014-03-26.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what Red, Amber, Green ratings the Major Projects Authority has given to the Emergency Services Communications Programme.
Mr Francis Maude
The Major Projects Authority (MPA) has been applying MPA assurance processes to the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) including a Project Assessment Review and Gateway Reviews. Further information on the ESMCP Programme is available at the link below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-emergency-services-mobile-communications-programme
Delivery Confidence Assessment ratings are supplied according to the MPA’s Transparency Policy which is on the Cabinet Office website. The policy allows for non-disclosure of information which should properly remain confidential, for example where it is market sensitive or necessary to safeguard national security.
This will be in line with the principles of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/major-projects-transparency-policy-and-exemptions-guidance
The DCA for ESMCP was not revealed in MPA’s first annual report last year in line with the above policy. The next annual report of the MPA is due to be published in May.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Yasmin Qureshi on 2014-03-26.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what scrutiny the Major Projects Authority has given to the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme.
Mr Francis Maude
The Major Projects Authority (MPA) has been applying MPA assurance processes to the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) including a Project Assessment Review and Gateway Reviews. Further information on the ESMCP Programme is available at the link below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-emergency-services-mobile-communications-programme
Delivery Confidence Assessment ratings are supplied according to the MPA’s Transparency Policy which is on the Cabinet Office website. The policy allows for non-disclosure of information which should properly remain confidential, for example where it is market sensitive or necessary to safeguard national security.
This will be in line with the principles of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/major-projects-transparency-policy-and-exemptions-guidance
The DCA for ESMCP was not revealed in MPA’s first annual report last year in line with the above policy. The next annual report of the MPA is due to be published in May.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2014-03-27.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the provision in the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013, whereby complaints against claims management companies can be made to the Legal Services Ombudsman, will be implemented.
Lord Faulks
The Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 provided the necessary enabling powers to put in place the funding arrangements for the Legal Ombudsman to deal with complaints against claims management companies. These provisions were commenced on 21 March 2014. This included a power for the Lord Chancellor to make Regulations to charge fees to recover the costs he has incurred in meeting the expenditure of the Legal Ombudsman in relation to claims management complaints.
Section 161 of the Legal Services Act 2007 will, once commenced, extend the Legal Ombudsman’s remit to deal with complaints against claims management companies. We are continuing to work towards commencing section 161 of the 2007 Act, but prior to this we must ensure that all the necessary legislative arrangements are in place. This includes consulting on the structure of the Lord Chancellor’s cost recovery fee and drafting the fee Regulations, which must then be approved by Parliament. At the same time, the Legal Ombudsman is working on the operational arrangements for taking these complaints, and thus we will deliver this new regime as soon as possible.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2014-03-27.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with their European partners concerning whether Israeli security personnel convicted of violating human rights law in the West Bank should be refused free visas in line with the policy of the United States State Department.
Lord Taylor of Holbeach
We have had no such discussions with EU partners. Israeli nationals coming to the UK as a visitor for less than six months do not require a visa. All other routes, will need a visa before travelling, where the usual rules, including fees and checks will be applied.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Earl of Dundee on 2014-03-27.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the case for international intervention or guidance to assist the efforts of the Plenum movement to reduce corruption and financial irregularities in Bosnia Herzegovina.
Baroness Warsi
The recent protests and work of the plenums are evidence of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s (BiH) political stalemate and economic malaise. We are making clear to BiH’s leaders that the onus is on them to respond to the socio-economic grievances expressed by protesters and the plenums, most recently in the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague)’s meetings with the Presidency and the Foreign Minister on 27 and 28 March. We see an opportunity also for the international community, particularly the EU, to support reform ahead of October’s elections. This includes assistance through new initiatives on economic reform and anti-corruption announced by EU Commissioner Fule, and the EU Special Representative’s planned ‘Compact for Growth’. We support these efforts to develop and build popular support for concrete reforms in economic governance, transparency and anti-corruption.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Earl of Dundee on 2014-03-27.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the Plenum movement within Bosnia Herzegovina in providing a constructive and peaceful catalyst towards constitutional reform.
Baroness Warsi
The protests and plenums are focussing primarily on socio-economic issues, demonstrating the frustration of the population with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s (BiH) leaders’ failure to implement reforms on issues which matter most to ordinary Bosnians. The UK views these grievances as being rooted in a wider frustration with the functionality of the state, and as indicative of a broader malaise within BiH, which includes the Constitution. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), visited BiH on 27-28 March, and emphasised to BiH’s leadership the importance of their engaging fully with the population’s legitimate calls for change, which will include broader reforms. The UK has made clear, bilaterally and within the EU, that it stands ready to assist BiH’s leaders in implementing a wide range of changes, should BiH’s leaders demonstrate their commitment to engage fully with protesters, and summon the political will to make reforms.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Earl of Dundee on 2014-03-27.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what current plans they have to enhance stability and democracy in Bosnia Herzegovina.
Baroness Warsi
The United Kingdom continues to be deeply committed to enhancing stability and democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The UK is a strong supporter of European Union Force (EUFOR) Operation Althea’s maintenance of the safe and secure environment in BiH, and is proud of its contributions in theatre, and through a reserve company, 1 Scots. Our support for BiH’s policing has led to our contributing to establishing a trilateral Police Cooperation Centre (PCC) in Trebinje, resulting in more efficient and effective actions being taken between law enforcement agencies in the region. UK Ministers and officials have made clear to BiH’s leaders their responsibility for ensuring that their public rhetoric is not inflammatory or ethnically divisive.
Following the recent protests, we have made clear to BiH’s leaders that they need to respond to the population’s legitimate desire for change, most recently when the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), met the BiH Presidency and Foreign Minister on 27 March. During his recent visit the Foreign Secretary met representatives of civil society and plenums and expressed our support to widen the political space in BiH so as to allow citizens to hold politicians to account.
Part of our work to widen the political space is the recent British BiH Fellowship Programme. A one-month residential programme in the UK designed to equip BiH’s future leaders with the skills and experience to lead positive change in their country.
The Foreign Secretary also announced continuing UK assistance for BiH’s path towards EU membership, in the form of new funding to foster democratic governance in Bosnia by strengthening the judiciary, civil society organisations, governance and supporting BiH’s EU accession process. Specific examples include political and financial support focused on strengthening the State Court and State Prosecutor’s Office, which will improve the operation of Rule of Law systems in BiH.
In addition, the UK supports the activities of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), whose work in BiH has focused on equipping local non-governmental organisations with the skills they need to provide effective evidence for parliamentary committees. WFD has done valuable work with BiH’s Parliament to raise awareness of the value of such committees. This has influenced positively the formation of legislation, and opened up the process of law-making to public scrutiny, while promoting citizen participation in the democratic process.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb on 2014-03-27.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the statement by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 6 March (HL Deb, col 1522), whether the proposed public inquiry into undercover policing will look into (1) the use of sexual relationships by undercover police, and (2) the stealing of identities of dead babies by undercover police.
Lord Taylor of Holbeach
The judge-led public inquiry into undercover policing will be established under the Inquiries Act 2005.
As I said to the House when I repeated the Home Secretary’s statement on 6 March 2014, Official Report, columns 1518-1526, there is significant further work that needs to take place before the public inquiry can begin its work. That further work will inform the scope of the inquiry and its terms of reference.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb on 2014-03-27.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the statement by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 6 March (HL Deb, col 1522), whether the proposed judge-led public inquiry into undercover policing will be a statutory one that falls within the Inquiries Act 2005.
Lord Taylor of Holbeach
The judge-led public inquiry into undercover policing will be established under the Inquiries Act 2005.
As I said to the House when I repeated the Home Secretary’s statement on 6 March 2014, Official Report, columns 1518-1526, there is significant further work that needs to take place before the public inquiry can begin its work. That further work will inform the scope of the inquiry and its terms of reference.