The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Tebbit on 2014-04-08.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 2 April (WA 195), whether either they, or the European Union, employ a formal definition of the word Europe”.”
Baroness Warsi
The UK does not employ a formal definition of the word “Europe” and we are not aware of the EU Institutions employing a formal definition of the word “Europe” either.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Tebbit on 2014-04-08.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to instigate an inquiry into possible links between the 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia and the incidence of leukaemia and cancer in that country.
Baroness Warsi
We do not plan to instigate an inquiry into possible links between the 1999 North Atlantic Treaty Organisation air operation in the former Republic of Yugoslavia and any incidence of leukaemia and cancer in Serbia. An assessment by the UN Environment Programme in 2002 found no evidence of harm by depleted uranium weapons.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Tebbit on 2014-04-08.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to widen the terms of reference of the independent review of the operation and extent of the administrative scheme for dealing with so-called on the runs” to cover the question of what understandings or guarantees of immunity from prosecution may have been given to facilitate the talks leading to a ceasefire by IRA/Sinn Fein and to the Belfast Agreement.”
Lord Bates
The Prime Minister set out the terms of reference for Lady Justice Hallett’s review on 27 February. How those terms of reference are delivered is a question for Lady Justice Hallett, who has full access to government officials and documentation in order to fulfil her remit.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2014-04-08.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the use of children in armed conflict in the Central African Republic, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; which parties in those countries they consider to be using child soldiers; and what action they are taking to co-ordinate international action to secure the demobilisation of child soldiers.
Lord Wallace of Saltaire
The British Government recognises that parties to conflict who commit grave violations against children, including recruitment and use, are named in the annexes of the annual reports of the UN Secretary-General on children and armed conflict. This applies to the Central African Republic, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Of the five countries in question, the Governments of Sudan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo are currently listed for the recruitment and use of children. The latter two have signed action plans with the UN to end this practice. There are also non-state armed groups listed for recruitment and use of children in all the countries in question, except South Sudan. The UK actively participates in the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict to hold perpetrators to account as well as working with the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict and non-governmental organisations to urge those Governments who have not already done so, to enter into time-bound action plans with the UN. The Minister for Africa, my hon. Friend the Member for Boston and Skegness (Mr Simmonds), is leading a campaign to raise awareness and help prevent the recruitment of child soldiers and children from becoming victims of sexual violence. He continues to raise the issue with a number of counterparts in countries where there are reports of children being recruited into armed groups and forces, including in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2014-04-08.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the percentage cost over-run established by the management board for any budget in the Department for Work and Pensions to merit being tabled at the departmental management board; and how many times in the last 12 months that has occurred.
Lord Freud
Financial Management information showing the whole financial position of the Department for Work and Pensions in the round is provided to the Departmental Executive Team every month. The Departmental Board also receives this monthly by correspondence and also receives a more detailed update from the Finance Director at the quarterly board meetings.
Any potential breach of Treasury funding control totals would provoke immediate action and does not rely on reporting cycles.
Given the range and complexity of budgets across the Department, we do not have a simple percentage that would trigger an issue being tabled.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2014-04-08.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the percentage cost over-run established by the management board for any budget in the Wales Office to merit being tabled at the departmental management board; and how many times in the last 12 months that has occurred.
Lord Wallace of Saltaire
The Wales Office’s financial position is reviewed on a regular basis, and is a standing agenda item at meetings of the Department’s Management Committee.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2014-04-08.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the percentage cost over-run established by the management board for any budget in HM Treasury to merit being tabled at the departmental management board; and how many times in the last 12 months that has occurred.
Lord Deighton
HM Treasury does not have a prescribed percentage for which a forecast overspend is tabled at the executive management board. Each month the board receives a summary of the forecast expenditure against budget and a commentary in which any significant forecast variances to individual budgets are described and explained.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2014-04-08.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the percentage cost over-run established by the management board for any budget in the Department for Transport to merit being tabled at the departmental management board; and how many times in the last 12 months that has occurred.
Baroness Kramer
The department’s financial position is reviewed on a regular basis by the Department for Transport’s Board and Executive Committee.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2014-04-08.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the percentage cost over-run established by the management board for any budget in the Scotland Office to merit being tabled at the departmental management board; and how many times in the last 12 months that has occurred.
Lord Wallace of Tankerness
The Scotland Office does not have a cost overrun established by its management board above which it merits a budget being tabled at its management board. No overruns have been reported to the management board in the last 12 months.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2014-04-08.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the percentage cost over-run established by the management board for any budget in the Northern Ireland Office to merit being tabled at the departmental management board; and how many times in the last 12 months that has occurred.
Lord Wallace of Saltaire
The Northern Ireland Office has not established a percentage cost overrun limit for budget management purposes. Performance against budget, analysed by business area, is considered on a monthly basis by the departmental management board.