The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-03-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning the reported raids on Palestinian homes on 1 March.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have not raised this issue with the Israeli authorities.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-03-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel about why the Israel Defence Forces have been positioned behind the Green Line and on 1 March fired on Beit Hanun farmland and farmers working in fields east of Juhor al-Dik.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have not had any discussions with the Israeli authorities on this issue. However, we have an ongoing dialogue with the Israeli authorities about the Israeli Defence Forces use of live fire.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-03-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel following reports of the Israeli navy opening fire on Palestinian fishing boats off al-Sudaniya and Gaza city, on 1 March, and what assessment they have made, if any, of the damage done on that and other occasions.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Whilst we have not raised this issue with the government of Israel, officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv have expressed our concern previously over the Israel Defence Forces use of live fire against fishermen and also about the confiscation of their boats.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-03-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Bahrain concerning the imprisonment of Ibrahim Sharif for making speeches about democracy.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have raised Ibrahim Sharif’s case with the Government of Bahrain, including at the highest levels, and we understand that he has the right of appeal. The UK encourages Bahrain to respect the rights of all peaceful opposition figures. We call on the Bahraini government to act proportionately in all such cases to protect the universal rights of freedom of expression and assembly. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), most recently raised human rights with the Bahraini Ambassador to the UK, His Excellency Sheikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa , on 8 March.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-03-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of progress in Bahrain towards democracy and respect for human rights following training and guidance from UK personnel for that country’s police and security forces.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We believe that UK support to Bahrain’s reform programme is the most constructive way to achieve long-lasting and sustainable reform in Bahrain. While it will take time to see the full results, UK support is having a direct, positive impact on areas of concern. All Foreign and Commonwealth Office programmes and project work is routinely monitored and evaluated to inform and improve future assistance.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by on 2016-03-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will take any action to evaluate the claims to asylum of Afghan interpreters formerly employed by the British Army who are currently in the Calais Jungle” camp
Lord Bates
We carefully consider all asylum claims made in the UK, including those made by former interpreters with our armed forces in Afghanistan, but we have no obligation under the Refugee Convention to consider asylum claims outside the UK. Those who need international protection should claim in the first safe country they reach so those currently in Calais should claim in France. Where someone seeking asylum elsewhere in the EU can demonstrate they have close family members legally in the UK, they may be entitled to have their claim processed in the UK under the Dublin Regulation.
Separate schemes have existed since 2013 to assist interpreters previously employed by the UK Armed Forces. These apply only to those who have remained in Afghanistan and, in recognition of their unique and exceptional service or the danger interpreters may face because of their work, can lead to relocation to the UK if certain criteria are met.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Sheehan on 2016-03-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many refugees have been brought to the UK under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons scheme; how many of those refugees were children; and where within the UK those refugees have been dispersed.
Lord Bates
The Home Office is committed to publishing data in an orderly way as part of the regular quarterly Immigration Statistics, in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. The next set of figures will be in the quarterly release on 26 May 2016 and will cover the period January – March 2016.
Latest statistics published on 25 February 2016 confirms in 2015, a total of 1,194 people were resettled the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS) including 1,085 who arrived in the last quarter of 2015. Of those resettled under the scheme in 2015, 605 were under 18 years old. Resettlement under the Syrian VPRS by local authorities is voluntary. It is a matter for each local authority to decide whether they want to publish the fact of their participation and the numbers of refugees they take.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by FALSE on 2016-03-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are aware of the practice of breast ironing” in Commonwealth countries of Africa
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The British Government is aware of the harmful practice of breast ironing in some Commonwealth and other African countries. There is little reliable data on the number of girls suffering this form of abuse, but we strongly condemn violence against women and girls in all its forms.
The Government places gender equality at the heart of our bilateral development programming and works through diplomatic and development channels to tackle the causes and drivers of violence against women and girls as a matter of priority. The manifestations of violence may change but it is critical to address the structural causes of violence, including harmful beliefs and attitudes.
In Cameroon, Kenya and Nigeria we are continuing to engage with governments and local communities to support the rights of women and girls, including ending harmful practices which constitute violence against women and girls. In Cameroon our High Commission has been working closely with the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family on campaigns in coordination with local religious leaders, to raise awareness and support community-led change to end the harmful practice of breast ironing.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by on 2016-03-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the fact that more than 50 per cent of pubescent girls under 10 in Cameroon are subjected to breast ironing”
Lord Bates
As set out in the Government’s new Violence against Women and Girls Strategy, we will continue to challenge the cultural attitudes that may underpin harmful practices, and ensure professionals have the confidence to confront these issues, safeguard victims and bring perpetrators to justice.
We are clear that political or cultural sensitivities must not get in the way of preventing and uncovering brutal practices, including breast ironing. Where breast ironing is practised on girls it is child abuse and should be treated as such by all frontline professionals. The clear legal frameworks that apply to child abuse apply to breast ironing.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ouseley on 2016-03-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they propose to take to improve the arrest and prosecution rates for racist attacks, abuse and graffiti on London’s rail network, in the light of the 650 incidents reported since 2013, resulting in only 13 arrests.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Government considers the safety of people using the rail network to be of paramount importance. The British Transport Police (BTP) treats racially motivated hate crimes very seriously and a daily review takes place of every hate crime from the previous 24 hours. In line with the College of Policing’s National Hate Crime Strategy, BTP is working with partners to reduce hate crime and every crime is investigated in accordance with the College of Policing Guidance for the investigation of hate crime.
In addition, the London Transport Community Safety Partnership (LTCSP), which brings together Transport for London (TfL), the police and other key stakeholders, is looking at this important issue at a strategic level to ensure a coordinated response. Both the BTP and the Metropolitan Police have stepped up operational activity to provide a visible, engaging, reassuring presence across the TfL network. TfL is also working with community organisations to engage with them on this issue and encourage reporting. TfL provides full support to the police for their investigations, through staff reporting and access to CCTV and oyster card data, to help bring any offenders to justice.