Tag: Barry Sheerman

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to reduce religious persecution across the world.

Mr David Lidington

Freedom of religion or belief is one of our international human rights priorities. We work actively both bilaterally and multilaterally to ensure governments protect the right of all individuals to practise their religion or belief free from persecution or discrimination. Government foreign policy on freedom of religion or belief is informed by expertise from UK civil society and Parliament, including through an Advisory Group to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Human Rights. We are active in the United Nations, European Union and other relevant international organisations in calling on states to promote and protect the right to freedom of religion or belief and ensure the free and equal participation of all in society. As an example of our bilateral work, the UK is currently providing Nigeria with a package of support to assist in its fight against the extremist and intolerant views of Boko Haram, whose indiscriminate attacks have caused suffering in communities of different faiths and ethnicities.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that multiple sclerosis is detected at the earliest possible stage.

Norman Lamb

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance Multiple sclerosis: management of multiple sclerosis in primary and secondary care, updated in October 2014, sets out best practice on the diagnosis, treatment, care and support of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The guidance makes a range of recommendations on drug based treatments for MS, but also highlights the importance of involving professionals who can meet the needs of the patient in the best way, such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

With regard to early diagnosis, MS is a difficult condition to diagnose as a number of the symptoms such as fatigue, depression or dizziness may be unrelated. The guidance sets out a number of initial presentations that clinicians should be aware of when looking for signs of MS. It also recommends a number of assessments a clinician should make, including testing of vision and blood tests before referral to a consultant neurologist, who can confirm or exclude a diagnosis of MS, subject to investigation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the flogging of Raif Badawi in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

Whilst the latest flogging has been postponed, we remain seriously concerned by Raif Badawi’s case. The UK condemns the use of cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment in all circumstances. We have raised Mr Badawi’s case at a senior level with the Saudi authorities. The UK is a strong supporter of freedom of expression around the world. We believe that people must be allowed to freely discuss and debate issues, challenge their governments, exercise the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and speak out against violations of human rights wherever they occur.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that people with multiple sclerosis receive adequate treatment, care and support.

Norman Lamb

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance Multiple sclerosis: management of multiple sclerosis in primary and secondary care, updated in October 2014, sets out best practice on the diagnosis, treatment, care and support of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The guidance makes a range of recommendations on drug based treatments for MS, but also highlights the importance of involving professionals who can meet the needs of the patient in the best way, such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

With regard to early diagnosis, MS is a difficult condition to diagnose as a number of the symptoms such as fatigue, depression or dizziness may be unrelated. The guidance sets out a number of initial presentations that clinicians should be aware of when looking for signs of MS. It also recommends a number of assessments a clinician should make, including testing of vision and blood tests before referral to a consultant neurologist, who can confirm or exclude a diagnosis of MS, subject to investigation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the use of corporal punishment for penal purposes.

Mr David Lidington

The UK Government condemns all forms of judicial corporal punishment. We believe it amounts to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and is incompatible with international human rights law and the obligations of States Parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Convention against Torture. Where we have concerns, we raise these with the appropriate authorities. As part of the UK’s global strategy on torture prevention, Ministers and senior officials frequently raise concerns about torture in multilateral fora, including on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Convention Against Torture on 10th December 2014.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2015-10-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what statistics his Department holds on the number of sick notes provided by jobseeker’s allowance or employment and support allowance claimants which have been lost by Jobcentre Plus.

Priti Patel

The Department does not collect statistics on the number of fit notes reported as lost.

Claimants post their fit note into the Department or if it is urgent can hand it in at their local Jobcentre where staff are trained to update computer systems and arrange for benefit payments to be made if one is due.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what account she takes of promoting freedom of speech when deciding on allocations of overseas aid.

Mr Desmond Swayne

DFID promotes respect for human rights, including freedom of expression, through its partnerships with governments and, where necessary, raises issues of concern in collaboration with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Before providing aid to a foreign government, DFID assesses the government’s commitment to four partnership principles, one of which concerns human rights. Where we cannot provide aid directly to governments, we will find other ways to help poor people in those countries.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2015-09-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of giving tenants in the private rental sector the right to end a tenancy with their full deposits if they discover that the landlord has been convicted of a housing offence.

Brandon Lewis

A tenancy agreement is a contract between a landlord and tenant. If the conditions of the agreement are breached the affected party will normally have the right to end that contract; any tenant deposit due to be returned will be repaid through the normal procedures. We do not have any plans to alter this arrangement.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to promote freedom of speech in the Middle East.

Mr David Lidington

Freedom of expression has been a human rights priority for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, from the beginning of this Parliament; and the subject of an Expert Group which advises Ministers. We raise press freedom regularly in multilateral fora, supporting relevant initiatives and resolutions, and in bilateral conversations – in both private and public. We regularly raise the importance of freedom of speech with counterparts in government across the Middle East and North Africa. Through our Arab Partnership Initiative, we are working to support the development of legitimate and inclusive institutions to improve governance, enable inclusive reform and protect fundamental freedoms such as freedom of speech. Our Arab Partnership Participation Fund has supported the training of journalists in countries across the region, including Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt to deliver un-biased reporting and work to protect freedom of speech. In Iraq, we have worked to build a legal and regulatory environment in order to allow Iraqi media to operate safely, freely and effectively.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2015-09-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a landlord licensing scheme.

Brandon Lewis

Local authorities have strong powers to introduce selective licensing schemes where they have acute, localised problems of high levels of crime, inward migration, anti-social behaviour or deprivation, or suffer from low housing demand or poor property conditions. These powers should only be used where there is a real need and it is proportionate to do so.

We do not support blanket licensing schemes as they put unnecessary burdens and expense on good landlords which reduces choice, and increases costs, for tenants. A targeted approach helps to ensure that local authorities focus their enforcement activity on areas with the most severe problems, and are able to deliver their local plans in a way that is beneficial to both landlords and tenants.