Tag: Imran Hussain

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2016-03-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what projects her Department sponsors in Kashmir; and how much her Department spent in Kashmir since May 2010.

Mr Desmond Swayne

Kashmir benefits from national programmes in Pakistan and India to promote economic growth and improve education and health services across each country.

DFID does not routinely measure total expenditure directed to sub-national geographies outside our focal states or provinces. We focus our work on the states of India and provinces of Pakistan where we can have the largest impact and where the need is greatest. Currently, these areas do not include Kashmir.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2016-04-12.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that Government (a) departments and (b) contractors do not make use of tax havens.

Matthew Hancock

Procurement Policy Note 03/14 sets out the scope, background and detailed guidance for the policy of using the procurement process to promote tax compliance:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-0314-promoting-tax-compliance

The 2015 Public Contract Regulations introduced a new obligation for public bodies to exclude suppliers from a procurement where the supplier has been found guilty of breaching its obligations in relation to payment of taxes and this has been established by a judicial or administrative decision having final effect within the relevant jurisdiction.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2016-04-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if her Department will take steps to address the issue of funding for child protection interventions in humanitarian contexts at the World Humanitarian Summit in May 2016.

Mr Desmond Swayne

The World Humanitarian Summit presents a major opportunity to reflect on the international humanitarian system, including how it delivers for the most vulnerable, such as children. The UK recognises the critical importance of protecting children in times of crisis and expects this issue to be raised at the Summit, where the UK will be launching new commitments on funding and delivering education in emergencies.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2016-06-20.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the costs of insurance for motor vehicles.

Harriett Baldwin

The Insurance Fraud Taskforce was set up by Government in January 2015 to make recommendations to reduce insurance fraud, ultimately lowering costs for consumers. In January 2016, the Taskforce published 26 recommendations for industry, regulators and others, including 6 for Government. A Written Ministerial Statement was published on 26 May 2016 to announce that the Government accepts each of the recommendations addressed to it.

The Chancellor also announced in his 2015 Autumn Statement that the government intends to introduce measures to end the right to cash compensation for minor whiplash injuries. This will remove over £1 billion from the cost of providing motor insurance and the government expects the insurance industry to pass on to consumers an average saving of £40 to £50 per motor insurance policy.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure residents in deprived areas have access to dental care.

David Mowat

NHS England has a legal duty to commission National Health Service dental services to meet the needs of the local population. NHS dental services are commissioned by NHS England through contracts with independent providers. These contracts are set based on the outcome of an oral health needs assessment undertaken in partnership with local authorities, which identifies the level of dental need for a particular community.

NHS England is also working up plans to start testing new ways to improve children’s oral health in 10 high needs areas by innovative commissioning, focussed on encouraging take up of services that are available. The 10 high needs areas selected will be announced in November 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2015-11-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of steps taken by (a) his Department and (b) the Burmese government to prevent sexual violence in conflict in Burma.

Mr Hugo Swire

Sexual violence in conflict remains a significant problem in Burma and we are focused on practical action to tackle it. There have been some signs of improvement since the Burmese government endorsed the Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, at the London Global Summit in June 2014, but we continue to press for more.

During my visit to Burma in July 2015, I pressed the Burmese government at senior ministerial level on the issue and launched the International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence. The UK was also instrumental in facilitating the visit to Burma this summer of the Special Envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Angelina Jolie Pitt. We continue to push the agenda in international fora, including through UN resolutions on Burma at the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, which we co-sponsor. At Burma’s 6 November Universal Periodic Review at the UN in Geneva, ending sexual violence and improving the rights of women and girls was a focus of our recommendations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2015-11-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made on the effect of the withdrawal of ESOL plus mandation funding ESOL on employment prospects for refugees.

Priti Patel

We are committed to supporting those who are unemployed to finding and keeping employment. In doing so, we ensure that any learning provision is delivered in the context of local employment and labour market demand. Data shows that the numbers of learners in England previously being referred to ESOL Plus (Mandation) provision was significantly lower than originally anticipated and the ESOL Plus (Mandation) budget was underspent in 2014/15.

The decision to remove the specific English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Plus (Mandation) funding for 2015/16 enables providers, as independent organisations which manage their own budgets, to have the flexibility to use their adult skills budget more effectively to support jobseekers. They are able to continue to provide ESOL training for jobseekers where it is likely to result in the most effective labour market outcome, and jobseekers with poor English language skills can still be mandated to this training. All new claimants are screened for spoken English at their first interview and if below entry level 2, they are referred for a more detailed assessment and, if appropriate, training provision.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2016-03-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the protection of minors applying for indefinite leave to remain on the settlement protection route whilst their applications are decided.

James Brokenshire

UK Visas and Immigration has taken significant steps to enhance support and protection for minors who apply for indefinite leave to remain. Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 requires the Home Office to carry out its existing functions in a way that takes into account the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the UK.

As part of its commitment to Section 55, all UK Visas and Immigration employees have received training in order to assist them to identify potential vulnerable minors during the consideration of indefinite leave to remain applications.

UK Visas and Immigration has also implemented a vulnerable minor, and adult, policy along with a National Referral Mechanism for potential victims of human trafficking, a web link to the internal guidance is below: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/victims-of-trafficking-guidance-for-competent-bodies

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2016-04-12.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to publish aggregate statistics showing the size and origin of assets in UK financial institutions.

Harriett Baldwin

The Bank of England publishes aggregated data relating to UK Financial Institutions’ balance sheets. Its statistical releases can be found via the following link: http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/statistics/Pages/calendar/default.aspx

Under the Capital Requirements (country-by-country reporting) Regulations 2013 there are reporting obligations on institutions in the United Kingdom within scope of the Capital Requirements Directive 4. The regulations require institutions to publish annually details on a consolidated basis, by country where they have an establishment. These details include: their name, nature of activities and geographical location; number of employees; and their turnover.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2016-05-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the outcomes of the World Humanitarian Summit on gender equality; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Desmond Swayne

The World Humanitarian Summit made real gains for gender equality in humanitarian responses. This was a priority of the UK at the Summit and our call to put gender equality at the heart of 21st century humanitarian action was loudly echoed by many. There was strong agreement on the need to go beyond protection and make sure girls and women have a voice, choice, and control, even when crises hit. New Member States joined the Call to Action on Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies (launched by UK in 2013) and commitments were made to ensure the right to sexual and reproductive health care is fulfilled for all women and adolescent girls in crisis settings.

My colleague, the Secretary of State for International Development, has already given her impressions of the Summit in a Written Ministerial Statement to the House.