The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Corbyn on 2014-04-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many visits she made to the Jordan Valley in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012.
Justine Greening
The former Secretary of State for International Development, my Rt. Hon friend the member for Sutton Coldfield, visited the Jordan Valley in 2011.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Corbyn on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what research her Department has undertaken into the humanitarian effects of the occupation of the West Bank and the blockade of Gaza.
Mr Alan Duncan
Israeli movement and access restrictions do tremendous damage to the Palestinian economy; the World Bank has estimated that easing restrictions on Area C alone could increase Palestinian GDP by 35%. In Gaza, Israeli restrictions on movements of goods and people do tremendous damage to the economy and living standards of ordinary people. 80% of the households in Gaza are below the poverty line, and 57% are food insecure. The UN predicts that by 2020 Gaza may no longer be a ‘liveable’ place.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Corbyn on 2014-05-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what payments her Department makers to destination countries for visas allowing entry to people being deported from the UK to those countries.
James Brokenshire
We work closely with embassies from a wide range of countries to obtain travel
documents, rather than visas, to assist removal. We pay a small administrative
fee for these documents, which enable the removal of people who have no right
to be in the UK.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Corbyn on 2014-06-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the cost to the public purse of litigation associated with the declaration of the Marine Protected Area on 1 April 2010 are to date.
Mark Simmonds
Though some final costs from Counsel on the recently concluded Court of Appeal hearing are yet to be received, the costs of domestic litigation to date is £325,444.42. We understand the litigant, Mr. Olivier Bancoult, has also been in receipt of legal aid. HM Government has been successful in defending all such litigation, and has therefore been awarded full costs in the Divisional Court, and half of our costs in the Court of Appeal, though these are still subject to assessment.
In respect of the recently concluded challenge by Mauritius in an arbitration under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, various costs matters are still ongoing.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Corbyn on 2014-05-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what response the UK has made to the application of the Marshall Islands to the International Court of Justice in respect of compliance by the UK with Article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Hugh Robertson
The UK is currently considering its response to the proceedings instituted by the Marshall Islands in the International Court of Justice on 24 April 2014. The UK is confident of its record in progressing nuclear disarmament in accordance its obligations under the 1968 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and will defend its position robustly.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Corbyn on 2014-06-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to promote peace and reconciliation in the African Great Lakes region.
Mark Simmonds
Last week, I met with Ministers from the DRC and Rwanda, and with representatives of the UN, and urged all to seize the current opportunity to stabilise eastern DRC.
When I met President Kabila in February in Kinshasa, I discussed the importance of his government taking clear steps on stability and governance.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Corbyn on 2014-05-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what level of representation the UK will have at the humanitarian effects of nuclear weapons war conference being hosted by the Austrian government in December 2014.
Hugh Robertson
We have not received an invitation from Austria to this conference, and have therefore not yet made a decision on whether the UK will attend. I will update the House when a decision has been made.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Corbyn on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which US establishments were visited by personnel from the Atomic Weapons Establishment under the terms of the US-UK Mutual Defence Agreement in 2013; and how many staff visited each such establishment.
Mr Philip Dunne
The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Corbyn on 2014-05-08.
To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, when the Government plans to introduce regulations under the Equalities Act to prevent discrimination by caste and descent.
Mrs Helen Grant
There is a lack of certainty on some intrinsic issues around caste, such as what it is and how it is manifested, partly because there had never been any form of public consultation on caste. It was accepted therefore by both Front Benches during the Parliamentary debate on this issue last year that the whole process, up to and including the commencement of legislation, would take time and should include a consultation on the proposed legislation. The Government is currently considering two issues which have developed and which have potential implications for the consultation stage. We would expect the public consultation document, including our conclusions on these matters, to issue in the Autumn. We will then be in a position to consider plans to introduce regulations. You may also wish to note the answer given to Lord Avebury by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, which can be found in the Official Report for 6 May 2014, Col 331-2.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Corbyn on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what facility rekit projects have taken place at the Atomic Weapons Establishment under the scope of the Nuclear Weapons Capability Sustainment Project; and what the cost of each such project was.
Mr Philip Dunne
The term rekit is used by the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) to mean the replacement or modernisation of process plant and /or equipment within an existing facility, including upgrading of building services. The following is a list of major facility rekits that have or are taking place at AWE. There are also a number of more minor rekits underway which are not listed.
Depleted Uranium Upgrade
Beryllium Facility
Plutonium Capability Programme (A90)
Enriched Uranium Facility (A45)
Explosive storage and processing Facility
Salts Sustainment
Facility for assembly/disassembly of Warhead
The information relating to individual rekit costs for each facility for the years 2003 to date is not centrally held and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.