Tag: Jim Sheridan

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Sheridan on 2014-06-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the president of Sudan regarding the death sentence given to Meriam Yehya Ibrahim.

Mark Simmonds

The President of Sudan is indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and has refused to cooperate. In common with other EU countries, we have a policy of having no contact with fugitives from the ICC unless it is essential. However, we have raised Meriam’s conviction in the strongest terms with Sudanese Ministers, including by summoning the Chargé d’Affaires to the Foreign Office on 19 May, at the request of the Foreign Secretary. Immediately following her conviction, I released a statement describing her conviction as barbaric and calling upon the Government of Sudan to respect the right to freedom of religion and international human rights laws as enshrined in its own constitution. The Parliamentary-Under Secretary of State at the Department for International Development, my Hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Ms Featherstone), also raised this issue with the Foreign Minister of Sudan on 20 May.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Sheridan on 2014-06-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of his policy on binding votes for remuneration committees.

Jenny Willott

The Government’s reforms to increase the transparency of executive pay include a requirement that quoted companies put their remuneration policy to a binding vote of the company’s shareholders, at minimum, every three years.

Shareholders also have an annual advisory vote on the annual remuneration report, covering what has been paid. Where this is rejected, the company will be required to re-submit their remuneration policy to a binding vote at the AGM the following year.

It is too soon to form firm conclusions about the impact of the Government reforms, which only came into force in October last year.

The Government is monitoring the impact of the reforms and will be taking stock of their impact after the voting season is over.

The Government is keeping this policy area under review.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Sheridan on 2014-06-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will request UK-based companies to make publicly available impact studies on how their sourcing practices affect small-scale farmers in developing countries.

Lynne Featherstone

The UK Companies Act 2006 includes reporting requirements for UK-domiciled businesses to report on the social and environmental impacts of their investments. DFID does not lead on UK company reporting, but we are working closely with other Government Departments, including the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to support improved transparency and accountability of UK businesses, in particular where they impact on development.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Sheridan on 2014-06-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with Kellogg’s about its working relationships with small-scale farmers.

Lynne Featherstone

Kellogg’s is not currently one of DFID’s partners on the issue of working relationships with small-scale farmers.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Sheridan on 2014-06-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with (a) UK-based companies and (b) companies selling products in the UK about the effect of their sourcing practices on small-scale farmers in developing countries.

Lynne Featherstone

We regularly have discussions with UK based companies about a range of issues including supply chains and how they can improve development impacts.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Sheridan on 2014-06-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with (a) UK-based companies and (b) companies selling products in the UK about (i) how they are ensuring women in the supply chain are empowered to get their rights and (ii) whether they have signed up to the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles.

Lynne Featherstone

We have regular discussions with UK based companies about a range of issues including supply chains and women’s economic empowerment.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Sheridan on 2014-06-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of changes to the time taken to review applications for deaf people during the three month suspension of the 30 hour rule in the access to work grant.

Mike Penning

The 30 hour guidance will not be applied to new applicants during this suspension. Existing customers whose support has been changed as a result of the guidance can request a full review of their situation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Sheridan on 2014-06-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support will be available for deaf people whose support was reduced as a result of the 30 hour rule in the access to work grant.

Mike Penning

Customers can request a full review of their Access to work claim at any time.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Sheridan on 2014-06-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what impact assessment he made before introducing the 30 hour rule in the criteria for the access to work grant; and what impact assessment is now being made.

Mike Penning

Once the Access to Work review is completed a full impact assessment will be conducted.