Tag: Lord Pearson of Rannoch

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch on 2015-12-07.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, as part of their counter-terrorism strategy, they will encourage a national debate about the nature of Islam, including whether the Muslim tenets of Al Hijra, Taqiya, and Abrogation remain valid today.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

On 19 October, the Prime Minister announced the launch of the Government’s new comprehensive Counter Extremism Strategy, a core element of which is a programme of work to support those communities who are opposed to extremism in all its forms.

It is only by building a stronger Britain together, across all communities, that we will win the fight against terrorists and extremists.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch on 2016-03-22.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the UK can withdraw from EU treaties under the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, with 12 months notice or otherwise.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), made clear to the House of Commons that “if the British people vote to leave, there is only one way to bring that about, namely to trigger Article 50 of the Treaties and begin the process of exit". The rules for exit are set out in Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. This is the only lawful route available to withdraw from the EU.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch on 2016-07-20.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made in clarifying their definition of non-violent extremism”.”

Baroness Williams of Trafford

The definition of extremism is set out in the Counter-Extremism Strategy published on 19 October 2015 and is: ‘The vocal or active opposition to our fundamental values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. We also regard calls for the death of members of the armed forces as extremist.’ This definition covers both violent and non-violent extremism.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch on 2015-12-07.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the reply by Earl Howe on 2 December (HL Deb, col 1193), what actions will be criminalised from next April under the specific offence of anti-Muslim hatred, and whether the actions criminalised under that offence will include (1) criticism of the Muslim religion, and (2) statements from people who have left that religion explaining why they have done so.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

As the Prime Minister announced in October, we have asked the police to record all existing religious based hate crimes by the faith or belief (including absence of belief) of the victim from April next year.

Under existing hate crimes it is not an offence to criticise Islam or for those who have left the faith to explain why they have done so. The new recording system does not constitute a new offence of anti-Muslim hatred, but will require this to be recorded specifically.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch on 2016-03-22.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government which EU countries are required by their constitutions to hold a referendum before their governments can agree changes to the EU treaties; and which countries have done so in the past.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

No EU country has an absolute constitutional requirement to hold a referendum before their government can agree to any amendment to the EU Treaties. Indeed, no EU Member State held a referendum on the most recent change to the EU Treaties which came into effect in 2013.

The following countries have a constitutional requirement to hold a referendum in certain circumstances (e.g. if proposed changes require a revision of a Member State’s constitution or constitute a transfer of competence/sovereignty to the EU):

• Austria
• Croatia
• Denmark
• Ireland
• Lithuania
• Romania
• Slovakia

The following countries have previously held a referendum on changes to the EU Treaties:

• Denmark
• Ireland
• France
• Italy
• Luxembourg
• Netherlands
• Spain

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch on 2016-07-20.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, under their counter-terrorism policy, it is acceptable to debate the nature of, and to criticise, all religions, including Islam, even if those arguments or criticisms offend adherents to those religions; and if not, whether they plan to clarify any limits on freedom of speech that that policy might impose.

Baroness Williams of Trafford

As the Prevent Strategy explicitly states the Government is absolutely committed to protecting freedom of speech. Section 31 of the Counter-Terrorism & Security Act 2015, for example includes specific protection for universities in this regard, and statutory guidance for schools makes the Prevent duty affirm our commitment that schools should be safe spaces in which children and young people can understand and discuss sensitive issues.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch on 2015-12-16.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether arrangements are in place to vet Muslim recruits to the armed forces; if so, what are those arrangements, and if not, whether they will set them up.

Earl Howe

All candidates joining the Armed Forces are subject to exactly the same vetting procedures applicable to their chosen branch or trade, irrespective of religion or ethnicity.

There is no requirement for personnel to declare their religion. However, the numbers of British personnel who joined the UK Regular Armed Forces and self-declared their religion as Muslim in the last four financial years is set out below. The Ministry of Defence is not aware of any British Muslim members of the UK Regular Armed Forces going Absent Without Official Leave to fight in Syria or North Africa in the last four years.

Intake to the UK Regular Forces of personnel with a British Nationality declaring a Muslim religion, by Financial Year

2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
10	20	30	20

Note: figures show intake to UK Regular Forces, both trained and untrained, which comprises new entrants, re-entrants, direct trained entrants (including professionally qualified Officers), intake to the Army from the Gurkhas and intake from the reserves. They exclude all movements within the Regular Forces; including flows from untrained to trained strength, transfers between Services and flows from Ranks to Officer due to promotion. All numbers are rounded.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch on 2016-04-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord O’Neill of Gatley on 1 April (HL7086), what are the annual (1) gross, and (2) net, costs of the UK’s contributions to the EU for each year from 2013 to 2015 inclusive, and why those figures were not provided in that answer.

Lord O’Neill of Gatley

The outturn figures for gross and net contributions to the EU Budget in the year’s 2013 and 2014 can be found in Table 3B, page 16, of European Union Finances 2015 (Cm 9167), which is easily available in the House library and on gov.uk. Equivalent figures for 2015 are not yet available.

As shown in Table 3B of European Union Finances 2015 (Cm 9167), the UK’s gross and net contributions in 2013 and 2014 were:

2013: Gross €17.07 billion Net €10.76 billion (£9.13 billion)

2014: Gross €14.07 billion Net €7.09 billion (£5.71 billion)

Equivalent figures for 2015 are not yet available.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch on 2016-09-05.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord O’Neill of Gatley on 7 April (HL7296), whether alcohol can be sold or consumed on the premises of Richmond House, Wellington House and 22–26 Whitehall.

Lord O’Neill of Gatley

There is no legal prohibition on consuming alcohol on the premises of Richmond House, Wellington House and 22–26 Whitehall. However, the residing departments do not have alcohol licences and cannot, therefore, sell alcohol on the premises.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch on 2015-12-16.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government in the last four years, how many British Muslims have joined the armed forces, and how many they estimate have gone independently to fight in Syria and North Africa.

Earl Howe

All candidates joining the Armed Forces are subject to exactly the same vetting procedures applicable to their chosen branch or trade, irrespective of religion or ethnicity.

There is no requirement for personnel to declare their religion. However, the numbers of British personnel who joined the UK Regular Armed Forces and self-declared their religion as Muslim in the last four financial years is set out below. The Ministry of Defence is not aware of any British Muslim members of the UK Regular Armed Forces going Absent Without Official Leave to fight in Syria or North Africa in the last four years.

Intake to the UK Regular Forces of personnel with a British Nationality declaring a Muslim religion, by Financial Year

2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
10	20	30	20

Note: figures show intake to UK Regular Forces, both trained and untrained, which comprises new entrants, re-entrants, direct trained entrants (including professionally qualified Officers), intake to the Army from the Gurkhas and intake from the reserves. They exclude all movements within the Regular Forces; including flows from untrained to trained strength, transfers between Services and flows from Ranks to Officer due to promotion. All numbers are rounded.