Tag: Mark Durkan

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Durkan on 2015-10-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Colombian counterpart on the recent assassination of three members of the Zenu indigenous peoples.

Mr Hugo Swire

Our officials in Bogota meet regularly with indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities in Bogota, and met the Zenu community of Córdoba in May 2015 in a joint visit with ABColombia. We have raised their demands for protection of their rights with the Colombian government, most recently through meetings with the Ministry of Interior on 5 August and 17 September.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Durkan on 2015-10-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for peace talks in Colombia of the on-going violence perpetrated by paramilitaries in that country.

Mr Hugo Swire

We strongly believe that the best way to achieve a sustainable peace in Colombia after decades of conflict is through the current Peace Process. We welcome the announcement by both sides on 23 September, on an agreement for justice and victims’ reparations. The agreement ends any notion of impunity, including those alleged to be involved in Paramilitary groups.

Our Embassy in Bogotá receives regular reporting on the security and human rights situation in Colombia from a range of sources including non-governmental organisations operating in Colombia. This includes allegations of abuses by paramilitary groups such as attacks against leaders of land restitution claims and human rights defenders. The majority of such abuses continue to take place in areas affected by the ongoing conflict. We remain concerned about the ongoing activity of paramilitary forces operating in Colombia and we continue to raise this issue of Human rights regularly with the Colombian authorities.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Durkan on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what account she took of the recommendations of (a) the Report of the Modern Slavery Bill Evidence Review presented to her on 16 December 2013 and (b) the report from the Joint Committee on the Draft Modern Slavery Bill published on 3 April 2014, HC 1019, when establishing the review of migrant domestic worker arrangements.

Karen Bradley

Both reports were considered carefully when establishing the review of the
Overseas Domestic Worker visa. That is why the review will focus on all aspects
of this visa regime, including the support available to those who are subject
to modern slavery offences whilst holding these visas. The Government is
determined to ensure that our visa regime does not encourage or facilitate
abuse. James Ewins was asked to conduct the review in light of his significant
background in tackling modern slavery, including as specialist adviser to the
pre-legislative scrutiny Committee and as a member of the steering committee
for the Modern Slavery Bill Evidence Review Panel. The Review will report by
the end of July 2015.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Durkan on 2014-06-24.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of cutting the rate of tourism VAT on the tourism balance of payments.

Mr David Gauke

No such assessment has been made. There is no single rate of tourism VAT. The VAT rate paid on goods and services bought by tourists in the UK is exactly the same as that which applies to UK residents. This means for example, that tourists can benefit from the UK’s zero rates of VAT on certain foods, children’s clothing and certain transport. But it also means they are charged VAT on things like catering services (the supply of meals, alcohol, snacks and drinks) sold by restaurants, pubs, cafes and canteens.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Durkan on 2015-02-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent reports he has received on the UK’s programme of counter-narcotics assistance to Colombia; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Hugo Swire

We receive regular updates on our ongoing programme of support to Colombia in the area of counter-narcotics. However, we do not release detailed information as to do so would risk undermining operational effectiveness and could prejudice the capability or security of those undertaking operations. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Home Office, National Crime Agency and Ministry of Defence are in regular dialogue to ensure this activity is in line with our international obligations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Durkan on 2015-02-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will place in the Library the protocols, memorandum of understanding and any other documents relating to the UK-Colombia defence relationship.

Mr Hugo Swire

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison) to the Member for Stoke-on-Trent South (Mr Flello) on 4 February 2014, Official Report, column 168W.

Pursuant to this, the Memorandum of Understanding to promote cooperation between the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Colombian Ministry of Defence was placed in the House of Commons Library on 4 February 2014 by the Ministry of Defence.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Durkan on 2015-02-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of removing the reasonable person test in defence for children from the Modern Slavery Bill.

Karen Bradley

The statutory defence is an important additional protection for victims of
modern slavery who have been compelled to commit certain offences as a direct
consequence of their slavery or trafficking situation. In addition, the Crown
Prosecution Service will continue to use its discretion to not charge an
offence or discontinue a prosecution which is not required, in the public
interest.

It is imperative that the defence protects child victims of modern slavery from
being inappropriately criminalised whilst also avoiding providing complete
immunity for the most serious categories of offending. The reasonable person
test is an important safeguard in ensuring that the defence cannot be abused.

The defence for child victims has been amended in the House of Lords to remove
the requirement for compulsion and we have also tabled an amendment at Lord’s
Report of the Modern Slavery Bill to the reasonable person test for child
victims to make it easier for child victims to gain protection from the
statutory defence. This amendment will remove the reference to the child having
no realistic alternative to committing the offence and will mean that once the
defence is raised, the prosecution would have to show beyond reasonable doubt
that the child acted unreasonably in committing the offence.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Durkan on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the Answer of 8 May 2014, Official Report, column 279W, on developing countries: family planning, how much of her Department’s budget has been allocated to achieving outcomes in her Department’s policy paper Safe and Unsafe Abortion in each of the last two years.

Lynne Featherstone

DFID adheres to Development Co-Operation Directorate (OACD-DAC) expenditure coding requirements to allow comparison across donor spending towards attainment of the Millennium Development Goal targets. This measures against coding titles as have been internationally agreed. Only coding titles as have been internationally agreed can be individually disaggregated by DFID systems.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Durkan on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 7 May 2014, Official Report, column 230W, on abortion, whether his Department has formed a view as to when the Royal college of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians publication, The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion, should be updated in order to take into account new research; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison

An updated guideline, The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion, was published in 2011. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is maintaining a watching brief on the needto review recommendations in the light of new research evidence.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Durkan on 2014-06-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the scale of the threat of rape faced by women in South Sudan; and what steps her Department plans to take to reduce such threats.

Lynne Featherstone

Sexual violence has been widespread during the conflict. We have pressed the Government and Opposition to act to prevent sexual violence. Our humanitarian programmes help protect vulnerable women and girls, and provide support for case management for the victims of sexual and gender based violence.