Tag: Nigel Dodds

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic, humanitarian or consular assistance his Department has provided to Ms Maud Kells, the missionary from County Tyrone who was shot and wounded in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mr David Lidington

I was very concerned to hear the reports of a British national hospitalised after this shooting. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials in London and the Democratic Republic of Congo are providing consular assistance through direct contact with her, the charity she works for and the local doctors to ensure that she is being provided with medical treatment and support. We understand that the matter is being investigated by the local authorities. Background Ms Maude Kells a 75 year old Christian charity worker (WEC International) was shot in the shoulder on Sunday 4 January currently being treated in Nyunkunde Hospital, DRC. Post are in contact with Ms Kells, doctors and WEC International. The hospital has reported that Ms Kells is recovering well considering her injuries and she may be discharged in a few days time. Post confirm local authorities investigating. Press lines -“We can confirm the hospitalisation of a British national in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We are providing consular assistance.”

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support religious tolerance of Christians in India.

Mr Hugo Swire

Our High Commissioner to India, Sir James Bevan recently met India’s Minister of Minority Affairs, Dr Najma Heptulla, on 16 June to discuss a range of minority issues, including the protection of religious freedoms. Our High Commission in New Delhi also discusses minority issues, including religious tolerance of Christians, with the Indian National Commission for Minorities and with other relevant State level authorities. Minority rights were also discussed at the EU-India human rights dialogue on 27 November 2013. We will continue to maintain a dialogue with the new Indian government about minority rights issues.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many community grant applications have been received from HQ 38 (Irish) Brigade in Northern Ireland; how many such applications were successful; and how much was disbursed in respect of those applications in each year since the inception of that scheme.

Anna Soubry

The first community grant application from HQ 38 (Irish) Brigade was submitted in January 2015. There have been no previous applications submitted because there have been no Community Covenants signed in Northern Ireland.

Despite this, good progress has been made on Covenant issues during 2014 with nearly all of the measures in the Covenant now extending to Northern Ireland. HQ 38 (Irish) Brigade provides a focus for taking Covenant issues forward in the region. The Armed Forces Covenant annual report, laid before the House on 16 December 2014, highlights this progress. I am planning to visit Northern Ireland soon, and I will take the opportunity to see for myself the progress that has been made and its effect on the Armed Forces Community in the Province.

We will continue to engage with the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that the needs of the Armed Forces community are met.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other NATO member states on the Middle East.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

I have not yet had discussions with other NATO member states. However, the Government is in regular and frequent close contact with NATO member states on a range of issues across the Middle East.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-01-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to provide retraining opportunities for (a) former employees of City Link and (b) others who have been made redundant in the parcel delivery sector.

Esther McVey

Jobcentre Plus through its Rapid Response Service (RRS) aims to address the effects of redundancies on individuals and the local community by helping those affected move into alternative employment quickly.

RRS offers a range of support, tailored at a local level to the needs of the individual and the local labour market.

Former City Link employees, or any other employee who has been made redundant in the parcel delivery sector would be eligible for RRS support and anyone who approaches their local Jobcentre will be advised and directed accordingly.

In Scotland and Wales, RRS support is delivered in partnership with Skills Development Scotland (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) and the Welsh Assembly Government (Redundancy Action Scheme), respectively. The Department for Employment and Learning, Northern Ireland (DELNI) leads support there. Each service is similarly serving the needs of City Link employees based there.

Both DWP and BIS continue to work with the Administrator Ernst & Young and trade unions to see how we might further assist and support City Link employees in their movement back into employment.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage freedom of religion in Burma and other South-East Asian countries.

Mr Hugo Swire

I made very clear during my visit to Burma in January that respect for freedom of religion and belief must be guaranteed. Our Ambassador and officials regularly discuss the importance of freedom of religion, which is guaranteed in the constitution, with the Burmese government, and also regularly meet representatives of all faith communities. The UK is also providing funding to train journalists on responsible coverage of religious freedom and conflict, and supporting a project to enhance the capacity of civil society groups to advocate freedom of religion. We have previously provided funding for interfaith dialogue and peace building amongst young people.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials across South-East Asia regularly discuss these issues with local governments and faith communities, and Ministers also raise specific issues and concerns as they arise. Recently, for example, I raised our concerns about the introduction of a sharia criminal code in Brunei with Deputy Foreign Minister Pehin Lim; our Ambassador in Jakarta has discussed the protection of religious minority groups in Indonesia; and my noble Friend, the right hon. Baroness Warsi, has stressed the importance of tolerance and mutual respect with senior ministers in Malaysia. We will also continue to support projects across South-East Asia designed to bolster and protect freedom of religion and belief.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-01-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether UK armed forces will be employed in training Iraqi and peshmerga brigades to fight against ISIS.

Mr Mark Francois

For several months we have provided training and equipment to Kurdish forces, including infantry, combat first-aid, sharp-shooting and counter-IED training. The National Security Council agreed in December that we should do further work to scope the additional assistance we could offer to the Iraqi military. At this stage no firm decisions have been made.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what level of assistance his Department has provided to rebels in Syria; what form such support has taken; and what steps he is taking to prevent its misuse.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We have provided more than £20 million this year to support the moderate opposition, including the National Coalition who we recognise as the sole legitimate representatives of the Syrian people. In May this year the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), laid a written ministerial statement before Parliament announcing the lifting of the temporary hold on gifting to the Supreme Military Council and the intention to resume delivery of £1 million of non-lethal equipment as soon as is practical. Recipients of this assistance have been carefully selected to prevent equipment being given to those involved in extremist activities or human rights violations. The UK is not supplying weapons to anybody in Syria.

The equipment we provide, including to the armed opposition groups, has undergone intense scrutiny to ensure that we are providing the best possible support and that we meet all our national and international obligations. The equipment has been scrutinised to ensure its provision is consistent with export controls under the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria and EU restrictions on the provision of goods to Syria (as agreed by Member States on 27 May 2013).

We have also supported the opposition’s political umbrella group, the National Coalition, with advisory and practical support. This has included strategic communications advice, and advice on internal governance arrangements. We have also supported the National Coalition’s delivery arm, the Interim Government, as they expand their plans to deliver services in opposition-held areas inside Syria. We have also funded a range of projects in support of civil society and activist groups both inside and outside Syria, which have included those documenting human rights abuses. The then Foreign Secretary announced in May that we would spend £30 million in support to the Syrian opposition and to bolster regional security.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-02-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with the BBC about the funding of the BBC and its regional programming.

Mr Edward Vaizey

I have not held any recent discussions with the BBC regarding future funding.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take additional steps to tackle human trafficking within the UK’s borders.

Karen Bradley

This Government is determined to stamp out all forms of modern slavery and human trafficking, regardless of whether these crimes have involved
cross-border movement. The Modern Slavery Bill will give law enforcement the tools to tackle modern slavery and enhance support and protection for victims. The Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive are both bringing forward their own legislation to tackle this terrible crime and we are working with them closely to ensure a coordinated approach across the UK. We are also undertaking a comprehensive programme of activity which includes awareness-raising for front-line professionals, to ensure that they can spot the signs of modern slavery, including human trafficking, and know what to do.