The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2016-02-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, of all the schools that have had their admission arrangements objected to in (1) 2014, and (2) 2015, what percentage were found not to have violated the School Admissions Code at least once.
Lord Nash
In 2013/14, the percentage of objections referred to the adjudicator which were not upheld was 14%. In 2014/15, the percentage was 20%.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-03-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to promote the export of Scotch whisky.
George Eustice
We are committed to increasing and promoting sales of our excellent food and drink here and overseas. This is why we have launched the Great British Food Campaign, created a new Great British Food Unit and designated 2016 “The year of Great British Food.”
Scotch whisky is a phenomenal global success. In 2014 exports were worth £3.95 billion* representing 21% of total UK food and drink exports. We are working with the industry to boost exports by developing a new Exports Action Plan, taking every opportunity to promote our products overseas and working hard to secure a global liberalised market for all our spirit drinks.
*Source: Scotch Whisky Association
The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Leeds on 2016-03-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to record the atrocities that have been committed by Daesh in Iraq so that, in due course, offenders may be brought to justice.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
This Government wants to see accountability for Daesh abuses, and has supported efforts to document them. The UK co-sponsored the UN Human Rights Council Resolution in September 2014 mandating the investigation of Daesh abuses.
In Iraq, we are funding training for human rights defenders to improve victim support and case documentation of sexual violence committed by Daesh. It is hoped that this evidence will be able to be used in the future to hold the perpetrators to account.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-05-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average cost to the public purse was of (a) a district judge and (b) bench of magistrates hearing (i) a guilty plea case, (ii) a summary trial and (iii) an either-way trial in the last year for which figures are available.
Mr Shailesh Vara
The requested information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2016-06-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the age is of the (a) youngest and (b) oldest person with a profile on the National DNA Database.
Mike Penning
a) The recorded age of the youngest person on the National DNA Database (NDNAD) as at 31 March 2016 was 10.
b) The recorded age of the eldest person on the NDNAD as at 31 March 2016 was 115.
The age recorded for the eldest person is based on what their age would be as at 31 March 2016 from their date of birth recorded at the time of sampling.
It is not their age when they were added to the NDNAD. There is no weeding from the NDNAD due to age or death.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno on 2016-09-05.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ensure that their pledge to accept 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020 is honoured.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
We intend to resettle up to 20,000 Syrians in need of protection during this Parliament. We will continue to work closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to identify appropriate cases, prioritising the most vulnerable. The numbers resettled in a particular period will depend on a range of factors including the flow of referrals from UNHCR in the field and the availability of suitable accommodation and care packages in the UK. We continue to work closely with local authorities to manage the arrival of the Syrian refugees in to the resettlement places they have pledged. We will manage the flows based on need and in support of the wellbeing of the people and communities involved, rather than rushing to meet arbitrary targets. However, we are clear that we want to help as many people as we can as quickly as possible.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2016-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which (a) policy teams, (b) internal directorates and (c) staffing divisions are based in each of her Department’s offices in the UK.
Rory Stewart
The table below provides information on where employees in each DFID Directorate are based. This will include those Directorates which have employees in dual locations, given DFID’s dual Head Quarters, and where employees based in the UK are supporting DFID’s overseas offices.
|
DFID Directorates |
|
|
Abercrombie House, East Kilbride |
Africa Regional Business Solutions Chief Heads of Profession Climate and Environment Communications Conflict Humanitarian and Security DFID Afghanistan DFID Malawi DFID Sierra Leone DFID South Sudan Economic Development Cabinet Emerging Policy, Innovation and Capability (EPIC) Evaluation Finance and Corporate Performance Global Partnerships Governance, Open Societies and Anti-corruption Group Operations Growth & Resilience Human Development Human Resources Inclusive Societies Internal Audit Middle East and North Africa Migration Multilateral Effectiveness Overseas Territories PGP Cabinet Regional Directorate Research and Evidence Strategy United Nations and Commonwealth Youth and Education |
|
22 Whitehall, London |
Africa Regional Asia Regional Climate and Environment Conflict Humanitarian and Security Emerging Policy, Innovation and Capability (EPIC) Europe Group Operations Human Development Inclusive Societies International Financial Institutions Middle East and North Africa Overseas Territories PGP Cabinet Private Sector Regional Directorate Research and Evidence United Nations and Commonwealth Youth and Education |
|
Victoria Street, London |
Trade for Development |
|
King Charles Street, London |
Stabilisation Unit |
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2015-11-17.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what systems they have in place to monitor the use of military equipment licensed for export to Saudi Arabia to establish whether or not that equipment has been used to violate international humanitarian law in Yemen.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The British Government monitors the situation in Yemen closely, including reports of alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). We take these reports very seriously. We have raised our concerns with the Saudi Arabian authorities, who have provided assurances to us that they are complying with IHL. We continue to engage with them on those assurances, and we urge all sides to investigate such incidents fully. The Ministry of Defence continues to monitor alleged incidents internally, using available information, which in turn informs our overall assessment of IHL compliance in Yemen. We are offering Saudi Arabia advice and training to demonstrate best practice and to help ensure continued compliance with International Humanitarian Law.
With respect to UK arms exports to Saudi Arabia, all applications for strategic export control licences for military and dual-use goods are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (the Criteria), in a manner consistent with the UK’s international obligations. A licence will not be issued for export of items to any country if to do so would be inconsistent with any mandatory provision of the Criteria, including where we assess there is a clear risk that the items might be used in the commission of a serious violation of IHL.
The Government is satisfied that extant licences for Saudi Arabia are compliant with the Criteria. Our export licensing system allows us to respond to changed circumstances and new information as and when necessary. The principle of responsible export controls is fundamental for the Government.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sarah Champion on 2015-12-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of age assessments for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children have been completed within the new timetable for upon local authorities in each month since March 2015.
James Brokenshire
All unaccompanied asylum seeking children are referred to the Refugee Council’s panel of advisers.
Age-assessments of unaccompanied asylum seeking children are conducted by local authorities. The guidance to local authority practitioners states that most assessments should be completed within 28 days, however the timescale for assessment should be responsive to the needs of the child or young person. The Home Office does not collect statistics on how many and what proportion are carried out within this timescale.
Statistics on the number of age disputes raised and resolved for asylum applicants for each quarter from January 2010 to September 2015 are available on GOV.UK at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/476915/asylum3-q3-2015-tabs.ods
The Home Office does not keep a record of the number of appeals against age assessments conducted by local authorities.
Home Office policy is not to return unaccompanied asylum seeking children whose claim has been refused unless there are safe and adequate reception arrangements in place. Statistics on the number of children removed from the UK in 2014 are available on Gov.UK at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/476919/removals1-q3-2015-tabs.ods
However, these statistics include all nationalities and non-asylum cases.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Dholakia on 2016-01-26.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what health and social support is in place upon their release for individuals who are diagnosed with blood-borne virus while in prison or a secure institution.
Lord Prior of Brampton
NHS England, Public Health England (PHE) and the National Offender Management Service in their National Partnership Agreement have committed to support continuity of care for patients on transfer from custody to the community. This includes people diagnosed with blood-borne viruses (BBVs). The needs of such individuals will vary depending on the infection and whether they are receiving or need to receive treatment as well as the nature of the treatment itself.
Ensuring patients leaving prison are registered with a general practitioner (GP) in the community is a key component of ensuring ongoing primary and specialist care. GPs are provided with a care summary record when the patient is discharged from prison. Patients are further supported by probation services, including Community Rehabilitation Companies who begin work ‘through the gate’ to support people leaving prisons in accessing accommodation, employment, welfare payments and education.
PHE, the National Offender Management Service and NHS England published their Second National Partnership Agreement published in 2015. The scope of work described in the agreement includes “continuity of care through the prison gate into the community". A copy of the report has been attached.