Tag: Tom Brake

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-07-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has received representations from the police on increasing resources related to criminal record check disclosure requests.

Sarah Newton

The Disclosure and Barring service works directly with each police force to agree a budget annually based on the expected numbers of local checks and considers any requests for additional resources as part of these discussions.

In 2015/16 the Disclosure and Barring Service had a target of processing 85% of all applications within 21 days. Some of the over four million applications received each year need to be referred to one or more police forces for further checks and the Disclosure and Barring Service funds Police disclosure units.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-09-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that organisations providing humanitarian relief in (a) Madaya, (b) Daraya and (c) Aleppo have unimpeded access to the children in those areas.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

The UK continues to call for full and sustained cease fire and humanitarian access to all besieged and hard-to-reach areas across Syria.

The town of Madaya was reached on 25 September by a UN interagency convoy which delivered a range of desperately needed aid. This was the first convoy to reach Madaya since 30 April.

The town of Daraya is now in regime hands and much of the population has been evacuated. The Assad Regime and its backers must ensure the protection of all of Daraya’s inhabitants and that opposition fighters are treated in accordance with international humanitarian law.

The situation in Aleppo is atrocious as a result of increased bombardment by the regime and its backers in recent weeks, as well as a block on all humanitarian supplies. Fresh water supplies have also been cut off. The UK is working urgently with our international partners to pressure the regime and its backers to end the siege of Aleppo.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-09-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 April 2016 to Question 32492, to which countries RAF Reaper or Watchkeeper drones have been deployed on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sorties since 4 April 2016.

Mike Penning

From 4 April until 20 September 2016, UK Reapers have continued to be deployed on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sorties in Iraq and Syria. Watchkeeper has not been deployed during the period in question.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government plans to make to the international community on the alleged chemical weapons attacks in Dafur.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We are concerned by the allegations of the use of chemical weapons in Sudan and we are aware that the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is looking into these. The use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere is contrary to international law and must be wholly condemned. We were also concerned to read the other allegations made in the Amnesty report, which highlight the need for access to conflict-affected areas. Ensuring access for UNAMID throughout Darfur is a crucial next step. We have made this clear in the UN Security Council, and have also raised this in the context of the report directly with the Government of Sudan in London, Khartoum and New York.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-10-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has received on the compatibility with (a) Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention and (b) other elements of international law of the Israeli Supreme Court’s rejections of cases where demolition orders have been contested; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

​While we have not received any representations on these specific issues, we have repeatedly raised our opposition to demolitions with the Israeli authorities and have urged them to provide a legal route for Palestinian construction. On 7 September, during a meeting with Israeli Defence Minister Lieberman in London, I raised our concerns about demolitions.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2015-11-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Department of Health on proposed fixed cost regime change to the civil procedure rules; and what consequences the proposed changes will have on his Department’s policies.

Dominic Raab

My officials are supporting the Department of Health in its consideration of fixed recoverable costs for clinical negligence claims. The Government remains supportive of the principle of extending fixed recoverable costs and we continue to consider areas in which implementation might be appropriate and workable.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-01-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civilian casualties have been recorded in Iraq as a result of RAF military intervention since 2 December 2015.

Penny Mordaunt

There have been no recorded civilian casualties in Iraq or Syria as a result of RAF military intervention since 2 December 2015.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-02-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions the Government has had with the Indonesian government on the situation of Ahmadis in Bangka, Indonesia.

Mr Hugo Swire

We take freedom of religion or belief extremely seriously. We regularly urge Governments to protect the right of all individuals to practise their religion or belief free from persecution or discrimination. In this regard, we are concerned with the plight of the Ahmadiyah community in Bangka regency. Our Ambassador in Jakarta has discussed these issues, including the plight of the Ahamdiyah community, with the Minister of Religious Affairs, Indonesian civil society, and religious leaders. He urged them to ensure the rights of all individuals to practise their religion or belief freely were fully respected and protected.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-02-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential effect on the number of school support staff who are from non-EU countries of the salary threshold increase for Tier 2 visa applications to £35,000.

Nick Gibb

The requested information is not available. The Department does not collect data on the nationality or the immigration status of the school workforce.

This is a local matter for schools and all schools must employ members of the school workforce in accordance with employment law.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-03-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment the Government has made of the feasibility of air drops of food supplies and aid into besieged areas during the current ceasefire in Syria.

Penny Mordaunt

The International Syria Support Group meeting in Munich in February set out a clear way ahead for the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid in Syria and for a cessation of hostilities. The UK continues to keep the humanitarian situation in Syria under review and has been playing a full role, as part of the Humanitarian Aid Task Force, supporting the UN and its partners in successfully stepping-up deliveries of food, water and medicine. Road delivery is the preferred method of delivering aid wherever possible since air drops require clear drop zones, safe access for the intended recipients, and need to be co-ordinated with authorities on the ground. While the UK has been seeking to support World Food Programme efforts to air-drop supplies to Deir ez-Zour, our assessment is that these conditions are not being met in Syria.