Tag: Tom Brake

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-01-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answers of 15 December 2015 to Questions 18901 and 18902, what the source is of the statement that 71 of the 131 neonatal critical care services now meet required staffing ratios; and if he will place a copy of the source document in the Library.

Ben Gummer

NHS England has used the Women and Children’s Derogation report to describe compliance against staffing ratios.

The source document is attached.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-02-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the prevalence of slavery in Mauritania.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We remain concerned about continued reports of slavery in Mauritania, and about the modest sentences handed down in the few successful prosecutions for slavery offences. We welcome the establishment of three courts with specific responsibility for slavery cases. We continue to monitor this topic closely. We regularly raise our concerns with the Mauritanian authorities in the UK and in Nouakchott, and meet human rights and anti-slavery campaigners to discuss the subject.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-02-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with Irish Ministers on the potential effect of a UK withdrawal from the EU on relations with Ireland.

Mr Ben Wallace

Government Ministers have regular discussions with Ministers from the Government of Ireland on a range of issues, including co-operation on security and other matters.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterparts in the International Syria Support Group on reported Russian violations of the ceasefire in Syria.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), has repeatedly made clear that Russia must abide by its commitments and use its unique position to pressure the regime to honour the terms of the Cessation of Hostilities. We judge that the majority of violations so far have been carried out by the regime.

The Foreign Secretary speaks regularly to partners in the International Syria Support Group. He last discussed the Cessation of Hostilities with international partners in talks in Paris with French and German counterparts on 4 March. The Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), also spoke to President Putin on 4 March, along with Chancellor Merkel, President Hollande and Prime Minister Renzi. The objective was to give a clear, coordinated message on the importance of Russia and the Assad regime respecting the fragile truce, in order to provide space for productive peace talks.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-03-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2016 to Question 29389, on how many occasions and on what dates since the Convention on Cluster Munitions came into force the Government has (a) raised the issue of the use of cluster munitions with Saudi Arabia and (b) encouraged Saudi Arabia to accede to that Convention.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We are aware of reports of the alleged use of Cluster Munitions by the Coalition in Yemen. We have raised this issue with the Saudi Arabian authorities and, in line with our obligations under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, continue to encourage Saudi Arabia, as a non-party to the Convention, to accede to it.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-03-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 March 2016 to Question 31488, how many British officials who have provided advice to Saudi Arabia’s internal investigation into the breaking of international humanitarian law in Yemen have visited Yemen as part of this investigation; and where each of those officials was based.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We will provide advice to the independent committee that will assess Saudi Arabian military activity in Yemen, drawing on a range of information as required. Our Embassy operations in Yemen are suspended and since March 2011 Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice has consistently advised against all travel to Yemen.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will estimate the number of (a) UK firms that trade with other EU member states and (b) people employed by those firms.

Anna Soubry

HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics on the number of firms trading with the EU are publically available through the UKTradeInfo website.

HM Treasury estimates that 3.3 million UK jobs are linked to EU exports. Further details are publically available through the GOV.UK Website.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-04-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether it is the Government’s policy not to disclose the content of its Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessments.

Mr David Lidington

Requests to release the content of Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) assessments are considered on a case by case basis under the Freedom of Information Act. However, the content of individual OSJA assessments, including candid assessments of state security capabilities and effectiveness, may be exempt from release under the provisions of the Act.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-04-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to Ministers: quarterly return October to December 2015, published on 24 March 2016, whom he met during the visit to Saudi Arabia that began on 27 October 2015; and what the agenda was at those meetings.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

During his visit to Saudi Arabia on 27 October 2015 the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) met His Majesty King Salman, Crown Prince and Minister of the Interior His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Naif, Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defence His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Commander of the National Guard His Royal Highness Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, and Foreign Minister His Excellency Adel Al Jubeir. The agenda of these meetings covered regional issues, human rights, security cooperation and migration.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-05-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the outcome of the last round of the UK-China human rights dialogue; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Hugo Swire

The 22nd round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue was held in Beijing on 21-22 April 2015. It provided for detailed, expert engagement on a wide range of human rights concerns, resulting in a frank exchange of views. Our current assessment of the human rights situation in China can be seen in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy.