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1126294

registered interest
date	13/05/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Iraq: Christianity
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 5 February (HL13010), what assessment they have made of the report by the Institute of Development Studies The Persecution of Christians in the Middle East, published in 2017, that estimates that in 2003 there were approximately 1.5 million Christians in Iraq, and that in 2017 that number was between 200,000 and 250,000.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL15654
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>While we are unable to confirm the exact numbers, we are gravely concerned about the decline in the numbers of Christians in Iraq in recent years as also cited in the independent interim report of the Bishop of Truro into the Persecution of Christians. We assess that a number of factors have resulted in this decline, including conflict and insecurity in Iraq and the particular threat posed by Daesh. We continue to engage with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government on the need to protect the rights of Christians and other religious minorities. However, during a recent meeting with the Iraqi Foreign Minister on the 17 May and the Archbishop of Erbil on 21 May I heard of the steps being taken to reopen churches and the increased number of church services being help in Iraq.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 22/05/2019 12:01:07 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1126296

registered interest
date	13/05/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Burkina Faso: Churches
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the deaths of six people during a church service in Burkino Faso on 12 May, and other recent attacks on churches; what ideology they believe motivated those attacks; and who they believe was responsible.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL15656
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>The British Government is appalled by the murder of six people in Burkina Faso during a Sunday Church service on 12 May and other recent attacks on civilians peacefully practicing their faith. We are deeply concerned at the deteriorating security situation in Burkina Faso, which is spreading from the north to the east of the country, and the increasing instability in the wider Sahel region.</p><p>The identity of the attackers is not confirmed and there have been no claims of responsibility. The UK is committed to work with Burkina Faso and international partners to help tackle instability and protect freedom of religion or belief for all.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 21/05/2019 13:47:11 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1126297

registered interest
date	13/05/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Pakistan: Blasphemy
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case of the Pakistani Christian woman, Shagufta Kauser, who, with her disabled husband, Shafqat Emmanuel, was sentenced to death in 2014, for allegedly sending blasphemous text messages, including reports that the couple are illiterate and that the messages were in English; and what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan about this case.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL15657
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>​We are aware and are monitoring the case of Shagufta Kausar and her husband Shafqat Emmanuel. We remain deeply concerned about reports of discrimination against the Christian community and other religious minorities in Pakistan. We regularly raise our concerns about the misuse of the blasphemy laws with the government of Pakistan at a senior level.</p><p>I raised our concerns about Freedom of Religion or Belief and the protection of minority religious communities with Pakistan's Federal Minister for Human Rights, Dr Shireen Mazari, during my visit to Islamabad in February. The UK raised concerns about Freedom of Religion or Belief at Pakistan's UN Universal Periodic Review of human rights in November 2017. We urged Pakistan to strengthen the protection of minorities, including by establishing an independent National Commission for Minorities from all faith communities.</p><p>The UK remains firmly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances. We have repeatedly called upon the Government of Pakistan to end capital punishment and, at a minimum, commit to publicly renewing the previously imposed moratorium on the death penalty.</p><p>We will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to guarantee fully the rights of all Pakistani citizens, including religious minorities, and to honour its international obligations.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 22/05/2019 13:27:26 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1126298

registered interest
date	13/05/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Sudan: Politics and Government
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the request of the former Sudanese Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi that the UK help Sudan to create a modern democracy and support the handing over of Field Marshall Omar al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL15658
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK has received no official request from Mr al-Mahdi, although we are aware of reports of the request in the media. Since Bashir's removal on 11 April, the UK has made clear public statements calling for all sides to engage in an inclusive dialogue that leads to a swift and peaceful transition to civilian rule. The UK has called for a transition to a political system that is inclusive, supported by a sound constitutional basis that is respectful of human rights and the rule of law and that ensures accountability for the crimes committed by members of the former regime. The UK strongly supports the mission of the International Criminal Court; due legal process must be followed. We continue to engage with national and international actors, articulating the UK's readiness to work with Sudan's people in order to make the political transition a success.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 21/05/2019 13:59:21 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1126299

registered interest
date	13/05/2019
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Business: Billing
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 10 May (HL15375), what action, if any, they plan to take to penalise those companies who do not comply with the Prompt Payment Code; and whether this will include removing those companies from all Government tenders until such companies have demonstrated compliance.
tabling member printed	Lord Berkeley
uin	HL15659
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>The Prompt Payment Code is a voluntary Code administered by the Chartered Institute of Credit Management (CICM) on behalf of Government. Signatories to the Code sign up to pay 95% of invoices in 60 days, with an ambition to move toward 30-day payment terms. Signatories who do meet the standard are invited to submit a plan to CICM setting out clearly how they will improve their performance. Those who submit a satisfactory plan and subsequently demonstrate compliance are suspended from the Code and can be reinstated in the future. Those who do not engage with CICM, and fail to submit a plan, will be removed.</p><p>Starting in September this year, suppliers could be excluded from winning Government contracts if they fail to pay subcontractors on time. Under the new rules, suppliers who bid for government contracts above £5m per annum, who cannot show they are paying 95% of invoices within 60 days, risk being prevented from securing government contracts. We have contacted all suppliers reminding them of this initiative and their responsibilities on prompt payment.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Henley question first answered 20/05/2019 16:05:42 answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley
tabling member	3526 label Biography information for Lord Berkeley

1126301

registered interest
date	13/05/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Sri Lanka: Terrorism
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what humanitarian assistance they have sent, or intend to send, to the communities affected by the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Coventry
uin	HL15661
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>​Sri Lanka has not requested humanitarian assistance. Following the Easter Sunday attacks, the Sri Lankan Government announced it would provide compensation for victims and fund the repair of the affected churches. The Minister of State for Security and Economic Crime, Ben Wallace, visited Sri Lanka on 2-3 May to demonstrate solidarity and discuss what UK support would be most helpful. Existing UK support in Sri Lanka includes £8.3 million of Conflict Stability and Security Fund funding over three years (2016-2019) to support police reform and training, reconciliation and peacebuilding, resettlement, interfaith dialogue and demining in the north of the country. We are also engaging with the Sri Lankan Government, faith and community leaders to encourage the Government to take all appropriate measures to reassure all of Sri Lanka's citizens that it will protect and uphold their safety and rights, and that its response to the attacks is proportionate and builds trust across all communities in Sri Lanka.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 22/05/2019 13:28:23 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4266 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry

1126303

registered interest
date	13/05/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Iraq: Children
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that some 45,000 children in Iraqi displacement camps are without civil ID documentation; and what representations they intend to make to the government of Iraq to ensure that those children are not excluded from Iraqi citizenship and society in the future.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Coventry
uin	HL15663
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>​We are aware of the media reports regarding children without documentation in Iraqi displacement camps, although we cannot verify the numbers cited. We recognise the vulnerability of these children and the risks of them being excluded from Iraqi citizenship and society in the future. We continue to raise these concerns with the Iraqi authorities including the importance of formal recognition of all children. We were pleased to hear of the Government of Iraq's initiative to address the status of children born of rape to Yezidi women and hope this will soon be reflected across the country.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 21/05/2019 14:00:03 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4266 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry

1126305

registered interest
date	13/05/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Insolvency
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the basis for their estimate in the consultation by HMRC Protecting your taxes in insolvency, published on 26 February, that the reintroduction of preferential status for any Crown creditor would yield £185 million per annum in additional tax revenue.
tabling member printed	Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
uin	HL15665
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The estimate is the tax recovered from insolvencies that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) would not otherwise have collected before the policy was implemented. Adjustments were made for tax and payment timing.</p> answering member printed Lord Young of Cookham question first answered 22/05/2019 16:21:03 answering member 57 label Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham
tabling member	4159 label Biography information for Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

1126306

registered interest
date	13/05/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Insolvency
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the proposals in the consultation by HMRC Protecting your taxes in insolvency, published on 26 February, to reintroduce preferential status for any Crown creditor takes into account lost Government revenue resulting from other taxpayers suffering additional bad debts due to the priority payment of HMRC, and any consequential loss to the economy resulting other taxpayers themselves becoming insolvent due to an increased burden of bad debt; and what assessment, if any, they have made of the impact of that change on lending.
tabling member printed	Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
uin	HL15666
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The ‘Protecting your taxes in insolvency’ proposals take into account lost government revenue resulting from other taxpayers suffering additional bad debts due to the priority payment of HMRC.</p><p> </p><p>Lending against fixed assets will not be impacted by this measure, but lending against floating assets will be impacted, as HMRC will move above secured creditors with floating charges in insolvencies.</p><p> </p><p>At Budget 2018, the independent OBR chose not to make any adjustments to their economic forecast in response to this measure.</p> answering member printed Lord Young of Cookham question first answered 22/05/2019 16:22:56 answering member 57 label Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham
tabling member	4159 label Biography information for Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

1126311

registered interest
date	13/05/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Glyphosate
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effects of using glyphosate on wildlife, including birds and insects; and what research, if any, they are undertaking into the impact of using glyphosate.
tabling member printed	Lord Jones of Cheltenham
uin	HL15671
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>The effects of glyphosate on wildlife have been carefully assessed as part of the regulatory process for pesticides. The effects of glyphosate itself were considered by the EU when deciding whether to approve the substance. UK regulatory scientists participated in the assessment made by the European Food Safety Authority and agreed with its conclusions. The Government therefore supported the decision at the end of 2017 to continue the approval of glyphosate.</p><p> </p><p>All products containing glyphosate are individually authorised and the Government will not authorise products for which the scientific assessment suggests that there may be unacceptable effects on wildlife.</p><p> </p><p>Decisions on glyphosate are based on regulatory studies which companies are required to commission to support their applications. Relevant published data is also considered. The Government is not carrying out its own research on the environmental impact of glyphosate use because a comprehensive evidence base is already available.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble grouped question UIN HL15672 question first answered 21/05/2019 15:08:28 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	248 label Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham