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100651

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2014
	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	Zimbabwe
	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 situation for women in Zimbabwe.
	tabling member printed	Lord Kennedy of Southwark
	uin	HL2382
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text While laws exist to protect the economic rights of women in Zimbabwe, they are frequently undermined by discriminatory practices, customary law and lack of implementation. In politics, it should be noted that there is a relatively high proportion of females in Parliament. However, women and girls are also disproportionately affected by fragile basic service provision and crumbling infrastructure. The Department for International Development’s programme in Zimbabwe continues to support progress on issues affecting women through work on economic and political empowerment, water and sanitation, health and education and skills development. answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 03/11/2014 15:43:30 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	4153 label Biography information for Lord Kennedy of Southwark

101387

	registered interest
	date	28/10/2014
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how his Department plans to respond to Iraq's statement at the First Assembly of the UN General Assembly, requesting help from the international community for research into and decontamination of depleted uranium.
	tabling member constituency	North Devon
	tabling member printed	Sir Nick Harvey
	uin	212280
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text We are aware of the request made by the Government of Iraq during its statement to the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in October for Member States and relevant international organisations to conduct research into the impact of exposure to depleted uranium (DU) ammunition on human health and the environment and possible methods of treatment. We are conscious that some nations, international organisations and individuals are concerned that there may be a link between the use of DU ammunition and certain medical conditions. This is an issue taken very seriously by the Government. Scientific literature, including that of the Royal Society, the European Commission, the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Health Organisation, contains a substantial number of reports which indicate that DU has not been shown to have, and indeed is very unlikely to have, any significant impact on the health of the local population or on the veterans of conflicts in which these munitions are used. answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 03/11/2014 14:55:45 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	231 label Biography information for Sir Nick Harvey

101388

	registered interest
	date	28/10/2014
	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	Bahrain
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to use the UK's membership of the UN Human Rights Council to introduce a resolution condemning human rights violations in Bahrain.
	tabling member constituency	South Shields
	tabling member printed	Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck
	uin	212247
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text The UK remains actively engaged with the United Nations Human Rights Council on Bahrain and we will continue to align ourselves with statements which accurately reflect the situation on the ground. Bahrain was one of the countries that we raised in our national statement under Item 10 of the agenda at the September session at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. We commend the steps taken by the Bahraini government to implement the recommendations set out in the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry. As outlined in our recent human rights case study on Bahrain, progress has been made in a number of areas but there is still more to be done. answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 03/11/2014 14:54:56 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	4277 label Biography information for Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck

101128

	registered interest
	date	27/10/2014
	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	Private Finance Initiative
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many private finance initiative projects his Department contracted for in each year from 1997 to 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
	uin	212098
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has contracted only one private finance initiative (PFI) in the period in question. A PFI for the British Embassy in Berlin was commissioned in 2000 and is due to run until 2030. answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 03/11/2014 14:21:27 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
	tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

99986

	registered interest
	date	20/10/2014
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what practical assistance and support they are providing to the government of Iraq in taking forward a credible programme of political reform and reconciliation in that country.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Coventry
	uin	HL2201
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text Political reconciliation and reform are crucial if there is to be a long-term solution to the current instability in Iraq. We therefore welcome the new Government of Iraq’s commitment to inclusive governance. We will support them in implementing their programme wherever we can and have called for others in the international community to do the same. We are already providing assistance with the development of parliamentary democracy, community policing and dialogue between religious leaders. We are in regular contact with the new Iraqi government over national reconciliation and, in particular, with Vice-President Allawi, whose responsibility it is. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), raised the importance of reform and reconciliation with Vice-President Allawi during his recent visit to London and our ambassador in Baghdad has also discussed it with him on a number of occasions. answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 03/11/2014 14:52:13 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	4266 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry

101560

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	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	Central African Republic
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking in collaboration with Deputy Special Representative of MINUSCA, Diane Corner, to ensure that a comprehensive and inclusive disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration process is planned and prioritised in the Central African Republic.
	tabling member constituency	Belfast East
	tabling member printed	Naomi Long
	uin	212432
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text MINUSCA (United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic) assumed responsibility from the AU Mission, MISCA (African-led support mission to the Central African Republic) on 15 September. The mission’s mandate includes a call for “support for the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former armed elements, with specific attention to children, and the repatriation of foreign elements, as well as community violence-reduction programmes”. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials are monitoring MINUSCA’s progress on all areas of the mandate as the mission works to build up to full capacity; and are in close contact with Diane Corner (Deputy SRSG)on this. We have encouraged the UN to prioritise their efforts given the Mission is in early stages, and the operational challenges due to the surge in violence in CAR in recent weeks. Ensuring security is an essential first step in bringing peace and stability to CAR. MINUSCA has a phased mandate, with its priority task being the protection of civilians; HMG supports this approach. answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 03/11/2014 14:28:12 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	3920 label Biography information for Naomi Long

101409

	registered interest
	date	28/10/2014
	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	Pitcairn Islands
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the sustainability of the Pitcairn Islands.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	212288
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text In 2013, the Government of Pitcairn and Her Majesty's Government commissioned two independent pieces of analysis. One into the appetite amongst the Pitcairn diaspora for return to the island, and the other on the broader economic potential of the island. Both reports recognised that unless the population of the island increases, it will be a challenge to maintain the longer-term sustainability of Pitcairn. Her Majesty's Government fully supports the economic development of the Pitcairn Islands. The Government of Pitcairn has recently worked up a new Strategic Development Plan and a repopulation plan, and Her Majesty’s Government has given advice on both these documents. The Pitcairn Island Council is currently reconsidering those documents alongside HMG’s advice. We will continue to work in partnership with the Government of Pitcairn to support the community in Pitcairn as we consider longer-term options for the island. Given the acute challenges Pitcairn faces, a new office of Administrator will replace the current role of Governor’s Representative on the island by the end of the year to provide more assistance at this critical stage. answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 03/11/2014 16:15:51 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

100674

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Local Government Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on changes in spending on local government since May 2010 on (a) staff morale and motivation and (b) level of services.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	211756
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>Whilst savings have been made to help tackle the deficit left by the last Labour Government, they have been over-stated. Local government spending (excluding education) is actually higher than it was under the last Labour Government as the table below illustrates:</p><p><em>Local authority net current expenditure (excluding education) in England (£ million)</em></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>2008-09</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2009-10</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2010-11</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2011-12</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2012-13</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013-14</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>£70,870.578</p></td><td><p>£74,705.768</p></td><td><p>£75,956.637</p></td><td><p>£75,000.191</p></td><td><p>£74,807.852</p></td><td><p>£77,063.700</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><sup>Note: Local government spending on education has structurally fallen due to the transfer of schools to Academy status, which are not funded through Local Education Authorities.</sup></p><p>We have not undertaken any assessment of staff morale, as employment decisions are a matter for local councils as employers. However, residents’ satisfaction is either the same or has increased according to independent surveys:</p><p> </p><p>• Research by ICM has found that 57 per cent of the public think that the quality of public services has improved or stayed the same compared to five years ago. Recycling collections, parks and open spaces, leisure centres and refuse collections are areas where the public think services have particularly improved (ICM Research, <em>BBC News Bailout Anniversary Poll: Attitudes towards public services</em>, September 2013).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>• Opinion research by PwC in 2014 has noted: ‘As with our 2013 survey, almost half of the public we surveyed were unaware of any reductions in local council services in their area. To some extent, this is a testament to the success of local authorities to date in focussing on internal efficiencies while protecting the frontline’ (PwC, <em>The Local State We’re In: PwC’s annual local government survey</em>, 2014, p.7).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>• A Ipsos Mori survey in 2014 has found that two-thirds (63 per cent) of local residents have said that local authority budget reductions have not made a noticeable difference to services (Zurich Municipal, <em>A new world of risk; change for good</em>, July 2014, p.19).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>• The number of respondents who were very or fairly satisfied with the way their local council runs things was 69 per cent in October 2010 (LGA, <em>Polling on resident satisfaction with councils</em>, September 2012). The latest 2014 figures were 70 per cent and 67 per cent (LGA, <em>Polling on resident satisfaction with councils, Full report</em>, January and July 2014).</p><p> </p><p>This shows the scope for the public sector to make sensible savings, whilst protecting frontline services and keeping council tax down.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 03/11/2014 17:01:28 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

101146

	registered interest
	date	27/10/2014
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Blood: Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to promote the use of blood bikes for the transportation of blood to hospital trusts.
	tabling member constituency	Bolton West
	tabling member printed	Julie Hilling
	uin	212022
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>Whilst recognising the work of blood bikes, the Department is not actively promoting their use as it is a matter for individual trusts to decide whether they wish to use such services.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 03/11/2014 17:57:26 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
	tabling member	3925 label Biography information for Julie Hilling

100628

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Culture Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	BBC Media Action: Asia
	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 effectiveness of BBC Media Action’s work in Asia; whether they consider it has increased government accountability and enabled access to information there; how that work fits in with their Governance and Rights project; and why the Korean Peninsula is excluded from that approach.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL2359
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>While there have not been assessments carried out specifically on work in Asia, the Department for Internal Development’s Global Grant to BBC Media Action has been assessed in 2012 and 2013. Both reviews assessed BBC Media Action to be exceeding expectations.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 03/11/2014 14:19:07 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool