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1131231

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Council Tax: Debt Collection
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the Citizens Advice Costs of Collection report finding that council tax collection practices are adding nearly half a billion pounds a year to personal debt.
	tabling member constituency	Makerfield
	tabling member printed	Yvonne Fovargue
	uin	263137
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2019 answer text <p>I am aware of concerns of charities, debt advice bodies and local councils about council tax debt. That is why my Department is engaging with, and reviewing evidence compiled by these bodies with a view to making council tax debt collection fairer, more efficient and compassionate. Following these discussions we intend to publish updated guidance on good collection practices, before considering the scope for further reforms.</p> answering member constituency Richmond (Yorks) answering member printed Rishi Sunak question first answered 18/06/2019 13:37:24 answering member 4483 label Biography information for Rishi Sunak
	tabling member	4034 label Biography information for Yvonne Fovargue

1131232

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Council Tax: Non-payment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to amend The Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 to remove the sanction of imprisonment for non-payment of council tax.
	tabling member constituency	Makerfield
	tabling member printed	Yvonne Fovargue
	uin	263138
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2019 answer text <p>The Government is currently engaging with a range of stakeholders to consider how to improve council tax collection. Following those discussions, we intend to publish updated guidance on good collection practices, before considering the scope of further reforms. The Government is clear that imprisonment should only ever be the last resort for non-payment of council tax. Before a magistrates’ court commits someone to prison for failure to pay their council tax, it must inquire as to the debtor’s means, and satisfy itself that failure to pay is due to “wilful refusal or culpable neglect”. This is to prevent persons who are genuinely unable to pay their council tax from being committed to prison.</p> answering member constituency Richmond (Yorks) answering member printed Rishi Sunak question first answered 18/06/2019 13:38:21 answering member 4483 label Biography information for Rishi Sunak
	tabling member	4034 label Biography information for Yvonne Fovargue

1132764

	registered interest
	date	18/06/2019
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Cannabis: Medical Treatments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What progress the Government has made on making medical cannabis available to people who need it.
	tabling member constituency	Gower
	tabling member printed	Tonia Antoniazzi
	uin	911421
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2019 answer text <p>The Government acted swiftly to change the law and those patients for whom it is clinically appropriate can be prescribed medicinal cannabis. It is a clinical decision whether to prescribe, and prescriptions of medicinal cannabis are available, and being issued where it is judged clinically appropriate for the patient.</p><p /><p /> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matt Hancock question first answered 18/06/2019 16:50:49 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	4623 label Biography information for Tonia Antoniazzi

1132020

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Arms Trade: Climate Change
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what account his Department takes of the potential effect on climate change and the environment as part of its policy on arms manufacturing and sales.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh East
	tabling member printed	Tommy Sheppard
	uin	264428
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2019 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its acquisition activities, including manufacturing by industry, and has identified climate change as a key sustainability priority. Our investment approvals policy includes a requirement to take sustainability into account in all initial business cases, and the use of an environmental management system is mandated for all acquisition projects. This helps to ensure that our activities are compliant with Government sustainable development and environmental protection policy requirements. More detailed guidance and training is also provided to project teams to strengthen environmental management.</p><p>Defence industry suppliers also have a key role to play in improving their own processes and supply chain education. We expect our suppliers to abide by the Government's Supplier Code of Conduct, which requires suppliers to understand and reduce their impact on the environment. Underpinning this, the MOD has published a Defence Standard for assurance that contractors are operating suitable environmental management systems. We also continue to work through the Sustainable Procurement Working Group to share good practice and maintain a dialogue with industry partners on this important issue.</p><p>More information on how the MOD manages sustainable procurement can be found on the Knowledge in Defence website at the following link:</p><p>https://www.gov.uk/guidance/knowledge-in-defence-kid</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 18/06/2019 15:09:03 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
	tabling member	4453 label Biography information for Tommy Sheppard

1129539

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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	Israel: Palestinians
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a UK representative will participate in the Peace to Prosperity economic workshop organised by the Kingdom of Bahrain in partnership with the United States on 25 to 26 June, to discuss the potential for economic investments of a Middle East peace agreement.
	tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
	uin	HL16024
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2019 answer text <p>The UK has been invited to the economic workshop in Bahrain and we expect to participate. The UK’s longstanding position on the Middle East Peace Process is clear: we support a negotiated settlement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state; based on 1967 borders with agreed land swaps, Jerusalem as the shared capital of both states, and a just, fair, agreed and realistic settlement for refugees.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 18/06/2019 13:13:28 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1129540

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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	Ethiopia: 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 political situation in Ethiopia, following recent bouts of inter-ethnic fighting and the ongoing tensions caused by rising ethnic nationalism in that country.
	tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
	uin	HL16025
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2019 answer text <p>The Government is concerned about the violence and resultant displacement of people in a number of regions of Ethiopia. We are further concerned by the conditions of recent returns. Conflict and displacement present a real risk to the welcome reforms that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed continues to institute.</p><p>I raised our concerns and offered assistance in my visits of October 2018 and March 2019. Our Ambassador and senior official have raised concerns with the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Peace. DFID is currently supporting humanitarian agencies to respond to the needs of IDPs and host communities affected by this crisis, including through support to Ethiopia's humanitarian fund.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 18/06/2019 13:09:19 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1129541

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Overseas Students
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by the British Council The Shape of Global Higher Education, published on 1 May, what steps they are taking to ensure that the UK retains its pre-eminence in global higher education, particularly in the light of the increasing access to education systems in other countries for overseas students.
	tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
	uin	HL16026
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2019 answer text <p>In March 2019, the Department for Education and the Department for International Trade published the International Education Strategy, which can be found here and is also attached: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-education-strategy-global-potential-global-growth/international-education-strategy-global-potential-global-growth" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-education-strategy-global-potential-global-growth/international-education-strategy-global-potential-global-growth</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Developed in co-operation with providers across the education sector, this strategy sets out an ambition to increase the value of our education exports to £35 billion per year, and to increase the number of international higher education students in the UK to 600,000 per year, both by 2030.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy also sets out actions to support the higher education sector to deliver on this ambition. These include the appointment of an international education champion to help build links with priority countries and unlock barriers to international exchange and partnership. In addition, the strategy sets out actions to ensure that international students have the best possible experience studying in the UK, and that doing this maximises their employment opportunities.</p><p>The government will be working closely with institutions, Universities UK International and the British Council to develop partnerships, deliver trade missions, to provide forums to develop sustainable mutually beneficial transnational education programmes and to develop annual updates to the strategy.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 18/06/2019 15:50:08 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie attachment 1 file name HL16026_International Education Strategy.pdf title HL16026_pdf
	tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1129542

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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	Qatar: Diplomatic Relations
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have called for dialogue to resolve the ongoing crisis between Qatar and the Arab Quartet countries of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt which began in June 2017; and what steps they have taken to support the Gulf Cooperation Council in its efforts to resolve the crises.
	tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
	uin	HL16027
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2019 answer text <p>We continue to urge all sides to take steps to de-escalate and engage with Kuwaiti mediation efforts to find a resolution to the ongoing dispute. Substantive progress can only happen when all countries involved are willing to discuss demands that are measured and realistic. We remain firmly committed to our strategic partnership with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and continue to make clear during engagements with Gulf partners that GCC unity matters to long-term regional security and stability.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 18/06/2019 13:12:09 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1129533

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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	Religious Freedom
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their strategy for promoting and protecting freedom of religion or belief as an objective of UK foreign policy.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Leeds
	uin	HL16018
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2019 answer text <p>​The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is committed to using our influence to defend Freedom of Religion or Belief as a universal human right which should be enjoyed by everyone. That is why the Prime Minister appointed me as her Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief. The UK regularly raises this topic through Ministers, our diplomatic network and at the Human Rights Council. In recent years we have seen reports of a particular rise in the persecution of Christians. The Foreign Secretary launched the independent review of FCO support for persecuted Christians on 30 January. The Review is led by the Bishop of Truro. It will map levels of persecution and discrimination against Christians around the world, and provide robust recommendations on how the FCO can respond. The Bishop has now submitted his interim report and will submit his final report in the Summer.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 18/06/2019 13:03:58 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	4349 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Leeds

1129534

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Humanitarian Aid: Minority Groups
	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 Wilton Park Statement on assisting religious minorities in humanitarian crises, published on 9 May.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Leeds
	uin	HL16019
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2019 answer text <p>DFID has reviewed and assessed the Wilton Park Statement on assisting religious minorities in humanitarian crises. The Wilton Park Conference brought together and found common ground between an unprecedented gathering of human rights activists, humanitarian organisations, representatives of governments and international organisations and faith groups. The statement illustrates how the different approaches can be complimentary. Whilst clearly recognising that humanitarian responses have to be guided by the principles of impartiality and assistance provided on the basis of need alone, the statement provides guidance to assist humanitarian practitioners determine whether vulnerable groups and religious minorities are most at risk and how to encourage and facilitate the participation and partnership of local and national religious communities in determining specific needs of vulnerable religious minority individuals and communities.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 18/06/2019 16:47:42 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
	tabling member	4349 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Leeds