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1149708

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2019
	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	Sino-British Joint Declaration
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to recent events in Hong Kong, what plans they have to draw attention to the Sino-British Joint Declaration, ratified by the governments of China and the UK in 1984 at the next United Nations Security Council meeting.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL1
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2019 answer text <p>The UK is fully committed to upholding the Joint Declaration of 1984 and has consistently highlighted the importance we attach to China abiding by its obligations. Though we have no plans to raise the Joint Declaration in the Security Council, the UK did raise the Sino-British treaty in our national ‘item 2’ statement at the 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in September. In the statement, we re-iterated our support for and call for all to respect the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ framework, including the rights and freedoms in the Joint Declaration. We also underlined the importance of upholding the right to peaceful assembly in the UK’s statement at the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly on 15th October.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 21/10/2019 11:21:52 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1168543

	registered interest
	date	19/12/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	British Nationality: Children
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to remove the fee charged by the Home Office to register children as British citizens; and whether they intend to refund those who paid such fees before the High Court ruling on 19 December.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL1
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2020 answer text <p>The judgment was handed down on 19 December, and we are carefully considering its implications, and next steps.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford grouped question UIN HL2 question first answered 07/01/2020 13:53:48 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1313609

	registered interest
	date	11/05/2021
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Staff
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office staff were based in (1) Hong Kong, and (2) China, in (a) 2018, (b) 2019, (c) 2020 and (d) 2021.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL1
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/05/2021 answer text <table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>We have interpreted the question to mean how many staff were employed by the then Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Department for International Development (DfID) in China and Hong Kong in each of the financial years, (a) 2018, (b) 2019 and (c) 2020 and as Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in 2021. All the figures shown are based on the headcount as at 31 March in each year. They include both UK Based Staff and Country Based Staff.</p><p>The figures below cover our Embassies and Consulates in Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Wuhan. And our Consulate General in Hong Kong.</p><p><em>China and Hong Kong staff numbers 2018 to 2020 as Legacy departments. Then as FCDO in 2021. </em></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>China</p></td><td><p>Hong Kong</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p><em>FCO</em></p></td><td><p><em>DfID</em></p></td><td><p><em>FCO </em></p></td><td><p><em>DfID</em></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><em>2018</em></p></td><td><p>230-259</p></td><td><p>12</p></td><td><p>60-69</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><em>2019</em></p></td><td><p>240-269</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>50-59</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><em>2020</em></p></td><td><p>250-279</p></td><td><p>11</p></td><td><p>50-59</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr></tbody></table><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>China</p></td><td><p>Hong Kong</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p><em>FCDO</em></p></td><td><p><em>FCDO</em></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021</p></td><td><p>260 - 289</p></td><td><p>40 -49</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 25/05/2021 14:31:57 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1461021

	registered interest
	date	10/05/2022
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	East Africa: Droughts
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the East and Horn of Africa in preparing for future droughts by (1) building more resilient systems, and (2) ending exacerbating factors such as conflict.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL10
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2022 answer text <p>The UK is a major humanitarian donor to the East Africa region. In 2022 to support communities affected by drought plus flooding and conflict the UK has provided £72.25 million to Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan. Across the region UK funded humanitarian activities are making a difference and saving lives. For example, in Kenya to respond to the ongoing drought, 26,000 children will receive life-saving food assistance thanks to the UK's support. In Ethiopia a further 200,000 children and pregnant and lactating women in southern and eastern regions will receive similar urgent aid.</p><p>The UK also played a critical role in convening the recent 'UN Horn of Africa Drought Roundtable' which took place in late April in Geneva. This included working with states in the region and the UN to ensure appropriate levels of participation. It helped to bring much needed focus to the drought and importantly it mobilised roughly US$400 million in new funding.</p><p>Countries across the Horn of Africa will also be impacted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine due to the increase in the costs of food commodities and fuel on global markets. We are exploring how we can help lessen the impact of rising food prices caused by the war in Ukraine on vulnerable communities in East Africa. This includes assessing alternate markets for procurement of food supplies and working with UN partners to promote effective prioritisation so assistance reaches the most needy.</p><p>Our response to the drought builds on long-established resilience building programmes in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. In Kenya this includes support to the Hunger Safety Programme, which has provided 600,000 people in drought prone areas with regular financial assistance. In Ethiopia, the UK funded Productive Safety Net Programme has benefitted some 8 million people via financial welfare provision and community public works projects. In Somalia the UK has been supporting over 220 rural communities in three large urban cities with durable solutions initiatives for internally displaced persons. These programmes, coupled with additional investments, have enabled the UK to reach nearly 8 million individuals as a part of its emergency humanitarian response.</p><p>The UK remains committed to promoting peace and security across the Horn of Africa.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 24/05/2022 16:44:50 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1659885

	registered interest
	date	11/09/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Pakistan: Blasphemy
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the developments in the Supreme Court of Pakistan case on the application by Samuel Payara (C.M.A.7748/2023) after the court adjourned proceedings and requested from the Sargodha administration the text of its agreement with Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) regarding blasphemy monitoring in areas inhabited by Christian community members; and whether they have raised this matter with the government of that country.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL10019
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/09/2023 answer text <p>Protecting Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), including for minority communities, remains central to the UK Government's human rights engagement in Pakistan. On 13 September, I [Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon] discussed the treatment of marginalised religious communities, including the Christian community, with Pakistan's caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani. On 6 September, I condemned attacks against religious minorities in my meeting with the Pakistani High Commissioner. We continue to raise the issue of blasphemy laws privately at the highest levels. On 27 June, I raised the use of blasphemy laws to target marginalised religious communities with Pakistan's then-Minister for Human Rights, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 25/09/2023 15:52:50 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1249755

	registered interest
	date	09/11/2020
	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	Older People: Health Services
	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 Bethell on 5 November (HL9501), what assessment they have made of The Sunday Times insight investigation, published on 25 October, that alleged that elderly people were denied treatment to stop the NHS being overrun.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL10033
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/01/2021 answer text <p>Claims that frail and elderly patients were denied care are categorically untrue.</p><p> </p><p>Over two thirds of inpatients were aged over 65 years old. The National Health Service repeatedly instructed staff that no patient who could benefit from treatment should be denied it and even at the height of the pandemic there was no shortage of ventilators and intensive care.</p><p> </p><p>Thanks to the hard work of NHS staff and care workers and the response of the public to public health measures we have protected our most vulnerable patients throughout the pandemic. For example, from the start of the pandemic we have done everything we can to ensure care home residents and staff are protected, including testing all residents and staff, ring-fencing £1.1 billion for infection control and making a further £4.6 billion available to councils to address pressures caused by the pandemic, including in adult social care.</p> answering member printed Lord Bethell question first answered 13/01/2021 12:02:56 answering member 4708 label Biography information for Lord Bethell
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1249805

	registered interest
	date	09/11/2020
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	North Korea: Coronavirus
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) what assessment they have made of the humanitarian situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) what plans they have to offer humanitarian assistance to the government of North Korea; and (3) what discussions they have had with others in the international community about offering humanitarian assistance.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL10034
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2020 answer text <p>An assessment of the humanitarian situation in North Korea was completed in September 2020. It concluded that North Korea's humanitarian need is likely increasing as a result of the country's border lockdown in response to COVID-19 and abnormally high cumulative rainfall in the monsoon period. The United Kingdom provides multilateral funds to the UN and other international organisations providing humanitarian assistance in North Korea, including the Global Humanitarian Response Plan (GHRP) in response to COVID-19. As a country of concern in the GHRP, North Korea is receiving funds from this global appeal. North Korea is also one of the countries eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX initiative to which the United Kingdom has committed up to £500 million.</p><p>We keep the humanitarian situation in North Korea under constant review, including through ongoing discussions with international organisations operational in country. We continue to make clear to the North Korean government that international support is available, and urge them to restore international access and monitoring for humanitarian assistance. The UK has also repeatedly called on North Korea to prioritise the well-being of its people over the development of illegal weapons programmes, through our bilateral relationship and in multilateral fora.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 23/11/2020 12:10:23 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1249806

	registered interest
	date	09/11/2020
	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	Churches: Community Development
	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 calculations of the economic contribution made by churches used for community purposes in the report by the National Churches Trust House of Good, published on 18 October; and what social value they attach to the provision in churches of (1) food banks, (2) youth services, (3) mental health services, (4) addiction support services and (5) other community services during the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated national restrictions.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL10035
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2020 answer text <p>I am aware of the ‘House of Good’ report published recently by the National Churches Trust, on the contribution made by churches.</p><p>Churches are a vital community asset as referenced in the Localism Act 2011. Churches and all our places of worship are vital to people’s health and wellbeing. Their role in providing pastoral as well as spiritual support is widely recognised, and the part they play in supporting the most vulnerable in our communities has been brought into sharp focus during the pandemic.</p><p>I am grateful for all the support they have given to those who are most vulnerable during these difficult times.</p> answering member printed Lord Greenhalgh question first answered 23/11/2020 12:01:51 answering member 4877 label Biography information for Lord Greenhalgh
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1249807

	registered interest
	date	09/11/2020
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Churches: Repairs and Maintenance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the rate of closure of churches in recent years; what assessment has been made of the ability of worshipping communities to fund ongoing repairs to church buildings; and what plans they have to provide support to worshipping communities to help maintain church buildings.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL10036
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2020 answer text <p>Historic England works closely with faith communities on the management of historic places of worship.</p><p>When a place of worship is no longer required for regular worship it can still make a valuable contribution to the wider community; Historic England works with faith communities to develop a sustainable future when they are not used actively for worship, retaining as much of their special historical and architectural significance as possible. Only in a small minority of cases do places of worship have to close. Historic England also offers bespoke advice to those who manage places of worship on how to address repairs.</p><p>In 2016, the Taylor Review: Sustainability of English Churches and Cathedrals was commissioned to examine the funding and sustainability of listed Church of England churches. The Review considered that a more strategic approach was needed to ensure than the previous large investments of public money were protected by timely maintenance and repair of these buildings. Consequently, the DCMS-funded Taylor Review Pilot was commissioned to test some recommendations made in the Review, pairing advice and support from building conservation and community development experts with targeted grant funding for maintenance and minor repairs. The evaluation, which was published in October 2020, demonstrated the impact of this project on historic places of worship in the pilot areas, with just over £1m of grant funding for repairs allocated almost equally between both areas to 136 applicants.</p><p>The Government has set out its vision and strategy to protect the historic environment, including England’s places of worship, in the 2017 Heritage Statement. Any further financial support is subject to the Spending Review, which is due to conclude later this month.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 17/11/2020 16:29:40 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1249808

	registered interest
	date	09/11/2020
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Nigeria: Police
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the Nigeria Countering Organised Crime and Corruption programme, (2) how much the programme cost, and (3) what indicators have been used to assess its success or failure.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL10037
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/11/2020 answer text <p>The UK is committed to tackling organised crime and corruption around the world. As part of this work, the UK Government, through the National Crime Agency, delivers a Countering Organised Crime and Corruption programme in Nigeria. The programme provides mentoring and capacity building for units of the Nigerian Police Force to improve border security and anti-kidnap capacity, and to respond to organised crime groups in Nigeria. The programme budget was £3.1 million for 2019/20.</p><p>The Nigeria Countering Organised Crime and Corruption programme is evaluated each year. External consultants have been used to evaluate the programme in some years. It was given a grade A rating for meeting expectations in 2019/20. It was also assessed that the programme represents good value for money and that the project successfully integrates gender and equality issues into delivery. All UK programmes are provided in adherence with the UK Government's Overseas Security and Justice Assistance guidance. We will continue to support police reform in Nigeria, working with the Nigerian Government and international and civil society partners to improve its transparency and accountability, in line with its human rights obligations.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 18/11/2020 12:56:42 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool