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672268

	registered interest
	date	12/01/2017
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	thebigword
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have a target figure for cost savings for the provision of court interpreters under the contract with <i>thebigword</i>; and if so, what is it, and against what baseline it is measured.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Coussins
	uin	HL4606
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2017 answer text <p>The Ministry is committed to ensuring the justice system is supported by a range of quality language services that meet the needs of all those that require them.</p><p> </p><p>All our new language service contracts contain robust performance and charging provisions which are designed to ensure the value for money and affordability of the services provided by the department's suppliers. However, we have not felt it appropriate to set a target figure for cost savings for the provision of court interpreters, which is a demand-led service, given the importance we attach to the provision of such support to those who most need it.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 26/01/2017 14:22:30 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
	tabling member	3829 label Biography information for Baroness Coussins

672269

	registered interest
	date	12/01/2017
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	thebigword
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the contract with <i>thebigword</i> for court interpreters specifies any particular level or type of qualification which individual interpreters are expected to have.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Coussins
	uin	HL4607
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2017 answer text <p>The Ministry is committed to ensuring the justice system is supported by a range of high quality language services that meet the needs of all those that require them.</p><p> </p><p>Bookings are classified depending on their complexity level, namely: ‘standard’, ‘complex’ and ‘complex written’. These complexity levels were determined by each Commissioning Body.</p><p> </p><p>I can confirm that the contract sets out the minimum level of qualification and experience a language professional is required to have in order to work on each complexity level of booking. Details of these qualifications can be found at: <a href="https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/975cb99e-fec6-430f-8f31-fd532a907137" target="_blank">https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/975cb99e-fec6-430f-8f31-fd532a907137</a></p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 26/01/2017 14:23:54 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
	tabling member	3829 label Biography information for Baroness Coussins

672273

	registered interest
	date	12/01/2017
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	thebigword
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government which company, or companies, are being sub-contracted by <i>thebigword</i> to provide court interpreting services; and whether those companies are subject to quality assurance.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Coussins
	uin	HL4611
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2017 answer text <p>To ensure a high and consistent level of fulfilment across all geographical areas and in rare languages, thebigword have partnered with a number of subcontractors, namely: Global Language Services Limited, Cintra Translations Limited, Debonair Languages Ltd, Supreme Linguistic Services Ltd, Mango Spice Language Solutions, J-anne Interpreting and Translation Service Limited, Global Translation Services and Language River.</p><p> </p><p>Thebigword must ensure that its subcontracts contain obligations no less onerous on the sub-contractor than those imposed on them by the Ministry, including those relating to quality and performance standards. Thebigword are also responsible for carrying out audits to ensure subcontractor adherence to the contract service specification.</p><p> </p><p>All language professionals provided by thebigword, whether directly or via subcontractor, will be subject to ongoing quality assurance provided by The Language Shop. This includes a programme of 'spot checks' of interpreters undertaking assignments.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 26/01/2017 14:27:17 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
	tabling member	3829 label Biography information for Baroness Coussins

625831

	registered interest
	date	31/10/2016
	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	al-Aqsa Mosque
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding reports of a raid on al-Aqsa Mosque on 23 October.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
	uin	HL2850
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2016 answer text We have not raised this specific issue with the Israeli authorities. The UK continues to support preservation of the longstanding status quo at the Haram al Sharif/Temple Mount compound. answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 14/11/2016 16:39:20 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

711178

	registered interest
	date	14/03/2017
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Zimbabwe: Workplace Pensions
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider making a contribution to the proposed Zimbabwe Public Service Pension Fund from either the aid programme or the superannuation fund.
	tabling member printed	Lord Goodlad
	uin	HL6066
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2017 answer text <p>Responsibility for Zimbabwe’s public service pensioners rests with the Government of Zimbabwe. The Government will therefore not consider making a contribution from either UK aid funds, or the superannuation fund.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 21/03/2017 17:37:21 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	670 label Biography information for Lord Goodlad

718238

	registered interest
	date	06/04/2017
	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: Workplace Pensions
	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 cost of proposals submitted by the Overseas Service Pension Association in December 2016 for assisting the government of Zimbabwe in meeting its obligations to Zimbabwe public service pensions.
	tabling member printed	Lord Goodlad
	uin	HL6737
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2017 answer text <p>The Government understands the hardship that lack of pension payments causes to former service-people and their families. The British Ambassador to Zimbabwe raises pensions frequently with the Zimbabwean Government and has secured written confirmation that it will resume payments when the economic situation improves. However, we have not made an estimate of the cost as these payments are the responsibility of the Government of Zimbabwe as set out in the Lancaster House Agreement in 1979.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 19/04/2017 15:33:45 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	670 label Biography information for Lord Goodlad

713673

	registered interest
	date	23/03/2017
	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: South Africa
	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 impact on the Zimbabwe economy of the announcement by the South African Home Affairs Minister on 7 February that Zimbabweans who previously acquired permits to work, conduct business, or study in South Africa under special dispensation will have to follow the normal channel of applying for work and study visas when their permits expire in December, and of the extent to which those new requirements will lead to Zimbabweans holding such permits losing their jobs and rights of residence.
	tabling member printed	Lord Oates
	uin	HL6270
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/04/2017 answer text <p>The South African Government has the right to apply their own rules about visas and work and study permits. It is for the South African and Zimbabwean authorities to comment on the impact this might have on the Zimbabwean economy and on jobs held by Zimbabweans in South Africa.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 05/04/2017 15:56:42 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	4549 label Biography information for Lord Oates

539221

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2016
	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: Politics and Government
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 14 July (HL1012) in which they stated that the IMF "noted Zimbabwe's good progress and encouraged further reforms", what policies or actions they classify as examples of Zimbabwe's good progress on either economic or political reform.
	tabling member printed	Lord Oates
	uin	HL1297
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2016 answer text <p>Following its May 2016 Article IV Consultation with Zimbabwe, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) noted that “despite the adverse environment, the authorities have reduced the fiscal deficit in both 2014 and 2015. They have started to rationalise public expenditures by implementing recommendations from the 2015 civil service audit. They are also amending the Public Financial Management and Procurement Acts. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has taken measures to restore confidence in the financial sector. All banks in operations now have capital buffers above the minimum requirements”. The IMF assessment did not cover political reform.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 29/07/2016 13:59:20 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	4549 label Biography information for Lord Oates

582672

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2016
	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: Politics and Government
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what criteria they consider the government of Zimbabwe would need to fulfil, in terms of demonstrating sustained adherence to the constitution of Zimbabwe and a sustained commitment to protecting the human rights of Zimbabwe citizens, before they would provide financial support for a land reform programme.
	tabling member printed	Lord Oates
	uin	HL1855
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/09/2016 answer text <p>Land reform in Zimbabwe is essential for improving agricultural productivity and broader economic development. The British Government has consistently said that it would be ready to join international partners in supporting a land reform programme in Zimbabwe that is transparent, fair, legal and within the context of a broad range of reforms. Separately, we continue to call, both bilaterally and in partnership with others, for an end to human rights abuses and the restoration of internationally accepted standards.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 26/09/2016 15:29:29 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	4549 label Biography information for Lord Oates

582673

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2016
	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: Politics and Government
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what criteria they consider the government of Zimbabwe would need to fulfil, in terms of demonstrating sustained adherence to the constitution of Zimbabwe and a sustained commitment to protecting the human rights of Zimbabwe citizens, before they would provide an economic support package.
	tabling member printed	Lord Oates
	uin	HL1856
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/09/2016 answer text <p>The UK has no plans at present to provide an economic support package to the government of Zimbabwe. As we have made clear, any future decision on new funding through the International Financial Institutions would require considerable further progress on a wide range of reforms –including upholding the constitution and human rights alongside urgently needed economic reforms.</p><p>The UK has made clear that the international community must continue to support the people of Zimbabwe in exercising their democratic rights and in building a free, peaceful and prosperous future. Delivering critical assistance and services to empower poor Zimbabweans is central to this support. No UK aid is channelled directly through the government of Zimbabwe. We only provide direct funding to foreign Governments when they commit to improving the management of public finances, tackling concerns about human rights and corruption and improving domestic accountability.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 26/09/2016 15:28:52 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	4549 label Biography information for Lord Oates