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1128001

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Special Educational Needs
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that local authorities comply fully with the Children and Families Act 2014 in the cases of children with education, health and care plans; and what action they are taking to ensure that there are no disincentives, both in terms of funding and concerns over their position on league tables, for schools to be inclusive and to accept children with special educational needs.
	tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
	uin	HL15886
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/05/2019 answer text <p>To ensure local authorities comply fully with their obligations under the Children and Families Act (2014), including on education, health and care plans, we introduced new local area special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) inspections by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission in 2016. All local areas will be inspected by 2021. These inspections do not give a pass/fail judgement. They instead identify areas of strength and where improvement is required, including asking an area to produce a Written Statement of Action if there are significant concerns. Where we have concerns with a local area’s performance, we work with partners, including NHS England, to support and challenge the area to improve.</p><p> </p><p>The inspection reports have proved a catalyst for local change, both where Written Statements of Action have been required and where they have not. Local authorities and their health partners have embraced the process and used inspection findings to prioritise areas for improvement.</p><p> </p><p>In terms of ensuring schools are inclusive, the Children and Families Act (2014) reinforced the presumption of mainstream education for children with SEND. The attached SEND Code of Practice provides detailed guidance to schools about how to support children with SEND. The new Ofsted common inspection framework, introduced from September 2019, emphasises the need for leaders to offer high-quality, inclusive education and training to all.</p><p> </p><p>We launched a call for evidence on how the special educational needs funding system operates in May 2019 to help us understand how the current available funding is distributed, and what improvements to the financial arrangements could be made in future.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 31/05/2019 10:27:09 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton attachment 1 file name HL15886_SEND_Code_of_Practice_January_2015.pdf title HL15886_PDF
	tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1128002

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Buses: Exhaust Emissions
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of buses in the UK are currently zero-emission; what percentage of new bus orders are zero-emission; and whether they have a target for the number of zero-emission buses by 2025; and if so, what is that target.
	tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
	uin	HL15887
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2019 answer text <p>The Government believes that it is right to reduce NOx and carbon emissions on the UK bus fleet. That is why it has provided over £240 million so far to help fund the cleanest buses, and in February 2019 announced the winners of a £48 million scheme which will fund a further 263 zero emission buses. Currently 17% of the UK bus fleet is low emission and 1% is zero emission. In 2018 4.2% of all new bus orders were for a zero-emission bus. Whilst there is no target for the number of zero emission buses by 2025 the Government is committed to the decarbonisation of the UK bus fleet.</p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 04/06/2019 13:07:42 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
	tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1128003

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	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	Saudi Arabia: Capital Punishment
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have raised with the government of Saudi Arabia its decision to execute 37 men convicted of terrorism on 23 April; and whether they have sought further clarification of the terrorist offences for which those executed were convicted.
	tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
	uin	HL15888
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/06/2019 answer text <p>We are very concerned by the 37 executions in Saudi Arabia on 23 April. The Foreign Secretary raised this matter directly and asked for more information from the Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, HE Minister Al Jubeir. The British Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country, including in Saudi Arabia. We regularly raise human rights concerns, including the use of the death penalty, at the highest levels with the Saudi Arabian authorities. We consistently and unreservedly condemn torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and it is a priority for us to challenge it wherever and whenever it occurs.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 05/06/2019 15:59:18 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1128004

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	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	Aras Amiri
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what further information they have on the case of Aras Amiri, the British Council worker whose sentence to 10 years in prison in Iran for spying was reported on 14 May; and what action they are taking to ensure her safety and wellbeing.
	tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
	uin	HL15889
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/05/2019 answer text <p>​We remain very concerned about reports of Aras Amiri's sentence. We are still continuing to work closely with the British Council to understand the situation further and to provide what support and advice we can, recognising that unfortunately, as a mono-Iranian national, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no formal or practical ability to request consular access. We regularly raise human rights with the Iranian authorities at all levels and we continue to take action with the international community to press Iran to improve its poor record on all human rights issues.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 30/05/2019 15:56:26 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1128005

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	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	Nigeria: Islamic State
	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 influence of the Islamic State in West Africa Province in north eastern Nigeria and the potential for further conflict across in the region.
	tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
	uin	HL15890
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2019 answer text <p>We are concerned with the increase of Islamic State West Africa (ISWA) activity in North Eastern Nigeria. Together with international partners, we will continue to support Nigeria and its neighbours to tackle threats to regional stability by ISWA. Regional governments must work together to stabilise areas affected by terrorism and reduce safe havens for terrorists. Humanitarian operations have been placed under pressure and some suspended, cutting off support for up to 120,000 people. We are working with international partners to support contingency planning to protect aid workers, providing strategic military advice, and are reviewing options for additional UK assistance.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 04/06/2019 13:50:04 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1128006

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	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	Brazil: Rainforests
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made representations to the government of Brazil to exercise restraint over the economic exploitation of Amazon rainforest, in view of its importance to the global environment.
	tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
	uin	HL15891
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2019 answer text <p>​Our posts in Brazil frequently engage with the Brazilian Government on a number of environmental issues including deforestation. We have been having positive discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture and work closely with them on our International Climate Fund programmes.</p><p>We are working with Brazil to help ensure it continues to protect the Amazon and have invested nearly £120 million through the International Climate Fund on projects to limit deforestation, prevent forest fires and implement the Forestry Code in the Amazon, Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 04/06/2019 13:51:51 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1129543

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Nuclear Weapons
	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 Renata Dwan, Director of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research, warned on 21 May that the risk of nuclear weapons being used is at its highest since World War Two, and that the world should take this threat more seriously.
	tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
	uin	HL16028
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>Today's security climate is challenging, with the threats faced by the United Kingdom increasing in scale, diversity and complexity. However, Her Majesty's Government does not believe that the risk of nuclear war is greater today than it was during the Cold War.</p><p>While the operation of an independent, minimum, credible nuclear deterrent continues to be necessary to protect the United Kingdom from the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, the UK has taken a number of unilateral actions that build confidence and reduce international tensions. Our negative security assurances, as set out in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, are designed to give Non-Nuclear Weapons States in compliance with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty confidence that nuclear weapons will not be used against them. Further, since 1994, UK Trident missiles have not been targeted at any State; our Vanguard class submarines are at several days' notice to fire; only the Prime Minister has the authority to launch nuclear weapons maintaining political control at all times; and the UK has been transparent about its nuclear capability, including missile and warhead numbers.</p><p>The Government is committed to the long-term goal of a world without nuclear weapons and continues to work internationally, within the framework of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, towards achieving the conditions in which all nuclear weapons possessor states are willing to relinquish their nuclear weapons.</p> answering member printed Earl Howe question first answered 11/06/2019 15:17:19 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
	tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1124653

	registered interest
	date	02/05/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forced Marriage: Children and Young People
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times in 2018 the Forced Marriage Unit provided advice or support on  forced marriage to (1) a person aged 15 or under, and (2) a person aged 16 or 17.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
	uin	HL15521
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK is a world-leader in the fight to stamp out the brutal practice of forced marriage, with our joint Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) which leads efforts to combat it both at home and abroad. We made forced marriage a criminal offence in 2014 to better protect victims and send a clear message that this abhorrent practice is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated in the UK.</p><p>The joint Foreign &amp; Commonwealth Office and Home Office Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) operates a public helpline to provide advice and support to victims, those at risk, and professionals. Statistics on the number of cases dealt with by the FMU, including a breakdown by region and age, are published annually and available online at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/forced-marriage#statistics-on-forced-marriage" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/forced-marriage#statistics-on-forced-marriage</a></p><p>Figures for 2018 will be published soon.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 16/05/2019 11:40:12 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans

1127014

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	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	Tobacco: Retail Trade
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the paper Impact of a ban on the open display of tobacco products in retail outlets on never smoking youth in the UK: findings from a repeat cross-sectional survey before, during and after implementation, published in the British Medical Journal in May; and whether they will consider the implications of those findings for other unhealthy commodity industries, including gambling.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
	uin	HL15775
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government keeps all such evidence on the impact of its policies under review, including the possible wider application of individual policies to other areas. The Government intends to conduct a formal post-implementation review of this legislation with a report due in spring 2020 and evidence of this nature will be looked at to assess the overall impact of legislation. There are no plans to extend the current ban on open display of tobacco products in retail outlets to other products.</p> answering member printed Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford question first answered 24/05/2019 11:48:27 answering member 4019 label Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
	tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans

1127015

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	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	China: Christianity
	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 of Chinese Christians following reports that the government of China has labelled the expansion of Christianity a "grave harm to Chinese national security".
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
	uin	HL15776
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/05/2019 answer text <p>We remain deeply concerned about the persecution of Christians on the grounds of their religion or belief in China. Our analysis is that restrictions on freedom of religion or belief in China have recently increased, with the authorities tightening their control over how certain religions are practiced.</p><p>Accordingly, I highlighted these restrictions – including on Christians across China – at the 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council in March 2019. I also set out the Government’s position when answering an Oral Question in the House of Lords; 4 April 2019, Oral Question, House of Lords, column 226. We further raised similar concerns during China’s Universal Periodic Review in November 2018.</p><p>Additionally, on 30 January 2019, the Foreign Secretary, together with the Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Truro, launched an Independent Review of Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) support for persecuted Christians, including Christians in China. The Foreign Secretary has asked the Bishop to make ambitious FCO structural, policy and practice recommendations, which will be published as a Command Paper at the end of June.</p><p>We are also aware of credible reports of the closure or demolition of unregistered churches in some areas of China, the removal of crosses from buildings, and that individuals are being harassed or detained for their religious beliefs across China. Senior officials raised these concerns with Chinese authorities earlier this year, and will continue to do so.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 28/05/2019 14:46:15 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans