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789038

	registered interest
	date	14/11/2017
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Academies: Admissions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2017 to Question 112004, on academies: admissions, whether the Secretary of State declined any of the 14 requests in the academic year 2016-17 for direct admission of a looked-after child to an academy.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
	uin	112985
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2017 answer text <p>Where a local council considers that an academy will best meet the needs of a child, it can ask the academy to admit the child but has no powers to direct it to do so. The local council and the academy will usually come to an agreement, but if an academy refuses to admit a child, the local council can ask the Secretary of State to intervene.</p><p> </p><p>Looked after children are amongst the most vulnerable in our society and the Secretary of State is committed to supporting them to have the best possible start in life. In 2016/17, there were no declined cases following the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s intervention on behalf of my Rt hon. Friend the Secretary of State.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 20/11/2017 15:21:37 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

171922

	registered interest
	date	05/01/2015
	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	Affordable Housing: Greater London
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much funding has been allocated for the building of affordable housing in London in each year from May 2010 to May 2019; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Mr Gareth Thomas
	uin	219687
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2015 answer text <p>Government funding for affordable housing in London is as follows:</p><p> </p><p>2010-11: £1.1 billion (outturn), 2011-12: £712 million (outturn), 2012-13: £400 million (budget), 2013-14: £392 million (budget); 2014-15: £516 million (budget).</p><p> </p><p>However, this understates the total expenditure on affordable housing in this Parliament. Across England, our affordable housing programme in 2011-15 is delivering £19.5 billion of public and private investment in affordable housing; a quarter of the housing is being provided in London.</p><p> </p><p>Total expenditure on housing in the next Parliament will be a matter for the next Spending Review. In that context, I cannot give a precise figure for how much funding will be allocated from 2016-17 onwards: spending from 2016 to 2019 will ultimately be a matter for the next Parliament.</p><p> </p><p>We have put in train an affordable housing programme for London with £1.27 billion of government funding across 2015-18. We have intentionally front-loaded this programme, resulting in an indicative profile of funding of 2015-16: £745 million, 2016-17: £356 million, 2017-18: £169 million. Again, the grant funding understates the total anticipated expenditure on affordable housing. We project that we can deliver a total of 275,000 new affordable homes across England in 2015-20, levering in £38 billion of public and private investment. London’s allocation has not been finalised, but again, it will be a sizeable proportion to reflect its population share.</p><p> </p><p>On 20 February 2015, the Government announced a package of proposals to boost housing and regeneration in London. There will no doubt be further announcements relating to housing investment in London in due course for the years ahead, which this answer by definition cannot illustrate at this point in time.</p><p> </p><p>Following the Localism Act, since April 2012, the Mayor of London has had oversight of strategic housing, regeneration and economic development in London, and therefore, this will also be influenced by the local policies taken forward by the Mayor.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 04/03/2015 16:18:35 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis previous answer version 37596 answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

511376

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2016
	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	Afghanistan: Corruption
	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 he is taking to assist the government of Afghanistan in tackling corruption in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
	uin	33714
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/04/2016 answer text <p>I have been asked to reply.</p><p>Helping Afghans to tackle corruption is critical to the UK’s engagement in Afghanistan. We are taking a leading role in raising the profile and priority of anti-corruption efforts and coordinating international efforts focused on interventions that contribute to the building of a stable political settlement and a viable state.</p><p>The UK’s objectives are to:</p><ul><li>Change norms and incentives: supporting increased transparency, citizen engagement, civil society advocacy and oversight, and applying greater political pressure;</li><li>Strengthen systems to reduce opportunity: supporting stronger private sector regulation, strengthening public financial management and administrative controls;</li><li>Increase risk to individuals: supporting enforcement to increase sanctions, controlling access to the UK and increasing reputational risk; and</li><li>Minimise risk in UK-funded activity: improving use of evidence and further strengthening programme and risk management.</li></ul> answering member constituency New Forest West answering member printed Mr Desmond Swayne question first answered 18/04/2016 13:28:42 answering member 55 label Biography information for Sir Desmond Swayne
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

711005

	registered interest
	date	14/03/2017
	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	Afghanistan: Diplomatic Service
	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 UK diplomats and members of staff at the UK embassy in Kabul are fluent in (a) Dari and (b) Pashto; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
	uin	67806
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2017 answer text <p>The British Embassy in Kabul has approximately 160 local staff, many of whom speak Dari or Pashto as their native language. We also have a small number of UK-based roles in Kabul where we train incumbents to speak Dari or Pashto.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan grouped question UIN 67810 question first answered 20/03/2017 16:35:08 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

511375

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2016
	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	Afghanistan: Islamic State
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the threat posed by Daesh in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
	uin	33713
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/04/2016 answer text <p>The Taleban remain the main threat to Afghans' security. Although the Daesh affiliate in Afghanistan is under pressure from the US and Afghan armed forces, local militias and the Taleban (with whom they are competing for influence), we assess that Daesh aims to expand its presence in Nangarhar Province in the east of Afghanistan.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 18/04/2016 15:40:38 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

710964

	registered interest
	date	14/03/2017
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Afghanistan: Islamic State
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government is taking to assist the Afghan National Security Forces to combat Daesh in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
	uin	67804
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2017 answer text <p>The UK Government continues to make a key contribution to NATO's non-combat train, advise and assist mission which is helping the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces to build security and stability for the long term. Afghan security forces are now fully responsible for the security of the country, and have showed great professionalism and resilience in tackling security and countering terrorism, including from Daesh's affiliate in the region.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 20/03/2017 16:24:46 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

511377

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2016
	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	Afghanistan: Non-governmental Organisations
	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 meetings the UK Ambassador to Afghanistan has had with non-governmental organisations in that country in the last six months; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
	uin	33715
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/04/2016 answer text <p>Our Ambassador in Afghanistan regularly meets a full range of international and Afghan civil society representatives in Afghanistan and will continue to do so. The UK has made long-term commitments to the country's future through financial aid and political support. The international and Afghan civil society community will continue to play an important role in the future stability and prosperity of Afghanistan and remains a key relationship for the Embassy.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 18/04/2016 15:41:35 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

100392

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	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	Africa
	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 effectiveness of UN peacekeeping efforts in Africa; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Mr Gareth Thomas
	uin	211510
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2014 answer text <p>In collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and Department for International Development, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office carries out regular assessments of United Nations peacekeeping missions. These assessments enable us to make recommendations for improvements and influences our negotiating position in the Security Council when drafting or renewing peacekeeping mandates. Nine out of the current sixteen United Nations peacekeeping missions are in Africa. All the missions in Africa face distinctive challenges as a result of the changing nature of the conflicts they are facing, the environment in which they operate or the capacity and capability of their personnel. Peacekeepers are likely to face violence, insurgency, terrorism and the absence of credible state authority. We welcome the announcement in June, by the United Nations Secretary General, of a review of United Nations peacekeeping. The UK will make an active contribution.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 17/12/2014 14:04:29 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

806642

	registered interest
	date	14/12/2017
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Agriculture: Cooperatives
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take further to support agricultural cooperatives; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
	uin	119718
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/12/2017 answer text <p>Cooperation is a powerful way for farmers and growers to improve their negotiating power, share machinery, labour, storage and other resources, and access knowledge and skills from others. We meet regularly with Cooperatives UK to discuss the potential for further collaboration in the agricultural sector, and we have backed the formation of formal Producer Organisations (POs). Changes to EU agricultural rules as a result of the ‘Omnibus’ regulation will strengthen the rights of POs and encourage large scale collaboration in all sectors.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 19/12/2017 13:59:52 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

810296

	registered interest
	date	20/12/2017
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Agriculture: Cooperatives
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what further support he plans to provide for agricultural cooperation; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
	uin	120762
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/01/2018 answer text <p>Cooperation is a powerful way for farmers and growers to improve their negotiating power, share machinery, labour, storage and other resources, and access knowledge and skills from others. The latest CLA survey of its farmer members shows that nine in ten respondents collaborate in some way; largely to make their businesses more successful and access new opportunities.</p><p> </p><p>We meet regularly with Cooperatives UK to discuss the potential for further collaboration in the agricultural sector, and we have backed the formation of formal Producer Organisations (POs). From 1 January 2018, changes to EU agricultural rules as a result of the ‘Omnibus’ regulation will strengthen the rights of POs and encourage large scale collaboration in all sectors.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 09/01/2018 15:15:06 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas