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1660969

registered interest
date	15/09/2023
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Immigration Removal Centres: Domestic Visits
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Minister for Immigration has visited an immigration detention centre since 20 July 2023.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley East
tabling member printed	Stephanie Peacock
uin	199812
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/09/2023 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">The Minister for Immigration conducts visits, and host meetings, on the whole spectrum of Immigration business regularly.Information on Ministers’ meetings is released quarterly as part of Government transparency and accountability data and is available at: Home Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, January to March 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Minister for Immigration conducts visits, and host meetings, on the whole spectrum of Immigration business regularly.Information on Ministers’ meetings is released quarterly as part of Government transparency and accountability data and is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-january-to-march-2023" target="_blank">Home Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, January to March 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></ins></p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick question first answered 25/09/2023 14:45:27 question first ministerially corrected 16/10/2023 13:42:31 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick previous answer version 96792 answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
tabling member	4607 label Biography information for Stephanie Peacock

1660899

registered interest
date	14/09/2023
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	Diplomatic Service
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many countries have diplomatic representation in the UK.
tabling member printed	Baroness Kennedy of Cradley
uin	HL10183
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/09/2023 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">The UK has diplomatic representation present in 160 countries recognised by the UK Government. This number periodically changes for political and operational reasons. It excludes countries in which we have closed or temporarily suspended a Post in country, which may operate elsewhere. The UK also has representation present in 15 territories, which includes 12 UK Overseas Territories.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) publishes a full list of locations in which the UK has a diplomatic presence on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-foreign-office-posts. This list is regularly updated.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office publishes details of foreign embassies, high commissions and consulates in the UK on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/government/publications/foreign-embassies-in-the-uk.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">This page includes the London Diplomatic List (LDL), which contains details of all embassies and high commissions, as well as the names of heads of mission and other diplomatic agents appointed in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The LDL lists 171 diplomatic missions with their permanent seat in the UK; and 17 non-resident diplomatic missions.</ins></p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 29/09/2023 09:34:19 question first ministerially corrected 29/09/2023 10:03:28 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon previous answer version 97179 answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4303 label Biography information for Baroness Kennedy of Cradley

1660905

registered interest
date	14/09/2023
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	Libya: Floods
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, together with international partners, to assist with (1) international aid, and (2) rescue efforts, in Libya following the flooding in that country on 10 September; and what steps they are taking to help to reduce the threat of disease from contaminated water.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL10189
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2023 answer text <p>The UK is monitoring the <del class="ministerial">the</del> scale of flooding in eastern Libya following Storm Daniel and is committed to working with partners to deliver aid in support of the Libyan people. The UK is providing support in response to both the floods in Libya and the earthquake in Morocco, having allocated a package worth up to £10 million. Flights carrying UK-funded aid to Libya have so far delivered relief items including emergency shelter for up to 14,400 people, and over 800 portable solar lanterns. The UK is also providing water filters and hygiene kits that can reduce the threat of disease from contaminated water for up to 10,500 people. The UK is also supporting the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund and Education Cannot Wait programme, both of which have contributed to emergency responses in Libya. <del class="ministerial">The Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon,</del> <ins class="ministerial">I</ins> spoke with Chairman of Libya's Presidential Council Mohamed al-Mnefi on 13 September to convey his condolences and the UK's commitment to supporting Libya in the aftermath of this tragedy. <del class="ministerial">Lord Ahmad</del> <ins class="ministerial">I</ins> also spoke to UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, to discuss the international response to the crises in Morocco and Libya along with humanitarian coordination.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 28/09/2023 15:36:52 question first ministerially corrected 29/09/2023 10:02:28 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon previous answer version 97170 answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1659063

registered interest
date	07/09/2023
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Ministry of Defence: Compensation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 122 of his Department’s annual report and accounts for 2022-23, how many of the special payments reported for financial year 2022-23 were made to (a) service personnel and (b) other individuals affected by defence activities.
tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
uin	198317
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/09/2023 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">The majority of the 4,609 special payments disclosed relate to common law compensation claims (3,865). An analysis of this data is provided below;</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">· 2,307 payments to Service personnel</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">· 1,558 payments to Others</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">It should be noted that this analysis reflects the volume of payments made and that individuals may receive more than one compensation payment depending on the settlement reached.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">The remaining volume will include payments made in settlement of contractual disputes where it has been judged that this represents the best value for money course of action for the Department. Two of these payments are separately disclosed in the ARAc table as they exceed the &gt;£300,000 threshold for more detailed reporting (specifically MSI Instruments (£959,000) and Land Remediation Payment (£321,000)).</del><ins class="ministerial">The majority of the 4,609 special payments totalling £114.53 million disclosed relate to common law compensation claims (£111.20 million). An analysis of this data is provided below;</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">· 2,307 payments equating to £78 million to service personnel</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">· 1,558 payments equating to £33 million to others</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">It should be noted that this analysis reflects the volume of payments made and that individuals may receive more than one compensation payment depending on the settlement reached.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">The remaining value will include payments made in settlement of contractual disputes where it has been judged that this represents the best value for money course of action for the Department. Two of these payments are separately disclosed in the table as they exceed the &gt;£300,000 threshold for more detailed reporting (specifically MSI Instruments (£959,000) and Land Remediation Payment (£321,000).</ins></p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 15/09/2023 10:42:02 question first ministerially corrected 15/09/2023 13:45:07 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison previous answer version 94749 answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

1658153

registered interest
date	05/09/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Nurseries: Buildings
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has plans to assess maintained nurseries for risks associated with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	197808
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/09/2023 answer text <p><ins class="ministerial">Nothing is more important than the safety of children and staff, and it has always been the case that where the Department is made aware a building may pose an immediate risk, immediate action is taken. The Department knows how important it is for young people to be in classrooms with their friends and teachers, but their safety must come first. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Department has been talking to schools about the potential risks of RAAC since 2018 when it first published a warning note with the Local Government Association. The Office of Government Property wrote to all Government Property Leaders in 2019, and again in September 2022, highlighting safety alerts on RAAC and signposting guidance on identification and remediation. The Government also created a cross-Government working group on RAAC this year to collectively address the issue. Since then, Departments have been surveying properties and depending on the assessment of the RAAC, decided to either continue or monitor the structure, reinforce it, or replace it. This is in line with the approach recommended by the Institution of Structural Engineers. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Department discovered details of three new cases over the summer, where RAAC that would have been graded as non-critical had failed. The first of these was in a commercial setting. The second was in a school in a different educational jurisdiction. It was right to carefully consider the cases and scrutinise the technical details from these. Departmental technical officials were able to investigate the situation in one case where the plank that had failed was fully intact as it was resting on a steel beam after it failed. They concluded that it would previously been rated non-critical. Ministers were carefully considering the first two cases and advice from officials when a third failure of a panel occurred, at a school in late August. The Department’s technical officials also visited this school to investigate the failure.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">In light of all three cases, it was right to make the difficult decision to change our guidance for education settings and take a more cautious approach within the education estate in England. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Following careful analysis of these recent cases, a precautionary and proactive step has been taken to change the approach to RAAC in education settings ahead of the start of the academic year, as outlined in our guidance. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Maintained nursery schools are treated the same as schools and FE colleges. In 2022, the Department’s questionnaire to all responsible bodies, including those who run maintained nursery schools, asked them to provide information on RAAC.</ins></p><p><del class="ministerial">The UK higher education (HE) system is amongst the best in the world. Attracting the brightest students internationally is good for our universities and delivers growth at home.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">Domestic students continue to make up the vast majority of overall undergraduate students within UK universities. The proportion of international acceptances on results day this year was 12.3%, having been 14.7% at the same point in 2019.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">This year on A level and T level Results Day, 186,710 English-domiciled 18-year-olds were accepted to HE providers in England compared to 162,680 in 2019.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">Ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to access a world class education remains a top priority and is fundamental to the department’s ambition to level-up skills, growth, and economic opportunity across the country.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">As autonomous bodies independent from the government, universities are responsible for their own recruitment decisions. Most universities have separate home and international student recruitment targets, set before the admissions cycle even begins. Universities plan their student numbers very carefully, not least because there are important implications for the provision of student support and wellbeing services, accommodation, and everything else needed to deliver the best student experience.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">The department and I regularly engage with the HE sector to support policy making and delivery and did so throughout the 2023 cycle.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">Most recently, on 7 September 2023, I attended the Universities UK annual conference and discussed how the government is supporting universities to maximise their immense economic and social impact. Key topics discussed included degree apprenticeships, the Lifelong Loan Entitlement and Horizon.</del></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 19/09/2023 15:09:59 question first ministerially corrected 16/10/2023 13:42:11 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb previous answer version 95935 answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon answering member 3985
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1658191

registered interest
date	05/09/2023
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Challenger Tanks
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of the Challenger 3 upgrade programme; what the definition is of initial operating capability for Challenger 3; and what the planned date is for that initial operating capability.
tabling member constituency	Rayleigh and Wickford
tabling member printed	Mr Mark Francois
uin	197700
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2023 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">To ensure I can provide as much detail as possible, I will write to the right hon. Member with the detail requested once it has been collated and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House. </del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We do not routinely release forecast figures regarding the resource and capital expenditure of our major projects. Portfolio data is published annually in support of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) Annual Report which includes a budget baseline and the latest HM Treasury approved estimates in respect of whole life costs. The current report is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/infrastructure-and-projects-authority-annual-report-2022-23" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications//infrastructure-and-projects-authority-annual-report-2022-23</a></ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> Initial Operating Capability is defined as a single squadron of Main Battle Tanks with trained crews and is planned to be achieved in 2027.</ins></p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge question first answered 11/09/2023 16:46:20 question first ministerially corrected 12/09/2023 13:04:29 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge previous answer version 93597 answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
tabling member	1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois

1657680

registered interest
date	04/09/2023
answering body	Department for Business and Trade
answering dept id	214
answering dept short name	Business and Trade
answering dept sort name	Business and Trade
hansard heading	Trade Agreements: USA
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with business groups in the United States of America with regard to any potential digital deal with the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL9852
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/09/2023 answer text <p>The U.S. is our largest trading partner, with trade reaching over £290 billion <ins class="ministerial">in the 12 months to March 2023</ins><del class="ministerial">this year</del>, and our most important <del class="ministerial">national</del> trading partner in data-enabled exports. The UK exported over £75 billion worth of digitally delivered services to the U.S. in <ins class="ministerial">2021</ins><del class="ministerial">2023</del>.</p><p> </p><p>Ministers and officials regularly engage with a wide range of stakeholders including business groups, civil society and SMEs in both the UK and the U.S. on a range of digital trade and wider trade matters.</p> answering member printed Lord Offord of Garvel question first answered 19/09/2023 16:25:34 question first ministerially corrected 20/09/2023 15:10:30 answering member 4931 label Biography information for Lord Offord of Garvel previous answer version 95986 answering member printed Lord Offord of Garvel answering member 4931 label Biography information for Lord Offord of Garvel
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1655933

registered interest
date	01/09/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisoners: Young Offender Institutions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people aged 18 and over are being held in young offender institutions for people under the age of 18.
tabling member constituency	Croydon North
tabling member printed	Steve Reed
uin	196011
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2023 answer text <p>Young people who begin their sentences in the youth custodial estate, because they are under 18 at the time of sentencing, do not automatically transfer to the adult estate on reaching their eighteenth birthday. As of June 2023, 148 young people aged 18 <del class="ministerial">and over</del> were being accommodated in young offender institutions.</p><p>Custody should always be a last resort for children. We have made great strides to reduce the numbers of children in the youth justice system. The most recent publication of Youth Justice Statistics showed the 20/21 population fell by 19% compared to the previous year and was 77% lower than the population for the year ending March 2012.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 12/09/2023 15:11:23 question first ministerially corrected 20/09/2023 14:15:14 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds previous answer version 93394 answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed

1656392

registered interest
date	01/09/2023
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Ministry of Defence: Weddings
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2023 to Ministry of Defence: Weddings, on what date did a civil (a) marriage and (b) partnership last take place on the Defence Estate in (a) England and (b) Cyprus.
tabling member constituency	Wentworth and Dearne
tabling member printed	John Healey
uin	195687
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2023 answer text <p>Civil marriages and partnerships occur on Defence estates outside the UK and will comply with host countries’ laws or the Sovereign Base Regulations. <ins class="ministerial">The last civil marriage that took place on Defence estates in Cyprus was 11 March 2023 and the last civil partnership that took place on Defence estates in Cyprus was 27 June 2022.</ins><del class="ministerial">The last time such a ceremony took place in Cyprus was 4 September 2021.</del></p><p> </p><p>Civil marriages or partnerships cannot take place on the Defence Estate in England and Wales due to The Marriages and Civil Partnership (Approved Premises) Regulations 2005, which requires Approved Premises to be regularly available to the public. That is not tenable in respect of the defence estate because of security concerns.</p><p> </p><p>On 24 July 2023, in my capacity as Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families, I wrote to the Ministry of Justice to enquire about amending the legislation to remove the requirement for unrestricted public access. Such an amendment would ensure that the Defence community could enter into civil marriages and partnerships in locations that have particular significance to them.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 11/09/2023 15:02:56 question first ministerially corrected 18/10/2023 12:36:10 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison previous answer version 93179 answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
tabling member	400 label Biography information for John Healey

1656393

registered interest
date	01/09/2023
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Ministry of Defence: Weddings
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2023 to Question 191222 on on Ministry of Defence: Weddings, what security considerations his Department has identified for not permitting civil marriages or civil partnerships to take place on the Defence Estate in England and Wales.
tabling member constituency	Wentworth and Dearne
tabling member printed	John Healey
uin	195688
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2023 answer text <p>Civil marriages and partnerships occur on Defence estates outside the UK and will comply with host countries’ laws or the Sovereign Base Regulations. <ins class="ministerial">The last civil marriage that took place on Defence estates in Cyprus was 11 March 2023 and the last civil partnership that took place on Defence estates in Cyprus was 27 June 2022.</ins> <del class="ministerial">The last time such a ceremony took place in Cyprus was 4 September 2021.</del></p><p> </p><p>Civil marriages or partnerships cannot take place on the Defence Estate in England and Wales due to The Marriages and Civil Partnership (Approved Premises) Regulations 2005, which requires Approved Premises to be regularly available to the public. That is not tenable in respect of the defence estate because of security concerns.</p><p> </p><p>On 24 July 2023, in my capacity as Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families, I wrote to the Ministry of Justice to enquire about amending the legislation to remove the requirement for unrestricted public access. Such an amendment would ensure that the Defence community could enter into civil marriages and partnerships in locations that have particular significance to them.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 11/09/2023 15:02:56 question first ministerially corrected 18/10/2023 15:32:16 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison previous answer version 93187 answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
tabling member	400 label Biography information for John Healey