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224526

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Wales Office
	answering dept id	28
	answering dept short name	Wales
	answering dept sort name	Wales
	hansard heading	Senior Civil Servants: Welsh Language
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on the retention of Welsh as a requirement for applicants to senior managerial public roles in areas where Welsh is the main language.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	225797
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>I have regular discussions with Welsh Government ministers on a range of issues, including the Welsh language.</p><p>The Welsh language is a devolved subject and the adoption and successful implementation of Welsh language schemes is a matter for individual public bodies in Wales.</p><p>The UK Government is fully committed to the Welsh language and to providing Government services in the Welsh language. The Wales Office supports other Departments in delivering their Welsh language services, and proactively seeks opportunities to raise the profile of the Welsh language across Government.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Vale of Glamorgan answering member printed Alun Cairns question first answered 09/03/2015 12:31:45 answering member 4086 label Biography information for Alun Cairns
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

224414

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Financial Services: Technology
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department has taken to boost the growth of the financial technology industry.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	225806
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2015 answer text <p>As part of our long term economic plan, the Government is committed to supporting the continued growth of the Financial Technology (FinTech) sector. The Government has taken a number of steps to achieve this, including:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li><p>Creating a new Payments Systems Regulator (PSR), which will ensure that smaller banks and alternative providers of finance – including FinTechs – can access payment systems in a fair and transparent way, and thereby contributing to a fairer and more competitive payments industry. The PSR will open its doors on 1 April this year.</p><p> </p></li><li><p>Committing to additional funding of £100m to the British Business Bank’s Investment Programme – including funding for FinTech.</p><p> </p></li><li><p>Launching the GO-Science’s Blackett Review on FinTech Futures, which looks ahead 10 years to the future and identify what the technologies, enablers and barriers are that will shape the future of the UK FinTech sector.</p><p> </p></li></ul><p> </p><ul><li><p>Naming the big banks that will have to share credit data, and refer on SMEs they reject for finance – helping alternative finance providers, including FinTech firms, to lend more effectively;</p></li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li><p>Supporting the development of the peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding market: consulting on ISA eligibility for crowdfunded debt securities; announcing we will review EU regulations standing in the way of P2P institutional lending; and creating a bespoke regulatory framework for P2P.</p><p> </p></li></ul><p> </p><p>Most recently at budget 2015, we announced a further package of measures to build on the government’s wide-reaching programme of reform to drive competition in banking and FinTech, including announcing that:</p><p> </p><ul><li><p>The Government intends to apply anti-money laundering regulation to digital currency exchanges in the UK, launch a new research initiative into digital currency technology, with £10 million additional funding, and work with the British Standards Institution and the digital currency industry to develop voluntary standards for consumer protection.</p><p> </p></li><li><p>Gocompare will launch the first personal current account comparison tool making use of customers’ bank midata releases on 26 March 2015.</p><p> </p></li><li><p>The Government will work with the banks and FinTech firms to develop an open API (Application Programming Interface) standard for banks, by the end of the year.</p></li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li><p>the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) ‘Project Innovate’ will work with HMT and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) to investigate the feasibility of developing a regulatory ‘sandbox’ for financial services innovators</p><p> </p></li><li><p>Innovate Finance has agreed to deliver its FinTech regional strategy through a series of local partnerships; the first partnership has already been established in Leeds, and further partnerships will be established in Manchester and Edinburgh by April, and in Newcastle, Bristol and other centres before the end of the year.</p></li></ul><p> </p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 25/03/2015 11:07:37 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

224418

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Remploy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2015 to Question 224963, on which dates since May 2010 Ministers in his Department met a former Remploy employee.
	tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
	tabling member printed	Pamela Nash
	uin	225889
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm" target="_blank">http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 09/03/2015 17:03:53 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
	tabling member	3909 label Biography information for Pamela Nash

224493

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisoners: Suicide
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners and what proportion of the prison population have killed themselves in each of the last 20 years.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	225903
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Data on deaths in custody, including the numbers and rates of self-inflicted deaths in each of the last 20 years, is published in the Safety in Custody Statistics Bulletin, available at <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-in-custody-statistics" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-in-custody-statistics</a>.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 09/03/2015 14:46:34 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

224298

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	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
	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 Saudi Arabia following the decision of a Saudi Arabian court to sentence a man to death for renouncing his Muslim faith; and whether they consider such sentences to be compatible with Article 18 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights as it relates to freedom of religion and belief.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL5320
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>It is a matter of public record that the British Government strongly supports the right to freedom of religion or belief, which is severely restricted in Saudi Arabia. We believe, as Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and that this right includes freedom to change one’s religion or belief. Any action to punish an individual for their faith or belief is not compatible with Article 18.</p><p>The UK has repeatedly made clear that it opposes the death penalty in all countries and in all circumstances because we believe it undermines human dignity and there is no evidence that it works as a deterrent. Ministers, our Ambassador, and our Embassy team in Riyadh frequently raise the issue of the death penalty with the Saudi authorities, bilaterally and through the EU.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 16/03/2015 17:41:15 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

224299

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	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	Maldives
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the arrest and imprisonment of former President Mohamed Nasheed in the Maldives, and allegations of police brutality and denial of legal representation in his trial.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL5321
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2015 answer text <p>We are concerned about last month’s arrest of former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed on charges of terrorism and increasing political tensions. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), issued a press statement on 26 February expressing concern at the continued detention of Mr Nasheed and urging all political parties to act with moderation and restraint. It is important for international confidence in Maldives that Mr Nasheed, like all other citizens, is seen to be enjoying due legal process and respect for his fundamental rights. Mr Swire discussed these concerns again with the Maldives Foreign Minister on 6 March. He has also discussed this case with the Secretary General of the Commonwealth and with High Commissioners in London. The Commonwealth made clear in a press statement on 23 February the importance of ensuring that the rule of law is respected, with adherence to due process, and in accordance with the Commonwealth Charter. We continue to monitor the situation closely.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns grouped question UIN HL5367 question first answered 13/03/2015 14:43:47 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

224300

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	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	Bangladesh
	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 Bangladesh about their obligations under Article 18 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights following the reported murder by unidentified assailants in Dhaka of Avijit Roy.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL5322
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>We take human rights very seriously, raising concerns with the Government of Bangladesh when there are credible allegations. We ask that all incidents are investigated promptly, transparently and impartially. At Bangladesh’s 2nd Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council on 29 April 2013 the UK called on the Government of Bangladesh to do more to protect vulnerable groups. Our High Commissioner in Dhaka expressed the UK’s horror at the murder of US resident Abvijit Roy and the serious injury to his wife Rafida Ahmed Bonya as well as at all the violence that has taken place in Bangladesh in recent months.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 09/03/2015 16:23:51 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

224301

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	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	Iraq
	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 Isis has destroyed and burnt ancient books and manuscripts in Mosul.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL5323
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>The British Government is aware of reports that the self-styled Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has destroyed and burnt ancient books and manuscripts in northern Iraq. Whilst we are not in a position to confirm those reports we utterly condemn all acts of vandalism against Iraq’s history and culture. The UK supported the passage of UN Security Council Resolution 2199 which condemns the destruction of cultural heritage in Iraq and Syria, including the targeted destruction of religious sites and objects.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 09/03/2015 16:23:43 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

224306

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	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	Ukraine
	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 24 February (HL4787) concerning arms to Ukraine, whether the armoured vehicles being supplied to Ukraine are capable of being armed with lethal weapons; and, if so, whether they have sought assurances from the government of Ukraine that it will not convert those vehicles for armed conflict.
	tabling member printed	Lord Stoddart of Swindon
	uin	HL5328
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence have purchased 75 Saxon armoured vehicles through a private commercial contract. The vehicles are unarmed with no offensive capability. Our Embassy in Kyiv are seeking confirmation from the Ukrainian authorities about whether they have plans to retrofit the vehicles but any subsequent decision to convert the vehicles is a matter for the Ukrainian government.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 09/03/2015 16:23:33 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	950 label Biography information for Lord Stoddart of Swindon

224311

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	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	Iran
	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 Iran to end the use there of capital punishment on children.
	tabling member printed	The Earl of Listowel
	uin	HL5333
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>The British Government opposes the use of the death penalty in all circumstances, especially in the case of minors. We have made our position clear to the Iranian government, both privately and in public. During our submission to the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review of Iran’s human rights record on 31 October 2014, the Government recommended that Iran put an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty for minors.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 09/03/2015 16:23:24 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	2054 label Biography information for The Earl of Listowel