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1110182

registered interest
date	08/04/2019
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	Vedanta
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 his Department has made of the adequacy of the (a) human rights and (b) environmental record of the UK-listed company Vedanta Resources in its overseas operations.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	242085
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2019 answer text <p>In line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the British Government encourages all companies to conduct human rights due diligence and to put in place measures to mitigate any human rights impacts caused by their operations and to assist with access to remedy accordingly. In its National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, updated in 2016, the Government has set out its approach to ensuring that those affected by business-related human rights abuses by UK-based business enterprises have access to effective remedy. The UK is also a signatory to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises maintains a National Contact Point (NCP) to promote the Guidelines, and implements a complaints mechanism. The complaints mechanism can include the examination of instances where alleged abuses of human rights or environmental damage may have occurred.</p><p>The UK NCP has previously handled a complaint against Vedanta Resources plc (Vedanta) from Survival International regarding activities related to the planned construction of a bauxite mine in India. The UK NCP issued a final statement on the complaint in September 2009: <a href="https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121204133419/http:/www.bis.gov.uk/files/file53117.doc" target="_blank">September 2009: UK NCP Final Statement - Complaint from Survival International against Vedanta Resources plc </a>in which the UK NCP made recommendations to Vedanta with the aim of assisting the company in bringing its practices in line with the Guidelines; including that Vedanta engage with the indigenous group named in the complaint and include a human and indigenous rights impact assessment in its project management process. In line with its published procedures, the UK NCP issued a follow-up statement on the case in March 2010 UK. The statement can be found on the NCP website: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/uk-national-contact-point-for-the-organisation-for-economic-co-operation-and-development-guidelines" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/uk-national-contact-point-for-the-organisation-for-economic-co-operation-and-development-guidelines. </a></p><p>We are awaiting the result of the case before the Supreme Court brought on behalf of 1,826 claimants in Zambia against Konkola Copper Mines, a subsidiary of Vedanta.</p><p>The Government considers that it has met its responsibilities under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: to set out the requirements of businesses with respect to human rights, to promote responsible business practices and to support access remedy for human rights abuses with regard to the activities of Vedanta Resource plc (Vedanta).</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field grouped question UIN 242086 242087 242088 question first answered 16/04/2019 14:46:58 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1110183

registered interest
date	08/04/2019
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	Vedanta
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has plans to undertake an investigation into allegations of (a) human rights abuses and (b) environmental damage by the UK-listed company Vedanta Resources in its overseas operations.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	242086
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2019 answer text <p>In line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the British Government encourages all companies to conduct human rights due diligence and to put in place measures to mitigate any human rights impacts caused by their operations and to assist with access to remedy accordingly. In its National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, updated in 2016, the Government has set out its approach to ensuring that those affected by business-related human rights abuses by UK-based business enterprises have access to effective remedy. The UK is also a signatory to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises maintains a National Contact Point (NCP) to promote the Guidelines, and implements a complaints mechanism. The complaints mechanism can include the examination of instances where alleged abuses of human rights or environmental damage may have occurred.</p><p>The UK NCP has previously handled a complaint against Vedanta Resources plc (Vedanta) from Survival International regarding activities related to the planned construction of a bauxite mine in India. The UK NCP issued a final statement on the complaint in September 2009: <a href="https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121204133419/http:/www.bis.gov.uk/files/file53117.doc" target="_blank">September 2009: UK NCP Final Statement - Complaint from Survival International against Vedanta Resources plc </a>in which the UK NCP made recommendations to Vedanta with the aim of assisting the company in bringing its practices in line with the Guidelines; including that Vedanta engage with the indigenous group named in the complaint and include a human and indigenous rights impact assessment in its project management process. In line with its published procedures, the UK NCP issued a follow-up statement on the case in March 2010 UK. The statement can be found on the NCP website: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/uk-national-contact-point-for-the-organisation-for-economic-co-operation-and-development-guidelines" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/uk-national-contact-point-for-the-organisation-for-economic-co-operation-and-development-guidelines. </a></p><p>We are awaiting the result of the case before the Supreme Court brought on behalf of 1,826 claimants in Zambia against Konkola Copper Mines, a subsidiary of Vedanta.</p><p>The Government considers that it has met its responsibilities under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: to set out the requirements of businesses with respect to human rights, to promote responsible business practices and to support access remedy for human rights abuses with regard to the activities of Vedanta Resource plc (Vedanta).</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field grouped question UIN 242085 242087 242088 question first answered 16/04/2019 14:46:58 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1110184

registered interest
date	08/04/2019
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	Vedanta
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 his Department has made of the legality of the commercial operations of the UK-listed company Vedanta Resources in (a) India and (b) Zambia in relation to human rights law.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	242087
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2019 answer text <p>In line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the British Government encourages all companies to conduct human rights due diligence and to put in place measures to mitigate any human rights impacts caused by their operations and to assist with access to remedy accordingly. In its National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, updated in 2016, the Government has set out its approach to ensuring that those affected by business-related human rights abuses by UK-based business enterprises have access to effective remedy. The UK is also a signatory to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises maintains a National Contact Point (NCP) to promote the Guidelines, and implements a complaints mechanism. The complaints mechanism can include the examination of instances where alleged abuses of human rights or environmental damage may have occurred.</p><p>The UK NCP has previously handled a complaint against Vedanta Resources plc (Vedanta) from Survival International regarding activities related to the planned construction of a bauxite mine in India. The UK NCP issued a final statement on the complaint in September 2009: <a href="https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121204133419/http:/www.bis.gov.uk/files/file53117.doc" target="_blank">September 2009: UK NCP Final Statement - Complaint from Survival International against Vedanta Resources plc </a>in which the UK NCP made recommendations to Vedanta with the aim of assisting the company in bringing its practices in line with the Guidelines; including that Vedanta engage with the indigenous group named in the complaint and include a human and indigenous rights impact assessment in its project management process. In line with its published procedures, the UK NCP issued a follow-up statement on the case in March 2010 UK. The statement can be found on the NCP website: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/uk-national-contact-point-for-the-organisation-for-economic-co-operation-and-development-guidelines" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/uk-national-contact-point-for-the-organisation-for-economic-co-operation-and-development-guidelines. </a></p><p>We are awaiting the result of the case before the Supreme Court brought on behalf of 1,826 claimants in Zambia against Konkola Copper Mines, a subsidiary of Vedanta.</p><p>The Government considers that it has met its responsibilities under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: to set out the requirements of businesses with respect to human rights, to promote responsible business practices and to support access remedy for human rights abuses with regard to the activities of Vedanta Resource plc (Vedanta).</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field grouped question UIN 242085 242086 242088 question first answered 16/04/2019 14:46:58 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1110185

registered interest
date	08/04/2019
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	Foreign Companies
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what processes his Department has put in place to monitor the compliance of UK-listed companies with international (a) human rights and (b) environmental law in relation of operations overseas.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	242088
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2019 answer text <p>In line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the British Government encourages all companies to conduct human rights due diligence and to put in place measures to mitigate any human rights impacts caused by their operations and to assist with access to remedy accordingly. In its National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, updated in 2016, the Government has set out its approach to ensuring that those affected by business-related human rights abuses by UK-based business enterprises have access to effective remedy. The UK is also a signatory to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises maintains a National Contact Point (NCP) to promote the Guidelines, and implements a complaints mechanism. The complaints mechanism can include the examination of instances where alleged abuses of human rights or environmental damage may have occurred.</p><p>The UK NCP has previously handled a complaint against Vedanta Resources plc (Vedanta) from Survival International regarding activities related to the planned construction of a bauxite mine in India. The UK NCP issued a final statement on the complaint in September 2009: <a href="https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121204133419/http:/www.bis.gov.uk/files/file53117.doc" target="_blank">September 2009: UK NCP Final Statement - Complaint from Survival International against Vedanta Resources plc </a>in which the UK NCP made recommendations to Vedanta with the aim of assisting the company in bringing its practices in line with the Guidelines; including that Vedanta engage with the indigenous group named in the complaint and include a human and indigenous rights impact assessment in its project management process. In line with its published procedures, the UK NCP issued a follow-up statement on the case in March 2010 UK. The statement can be found on the NCP website: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/uk-national-contact-point-for-the-organisation-for-economic-co-operation-and-development-guidelines" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/uk-national-contact-point-for-the-organisation-for-economic-co-operation-and-development-guidelines. </a></p><p>We are awaiting the result of the case before the Supreme Court brought on behalf of 1,826 claimants in Zambia against Konkola Copper Mines, a subsidiary of Vedanta.</p><p>The Government considers that it has met its responsibilities under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: to set out the requirements of businesses with respect to human rights, to promote responsible business practices and to support access remedy for human rights abuses with regard to the activities of Vedanta Resource plc (Vedanta).</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field grouped question UIN 242085 242086 242087 question first answered 16/04/2019 14:46:58 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1110222

registered interest
date	08/04/2019
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Private Rented Housing: EU Nationals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to issue guidance on the settled status scheme to landlords.
tabling member constituency	Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
tabling member printed	Hugh Gaffney
uin	242232
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government has made clear that the current arrangements for private landlords conducting checks on EU nationals, involving the use of national passports and identity cards, will not change prior to introduction of the future skills-based immigration system. This position applies also to those EU nationals who have acquired pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. Updated guidance for private landlords will be published shortly.</p><p>Regarding social landlords, I can confirm that EU, EEA/EFTA and Swiss nationals registered under the EU Settlement Scheme will have broadly the same eligibility to access social housing and homelessness assistance as they do now. Those granted settled status, who have five or more years’ continuous residence in the UK, will have the same access to social housing and homelessness assistance as comparable UK nationals. Those granted pre-settled status, where they have less than five years’ continuous residence, will remain eligible on the same basis as now. We have laid amendment regulations to make clear that the existing position remains in place. We will revise current statutory guidance for local authorities to reflect the amending regulations when time allows.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 24/04/2019 15:29:11 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	4614 label Biography information for Hugh Gaffney

1110230

registered interest
date	08/04/2019
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Flexible Working
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to encourage employers to offer flexible working schemes for all employees.
tabling member constituency	Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
tabling member printed	Hugh Gaffney
uin	242233
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2019 answer text <p>All employees with 26 weeks’ continuous service with their employer already have the right to request Flexible Working. This accounts for over 90% of employees.</p><p> </p><p>The Government would like there to be more opportunities for flexible working, which is why we will consult on creating a duty for employers to consider whether a job can be done flexibly, and to make that clear when advertising.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is also looking to work with employers on a voluntary basis. A taskforce to promote flexible working has been established. This is comprised of representatives from across Whitehall, from key organisations like Carers UK and Working Families, the TUC and key business groups. The taskforce is tackling key questions around flexible working which are key to improving the recruitment, retention and progression of key groups in the workforce.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to ensuring that the existing “right to request” legislation continues to have the desired impact. As part of this general commitment, it will be reviewed in 2020.</p> answering member constituency Devizes answering member printed Claire Perry question first answered 16/04/2019 16:09:26 answering member 3974 label Biography information for Claire Perry
tabling member	4614 label Biography information for Hugh Gaffney

1110267

registered interest
date	08/04/2019
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Extended Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 4 Mar 2019 to Question 226700 on Extended Services, what steps the Government is taking to ensure there is a clear pathway from Play Services to Youth Services for children and young people.
tabling member constituency	Lancaster and Fleetwood
tabling member printed	Cat Smith
uin	242176
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2019 answer text <p>Government is committed to supporting young people to develop the skills and resilience needed to succeed in life.</p><p>We will be working closely with young people themselves, the youth sector, and other partners to develop a new Youth Charter, which will set out Government’s vision for young people over the next generation and beyond.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 16/04/2019 15:08:33 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4436 label Biography information for Cat Smith

1110270

registered interest
date	08/04/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Reoffenders: Drugs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to reduce re-offending rates among people with drug dependency.
tabling member constituency	Central Suffolk and North Ipswich
tabling member printed	Dr Dan Poulter
uin	242100
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2019 answer text <p>We are developing a Community Sentence Treatment Requirement ‘protocol’ to ensure improved access to mental health and substance misuse services for offenders who need them. It focuses on reducing reoffending by addressing the health needs of offenders that may be contributing to their offending behaviour.</p><p>Our prisons also seek to reduce reoffending through rehabilitation and overcoming substance misuse problems is a key enabler of this. To support this, on 3<sup>rd</sup> April we published a national Prison Drugs Strategy which includes guidance to restrict supply, reduce demand and build recovery as well as examples of best practice to support prisoners with substance misuse issues.</p><p>Our duty of care and responsibility doesn’t stop when a prisoner leaves prison. We are working with health partners to increase support for offenders leaving prison and are investing an additional £22m per annum over the remaining life of the Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRC) contracts to ensure that CRCs deliver an enhanced Through The Gate service to offenders leaving prison. In their Long Term Plan, NHS England have proposed introducing a ‘RECONNECT’ service to improve continuity of care from custody. The Ministry of Justice and HMPPS are working in close partnership with NHS England to implement this plan.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer grouped question UIN 242102 question first answered 16/04/2019 15:36:19 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	3932 label Biography information for Dr Dan Poulter

1110272

registered interest
date	08/04/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisoners' Release: Drugs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to improve support for prisoners with drug dependency when they are released from prison.
tabling member constituency	Central Suffolk and North Ipswich
tabling member printed	Dr Dan Poulter
uin	242102
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2019 answer text <p>We are developing a Community Sentence Treatment Requirement ‘protocol’ to ensure improved access to mental health and substance misuse services for offenders who need them. It focuses on reducing reoffending by addressing the health needs of offenders that may be contributing to their offending behaviour.</p><p>Our prisons also seek to reduce reoffending through rehabilitation and overcoming substance misuse problems is a key enabler of this. To support this, on 3<sup>rd</sup> April we published a national Prison Drugs Strategy which includes guidance to restrict supply, reduce demand and build recovery as well as examples of best practice to support prisoners with substance misuse issues.</p><p>Our duty of care and responsibility doesn’t stop when a prisoner leaves prison. We are working with health partners to increase support for offenders leaving prison and are investing an additional £22m per annum over the remaining life of the Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRC) contracts to ensure that CRCs deliver an enhanced Through The Gate service to offenders leaving prison. In their Long Term Plan, NHS England have proposed introducing a ‘RECONNECT’ service to improve continuity of care from custody. The Ministry of Justice and HMPPS are working in close partnership with NHS England to implement this plan.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer grouped question UIN 242100 question first answered 16/04/2019 15:36:19 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	3932 label Biography information for Dr Dan Poulter

1110276

registered interest
date	08/04/2019
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Horizon IT System
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps is he taking to ensure the Government is held accountable for the decisions and actions of Post Office Limited in the handling of postmasters’ problems with Horizon.
tabling member constituency	North Durham
tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
uin	242042
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK. This is why the Government committed to safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services. The overall number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over 11,500 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010.</p><p> </p><p>The courts are the right place to hear and resolve what are long-standing issues between some postmasters and the Post Office. While this matter rests with the courts it is inappropriate for the Government to comment further. The legal defence of this litigation and the costs involved in doing so are being handled by Post Office Ltd, which operates as an independent, commercial business within the strategic parameters set by Government.</p> answering member constituency Devizes answering member printed Claire Perry question first answered 16/04/2019 16:10:29 answering member 3974 label Biography information for Claire Perry
tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones