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1702389

registered interest
date	19/04/2024
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Overseas Students: English Language
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure that universities are following English proficiency requirements for foreign students.
tabling member constituency	Darlington
tabling member printed	Peter Gibson
uin	22818
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), as part of their compliance activities, conduct on-site audits of sponsors and check what assessment methods sponsors have used and their relevant evidence. Where there are any compliance breaches, UKVI take compliance action which can include formal action plans or revocation of the sponsor licence. English language assessments are also considered as part of the Basic Compliance Assessment which sponsors are required to pass on an annual basis.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 26/04/2024 09:13:14 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	4754 label Biography information for Peter Gibson

1702394

registered interest
date	19/04/2024
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Knives: Amnesties
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a knife amnesty.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	22701
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>Many police forces provide amnesty bins all year round to provide the public with a facility to safely dispose of unwanted knives and other offensive weapons. It is for Chief Constables, directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and Mayors with PCC functions to make operational decisions including how to allocate resources based on their local knowledge and experience.</p><p>The Government continues to encourage police forces to undertake a series of coordinated national weeks of action to tackle knife crime under Operation Sceptre. The operation includes targeted stop and searches, weapon sweeps of hotspot areas, surrender of knives, including through amnesty bins, test purchases of knives from retailers, and educational events. The latest phase of the operation took place between 13 to 19 November 2023 and saw 12,149 knives surrendered or recovered.</p><p>On 25 January we laid the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) (Amendment, Surrender and Compensation) Order 2024 in Parliament. Subject to parliamentary approval, this will prohibit the manufacture, supply, sale and possession of zombie-style knives and machetes in England and Wales from 24 September 2024. From 26 August 2024 to 23 September 2024 we will be running a surrender and compensation scheme so that those who own zombie-style knives and machetes which will be banned, can surrender them and receive compensation.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 24/04/2024 16:25:18 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1702395

registered interest
date	19/04/2024
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Confucius Institutes: Criminal Investigation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, how many cases have been forwarded to the Prosecution Service concerning people who are based in Confucius Institutes in the last two years.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	22702
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not hold data on whether defendants are based in or members of Confucius Institutes or indeed any other similar organisations.</p><p>It would not be possible to determine whether a defendant in any specific case was based in or associated with a Confucius Institute without an examination of CPS case files, which would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Witney answering member printed Robert Courts question first answered 25/04/2024 09:57:34 answering member 4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1702397

registered interest
date	19/04/2024
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	Harland and Wolff: Export Credit Guarantees
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2024 to Question 12549, whether the proposed £200 million guaranteed loan facility for Harland & Wolff under the Export Development Guarantee Scheme is compliant with the Subsidy Control Act 2022; and whether legal advice has been sought on this matter.
tabling member constituency	North Durham
tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
uin	22704
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>For reasons of commercial sensitivity, UK Export Finance does not comment on ongoing commercial discussions.</p> answering member constituency Chelsea and Fulham answering member printed Greg Hands question first answered 24/04/2024 16:43:37 answering member 1526 label Biography information for Greg Hands
tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

1702399

registered interest
date	19/04/2024
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Oil: Imports
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 18 April 2024 to Question 21846 on Oil: Imports, in how many cases action has (a) been and (b) not been taken where investigations have concluded.
tabling member constituency	East Lothian
tabling member printed	Kenny MacAskill
uin	22820
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>Pursuant to the answer provided on 18 April 2024 to Question 21846, HM Revenue and Customs is responsible for enforcing and investigating export controls on strategic goods and sanctions and investigating potential breaches of those controls. HM Revenue and Customs does not comment on operational enforcement matters pertaining to specific import or export scenarios.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston grouped question UIN 22821 question first answered 24/04/2024 14:24:56 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
tabling member	4772 label Biography information for Kenny MacAskill

1702410

registered interest
date	19/04/2024
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	Iran: Human Rights
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what recent discussions he has had with his Iranian counterpart on (a) the treatment of women, (b) freedom of expression and (c) other human rights issues.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	22794
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>We continue to work with international partners to hold Iran accountable for its unacceptable human rights record. At the 55th Human Rights Council session, the UK was on the core group for the Iran human rights resolution, which successfully renewed the mandates of the Special Rapporteur and the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Iran human rights, enabling continued monitoring of abuses against women and girls and religious and ethnic minorities, as well as freedom of expression. We continue to engage with UK-based and international organisations on human rights, including Iranian diaspora organisations. In October 2023, the former Foreign Secretary and Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon hosted a roundtable with women's rights activists, joining them publicly in calling for an end to impunity and violence. Since October 2022, we have sanctioned 94 individuals or entities for human rights abuses, including senior decision makers responsible for enforcing Iran's mandatory hijab law. We continually assess our human rights sanctions regime, and will make further designations where we have the evidence to do so. We will continue to raise human rights issues with the Iranian Government.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 22791 22792 22793 question first answered 29/04/2024 16:26:41 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1702413

registered interest
date	19/04/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Discrimination
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to (a) monitor and (b) tackle potential discrimination in schools against students based on their religious practices.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	22797
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>There is currently no legal requirement for schools to allow their pupils time within the school day to pray upon request, nor are they required to provide any pupil with a physical space, such as a prayer room, to conduct their prayers. It is a matter for individual schools and headteachers to make a decision that is in the interest of their pupils. It is important when considering any requests relating to prayer that they do so in the context of the Equality Act 2010, and their public sector equality duty.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Equality Act 2010 schools must not discriminate against a pupil in a number of respects because of a characteristic protected by the Act, including religion or belief. State-funded schools are also subject to the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). All children and young people must be treated fairly and supported to thrive and reach their potential within a respectful environment.</p><p> </p><p>The department has published guidance for schools on how to comply with their duties under the Equality Act 2010, which can be found online at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equality-act-2010-advice-for-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equality-act-2010-advice-for-schools</a>. This includes specific advice on religion or belief.</p><p> </p><p>The PSED was introduced in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 and places a legal obligation on public authorities to consider how their policy or service decisions impacts differently on individuals. The department as a public body is required to give due regard to PSED in its decision making. According to the PSED, a public authority must, in the exercise of its functions, have due regard to the need to:</p><ul><li>Eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under this Act.</li><li>Advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.</li><li>Foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it. Protected characteristics include religion or belief.</li></ul> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds grouped question UIN 22795 22796 22798 question first answered 29/04/2024 10:07:14 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1702417

registered interest
date	19/04/2024
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	WhatsApp: Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of Meta's decision to lower the minimum age for access to WhatsApp to 13 on children's levels of exposure to extremist content.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	22801
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>The UK’s Online Safety Act will make the UK the safest place to be a child online. The strongest protections in the Online Safety Act are for children. Providers which have age restrictions need to specify in their terms of service what measures they use to prevent underage access and apply these terms consistently The Online Safety Act will require user-to-user and search services to implement robust processes to tackle illegal content and safeguard children on their platforms.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Act, where an in-scope provider makes significant changes to their service, they will be required to update their illegal content and children’s risk assessment. Ofcom will have strong investigatory powers to determine the impact of changes that particular providers make. Where Ofcom finds that a functionality is a risk factor for illegal content or harm to children on particular services, then it is empowered to set out steps providers should take to mitigate this. Ofcom have robust enforcement powers available to use against companies who fail to fulfil their duties, including imposing substantial fines.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti grouped question UIN 22803 question first answered 29/04/2024 16:32:35 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1702424

registered interest
date	19/04/2024
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Roads: Repairs and Maintenance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the amount that local authorities have spent on repairing potholes (a) nationally and (b) in York in the latest period for which data is available.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	22748
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>Under the 1980 Highway Act, it is the responsibility of the local highway authority, such as the City of York Council, to maintain and manage the highway network they are responsible for. The Government provides highway maintenance and other funding to local authorities but does not collect data on how much each one spends on repairing potholes: this is a matter for each local highway authority.</p><p> </p><p>In 2023/24, the Government provided the City of York Council with £3.69 million of capital funding for local highway maintenance. This represents an increase of around 30% compared to the previous year, made possible in part by reallocating funding that would otherwise have been spent on the HS2 programme.</p><p> </p><p>The Department annually collects and publishes statistics on gov.uk that detail the condition and maintenance of the highways in England. This includes total expenditure on the local highway network in England, broken down by structural maintenance, routine treatments, and highways planning and strategy on different categories of road:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/road-condition-statistics-data-tables-rdc" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/road-condition-statistics-data-tables-rdc</a></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 24/04/2024 15:06:33 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1702446

registered interest
date	19/04/2024
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	UK Defence and Security Exports: Trade Missions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many trade missions UK Defence and Security Exports has supported each year since 2019.
tabling member constituency	Garston and Halewood
tabling member printed	Maria Eagle
uin	22673
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>UK Defence and Security Exports has supported a number of trade missions since 2019. However, it has not consistently recorded this information because trade missions are not part of the main published UKDSE events programme.</p> answering member constituency Havant answering member printed Alan Mak grouped question UIN 22674 22682 question first answered 24/04/2024 12:12:52 answering member 4484 label Biography information for Alan Mak
tabling member	483 label Biography information for Maria Eagle