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1123733

registered interest
date	29/04/2019
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	North Korea: Refugees
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 China about the arrest and proposed repatriation of seven North Korean escapees, including a nine year-old girl; and whether they have reminded the government of China of its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and of the requirement to allow those escapees access to an officer from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL15371
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>We are aware of reports of seven North Koreans currently being detained in China. The British Government actively promotes the implementation of the 1951 UN Refugee Convention which asserts that a refugee should not be returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom. We continue to emphasise to China that people fleeing North Korea should be treated as legitimate asylum claimants and should not be returned. We have not raised these particular cases directly with the Chinese Government.</p><p>​</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 08/05/2019 15:21:11 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1123734

registered interest
date	29/04/2019
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	North Korea: Refugees
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk of the North Korean refugees due to be repatriated from China to North Korea being sent to one of North Korea’s prison camps; how many people are estimated by the UN to be incarcerated in such camps; what is known about conditions inside them; and what is known about the fate of refugees who have previously been repatriated from China to North Korea.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL15372
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>Access to North Korea’s prison camps is tightly controlled, making it difficult to make an independent assessment of conditions there. However, reports, including defector testimonies, describe instances of torture, deliberate starvation and executions. The 2014 UN Commission of Enquiry report estimated there were between 80,000 and 120,000 political prisoners detained in four large political prison camps in North Korea. Despite claims by the North Korean authorities that forcibly repatriated refugees are well treated and reintegrated into society, reports suggest they are often mistreated.</p><p>The British Government will call on North Korea to address its widespread and systematic human rights abuses, including through judicial and prison reform, at the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review of DPRK on 9 May 2019. The British Embassy in Pyongyang routinely raises human rights concerns with DPRK officials.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 08/05/2019 15:11:36 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1123735

registered interest
date	29/04/2019
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Vehicles
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 4 April (HL14845), whether the Ministry of Defence adheres to the advice given in the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Guide to maintaining roadworthiness: Commercial goods and passenger carrying vehicles, published in November 2018, providing that the advice does not conflict with operational requirements.
tabling member printed	Earl Attlee
uin	HL15373
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2019 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has a dis-application from the statutory legislation that requires vehicles to undergo an Annual Roadworthiness Test and periodic Safety Inspections. Where Defence has dis-applications, the Secretary of State for Defence's Policy Statement for Health, Safety and Environmental Protection requires the MOD to maintain Departmental arrangements that produce outcomes that are, so far as reasonably practicable, at least as good as those required by UK legislation. As such, the MOD does conduct Annual Roadworthiness Test and periodic Safety Inspections to the standard contained in the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency guide to maintaining roadworthiness for commercial goods and passenger carrying vehicles.</p> answering member printed Earl Howe question first answered 09/05/2019 16:18:43 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
tabling member	3425 label Biography information for Earl Attlee

1123736

registered interest
date	29/04/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme: Housing
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of legal aid fees for housing cases not being increased for 20 years on the number of solicitors' firms providing advice and representation; for what reason they has been no increase in such fees; whether they intend to increase those fees; and if not, why not.
tabling member printed	Lord Beecham
uin	HL15374
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2019 answer text <p>In February 2019 the Post Implementation Review (PIR) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) was published. This included an evidence based assessment of the impact of changes to civil fees made as part of The Legal Aid Reform Programme.</p><p> </p><p>The PIR found that for the vast majority of England and Wales there is sufficient coverage of legal provision. This is regularly monitored by the LAA and action is taken where gaps in services are identified or where demand is greater than the available supply.</p><p> </p><p>It is also worth noting that wherever you are in England and Wales, legal advice for housing remains available through the telephone gateway.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 14/05/2019 15:41:17 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	4181 label Biography information for Lord Beecham

1123738

registered interest
date	29/04/2019
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Thames House: Pedestrian Areas
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 Williams of Trafford on 11 April (HL1894), on what advice from the Security Service they concluded that there were national security grounds on which they refuse to answer questions about pedestrian access on Horseferry Road.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL15376
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2019 answer text <p>The government regularly consults with the Security Service about the disclosure of information that relates to the Security Service. The longstanding policy of not commenting on matters relating to the intelligence agencies has been agreed to be appropriate in this case because the changes to the pedestrian access have been made for reasons of building security.</p><p>We cannot comment further on these reasons other than to say that the Security Service has taken all appropriate and reasonable steps to ensure the safety of pedestrians and any potential liability for negligence would be the same as with any public organisation. The Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament provides the means for the scrutiny of the policies, expenditure, administration and operations of the intelligence agencies on behalf of Parliament.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 14/05/2019 15:38:17 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1123739

registered interest
date	29/04/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how they are approaching the upcoming replenishment period and strategy review with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
tabling member printed	Lord Crisp
uin	HL15377
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK is delighted to be hosting the Gavi Replenishment in 2020. Gavi has immunised over 700 million children, saving 10 million lives from preventable diseases. The UK is proud to have played a significant role in delivering these extraordinary results.</p><p> </p><p>As hosts of the Replenishment Conference, our priority will be to help Gavi secure the funding it needs to further deliver its life-saving work. The replenishment period is also a terrific opportunity to demonstrate the impact of the UK’s contribution to Gavi for the world’s poorest and to recognise the extraordinary work done by British innovators, academics and health advocates to support Gavi’s mission.</p><p> </p><p>The next strategic period for Gavi is critically important and the UK will continue to press for further improvements. This includes promoting equitable coverage of immunisation to leave no-one behind and ensure vaccines are available for the most vulnerable. The UK will also prioritise ensuring our investment in Gavi is sustainable and delivers maximum value for money by supporting countries to effectively transition from Gavi support to increased domestic funding.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 07/05/2019 15:36:36 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	3783 label Biography information for Lord Crisp

1123740

registered interest
date	29/04/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Developing Countries: Vaccination
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in ensuring price transparency of vaccines.
tabling member printed	Lord Crisp
uin	HL15378
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK recognises the importance of ensuring vaccines are affordable for the poorest nations and the role price transparency has in supporting this. Our significant investment in Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and support for global initiatives helps progress on increasing the transparency of vaccine prices and ensuring vaccines remain affordable to the world’s poorest nations.</p><p> </p><p>Gavi provides vaccines for 60% of the annual global birth cohort, providing it with significant purchasing power which it uses to foster competition and broaden suppliers of vaccines. This approach ensures vaccines are available at sustainable and affordable prices and has helped reduce the cost of immunising a child with three key vaccines by 17% since 2016. Gavi procures vaccines through UNICEF, which publicises historic, current and future prices for vaccines. Our strong investment in Gavi therefore helps to provide full transparency of vaccine costs for 68 of the world’s poorest countries.</p><p> </p><p>Outside of Gavi supported countries, the UK has helped make progress on vaccine pricing transparency by supporting the World Health Organisation’s Global Strategy and Plan of Action and Roadmap for Access to Medicines. This plan helps increase global price transparency whist protecting the innovation that is crucial for future vaccine development. UK support for the Access to Medicines Index also helps increase transparency on efforts by pharmaceutical companies to improve the affordability and availability of their medicines.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 07/05/2019 15:37:29 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	3783 label Biography information for Lord Crisp

1123741

registered interest
date	29/04/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Developing Countries: Vaccination
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to support poorer countries and emerging economies to (1) secure fair vaccine prices, (2) increase coverage of vaccine availability, and (3) save more lives.
tabling member printed	Lord Crisp
uin	HL15379
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK is a world leader in improving global immunisation. The UK is the largest donor to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which provides immunisation support to 68 of the world’s poorest countries.</p><p> </p><p>Gavi provides vaccines for 60% of the annual global birth cohort, providing it with strong purchasing power that Gavi then uses to ensure vaccines prices are affordable to low income countries. This model is extremely successful and has reduced the cost of immunising a child with three key vaccines by 17% since 2016. By advocating with vaccine manufacturers to retain affordable prices, Gavi also supports countries transitioning from its support, with every transitioned country since 2016 procuring vaccines at the same or lower price.</p><p> </p><p>Gavi’s scale also enables it to increase coverage and availability of vaccines in the poorest nations. By significantly reducing vaccine prices, Gavi has reduced a principal barrier that has enabled it to support the introduction of 380 vaccines. To ensure these reach the most marginalised, Gavi’s support focuses on areas with the lowest coverage and helps develop strong health systems capable of delivering vaccines.</p><p> </p><p>The effectiveness of Gavi’s model has seen 10 million lives saved from vaccine preventable diseases. In 2020, the UK will proudly host the replenishment of Gavi, providing a strong opportunity to demonstrate the effectiveness of Gavi to increase access to vaccinations and save lives in the world’s poorest nations.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 07/05/2019 15:38:34 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	3783 label Biography information for Lord Crisp

1123742

registered interest
date	29/04/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Developing Countries: Vaccination
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to address equal access to vaccines to ensure that the most marginalised children are immunised.
tabling member printed	Lord Crisp
uin	HL15380
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK believes all children should have access to lifesaving vaccines, no matter where they live. Equitable vaccine coverage is therefore a key priority for the UK’s support for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. This investment provides immunisation to the poorest children in 68 of the world’s poorest countries. Gavi will vaccinate an additional 76 million children by 2020, preventing 1.4 million deaths from vaccine preventable diseases.</p><p> </p><p>As well as providing support to strengthen the overall health system, Gavi focuses on improving access and equity by identifying the populations and geographical areas most likely to be under immunised and at risk of outbreaks. Gavi have also adapted their model to include a Fragility, Emergency and Refugees policy which provides a more quick and flexible response in fragile countries. This has helped reach unimmunised children in places like Syria and in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh.</p><p> </p><p>As a Gavi Board member, the UK advocates for equitable coverage as a core priority both now and in the future.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 07/05/2019 15:39:03 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	3783 label Biography information for Lord Crisp

1123743

registered interest
date	29/04/2019
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how much of the European Migration Fund is being allocated to local authorities and in particular to child refugees.
tabling member printed	Lord Dubs
uin	HL15381
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), to which this question presumably relates, is operated in the UK by the AMIF UK Responsible Authority. The total value of the fund to the UK is currently €538.2m.</p><p>Funding is not allocated directly to local authorities unless they have applied for funding through an open call for proposals operated by the Responsible Authority, one of which is currently open with £50m available for organisations to apply for, for integration related activities for third country nationalS, including refugees. The Home Office, as the department with responsibility for migration, is also able to apply for AMIF funds, and has received a significant amount of AMIF funds to date.</p><p>There is no particular amount allocated to managing child refugees. A full list of funded projects is published each August on the AMIF page of <a href="http://www.gov.uk" target="_blank">www.gov.uk</a> along with the UK National Programme and information about calls for <br>proposals.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 13/05/2019 14:27:36 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	805 label Biography information for Lord Dubs