Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label previous answer version answering member constituency answering member printed answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1124929

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make automatic payment of the housing cost element of universal credit directly to the landlord.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	251332
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit payments are designed to mirror the world of work, with monthly payments reflecting the way many working people are paid. This model of monthly payments allows claimants to take responsibility for budgeting their own income and helps prepare them for getting back to work.</p><p> </p><p>Many claimants are capable of managing their own financial affairs and for these claimants a Managed Payment to Landlords (MPTL) is not appropriate.</p><p> </p><p>A claimant’s personal circumstances could change in a way which means that they need additional support at any stage of a claim, not just at the start. As such, we make sure that managed payments to landlords (MPTL) are available to Universal Credit claimants when appropriate, either from the start of their claim or at whatever point in which they need help.</p><p> </p><p>A MPTL can be requested by the claimant, their representative or their landlord and will be considered on a case by case basis and requests for MPTLs are dealt with as a priority. Landlords who are given access to the Landlord Portal are also given Trusted Partner status which allows them to make recommendations on whether an MPTL should be put in place. All MPTL recommendations from Trusted Partners will be implemented in good faith by DWP.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 15/05/2019 11:07:15 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1124930

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Wildlife: Smuggling
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to tackle the illegal wildlife trade coming through Scottish ports and airports.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	251333
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK is a Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) which regulates the wildlife trade and protects endangered wildlife from unsustainable trade. These obligations are effected in the UK through the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations. The issuance of CITES import, export and re-export permits is administered in the UK by the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Compliance with the regulations and licensing requirements is enforced across all UK borders.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 14/05/2019 16:43:53 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1124931

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	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	Space Technology: Investment
	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 investment in the space industry in (a) the UK and (b) rural areas.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	251334
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>Britain has a vibrant commercial space sector and plays a leading role in international space science. Scotland has end-to-end capabilities from Satellite design and manufacture to the use of space data and services in day-to-day applications. Indeed:</p><ul><li>In 2015 &amp; 16, more satellites were manufactured in Glasgow than any other European city,</li><li>The number of space organisations in Scotland grew by 26% between 2014/15 &amp; 2016/17,</li><li>Scottish space organisations employ almost 1 in 5 of the UK space workforce.</li></ul><p><br> We want to ensure that our space industry, one of the fastest-growing industries in the UK economy, covers the whole of the UK. In July 2018, we announced £31.5 million in grant funding to support development of a new vertical spaceport in Sutherland, providing a much-needed boost to rural Scotland.</p><p>We are equipping the UK with the Space facilities we will need in the future. The National Satellite Test Facility now being built in Harwell with £99m of investment from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund will provide crucial new test facilities for an expanding space manufacturing sector.</p><p>The UK Space Agency also co-invests with the Satellite Applications Catapult in a network of five regional Centres of Excellence in Satellite Applications across the UK, including the Scottish Centre of Excellence hosted by the University of Strathclyde. The Centres raise awareness of opportunities in the space sector, publicise funding calls and broker collaborative partnership, including with local universities.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 15/05/2019 12:45:14 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1124932

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces: Recruitment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps she is taking to increase recruitment to the armed forces from rural areas.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	251335
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The Armed Forces recruit nationally. The geographic footprint of Armed Forces Career Offices across the UK is complemented by dedicated call centres and online recruiting operations, ensuring that members of rural or isolated communities have the same opportunity to join the Armed Forces as anyone else. In addition, the Services conduct outreach engagement programmes across the whole of the UK, delivering events such as career fairs, tactical campaigns and roadshows, supported by web-based information services and social media campaigns.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 13/05/2019 16:01:38 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1124933

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	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	Museums and Galleries: Scotland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to increase co-operation between Scottish museums and museums elsewhere in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	251336
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government welcomes cooperation between Scottish museums and museums across the UK. While culture is a devolved matter, and sponsored museums are arms-length bodies which are operationally independent, the Government provides significant support to museums, including grant-in-aid funding, exhibitions tax relief, and the VAT refund scheme.</p><p> </p><p>In line with a recommendation from the 2017 Mendoza Review of museums, DCMS and the National Museum Directors' Council worked together to devise a Museums’ Partnership Framework, which was published in October 2018. National Museums Scotland are fully involved in this project. DCMS is currently analysing the responses to a survey on the amount of collaboration that currently occurs, and will publish a report later this year.</p><p> </p><p>Examples of recent cooperation involving Scottish museums include V&amp;A Dundee, recently nominated for the Art Fund Museum of the Year award, which is a spectacular partnership showcasing hundreds of V&amp;A objects highlighting Scotland's rich design heritage; joint acquisitions and exhibitions such as the Artist Rooms collaboration between Tate and the National Galleries of Scotland; loans such as those from Scottsh museums and organisations to enable the Charles Rennie Mackintosh exhibition at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool; and the Natural History Museum’s Dippy the dinosaur which is touring the UK and was recently exhibited in Glasgow.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 15/05/2019 10:30:11 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1124934

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Help to Buy Scheme: Scotland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have benefited from the Help to Buy ISA and how much this is in monetary terms in (a) Scotland and (b) Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	251337
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>Since the Help to Buy: ISA’s launch in 1 December 2015 till 31 December 2018, the Government has paid out 23,960 bonuses to individuals purchasing a home in Scotland, with a total value of £20,326,852. In Berwickshire, Roxburgh &amp; Selkirk, 261 bonuses have been paid, with a total value of £198,112.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 15/05/2019 14:29:43 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1121728

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2019
	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	Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the US Administration on that Administration's decision to classify Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organisation.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	245937
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2019 answer text <p>We regularly engage with the US on Iran policy at a variety of levels, including through a visit to Washington by our Ambassador to Iran last month.</p><p>We have long expressed our deep concerns about the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC's) destablising activity both within and outside Iran, including its illicit economic activity and its role in Iran's ballistic missile development and support to non-state groups around the region.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 25/04/2019 14:37:43 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1111234

	registered interest
	date	10/04/2019
	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	Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the involvement of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in terrorist activity in the region.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	243542
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government is deeply concerned by Iran's destabilising involvement in regional conflicts, including in Syria and Yemen, through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and IRGC Qods Force, and by reported financial and military support to militant and proscribed groups, such as Hizballah and the Houthis. The Foreign Secretary raised these concerns directly during his visit to Iran last November.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 15/04/2019 13:27:17 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1092647

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2019
	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	Living Wage: Scotland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many workers will receive an increase in wages as a result of the rise in the national living wage on 1 April 2019 in each Scottish parliamentary constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	235373
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2019 answer text <p>On 1 April 2019, the Government is increasing the National Living Wage (NLW) to £8.21, keeping us on track to meet our target of the NLW reaching 60 percent of median earnings by 2020, subject to economic growth. This means that a full-time worker on the rate will be over £2750 better off over the year compared to the year the NLW was introduced.</p><p> </p><p>In April 2018, we estimated that 3,100 workers in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk would benefit from the 2018 increases in the NLW and NMW, which accounted for 7 per cent of the workforce.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has not published data on projected coverage of the NLW by constituency from 1 April 2019. However, we estimate that 159,000 workers in Scotland stand to benefit from increases in the NLW or National Minimum Wage (NMW).</p><p> </p><p>We also expect workers earning above the NLW and NMW to benefit from indirect pay increases. Across the UK, we estimate that at least 20% of workers, which is over 5 million people, will directly or indirectly benefit from April’s uprating. This estimate was made from data published in the Government’s Impact Assessment for the 2019 uprating of the NMW and NLW, and the Office for National Statistics’ Labour Force Survey statistics.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 26/03/2019 17:59:02 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 110265 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1092649

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2019
	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	British Business Bank: Loans
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much financial support the British Business Bank start-up loans programme has provided to businesses in each constituency since it was launched in 2012.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	235375
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is currently being researched, and I will deposit a copy of it in the Libraries of the House by the end of April.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 28/03/2019 16:58:37 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1082718

	registered interest
	date	06/03/2019
	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	Gaza: Israel
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on (a) Gazan patients allegedly using medical permits to smuggle weapons or explosives into Israel at the behest of Hamas and (b) the extent of fraudulent applications for medical permits by Gazans.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	229271
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2019 answer text <p>​While we are aware of the background behind the question, we have not specifically raised this issue with the Israeli Government. We strongly condemn all acts of terrorism and call upon Hamas and other terrorist groups to permanently end their incitement and rocket fire against Israel. We are also aware that Israeli restrictions severely restrict the movement of medical professionals and patients in Gaza, hampering the provision of quality health services. Our Embassy to Israel regularly raises the matter of medical permits with the Israeli authorities.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 14/03/2019 17:30:54 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1063920

	registered interest
	date	19/02/2019
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Rare Diseases: Drugs
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing a UK-wide scheme for the purchase and distribution of expensive drugs and medical supplies that are used to treat rare conditions.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	223060
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2019 answer text <p>We have no plans to assess the potential merits of implementing a United Kingdom-wide scheme for the purchase and distribution of expensive drugs and medical supplies that are used to treat rare conditions. It is for the National Health Service in England and the devolved administrations to make decisions in the best interest of their patients, including those with rare diseases, to ensure access to the medicines and medical supplies they need.</p> answering member constituency Winchester answering member printed Steve Brine question first answered 26/02/2019 15:34:11 answering member 4067 label Biography information for Steve Brine
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1061016

	registered interest
	date	14/02/2019
	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	Armed Conflict: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if his Department will assess the merits of the conclusions and recommendations of the report entitled, No Choice: It takes a world to end the use of child soldiers, published by World Vision International in February 2019; and what steps his Department is taking to protect children at risk of recruitment by armed forces and his groups.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	221786
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/02/2019 answer text <p>​The UK government actively engages with civil society organisations, recognising that collaborative engagement can strengthen the protection of children in armed conflict. On 12 February 2019, the International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon met four youth participants from World Vision UK's newly launched campaign entitled '<em>It takes a World...To End Violence Against Children'</em>, to discuss their views and recommendations for government action regarding the use of children in armed forces and groups. The UK government recognises the importance of amplifying young people's voices and the powerful impact this can have in raising the profile of the Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) Agenda. The UK government therefore continues to engage with World Vision on this agenda. An invitation has been extended to World Vision to present at the newly established cross-government Working Group on CAAC.</p><p> </p><p>The UK is an active member of the United Nations Working Group on CAAC, which leads the international response to the issue of child soldiers and child protection. This includes pressing those parties to conflict listed in the UN Secretary-General's annual report on CAAC to enter into concrete action plans with the UN to verify and release any child soldiers associated with armed groups and forces and to prevent re-recruitment. The UK is the largest single financial contributor to the office of the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for CAAC, contributing £800,000 in the last five years. We have shown our support for the SRSG's recently launched Global Coalition for Reintegration (GCR) by joining the 'Friends of Reintegration' group, a forum to generate new ideas for supporting reintegration programmes and prevention of re-recruitment for children formerly associated with armed groups. The UK has confirmed it will be increasing its funding to the office of the SRSG for CAAC to £450,000 for the FY19/20 to continue assisting the SRSG with her current mandate and will be giving an additional £50,000 to fund extended activities pertaining to the GCR.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 20/02/2019 16:39:47 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1061159

	registered interest
	date	14/02/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Winter Fuel Payment: Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk received winter fuel payments in each of the last five winter periods; and what the annual cost of winter fuel payments in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk was in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	221817
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2019 answer text <p>Figures for the number of Winter Fuel Payment recipients in the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk constituency are given in the table below.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>2013/14</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014/15</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2015/16</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016/17</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017/18</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>25,020</p></td><td><p>24,760</p></td><td><p>24,460</p></td><td><p>24,150</p></td><td><p>23,770</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Figures for the annual cost of Winter Fuel Payment from the past five winters is not available at constituency level.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 21/02/2019 12:46:56 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1061160

	registered interest
	date	14/02/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Cold Weather Payments: Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk received cold weather payments in each of the last five winter periods; and what the annual cost of cold weather payments in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk was in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	221818
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2019 answer text <p>The Cold Weather Payment scheme is administered at weather station level rather than any other standard GB geography such as constituency level. The coverage area for each weather station is determined by the Met Office which assesses the most appropriate weather station for each postcode area. Cold weather payments are triggered when the average temperature recorded at the weather station has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0<sup>o</sup>C or below over seven consecutive days, during the Cold Weather season (November to March).</p><p> </p><p>The constituency of Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk covers all or part of the following postcode areas: DG14, EH37, EH38, EH43 and TD1-15.</p><p> </p><p>The above postcode areas are covered by four weather stations: Charterhall, Edinburgh Gogarbank, Eskdalemuir and Salsburgh. Qualifying individuals living in this area will have received a payment in respect of a seven-day period of Cold Weather, as shown in <strong>Table 1</strong>.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="6"><p><strong>Table 1 Estimated number of Cold Weather Payment recipients, by year and weather station</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Weather station</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013/14</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014/15</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2015/16</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016/17</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017/18</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Charterhall</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>6,000</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>6,000<sup>1</sup></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Edinburgh Gogarbank</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>72,000<sup>1</sup></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Eskdalemuir</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>5,000<sup>1</sup></p></td><td><p>5,000</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>5,000<sup>3</sup></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Salsburgh</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>19,000<sup>1</sup></p></td><td><p>35,000</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>34,000<sup>2</sup></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6"><p><sup>1</sup> There were two triggers at this weather station; recipients will have received two payments in that year. <sup>2</sup> There were four triggers at this weather station; recipients will have received four payments in that year. <sup>3</sup> There were five triggers at this weather station; recipients will have received five payments in that year.</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Estimated expenditure for Cold Weather Payment recipients covered by Charterhall, Edinburgh Gogarbank, Eskdalemuir and Salsburgh weather stations can be seen in <strong>Table 2,</strong> along with the annual total for the four weather stations.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="6"><p><strong>Table 2 Estimated Expenditure of Cold Weather Payments, by year</strong> <strong> and weather station</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Weather station</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013/14</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014/15</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2015/16</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016/17</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017/18</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Charterhall</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£0.1m</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£0.3m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Edinburgh Gogarbank</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£3.6m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Eskdalemuir</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£0.2m</p></td><td><p>£0.1m</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£0.6m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Salsburgh</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£0.9m</p></td><td><p>£0.9m</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£3.4m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£1.1m</p></td><td><p>£1.1m</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£7.9m</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6"><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Charterhall, Edinburgh Gogarbank, Eskdalemuir and Salsburgh weather stations cover the following postcode areas, in <strong>Table 3</strong>, which include constituencies other than Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk. We estimate that 313,000 payments to 117,000 recipients, totalling £7.9 million expenditure, were made in this area as a whole in respect of the triggers in 2017/18. We are not able to break this figure down to a lower level.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Table 3 Postcode sectors mapped to Weather Stations</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Weather station</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Postcode Sectors Covered</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Charterhall</p></td><td><p>NE71, TD1-6, TD8, TD10-15.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Edinburgh Gogarbank</p></td><td><p>EH1-42, EH47-49, EH51-55, FK1-7, FK9-10, KY3, KY11-12.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Eskdalemuir</p></td><td><p>DG3-4, DG10-11, DG13-14, ML12, TD7, TD9.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Salsburgh</p></td><td><p>EH43-46, G65, G67-68, ML1-3, ML6-11.</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Notes</p><p> </p><ol><li>The number of recipients and payments given here is an estimate as information on the exact number is not readily available. These figures are produced by determining the volume of eligible recipients in each weather station area at the start of the winter season and using these figures throughout the winter to estimate payments and expenditure based on the actual triggers recorded.</li></ol><p> </p><ol start="2"><li>The number of payments made is not necessarily the total number of individuals benefitting from a Cold Weather Payment. Any individuals making a joint claim for one of the qualifying benefits, such as a couple living together, will receive one payment between them rather than one payment each. Furthermore, if a weather station triggers more than once throughout a cold weather season then the recipients will receive more than one payment.</li></ol><p> </p><ol start="3"><li>Estimates of Cold Weather Payments are published weekly during the Cold Weather season. The latest published estimates can be found at the link below:</li></ol><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/social-fund-cold-weather-payments" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/social-fund-cold-weather-payments</a></p><p> </p><ol start="4"><li>The Social Fund Cold Weather Payments (CWP) scheme provides help to individuals on benefits who are the most vulnerable to the cold. Eligibility to receive CWP is detailed on the Cold Weather Payment Eligibility page which can be found at the link below:</li></ol><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment/eligibility" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment/eligibility</a></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 21/02/2019 09:57:03 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1061161

	registered interest
	date	14/02/2019
	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	Financial Services: Technology
	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 his Department is taking to encourage small businesses to invest in and utilise FinTech.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	221819
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/02/2019 answer text <p>The UK has been independently ranked by EY and Deloitte as the world’s leading hub for Fintech. The ambitious Fintech Sector Strategy, launched in March 2018 by the Chancellor, sets out how the Government intends to maintain that position.</p><p> </p><p>This thriving Fintech community is an advantage for small UK businesses, who benefit from easy access to a range of services including foreign exchange, loans, equity investment and invoice finance. The British Business Bank’s annual Small Business Finance Markets report, published on 11 February, states that the value of peer-to-peer business lending rose a further 18% in 2018, having increased by 51% in 2017.</p><p> </p><p>The same report notes that awareness among small businesses is also increasing, with 52% aware of peer-to-peer lending as an option (2017: 47%) and 70% aware of equity crowdfunding (2017: 60%). The British Business Bank’s portal for small businesses, the Finance Hub, has extensive information for small businesses on finance options including those available through Fintech providers and how to access them.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 22/02/2019 13:05:28 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1061163

	registered interest
	date	14/02/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Roads: Horse Riding
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase road safety for horse riders.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	221821
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/02/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises that horse riders and carriage drivers are vulnerable road users. Accordingly, the Highway Code covers horse riders and the need for drivers to exercise special care in relation to them.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the current Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS) Safety Review, The Highway Code will be reviewed to help keep cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders safe on the roads.</p><p> </p><p>The full scope of review has yet to be determined but, in accordance with normal practice, it will be conducted in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, including those representing equestrians.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 22/02/2019 12:12:37 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1061164

	registered interest
	date	14/02/2019
	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	Horse Racing: Equine Flu
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to support horse racing venues after the recent equine flu outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	221822
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2019 answer text <p>The Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) is an arms-length body of DCMS which is responsible for collecting a statutory Levy from betting operators which it distributes in line with its statutory duties to support British horse racing. In April 2017, the Government implemented significant reforms to the Levy, resulting in a £45m increase in statutory Levy income in 2017/18.</p><p> </p><p>The HBLB provides over £200,000 annually for the Equine Influenza Programme, and a further £150,000 towards the Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance Programme, provides British racing with expert information and provisions to minimise the impact of equine diseases and respond quickly to outbreaks.</p><p> </p><p>HBLB has committed to pay a contribution to owners or trainers for the costs incurred where the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) recently required test samples to be taken for equine influenza, including the cost of the swabs and the veterinary fees involved. In addition, HBLB has committed £321,500 to support the rescheduling of replacement races and fixtures following the recent suspension, and will continue discussions with the BHA regarding funding for further races and fixtures as required. The BHA have now scheduled a number of additional fixtures from February 20th onwards.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 222699 question first answered 21/02/2019 11:24:53 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1061168

	registered interest
	date	14/02/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Cancer
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the merits of changing disability living allowance and personal independence payments to enable young cancer patients to get payments backdated from the day of diagnosis.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	221823
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2019 answer text <p>Other than for those who are terminally ill, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are assessed on the basis of the needs arising from a long-term health condition or disability rather than a diagnosis. Primary legislation sets out that a claimant cannot be entitled to DLA or PIP for any period prior to the date of claim.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 21/02/2019 13:45:09 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1061169

	registered interest
	date	14/02/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Personal Independence Payment: Terminal Illnesses
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will extend the Special Rules for Terminal Illness process for personal independence payments to include people with unpredictable terminal illnesses such as Motor Neurone Disease.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	221824
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2019 answer text <p>As for the entitlement conditions generally, the special rules for terminal illness in Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are not condition-based. At the end of October 2018, there were 751 claimants with Motor Neurone Disease in receipt of PIP under the special rules for terminal illness.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>I have met with the Honourable Member for Bridgend, Madeleine Moon MP, the Chair of the All-Party Group on Motor Neurone Disease on a number of occasions, and will continue to work with her alongside other stakeholders.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 21/02/2019 13:29:57 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1058703

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Railways: Electrification
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) geographic and (b) track miles of train tracks have been electrified in each year since 1997.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	219526
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is provided in the table below, covering England and Wales:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Calendar year in which electrification infrastructure completed and testing completed to make ready for passenger use (Note 1)</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Approximate total route miles in the year (Note 2)</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Secretary of State for Transport</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1997</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1998</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1999</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2000</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2001</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2002</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2003</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>Alistair Darling</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2004</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2005</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2006</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2007</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>18</p></td><td><p>Sir Patrick McLoughlin</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>32</p></td><td><p>Sir Patrick McLoughlin</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>42</p></td><td><p>Chris Grayling</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>107</p></td><td><p>Chris Grayling</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>49</p></td><td><p>Chris Grayling</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>TOTAL</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>258</strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p><em>Note 1</em> – this date is not necessarily the date when the infrastructure is first used in timetabled passenger service.</p><p> </p><p><em>Note 2</em> – the route mileage figures are approximate. The figures are for the ‘traditional’ / existing railway only, so exclude the 67 miles of HS1 completed before 2010.</p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 19/02/2019 17:45:20 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1058904

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2019
	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	Armed Conflict: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office, what programmes his Department (a) promotes and (b) funds to rehabilitate and reintegrate former child soldiers into their communities.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	219527
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2019 answer text <p>​The UK is firmly committed to ending the recruitment and use of child soldiers and to protecting all children affected by armed conflict.</p><p>The UK is an active member of the United Nations Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), which leads the international response to the issue of child soldiers and child protection. This includes pressing those parties to conflict listed in the UN Secretary-General's annual report on CAAC to enter into concrete action plans with the UN to verify and release any child soldiers associated with armed groups and forces and to prevent re-recruitment. We apply diplomatic pressure to listed governments and armed groups, and fund projects to help protect and rehabilitate vulnerable children. We also press for the inclusion of child protection in peacekeeping responses through UN mandate renewals and resolutions.</p><p>The UK is the largest single financial contributor to the office of the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for CAAC contributing £800,000 in the last five years. We have shown our support for the SRSG's recently launched Global Coalition for Reintegration (GCR) by joining the 'Friends of Reintegration' group, a forum to generate new ideas for supporting reintegration programmes for children formerly associated with armed groups. The GCR is working to provide more reliable funding to ensure higher quality, longer-term reintegration programming and prevention of re-recruitment for all children formerly recruited and used by armed groups and forces. The UK has confirmed that it will be increasing its funding to the office of the SRSG for CAAC to £450,000 for the FY19/20 to continue assisting the SRSG with her current mandate, and will be giving an additional £50,000 to fund extended activities pertaining to the GCR.</p><p>In 2018, the UK endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration, a political commitment to reduce the impact of conflict on education, and the Vancouver Principles, a political commitment to ensure that child protection and preventing the recruitment and use of children by armed forces and armed groups are operational priorities during the conduct of United Nations peace operations. As a member of the Group of Friends of CAAC in Geneva, we also participated in a joint statement to the 37th session of the Human Rights Council in March 2018, in which we reiterated our strong support for the mandate of the SRSG for CAAC. We worked very closely with Sweden and others to agree Resolution 2427 adopted by the UN Security Council in July 2018, to strengthen protection mechanisms for children in armed conflict.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field grouped question UIN 219529 question first answered 19/02/2019 16:24:51 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1058905

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2019
	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	Central African Republic: Armed Conflict
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office, what steps his Department is taking to prevent the recruitment of children by (a) armed forces and (b) groups in the Central African Republic.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	219528
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2019 answer text <p>​The UK recognises the recruitment of children by armed groups is a significant problem in the Central African Republic (CAR). Partners of the Department for International Development (DFID) based in CAR integrate child protection principles throughout all programmes, ensuring that the dignity and safety of children is paramount in all services. We were the fourth largest donor to the CAR Humanitarian Response in 2018 and the largest donor to the CAR Humanitarian Fund. Through the CAR Humanitarian Fund, 59,318 (16,000 DFID attributable) girls and boys were supported with protection focussed activities, including 11,420 (3,083 DFID attributable) children with identification, documentation, tracing and reunification support. 31,309 (8,453 DFID attributable) children also benefitted from psychological support activities, protection mechanism and life-saving message training while 176 teachers and parents were trained on psychosocial support.</p><p>UNICEF has reported that since 2014 approximately 13,000 children have been released from armed groups in CAR. The UK is also funding War Child UK to reach conflict-affected boys and girls in CAR and help them to receive education and psychosocial support, integral services for facilitating recruitment prevention. Through our humanitarian partners in CAR, we will continue to monitor the situation on the ground to prevent more children from being recruited into armed groups.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 19/02/2019 16:30:16 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1058906

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2019
	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	Armed Conflict: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office , what funding his Department has allocated to programmes to prevent the recruitment of children by armed forces and groups.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	219529
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2019 answer text <p>​The UK is firmly committed to ending the recruitment and use of child soldiers and to protecting all children affected by armed conflict.</p><p>The UK is an active member of the United Nations Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), which leads the international response to the issue of child soldiers and child protection. This includes pressing those parties to conflict listed in the UN Secretary-General's annual report on CAAC to enter into concrete action plans with the UN to verify and release any child soldiers associated with armed groups and forces and to prevent re-recruitment. We apply diplomatic pressure to listed governments and armed groups, and fund projects to help protect and rehabilitate vulnerable children. We also press for the inclusion of child protection in peacekeeping responses through UN mandate renewals and resolutions.</p><p>The UK is the largest single financial contributor to the office of the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for CAAC contributing £800,000 in the last five years. We have shown our support for the SRSG's recently launched Global Coalition for Reintegration (GCR) by joining the 'Friends of Reintegration' group, a forum to generate new ideas for supporting reintegration programmes for children formerly associated with armed groups. The GCR is working to provide more reliable funding to ensure higher quality, longer-term reintegration programming and prevention of re-recruitment for all children formerly recruited and used by armed groups and forces. The UK has confirmed that it will be increasing its funding to the office of the SRSG for CAAC to £450,000 for the FY19/20 to continue assisting the SRSG with her current mandate, and will be giving an additional £50,000 to fund extended activities pertaining to the GCR.</p><p>In 2018, the UK endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration, a political commitment to reduce the impact of conflict on education, and the Vancouver Principles, a political commitment to ensure that child protection and preventing the recruitment and use of children by armed forces and armed groups are operational priorities during the conduct of United Nations peace operations. As a member of the Group of Friends of CAAC in Geneva, we also participated in a joint statement to the 37th session of the Human Rights Council in March 2018, in which we reiterated our strong support for the mandate of the SRSG for CAAC. We worked very closely with Sweden and others to agree Resolution 2427 adopted by the UN Security Council in July 2018, to strengthen protection mechanisms for children in armed conflict.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field grouped question UIN 219527 question first answered 19/02/2019 16:24:52 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1058907

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2019
	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	Armed Conflict: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office, what assessment his Department has made on the effectiveness of steps by the international community to reintegrate and rehabilitate children previously recruited by armed forces and groups.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	219530
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2019 answer text <p>The UK is firmly committed to ending the recruitment and use of child soldiers and to protecting all children affected by armed conflict.</p><p>To mark the International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers (Red Hand Day), the UK took part in an UN Security Council (UNSC) Arria meeting on protecting children in shrinking humanitarian spaces. The UK called for better integration of the Children and Armed Conflict portfolio into UNSC country specific discussions and for all states to sign up to the key international commitments traversing this CAAC portfolio: the Paris Principles, the Vancouver Principles and the Safe Schools Declaration. The UK also highlighted the importance of mainstreaming child protection in peacekeeping missions and the need to consider whether denial of humanitarian access should be a violation which triggers a listing in the Secretary-General's annual report on CAAC. Sharing experiences on UK engagement on the CAAC agenda with other states serves to open up the humanitarian space and understand how collaborative engagement can strengthen the protection of children in armed conflict. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon also met youth participants in the newly launched World Vision campaign '<em>It takes a World…to end violence against children</em>' to discuss their views and recommendations for the UK government regarding children in armed forces and groups, including how the UK can galvanise the international community to better support this agenda.</p><p>The UK can see a strong case in principle for re-galvanising our approach to reintegration and remains committed to supporting the valuable work of the SRSG's office in this respect. The UK has shown its support for the SRSG's recently launched Global Coalition for Reintegration (GCR) by joining the 'Friends of Reintegration' group, a forum to generate new ideas for supporting reintegration programmes for children formerly associated with armed groups and sharing best practice and lesson learnt with key member states. The GCR is working to provide more reliable funding to ensure higher quality, longer-term reintegration programming and prevention of re-recruitment for all children formerly recruited and used by armed groups and forces. The UK has confirmed that it will be increasing its funding to the office of the SRSG for CAAC to £450,000 for FY19/20 to continue assisting the SRSG with her current mandate and will be giving an additional £50,000 to fund extended activities pertaining to the GCR.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 19/02/2019 16:40:02 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont