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1139544

	registered interest
	date	16/07/2019
	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	China: Surveillance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that British investors hold shares in Chinese surveillance companies accused of contributing to human rights abuses.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL17191
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/08/2019 answer text <p>The British Government has not undertaken analysis of British investor shareholdings in Chinese surveillance companies.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 21/08/2019 13:20:13 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1141514

	registered interest
	date	23/07/2019
	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	Suzan Der Kirkour
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they have about the rape, torture, and murder by stoning of a retired Christian schoolteacher, Suzan Der Kirkour in Syria; whether they are seeking to confirm reports about who was responsible; and what assessment they have made of the statement by church leaders that “attacks against Christians, mainly women and girls, are frequent here now.”
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL17382
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/08/2019 answer text <p>​We are aware of reports of the murder of Christian school teacher, Suzan Der Kirkour in Idlib, Syria. Given the difficulties of gathering information inside Syria, we are unable to assess who was responsible.</p><p>Christians and people of other religions or beliefs, have suffered in the Syrian conflict, persecuted particularly by Daesh. The persecution of Christians, and indeed individuals of all faiths and beliefs, remains of profound concern to us. The British Government has recently accepted all of the recommendations of the Bishop of Truro's independent Review of Foreign and Commonwealth Office support for persecuted Christians overseas, and we will look to implement them at the earliest opportunity.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 06/08/2019 14:04:41 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1141902

	registered interest
	date	24/07/2019
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	North Korea: Droughts
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of an early season drought in North Korea and its impact on harvests, food production, health and levels of malnutrition in that country.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL17446
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/08/2019 answer text <p>The humanitarian situation in DPRK is a grave concern. The UN estimates that rainfall levels are relatively low in North Korea and food production is subsequently estimated at about 5 million tons, the lowest in 10 years. 10.1 million people – 40% of the population – require food assistance.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 05/08/2019 15:53:07 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1139041

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2019
	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	Syria: Bombings
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of who is responsible for the recent car bombing near the Syriac Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary in Qamishli in North East Syria.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL17126
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/08/2019 answer text <p>​Daesh has claimed responsibility for the attack near the Syriac Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary in Qamishli in north-east Syria on 11 July. As the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, I strongly condemn this and all attacks on places of worship.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 01/08/2019 15:11:05 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1139042

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2019
	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	Middle East: Crimes against Humanity
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they are having with those countries which favour the creation of an ad hoc international tribunal to prosecute those responsible for genocide and crimes against humanity in Iraq and Syria.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL17127
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/07/2019 answer text <p>​The UK, with our international partners, is committed to highlighting the appalling violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in Syria and Iraq and to seeing those responsible for the most serious crimes held to account in the most appropriate jurisdiction. We will continue to support the UN International Impartial and Independent Mechanism in Syria and the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Daesh in Iraq to gather evidence and prepare files that could be used for future prosecution in international or national courts. We will also continue to work closely with international partners in pursuit of justice for those, including foreign terrorist fighters, who committed crimes on behalf of Daesh in Syria and Iraq.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon grouped question UIN HL17128 question first answered 31/07/2019 13:58:31 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1139043

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2019
	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	Middle East: Crimes against Humanity
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they intend to take in response to evidence that has been collected of crimes against humanity and genocide in Iraq and Syria.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL17128
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/07/2019 answer text <p>​The UK, with our international partners, is committed to highlighting the appalling violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in Syria and Iraq and to seeing those responsible for the most serious crimes held to account in the most appropriate jurisdiction. We will continue to support the UN International Impartial and Independent Mechanism in Syria and the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Daesh in Iraq to gather evidence and prepare files that could be used for future prosecution in international or national courts. We will also continue to work closely with international partners in pursuit of justice for those, including foreign terrorist fighters, who committed crimes on behalf of Daesh in Syria and Iraq.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon grouped question UIN HL17127 question first answered 31/07/2019 13:58:31 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1139040

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2019
	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	NHS: Negligence
	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 proposals made by the Society of Clinical Injury Lawyers to the Civil Justice Council in relation to the clinical negligence fixed costs; and what consideration they have given to the recommendations on fixed recovery costs in clinical negligence cases from Action Against Medical Accidents and the Society of Clinical Injury Lawyers.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL17125
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2019 answer text <p>In 2017 the Department consulted on proposals for fixed recoverable costs (FRC) in claims of up to £25,000 damages, for which claimant legal costs are most likely to be disproportionately high relative to damages awarded. The Department published a summary of responses to the consultation in February 2018.</p><p>Following the consultation by the Department in 2017 and Sir Rupert Jackson’s recommendation in July 2017 to control the legal costs of these cases, the Department and the Ministry of Justice commissioned the independent Civil Justice Council (CJC) to draw up a new process for clinical negligence claims of up to £25,000 damages, with proposals for FRC for these cases.</p><p>The CJC has set up a working party to develop proposals, with input from claimant and defendant solicitors and others, including the Society of Clinical Injury Lawyers and Action Against Medical Accidents. The Department will consider the CJC’s recommendations when its report is published and will consult on any resulting proposals for FRC for these cases before implementation.</p><p>In view of the CJC’s role to lead work on proposals taking account of stakeholder views, the Department has not made its own assessment of the proposals or recommendations from the Society of Clinical Injury Lawyers or Action Against Medical Accidents.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford question first answered 25/07/2019 16:26:39 answering member 4019 label Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1137922

	registered interest
	date	09/07/2019
	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	Persecution of Christians across the Globe Independent Review
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Final Report of the Bishop of Truro’s Independent Review for the Foreign Secretary of Foreign and Commonwealth Office support for persecuted Christians was published; what were the recommendations of that Report; and whether they will set out their response to each such recommendation.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL17021
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2019 answer text <p>We are grateful to the Bishop for setting out ambitious recommendations in his report which was published on 16 July. The report has identified specific steps the British Government can take to address the issues faced by persecuted Christians around the world. I am pleased to confirm that the Government has accepted the recommendations in full and work will now begin to implement them. This work will include exploring how best to deliver a new Security Council Resolution on protecting Christians in North Africa and the Middle East; and sanctioning those who persecute people for holding a religion or belief.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 23/07/2019 15:26:14 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1137361

	registered interest
	date	08/07/2019
	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	China: Muslims
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that Muslim children are being separated from their families, faith and language in schools in Xinjiang; and what representations they intend to make about such separations to the government of China.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16968
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2019 answer text <p>We have serious concerns about the detention of more than a million Uyghurs, along with widespread surveillance and restrictions targeted at minorities. British diplomats in China visit Xinjiang every few months, in order to see at first-hand the situation there. They most recently visited in May 2019, and their observations have supported much of the recent open source reporting about the restrictions targeted at specific ethnic groups.</p><p>Ministers and senior officials frequently raise the human rights issues in the region with their Chinese counterparts, most recently in a public statement on 3 July at the 41st session of the UN Human Rights Council. The Foreign Secretary also highlighted our concerns with Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his most recent visit to China, in July 2018. Later that month, the Minister for Asia and the Pacific did the same with his Chinese counterpart Vice Minister Guo Yezhou. Additionally, our Embassy in Beijing regularly raises the treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang with the Chinese authorities.</p><p>Reports about forced separation of children add to the growing body of disturbing evidence highlighting the situation Uyghurs face in Xinjiang. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and raise our concerns with the Chinese government at all levels bilaterally and in appropriate UN fora, including the Human Rights Council.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 22/07/2019 12:51:42 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1137362

	registered interest
	date	08/07/2019
	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	China: Detainees
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that in one township in Xinjiang more than 400 children have lost both of their parents to some form of internment in camps or prisons; and what assessment they have made of whether those internments are part of a campaign to systematically remove children from their roots and their family’s beliefs.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16969
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2019 answer text <p>We have serious concerns about the detention of more than a million Uyghurs, along with widespread surveillance and restrictions targeted at minorities. British diplomats in China visit Xinjiang every few months, in order to see at first-hand the situation there. They most recently visited in May 2019, and their observations have supported much of the recent open source reporting about the restrictions targeted at specific ethnic groups.</p><p>Ministers and senior officials frequently raise the human rights issues in the region with their Chinese counterparts, most recently in a public statement on 3 July at the 41st session of the UN Human Rights Council. The Foreign Secretary also highlighted our concerns with Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his most recent visit to China, in July 2018. Later that month, the Minister for Asia and the Pacific did the same with his Chinese counterpart Vice Minister Guo Yezhou. Additionally, our Embassy in Beijing regularly raises the treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang with the Chinese authorities.</p><p>Reports about forced separation of children add to the growing body of disturbing evidence highlighting the situation Uyghurs face in Xinjiang. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and raise our concerns with the Chinese government at all levels bilaterally and in appropriate UN fora, including the Human Rights Council.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 22/07/2019 12:52:44 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1137363

	registered interest
	date	08/07/2019
	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	Eritrea: Health Centres
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 4 July (HL16637), whether they can now provide an assessment of the impact of the government of Eritrea's enforced closure of Church-run health centres; whether staff in Eritrea have been able to visit and gather evidence of the impact of such closures on the local community; what assessment they have made of the reported deaths resulting from the closure of those facilities; and when they intend to raise this matter with (1) the government of Eritrea, and (2) the Eritrean Ambassador to the UK.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16970
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2019 answer text <p>​We understand that the majority of the Catholic Church managed health centres recently closed by the Eritrean Government have reopened under Ministry of Health management. Due to restrictions on travel, and with no independent media in Eritrea, it is difficult for UK Embassy staff to verify these reports themselves or the consequences of the original closures. The Eritrean Government has stated that the closures are part of a long-term plan to bring all healthcare provisions under the Government. We have raised with the Eritrean Ambassador in London and our Ambassador in Asmara has requested a meeting with the Eritrean Foreign Minister.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 22/07/2019 12:53:08 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1137918

	registered interest
	date	09/07/2019
	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	Sudan: Politics and Government
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that members of the Transitional Military Council were guaranteed immunity from prosecution for the actions of the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces on 3 June in exchange for signing a power-sharing agreement with the Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and Change.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL17017
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2019 answer text <p>We are aware of reports that issues of accountability and immunity for members of Sudan's armed forces and Rapid Support Forces are part of the current negotiations between the Transitional Military Council and the Forces of Freedom and Change. We are not currently aware of any guarantees of immunity in respect of the events of 3 June. We welcome the agreement between the Transitional Military Council and Forces of Freedom and Change to conduct a transparent and independent investigation into the violence committed against peaceful protestors since 11 April.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 22/07/2019 13:45:07 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1137919

	registered interest
	date	09/07/2019
	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	Omar al-Bashir
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress is being made in bringing Omar al Bashir to trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC); what assessment they have made of the proposal that any ICC trial could take place in Khartoum if removal to the Hague is not acceptable to the government of Sudan; what resources they have offered to enable such a trial to occur; and what support they intend to provide to assist with (1) the training of judges, (2) ensuring credible judicial processes, (3) transitional justice mechanisms, (4) institutional reform, and (5) restitution for victims of violence in Sudan.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL17018
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2019 answer text <p>The arrest warrant against Omar al Bashir still stands and we urge the Sudanese authorities to cooperate with it. The UK strongly supports the mission of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its independence. The location of any ICC trial is a matter for the Court to decide.</p><p>For a number of years, the UK has supported the strengthening of the Sudanese Parliament towards becoming an institution capable of providing effective scrutiny. Our Embassy in Khartoum has also supported civil society groups advocating on behalf of victims at international fora such as the Human Rights Council. As the transition deal is agreed, respect for human rights, accountability for past abuses and a process of rehabilitation for victims will be essential for its success.</p><p>We are assessing opportunities of further engagement and support to develop justice and reconciliation mechanisms offered by the current political environment.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 22/07/2019 13:46:03 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1137920

	registered interest
	date	09/07/2019
	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	Sudan: Human Rights
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they intend to have with the government of Sudan about that country becoming a signatory to the Convention on Torture; and whether they will table a motion at the United Nations Human Rights Council to seek a hearing on any violations of human rights, war crimes and genocide committed by the government headed by Omar al Bashir in Sudan.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL17019
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2019 answer text <p>The UK is very concerned by the human rights situation in Sudan, which is identified as a priority country in the UK's Annual Human Rights Report. Our Embassy in Khartoum monitors the human rights situation in Sudan closely, and frequently raises our concerns in meetings with the authorities. It also administers programmes and workshops to support greater progress on Sudan's human rights obligations. In March 2018, our Embassy in Khartoum funded a workshop for senior representatives of the Sudanese Government, which focused on the steps needed for Sudan's ratification of the UN Convention against torture, which it signed in 1986. We will continue to provide support on this issue and to ensure Sudan meets its human rights obligations.</p><p>There must be accountability for the crimes committed by members of the former regime. We will continue to work with Troika (UK, US and Norway), EU, UN and regional allies to explore how best we can support accountability, including at the UN Human Rights Council in September.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 22/07/2019 13:46:52 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1137921

	registered interest
	date	09/07/2019
	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	Sudan: Internet
	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 Sudan about (1) restoring access to the internet to its citizens, and (2) allowing the dissemination of information as required under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human rights.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL17020
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2019 answer text <p>The British Government welcomes the restoration of access to the internet on 9 July. We were deeply concerned by the disruptions to the internet that began on 3 June. British officials in Khartoum, including the UK Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, raised our concerns through direct and public messaging to the military leadership on 5 and 23 June. The Minister of State for Africa raised it when she summoned the Sudanese Ambassador on 6 June. The UK's statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 9 July called for the rights of the Sudanese people to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly to be respected. The Sudanese authorities must uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for all people in Sudan.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 22/07/2019 13:47:17 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1137071

	registered interest
	date	04/07/2019
	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	Human Embryo Experiments: Regulation
	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 9 October 2013 (HL2237), what assessment the Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has made of the regulation of embryoid bodies following the publication of research (1) by Lancaster et al. Cerebral organoids model human brain development and microcephaly in 2013, and (2) in the Nature Cell Biology journal A 3D model of a human epiblast reveals BMP4-driven symmetry breaking on 1 July.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16935
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/07/2019 answer text <p>The Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has made no formal assessment of the regulation of embryoid bodies following the publication of research by Lancaster et al. <em>Cerebral organoids model human brain development and microcephaly</em> in 2013, and in the Nature Cell Biology journal <em>A 3D model of a human epiblast reveals BMP4-driven symmetry breaking</em> on 1 July. The publications will be brought to the attention of the Committee.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford question first answered 17/07/2019 14:17:06 answering member 4019 label Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1135687

	registered interest
	date	01/07/2019
	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	Pakistan: Royal Visits
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, during their forthcoming visit to Pakistan, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit (1) the slums inhabited by the minority Christian community, and (2) members of Shahbaz Bhatti’s family.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16780
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2019 answer text <p>​The details of the programme for the visit by Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Pakistan have not yet been agreed. For security reasons, we would not in any case comment on details in advance of the visit.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 15/07/2019 14:37:10 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1135688

	registered interest
	date	01/07/2019
	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	Pakistan: Minority Groups
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last raised the plight of minorities in Pakistan with the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth; what response they received; and whether they asked the Secretary-General to raise continued human rights violations with the government of Pakistan.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16781
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2019 answer text <p>We continue to be in close contact with the Commonwealth Secretariat on its support to member states to live up to the commitments to tolerance, to human rights, good governance and the rule of law set out in the Commonwealth Charter.</p><p>In addition, the British Government will continue to urge Pakistan to honour in practice its human rights obligations, including those related to religious minorities, and to uphold the rule of law.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 15/07/2019 14:38:46 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1135689

	registered interest
	date	01/07/2019
	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	Pakistan: Blasphemy
	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 sentencing of Shagufta Kauser and her husband to death in Pakistan for alleged blasphemy; what assessment they have made of whether Shagufta Kauser is (1) from a Christian minority, and (2) illiterate; what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan on her behalf; what response they have received to these representations; and what estimate they have made of the number of people currently facing the death sentence in Pakistan for alleged blasphemy.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16782
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2019 answer text <p>We continue to monitor the case of Shagufta Kauser and her husband Shafqat Emmanuel who were sentenced to death in April 2014. We understand that Shagufta Kauser is of the Christian faith and we are aware of media reports stating that she and her husband are both illiterate.</p><p>We regularly raise our concerns about the misuse of the blasphemy laws with the government of Pakistan at a senior level. The harsh penalties for blasphemy, including the death penalty, add to these concerns. We remain firmly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances. We have repeatedly called upon the Government of Pakistan to end capital punishment and, as a minimum, commit to publicly renewing the previously imposed moratorium on the death penalty. Concerns about Freedom of Religion or Belief and the protection of minority religious communities were raised with Pakistan's Federal Minister for Human Rights, Dr Shireen Mazari, during a ministerial visit to Islamabad in February.</p><p>We do not hold figures for individuals on specific charges overseas. According to the US State Department 2018 Report on Freedom of Religion or Belief, at the time of publication, 77 individuals were imprisoned in Pakistan on blasphemy charges, 28 of whom had received death sentences.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 15/07/2019 14:41:26 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1135690

	registered interest
	date	01/07/2019
	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	China: Prisoners
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration, if any, they have given to updating their travel advice for China to include the findings of the Independent Tribunal into Forced Organ Harvesting from Prisoners of Conscience from China, published on 17 June.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16783
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2019 answer text <p>We do not intend to update our travel advice to include the findings of the recent report by the pressure group “The International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China”. We have reviewed the report and at present, our assessment remains that there is not a strong enough evidential base to substantiate the claim that systematic state-sponsored or sanctioned organ harvesting is taking place in China. We continue to keep this issue under review.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 15/07/2019 14:42:02 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1134671

	registered interest
	date	25/06/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Abortion: Mental Illness
	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 Court of Appeal ruling overturning the decision of the Court of Protection to allow a mentally ill woman to be given an abortion against her wishes; what implications they consider that case to have for the rights of those with learning disabilities to become parents; and what steps, if any, they intend to take in the light of the Court of Appeal's ruling.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16638
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2019 answer text <p>This is an extremely difficult and sensitive case, and the Government will consider the Court of Appeal judgment carefully.</p><p> </p><p>The Court of Protection hears cases about some of the most vulnerable people in society, making decisions about personal welfare – including serious medical treatment - where the person lacks capacity to do so for themselves. In doing so it must follow the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). In particular the MCA stipulates that decisions must be in the person’s best interests, taking into account all the circumstances of the case, including the wishes, feelings, beliefs and values of the person, and must be the least restrictive of their rights and freedoms.</p><p> </p><p>It is right that such serious and difficult decisions – particularly where there is disagreement about what is in the person’s best interests - are made by the independent judiciary.</p><p> </p><p>The statutory MCA Code of Practice provides practical guidance on the operation of the MCA and is currently under review. We have sought input from a range of interested stakeholders through a call for evidence in January and propose to consult on a revised Code towards the end of this year.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 10/07/2019 11:30:53 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1135060

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Conferences
	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 25 June (HL16233), whether, when making decisions about whether to refuse visa applications to participants at conferences, including the Coalition for Religious Equality and Inclusive Development held in Westminster on 11 June, they take into account whether a conference has been sponsored or part funded by a government department; and what assessment, if any, they make of the impact on the public purse and the reputation of the UK of a visa refusal for such a conference.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16687
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2019 answer text <p>All UK Visa applications are considered on their individual merits and in line with the UK Immigration Rules https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-v-visitor-rules which set out the requirements to visit the UK. These requirements apply to all visitors to the UK and the onus is on the applicant to demonstrate that they satisfy the immigration rules.</p><p>Among the points on which the applicant must satisfy the decision maker is that they are a genuine visitor who will leave the UK at the end of their visit and will not make the UK their main home through frequent or successive visits. When assessing a visit visa application decision makers follow publicly available guidance: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/793361/Visit-guidance-v8.0ext.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/793361/Visit-guidance-v8.0ext.pdf</a></p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 10/07/2019 16:21:07 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford attachment 1 file name Visit-guidance-v8.0ext.pdf title Visit guidance
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1135412

	registered interest
	date	27/06/2019
	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	IVF: Breast Cancer
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health on 14 July 2014 (HC Deb, col 448W), Earl Howe on 3 December 2014 (HL273), Lord O'Shaughnessy on 3 December 2018 (HL11600), and comments by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health on 20 January 2016 (HC Deb, col 623WH), to what extent the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) database is linked to (1) NHS databases, and (2) cancer registries; whether data from the register of patients and treatments that is maintained by the HFEA is sufficient to assess the contention that IVF in older women linked to an increased risk of breast cancer; and how the HFEA will ensure that information provided to patients regarding any potential long-term safety implications associated with treatment will include appropriate reference to such risks.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16733
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2019 answer text <p>The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) Register is not linked to any National Health Service databases or cancer registries; and data from the Register alone would not allow an assessment of the risk to be identified. However, under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (Disclosure of Information for Research Purposes) Regulations 2010, the HFEA may authorise the processing of disclosable protected information contained in the Register for research, in the public interest or in the interests of improving patient care. A recent study by University College London investigated risks of ovarian, breast, and corpus uteri cancer in women treated with Assisted Reproductive Technologies and found no link between the use of ovarian stimulatory drugs and an increased risk of cancer.</p><p>The HFEA continually updates patient information whenever new clinical information is available. The HFEA is advised by the Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee on scientific and clinical developments (including research) in assisted conception, embryo research and related areas.</p> answering member printed Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford question first answered 10/07/2019 15:08:03 answering member 4019 label Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1135413

	registered interest
	date	27/06/2019
	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	IVF: Drugs
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health on 14 July 2014 (HC Deb, col 448W), Earl Howe on 3 December 2014 (HL273), and comments by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health on 20 January 2016 (HC Deb, col 623WH), how the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) ensures that clinics follow National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines on limiting the use of ovulation induction or ovarian stimulation agents to the lowest effective dose and duration of use without collecting information on the identity of drugs used in treatment, the dosage used and the associated regimen for ovarian stimulation at each licensed centre; and what would be needed for the HFEA to regulate the administration of drugs during in vitro fertilisation treatment.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16734
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2019 answer text <p>The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Acts 1990 and 2008 do not provide for the regulation of the use or monitoring of medicines used in fertility treatment.</p><p>Medicines used in fertility treatment are licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. These medicines may be used in Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority-licensed clinics or in other settings, for example by general practitioners.</p><p>Medicine prescribing is a matter of clinical judgement, taking account of the individual patient’s circumstances and professional guidance. It is the duty of every clinician to take into account the welfare and best interest of their patient when deciding on the appropriate treatment for them for any medical condition, in line with General Medical Council’s good medical practice guidance.</p> answering member printed Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford question first answered 10/07/2019 15:09:39 answering member 4019 label Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1134294

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2019
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Overseas Aid
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, as part of their Official Development Assistance, they support campaigns for legislative change in other countries where such change would permit actions in those countries which are criminal offences in the UK.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16579
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>DFID is championing Sustainable Development Goal 16, which focuses on ‘peace, justice and inclusion’. We are supporting the strengthening of rule of law in a range of countries. For example, DFID’s Rule of Law Expertise UK (ROLE UK) programme is a collaboration with the UK legal sector to make its expertise, provided on a pro bono basis, available to strengthen legal and judicial systems in developing countries. While much of ROLE UK’s work is in the area of human rights, it does not engage in advocacy around legislative changes. DFID and its partners always work within the law of the countries in which we are operating.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 08/07/2019 15:41:06 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1134669

	registered interest
	date	25/06/2019
	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	Abortion
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there are any circumstances in which a pregnancy that does not (1) pose a risk to the physical health of a mother, and (2) involve a foetus that has been diagnosed with a disability, can be involuntarily terminated.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16636
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2019 answer text <p>A decision to terminate a pregnancy must comply with the legal requirements of the Abortion Act 1967. In circumstances where a person lacks capacity, the courts have the authority to make serious healthcare and treatment decisions, in the best interests of the person and pursuant to the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and this could include whether a pregnancy should be terminated.</p> answering member printed Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford question first answered 05/07/2019 10:55:39 answering member 4019 label Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1134670

	registered interest
	date	25/06/2019
	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	Eritrea: Health Centres
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the letter of 20 June from Lord Alton of Liverpool to Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon and to the Minister of State for Africa about the enforced closure of Church-run health facilities in Eritrea; what assessment they have made of the effect of such closures on the health and well-being of the people of Eritrea; whether they have made representations to the government of Eritrea about those closures; and if so, what response they have received.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16637
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2019 answer text <p>We can confirm that the letter of 20 June has been received and will be answered within 20 days in accordance with Cabinet Office Guidance.</p><p>Whilst the Eritrean Government has a good track record on the provision of basic healthcare, we do not believe that using the military to force closure, or take charge of health centres managed by the Catholic Church is proportionate. We have raised our concerns with the Eritrean Government, about the approach they are taking, and will continue to seek opportunities to engage on this issue and monitor the situation. As Eritrea is a priority country under the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Annual Human Rights Reporting, we raise concerns about human rights in Eritrea regularly, both direct with the Government, – as the Minister of State for Africa did with the Eritrean Foreign Minister when she last saw him in September 2018 – and in international fora.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 04/07/2019 14:51:32 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1133027

	registered interest
	date	18/06/2019
	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 whether they have discussed with the government of China the right of North Korean refugees to resettle in the Republic of Korea.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16445
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>We continue to emphasise to China that people fleeing North Korea should be treated as legitimate asylum claimants and should not be returned as stipulated by the 1951 UN Refugee Convention. We raised the principle of non-refoulement at the UK/China Human Rights Dialogue in June 2017. We also make clear our concerns to China on individual cases as appropriate.</p><p>We have not specifically raised the resettlement of North Korean refugees in the Republic of Korea with the Chinese Government.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 02/07/2019 13:20:02 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1133028

	registered interest
	date	18/06/2019
	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	Omar al-Bashir
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 17 June (HL15969), why, following his indictment by the International Criminal Court, Omar al-Bashir is not subject to financial measures in the UK; and whether, in the light of his removal as President of Sudan and imprisonment, they will review this decision.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16446
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>Former President Omar al-Bashir is not subject to financial measures in the UK. We do not have any information that former President Bashir has assets in the UK. The UK currently implements financial sanctions through the UN and the EU. There is a mixture of UN and EU sanctions regimes in place for Sudan and its citizens. Following the removal of Bashir and recent events we are, with international partners, considering how we can hold Sudanese regime figures accountable for serious abuses. We are seeking information on financial flows relating to Bashir's overthrow, and will act accordingly.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 02/07/2019 13:20:39 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1133029

	registered interest
	date	18/06/2019
	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	Sudan: EU Immigration
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) whether the UK's financial contributions to the Khartoum Process have funded the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces, and (2) what assessment they have made of reports that the Rapid Support Forces sold migrants to Libyan human traffickers and abused migrants' fundamental human rights.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16447
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>The purpose of the Khartoum Process is to facilitate an EU-Africa dialogue on managing migration, combatting organised immigration crime and addressing the effects of trafficking in the Horn and North Africa. It is called the Khartoum Process because the agreement was signed in Khartoum but it is not specific to Sudan. The UK's financial contributions to the Khartoum Process have not funded the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces. EU funded work on the Regional Operations Centre Khartoum is currently suspended.</p><p>The UK is aware of reports that the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces sold migrants to Libyan human traffickers and abused migrants' fundamental human rights, but is not able to verify their veracity. The British Government has been clear on the need to do more to break the business model of people smugglers, and is taking steps to try to improve the situation in Libya. This includes working with the Government of National Accord to build the capacity of their law enforcement agencies, and taking steps to tackle the organised crime groups who facilitate the travel from source countries to Europe and the United Kingdom. In June 2018, the UK co-designated UN sanctions against six Libyan and Eritrean traffickers along with France, the US, Germany and the Netherlands.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 02/07/2019 14:10:36 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1133030

	registered interest
	date	18/06/2019
	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	Horn of Africa: EU Immigration
	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 UK's role in staffing the Regional Operation Centre in support of the Khartoum Process and AU Horn of Africa Initiative, in the light of reports that it shares intelligence with the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services which was involved in the violence in Khartoum on 3 June.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16448
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>The UK does not have a direct role in staffing the Regional Operations Centre Khartoum (ROCK) project. Between February 2017 and March 2019 the UK funded directly one technical consultant to support the ROCK to reach its initial operating capacity. The UK contributes around 15% of the EU Trust Fund as a standard assessed contribution. That in turn, funds the ROCK, and we are part of the project’s Management Board, which will continue to scrutinise the ROCK’s operations. However, due to recent events in Sudan, EU funded work on the ROCK is suspended.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 02/07/2019 14:12:08 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1133450

	registered interest
	date	19/06/2019
	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	NHS: Negligence
	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 Society of Clinical Injury Lawyers’ proposed alternative to the Clinical Negligence Fixed Costs Working Group; and which Ministers are responsible for considering the issue of fixed costs in clinical negligence claims.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16485
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>In 2017 the Department consulted on proposals for fixed recoverable costs (FRC) in claims of up to £25,000 damages, for which claimant legal costs are most likely to be disproportionately high relative to damages awarded. The Department published a summary of responses to the consultation in February 2018.</p><p>Following the consultation by the Department in 2017 and Sir Rupert Jackson’s recommendation in July 2017 to control the legal costs of these cases, the Department and the Ministry of Justice commissioned the independent Civil Justice Council (CJC) to draw up a new process for clinical negligence claims of up to £25,000 damages, with proposals for FRC for these cases.</p><p>The CJC has set up a working party to develop proposals, with input from claimant and defendant solicitors, including the Society of Clinical Injury Lawyers. The Department will consider the CJC’s recommendations when its report is published and will consult on any resulting proposals for FRC for these cases before implementation.</p><p>In view of the CJC’s role to lead work on proposals taking account of stakeholder views, the Department has not made its own assessment of the proposals from the Society of Clinical Injury Lawyers.</p><p>The Minister of State for Care (Caroline Dinenage MP) is responsible for clinical negligence policy.</p> answering member printed Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford question first answered 02/07/2019 15:11:26 answering member 4019 label Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1132612

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2019
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Pakistan: Indigenous Peoples
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans the Department for International Development has to support the training of Kalash teachers in Pakistan to teach Kalash children their own history and culture.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16390
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>DFID Pakistan provides funding to the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for education through the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Support Programme (KESP). This includes different teacher professional development programmes (both pre and in-service). Three new teachers working in the Kalash area have participated in the KESP supported pre-service teacher professional development programme, and one of these teachers is Kalash. From April 2020, all teachers in Chitral will participate in the in-service continuous professional development programme, including those who work in schools in Kalash areas. The content of these training programmes is focused on pedagogy, classroom management, curriculum, and equity but does not specifically include teaching Kalash children their own history and culture.</p><p> </p><p>DFID Pakistan are in the process of designing a new programme for education support in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which will have an inclusive education focus. One of the outcomes of the new programme will be to deliver equitable education for all children to meet Sustainable Development Goal 4. There will be an increased focus on marginalised children such as girls, children with disabilities and ethnic minorities. The programme will aim to provide inclusive and equitable education for all, and an improved learning environment for marginalised children. The programme will also set up model inclusive schools in pilot districts to cater to the needs of ethnic and religious minorities.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 01/07/2019 16:09:45 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1132613

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2019
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Burma: Armed Conflict
	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 situation in Kachin and Northern Shan States in Burma and the impact of the ongoing conflict in those states; and what representations they are making to the government of Burma to seek unconditional and unrestricted access to all areas for humanitarian aid and human rights monitoring organisations.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16391
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>The UK remains deeply concerned by the ongoing violence and continued lack of access in Kachin and Northern Shan States. Over 110,000 people remain displaced by conflict and within camps. We have committed £17 million to support the livelihoods of the most vulnerable and displaced in Kachin and Northern Shan through the Livelihoods and Food Security Fund (LIFT). We have also committed a further £37 million to support live-saving interventions reaching over 350,000 people since 2012.</p><p>The UK continues to raise our concerns with both the military and the civilian Government of Burma at every opportunity. The British Ambassador in Burma raised issues around access with U Kyaw Tin (Minister for International Cooperation) on 27 May.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 01/07/2019 16:03:46 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1132610

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2019
	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	Burma: Dams
	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 statement by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Myanmar about the Myitsone dam project in Kachin State, Burma, published on 8 June, in particular that that dam project would “provoke a humanitarian catastrophe” of forcible displacement, migration and natural disasters; and what representations they are making about the impact of the project with the governments of Burma and China.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16388
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>​The British Government remains concerned about potential risks attached to the Myitsone Dam project. We urge both the Chinese and Burmese governments to ensure that infrastructure projects comply with international norms and standards, including environmental and socials standards and the necessity of consultations with affected communities. It is vital that much needed infrastructure investments deliver sustainable and equitable development impacts for the people of Burma. We have raised this issue with the both the Government of Burma and the Chinese Ambassador to Burma.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 01/07/2019 16:07:54 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1132611

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2019
	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	Pakistan: Indigenous Peoples
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to ensure (1) the survival of the culture and religion of the Kalash people in Pakistan, and (2) that the members of that community are not forced to convert their religious beliefs.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16389
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government continues to urge the Government of Pakistan to guarantee the fundamental rights of all its citizens, particularly the most vulnerable including minority groups as laid down in the Constitution of Pakistan and in accordance with international standards.</p><p>The Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN raised our concerns about Freedom of Religion or Belief and the protection of minority religious communities with Pakistan's Foreign Minister and Human Rights Minister during his visit to Pakistan in February.</p><p>We strongly condemn forced conversion of women and girls from religious minorities in Pakistan and we engage at a senior level on the mistreatment of religious and ethnic groups.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 01/07/2019 15:51:54 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1132614

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2019
	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	Burma: Christianity
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) what assessment they have made of, and (2) what representations they made to the government of Burma about, reports from Chin State, Burma, that on 24 and 25 May three Christians in Padekyaw village were forced to sign documents by village officials and local monks verifying their conversion to Buddhism after being threatened with eviction if they refused; that Christians were told they could not live in Hmwar Village Tract; and a public announcement made in eight villages threatening residents that communicating or trading with Christians would result in a fine.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16392
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>​The British Government has noted the recent report from the China Human Rights Organisation and continues to be concerned by restrictions on freedom of religion and belief, including reports of forced conversions, in Burma. The UK, working with the EU and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, secured a UN Human Rights Council Resolution on 27 September 2018 that called for the amending or repealing of discriminatory provisions of the &quot;protection of race and religion laws&quot; in Burma covering religious conversion, interfaith marriage, monogamy and population control. Our Ambassador met the Burmese Minister for Religious Affairs on 9 August 2018, and underlined the importance of interfaith dialogue.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 01/07/2019 16:42:20 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1132615

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2019
	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	Sudan: Demonstrations
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, following reports of the role played by the Rapid Support Forces in dispersing protesters in Sudan resulting in deaths in Khartoum and Darfur, what plans they have to reassess the UK’s role on the Steering Committee of the European Commission’s Khartoum Process, including their financial contribution to that Process.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16393
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>The purpose of the Khartoum Process is to facilitate an EU-Africa dialogue on managing migration, combatting organised immigration crime and addressing the devastating effects of trafficking in the Horn and North Africa. It is called the Khartoum Process because the agreement was signed in Khartoum but it is not specific to Sudan. It is a regional mechanism for European and Horn of Africa countries to cooperate that is currently Chaired by Eritrea. The UK remains a member of the Steering Committee, which is vital to helping steer this important work.</p><p>Part of the EU-African joint efforts to tackle organised immigration crime in the Horn of Africa is delivered through the 'Regional Operations Centre Khartoum' (ROCK), to which the UK has contributed funding for a specialist expert in the past. However, due to recent events in Sudan, EU funded work on the ROCK is suspended. Our officials in London, the region and Brussels are in frequent contact with EU partners to ensure that all work in Sudan reflects the current situation, in line with our human rights priorities.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 01/07/2019 16:43:39 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1132302

	registered interest
	date	14/06/2019
	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	Pakistan: Indigenous Peoples
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when representatives of the UK High Commission in Islamabad last visited members of the Kalash community in Pakistan.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16371
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2019 answer text <p>The British Government is aware of recent media reports that members of the Kalash community in Pakistan have been subject to harassment including by domestic tourists. The UK High Commission does not hold detailed information on all visits, but does not believe it has visited the Kalash community in recent times. We regularly raise our concerns about the protection of minority communities with the Pakistan Government at a senior level.</p><p>We continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to guarantee the rights of all people in Pakistan, particularly the most vulnerable as laid down in the Constitution of Pakistan and in accordance with international standards.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 27/06/2019 14:54:21 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1131441

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	English Language: Education
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made on their commitments given to co-ordinate and fund community-based English language provision made in their Integrated Communities Action Plan published in February; whether they intend to respond to Refugee Action’s campaign Let Refugees Learn and the recommendations in its report Turning words into action, published in June; and what assessment they have made of the importance of refugees learning English as a driver for integration and in combatting social exclusion.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16235
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2019 answer text <p>Following the commitments set out in the cross-government Integrated Communities Action Plan (attached), the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) established a new Integrated Communities English Language programme, worth £4.5 million, in April 2019. It will deliver community-based English language learning in 2019-20 for over 19,000 learner places. In addition, MHCLG has committed £1.2 million to support 8 local authorities to deliver coordination models through the Integrated Communities English Language Coordination Fund.</p><p>The government recognises that learning English is essential to enabling refugees to rebuild their lives. We are working across government to develop a new strategy for English for speakers of other languages in 2019. This strategy will provide a shared vision for all publicly funded English language provision and this will include addressing the needs of refugees. We will consider the ‘Turning Words into Action’ report as we develop the strategy.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton attachment 1 file name Integrated_Communities_Action_Plan.pdf title HL16235_report 2 file name Turning_Words_into_Action_report.pdf title HL16235_report question first answered 25/06/2019 14:57:46 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1131439

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Coalition for Religious Equality and Inclusive Development: Conferences
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many visa applications were (1) made by, and (2) refused for, participants and speakers in the Coalition for Religious Equality and Inclusive Development conference, held in Westminster on 11 June; and on what grounds they made each such refusal.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16233
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2019 answer text <p>Information on the stated purpose of visit or reasons for refusal is not held in a reportable field on the Home Office visa case-working system.</p><p>The available statistics on grants and refusals by entry clearance visa category, including work and visitor visa routes, are published in the quarterly Immigration Statistics Visas volume 1 table vi_01_q, latest edition at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-year-ending-march-2019/list-of-tables#visas" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-year-ending-march-2019/list-of-tables#visas</a>.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 25/06/2019 16:29:29 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1130817

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2019
	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	Burma: Rohingya
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Emergency Response and Assessment Team has predicted that the repatriation of the Rohingya would be an easy process; what assessment they have made of the (1) dangers faced by, and (2) rights to full citizenship of, the Rohingya during their repatriation; and what steps are being taken to bring justice to those responsible for crimes against the Rohingya.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16184
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>​We welcome ASEAN's engagement on this issue through their Humanitarian Assistance Centre. However, we remain deeply concerned that the conditions for safe, voluntary and dignified returns in line with UNHCR principles are not in place. The UK has been clear, as has the UN Security Council, that before repatriations start, Myanmar must create the conditions in Rakhine to allow the Rohingya to return safely, voluntarily and with dignity. Refugees must have full access and independent information about conditions in areas of return and arrangements for repatriation.</p><p>We have publicly called for the removal of restrictions that withhold citizenship from individuals who are not from a community recognised by the Myanmar authorities as a 'national race', such as the Rohingya. The UK has supported the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission's to reform the 1982 Citizenship Law and urges the Myanmar government to fully implement them.</p><p>The UK co-sponsored the resolution at the UN Human Rights Council which set up the Fact Finding Mission in March 2017. This has since found that there may be sufficient grounds for prosecuting senior Myanmar military officials for crimes against humanity. The UK also to secure a resolution which established a mechanism to collect and preserve evidence of atrocities for future prosecutions. We continue to press the Myanmar authorities to ensure its domestic accountability process is independent, credible and results in prosecutions.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 20/06/2019 11:50:12 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1131440

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	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: Capital Punishment
	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 report by Transitional Justice Working Group’s Mapping the Fate of the Dead: Killings and Burials in North Korea, published in June, which identified 318 public execution sites in North Korea.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16234
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>The report produced by the Transitional Justice Working Group is deeply troubling. While we have no means to verify its specific claims, many North Korean defectors have told consistent stories of having witnessed summary executions and extra-judicial killings, and have described this practice as widespread. We utterly condemn the use of summary executions.</p><p>We will continue to raise with North Korea our concerns over its arbitrary use of the death penalty and the wider human rights situation in the country, in international fora and through our Embassy in Pyongyang and the North Korean Embassy in London. Our long standing policy is to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle, and we continue to be a strong supporter of the UN General Assembly Resolution for the moratorium on the use of the death penalty.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 20/06/2019 11:56:44 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1131875

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2019
	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	Darfur: Human Rights
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports by Amnesty International stating that forces of the government of Sudan, including the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias, have continued to commit war crimes and other serious human rights violations in Darfur, including (1) the destruction of villages, (2) unlawful killings, and (3) sexual violence, in the last year.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16293
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>We continue to support efforts to deliver long-term peace for the people in Darfur, including through development and humanitarian assistance. We condemn the recent looting of the UN mission's West Darfur Headquarters and call for all to respect humanitarian principles. We have been consistent in public and in private that there must be accountability for the crimes committed by members of the former regime. The UK strongly supports the mission of the International Criminal Court; due legal process must be followed.</p><p>On 6 June, the Minister of State for Africa summoned the Sudanese Ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to express our grave concerns at the use of all forms of violence, including sexual violence against civilians by the Sudanese authorities. The UK has called for the human rights of all Sudanese people to be respected, the resumption of the political process leading to an agreed peaceful transfer of power to a civilian-led government, as demanded by the Sudanese people.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 20/06/2019 12:39:38 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1131876

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2019
	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	Darfur: Human Rights
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of continued reported human rights abuses in Darfur, whether they will oppose (1) the withdrawal of all the remaining United Nations African Union Peacekeepers (UNAMID) from Darfur by June 2020, and (2) the closure of the remaining UNAMID team sites by December 2019, at all forthcoming meetings of the UN Security Council; and whether they will raise at those meetings the failure to hand over closed UNAMID bases for civilian purposes and their current occupation and use by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16294
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>We will continue to support a gradual, conditions-based review of the conditions for the exit of the UN/Africa Union hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and await the outcome of the UNAMID Strategic Review, which will take account of the current circumstances in Sudan.</p><p>Despite recent reports of violence in areas of Darfur since the removal of Bashir as President and the establishment of the Transitional Military Council, the security situation on the ground has evolved in much of Darfur, and therefore we supported the Security Council's decision in June 2018 to reconfigure UNAMID. However, we recognise that the security situation remains fragile. Our priority is to ensure that changes made to the Mission are sensible, with appropriate review points, and to make sure that a smaller, more flexible UNAMID is still able to fulfil the core components of its mandate.</p><p>At the UN Security Council, we have urged fellow Council members closely to monitor the impact of UNAMID's reconfiguration, and carefully consider whether the situation on the ground remains conducive to further changes. We are in regular contact with UNAMID and are monitoring the reconfiguration of the Mission closely.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 20/06/2019 12:41:28 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1131877

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2019
	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	Sudan: Demonstrations
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that paramilitaries from the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan carried out more than 70 rapes during an attack on a protest camp in Khartoum; and what assistance they are providing to opposition groups in Sudan to ensure that evidence in relation to such reports is collected to enable those responsible to be brought to justice.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16295
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>​On 6 June, the Minister of State for Africa summoned the Sudanese Ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to express our grave concerns at the use of all forms of violence, including sexual violence against civilians by the Sudanese authorities last week. We have been consistent in public and in private that there must be accountability for the crimes committed by members of the former regime. The UK strongly supports the mission of the International Criminal Court; due legal process must be followed.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 20/06/2019 12:43:01 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1131878

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2019
	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	Eritrea: Religious Freedom
	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 Eritrea about the recent arrests and police raids on homes, schools and other facilities operated by people with religious beliefs and of the recent report by Open Doors which identifies a range of measures taken by the Eritrean security services in breach of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16296
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>The UK remains committed to promoting and defending freedom of religious belief for individuals of all faiths and beliefs, including in Eritrea. Our Ambassador in Asmara raised the issue of arbitrary detentions of members of the Christian community, including the Pentecostal Church, with the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 20 May. It was also raised with the Minister of Information during the EU/Eritrea Article VIII discussions on 20 March. At the Universal Periodic Review of Eritrea in January we also called for the release of all those arbitrarily detained for political and religious reasons.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 20/06/2019 12:43:36 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1130219

	registered interest
	date	05/06/2019
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Democratic Republic of Congo: Ebola
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their most recent assessment of the number of (1) cases reported, and (2) deaths, as a result of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; what assessment they have made of the factors contributing to the spread of that virus; and what assistance they are providing to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to increase preparedness in provinces and health zones adjacent to the affected areas and in neighbouring countries.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16080
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2019 answer text <p>As of 9 June, there have been 2,056 Ebola cases in the DRC, 1,962 of which are confirmed and 94 are probable. There have been 1,384 deaths. However, actual numbers are likely to be higher given ongoing difficulty in undertaking response activities and the high proportion of community deaths. A number of factors are contributing to the spread of the virus, ranging from insecurity and access challenges, to community mistrust.</p><p>The Minister for Africa recently announced new UK aid funding to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support their work during this response. IFRC’s appeal includes safe and dignified burials and preparedness in provinces adjacent to the affected areas. Moreover, the UK has been the leading donor for regional preparedness, supporting neighbouring countries to prepare for potential cases.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 19/06/2019 15:48:08 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1130220

	registered interest
	date	05/06/2019
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Democratic Republic of Congo: Ebola
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking with international partners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in response to the Ebola outbreak, to ensure (1) safe and dignified burials, (2) infection prevention and control, (3) community engagement and accountability, including risk communication, (4) psychosocial support, and (5) national society development.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16081
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2019 answer text <p>The UK has supported the response to the ongoing outbreak of Ebola in the DRC from the very start. Our financial support to the WHO, other UN partners and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) covers the whole range of response activities, including safe and dignified burials, infection prevention and control, community engagement and accountability, psychosocial support – particularly to survivors, and broader health systems strengthening. The Secretary of State for International Development has approved the deployment of UK-funded experts into the UN system to help boost these activities. In addition, our funding through IFRC will help to strengthen the capacity of the National Red Cross Society which is composed of networks of local volunteers.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 19/06/2019 15:48:45 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1130582

	registered interest
	date	06/06/2019
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Pakistan: Textbooks
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to (1) ensure that schools in Pakistan, supported by the Department for International Development, do not use textbooks with content that stigmatises religious minorities, and (2) encourage provincial governments in Pakistan to work with religious minority groups to remove such content.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL16126
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2019 answer text <p>Inclusion and respect for minority communities forms an integral part of our provincial and national education programmes in Pakistan. Through the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Education Support Programme (KESP) and the Punjab Education Support Programme II (PESP II), DFID has also provided technical assistance to provincial governments to revise the school curriculum and remove discriminatory content from textbooks. Other work to promote tolerance and interfaith harmony includes: training nearly 100,000 teachers in KP and Punjab in equity and inclusion; funding the Alif Ailaan education campaign which focusses on religious minorities; and engaging with education civil society organisations to champion issues of inclusion and raise these with government.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 19/06/2019 11:26:41 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool