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349511

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2015
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Mesothelioma: Compensation
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, with regard to the compensation payments awarded under the Mesothelioma Act 2014, what is their estimate of (1) the difference between the actuarial calculations on which they based their assumptions for payments of compensation and the payments now being made by insurance companies; and (2) how much such companies will save in each of the next 10 years compared with the original legislative assumptions.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL380
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2015 answer text <p /> <p>No actuarial calculations were carried out in relation to the payments that would be made by the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme. The tariff table, which sets out the rate of payment according to age at diagnosis, is based on an average of similar payments made under civil compensation.</p><p> </p><p>The Impact Assessment published in March 2014 estimated that £93.7m would be paid out by the Scheme in the first year of its operation, and £412.4m would be paid out over the first 10 years.</p><p> </p><p>Initial application volumes were lower than anticipated so the amount levied on the insurance industry for the period 2014/15 was £32m. It is too early to estimate what the application volumes will be over the next 10 years given volumes received to date. As this is a demand led scheme, the calculations for the levy are done afresh each year. An upturn in applications to the Scheme would result in a higher levy rate in future years.</p> answering member printed Baroness Altmann question first answered 18/06/2015 13:31:33 answering member 4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

663104

	registered interest
	date	21/12/2016
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Islamic State: Crimes against Humanity
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 20 April (HC Deb, col 996) concerning the gathering and preservation of evidence that could in future be used in a court to hold Daesh to account for its crimes against Shi’a and Sunni Muslims, Christians, Yazidis, Kurds and other groups, what steps they are taking to ensure that genocide committed against Christians is included in their proposals for the prosecution of Daesh.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL4319
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2017 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring there is no impunity for these heinous crimes committed by Daesh, as shown by the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson)'s launching of the global campaign Bringing Daesh to Justice. As a first step in this campaign, we are working with the government of Iraq to bring a proposal before the UN on evidence gathering and preservation in Iraq. It is vital that this is done now, before evidence is lost or destroyed. This campaign is about justice for all Daesh victims and we expect it to cover all violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of international human rights law by Daesh including war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 05/01/2017 16:47:09 question first ministerially corrected 06/01/2017 13:56:42 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns previous answer version 28631 answering member printed Lord Archer of Weston-Super-Mare answering member 1612
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

164494

	registered interest
	date	24/11/2014
	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	Nigeria: Abduction
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made in freeing the Nigerian girls abducted by Boko Haram; what information they have about their wellbeing and fate; and what has been done to seek the referral of Boko Haram to the International Criminal Court for committing crimes against humanity.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL3087
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2014 answer text <p>The UK is supporting the Nigerian authorities in trying to establish the girls’ location through the provision of surveillance assets and intelligence expertise. We do not comment on the results of ongoing intelligence operations.</p><p>Nigeria is a State party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC Office of the Prosecutor has opened a preliminary examination into the situation in Nigeria. It has determined that there is a reasonable basis to believe that crimes against humanity have been committed, namely acts of murder and persecution attributed to Boko Haram.</p><p>The Prosecutor is assessing the gravity of these crimes and is liaising with the Nigerian authorities on their domestic efforts to hold individuals accountable.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 08/12/2014 12:12:54 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

170072

	registered interest
	date	12/12/2014
	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	Malaysia
	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 the ill-treatment and death of North Korean workers at a mine in Sarawak; and whether they have raised those reports with the government of Malaysia.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL3707
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/12/2014 answer text <p>We are aware of reports of fatalities at a mine in Sarawak and wider concerns about labour rights in Malaysia, in particular for foreign workers. Our High Commission in Kuala Lumpur is in close touch with civil society and regularly hears their concerns.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 31/12/2014 11:21:41 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

170073

	registered interest
	date	12/12/2014
	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
	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 treatment of disabled people in North Korea.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL3708
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/12/2014 answer text <p>As set out in the latest Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights Annual Report, there was no evidence of improvement in the human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in 2013, with the possible exception of a marginal improvement in disability rights. <br><br>The DPRK signed the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities in July 2013. We understand that, following revision of its relevant legislation, the DPRK government is aiming to ratify the Convention by the end of 2016. <br><br>During 2014, our Embassy in Pyongyang has worked where possible with international and domestic organisations in the DPRK to promote disability rights and improve the treatment of disabled people. This included supporting a sports and cultural event for disabled children on the “National Day of People with Disability” to raise awareness of disability issues. <br><br>Internationally, we are keeping the spotlight on the DPRK on the range of human rights issues. We strongly supported the recent country resolution on human rights in the UN General Assembly Third Committee.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 31/12/2014 11:22:46 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

170259

	registered interest
	date	15/12/2014
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Foreign and Commonwealth Office-funded organisations in North Korea pay their in-country partners in North Korean Won or in foreign currency; and how the British Embassy pays its North Korean staff.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL3755
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/12/2014 answer text <p>Foreign and Commonwealth Office projects in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) are usually delivered through international partners, such as the British Council, International Committee of the Red Cross or the Royal United Service Institute. Where we or partners make payments in-country for specific goods or services, this is usually done in euros. Our Embassy in Pyongyang does not pay for project costs in North Korean won.</p><p>The local staff who work at our Embassy in Pyongyang are not directly employed by the Embassy, but employed and assigned by the DPRK government. This arrangement is common to all Embassies and international organisations working in the DPRK. Basic salaries are paid to the DPRK’s General Services Bureau, while allowances, overtime and bonuses are paid directly to individuals. All payments are made in euros.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 31/12/2014 11:26:55 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

170260

	registered interest
	date	15/12/2014
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what anti-bribery measures are in place for Foreign and Commonwealth Office-funded organisations working in North Korea in the light of the assessment in Transparency International’s 2014 Corruption Index of corruption among North Korean public officials.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL3756
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/12/2014 answer text <p>Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) projects in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) are usually delivered through international partners such as the British Council, International Committee of the Red Cross or the Royal United Services Institute. Before we select an implementing partner we carry out relevant due diligence checks, which include, but are not limited to, obtaining assurances about: training provided to staff in relation to reporting bribery and corruption; how those concerns are shared with donors; and what policies and principles and/or procedures the organisation has in place to regulate its own conduct.</p><p>In line with standard FCO project requirements, detailed budgets are required for all projects and these are carefully checked to ensure both in-country and other costs are reasonable. Project implementers are required to provide quarterly financial reports and originals or copies of all invoices and receipts, as well as a Project Completion Report containing a detailed breakdown of all expenditure during the project period. The final payment on any project is only released after submission of a satisfactory Project Completion Report.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 31/12/2014 11:26:12 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

170880

	registered interest
	date	16/12/2014
	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	India
	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 recent attacks on religious minorities in India, notably Christians; and when they next intend to raise this issue with the government of India.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL3827
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/12/2014 answer text <p>India’s Constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice and propagate religion. The Indian government has a range of policies and programmes to support religious minorities. However, incidents of discrimination against minority communities in India do still occur.</p><p>Our High Commissioner in New Delhi met India’s new Minister of Minority Affairs, Dr Najma Heptulla, on 16 June to discuss a range of minority issues. Our High Commission in New Delhi discusses minority issues, including religious tolerance of Christians, with the Indian National Commission for Minorities and with other relevant State level authorities. Minority rights were also discussed at the EU-India human rights dialogue on 27 November 2013. We will continue to maintain a dialogue with the new Indian government about minority rights issues.</p><p>We also support religious and other minorities in India through the Department for International Development’s programme in India which helps to promote equal treatment and access to services for the most disadvantaged communities.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 31/12/2014 11:21:59 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

170881

	registered interest
	date	16/12/2014
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to promote the implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry into human rights violations in North Korea, in particular the recommendation that those responsible should be tried for crimes against humanity.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL3828
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/12/2014 answer text <p>Following the publication of the Commission’s report in February 2014, the UK has worked with the EU and like-minded partners to ensure strong resolutions on DPRK human rights at both the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly, including language condemning the ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights in the DPRK, commending the work of the Commission of Inquiry and encouraging the UN Security Council to consider the relevant conclusions and recommendations of the Commission and take appropriate action to ensure accountability. <br><br>We have also worked to ensure formal discussion of DPRK human rights by the UN Security Council. On 5 December the UK, along with nine other members of the Security Council, sent a joint letter to the President of the Security Council, requesting that the situation in the DPRK be placed on the Council’s agenda. A meeting to discuss this new agenda item took place on 22 December. During this first discussion the UK used our intervention to express our concern at the human rights situation in the DPRK and our belief that if the DPRK will not hold human rights violators to account, the international community must be ready to do so. We also underlined that the DPRK authorities bear primary responsibility for protecting human rights and expressed our regret that they have withdrawn the offers of engagement made in the run up to the Third Committee vote.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 31/12/2014 11:20:06 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

170882

	registered interest
	date	16/12/2014
	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	BBC World Service: North Korea
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Chairman of the BBC and the Director General of BBC World Service about investigating ways in which BBC World Service radio transmissions might be commenced on the Korean Peninsula; and what assessment they have made of what the United Nations Commission of Inquiry into human rights violations in North Korea has described as the importance of breaking the information blockade which surrounds North Korea.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL3829
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/12/2014 answer text <p>The World Service is editorially, managerially and operationally independent of government, which means that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not seek to steer operational decisions. I am aware, though, that the World Service have examined the case for a Korean language service in detail. They have concluded that it is not currently possible to provide a meaningful, impactful and cost-effective service. The BBC Trust has responsibility for setting the World Service’s budget. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Philip Hammond), must, however, agree the objectives, priorities and targets for the World Service, as well as the languages in which the World Service is provided, on the basis of proposals made by the BBC. <br><br>The UK does not disagree with the interpretation of the UN Commission of Inquiry, paragraph 1224, which suggests more support for the work of civil society organisations to improve the human rights situation, document violations and broadcast accessible information. However, it is clear that different parties will take different roles on individual recommendations. <br><br>The UK has previously funded projects related to the documentation of violations. These projects have been implemented by civil society organisations based in South Korea. We remain open to funding similar projects in the future. We have also worked with international non-governmental organisations, as well as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) Korean Federation for the Protection of the Disabled (KFPD), to improve the treatment of disabled people in the DPRK. This complements wider international efforts, like those of the US, which does support broadcasts into the DPRK.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 31/12/2014 11:20:44 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool