Show Search Form

Search Results

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

Search

1172568

	registered interest
	date	22/01/2020
	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	Iraq: Kurds
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps his Department has taken to support peace and stability in (a) Iraq and (b) the Kurdistan region; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	6649
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2020 answer text <p>​The UK is working actively to support continued peace, stability and democracy in Iraq following recent events. Since early January Ministers have engaged closely with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), including Iraqi President Salih, Iraqi Prime Minister Abdul-Mehdi, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hakim and KRG Prime Minister Barzani. In his conversation with his Iraqi counterpart on 6 January, the Prime Minister reaffirmed our strong support for Iraq's sovereignty and security. We have also reiterated the continued importance of the Global Coalition's role in supporting the Iraqi security forces including the Kurdish Peshmerga to prevent any resurgence of Daesh. The UK continues its support for the consolidation of democracy in Iraq including the Kurdistan Region. In light of ongoing protests in Iraq, we have encouraged political dialogue and emphasised the need to respect the right to peaceful protest.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 30/01/2020 11:51:52 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1172569

	registered interest
	date	22/01/2020
	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	Iraq: Kurds
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to support the development of democracy in (a) Iraq and (b) the Kurdistan Region in that country; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	6650
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2020 answer text <p>​The UK is working actively to support continued peace, stability and democracy in Iraq following recent events. Since early January Ministers have engaged closely with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), including Iraqi President Salih, Iraqi Prime Minister Abdul-Mehdi, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hakim and KRG Prime Minister Barzani. In his conversation with his Iraqi counterpart on 6 January, the Prime Minister reaffirmed our strong support for Iraq's sovereignty and security. We have also reiterated the continued importance of the Global Coalition's role in supporting the Iraqi security forces including the Kurdish Peshmerga to prevent any resurgence of Daesh. The UK continues its support for the consolidation of democracy in Iraq including the Kurdistan Region. In light of ongoing protests in Iraq, we have encouraged political dialogue and emphasised the need to respect the right to peaceful protest.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 30/01/2020 11:54:25 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1172566

	registered interest
	date	22/01/2020
	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	Kurds: Foreign Relations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what projects are in place under the reform partnership between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the UK; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	6647
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2020 answer text <p>​The UK continues to enjoy a close relationship with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq and to support economic and security reform. I reiterated our commitment to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq when I spoke to KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on 8 January, and these messages were reaffirmed by the British Ambassador to Iraq when he met the political leadership of the Kurdistan Region on 16 January. As part of this support, we have contributed £16 million to a World Bank Trust Fund which can provide technical assistance to both the Government of Iraq and the KRG to deliver economic reforms. We are also supporting reform of the Kurdish Peshmerga reform including through a British Army officer based in Erbil.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison grouped question UIN 6648 question first answered 30/01/2020 11:49:42 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1172567

	registered interest
	date	22/01/2020
	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	Kurds: Foreign Relations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the reform partnership between the UK and the Kurdistan Regional Government; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	6648
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2020 answer text <p>​The UK continues to enjoy a close relationship with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq and to support economic and security reform. I reiterated our commitment to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq when I spoke to KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on 8 January, and these messages were reaffirmed by the British Ambassador to Iraq when he met the political leadership of the Kurdistan Region on 16 January. As part of this support, we have contributed £16 million to a World Bank Trust Fund which can provide technical assistance to both the Government of Iraq and the KRG to deliver economic reforms. We are also supporting reform of the Kurdish Peshmerga reform including through a British Army officer based in Erbil.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison grouped question UIN 6647 question first answered 30/01/2020 11:49:42 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1180076

	registered interest
	date	24/02/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Schools: Harlow
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to increase funding for schools in Harlow.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	19821
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2020 answer text <p>​The Department is increasing school funding by £14 billion over the next three years, starting with £2.6 billion in 2020-21 and followed by increases of £4.8 billion and £7.1 billion in 2021-22 and 2022-23 respectively, compared to 2019-20.</p><p>Overall, school funding is increasing by 5% in 2020-21 alone – a significant increase, and we will continue to distribute that funding through the National Funding Formula (NFF), which ensures that funding is based on schools’ and pupils’ needs and characteristics. This will ensure that per-pupil funding for every school can rise at least in line with inflation next year; and faster than inflation for most.</p><p>Under the NFF schools in Harlow will attract an additional £4.6 million in total cash funding next year, a 7% increase compared to last year, taking their total cash funding up to £70.1 million. This reflects a 5.4% increase in per pupil funding when compared to last year.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 03/03/2020 15:57:49 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1228686

	registered interest
	date	28/08/2020
	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	Cervical Cancer: Screening
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the availability of cervical screening to people who show symptoms of cervical cancer.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	81805
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2020 answer text <p>Women with symptoms of cervical cancer are urged to speak to their general practitioner (GP) as soon as possible. Cancer services continued during the COVID-19 crisis, although some appointments were rescheduled to protect vulnerable patients from having to attend hospitals. The recovery and restoration of screening and cancer services is well underway with detailed guidance issued by NHS England and NHS Improvement, including ensuring patients have clear information on how to access services and are confident about making appointments for current concerns.</p><p>NHS England is investing more than £258 million in initiatives to improve access to general practice as part of the delivery of the GP Five Year Forward View. More than half the country is now benefitting from improved access to all routine appointments (including cervical screening), at evening and weekends.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 21/09/2020 15:53:24 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill previous answer version 44296 answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1245143

	registered interest
	date	20/10/2020
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Iraq: Kurds
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department has taken in response to the burning on 17 October 2020 in Baghdad of a Kurdish party office and the flag of the Kurdistan Region in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	106317
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2020 answer text <p>We strongly condemned the attack on the Kurdistan Democratic Party's office in Baghdad and made clear that addressing political difference through dialogue not violence was a fundamental element of a functioning democracy. The UK has welcomed steps taken to hold those responsible to account. We continue to work with the Government of Iraq on enhancing security measures, including through discussions during the Iraqi Prime Minister's Guest of Government visit to the UK on 22 October.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 23/10/2020 11:16:39 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1191074

	registered interest
	date	28/04/2020
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Waste Disposal: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance he has issued to local authorities about the re-opening of rubbish tips; and if he will make it his policy that rubbish tips can remain open on condition that social distancing can be adhered to.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	41030
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>We published guidance on 7 April to help local authorities prioritise waste services at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-to-local-authorities-on-prioritising-waste-collections/guidance-on-prioritising-waste-collection-services-during-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-to-local-authorities-on-prioritising-waste-collections/guidance-on-prioritising-waste-collection-services-during-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic</a>. This recommends keeping household waste recycling centres open if it is safe to do so.</p><p>The Government is working closely with local authorities and the waste industry to see how we can re-open these sites in the coming weeks, whilst observing social distancing and other requirements, to make sure collections are prioritised appropriately and that all parts of the waste system continue to run as smoothly as possible. We expect to publish further guidance shortly.</p><p>Local authorities should maintain black bag collections and prevent waste from building up to protect the environment and public health.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 04/05/2020 12:33:26 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1151610

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2019
	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	Genito-urinary Medicine
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will (a) introduce a national sexual health strategy to tackle increases in the levels of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and (b) allocate funding to testing for all STIs in sexual health clinics in England.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	3778
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2019 answer text <p>We have made excellent progress in some aspects of sexual and reproductive health, for example reducing new HIV infections and teenage pregnancy, but we are concerned about the worrying increases in some sexually transmitted infections. To address this, we announced on 24 October a new sexual health strategy to ensure that people know how to protect themselves, and can access the services they need for good sexual and reproductive health.</p><p>The Government provides funding to local authorities for public health services, including sexual health services, through the ringfenced public health grant. It is for local authorities to determine how the public health grant is allocated in their local areas to meet their needs. Sexual health service providers should ensure commissioned services are in line with current national guidance, standards of training and care and quality indicators.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 30/10/2019 17:53:04 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1178909

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Apprentices
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he plans to take to promote apprenticeships to young people in (a) Harlow and (b) the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	18383
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2020 answer text <p>We have introduced a wide range of reforms to improve the quality of apprenticeships and to encourage employers across England to create more high-quality apprenticeship opportunities.</p><p> </p><p>Since May 2010, there have been 4,392,000 apprenticeship starts in England. Of these, 7,200 apprenticeships starts have been in the Harlow parliamentary constituency.</p><p> </p><p>From August 2020, all starts will be on the new apprenticeship standards which are replacing existing frameworks. These are designed and driven by industry to create apprenticeships that are high-quality providing employers in Harlow, and across England, with the skills they need. Over 510 standards have already been approved for delivery to apprentices.</p><p> </p><p>We are working hard to encourage take up of our apprenticeship programme. The third phase of the Fire it Up campaign launched in January 2020 with a planned media investment for this phase of £2.9 million. It is targeting certain groups to widen participation in apprenticeships. Our 13<sup>th</sup> annual National Apprenticeship Week took place in February 2020. Nearly 900 events were held across the country, aiming to change perceptions of apprenticeships.</p><p>In January 2018, we introduced a legal requirement for schools to give training providers the chance to talk to pupils about technical qualifications and apprenticeships, so that young people hear about the alternatives to academic routes.</p><p> </p><p>We also offer a free service to schools through the Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge for Schools and Colleges (ASK) programme to ensure that teachers have the knowledge and support to enable them to promote apprenticeships to their students. In the last academic year, ASK reached over 300,000 students throughout England. In Harlow, ASK has worked with 8 schools and colleges and has engaged with 840 students in the last three academic years.</p><p> </p><p>In the 2019-20 financial year, funding available for investment in apprenticeships in England is over £2.5 billion – double what was spent in 2010. This is supporting employers of all sizes, across England, to provide high-quality apprenticeship opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds. We are moving smaller employers onto our award-winning apprenticeship service to give them a greater choice of training providers. They can also benefit from transferred funds from levy payers. Levy transfers can help to support new starts in supply chains and address local skills needs.</p><p> </p><p>Essex County Council and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership are members of the East of England Apprenticeship Ambassador Network. They are working with local employers to take advantage of transfers to support more small- and medium-sized employers in the area to offer apprenticeships.</p> answering member constituency Chichester answering member printed Gillian Keegan question first answered 02/03/2020 16:53:52 answering member 4680 label Biography information for Gillian Keegan
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon