We are taking action to encourage wildflower meadows by managing designated sites, providing incentives for habitat management and creation, and forging strong partnerships with landowners, communities and conservation bodies.<\/p>
<\/p>
Our agri-environment schemes provide incentives for creation and management of wildlife-rich habitat, including meadows. Since 2011, we have initiated creation of over 130,000 hectares of wildlife rich habitat, including wildflower meadows. Our new Environmental Land Management scheme will reward farmers and land managers for delivering environmental outcomes such as conserving and restoring such habitats.<\/p>
<\/p>
Our Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) provide protection for approximately two thirds of the total extent of 110,000 ha of semi-natural grassland Priority Habitat in England. Natural England\u2019s 2018-19 SSSI designation programme identifies a further 12 sites containing important wildflower-rich grasslands. The 25 Year Environment Plan commits us to restoring 75% of SSSI areas to good condition.<\/p>
<\/p>
We work with partners to support the recovery of threatened species and their habitats. For example, Natural England are working with landowners and conservation organisations on the Back from the Brink programme including on the \u2018Limestone\u2019s Living Legacies\u2019 project, restoring a network of limestone grassland sites in the West Midlands.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4098", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Suffolk Coastal"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dr Thérèse Coffey"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-18T14:37:58.33Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Flowers: Conservation"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage wildflower meadows throughout the country.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4064", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Steve Baker"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wycombe"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Steve Baker"} ], "uin" : "277176"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137071", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137071/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
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. Cerebral organoids model human brain development and microcephaly<\/em> in 2013, and in the Nature Cell Biology journal 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>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4019", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-17T14:17:06.443Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Human Embryo Experiments: Regulation"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "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.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/738", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Alton of Liverpool"}
], "uin" : "HL16935"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137076", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137076/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The treatment of infrastructure investment by insurance undertakings for the purposes of prudential regulation is set by the Solvency II Directive. In March 2019, the EU adopted new Solvency II rules to help insurers to invest in equity and private debt and to provide long-term capital financing. This means that insurers will be able to hold less capital for such investments and will therefore find such investments more attractive. The Government does not collect information about such investments, but individual insurance firms often include such details in their annual reports.<\/p> <\/em><\/p>The government provides competitive R&D tax reliefs to support businesses to invest. Support for businesses through R&D tax reliefs rose to £3.7 billion in 2015-16, up by almost a quarter from the previous year. The government is also carrying out the Infrastructure Finance Review, to support private infrastructure investment and ensure that infrastructure projects, including those using new technologies, are able to access the finance they need. The review will conclude alongside the National Infrastructure Strategy in the Autumn. <\/p>In 2018, the UK Government provided £20m of \u2018pioneer funding\u2019 through the Next Generation Services Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund to explore how new technologies could transform the UK accountancy, insurance and legal services industries <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/57", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Young of Cookham"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-17T16:31:26.07Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Insurance Companies: Investment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote investment by the insurance industry into applied research, new technologies, and infrastructure; whether information about any such investments will be published on an annual basis; and if so, where.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2543", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hunt of Chesterton"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hunt of Chesterton"}
], "uin" : "HL16940"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137077", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137077/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government believes that it is important to minimise the noise impacts of the railway on its neighbours and on passengers. We have actively contributed to the development of the new European noise technical specification for interoperability that sets limits on noise from new and upgraded rolling stock.<\/p> <\/p> In the Government's most recent rail innovation competition, £2.75m of funding was awarded to projects aimed at reducing environmental impacts such as noise pollution. One of these projects will develop a noise barrier with an innovative design that will deflect noise upwards in order to reduce noise at a level comparable to a barrier of three times the height.<\/p> <\/p> Transport for London is responsible for the London Underground and its noise impacts.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4580", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Vere of Norbiton"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-18T13:39:22.823Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Noise: Pollution"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to reduce noise both in the internal environment, in particular, with regard to underground trains, and the external environment, with greater use of noise barriers.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2543", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hunt of Chesterton"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hunt of Chesterton"}
], "uin" : "HL16941"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137078", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137078/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Lord Heseltine brought forward a motion in the House of Lords on the subject of this report on 17th<\/sup> July. It is a thought provoking report full of excellent ideas on devolution within England. I committed afterwards to share a record of the debate with every government department such is its importance. The Department is carefully considering its recommendations.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4282", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-18T15:23:24.85Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Local Government: Devolution"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by Lord Heseltine Empowering English Cities, published on 2 July; and whether they intend to provide a response.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2024", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"}
], "uin" : "HL16942"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137079", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137079/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government welcomes the report by the Care Quality Commission Smiling matters: oral health care in care homes<\/em>. The Department together with Public Health England, NHS England and Health Education England is carefully considering the recommendations made in the report and will respond in due course.<\/p> This consideration includes the recommendations that NHS England work with partners in the health and care system to improve access both to high street and, where required domiciliary care for residents of care homes. As well as the recommendation that both local and national monitoring frameworks should include awareness and assessment of oral health including the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guideline NG48.<\/p> NHS England is responsible for commissioning primary care dental services, including domiciliary care. Domiciliary care may be delivered by any dentist holding a contract to deliver general dental services or it may be specifically commissioned by NHS England locally as an additional service. Where such services have been specifically commissioned any concerns about delivery should be raised with NHS England. NHS England has a duty to provide services to meet local need, including domiciliary services.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4019", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "HL16944"}
, {"_value" : "HL16945"}
, {"_value" : "HL16946"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-17T14:11:41.61Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Care Homes: Dental Services"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Care Quality Commission Smiling matters: oral health care in care homes, published on 24 June; and how they intend to respond.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2024", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"}
], "uin" : "HL16943"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137080", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137080/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government welcomes the report by the Care Quality Commission Smiling matters: oral health care in care homes<\/em>. The Department together with Public Health England, NHS England and Health Education England is carefully considering the recommendations made in the report and will respond in due course.<\/p> This consideration includes the recommendations that NHS England work with partners in the health and care system to improve access both to high street and, where required domiciliary care for residents of care homes. As well as the recommendation that both local and national monitoring frameworks should include awareness and assessment of oral health including the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guideline NG48.<\/p> NHS England is responsible for commissioning primary care dental services, including domiciliary care. Domiciliary care may be delivered by any dentist holding a contract to deliver general dental services or it may be specifically commissioned by NHS England locally as an additional service. Where such services have been specifically commissioned any concerns about delivery should be raised with NHS England. NHS England has a duty to provide services to meet local need, including domiciliary services.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4019", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "HL16943"}
, {"_value" : "HL16945"}
, {"_value" : "HL16946"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-17T14:11:41.657Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Care Homes: Dental Services"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that access to dental provision in care homes is improved.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2024", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"}
], "uin" : "HL16944"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137081", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137081/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government welcomes the report by the Care Quality Commission Smiling matters: oral health care in care homes<\/em>. The Department together with Public Health England, NHS England and Health Education England is carefully considering the recommendations made in the report and will respond in due course.<\/p> This consideration includes the recommendations that NHS England work with partners in the health and care system to improve access both to high street and, where required domiciliary care for residents of care homes. As well as the recommendation that both local and national monitoring frameworks should include awareness and assessment of oral health including the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guideline NG48.<\/p> NHS England is responsible for commissioning primary care dental services, including domiciliary care. Domiciliary care may be delivered by any dentist holding a contract to deliver general dental services or it may be specifically commissioned by NHS England locally as an additional service. Where such services have been specifically commissioned any concerns about delivery should be raised with NHS England. NHS England has a duty to provide services to meet local need, including domiciliary services.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4019", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "HL16943"}
, {"_value" : "HL16944"}
, {"_value" : "HL16946"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-17T14:11:41.703Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Care Homes: Dental Services"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they take to deal with dentists who are unwilling to visit care homes.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2024", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"}
], "uin" : "HL16945"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137082", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137082/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government welcomes the report by the Care Quality Commission Smiling matters: oral health care in care homes<\/em>. The Department together with Public Health England, NHS England and Health Education England is carefully considering the recommendations made in the report and will respond in due course.<\/p> This consideration includes the recommendations that NHS England work with partners in the health and care system to improve access both to high street and, where required domiciliary care for residents of care homes. As well as the recommendation that both local and national monitoring frameworks should include awareness and assessment of oral health including the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guideline NG48.<\/p> NHS England is responsible for commissioning primary care dental services, including domiciliary care. Domiciliary care may be delivered by any dentist holding a contract to deliver general dental services or it may be specifically commissioned by NHS England locally as an additional service. Where such services have been specifically commissioned any concerns about delivery should be raised with NHS England. NHS England has a duty to provide services to meet local need, including domiciliary services.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4019", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "HL16943"}
, {"_value" : "HL16944"}
, {"_value" : "HL16945"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-17T14:11:41.75Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Care Homes: Dental Services"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to ensure that care home services are made aware of NICE guideline NG48 Oral health for adults in care homes, published in July 2016.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2024", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"}
], "uin" : "HL16946"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137086", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137086/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " It is disappointing that Mauritius\u2019 claim that the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is part of Mauritius, which we strongly refute, should have been referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) by the UN General Assembly. It is an accepted international principle that States should not be compelled to have their bilateral disputes adjudicated upon by the ICJ without their consent. Circumventing this principle sets a dangerous precedent. BIOT has been under continuous British sovereignty since 1814. No international court or tribunal has ever found UK sovereignty to be in doubt. Mauritius agreed to the detachment of the islands in 1965, in return for certain benefits including a UK commitment, which we stand by, to cede sovereignty of the territory to Mauritius when it is no longer required for defence purposes. Mauritius affirmed that agreement numerous times following independence, and in March 2015 a United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Arbitral Tribunal ruled the agreement to be internationally binding.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-18T14:46:48.64Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision of the United Nations General Assembly that the decolonisation of Mauritius has not been lawfully completed because the detachment of the Chagos Archipelago was not based on the free and genuine expression of the will of the people of Mauritius; whether they accept that decision; and if not, why not.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
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