Unlike the concluding observations which the CEDAW Committee issues to the UK specifically after each of our periodic examinations, General Recommendations are issued by the Committee to all 188 States which are party to the Convention. That means that not all the General Recommendations will actually be relevant to the UK's circumstances and policies, and it is not the normal practice of the Government to respond specifically to the publication of General Recommendations.<\/p>
<\/p>
If a General Recommendation is relevant to the UK, then the Committee will assess us against it during our periodic examination. We will receive their evaluation and we will have the opportunity to respond fully at that stage. The Government has, however, noted the publication of General Recommendation No. 32 on the gender-related dimensions of refugee status, asylum, nationality and statelessness of women by the Committee, and the content has been conveyed to the Home Office.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
The Home Office will of course be able to answer any specific questions the noble Lord has on female interviewers and interpreters for women asylum applicants.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3842", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Garden of Frognal"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Garden of Frognal"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-01-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-01-22T17:08:22.237Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "10"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-01-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Asylum: Females"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government whether they will publish their response to General Recommendation No. 32 from the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, published on 14 November 2014, in particular those recommendations concerning female interviewers and interpreters for women asylum-applicants, and those relating to legal representation.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2018", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hylton"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hylton"} ], "uin" : "HL4121"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/173528", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/173528/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The resettlement pledges for all countries including those from European Union member states is listed on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) website. The direct link to this page is as follows: http://www.unhcr.org/52b2febafc5.html<\/a><\/p> Ninety people were relocated to the UK under the Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme between the first group of arrivals on 25 March and the end of September 2014. This is the latest publicly available figure, as numbers are released as part of the publication of Home Office official statistics each quarter; the number of arrivals under the scheme up to December 2014 will be published on 26 February.<\/p> Potential beneficiaries of the scheme are identified and referred to us by UNHCR. Given the serious vulnerability of the beneficiaries, our priority is to ensure that the support and accommodation they need is in place before they arrive in the UK. We are working closely with UNHCR, the International Organisation for Migration and local authorities to achieve this as soon as practically possible as the circumstances of each particular case allow. In these circumstances it is not possible to provide information on the number of individuals in any part of the resettlement process at any given time.<\/p> Beneficiaries of the scheme are granted five years\u2019 Humanitarian Protection with all the rights and benefits that go with that status, including access to public funds, access to the labour market and the possibility of family reunion.<\/p> As the scheme is based on vulnerability - including women and children at risk, people with medical needs and survivors of torture and violence - it would not<\/p> be appropriate for us to release specific details of where individuals are being placed, as this risks undermining their privacy and recovery.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-01-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "HL4111"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-01-21T14:30:01.21Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-01-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Syria"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government, further to the reply by Baroness Northover on 13 January, whether they will list by country how many Syrian refugees have been accepted by each of the European Union member states.", "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" : "HL4110"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/173529", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/173529/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The resettlement pledges for all countries including those from European Union member states is listed on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) website. The direct link to this page is as follows: http://www.unhcr.org/52b2febafc5.html<\/a><\/p> Ninety people were relocated to the UK under the Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme between the first group of arrivals on 25 March and the end of September 2014. This is the latest publicly available figure, as numbers are released as part of the publication of Home Office official statistics each quarter; the number of arrivals under the scheme up to December 2014 will be published on 26 February.<\/p> Potential beneficiaries of the scheme are identified and referred to us by UNHCR. Given the serious vulnerability of the beneficiaries, our priority is to ensure that the support and accommodation they need is in place before they arrive in the UK. We are working closely with UNHCR, the International Organisation for Migration and local authorities to achieve this as soon as practically possible as the circumstances of each particular case allow. In these circumstances it is not possible to provide information on the number of individuals in any part of the resettlement process at any given time.<\/p> Beneficiaries of the scheme are granted five years\u2019 Humanitarian Protection with all the rights and benefits that go with that status, including access to public funds, access to the labour market and the possibility of family reunion.<\/p> As the scheme is based on vulnerability - including women and children at risk, people with medical needs and survivors of torture and violence - it would not<\/p> be appropriate for us to release specific details of where individuals are being placed, as this risks undermining their privacy and recovery.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-01-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "HL4110"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-01-21T14:30:01.52Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-01-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Asylum: Syria"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government, further to the reply by Baroness Northover on 13 January, how many Syrian refugees have been accepted in the United Kingdom; over what period they have arrived here; how many have been settled or are in the process of being settled; what settlement rights have been conferred on them; and in what areas of the United Kingdom they are living.", "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" : "HL4111"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/173526", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/173526/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The United Kingdom continues to closely monitor events in Zimbabwe, including the recent changes within the ruling party. We remain committed to supporting the aspirations of the Zimbabwean people for a more democratic, stable and prosperous future.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> In 2013/14 we provided £106 million in aid to Zimbabwe. This aid focused on helping the country\u2019s poorest people, including providing healthcare, water, sanitation, and access to markets needed for people to earn enough money to meet their basic needs.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> No UK aid goes directly through GoZ systems. UK aid is instead channelled through multilateral institutions such as United Nations Agencies, most notably the United Nations Children\u2019s Fund (UNICEF), as well as international Non-Governmental Organisations and the private sector.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The most up to date figures of DFID spend can be found in DFID\u2019s Annual Report.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2539", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Northover"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Northover"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-01-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-01-23T12:04:37.11Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-01-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Zimbabwe"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what is their current assessment of the situation in Zimbabwe; and what level of aid the United Kingdom is providing to that country.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/908", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Luce"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Luce"}
], "uin" : "HL4108"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/173533", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Northern Ireland Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/173533/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Stormont House Agreement made clear that the UK Government will make full disclosure of all relevant information held by UK Government departments to the Historical Investigations Unit.<\/p> There are various statutes which contain provisions designed to prevent damaging disclosure of sensitive information. These range from the Official Secrets Act 1989, which applies generally and deals with disclosure of Government information, to other approaches that deal with specific legal processes, such as the Criminal Appeal Act 1995 which governs disclosure of information by the Criminal Cases Review Commission. Appropriate legislation will be drafted to provide for the specific requirements of the Historical Investigations Unit regarding onward disclosure, in line with arrangements for existing bodies and consistent with the Stormont House Agreement.<\/p> The UK Government is committed to ensuring that the right to life (Article 2) is protected and that the Government also fulfils its duty to keep people safe and secure, in Northern Ireland and across the United Kingdom.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4230", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Randerson"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Randerson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-01-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-01-23T12:59:35.28Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "21"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-01-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland Government"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government whether their agreement in paragraph 37 of the Stormont House Agreement to \"make full disclosure\" to the proposed Historical Investigation Unit includes the handing over of all relevant files and documents in the possession of the security services and the Army; what is the current United Kingdom legislation applying to existing bodies that is said to prevent \"damaging onward disclosure of information\"; and whether they can guarantee, in the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland, that the legislation will meet their duty to keep people safe and secure and will be compliant with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2479", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Laird"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Laird"}
], "uin" : "HL4115"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/173523", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/173523/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government recognises that pension buy-outs, buy-ins and longevity swap transactions provide an important means for pension schemes and firms to transfer longevity risk to a willing buyer. Factors that may lead to changes in the size and quantum of these markets and their ability to pose systemic risks to regulated firms is a matter for the Prudential Regulation Authority.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4262", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Deighton"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Deighton"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-01-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-01-26T16:53:37.013Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-01-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pensions"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government, in the light of the practice in the life assurance and reassurance markets of pension buyouts and longevity swaps, what is their assessment of the expected growth of those markets and at what point it would require assessment of the market exposure to systemic risk.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4286", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Mendelsohn"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Mendelsohn"}
], "uin" : "HL4105"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/173521", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/173521/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government has taken a substantial number of measures to change the culture in UK banking.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> This Government supported the work of the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards which reported in June 2013 on professional standards and culture of the UK banking sector. Legislation to give effect to its recommendations on banking standards and individual accountability were included in the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013. The Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Treasury worked through 2014 to prepare secondary legislation, regulatory rules and other detailed implementing measures.<\/p> <\/p> The Government expects to announce the final timetable for implementing these reforms shortly.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> In the Financial Services Act 2012, this Government introduced a new criminal offence to address the issue of the manipulation of the LIBOR interest rate benchmark. In December 2014 the government announced that this offence would be extended to cover a further seven financial benchmarks from, subject to Parliamentary approval, 1 April 2015.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> We also recognise that there is more to do if the banking industry and global financial markets are to regain public trust. The Chancellor of the Exchequer therefore announced in his Mansion House speech in June 2014 a Treasury, Bank of England and FCA review of the operation of the foreign exchange, fixed income and commodity markets. The Fair and Effective Markets Review will examine how trust and credibility in these markets can be restored. The review will report in June 2015.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>