Human rights remain an integral part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's work. They are mainstreamed across our work and they are intrinsically linked with many aspects of our national interest, including the stability and prosperity of our international partners.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-10-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-10-22T15:20:31.937Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-10-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Human Rights"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government whether human rights remain a foreign policy priority.", "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" : "HL2455"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/420481", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/420481/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
As explained in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)\u2019s 2014 Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report, it is not possible to disaggregate an exact figure for what we spend annually on human rights and democracy work. This is because it is mainstreamed across the network, and thus a component of a wide range of FCO activities. However, by combining relevant programme spend, grant-in-aid spending, and estimated personnel costs, we were able to calculate a conservative figure of approximately £42.6 million for the financial year 2014-15. This figure does not include the cross-departmental Conflict Pool Fund (now the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund).<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-10-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-10-22T15:21:08.057Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-10-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Human Rights"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what assessment they have made of the proportion of their budget and personnel that is allocated to promoting human rights, the rule of law and democracy in other countries.", "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" : "HL2456"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/420482", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/420482/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
I refer the noble Lord to my response of 24 July 2015 (HL1378). We remain concerned by reports of the detention of human rights lawyers since 9 July. We supported an EU press statement on the matter on 15 July, and since then have continued to express our concern. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), personally raised the matter during his visit to China in August. Most recently, in a written statement to the Human Rights Council on 21 September, the UK urged the Chinese authorities to release these lawyers and to uphold the right to the peaceful expression of views.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-10-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-10-26T15:37:02.897Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-10-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "China: Human Rights"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what representations they have made to the government of China and the Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom on the human rights situation in China, with respect to the arrest and detention of lawyers and campaigners.", "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" : "HL2457"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/420484", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "The Lord Chairman of Committees"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/420484/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Catering and Retail Services seek to provide an appropriate level of service to support an active and busy parliamentary chamber, and to provide excellent value to the taxpayer. The catering subsidy has been reduced by 32% since 2007 and we are working hard to reduce it further through an ambitious Change Programme.<\/p>
The unpredictable nature of parliamentary business \u2013 in terms of sitting days, recesses, the length of each sitting, and the level of attendance at the House for each sitting \u2013 means that staffing costs and wastage are higher than would be the case in purely commercial catering outlets. This makes an operating loss extremely difficult to avoid.<\/p>
Furthermore, catering facilities are used by a wide range of people, not just Members. Venues such as the River Restaurant and Millbank House cafeteria are mainly intended to provide facilities for staff and other users such as the Metropolitan Police, contractors and others working on the Parliamentary Estate. It is good practice for large employers to provide cafeteria facilities for staff, particularly for organisations that operate outside normal office hours as is the case in the House of Lords. We pay all catering staff at least the London Living Wage and provide them with workplace pensions. We are proud to do so but it means our costs are higher than some commercial restaurants.<\/p>
Given these factors, some element of tax-payer funding is appropriate, but the Administration is vigilant to ensure that public money is stewarded responsibly. Catering and Retail Services are also exploring novel ways to generate income in quieter times, such as opening the Peers\u2019 Dining Room to the public in longer recesses. This helps to reduce the overall cost of the refreshment service to the tax payer, and so the subsidy.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2079", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Laming"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Laming"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-10-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-10-21T15:32:12.92Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "200"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : ""} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Chairman of Committees (HoL)"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-10-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "House of Lords: Catering"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chairman of Committees what plans he has to end the subsidy for catering services in the House of Lords.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1665", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Avebury"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Avebury"} ], "uin" : "HL2459"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/420485", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/420485/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government considers material from a range of sources as part of the normal policy making process. Professor Gabriel Zucman\u2019s book points out that tax avoidance by large corporations can be stopped, and the UK is addressing this issue through the G20 and OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project. We recognise that the global issue of tax avoidance and aggressive tax planning requires a coordinated approach to come up with effective solutions. This is why the UK is at the forefront of multilateral action through the BEPS project to ensure profits are taxed where economic activities are performed.<\/p>
The first phase of the BEPS project was delivered in 2014, and the UK was the first adopter of the 2014 recommendations, by legislating for the internationally agreed country-by-country reporting template; and consulting on implementing the OECD agreed rules to deal with hybrid mismatch arrangements.<\/p>
The final recommendations from the BEPS project were endorsed by the G20 Finance Ministers at their meeting in Lima on 8 October. The project represents major and unprecedented efforts involving over 60 countries to clamp down on aggressive tax planning.<\/p>
The Government is committed to countering tax avoidance to ensure all tax payers pay their fair share. The UK will give full consideration to the outputs of the BEPS project and we will engage with the OECD\u2019s work on developing a framework for monitoring implementation.<\/p>
"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4536", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord O'Neill of Gatley"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord O'Neill of Gatley"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-10-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-10-26T16:36:02.847Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-10-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Tax Avoidance"}
, "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 plan to evaluate the ideas on dealing with corporate international tax avoidance developed by Professor Gabriel Zucman in his book The Hidden Wealth of Nations: The Scourge of Tax Havens<\/i>.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1665", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Avebury"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Avebury"}
], "uin" : "HL2460"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/420487", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/420487/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Department for Transport\u2019s funding contribution to the Cambridgeshire Guided Bus was capped at a maximum of £92.5m when the scheme was approved in 2006. This amount has been paid in full to the scheme promoter, Cambridgeshire County Council. The Government has not been asked to provide any additional funding above this amount.<\/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" : "2015-10-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-10-21T11:49:55.623Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-10-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Rapid Transit Systems: Cambridgeshire"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government how much they committed to funding the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway when the contract was originally awarded; and whether they have since been asked to fund any additional costs.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3526", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Berkeley"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Berkeley"}
], "uin" : "HL2462"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/420491", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/420491/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The number of reports of benefit fraud received by the Fraud and Error Service (FES) from 1st January 2010 to 30th September 2015 totals 4,889,021<\/p>
You should not infer from this information that an actual offence has been committed. This information relates only to allegations and not completed investigations.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3893", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Freud"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Freud"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-10-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-10-26T14:55:20.927Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-10-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Social Security Benefits: Fraud"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government how many reports of benefit fraud have been submitted to the Department for Work and Pensions between 2010 and the most recent date for which figures are available.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4143", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Derby"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "The Lord Bishop of Derby"} ], "uin" : "HL2466"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/420492", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/420492/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The information is not available in the format requested.<\/p>
Figures are only available for the Central region, which is made up of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Rutland, East Anglia, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, Mercia, Brimigham and Solihull, Black Country, Shropshire and Staffordshire.<\/p>
There were 42442 confirmed cases of benefit fraud recorded in the Central region between 1st January 2010 and 30th September 2015.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3893", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Freud"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Freud"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-10-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-10-26T12:40:41.463Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-10-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Social Security Benefits: Fraud"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government how many incidents of benefit fraud have been recorded in the East Midlands region between 2010 and the most recent date for which figures are available.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4143", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Derby"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "The Lord Bishop of Derby"} ], "uin" : "HL2467"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/420493", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/420493/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
It is not possible to identify from Ministry of Justice centrally held data whether a defendant proceeded against for an offence related to benefit fraud has a link to human trafficking or organised crime. This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4183", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Faulks"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Faulks"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-10-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-10-27T11:37:00.32Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-10-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Social Security Benefits: Fraud"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government how many incidents of benefit fraud relating to human trafficking and organised crime have resulted in a successful prosecution between 2010 and the most recent date for which figures are available.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4143", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Derby"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "The Lord Bishop of Derby"} ], "uin" : "HL2468"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/420494", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/420494/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The two Border Force vessels, HMC Protector and HMC Seeker, have returned to the UK after playing an important part in the search and rescue of migrants in the Mediterranean as part of Frontex\u2019s Operation Triton between May and September this year. The length of the vessels\u2019 deployment was agreed between Border Force, Frontex and the host member state, Italy. The Government is considering options for providing further support to Frontex operations in the Mediterranean over the winter months and stands ready to provide assistance if there is an operational requirement to do so. Any further deployments of vessels from Border Force or other UK organisations will be determined in conjunction with Frontex and European partners.<\/p>
Meanwhile, the UK continues to play an important role in supporting search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean and in tackling the criminal gangs that are responsible for illegal attempts to move large numbers of migrants across the Mediterranean. The ongoing deployment of the Royal Navy vessels, HMS Enterprise and HMS Richmond, to the Mediterranean is integral to this work. Border Force also continues to supply Frontex with officers to assist with the debriefing and screening of migrants that arrive in the Mediterranean. Three officers are currently deployed to the Greek islands and three to Italy to undertake this work.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-10-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "HL2470"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-10-22T15:06:05.807Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-10-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Refugees: Mediterranean Sea"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what plans they have to replace HMC Protector and HMC Seeker, supporting search-and-rescue missions in the Mediterranean.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2652", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Hamwee"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Hamwee"} ], "uin" : "HL2469"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "next" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?date=2015-10-12&_page=1&houseId=2&min-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2015-10-19T15%3A39%3A00.013Z&max-date=2019-05-22", "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 79, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }