The Gambia has a poor human rights record. Rule of law, freedom of the press, extra-judicial detentions, human trafficking and recent legislation targeting Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender people are all areas of concern. The UK position on human rights is firm: human rights are universal and must apply equally to all people. Our Ambassador in Banjul regularly raises human rights with the Gambian government and our Embassy provides funds that support human rights projects in the country.<\/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" : "2015-02-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-02-11T15:00:09.087Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-02-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "The Gambia: 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 human rights situation in The Gambia.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4153", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Kennedy of Southwark"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Kennedy of Southwark"} ], "uin" : "HL4730"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/178265", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/178265/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We have not made direct representations to the Government of Zimbabwe on behalf of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA). However, the British Government, along with the EU and other international partners, has contact with and supports a range of civil society organisations which promote human rights, including the protection of the rights of women, such as WOZA.<\/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" : "2015-02-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-02-11T15:00:24.547Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-02-05", "_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 representations they have made to the authorities in Zimbabwe concerning Women of Zimbabwe Arise.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4153", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Kennedy of Southwark"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Kennedy of Southwark"} ], "uin" : "HL4731"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/178266", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/178266/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The digital economy is considered an important sector by the Government, given its strong past performance and potential for future growth and the impact it has on all sectors of the economy. The ICT sector[1]<\/strong><\/strong> has grown over two and a half times as fast as the whole economy over the past 10 years. In 2013, the sector contributed 7.5% (£113bn) to the UK\u2019s GVA and supported 1.3m jobs in the UK economy. In GVA terms, the UK ICT sector is the largest in the EU, marginally ahead of Germany. In employment terms, the UK ICT sector is the second largest in the EU, marginally behind Germany[2].<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The opportunities and barriers to successful growth in the sector were considered in the Information Economy Strategy, published in June 2013. The strategy set out a long-term strategic action plan for industry, government and academia working in partnership to create the business conditions for a thriving UK information economy.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> One of the major challenges identified in the strategy was skills shortages. We are working in partnership with industry to make sure our education and training routes are providing the digital skills the UK needs now and in future. Specific action includes, a new Computing Curriculum launched in September with a greater focus on computational thinking, reforms to apprenticeships that enable employers to develop new standards which reflect the skills they need, a new Degree Apprenticeship in digital skills, which will enable young people to get a full honours degree alongside on the job training and a National College for Digital Skills, which will drive up further education standards.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/strong><\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> [1] UN and OECD definition of ICT and Content and Media: which incorporates manufacturing of computers, communication equipment and consumer electronics, wholesale of information and communication equipment and information and communication services<\/p> [2] EuroStat Structural Business Statistics Database (based on UN/OECD definition.)<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4284", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe"}
}
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, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-02-11T17:07:59.097Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-02-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Digital Technology"}
, "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\u2019s Government what assessment they have made of the digital economy in the United Kingdom.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4153", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Kennedy of Southwark"}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Kennedy of Southwark"}
], "uin" : "HL4732"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/177299", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/177299/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The UK has made no direct representation specifically on behalf of Mr Tsikhanyuk. Our Embassy in Minsk supports the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Belarus where possible. The UK regularly raises Belarus\u2019s poor human rights record in meetings with Belarusian ministers and officials.<\/p> <\/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" : "2015-02-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-02-11T14:58:15.51Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-02-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Belarus"}
, "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\u2019s Government what representations they have made to the authorities in Belarus concerning the case of Ihar Tsikhanyuk.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4153", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Kennedy of Southwark"}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Kennedy of Southwark"}
], "uin" : "HL4666"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/175410", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/175410/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "