No Ministerial level discussions have taken place with their counterparts on the conditions of Turkish prisons where British nationals are held. As mentioned on 1 August, a detained British national can contact our Embassy with any concerns about prison conditions and impact on their welfare. Consular staff will then raise these concerns directly with the appropriate authorities. We are not aware of any complaints raised by the Turkish authorities in the past five years with regards to the treatment of Turkish nationals in British jails.<\/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" : "2018-09-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-09-18T15:08:22.577Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-09-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Turkey: British Nationals Abroad"} , "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 Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 1 August (HL9596), whether ministers have discussed with their counterparts the conditions under which British nationals are held in Turkish jails; and whether any complaints have been raised by them over the way Turkish nationals in British jails have been treated in the last five years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Patten"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Patten"} ], "uin" : "HL9996"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/967509", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/967509/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
\u200bFreedom of religion and belief continues to be a priority for this Government. We are pleased that the Israeli Government, including Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Rivlin, have publicly highlighted their commitment to ensuring freedom of religion and belief in Israel.<\/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" : "2018-09-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-09-17T14:40:28.547Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-09-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Israel: Druze"} , "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 religious and civic freedoms of the Druze minority in Israel.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Patten"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Patten"} ], "uin" : "HL9997"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/943380", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/943380/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Our consular staff do not conduct formal assessments of prison conditions as they are not a monitoring body. A detained British national can contact our Embassy with any concerns about prison conditions and impact on their welfare. Consular staff will then raise these concerns directly with the appropriate authorities.<\/p>
The prisons in Turkey have a set procedure to ensure detainees have regular contact with friends and family. Detainees are allowed visits from friends and family following a request in advance through our Embassy. Detainees can apply for immediate family members to be placed on a telephone list so that they can call them regularly. They can also send and receive letters or faxes.<\/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" : "2018-08-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-08-01T15:24:18.037Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Turkey: British Nationals Abroad"} , "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 Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 3 July (HL8831), what assessment they have made of (1) the prison conditions in which British nationals are held in Turkey, and (2) those prisoners' ability to communicate regularly with family and friends in the UK.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Patten"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Patten"} ], "uin" : "HL9596"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/943381", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/943381/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
\u200bWe are not aware of any such representations.<\/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" : "2018-08-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-08-01T12:18:49.583Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Turkey: Religious Freedom"} , "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 Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 10 July (HL9039), whether they have received representations from British faith groups seeking to open buildings for worship in Turkey.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Patten"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Patten"} ], "uin" : "HL9597"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/932065", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Trade"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/932065/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Supporting businesses to invest overseas and reach their full potential is an important priority for the Department as we strive to create a global and outward-looking economy. We realise that business continuity and business security also need to be addressed.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Department for International Trade (DIT) advises UK businesses considering entering the Turkish market, and established UK investors in Turkey, on an individual basis, alongside our strategic business delivery partner, the British Chamber of Commerce in Turkey.<\/p>
<\/p>
DIT offers a range of practical support to businesses, who may contact the Department\u2019s staff to talk about their specific requirements, including business security and continuity matters. Country-specific advice is also available on the www.gov<\/a>.uk or www.great.gov.uk<\/a> websites.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4690", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Fairhead"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Fairhead"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-07-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-07-10T11:36:57.257Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "202"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Trade"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Trade"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-06-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Overseas Investment: Turkey"}
, "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 Baroness Fairhead (HL8303), whether the advice to UK businesses considering the Turkish market and established UK investors in Turkey includes information on business security and business continuity matters.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Patten"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Patten"}
], "uin" : "HL9038"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/932066", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/932066/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " In order for religious groups to establish new places of worship in Turkey they must apply to the Turkish government for them to be legally recognised as places of worship. If constructing a new building as a place of worship, religious groups must first apply for permission from the municipality to do so. It is against the law to hold religious services at a location not recognized by the government as a place of worship; the government may fine or close the venues of those violating the law.<\/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" : "2018-07-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-07-10T16:06:16.67Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-06-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Turkey: Religious Freedom"}
, "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 Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (HL8304), whether British Christians and Jews may set up new public buildings for their worship in Turkey.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Patten"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Patten"}
], "uin" : "HL9039"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/928178", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/928178/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " As of May 2018, 41 British nationals are detained in Turkey. We are providing consular assistance as necessary. However we do not hold specific data on the longest, shortest and average length of each sentence being served. The data we hold does not provide a breakdown of sentencing information for individual cases.<\/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" : "2018-07-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-07-03T16:15:16.047Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-06-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Turkey: British Nationals Abroad"}
, "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 Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 14 June (HL8302), of the 41 British nationals detained in Turkey, what is (1) the longest, (2) the shortest, and (3) the average length of, sentence being served.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Patten"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Patten"}
], "uin" : "HL8831"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/917777", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/917777/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " It is our understanding that British visitors to Turkey are free to worship as they please, regardless of which faith they belong to. We expect Turkey to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief for Turkish citizens and foreign visitors alike. The Turkish constitution provides for freedom of conscience and religion, and President Erdogan publicly reiterated his commitment to those values at the beginning of this year.<\/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" : "2018-06-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-06-18T16:08:45.22Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-06-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Turkey: Christianity"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they intend to make to the government of Turkey about the freedom of Christian worship by British visitors.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Patten"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Patten"}
], "uin" : "HL8371"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/917778", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/917778/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " 35 billing authorities in England did not apply a council tax premium in 2017-18 on homes that have been empty for two years or more \u2013 which is the latest year for which data is available centrally (see table below). Some of these authorities may have introduced the premium in 2018-19. Of the 291 billing authorities that applied a premium in 2017-18, three applied premiums at less than the 50% rate. These are Harrogate (25%), Richmondshire (10%) and Rutland (10%)<\/p>
Billing authorities that did not apply a council tax empty homes premium in 2017-18<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Amber Valley<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Blaby<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Bolsover<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Bromley<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Bromsgrove<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Broxbourne<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Castle Point<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Cheltenham<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Chiltern<\/p><\/td><\/tr> City of London<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Corby<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Derbyshire Dales<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Dover<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Forest of Dean<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Gloucester<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Gosport<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Hambleton<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Harborough<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Hinckley & Bosworth<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Isles of Scilly<\/p><\/td><\/tr> New Forest<\/p><\/td><\/tr> North East Derbyshire<\/p><\/td><\/tr> North Lincolnshire UA<\/p><\/td><\/tr> North Somerset UA<\/p><\/td><\/tr> North Tyneside<\/p><\/td><\/tr> North West Leicestershire<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Redditch<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Ribble Valley<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Rushcliffe<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Tendring<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Tewkesbury<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Westminster<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Winchester<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Wyre<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Wyre Forest<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>"}
, "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" : "2018-06-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-06-14T16:49:18.377Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-06-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Empty Property: Council Tax"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government which local authorities in England have yet to take up the opportunity to apply a council tax premium of 50 per cent on unoccupied homes.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Patten"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Patten"}
], "uin" : "HL8372"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/917779", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/917779/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Statistics on vacant dwellings in England and in each local authority district are published in the Ministry\u2019s live table 615 (attached) which is available at the following link. This table shows the annual total numbers of empty homes and those vacant longer than six months and also vacants in the local authority, housing association and other public sector tenures.<\/p> |