Remarkable progress has been made towards polio eradication in the last 30 years, with over 99% reduction in the number of polio cases. The UK has played a leading role in this process and UK support to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) will mean up to 45 million children can be vaccinated against polio each year until 2020. Only two Commonwealth countries, Nigeria and Pakistan, have not yet been declared polio-free. In February the UK\u2019s support enabled GPEI to conduct a campaign to vaccinate almost 39 million children in Pakistan, and in April large-scale immunisation campaigns are planned in Nigeria. Nigeria has not seen a case of polio since 2016 and there has only been one case in Pakistan this year, meaning that these two countries are on track to eradicating polio. Health and communicable diseases will be a key focus of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, a forum which acknowledges polio as a global health priority.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-04-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-04-16T14:51:51.033Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-03-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Commonwealth: Polio"} , "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 eradicate polio within Commonwealth countries, including Pakistan and Nigeria; and whether this is a priority for the discussions on the Sustainable Development Goals during the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3670", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Falkner of Margravine"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Falkner of Margravine"} ], "uin" : "HL6798"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/867238", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/867238/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
As and when criminal allegations are brought to the attention of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) they are assessed in the context of the SFO's statutory remit to investigate, and where appropriate, prosecute the top tier of serious or complex fraud, bribery and corruption cases, particularly where such offending is capable of impacting on the UK's and City of London's reputation as a safe place to do business. If appropriate, any relevant matters would be considered for criminal or civil investigation/recovery. However, in line with its normal policy, which is designed to safeguard the investigative process, the SFO can neither confirm nor deny whether or not it is taking some type of action against any Russian shareholders.<\/p>
<\/p>
Whenever it is possible to release information without prejudice to an investigation the SFO will publish details on its website of cases formally adopted for criminal investigation.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4538", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Keen of Elie"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-03-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-03-29T11:16:57.45Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-03-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Shareholders: Russia"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware of any action by the Serious Fraud Office against major Russian shareholders of companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3670", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Falkner of Margravine"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Falkner of Margravine"} ], "uin" : "HL6445"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/867239", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/867239/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government is aware of the recent report issued by the United States Treasury Department. This report is not a sanctions list and does not impose sanctions on individuals and entities listed in it.<\/p>
The UK implements sanctions agreed at the UN, EU or those the Government put in place autonomously. Only a relevant prohibition contained in these sanctions will prevent a person from being connected to companies listed on the London Stock Exchange .<\/p>
Allegations of illegal activity under the UK Bribery Act 2010 are a matter for the operationally independent Serious Fraud Office to investigate.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-03-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-03-29T14:44:17.883Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-03-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sanctions: Russia"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of whether those Russians listed by the United States Treasury Department on 30 January as potentially subject to United States sanctions for illegal activity, including those identified by the Anti-Corruption Foundation for wrongdoing under the UK Bribery Act 2010, are persons connected to companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3670", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Falkner of Margravine"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Falkner of Margravine"} ], "uin" : "HL6446"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/857579", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/857579/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Autonomous higher education providers, including Russell Group members, are responsible for their own decisions about leadership appointments. Institutional autonomy is explicitly recognised in the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 and is specifically defined to include the freedom of providers to determine the criteria for selecting, appointing or dismissing academic staff. The Act is clear that both the Office for Students (OfS) (when carrying out its functions) and the Secretary of State (when issuing statutory guidance to the OfS) must have regard to the need to protect this institutional autonomy.<\/p>
<\/p>
The government and the OfS both remain interested in areas related to equality and diversity in higher education. We consulted on behalf of the OfS on making arrangements for the publication of data on senior staff remuneration, including in relation to gender and ethnicity. The OfS retains the power to require the disclosure of such information through its accounts direction.<\/p>
<\/p>
The government asked the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the predecessor of OfS, to remind HEFCE-funded providers of their obligations under the gender pay gap reporting requirements. HEFCE wrote to these providers on 10 January 2018. HEFCE have also jointly commissioned a project that aims to equalise the gender balance and ethnic diversity of higher education governing bodies. This work will include establishing an online exchange to recruit board members.<\/p>
<\/p>
In addition, we note initiatives across the sector, including at Russell Group institutions, to support women and those from black and minority ethnic groups who aspire to leadership positions in higher education.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4169", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Viscount Younger of Leckie"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-03-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-03-21T17:10:53.867Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-03-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Higher Education: Equality"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) direction, and (2) guidance, they have given to the Office for Students on improving gender and ethnic diversity in the leadership of Russell Group higher education institutions.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3670", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Falkner of Margravine"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Falkner of Margravine"} ], "uin" : "HL6151"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/857580", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/857580/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is responsible for the collection and publication of data for UK higher education instutions, including for members of the Russell Group.<\/p>
Information on the higher education workforce is collected as part of HESA\u2019s Staff Record, including ethnicity and gender. However, HESA does not publish this data specifically relating to those within leadership roles.<\/p>