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1669592

registered interest
date	13/11/2023
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Sierra Leone: Elections
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his counterpart in Sierra Leone on alleged irregularities in the elections on 24 June 2023; and what diplomatic steps he is taking to help prevent civil conflict in that country.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
uin	1740
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2023 answer text <p>The UK is committed to supporting the aspirations of the Sierra Leonean people and has engaged stakeholders including the government, opposition, election bodies and international community in the months leading up to, during and after the elections. We have given consistent messages about the importance of free and fair elections, good governance and the rule of law. The former Foreign Secretary raised these issues during his March visit to Sierra Leone and in a telephone call with President Bio on 7 August. It remains vital that Sierra Leone's political leaders support the democratic process and reduce the risk of civil unrest.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 16/11/2023 11:52:19 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1669594

registered interest
date	13/11/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Rye Hill Prison
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of implications for his policies of the findings in the 2022-23 annual report of the HMP Rye Hill Independent Monitoring Board that the prison has (a) inadequate resettlement support in place for those leaving and (b) significant challenges to maintaining fair and humane treatment; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of these findings on rates of recidivism.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
uin	1742
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2023 answer text <p>The care and rehabilitation of prisoners are matters that the Ministry of Justice and H M Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) take very seriously. We respond to all issues raised in reports we receive from Independent Monitoring Boards, and take action as appropriate.</p><p> </p><p>The report notes that finding accommodation in Approved Premises can be problematic. We recognise, and are addressing, this issue. In recent years we have undertaken an Approved Premises expansion programme, which has delivered 169 additional spaces, including the first purpose-built site. We are also developing a new digitalised approach to referrals, through a national Central Referral Unit that will oversee assessment for suitability and eligibility, and match individuals to placements, while maximising occupancy and use of Approved Premises capacity across the country. This new approach is being piloted in the North East. Underpinned by the Department’s demand analysis, it will enable HMPPS to improve timeliness and allow greater consistency and responsivity.</p><p> </p><p>The section of the Independent Monitoring Board’s report devoted to fair and humane treatment notes the challenges unavoidably arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, and comments favourably on the prison’s proactive approach in prioritising a return to business as usual, including arranging for prisoners to undertake activity on a daily basis. The report notes that, when interviewed, prisoners were understanding of the need for restrictions and appreciated the efforts the prison had made to return to a normal regime as quickly as possible through the year.</p><p> </p><p>We were encouraged to receive the Board’s comments on the extensive prisoner-led initiatives across a range of topics that have promoted a sense of community and improved staff and prisoner relationships. This can only be beneficial in improving prospects for successful resettlement and rehabilitation on release.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 16/11/2023 13:01:24 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1678236

registered interest
date	14/12/2023
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Gaza: Israel
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department has taken steps to monitor the Israeli military's compliance with international law in its military engagements in Gaza.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
uin	7145
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2023 answer text <p>Both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have met with a range of senior Israeli officials, including the Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Herzog, to discuss Israel's approach to the campaign in Gaza. They have stressed the critical importance of abiding by International Humanitarian Law, minimising civilian casualties, and of acting in a way that delivers long-term security.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 20/12/2023 17:48:23 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1678238

registered interest
date	14/12/2023
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Israel: Palestinians
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with reference to the Answer of 13 July 2020 to Question 68798 on Yemen: Military Intervention, how many incidents of alleged international humanitarian law violations have been logged in relation to the conduct of Israel in Gaza since October 2023.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
uin	7146
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/12/2023 answer text <p>Whether violations of International Humanitarian Law have occurred depends on numerous factors. We continue to call for International Humanitarian Law to be respected and civilians to be protected. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary continue to press these in engagements with Israeli counterparts.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 19/12/2023 17:25:40 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1678336

registered interest
date	15/12/2023
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Israel: Arms Trade
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the eligibility of arms export licenses to Israel since the start of the conflict in Gaza.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
uin	7230
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/12/2023 answer text <p>Every export licence application is assessed on a case by case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. As part of these assessments we take into account the nature of the equipment to be exported, the end user/s, and how the equipment is likely to be used. We also take into account our international commitments and obligations, which include the International Arms Trade Treaty. All licences are kept under careful and continual review as standard. We are able to suspend, refuse or revoke licences as circumstances require.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 28/12/2023 11:32:44 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1679733

registered interest
date	05/01/2024
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Israel: Palestinians
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with reference to the Answer of 13 July 2020 to Question 68798, whether his Department has recorded any incidents on its tracker database of alleged breaches or violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza in the last six months.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
uin	8211
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2024 answer text <p>We continue to closely monitor the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including with reference to alleged breaches or violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in Gaza. The UK supports Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas, but we are also clear that Israel must comply with IHL and protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza. We consistently raise this in our engagements with senior Israeli officials, including in the Prime Minister's discussions with Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Foreign Secretary's recent calls with the Foreign Minister and Ron Dermer, the Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 16/01/2024 11:48:36 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1680945

registered interest
date	09/01/2024
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Research: Tax Allowances
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to reduce the (a) time taken and (b) administrative burden for small- and medium-sized businesses to make research and development tax credit claims.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
uin	8856
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2024 answer text <p>At Spring Budget 2023 the Government announced a new permanent rate of relief for the most R&amp;D intensive loss-making small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The Government also announced at Autumn Statement 2023 the merging of the current SME and RDEC (Research and Development Expenditure Credit) tax relief schemes from April 2024, simplifying the system and providing greater support for UK companies to drive innovation. Changes were also made reducing the intensity threshold in the R&amp;D intensives scheme from April 2024, allowing around 5,000 extra SMEs to qualify for an enhanced rate of relief.</p><p> </p><p>From 8<sup>th</sup> August 2023 it became mandatory to provide detailed information upfront before submitting an R&amp;D claim, supporting claimants in getting their tax right and reducing the need for HMRC to ask for further information to check claims.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC also continues to promote the Advanced Assurance scheme to eligible SMEs (eligibility includes companies with a turnover of below £2 million and less than 50 employees) applying for R&amp;D tax relief for the first time, to give certainty and assure compliance with the R&amp;D tax regime.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston question first answered 15/01/2024 16:28:24 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1681270

registered interest
date	10/01/2024
answering body	Department for Business and Trade
answering dept id	214
answering dept short name	Business and Trade
answering dept sort name	Business and Trade
hansard heading	Arms Trade: Israel
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the oral evidence by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 9 January 2023, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policy on arms export licences to Israel of the evidence provided by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on whether Israel is complying with international law in its military engagement in Gaza.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
uin	9094
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2024 answer text <p>The Government continues to monitor closely the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.</p><p> </p><p>All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, which includes Criterion 2, covering respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country of final destination as well as respect by that country for international humanitarian law.</p><p> </p><p>Extant licences are kept under careful review and the Business and Trade Secretary has the power to suspend, revoke or amend extant licences as required.</p> answering member constituency Chelsea and Fulham answering member printed Greg Hands question first answered 15/01/2024 16:28:31 answering member 1526 label Biography information for Greg Hands
tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1681676

registered interest
date	11/01/2024
answering body	Department for Business and Trade
answering dept id	214
answering dept short name	Business and Trade
answering dept sort name	Business and Trade
hansard heading	Arms Trade: Israel
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on the applicability of Criterion 2(c) of the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria in reference to potential strategic export licenses to Israel.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
uin	9304
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2024 answer text <p>The Government continues to monitor closely the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, which includes Criterion 2(c) - the provision not to grant a licence if it is determined there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law.</p><p>Extant licences are kept under careful review and the Business and Trade Secretary has the power to suspend, revoke or amend extant licences as required.</p> answering member constituency Chelsea and Fulham answering member printed Greg Hands question first answered 16/01/2024 16:59:24 answering member 1526 label Biography information for Greg Hands
tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1682196

registered interest
date	15/01/2024
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Theatre: Corporation Tax
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Government’s draft legislative changes to part 15C of the Corporation Tax Act 2009 on (a) jobs and (b) new productions in the theatre sector; and if he will meet UK Theatre and the Society of London Theatre to discuss those changes.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
uin	9669
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2024 answer text <p>HMRC has published two information notes on Administrative changes to the creative industry tax reliefs and, Clarifications of the rules for cultural tax reliefs. These notes include impacts of the changes and can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/creative-industry-tax-reliefs-administrative-changes/administrative-changes-to-the-creative-industry-tax-reliefs" target="_blank">Administrative changes to the creative industry tax reliefs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a> and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/clarifications-of-the-rules-for-cultural-tax-reliefs" target="_blank">Clarifications of the rules for cultural tax reliefs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></p><p> </p><p>Officials held a meeting with Society of London Theatre to discuss the theatre tax relief draft legislative changes on 23 November 2023.</p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston question first answered 18/01/2024 16:48:56 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana