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174736

registered interest
date	20/01/2015
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Hamas
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken in response to the decision of the General Court of the European Union on Hamas.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	221360
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2015 answer text <p>The EU General Court judgment is procedural and does not mean the EU and UK have changed their position on Hamas. The effects of the EU Hamas listing, including asset freezes, remain in place. We are studying the detail of the judgment carefully, and will work with partners to ensure that the Hamas listing at the EU is maintained. Hamas’ military wing has been proscribed in the UK since 2001 under separate UK legislation. This is not affected by the EU General Court judgment.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 27/01/2015 14:43:18 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

171608

registered interest
date	18/12/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Abduction: Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance overseas posts provide to UK nationals who are seeking the return of their child from a country that is not party to the 1980 Hague Convention.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	219490
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/01/2015 answer text <p>The UK lobbies countries that are not signatories of the 1980 Hague Convention to sign it. Cases involving non-Hague convention signatories are much harder to resolve and parents often face lengthy and expensive court proceedings abroad to try to facilitate their return.</p><p>Whilst the FCO cannot interfere in another country’s judicial process, where due process is not being followed, or cases take a disproportionately long time to resolve, we raise this with our appropriate counterparts.</p><p>There are a number of steps that parents can take if their child is taken overseas without their consent. We encourage parents to contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office consular officials who can provide further guidance.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 06/01/2015 13:56:44 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

170764

registered interest
date	16/12/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Travellers: Caravan Sites
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment the Department has made of the prevalence of the use of pre-emptive injunctions to protect land from unauthorised encampments.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	219045
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/01/2015 answer text <p>The Government is concerned about the cost and disruption that can be caused by unauthorised encampments. In August 2013, we sent all council leaders in England updated guidance <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dealing-with-illegal-and-unauthorised-encampments-a-summary-of-available-powers" target="_blank">(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dealing-with-illegal-and-unauthorised-encampments-a-summary-of-available-powers</a>) reminding them to act swiftly and setting out the strong powers councils and landowners have to deal with illegal and unauthorised encampments, including the use of pre-emptive injunctions. There are concerns about reports that, at times, the police and local authorities, have not been willing to use powers available to them. The Department will therefore be looking to have discussions with Ministerial colleagues to look at what more we can do to help councils and the police deal effectively with unauthorised encampments.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis grouped question UIN 219043 question first answered 06/01/2015 17:27:52 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

170765

registered interest
date	16/12/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Travellers: Caravan Sites
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department issues to local authorities to ensure they understand their powers to remove unauthorised encampments.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	219043
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/01/2015 answer text <p>The Government is concerned about the cost and disruption that can be caused by unauthorised encampments. In August 2013, we sent all council leaders in England updated guidance <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dealing-with-illegal-and-unauthorised-encampments-a-summary-of-available-powers" target="_blank">(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dealing-with-illegal-and-unauthorised-encampments-a-summary-of-available-powers</a>) reminding them to act swiftly and setting out the strong powers councils and landowners have to deal with illegal and unauthorised encampments, including the use of pre-emptive injunctions. There are concerns about reports that, at times, the police and local authorities, have not been willing to use powers available to them. The Department will therefore be looking to have discussions with Ministerial colleagues to look at what more we can do to help councils and the police deal effectively with unauthorised encampments.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis grouped question UIN 219045 question first answered 06/01/2015 17:27:52 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

166951

registered interest
date	01/12/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Green Belt
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what further steps his Department has taken to help local authorities execute their responsibilities in relation to plan-making and protection for the greenbelt.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	216573
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/01/2015 answer text <p>The Coalition Government has ensured that strong protections for the Green Belt are in place. The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that most types of new building are inappropriate in Green Belt and by definition, harmful to it. Such development should not be approved except in very special circumstances. Green Belt boundaries can be altered only in exceptional circumstances following local consultation and independent scrutiny of the Local Plan. The total amount of Green Belt in England has remained constant at 13 per cent.<br><br>In October we issued additional guidance to help local authorities allocate land appropriately in Local Plans [http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/blog/guidance/housing-and-economic-land-availability-assessment/stage-5-final-evidence-base/]. This underlines the importance of Green Belt protection.<br><br><br>The Localism Act 2011 has strengthened the role of Local Plans and abolished the last Administration's top-down Regional Strategies which sought to delete the Green Belt in and around 30 towns and cities. Our streamlined Framework strongly encourages areas to get up-to-date Local Plans in place, and we have been actively supporting councils in doing so. We have recently seen a major improvement: 80 per cent of authorities now have a published Plan. To place this in context, six years after the Labour Government's 2004 Planning Act, by May 2010, only one in six local planning authorities had an adopted Core Strategy, reflecting how the tortuous regional planning process slowed down development and stymied local plan-making and local decision-making.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 06/01/2015 17:22:49 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

166733

registered interest
date	28/11/2014
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Bivalve Molluscs: Non-native Species
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Contingency Invasive Species Action Plan for the Quagga mussel will be published and considered for implementation.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	216378
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2014 answer text <p>A Contingency Invasive Species Action Plan was being developed prior to the arrival of the quagga mussel in Great Britain. However, once the mussel was detected, immediate contingency measures were considered and put in place. These included communicating its presence to water sport users and Thames Water to help prevent further spread of the species via the ‘Check, Clean, Dry ‘campaign. All involved have been working constructively together. The Environment Agency continues to monitor for further quagga mussel populations. The development of an Invasive Species Action Plan to manage this and other similar species will now be considered for development.</p><p><br></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 04/12/2014 11:01:50 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

166792

registered interest
date	28/11/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Harassment: Social Media
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to prevent people who have been convicted for online harassment or hate crime accessing any other social media internet platforms.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	216377
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The Government is absolutely clear that abusive or threatening behaviour, or harassment, online or offline, is totally unacceptable. A number of offences may be committed by such behaviour, in particular under section 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988 or section 127 of the Communications Act 2003. Changes to the law being taken forward in the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill will help to ensure that people who commit those offences are prosecuted and properly punished. Online harassment could also amount to an offence under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 if it is carried out as part of a ‘course of conduct’ which amounts to harassment or puts someone in fear of violence. Where any crime is motivated by or demonstrates hatred based on certain characteristics (such as sexual orientation) of the victim, the courts must take this into account in passing sentence.</p><p> </p><p>The Government expects social media companies to have robust processes in place to respond promptly when abuse is reported; including acting quickly to assess the report, removing content which does not comply with the acceptable use policies or terms and conditions in place and, where appropriate, suspending or terminating the accounts of those breaching the rules in place.</p><p> </p><p>Where a convicted offender receives a community order or a suspended sentence order the court may impose requirements, including a prohibited activity requirement, which could be used to restrict use of the internet or social media.</p><p> </p><p>Where a convicted offender receives an immediate custodial sentence and is released on licence a condition could be imposed to limit the offender’s access and use of the internet. Licence conditions are set by the prison governor or Parole Board.</p><p> </p><p>We have no plans for further legislation to inhibit convicted offenders from accessing social media.</p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara question first answered 05/12/2014 14:58:06 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

166556

registered interest
date	27/11/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Palestinians
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent reports his Department has received on the efforts of the Palestinian Authority to access water from the Eastern Mountain Aquifer.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	216257
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/12/2014 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not received any reports on the efforts of the Palestinian Authority to access water from the Eastern Mountain Aquifer. However, the UK regularly raises issues of water in the Occupied Palestinian Territories with the Israeli authorities, including stressing the urgent need for Israel to take immediate and practical measures to improve the current unacceptable situation and ensure fair distribution of water in the West Bank and Gaza.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 03/12/2014 12:48:25 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

166587

registered interest
date	27/11/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Death Certificates
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his policy is on enabling public registrars to print the full postal address including postcodes on death certificates.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	216255
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/12/2014 answer text <p>The information contained in a death certificate is set in statute. The usual addresses of the deceased and the informant are collected primarily for identification purposes and may include postcodes where this is provided by the informant.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 03/12/2014 15:18:53 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

92891

registered interest
date	13/10/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Sri Lanka
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the accuracy of reports that Tamils deported to Sri Lanka have been subjected to torture and sexual abuse.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	210112
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p>This Government fully complies with all of its international obligations under the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the European Convention on Human Rights. The Home Office assesses each asylum and human rights claim case carefully on its individual merits, taking full account of the latest available country information, case law and UNHCR Eligibility Guidelines for Assessing the Internal Protection Needs of Asylum Seekers. Individuals who face a risk of ill treatment, including torture, on return to Sri Lanka will be granted international protection, and would not be returned. The British Government is aware of cases of torture happens in Sri Lanka and we regularly raise it with the Sri Lankan authorities.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 20/10/2014 15:27:01 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord