Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered question first ministerially corrected answering member label previous answer version answering member printed answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1313609

registered interest
date	11/05/2021
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	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Staff
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office staff were based in (1) Hong Kong, and (2) China, in (a) 2018, (b) 2019, (c) 2020 and (d) 2021.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL1
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/05/2021 answer text <table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>We have interpreted the question to mean how many staff were employed by the then Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Department for International Development (DfID) in China and Hong Kong in each of the financial years, (a) 2018, (b) 2019 and (c) 2020 and as Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in 2021. All the figures shown are based on the headcount as at 31 March in each year. They include both UK Based Staff and Country Based Staff.</p><p>The figures below cover our Embassies and Consulates in Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Wuhan. And our Consulate General in Hong Kong.</p><p><em>China and Hong Kong staff numbers 2018 to 2020 as Legacy departments. Then as FCDO in 2021. </em></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>China</p></td><td><p>Hong Kong</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p><em>FCO</em></p></td><td><p><em>DfID</em></p></td><td><p><em>FCO </em></p></td><td><p><em>DfID</em></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><em>2018</em></p></td><td><p>230-259</p></td><td><p>12</p></td><td><p>60-69</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><em>2019</em></p></td><td><p>240-269</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>50-59</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><em>2020</em></p></td><td><p>250-279</p></td><td><p>11</p></td><td><p>50-59</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr></tbody></table><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>China</p></td><td><p>Hong Kong</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p><em>FCDO</em></p></td><td><p><em>FCDO</em></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021</p></td><td><p>260 - 289</p></td><td><p>40 -49</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 25/05/2021 14:31:57 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1313610

registered interest
date	11/05/2021
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	Tigray: Armed Conflict
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of targeted killings of Ethiopian Orthodox priests in Tigray; and what action they are taking as a result.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL2
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2021 answer text <p>As the Minister of State responsible for human rights issues for the Foreign, Commonwealth &amp; Development Office, I tweeted on 11 May to express my deep sadness at the reported murder of priests in Tigray. This is one of a deluge of horrifying reports of atrocities coming out of Tigray. Civilians must be protected and the violence must stop.</p><p>The G7, under the UK Presidency, issued a statement on 2 April and a Communiqué on 5 May condemning human rights violations and abuses. The UK also condemned in the strongest terms the reported killings of civilians via a joint statement on Ethiopia with 41 other countries at the 46th Session of the Human Rights Council. We support the UN's call for a &quot;zero tolerance&quot; policy and welcome the UN Security Council's 22 April Press Statement expressing their deep concern about allegations of human rights violations and abuses in the Tigray region. The UK will support the UN Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights to ensure that their joint investigations with the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission into atrocities in Tigray are independent, transparent and impartial and that those responsible for these human rights abuses are held to account. The Foreign Secretary, Minister for Africa and our Ambassador in Addis continue to raise human rights issues in their discussions with the Ethiopian government.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 24/05/2021 11:03:31 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1313611

registered interest
date	11/05/2021
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	Nigeria: Christianity
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of the murder and abduction of Christians in Nigeria; and what discussions they have had with the government of Nigeria about these reports.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL3
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2021 answer text <p>The Government condemns violence against civilians of all religions in Nigeria. In the North East, terrorist groups including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa, have abducted and killed individuals from Christian and Muslim communities. These groups target all those who do not subscribe to their extremist views. We are deeply concerned for the welfare of those still held in captivity by these groups. The UK Government is providing a comprehensive package of humanitarian and stabilisation assistance to support communities affected by the conflict. We are also concerned by recent criminal attacks on schools in Northern Nigeria, which have targeted students of all religions. We continue to raise these cases with the Nigerian Government.</p><p>Intercommunal violence also has a devastating impact on affected communities. The underlying drivers of violence are complex, and frequently relate to competition over resources and increasing criminality. The Minister for Africa visited Nigeria in April and discussed increasing insecurity across the country with the President’s Chief of Staff, Foreign Minister and community leaders. We continue to encourage the Nigerian Government to take urgent action to implement long-term solutions that address the root causes of violence.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 24/05/2021 11:07:03 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1313612

registered interest
date	11/05/2021
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	Religious Freedom
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the treatment of non-religious people globally and, in particular, in countries where the human rights of non-religious people are not being upheld.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL4
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/05/2021 answer text <p><ins class="ministerial">Members of non-religious communities continue to be victims of harassment and persecution, despite progress over recent years with the promotion of freedom of religion or belief for all. The UK Government remains deeply concerned about the severity and scale of violations and abuses of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all in many parts of the world. Protecting freedom of religion or belief for all faiths, and none, remains a priority for the UK Government. As the Minister responsible for Human Rights, I underlined these points at the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist’ Group Annual General Meeting on 24 May.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">I also work closely with the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for FoRB, Fiona Bruce MP. In addition to championing FoRB, Mrs Bruce represents the UK at meetings of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance to advocate for the rights of individuals being discriminated against or persecuted on the basis of their faith or belief, including members of non-religious communities.</ins></p><p><del class="ministerial">The UK is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all, and promoting respect between different religious and non-religious communities. Promoting the right to FoRB for all, including individuals from non-religious communities, is one of the UK's longstanding human rights priorities. On a country level, Ministers and officials regularly raise specific cases of concern, and discuss practices and laws that discriminate on the basis of religion or belief. On a multilateral level, we work within the UN, OSCE, Council of Europe, International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance ('Alliance') and other international organisations and networks to promote and protect FoRB for all where it is threatened.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">As the Minister responsible for Human Rights I underlined the UK's commitment to FoRB for all, in a number of international meetings in November 2020, speaking at the Ministerial to Advance FoRB and the Ministers' Forum of the Alliance. On 20 December 2020, the Prime Minister reaffirmed his commitment to FoRB by appointing Fiona Bruce MP as his Special Envoy for FoRB. Mrs Bruce represents the UK at meetings of the Alliance who work to advocate for the rights of individuals being discriminated against or persecuted on the basis of their faith or belief.</del></p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 25/05/2021 16:51:39 question first ministerially corrected 25/05/2021 17:00:48 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon previous answer version 2675 answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1313613

registered interest
date	11/05/2021
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Driving: Disqualification
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 29 April (HL15320), how many times the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency revoked the driving licence of a driver who reached 12 points on their driving licence in each of the last 10 years.
tabling member printed	Lord Berkeley
uin	HL5
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2021 answer text <p>Only a court can disqualify an individual from driving under the “totting up” provisions whereby a driver can be disqualified by accruing 12 or more penalty points. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s role is to update the drivers' database with endorsement information received from courts.</p><p> </p><p>The table below shows the number of totting up disqualifications since 2017. Information is not available for the full period requested as endorsements are removed from drivers’ records after set periods of time in line with the requirements set out in law. As such, records for 2017 and 2021 are partial years.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>2020</p></td><td><p>2021</p></td><td><p>Total</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>17,326</p></td><td><p>38,867</p></td><td><p>39,205</p></td><td><p>34,020</p></td><td><p>15,690</p></td><td><p>145,108</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 18/05/2021 14:49:16 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
tabling member	3526 label Biography information for Lord Berkeley

1313614

registered interest
date	11/05/2021
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	High Speed 2 Line: Chilterns
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what conditions the Environment Agency has imposed on HS2 in connection with the construction of the Chiltern Tunnel; and whether they will publish copies of all documents issued by the Environment Agency in connection with their consent to construction of the Chiltern tunnel.
tabling member printed	Lord Berkeley
uin	HL6
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/05/2021 answer text <p>The conditions imposed on the construction of the Chiltern Tunnel are within the relevant consents that have been issued by the Environment Agency. The consent for the construction of the tunnel (HS2/P10191) will be deposited in the Library of the House. The related consents for water discharge (EPR-QB3092NR) and waste treatment (FB3709KP) at the Chilterns Tunnel South Portal are held on the public register.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 25/05/2021 16:22:54 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	3526 label Biography information for Lord Berkeley

1313615

registered interest
date	11/05/2021
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	Development Aid and UK Export Finance: Carbon Emissions
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many countries that have received UK Export Finance or Overseas Development Assistance since 2016 have credible long-term decarbonisation strategies, including nationally determined contributions.
tabling member printed	Baroness Blackstone
uin	HL7
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/05/2021 answer text <p>The Government is committed to using Official Development Assistance and export finance to support countries on their pathway to decarbonisation. Since 2011/12, UK International Climate Finance has provided 33 million people with improved access to clean energy, avoided 31 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and installed 2,000 MW in clean energy capacity. Examples of UK Export Finance for decarbonisation include £27 million of support for a solar-powered clean water project in Ghana and over £230 million of support for off-shore wind farms in Taiwan.</p><p>The Government's new policy on support for the fossil fuel energy sector overseas is a further demonstration of the UK's commitment to alignment with the Paris Agreement. 76 countries that have received UK ODA or export finance since 2016 have submitted new or updated NDCs to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as at 14 May 2021. As COP26 President, the UK acknowledges the considerable value of collective efforts to accelerate progress on clean energy. That is why the UK is actively seeking commitments from other countries to adopt more ambitious NDCs and Long-Term Strategies, including adopting an approach to fossil fuel investment as ambitious as the UK's.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 25/05/2021 16:33:52 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	3561 label Biography information for Baroness Blackstone

1313616

registered interest
date	11/05/2021
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	Veterinary Services
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to investigate the takeover of private veterinary practices by private equity firms with no veterinary qualifications and allegations of profiteering.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL8
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/05/2021 answer text <p>Anyone practising as a veterinary surgeon, regardless of the ownership of the practice, needs to be registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and has a duty to provide care ensuring that animal health and welfare is their first consideration. Any concerns about the ownership or commercial practices of businesses should be directed to the Competition and Markets Authority.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon grouped question UIN HL12 HL9 question first answered 25/05/2021 14:16:55 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1313617

registered interest
date	11/05/2021
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	Veterinary Services
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the (1) British Veterinary Association, and (2) Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, about possible diminution of veterinary care in veterinary companies owned by private equity firms concerned with maximising profits instead of making animal health and welfare their first consideration.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL9
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/05/2021 answer text <p>Anyone practising as a veterinary surgeon, regardless of the ownership of the practice, needs to be registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and has a duty to provide care ensuring that animal health and welfare is their first consideration. Any concerns about the ownership or commercial practices of businesses should be directed to the Competition and Markets Authority.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon grouped question UIN HL12 HL8 question first answered 25/05/2021 14:16:55 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1313618

registered interest
date	11/05/2021
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	Cats: Meloxicam
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the US Food and Drug Administration including boxed warning labels on Metacam (Meloxicam) due to the risks associated with acute renal failure and death in cats, what steps they are taking to ensure similar warnings are in place on all boxes of Metacam sold to vets in the UK.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL10
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/05/2021 answer text <p>There are three Metacam products authorised for use in cats in the UK:</p><p> </p><p>- Metacam 5 mg/ml solution for injection for dogs and cats</p><p>- Metacam 2mg/ml solution for injection for cats</p><p>- Metacam 0.5 mg/ml oral suspension for cats and guinea pigs</p><p> </p><p>All three products already include warnings relating to renal failure and therefore veterinary surgeons in the UK are aware of the risk of renal failure with the use of Metacam in cats.</p><p> </p><p>In 2019, the marketing authorisation holder for Metacam was requested to provide an analysis of all cases of renal failure and death in cats. The company provided data comparing the use of the product and the frequency of cases in the United States (US) with those in the EU. This demonstrated a significantly higher incidence of off-label use (use of the product not in accordance with the product information), renal failure and fatalities in the US compared with the EU. Vets are allowed to use veterinary medicinal products off-label in certain circumstances. However, the Metacam data does not indicate that the incidence of such use is as prevalent in the EU or the UK as in the US. It was concluded that vets in the EU and UK were already aware of the risks of renal failure with off-label use and the product information included sufficient warnings relating to the correct use and associated risks. The company was requested to continue specifically to monitor cases of renal failure in cats.</p><p> </p><p>Based on a review of the data over the past 10 years, the incidence of renal failure in the UK following use of Metacam in cats has gradually decreased from one in 200,000 to one in a million, supporting the view that vets are now even more aware of the risks associated with off-label use.</p><p> </p><p>The Veterinary Medicines Directorate will continue to consider the scientific evidence to inform further action as required and the consistency of product information and warnings for all meloxicam products.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon grouped question UIN HL11 question first answered 25/05/2021 14:28:37 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra