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 question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

99962

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
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	North Korea
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 level of imports to North Korea of luxury goods in 2013; what assessment they have made of the impact of such imports on the availability of food in that country, in the light of the World Food Programmes's analysis of the situation; and what assessment they have made about the number of goods which were imported from European states which are prohibited from selling luxury goods to North Korea under existing United Nations sanctions.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL2177
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) does not produce economic statistics, meaning the UK cannot make an accurate assessment on the level of imports of luxury goods. A recent report produced by the UN Panel of Experts, established under UN Security Council Resolutions imposing sanctions on the DPRK, notes ongoing investigations regarding potential violations of sanctions through the import of luxury goods, including some items originating from European states.</p><p>We are also aware of recent South Korean media reports which suggest that the DPRK imported luxury goods worth (US) $644m during 2013. However, given the lack of reliable data, it is difficult to assess the impact of the import of luxury goods on the provision of food for the general population. Should it be proven that the DPRK authorities chose to spend resources on luxury goods rather than feeding the population, this would not only be a deliberate breach of sanctions but would seriously call into question the regime’s economic prioritisation.</p><p>Despite generally good aggregate cereal harvests for the fourth consecutive year in 2014/15, 16 million people remain chronically food insecure and highly vulnerable to production shocks. The UN Food and Agricultural Organisation/World Food Programme Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission to the DPRK 2013, reported an estimated uncovered food deficit of 40,000 tonnes for that marketing year. The report stated that the food security situation remained similar to previous years with most households having borderline and poor food consumption.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 03/11/2014 14:56:24 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

99966

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
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	Iraq
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of Amnesty International’s reports of the discovery of unidentified bodies apparently subjected to executions and its allegations of human rights violations perpetrated by Iraqi government forces; and what discussions they have had with the new government of Iraq about entrenching fundamental human rights principles in law and practice and putting in place mechanisms to hold those responsible to account.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL2181
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2014 answer text The Government strongly condemns any and all abuses or violations of human rights. We have received reports from Amnesty International and others that Iraqi Security Forces have committed human rights violations in Iraq. Concerns also remain around unlawful detention, as well as deficiencies within the Iraqi justice system more generally. The newly formed Government of Iraq has committed to tackling these issues. We welcome the commitments made by Prime Minister al-Abadi to reorganising the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), integrating volunteer civilian fighters and dissolving militia groups, and his order on 13 September to ISF units fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) not to shell in civilian areas, with the aim of preventing civilian casualties. The UK fully supports the Iraqi government in this as well as its efforts to uphold the rule of law and bring those responsible for all violations and abuses of human rights to justice. At the Human Rights Council in September we co-sponsored a resolution which strongly condemns ISIL and also stresses the need for accountability. The resolution was passed by consensus and mandates the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to despatch an urgent mission to investigate and report on ISIL abuses. answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 04/11/2014 17:17:20 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

99967

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
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	Pakistan
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the authorities in Pakistan arising from the decision of the Lahore High Court to reject the appeal of Asia Bibi, and to order her execution, following charges of alleged blasphemy.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL2182
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>I am concerned to hear that a Pakistan court has upheld the imposition of the death penalty in the case of Asia Bibi. We support the EU’s recent statement of concern and hope that the verdict will be overturned on appeal. We regularly raise at the highest levels the misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan both against Muslims and against religious minorities. We have consistently pressed the Government of Pakistan on the issue of the death penalty and expressed our principled opposition in all cases. We will continue to raise these issues.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 03/11/2014 15:02:25 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

99978

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
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	Wind Power: Planning Permission
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many applications for planning permission for land-based wind turbines were refused by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in the most recent 12 months for which information is available; and how such decisions are reconciled with (1) their policy of localism, and (2) the United Kingdom's commitment to carbon reduction.
tabling member printed	Lord Avebury
uin	HL2193
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>I have interpreted this question as asking about planning applications which have been called-in for decision by the Secretary of State (as opposed to decisions on appeals).</p><p><br></p><p>No planning applications for onshore wind turbines called-in within the last 12 months have been refused.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 05/11/2014 13:14:05 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	1665 label Biography information for Lord Avebury

99980

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Unmanned Air Vehicles
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the growth of the use of military, commercial, and private drones, what plans, if any, they have to license or control their use, especially in relation to the potential aural and visual impact of non-military drones on urban, rural and coastal airspaces.
tabling member printed	Lord Stone of Blackheath
uin	HL2195
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>Civilian Remotely Piloted Aircraft operations are closely regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority and are treated in the same manner as that of an equivalent manned aircraft. However, until such time that remotely piloted aircraft systems can demonstrate that they are both airworthy and capable of avoiding other airspace users, all operations must be contained within segregated airspace, to which access for manned aircraft is prevented or closely controlled.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Transport is currently developing its policy in respect of civil Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, and in 2015 intends to engage in a public dialogue on issues such as environmental impact, safety and privacy.</p> answering member printed Baroness Kramer question first answered 03/11/2014 16:05:11 answering member 1557 label Biography information for Baroness Kramer
tabling member	2222 label Biography information for Lord Stone of Blackheath

93701

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Entry Clearances
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many applications from outside the United Kingdom for entry clearance visas for work, using certificates of sponsorship from employers, were made in the last four years; how many applications were made for extensions of stay for work using certificates of sponsorship from employers from within the United Kingdom in the same four years; and what were the top 20 employers overall making applications.
tabling member printed	Lord Laird
uin	HL2130
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>The published figures related to numbers of certificates of sponsorship (CoS) used in applications, and are shown in table 1 below.</p><p>The latest Home Office immigration statistics, including those for CoS used in applications for entry clearance visas and for extensions of stay, are published in the release Immigration Statistics April – June 2014, tables cs_03 and cs_04 (Sponsorship), which is available from the Library of the House and on the Department’s website at:</p><p>https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release</p><p> </p><p>Sponsors do not make applications for visas or for extensions of stay. Table 2 provides information on the names of licensees associated with the highest number of Certificates of Sponsorship used in the period 2010-2014, for Tier 2 and Tier 5,</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Table 1</p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="5"><p><strong>Applicants for visas and extensions of stay using sponsorship certificates, Tiers 2 and 5</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>2013</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Tier 2 (Skilled work)</strong></p></td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>Entry clearance visa</p></td><td><p>42,433</p></td><td><p>39,511</p></td><td><p>40,742</p></td><td><p>47,845</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Extension of stay</p></td><td><p>20,621</p></td><td><p>17,744</p></td><td><p>27,815</p></td><td><p>35,195</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="3"><p><strong>Tier 5 (Youth mobility and temporary work)</strong></p></td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>Entry clearance visa</p></td><td><p>36,594</p></td><td><p>38,232</p></td><td><p>40,296</p></td><td><p>43,209</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Extension of stay</p></td><td><p>310</p></td><td><p>321</p></td><td><p>397</p></td><td><p>554</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>Source</p></td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="5"><p><em>Immigration Statistics April – June 2014</em>, tables cs_03 and cs_04 (Sponsorship)</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="5"><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release</a></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><br>Table 2</p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Sponsoring employers associated with the highest numbers of CoS used in the period 2010 to 2013</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>CoS used in Tier 2 applications</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>CoS used in Tier 5 applications</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Tata Consultancy Services</p></td><td><p>THE AGENCY GROUP LTD</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cognizant Technology Solutions Ltd</p></td><td><p>The Underworld</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wipro Technologies</p></td><td><p>Creative Artists Agency UK Ltd</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Infosys Limited</p></td><td><p>Live Nation (Music) UK Ltd</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Accenture (UK) Limited</p></td><td><p>BUNAC</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>IBM UK Ltd</p></td><td><p>William Morris Endeavor Entertainment (U.K.) Ltd</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>HCL GREAT BRITAIN LIMITED</p></td><td><p>Gricind Ltd. t/a ITB</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Tech Mahindra Limited</p></td><td><p>Culture Arts Ltd</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>HSBC Holdings plc</p></td><td><p>Universal Music Operations Ltd.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>JPMorganChase &amp; Co.</p></td><td><p>X-R Touring LLP</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Ernst &amp; Young</p></td><td><p>The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Great Britain)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP</p></td><td><p>Primary Talent International Limited</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Capgemini PLC</p></td><td><p>P &amp; IAS Ltd.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND GROUP PLC</p></td><td><p>Godolphin Management Company Limited</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Deloitte LLP</p></td><td><p>Coda Music Agency LLP</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>DB Group Services (UK) Ltd</p></td><td><p>Mama New Music Limited</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Satyam Computer Services Ltd</p></td><td><p>3A Entertainment Ltd</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>University of Oxford</p></td><td><p>AEG Live (UK) Ltd</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Goldman Sachs International</p></td><td><p>T&amp;S Immigration Services Ltd.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Barclays Capital Services</p></td><td><p>TIN ANGEL PRODUCTIONS LTD</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>Source</p></td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>UKVI Sponsorship Management System</p></td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 05/11/2014 14:33:35 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	2479 label Biography information for Lord Laird