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1233159

registered interest
date	09/09/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Suicide
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with media regulators, including Ofcom and IPSO, on the reporting of suicide; what assessment they have made of the impact of reporting relating to assisted suicide; and what plans they have to review their guidance to ensure that public broadcasters include details of the Samaritans or other support services when reporting on suicide and assisted suicide stories.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL7956
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/09/2020 answer text <p>Every suicide is a tragedy which has a devastating and enduring impact on families and communities. The Government is taking action in this area, including launching the first Cross-Government Suicide Prevention Strategy, which sets out an ambitious programme across national and local government and the NHS.</p><p>The Government does not review editorial content, as broadcast regulation is a matter for Ofcom. Ofcom has the power to set rules in its Broadcasting Code for broadcasters to meet in order to ensure UK audiences are adequately protected from harmful content. Ofcom’s Guidelines, which advise broadcasters on meeting the rules, includes advice on providing specific helplines where a programme has dealt with a particularly sensitive issue.</p><p>The government is committed to a free and independent press, and does not, therefore, seek to intervene in the decisions or activities of newspapers or regulators, including IPSO. IPSO’s Editors’ Code of Practice sets out the rules that newspapers and magazines regulated by IPSO have agreed to follow, including on reporting suicide.</p><p>In response to COVID-19, the Government announced £9.2 million of additional funding to support mental health charities, including Samaritans and CALM. Samaritans published updated media guidelines resources at the beginning of August and created a new online hub of resources, covering additional topics to help journalists and programme makers further understand the issues surrounding suicidal behaviour and offering practical tips on covering these topics.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 16/09/2020 15:48:23 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1233160

registered interest
date	09/09/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Palliative Care and Suicide
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to mandate the inclusion of details of mental health charities, NHS support and groups such as the Samaritans to be published whenever newspapers or broadcasters report (1) on suicide, (2) on assisted suicide, and (3) on palliative care.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL7957
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/09/2020 answer text <p>Every suicide is a tragedy which has a devastating and enduring impact on families and communities. The Government is taking action in this area, including launching the first Cross-Government Suicide Prevention Strategy, which sets out an ambitious programme across national and local government and the NHS. In response to COVID-19, the Government announced £9.2million of additional funding to support mental health charities, including Samaritans and CALM</p><p>The editorial and operational decisions of broadcasters are independent from the Government. Ofcom, the UK’s independent broadcast regulator, sets rules in its Broadcasting Code for licensed broadcasters to meet to ensure UK audiences are adequately protected from harmful content. Ofcom advises in its Guidelines that where a programme has dealt with a particularly sensitive issue, broadcasters may wish to provide a helpline specific to that issue.</p><p>The Cross-Government Suicide Prevention Strategy sets out the importance of responsible media reporting of suicide. The Government is committed to a free and independent press, and does not, therefore, seek to intervene in the decisions or activities of newspapers or regulators. Newspapers either self-regulate or are regulated by independent regulators; which include IPSO and IMPRESS. These regulators issue codes of conduct which set out the rules that newspapers and magazines have agreed to follow, including on reporting suicide.</p><p>IPSO has also produced guidance for journalists on reporting suicide, including signposting to sources of support by providing the contact details for The Samaritans, PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide, or other relevant organisations, in any articles reporting on a suicide.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 16/09/2020 15:47:36 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1232188

registered interest
date	08/09/2020
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	Ethiopia: 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 that more than 500 Christians have been killed in coordinated attacks in Ethiopia since June; and what steps they are taking to assist the government of Ethiopia (1) to identify the perpetrators, and (2) to bring those responsible to justice.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL7919
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2020 answer text <p>The UK is concerned by reports of violence between ethnic groups in Ethiopia following the murder of Hachalu Hundessa on 29 June, and the widespread violence that followed in Addis Ababa and the Oromia region. The Minister for Africa visited Ethiopia from 27 - 29 July and was able to discuss these events with the President, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and the President of Oromia Region. He pushed for full and transparent investigations on the violence and that those detained are afforded due process and their cases heard promptly. The Minister for Africa also expressed the need for more peaceful dialogue between different ethnic groups in Ethiopia and for space to be given for political debate. We shall continue to monitor the situation and to raise the importance of respect for human rights in meetings with the Ethiopian Government and regional leaders.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 22/09/2020 12:37:58 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1232189

registered interest
date	08/09/2020
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	USA: International Criminal Court
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 impact of the sanctions imposed by the government of the United States on the International Criminal Court's (1) Chief Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, and (2) Head of the Jurisdiction, Complementarity and Cooperation Division, Phakiso Mochochoko.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL7920
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2020 answer text <p>The UK has always been, and remains, a strong supporter of an effective ICC. While we believe that positive reform is required for the ICC to fulfil its mandate as intended under the Rome Statute, and we are working with the Court and other States Parties to achieve this, we also believe that Court officials must be able to carry out their work independently and impartially, without fear of sanction. We are discussing the impact of the US sanctions with the Court and our international partners.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon grouped question UIN HL7921 question first answered 22/09/2020 12:40:14 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1232190

registered interest
date	08/09/2020
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	USA: International Criminal Court
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 impact of the sanctions imposed by the government of the United States on the International Criminal Court's (ICC) (1) Chief Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, and (2) Head of the Jurisdiction, Complementarity and Cooperation Division, Phakiso Mochochoko, on the operation of the ICC.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL7921
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2020 answer text <p>The UK has always been, and remains, a strong supporter of an effective ICC. While we believe that positive reform is required for the ICC to fulfil its mandate as intended under the Rome Statute, and we are working with the Court and other States Parties to achieve this, we also believe that Court officials must be able to carry out their work independently and impartially, without fear of sanction. We are discussing the impact of the US sanctions with the Court and our international partners.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon grouped question UIN HL7920 question first answered 22/09/2020 12:40:14 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1232085

registered interest
date	07/09/2020
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	Hong Kong: Arrests
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, what consular assistance they are able to provide to those who have been arrested, or are in fear of arrest, in Hong Kong.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL7841
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2020 answer text <p>The consular assistance we provide to British nationals in Hong Kong, as elsewhere, is set out in our publicly-available guide entitled 'Support for British Nationals Abroad'. We also publish information on Gov.uk which explains the legal and prison system to British nationals who are imprisoned in Hong Kong.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 21/09/2020 13:26:50 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1232086

registered interest
date	07/09/2020
answering body	Department for International Trade
answering dept id	202
answering dept short name	International Trade
answering dept sort name	International Trade
hansard heading	Trade Agreements: Human Rights
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in developing a cross-departmental human rights threshold for inclusion in any (1) current and forthcoming trade and telecommunications agreements, and (2) other legislation.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL7842
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2020 answer text <p>HM Government has a strong history of promoting our values globally. While our approach to agreements will vary between partners, our strong economic relationships allow us to have open discussions on a range of difficult issues, including rights and responsibilities.</p> answering member printed Lord Grimstone of Boscobel question first answered 21/09/2020 16:20:25 answering member 4876 label Biography information for Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1232088

registered interest
date	07/09/2020
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	World Food Programme
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people they estimate are beneficiaries of UK contributions to World Food Programme projects; what assessment they have made of the impact of the reduction in global economies on those programmes; and what assessment they have made of the likelihood that current contribution levels will be maintained.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL7843
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2020 answer text <p>UK contributions constitute 8.7% of the overall contributions and proportionally, UK has supported 7.5 million people (in 2019).</p><p>World Food Programme (WFP) is raising awareness on the secondary impacts and economic implications of COVID-19, likely to result in a massive reduction of vulnerable households' purchasing power, compromising their access to food.</p><p>So far WFP has not seen any reduction in contributions due to COVID-19. Their global forecast for 2020 remains at 7.7 billion USD, down just slightly from the 8 billion in USD received in 2019. If there is an impact, it might be seen in 2021. As of 30 August 2020, the UK was the third largest Government donor to the WFP, with total contributions of 274.5 million USD.</p><p>The UK will be making further contributions to WFP during the remainder of the year, with these decisions being taken in consideration of country needs and available resources. The appointment of the UK famine envoy is a further sign of our commitment to preventing famine and eradicating hunger and we will work closely with WFP to ensure that the organisation receives the financial support needed to tackle the current and future challenge.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 21/09/2020 14:58:12 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1231360

registered interest
date	03/09/2020
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	Hong Kong: Politics and Government
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 decision to remove references to the separation of powers and its impact on judicial independence and other aspects of “one country, two systems" in text books in Hong Kong.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL7744
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/09/2020 answer text <p>The Joint Declaration vests Hong Kong with executive, legislative and independent judicial power, and the executive is accountable to the legislature. It is imperative that the roles of these branches, as envisaged by the Joint Declaration, are respected, and that Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy remains intact.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 17/09/2020 15:46:10 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1230947

registered interest
date	02/09/2020
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	Pakistan: Schools
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 that £50 million of UK funding was provided for the construction of classrooms in areas of Pakistan after being warned that it was an earthquake zone, and that the classrooms were subsequently abandoned; what education provision is now available to the children who were to be taught in those schools; and who took the decisions to provide that funding.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL7580
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/09/2020 answer text <p>Independent assessments commissioned by FCDO found that some school buildings built through the School Construction and Rehabilitation Programme, implemented by IMC Worldwide, were not compliant with the Pakistan Building Code and posed a risk where there is possibility of earthquakes. FCDO and IMC brought in Pakistani and international experts to investigate the problems, including actual testing of material used in construction, to find solutions where considered necessary. When safety concerns were independently verified, we worked with Government authorities to ensure all affected buildings were barred from use. Plans were made on a school by school basis between IMC, Provincial Governments and school principals for alternative accommodation of students. Prior to schools closing due to the COVID pandemic, an estimated 80% of affected students were being housed in existing school buildings. Temporary facilities were provided in 219 schools where students could not be accommodated in existing buildings. Schools are due to open again on 15 September 2020. Now that safety checks are complete, we are ready for most schools to be handed back to the Pakistani authorities and returned to use. The rest will be retrofitted by IMC - that work has now started.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 17/09/2020 11:01:33 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool