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513989

registered interest
date	19/04/2016
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Military Intelligence: Russian Language
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Russian language (a) speakers, (b) interpreters and (c) translators are employed in the intelligence department of his Department; and what steps he is taking to increase the number of such experts in that Department.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	34523
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2016 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence's (MOD) Russian language needs for intelligence, or for any other purposes, are met from the Departmental pool of approximately 180 Armed Forces and civilian personnel with Russian language skills (and from contractors when needed). The Department reviews its future operational and other requirements for linguists regularly and trains its personnel accordingly.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 26/04/2016 16:07:20 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

514000

registered interest
date	19/04/2016
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Russia: Defence
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure that UK defence capability can effectively respond to a threat from Russia.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	34703
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2016 answer text <p>As outlined in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review our commitment to collective defence and security through NATO remains as strong as ever. Our 2% defence spending pledge will ensure that we stay NATO's strongest military power in Europe.</p><p>In 2017 the UK will lead the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, formed in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine, and we will make a significant contribution to the force every year of this Parliament. As well as providing Typhoons to NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, we have provided ships and Army units to NATO exercises to reassure our Allies against the threat from Russia, and we will continue to do so. We are joining the German-US Trans-Atlantic Capability Enhancement and Training initiative in the Baltic states and Poland, sharing our military expertise.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 27/04/2016 15:28:12 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

514037

registered interest
date	19/04/2016
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	Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Russian Language
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many Russian language (a) speakers, (b) interpreters and (c) translators are employed by his Department; and what steps he is taking to increase the number of such experts working in his Department.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	34522
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2016 answer text <p>We have 163 Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) employees with some level of Russian capability, ranging from basic Russian to operational skills (equivalent to degree level) recorded centrally.</p><p>Russian is a priority language for the FCO, and since 2010, we have increased the number of Russian-language speaker positions in our Russian and former Soviet Union Posts by 30% and increased the minimum duration for Russian-language training from 10 to 14 months.</p><p>The FCO does not deploy UK-based staff overseas as translators or interpreters. British Embassy Moscow has one full time locally recruited translator/interpreter position. Our local staff overseas routinely assist with translation as part of their daily work.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 27/04/2016 13:19:39 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

514038

registered interest
date	19/04/2016
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	Russia: Foreign Relations
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 steps his Department has taken to counter Russian disinformation against western countries and NATO.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	34521
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2016 answer text <p>The UK is working with allies to support initiatives that promote a plural and balanced Russian-language media environment; enhance the strategic communications capabilities of NATO and the EU; and build resilience in the region to the impact of information warfare, including in Ukraine and Georgia.</p><p>We are also investing in soft power by supporting the work of the British Council and the BBC. The BBC’s global reputation and editorial independence is crucial. In keeping with its long-standing aim to “provide independent, impartial and accurate news across the world”, it is developing plans to enhance its BBC Russian digital service, for example by providing extended news bulletins to partner stations.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 26/04/2016 15:01:26 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

513556

registered interest
date	18/04/2016
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Hate Crime: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what progress his Department has made on providing disability hate crime training for all prosecutors; and what improvements this training will bring to conviction rates.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	34335
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2016 answer text <p>Mandatory training relating to disability hate crime was delivered, across the Crown Prosecution Service, between September 2015 and January 2016.</p><p>Prosecutors will deploy the knowledge gained from the training in the course of prosecutions thereby improving performance.</p><p>The CPS are enhancing the support provided to prosecutors in dealing with crimes committed against disabled people. They are reviewing their policy and legal guidance on disability hate crime, which will provide assurance to the public of how the CPS intends to deal with such crimes.</p> answering member constituency Kenilworth and Southam answering member printed Jeremy Wright question first answered 26/04/2016 10:08:21 answering member 1560 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Wright
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

513598

registered interest
date	18/04/2016
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	Housing
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 Government has made of the current level of housing provisions; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the most vulnerable have access to suitable housing.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	34336
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2016 answer text <p>There was an estimated 23.4 million dwellings in England as of 31 March 2014, an increase of 137,000 dwellings on the previous year. This includes 4 million social and affordable rented dwellings (Private Registered Providers plus local authority tenures) (1).</p><p>We are doubling the housing budget to deliver one million more homes, including spending £8 billion to build 400,000 new affordable housing starts by 2021, the biggest new affordable homes programme since the 1970s, and committing £2.3 billion towards delivering 200,000 new Starter Homes.</p><p>(1) Source: DCLG Dwelling Stock Estimate, 2014, England <br>https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/423249/Dwelling_Stock_Estimates_2014_England.pdf</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 26/04/2016 13:10:14 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

513695

registered interest
date	18/04/2016
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Immigration Controls: Republic of Ireland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that terrorists cannot get into the UK from the Republic of Ireland.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	34337
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2016 answer text <p>The Government is working with Ireland to better safeguard our citizens from international terrorism by strengthening the external border of our shared Common Travel Area (CTA).</p><p>There is a high level of collaboration on a joint programme of work which includes, investment in border procedures, increased data sharing to inform immigration and border security decisions, interoperable passenger data systems, including the collection and processing of Advance Passenger Information (API) on intra and extra CTA routes, and harmonised visa policy and processes.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 04/05/2016 14:03:00 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

513697

registered interest
date	18/04/2016
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Police
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to encourage greater co-operation between police forces in the constituent parts of the UK to better enable them to address online crime.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	34338
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2016 answer text <p>Online crime covers a vast range of criminality; what is illegal offline is also illegal online. However, the internet has enabled crime to be committed in a different way, which requires a different type of approach from Law Enforcement. That is why this Government has committed to spending £1.9 billion on cyber security over the next five years, including for tackling cyber crime.</p><p>The 2015 Strategic Policing Requirement states that ‘capabilities will be delivered locally by police forces but may need to be brought together nationally through collaborative arrangements between forces or with other partners when the threat or risk demand joint working’. In some cases they are combined to provide an ongoing regional resource that provides a national network of capabilities to disrupt serious and organised crime, for example, through the Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCUs).</p><p>The Government has invested over £90 million in ROCUs, over the last three years. In addition to at least a further £20 million in 2016/17, in order to increase and sustain the specialist capabilities required in law enforcement to respond to Serious and Organised Crime including online crime, and to support local forces to investigate online crime in a collaborative way in England and Wales.</p><p>Action Fraud, within the City of London Police also plays an important role in educating and assisting local forces to investigate cyber crime and cyber enabled fraud, with a particular focus on improving the service to victims.</p><p>The National Crime Agency (NCA) operates UK wide and works in close collaboration with all UK police forces and other law enforcement partners, including PSNI and Police Scotland (including through two-way tasking and coordination processes). The NCA leads some investigations, whilst supporting and coordinating others.</p> answering member constituency South Holland and The Deepings answering member printed Mr John Hayes question first answered 22/04/2016 11:45:50 answering member 350 label Biography information for Sir John Hayes
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

513747

registered interest
date	18/04/2016
answering body	Women and Equalities
answering dept id	31
answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
hansard heading	Business: Equality
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps the Government is taking to encourage big businesses to promote gender equality and provide models for small and medium-sized enterprises to follow.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	34340
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2016 answer text <p>The Government is committed to full gender equality in the workplace, and we are introducing mandatory gender pay gap reporting for larger employers from April 2017.</p><p>We will support all employers to do this with a £500,000 package including: UK wide conference events, free online software and targeted support for male-dominated sectors. Employers of any size can join the voluntary “Think, Act, Report” initiative which has around 300 members leading the way on gender equality.</p><p>The Women’s Business Council has an SME representative to ensure good practice is promulgated throughout the wider business community, including a toolkit for businesses to support older women in the workplace.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 26/04/2016 16:13:30 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

513748

registered interest
date	18/04/2016
answering body	Women and Equalities
answering dept id	31
answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
hansard heading	Business: Equality
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent discussions has the Government had with businesses on reducing discrimination and promoting equal opportunities.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	34339
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2016 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring equal opportunities, so that everyone can reach their full potential and is working with business to achieve this. The Government has done so in a number of ways, including: The Hampton and Alexander review of women on boards and the chair of the Women’s Business Council, Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith will lead a review of issues faced by businesses in developing black and minority ethnic (BAME) talent, and access to the labour market.</p><p> </p><p>The Women’s Business Council, established in 2012, has produced a range of products to encourage older women to enter and stay on in the workplace. The Women’s Business Council has also been active in working with the finance sector to address some of the barriers facing some BAME women entrepreneurs. The Government has worked closely with employers to develop a range of measures that will help promote gender equality in workplaces and will require all companies with at least 250 employees to report their gender pay gaps. It is expected that employers will publish the required information from April 2017.</p><p>This builds upon actions already undertaken by the Government including a series of equality roadshows with the British Chambers of Commerce. These roadshows highlighted the benefits and challenges of diverse workforces for business whilst helping the Government shape guidance for business on older workers, women and disabled people in the workplace to tackle discrimination.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 26/04/2016 16:14:17 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon