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1202133

registered interest
date	10/06/2020
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Humanitarian Aid: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What assessment she has made of the effect of the covid-19 pandemic on the accessibility of UK humanitarian support to people who need it.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	903061
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2020 answer text <p>There is no doubt that coronavirus restrictions have made it harder to reach those that need our help, whether because of disruption to supply chains or personnel. Our support for the UN’s Global Humanitarian Response Plan remains crucial. Through this, we support humanitarian access by securing the continuity of supply chains to the vulnerable, including refugees, Internally Displaced People, and host communities.</p><p>Our job is to get where others can’t.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 10/06/2020 16:51:05 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1202134

registered interest
date	10/06/2020
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Department for International Development: Equality
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	If she will publish an action plan on promoting gender mainstreaming across all her Department's work.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	903062
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2020 answer text <p>Support for women and girls is part of this government’s mission. I will always champion gender equality in international development because that’s the only way we will create a fairer, safer and more prosperous world, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.</p><p>Next year DFID will publish an implementation plan for its Strategic Vision for Gender Equality to set out our objectives and progress on ensuring women and girls are at the heart of everything DFID and its partners deliver. I’m proud of how far we’ve come but there’s plenty more to do.</p> answering member constituency Berwick-upon-Tweed answering member printed Anne-Marie Trevelyan question first answered 10/06/2020 16:22:37 answering member 4531 label Biography information for Anne-Marie Trevelyan
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1202135

registered interest
date	10/06/2020
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Yemen: Humanitarian Situation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in Yemen.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough
tabling member printed	Gill Furniss
uin	903063
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2020 answer text <p>Yemen remains the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. We also estimate 100,000 coronavirus cases, which are quickly overwhelming Yemen’s depleted healthcare system. The UK recently pledged £160m to support Yemen, bringing our contribution to almost £1bn since 2015. Ultimately, the crisis must be addressed through a political settlement. We therefore strongly encourage all parties to engage with Special Envoy Martin Griffiths to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 10/06/2020 16:51:38 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	4571 label Biography information for Gill Furniss

1202136

registered interest
date	10/06/2020
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Developing Countries: Poverty
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	How often her Department assesses the effectiveness of UK funding allocated to the World Bank on ending poverty throughout the world.
tabling member constituency	Mid Derbyshire
tabling member printed	Mrs Pauline Latham
uin	903065
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2020 answer text <p>The UK is a major funder of the World Bank, a crucial tool in our development work. My Department monitors and assesses the effectiveness of the World Bank continually. We formally review each funding stream to the World Bank Group annually and we publish our assessment online. Our latest assessment concluded that the International Development Association – the concessional arm of the Bank - is ‘performing above expectations’. Amongst other things our money has contributed to the immunisation of 330 million children in the last 9 years.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams question first answered 10/06/2020 16:23:21 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
tabling member	4025 label Biography information for Mrs Pauline Latham

1202300

registered interest
date	10/06/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Bounce Back Loan Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps is he taking to ensure that customers of all banks are able to access loans from the Coronavirus Bounce Back Loan scheme.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	57901
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government’s Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), launched 4 May, was designed to help the smallest businesses access loans up to £50,000.</p><p> </p><p>As of June 7, over 782,000 loan facilities have been approved with a value of over £23.7bn. There are so far 21 accredited lenders offering finance under the scheme, and this number continues to grow. The British Business Bank who are responsible for administrating the scheme, have put substantial resources into onboarding new lenders as quickly as possible.</p><p> </p><p>If an SME’s main lender does not offer Bounce Back Loans, businesses can go to another accredited lender. Several accredited lenders are accepting applications from new customers.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 15/06/2020 08:56:24 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1202341

registered interest
date	10/06/2020
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	Ukraine: Peace Negotiations
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 the Government is taking to (a) facilitate the peace process in Ukraine and (b) support the implementation of reforms in Ukraine in line with the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	58039
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/06/2020 answer text <p>The UK is committed to supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to helping Ukraine build a strong economy, strong institutions and counter Russian aggression. We welcome President Zelensky's commitment to ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine. We have been clear on the importance of finding a diplomatic solution and continue to support the Minsk agreements, as well as the work of Germany and France within the Normandy Format. We continue to call on Russia to play its part to end the conflict by immediately ceasing its support for the armed formations it backs and fulfilling its obligations under the Minsk agreements. We repeatedly raise with Russia the need to use its influence over its proxies to ensure unrestricted access for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission and humanitarian organisations. Continued discussions are fundamental for further progress towards peace.</p><p>In common with the EU and other like-minded partners, the UK continues to provide substantial assistance to strengthen Ukraine's democracy and institutions, and to support implementation of Ukraine's reform programme. In July 2017, we hosted the inaugural Ukraine Reform Conference, launching a series of annual reform conferences. For 2020/21, the UK has allocated over £40 million of programme support, with at least £12 million through the Good Governance Fund to help Ukraine deliver economic and governance reforms, including in the context of Ukraine's aspirations towards EU and NATO integration. This work includes initiatives to tackle corruption, deliver sustainable economic development and strengthen democracy. The UK is working to protect citizens affected by the conflict, develop peace-building expertise and promote social cohesion and resilience. This year we are focused on supporting Ukraine to mitigate and address the secondary implications of COVID-19 on conflict and stability.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 15/06/2020 10:59:15 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1202383

registered interest
date	10/06/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Batteries: Factories
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to facilitate the development of electric vehicle battery manufacturing in the UK; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits for North Wales and Wrexham of Stoke-on-Trent becoming a manufacturing location for those batteries.
tabling member constituency	Clwyd South
tabling member printed	Simon Baynes
uin	58103
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/06/2020 answer text <p>There are a range of factors that will influence the location of any UK Gigafactory investment, and the final location decision will be a commercial matter.</p><p>The Government has a long-standing programme of support to maintain the competitiveness of the UK automotive sector. Through the Automotive Sector Deal, we are working with the industry to develop world-leading battery technologies.</p><p> </p><p>We have already invested £274 million in the Faraday Battery Challenge (FBC) through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. The FBC is a cutting-edge programme, helping UK businesses to lead the world in the design, development, and manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles. Under the FBC, we have invested £120 million in the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC), the first phase of which was completed in March 2020, and which will provide a state-of-the-art pilot facility to test new cell technology. UKBIC will play a key role in laying the groundwork to secure a battery Gigafactory in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>The Faraday Institution commissioned a study which showed that by 2040, an estimated eight Gigafactories (of 15GWh per year capacity) will be needed in the UK and consequently employment in the automotive industry and battery supply chain could increase to 246,000 jobs.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has announced up to £1 billion of additional funding to develop UK electric vehicle supply chains, and for further electric vehicles research and development. This funding will accelerate mass production of key technologies in the UK, through major investments in the manufacturing of batteries, electric motors, power electronics, and hydrogen fuel cells, along with their component and materials supply chains.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 15/06/2020 13:06:41 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	4800 label Biography information for Simon Baynes

1202385

registered interest
date	10/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Torture
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it is Government policy that the (a) prohibition of torture is absolute and (b) obligation to prosecute torture is absolute.
tabling member constituency	Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
tabling member printed	Jamie Stone
uin	58051
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to its obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT). There is an absolute prohibition of torture under international law. The UNCAT requires each State Party to ensure that all acts of torture are listed as offences under its criminal law, however the prosecution of any crime is never automatic. The statutory presumption in the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill does not act as a pardon, amnesty or statute of limitations. Prosecutors will continue to have discretion on whether to prosecute for criminal offences, including torture, taking into account factors such as sufficiency of evidence and public interest.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Plymouth, Moor View answering member printed Johnny Mercer question first answered 15/06/2020 13:07:17 answering member 4485 label Biography information for Johnny Mercer
tabling member	4612 label Biography information for Jamie Stone

1202386

registered interest
date	10/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Torture: Prosecutions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the circumstances are in which a prosecutor is able to exercise their discretion not to prosecute an offence of torture.
tabling member constituency	Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
tabling member printed	Jamie Stone
uin	58052
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/06/2020 answer text <p>Prosecutors will continue to have discretion on whether to prosecute for criminal offences, including torture, on the basis of their assessment of the sufficiency of evidence and whether a prosecution would be in the public interest. The statutory presumption in the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill is compliant with the UN Convention Against Torture, as it is a rebuttable presumption which leaves a prosecutor with discretion to prosecute where they consider it appropriate to do so. It does not act as a pardon, amnesty or statute of limitations.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Plymouth, Moor View answering member printed Johnny Mercer question first answered 15/06/2020 13:06:55 answering member 4485 label Biography information for Johnny Mercer
tabling member	4612 label Biography information for Jamie Stone

1202397

registered interest
date	10/06/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Cash Dispensing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions his Department has had with the Financial Conduct Authority and the Payment Systems Regulator on a minimum service guarantee for cash; and with reference to the March 2020 Budget whether he has a timeframe for bringing forward legislative proposals on protecting access to cash.
tabling member constituency	Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
tabling member printed	Jamie Stone
uin	58053
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government recognises that cash remains extremely important to the daily lives of millions of people across the UK. The Government remains closely engaged with the financial regulators to monitor and assess risks around cash access and acceptance resulting from COVID-19. This includes working closely with industry to ensure access to cash.</p><p> </p><p>At the March 2020 Budget, the Chancellor announced that the Government will bring forward legislation to protect access to cash in the longer-term. The Government is engaging with regulators – the Payment Systems Regulator, Financial Conduct Authority and Bank of England – and stakeholders across industry while designing legislation, to ensure the needs of cash users continue to be met. Further details on timing for legislation will be set out in due course.</p><p> </p><p>Regarding face-to-face banking, the Government has been working closely with the financial regulators to ensure that banks, building societies, the Post Office and credit unions continue to maintain branch access for essential services while balancing the needs of their customers with the safety and welfare of staff. The vast majority of branches are open, though many are open for reduced hours.</p><p> </p><p>Banks, building societies and credit unions are keeping their websites up to date and we would encourage customers, wherever possible, to use online services for their banking. If customers are not able to use online forms of banking, they may choose to use telephone banking rather than using a branch. The Government advises any customer who has questions or concerns about their banking to contact their provider.</p><p> </p><p>Bank customers can also use the Post Office for essential banking services as an alternative to their branch and can continue to use ATMs or cash machines as normal for cash withdrawals and balance enquiries. Furthermore, several retail banks have in place solutions for vulnerable customers who may be self-isolating, including making payments through a trusted person.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 58054 question first answered 15/06/2020 08:59:11 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	4612 label Biography information for Jamie Stone