The newly created East West Railway Company is in the process of evaluating the economic benefits of the railway. We expect an economic assessment of the next phase of the project, between Bicester and Bedford, to be published in the coming months. Analysis on the Central Section, between Bedford and Cambridge, is also being progressed. East West Railway Company is planning to hold a public consultation on route options for the Central Section in the early part of next year.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4584", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Sugg"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Sugg"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-12T16:07:06.703Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-10-31", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "East West Rail Line"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 22 October (HL10506), why work to assess the contribution of the East West Rail programme to both regional and national economic growth has not yet been completed; and when it will be completed.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Patten"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Patten"} ], "uin" : "HL11171"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/998923", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/998923/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Defra is committed to protecting our trees from pests and diseases and building the resilience of our trees, woods and forests. In May we published a new Tree Health Resilience Strategy. The strategy sets out a joint action plan for how government and others can work together to address threats to tree health, including threats to ash and oak nationally.<\/p>
<\/p>
One example of joint action is Action Oak, a hugely important partnership of charities, landowners and government, proactively working together to protect and conserve our oak trees for future generations.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4161", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Gardiner of Kimble"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-06T17:32:09.703Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-10-31", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Trees: Disease Control"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the need to increase resilience against threats of disease to ash and oak trees in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall; and what plans they have to provide such resilience.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Patten"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Patten"} ], "uin" : "HL11172"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/993369", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/993369/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK has a strong bilateral partnership with Ethiopia, a key ally in the Horn of Africa. We will continue to invest in growing an equitable relationship, built on shared values, and with the shared aim of creating jobs and increasing prosperity, including by increasing the number of staff at the British Embassy in Addis Ababa.<\/p>
Government Ministers regularly meet with their Ethiopian counterparts to discuss cooperation across a range of issues. The Secretary of State for Defence and the Secretary of State for International Development both visited Addis Ababa in August; the latter met with Prime Minister Abiy and discussed, inter-alia, the importance of inclusiveness and establishing accountability as part of his reform agenda. The Minister of State for Africa visited at the beginning of October, participating in constructive Aid Talks, which, while covering the breadth of issues identified in the 2018 Partnership Principles Assessment, focused on the economy. The Minister for Africa also, on 16 October, opened the UK-Ethiopia Trade and Investment Forum here in London, recognising the 80% growth in total trade in goods and services between the UK and Ethiopia in 2017 as a clear signal of our evolving, modern partnership.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-10-31", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-10-31T12:08:16.54Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-10-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Ethiopia: Foreign Relations"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the present state of Anglo\u2013Ethiopian relations.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Patten"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Patten"} ], "uin" : "HL10897"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/993370", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Trade"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/993370/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Ethiopia is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and has sustained strong and consistent growth for 14 years. The trading relationship between the UK and Ethiopia is currently worth £699m per annum.<\/p>
In Ethiopia the Government is promoting bilateral trading opportunities in a number of industries, including aerospace, infrastructure and renewable-energy.<\/p>
My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade has recently appointed the first HM Trade Commissioner to Africa, who champions trade between the UK and the continent. In addition, my hon Friend for Stafford (Jeremy Lefroy MP) is the Prime Minister\u2019s Trade Envoy and has visited Ethiopia 5 times to promote UK trade and investment to the country.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4690", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Fairhead"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Fairhead"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-05T17:54:53.037Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "202"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Trade"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Trade"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-10-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Overseas Trade: Ethiopia"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of economic and trade relations between the UK and Ethiopia.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Patten"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Patten"} ], "uin" : "HL10898"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/993371", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/993371/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Manjo people in Southern Ethiopia have faced long standing social, political and economic marginalisation. Consequently, they have not benefitted equally from Ethiopia\u2019s development gains. Neither have they been able to fully exercise their human rights, including that of religious freedom.<\/p>
<\/p>
DFID made an assessment of the situation of the Manjo through the first phase of the Civil Society Support Programme (2011-16), to which the UK contributed £14m. The programme supported interventions by local civil society organisations to address the underlying factors that maintain social and religious marginalisation. Community dialogue events sought to change cultural attitudes towards the Manjo. The second phase of the programme will continue to have a focus on marginalised communities, including the Manjo, through grants and strategic government engagement.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-02T14:18:00.133Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-10-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Ethiopia: Ethnic Groups"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) aid available to, and (2) religious freedoms of, the Manjo peoples living in the Sheka zone of the Southern region of Ethiopia.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Patten"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Patten"} ], "uin" : "HL10899"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/984294", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/984294/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "