The Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol (\u2018the Protocol\u2019) is a unique solution to complex challenges. To work, it must be given effect in a pragmatic, practical and proportionate way. That is how we ensure it can meet its core purposes: to uphold the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement in all its dimensions, safeguard Northern Ireland\u2019s integral place in the United Kingdom, and prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland.<\/p>
<\/p>
This has been the basis on which the UK Government has continued to give effect to its obligations under the Protocol, conscious of the need to minimise its impact on everyday lives in Northern Ireland - as the Protocol itself sets out.<\/p>
<\/p>
There have been difficulties in the operation of the Protocol, and we are working through the structures of the Withdrawal Agreement to seek to resolve these. The UK and EU were able to use the Ireland/Northern Ireland Specialised Committee on 26 March to take stock of outstanding issues. Lord Frost and Vice President Šefčovič, and their respective teams, remain in close contact as we move forward.<\/ins> Issues remain, but our aim is to find common sense, risk-based approaches that enable us to agree a pragmatic way forward that substantially eases the burdens on Northern Ireland.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Robin Walker"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Worcester"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Robin Walker"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-05-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1315565/answer/previousversion/1872", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Robin Walker"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Worcester"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Robin Walker"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-05-24T11:00:54.093Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
], "questionFirstMinisteriallyCorrected" : [{"_value" : "2021-05-27T15:04:53.117Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "21"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2021-05-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland Protocol: Borders"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the number of EU border checks completed in Northern Ireland, if he will have discussions with his EU counterpart on taking a more pragmatic approach towards the Northern Ireland Protocol.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"}
], "uin" : "2986"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1315662", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1315662/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " <\/p> <\/p> The government is committed to delivering lightning-fast, reliable broadband to everyone in the UK. \u2018Project Gigabit\u2019 is ambitious, challenging and central to how we build back better. Our plan - to stimulate investment, bust barriers and drive competition - is working. We are on track for one of the fastest rollouts in Europe and for 60% of all households to have access to gigabit speeds by the end of the year. It is a huge leap forward from 2019, when it was 9%.<\/ins><\/p> <\/p> We are backing Project Gigabit with £5 billion so hard to reach communities are not left out - starting to level up now, not waiting for the end of the commercial rollout, and building on the half a million rural homes and businesses already given coverage through our support.<\/ins><\/p> <\/p> As part of Project Gigabit we are funding up to £210 million worth of vouchers over the next three years to help with the costs of installing gigabit to people\u2019s doorsteps and up to £110 million to connect up to 7,000 rural public buildings such as GP surgeries, libraries and schools. All premises not covered through these measures or through commercial coverage will be in scope for new Project Gigabit contracts.<\/ins><\/p> <\/p> According to Thinkbroadband (http://labs.thinkbroadband.com/local/E14000958<\/a>) 99.61% of premises in Southport currently has access to superfast broadband - up from 23% in 2011. On top of this, 19% also have access to Gigabit speeds. So far, 9 gigabit connection vouchers have been issued in the Southport area with a value of £19,600. Eligibility of other premises for vouchers can be checked at https://gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk/ <\/a><\/ins><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4361", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Matt Warman"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Boston and Skegness"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Matt Warman"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-05-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1315662/answer/previousversion/2742", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4361", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Matt Warman"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Boston and Skegness"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Matt Warman"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-05-26T10:02:45.91Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
], "questionFirstMinisteriallyCorrected" : [{"_value" : "2021-05-27T14:48:37.277Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "10"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2021-05-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Broadband: Southport"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to increase broadband speeds in Southport.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4669", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Damien Moore"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Southport"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Damien Moore"}
], "uin" : "3136"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1315110", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1315110/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The figures for Arts Council England funding for opera and brass bands in financial years 2019/20, 2020/21 are given below.<\/p> <\/p> The figures for each year are broken down into primary and secondary funding and then a total. Primary classification indicates that, in this case, opera or brass bands, was a major focus of the activity funded with the assumption most of this amount went to funding this activity. Secondary classification indicates this was a minor focus of the activity and so it cannot be assumed this full amount of funding went towards this activity.<\/p> <\/p> A small number of projects are classified under both opera and brass bands, so these figures cannot be added together, as these projects would be double counted.<\/p> ACE Opera Funding:<\/ins><\/p> Year<\/strong><\/ins><\/p><\/td> Primary<\/strong><\/ins><\/p><\/td> Secondary<\/strong><\/ins><\/p><\/td> Total<\/strong><\/ins><\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2019/20<\/ins><\/p><\/td> £59,230,322<\/ins><\/p><\/td> £26,335,477<\/ins><\/p><\/td> £85,565,799<\/ins><\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2020/21<\/ins><\/p><\/td> £61,920,159<\/ins><\/p><\/td> £37,675,988<\/ins><\/p><\/td> £99,596,147<\/ins><\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/ins><\/p> ACE Brass Bands Funding:<\/strong><\/ins><\/p> <\/ins><\/p> Year<\/strong><\/ins><\/p><\/td> Primary<\/strong><\/ins><\/p><\/td> Secondary<\/strong><\/ins><\/p><\/td> Total<\/strong><\/ins><\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2019/20<\/ins><\/p><\/td> £375,339<\/ins><\/p><\/td> £765,573<\/ins><\/p><\/td> £1,140,912<\/ins><\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2020/21<\/ins><\/p><\/td> £392,670<\/ins><\/p><\/td> £5,132,587<\/ins><\/p><\/td> £5,525,257<\/ins><\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4008", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gosport"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Dinenage"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-05-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1315110/answer/previousversion/1290", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4008", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gosport"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Dinenage"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-05-20T14:18:23.61Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
], "questionFirstMinisteriallyCorrected" : [{"_value" : "2021-05-21T10:00:31.287Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "10"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2021-05-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Arts Council: Music"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much the Arts Council spent on (a) opera and (b) brass bands in each of the last two financial years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1565", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Philip Davies"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Shipley"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Philip Davies"}
], "uin" : "2248"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1313949", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1313949/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Emergency authorisation allows, in narrow circumstances, a short-term derogation from the normal requirements for pesticide authorisation. Emergency authorisation of a pesticide product for limited and controlled use may be granted in special circumstances where, strict regulatory requirements are met, and the authorisation appears necessary to control a danger that cannot be controlled by any other reasonable means. In assessing whether the requirements are met, the decision maker considers the benefit of granting an emergency authorisation and the potential harm from the proposed use of the product, taking into account relevant mitigation measures.<\/p> <\/p> In the case of Vydate 10G, used to control nematodes, grower groups submitted applications earlier this year for emergency authorisation for use on a range of crops. Each of these applications were considered separately against the legal requirements and on the basis of the available information on issues including the risk to the crop, the availability of alternative means of control and the benefits and risks of use.<\/ins> The application for use on a small proportion of the sugar beet crop was granted, with conditions, as the requirements for emergency authorisation were considered to be met.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4401", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Prentis"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Banbury"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Prentis"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-05-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1313949/answer/previousversion/1500", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4401", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Prentis"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Banbury"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Prentis"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-05-21T09:45:15.967Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
], "questionFirstMinisteriallyCorrected" : [{"_value" : "2021-05-21T14:32:07.49Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2021-05-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pesticides"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the rejection in February 2021 by the Health and Safety Executive of the use of Vydate 10G on carrot, parsnip, bulb onion, garlic and potato crops, for what reason emergency authorisation was given for the use of that pesticide on sugar beet crops in March 2021.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4382", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Daniel Zeichner"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cambridge"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Daniel Zeichner"}
], "uin" : "760"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1313952", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1313952/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Emergency authorisation allows, in narrow circumstances, a short-term derogation from the normal requirements for pesticide authorisation. Emergency authorisation of a pesticide product for limited and controlled use may be granted in special circumstances where, strict regulatory requirements are met, and the authorisation appears necessary to control a danger that cannot be controlled by any other reasonable means. In assessing whether the requirements are met, the decision maker considers the benefit of granting an emergency authorisation and the potential harm from the proposed use of the product, taking into account relevant mitigation measures.<\/p> <\/p> In the case of Vydate 10G, used to control nematodes, grower groups submitted applications earlier this year for emergency authorisation for use on a range of crops. Each of these applications were considered separately against the legal requirements and on the basis of the available information on issues including the risk to the crop, the availability of alternative means of control and the benefits and risks of use.<\/ins> The application for use on a small proportion of the sugar beet crop was granted, with conditions, as the requirements for emergency authorisation were considered to be met.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4401", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Prentis"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Banbury"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Prentis"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-05-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1313952/answer/previousversion/1501", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4401", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Prentis"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Banbury"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Prentis"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-05-21T09:45:16.03Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
], "questionFirstMinisteriallyCorrected" : [{"_value" : "2021-05-21T14:31:55.303Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2021-05-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pesticides"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what criteria were met that led to his Department granting the emergency authorisation of Vydate 10G for use on sugar beet crops in 2021.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4382", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Daniel Zeichner"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cambridge"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Daniel Zeichner"}
], "uin" : "763"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1314045", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1314045/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Shared Parental Leave (SPL) and Pay was introduced in December 2014 for the parents of children due or adopted from 5 April 2015. The scheme enables eligible working parents to share up to 50 weeks of leave and up to 37 weeks of pay in the first year, where the mother does not intend to use her full maternity entitlements.<\/p> Information provided by employers to HMRC in respect of claims for Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) indicates that 4,100 individuals were in receipt of ShPP in Quarter 3 of 2020-21, and 3,300 individuals were in receipt of ShPP in Quarter 4 (January and February only)<\/ins> of 2020-21.<\/p> Please note that HMRC does not hold information which calculates the total duration of ShPP received by individual claimants. However, the following table sets out the number of individuals in receipt of ShPP in 2019-20 by the number of months in the year that they made a claim:<\/p> Number of months claimed in 2019-20 (see note 4)<\/p><\/td> Number of claimants<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 1<\/p><\/td> 4,400<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2<\/p><\/td> 3,100<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 3<\/p><\/td> 2,300<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 4<\/p><\/td> 1,500<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 5<\/p><\/td> 800<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 6<\/p><\/td> 500<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 7<\/p><\/td> 300<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 8<\/p><\/td> 100<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 9<\/p><\/td> 100<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> Please note:<\/em><\/p> The Government does not routinely release information regarding accompanying staff on ministerial engagements.<\/p> The total cost for this visit were: £20,782.08<\/ins> A breakdown of costs is as follows:<\/p> a) Flights \u2013 £18,701.64<\/p> b) Accommodation \u2013 nil.<\/p> c) Internal travel \u2013 nil.<\/p> d) subsistence and expenses \u2013 £2,080.44<\/ins> The Government does not routinely release information regarding accompanying staff on ministerial engagements.<\/p> The total cost for this visit were: £28,310.03<\/ins> A breakdown of costs is as follows:<\/p> a) Flights \u2013 £20,296.24<\/ins> b) Accommodation \u2013 £3,980.06<\/ins> c) Internal travel \u2013 nil.<\/p> d) subsistence and expenses \u2013 £4,034.00<\/ins> We are monitoring and reviewing specific fraud risks arising as a result of COVID-19, including in mini umbrella companies. We are developing advice on fraud prevention measures within our extensive supply chain.<\/ins><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4380", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Churchill"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bury St Edmunds"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jo Churchill"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-05-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1313447/answer/previousversion/60", "answeringMember" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4113", "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stratford-on-Avon"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nadhim Zahawi"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-05-17T09:32:14.743Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
], "questionFirstMinisteriallyCorrected" : [{"_value" : "2021-05-17T16:22:34.107Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2021-05-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "NHS Test and Trace: Fraud"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to prevent fraud in supply chains of mini umbrella companies employing workers engaged in NHS Test and Trace services.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4418", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Justin Madders"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ellesmere Port and Neston"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Justin Madders"}
], "uin" : "305"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1313612", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1313612/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Members of non-religious communities continue to be victims of harassment and persecution, despite progress over recent years with the promotion of freedom of religion or belief for all. The UK Government remains deeply concerned about the severity and scale of violations and abuses of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all in many parts of the world. Protecting freedom of religion or belief for all faiths, and none, remains a priority for the UK Government. As the Minister responsible for Human Rights, I underlined these points at the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist\u2019 Group Annual General Meeting on 24 May.<\/ins><\/p> I also work closely with the Prime Minister\u2019s Special Envoy for FoRB, Fiona Bruce MP. In addition to championing FoRB, Mrs Bruce represents the UK at meetings of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance to advocate for the rights of individuals being discriminated against or persecuted on the basis of their faith or belief, including members of non-religious communities.<\/ins><\/p> <\/p>The Government is working with mobile operators and suppliers to build an open, flexible, and diverse telecoms supply market, following the recommendations of the Diversification Taskforce, published on 20 April on GOV.UK<\/a>.<\/del><\/p>The Taskforce recommendations are helping to guide our approach delivering the Diversification strategy, including its central pillar of attracting new suppliers. The Government is designing a programme of targeted R&D to level the playing field for smaller suppliers, and we continue to consider all options.<\/del><\/p>Suppliers are themselves taking positive steps to support this agenda and a number of smaller suppliers have already announced new research facilities in the UK.<\/del><\/p>
<\/ins><\/p>18,884.38<\/del><\/p>182.74<\/del><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1526", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Hands"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Chelsea and Fulham"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Greg Hands"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-05-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1313369/answer/previousversion/505", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1526", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Hands"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Chelsea and Fulham"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Greg Hands"}
}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the answer of 26 October 2020 to Question 106261 and the publication of transparency data on 7 May 2021, how many members of staff, and at what grades, accompanied her on her visit to Japan from 21 to 24 October 2020; what the total cost to the public purse was of that visit for all UK attendees; and what the costs were of the (a) flights, (b) accommodation, (c) internal travel and (d) subsistence expenses for that visit.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
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, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1526", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Hands"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1313370/answer/previousversion/578", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1526", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Hands"}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many members of staff, and at what grades, accompanied her on her visit to Singapore and Vietnam in December 2020; what the total cost to the public purse was of that visit for all UK attendees; and what the costs were of the (a) flights, (b) accommodation, (c) internal travel and (d) subsistence expenses for that visit.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
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], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1313447/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "NHS England and NHS Improvement do not currently hold validated information on cancellations made by the National Booking System. Information regarding the reason for cancellation is not required or requested to cancel an appointment.<\/del><\/p>The UK is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all, and promoting respect between different religious and non-religious communities. Promoting the right to FoRB for all, including individuals from non-religious communities, is one of the UK's longstanding human rights priorities. On a country level, Ministers and officials regularly raise specific cases of concern, and discuss practices and laws that discriminate on the basis of religion or belief. On a multilateral level, we work within the UN, OSCE, Council of Europe, International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance ('Alliance') and other international organisations and networks to promote and protect FoRB for all where it is threatened.<\/del><\/p>As the Minister responsible for Human Rights I underlined the UK's commitment to FoRB for all, in a number of international meetings in November 2020, speaking at the Ministerial to Advance FoRB and the Ministers' Forum of the Alliance. On 20 December 2020, the Prime Minister reaffirmed his commitment to FoRB by appointing Fiona Bruce MP as his Special Envoy for FoRB. Mrs Bruce represents the UK at meetings of the Alliance who work to advocate for the rights of individuals being discriminated against or persecuted on the basis of their faith or belief.<\/del><\/p>"}
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, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"}
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, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-05-25T16:51:39.663Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2021-05-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Religious Freedom"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the treatment of non-religious people globally and, in particular, in countries where the human rights of non-religious people are not being upheld.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/738", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool"}
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