Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had recent discussions with his counterpart in Azerbaijan on its proposal for a corridor through Armenia.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK strongly supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both Azerbaijan and Armenia. Addressing challenges in regional connectivity and resolving any remaining border disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan are matters to be resolved between the two countries as part of peace negotiations; I [Minister Docherty] discussed these matters with the Governments of both countries during my visit to Baku and Yerevan in November 2023. Direct dialogue is the only way to both secure stability and security for the region, and promote peaceful co-operation between both countries in the future.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will publish conditions for contact with the Government of the Republic of Somaliland on the formal recognition of that state.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK's position on Somaliland's independence is clear; the settlement of Somaliland's status is an issue for Somalia and Somaliland to resolve through dialogue, in which we encourage both sides to engage. It is not for the UK to pre-empt that process or determine its outcome.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent assessment he has made of the potential for international negotiations to support peace in Armenia.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
We are working with Armenia, Azerbaijan, and our international partners to encourage both parties to continue peace negotiations. An agreement on 7 December between Armenia and Azerbaijan for prisoner transfers and mutual support for hosting COP29 in Baku was a positive demonstration of what can be achieved through negotiations between Baku and Yerevan. The UK has urged the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to engage meaningfully in internationally mediated negotiations to conclude an historic final peace settlement, and we will continue to promote this where possible.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in Azerbaijan on that country's dispute with Armenia; and whether he is taking steps to support peace in the region.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
I [Minister Docherty] underlined the UK's support for the sovereignty and security of the region during a visit to Armenia and Azerbaijan in November, and officials are delivering this message in their ongoing engagements with Armenia and Azerbaijan. The UK has urged the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to engage meaningfully in internationally mediated negotiations to conclude a final peace settlement. Direct dialogue is the only way to secure stability and security for the region. We urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to continue full negotiations as soon as possible.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will start discussions with the Government of the Republic of Somaliland to agree a timeline and conditions for recognition.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK's position on this issue is unchanged; we believe that the settlement of Somaliland's status is an issue for Somalia and Somaliland to resolve. This requires a consultative process and dialogue, in which the UK encourages both Somalia and Somaliland to engage. Regarding the recent agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland, the UK's position on recognition has not changed. On this we are in line with the African Union and other international partners.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will hold discussions with his counterpart in the government of the Republic of Somaliland on (a) regional security and (b) use of the port of Berbera.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Since the announcement of the Ethiopia - Somaliland memorandum of understanding (MoU) the UK has been engaging closely with all parties involved, including the Somaliland authorities, to call for calm and dialogue. We are urging all involved to avoid action that would negatively affect regional security, especially the crucial fight against al-Shabaab. Separately, the UK is supporting the Berbera Corridor project through the 'Unlocking Prosperity in the Horn of Africa' programme. This has included £25 million in funding towards the development of infrastructure to facilitate access to Berbera port for Ethiopia and the wider region.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will take steps to coordinate policies on the Republic of Somaliland and Somalia.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK is one of Somalia's closest and longest standing partners, and one of very few Western countries with a permanent diplomatic presence in Somaliland. We support Somaliland in enhancing stability and promoting economic, human and social development. This stands alongside our significant political, humanitarian and security assistance to Somalia as a whole.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to help reduce waiting times in children’s community health services.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We monitor community health services waiting lists for children and young people and hold NHS England to account on actions to reduce waiting times.
NHS England has asked local health systems to develop plans to reduce waiting lists for community health services.
Recognising the waiting times for speech and language therapy, in September 2023, the Department for Education launched 'Early Language Support for Every Child' (ELSEC), with NHS England. ELSEC is a two-year pathfinder programme funding innovative workforce models to improve early identification and support for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs within early years and primary school settings. ELSEC will take place in nine sites across England, one in each Change Programme Partnership. It is running across two academic years from September 2023 to August 2025.
In future more healthcare will be provided in the community, and that is why the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan includes commitments to increase the community workforce, with increases in training places for community nurses and allied health professionals, and a renewed focus on retaining existing staff.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding the national working group on child abuse linked to faith has received from her Department in each year since 2011.
Answered by David Johnston - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
My hon. Friend, the former Minister for Children and Families, Vicky Ford, met with senior representatives of the national working group on child abuse linked to faith in February 2021. The department has not provided any funding to the national working group.
Faith-based abuse, or 'child abuse linked to faith or belief' relates to situations in which a child is abused (physically, emotionally, sexually or by neglect) because of a belief that the child is possessed by evil spirits. Any form of child abuse is abhorrent and cannot be justified. The government is determined to protect children from this abuse, as with any other form of abuse. Where there are concerns that any child is at risk of, or has suffered significant harm, these should be reported to the police or to the local authority children’s social care who should take action. This is outlined in the ‘Working together to safeguard children’ statutory guidance.
The government’s ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’ strategy, published on 2 February 2023, and backed by £200 million investment, set out plans to reform children’s social care, including a commitment to deliver a decisive, multi-agency child protection system for all children.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when a Minister in her Department last met representatives of the national working group on child abuse linked to faith.
Answered by David Johnston - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
My hon. Friend, the former Minister for Children and Families, Vicky Ford, met with senior representatives of the national working group on child abuse linked to faith in February 2021. The department has not provided any funding to the national working group.
Faith-based abuse, or 'child abuse linked to faith or belief' relates to situations in which a child is abused (physically, emotionally, sexually or by neglect) because of a belief that the child is possessed by evil spirits. Any form of child abuse is abhorrent and cannot be justified. The government is determined to protect children from this abuse, as with any other form of abuse. Where there are concerns that any child is at risk of, or has suffered significant harm, these should be reported to the police or to the local authority children’s social care who should take action. This is outlined in the ‘Working together to safeguard children’ statutory guidance.
The government’s ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’ strategy, published on 2 February 2023, and backed by £200 million investment, set out plans to reform children’s social care, including a commitment to deliver a decisive, multi-agency child protection system for all children.