Asked by: Ivan Lewis (Independent - Bury South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government has taken to help enforce the recently agreed ceasefire in Syria.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
As a member of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), the UK has been closely engaged with the cessation of hostilities and supported UN Security Council Resolution 2268, which endorsed its terms. The UK supports a range of organisations on the ground in Syria who are reporting violations, and we are working with the UN and ISSG co-chairs in Geneva to support their monitoring and verification efforts.
Asked by: Ivan Lewis (Independent - Bury South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department has taken to support the implementation of the Build a Prosperous and United Community agreement between the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive.
Answered by Anna Soubry
The UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive published ‘Building a Prosperous and United Community: One Year On’ on 2 July 2014. The report is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/326375/BUILDING_A_PROSPEROUS_AND_UNITED_COMMUNITY_-_ONE_YEAR_ON.pdf
The Government is committed to exploring the potential for gifting or transferring surplus Ministry of Defence (MOD) houses to be used, subject to funding considerations and the MOD's operational security considerations, to deliver the joint objective of building a shared future for the people of Northern Ireland. The MOD has identified a number of properties from surplus accommodation that could be gifted to the Executive. These properties could be used to increase the provision of shared housing, subject to appropriate proposals being developed by the Executive.
Asked by: Ivan Lewis (Independent - Bury South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which charitable projects based in Northern Ireland have benefited from the armed forces covenant (Libor) fund.
Answered by Anna Soubry
The importance of the covenant to the Government was highlighted by the decision of the Chancellor to transfer £35 million from fines levied on the banks for attempting to manipulate LIBOR to the Ministry of Defence for use in supporting the Armed Forces community. The fund has now closed and money has been allocated to some 97 projects.
The Northern Irish Armed Forces community will benefit from a number of UK-wide projects which have been allocated over £16 million of LIBOR funding. In addition, we have provided £50,000 of funding to the UDR & Royal Irish Aftercare Service to set up a welfare support network and advisory service for veterans and their dependants in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Ivan Lewis (Independent - Bury South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which charitable projects based in Northern Ireland have benefited from the Armed Forces Covenant (Libor) Fund.
Answered by Anna Soubry
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.