Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Department for International Development:
What steps her Department has taken in response to the recent outbreak of plague in Africa.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
DFID supported the World Health Organisation to send 114 experts, mobilise 1.2 million doses of antibiotics and establish nine treatment centres to assist the Government of Madagascar, where the plague outbreak occurred. Three experts from the UK’s Public Health Rapid Support Team also provided vital support to contain the outbreak.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department next plans to review the use of electronic shock collars for dogs.
Answered by George Eustice
We have made clear in the recently updated statutory Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs that the use of any training method that includes physical punishment may cause can cause pain, injury and distress, lead to aggressive responses and worsen the problems they aim to address. However, we keep legislation in this area under review.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the appropriateness of the current classification of the drug commonly know as Spice as a class B substance; and if she will reclassify Spice as a class A substance.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The group of third generation synthetic cannabinoids, commonly referred to using the brand name ‘spice’, were controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in December 2016. This followed recommendations from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs that their harms are commensurate with other class B drugs.
The Government has no plans to reclassify these synthetic cannabinoids at the present time, but we will continue to monitor their misuse.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of religious freedom in Sri Lanka; and what steps the Government is taking to promote and protect the right to freedom of religion or belief in that country.
Answered by Mark Field
The Government is concerned by the increase in the number of incidents of religious violence and ethnic tensions in Sri Lanka in 2017. We condemn all violence against religious minorities. The freedom to practise, change or share your faith or belief without discrimination or violent opposition is a fundamental human right that all people should enjoy. The UK regularly raises human rights concerns with the Sri Lankan government.
Through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's work, we seek to work with other states to promote and protect the right to freedom of religion or belief. We work in the UN to ensure that states implement Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18, on combatting religious intolerance, protecting the human rights of minorities and promoting pluralism in society. We work with the UN to support all communities in Sri Lanka , and have committed £6.6 million from the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) to help Sri Lanka implement its human rights commitments.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will make it his policy to seek the cessation of Icelandic whaling as part of any future trade negotiations with Iceland.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK has long supported the promotion of our values globally and this will continue as we leave the EU. The UK government’s position on the hunting of cetaceans is clear; we remain strongly opposed to it and strongly support the global moratorium on commercial whaling. We have committed publically on a number of occasions to raising the UK’s opposition to whaling with the relevant nations at every appropriate opportunity. We are exploring all options in the design of future bilateral trade and investment agreements and we want to ensure economic growth and environmental protection go hand-in-hand.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the issue of whaling was discussed during his visit to Iceland in August 2017.
Answered by George Eustice
During his visit to Iceland in August, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs raised the UK's continued opposition to commercial whaling with the Icelandic Prime Minister.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to introduce legislation to increase the maximum sentence for animal cruelty offences to five years' imprisonment.
Answered by George Eustice
We hope to publish draft legislation for consultation around the turn of the year, as announced on 30 September.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what provisions she has put in place for people who grew up in care and are unable to provide a birth certificate when applying for a passport.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HM Passport Office) needs to be satisfied with an applicant’s claim to nationality, identity and entitlement to issue a passport. The absence of a birth certificate in itself does not preclude the issue of a passport and applications are assessed on a case by case basis considering the information and alternative documents available.
Where no documentation is available, there is provision within the British Nationality legislation for a person to register as a British citizen, this will depend on the requirements for registration.
If the enquiry relates to a specific case, I would encourage my honourable friend from Torbay to write to HM Passport Office to discuss how the matter can be resolved.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the opportunities available for the fishing industry in the South West after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Eustice
On leaving the EU, the UK will under international law become an independent coastal state with responsibility for controlling and managing its Exclusive Economic Zone. This will provide an opportunity to reach new fairer agreements on access and quota arrangements which will benefit West Country fishermen. .
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question
To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England is taking to support local projects tackling homelessness.
Answered by Caroline Spelman
At parish and diocesan level the Church is closely involved in providing support to homeless people through night shelters and other activities, and raising funds and awareness. Recently in the House of Lords bishops supported the Homelessness Reduction Bill.
In the Torbay area the Vicar on the Streets initiative undertaken by Revd Gary Deighton of St George's Church, Goodrington, and the Winter Night Shelter run by local churches have both made a real difference to the issues of homelessness. The clergy and parishioners of Goodrington and Torbay have raised nearly five thousand pounds over the period of Lent to support the Shekinah Mission, which works across Devon to provide a safe space for people to develop their skills, regain their self-worth and go on to live independent and fulfilling lives.