Asked by: Louise Ellman (Independent - Liverpool, Riverside)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State of State for International Development, what recent steps the Government has taken to help alleviate the humanitarian situation in Afrin; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Where they are able, UK-funded partners are delivering humanitarian assistance in Afrin and to those fleeing the area. This includes health, water, food relief and protection services.
The UK Government has called for de-escalation and the protection of civilians in Afrin, while recognising Turkey’s legitimate interest in the security of its borders. The Prime Minister has raised the need for protection of civilians and proper humanitarian access with President Erdoğan, as has the Foreign Secretary with Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu.
Asked by: Louise Ellman (Independent - Liverpool, Riverside)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what procedures his Department plans to use to assess where the proposed Channel 4 hubs will be located; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Margot James
We have long been committed to Channel 4 moving their national headquarters out of London, and welcome Channel 4's agreement to move 300 staff out of London, with this figure rising over time. There are many creative locations across the UK, and Channel 4 will launch a process in April in which cities and regions across the UK can pitch to become the home of Channel 4's new National HQ and creative hubs, with the aim that a decision on these locations will be taken by Channel 4 in Q3 2018.
Asked by: Louise Ellman (Independent - Liverpool, Riverside)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 1 March 2018 to Question 129143 on Carillion: Insolvency, what discussions he has had with representative of Royal Liverpool University Hospital on a new contractor for the completion of the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital since 1 March 2018.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract between the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust and the PFI Project Company is still in place, which means that the Company is still contractually obliged to manage the project and find a construction firm or subcontractor who can continue the building work.
The Royal Liverpool Hospital scheme is very well advanced. The PFI Project Company is continuing its discussions with PwC (on behalf of the official receiver), their lenders and with other service and construction companies to assess how best to continue delivering the contract. Officials from the Department and NHS Improvement are working very actively with all the parties to keep the delay as short as possible and provide the best value for money solution for the Trust and for the public sector as a whole.
Asked by: Louise Ellman (Independent - Liverpool, Riverside)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment has he made of the effect of changes to free school meals as a result of universal credit on children in Liverpool; and will he make a statement.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
Our new criteria for free school meals eligibility will increase the number of children eligible for this vital benefit. We have not made city-level analyses of the effect of the changes. Due to the generous protections we will provide, all children receiving free school meals at the point the threshold is introduced, and all those who gain eligibility as Universal Credit rolls out, will continue to receive free school meals until the end of Universal Credit rollout. After this point, those children who were protected – if they are still in school – will continue to be protected until the end of their phase of education. While we estimate that around 50,000 more children nationally will benefit from our proposals once Universal Credit rollout is complete, many more children again will benefit as a result of our transitional arrangements.
Asked by: Louise Ellman (Independent - Liverpool, Riverside)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 12 March 2018 to Question 131113, on Syria: Armed Conflict, what progress has been made in implementing UN Security Council resolution 2401 since the adoption of the resolution calling for its full and immediate implementation on 5 March 2018; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Alistair Burt
UN Security Council Resolution 2401 has still not been implemented due largely to the regime and Russia’s failure to abide by its conditions. Pro-regime forces have continued to bomb Eastern Ghouta. The UN has reported that since 18 February 2018, over 1,100 civilians have been killed and over 4,000 have been injured. Only two humanitarian convoys have been permitted to deliver aid for approximately 54,000 people, a fraction of those in need, and medical supplies were removed from both convoys by the regime. 129 people, including 25 medical cases were evacuated on 13 March but around 1,000 serious medical cases remain. The regime's advance displaced around 12,000 people on 14-15 March. The UK is continuing to exert diplomatic pressure, including through the UN Security Council. On 7 March, the Security Council discussed the situation at the UK and France’s request. On 12 March, the UK organised an informal briefing on the situation of the Security Council by Syrian opposition and humanitarian actors. The Prime Minister spoke to President Trump on 4 March to discuss the appalling situation in Eastern Ghouta and agreed that Russia must use its influence on the regime to cease the campaign of violence.
Asked by: Louise Ellman (Independent - Liverpool, Riverside)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking in Eastern Ghouta; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The UK supported UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 2401, unanimously adopted on 24 February, which demands a 30-day ceasefire in Syria to allow for delivery of humanitarian aid and medical evacuations which are urgently needed across Syria, particularly in eastern Ghouta. We have urged those with influence over the regime to ensure the ceasefire is implemented in full. On 27 February, Minister of State for Europe and the Americas The Rt Hon. Sir Alan Duncan MP met with the Russian Ambassador to the UK, Alexander Yakovenko, stressing UK concern at the current situation in Syria, particularly the crisis in eastern Ghouta. The Foreign Secretary also wrote to the Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov on 27 February regarding the crisis in eastern Ghouta and urging Russia to uphold its commitments to ensure that UNSCR 2401 is implemented in full. Most recently, the UK raised its concerns with Russia on 7 March in the UN Security Council. We also called for an Urgent Debate in the UN Human Rights Council on 2 March and proposed a resolution which the UN Human Rights Council adopted on 5 March calling for the full and immediate implementation of UNSCR 2401.
Asked by: Louise Ellman (Independent - Liverpool, Riverside)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made and to whom on the death sentence issued in Yemen for Mr Hamid bin Haydara; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Alistair Burt
As the Minister for Europe and the Americas said in his response to the urgent question on this issue on 11 January, we strongly condemn Mr bin Haydara's death sentence, and the continued persecution of Baha'is in Yemen for their religious beliefs. We continue to work closely with our partners, including the European Union, to raise this issue directly with the de facto authorities in Sana'a, and have sought to raise the profile of Mr bin Haydara's situation through public diplomacy. We are in close contact with the Baha'i community in London regarding Mr bin Haydara's case and the wider situation of Baha'is in Yemen. I met with with representatives of the Baha'i community on 18 January to discuss this and other cases.
Asked by: Louise Ellman (Independent - Liverpool, Riverside)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to announce his decision on whether to relocate Channel 4.
Answered by Margot James
We have made it clear that Channel 4 must have a major presence outside London. As a publicly owned broadcaster, it is essential that it reflects and provides for the country as a whole. The government is working with Channel 4 on how best it can increase its regional impact, and we will set out next steps in due course.
Asked by: Louise Ellman (Independent - Liverpool, Riverside)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the process will be for the selection of an alternative location in the event that Channel 4 leaves its current location; and if he will he make a statement.
Answered by Margot James
We have made it clear that Channel 4 must have a major presence outside London. As a publicly owned broadcaster, it is essential that it reflects and provides for the country as a whole. The government is working with Channel 4 on how best it can increase its regional impact, and we will set out next steps in due course.
Asked by: Louise Ellman (Independent - Liverpool, Riverside)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the liquidation of Carillion on the completion of building work at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital; and will he make a statement.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract between the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust and the PFI Project Company is still in place, which means that the Company is still contractually obliged to manage the project and find a construction firm or subcontractor who can continue the building work.
The Royal Liverpool Hospital scheme is very well advanced. The PFI Project Company is continuing its discussions with PwC (on behalf of the official receiver), their lenders and with other service and construction companies to assess how best to continue delivering the contract.