Asked by: Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the implications of the increase in the cost of work permits for foreign workers in South Sudan for the amount of aid delivered in that country.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
The proposal by the Government of South Sudan to increase the cost of work permits is a further obstruction of the delivery of humanitarian aid by the government. If these fees are imposed it will have serious consequences for the agencies that are doing all they can to tackle the famine that has been declared. Together with our international partners we raised these issues with the South Sudanese First Vice President on 15 March, and made clear that the government of South Sudan has a responsibility to stop the suffering of its own people, and allow full humanitarian access across the country.
Asked by: Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has raised the increase in the cost of work permits for foreign workers in South Sudan with the South Sudanese Government.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We are concerned by the increasingly challenging environment for foreign workers in South Sudan, especially those working for humanitarian organisations and aid agencies. The continued obstruction of their work by the Government of South Sudan is particularly troubling following the declaration of famine in parts of Greater Unity State. The proposal to increase the cost of work permits will hinder their response. In light of the desperate situation, we are planning together with our international partners urgently to raise these issues with the Government of South Sudan.
Asked by: Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the effect on freedom of religion or belief in Sudan as a result of the verdict in the recent case related to Reverend Hassan Abduraheem, Petr Jasek and Abdumonem Abdumawla in that country.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We are deeply concerned by the verdict in the case against Pastor Hassan Abduelraheen Kodi, Petr Jasek, and Abdulmonem Abdumawlla. We are aware that the defendants have the right to appeal. Officials from our Embassy in Khartoum were present in court for the verdict, and together with our international partners, coordinated attendance at all hearings since their initial arrest. We have regularly raised our concerns over this case directly with the Government of Sudan, most recently on 22 January; and we will continue to do so as part of our ongoing human rights dialogue.
More widely, freedom of religion or belief in Sudan remains a concern. We continue to urge the Government of Sudan to uphold the commitments of the Interim Constitution of 2005, within which religious freedom is enshrined.
Asked by: Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the sentence given to Reverend Hassan Abduraheem, Petr Jasek and Abdumonem Abdumawla in Sudan; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We are deeply concerned by the verdict in the case against Pastor Hassan Abduelraheen Kodi, Petr Jasek, and Abdulmonem Abdumawlla. We are aware that the defendants have the right to appeal. Officials from our Embassy in Khartoum were present in court for the verdict, and together with our international partners, coordinated attendance at all hearings since their initial arrest. We have regularly raised our concerns over this case directly with the Government of Sudan, most recently on 22 January; and we will continue to do so as part of our ongoing human rights dialogue.
More widely, freedom of religion or belief in Sudan remains a concern. We continue to urge the Government of Sudan to uphold the commitments of the Interim Constitution of 2005, within which religious freedom is enshrined.
Asked by: Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the role the European Convention of Human Rights in future trade deals the UK makes with other countries.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK has a strong history of protecting human rights and promoting our values globally. We will in due course consider all options in the design of future bilateral trade and investment agreements. We will of course continue to honour our international human rights obligations.
Asked by: Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the alleged torture of Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam by Sudanese authorities during his ongoing detention without charge; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We remain deeply concerned by the ongoing detention of Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, and allegations that he has been tortured. Both our Ambassador in Khartoum and the UK Special Representative for Sudan and South Sudan most recently raised our concerns about this case directly with senior Sudanese government figures, including Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour on 24 January, during the visit of the UK Special Representative to Khartoum between 21-28 January. Officials from our Embassy in Khartoum also pressed the Sudanese government to allow access for Dr Mudawi’s family, and we are aware that they visited him in prison on 27 January.
Asked by: Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the UK Special Representative for Sudan and South Sudan, Chris Trott, raised the ongoing detention without charge of Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam during his meeting with the Sudanese Foreign Minister, Ibrahim Ghandour, on 24 January 2017.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We remain deeply concerned by the ongoing detention of Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, and allegations that he has been tortured. Both our Ambassador in Khartoum and the UK Special Representative for Sudan and South Sudan most recently raised our concerns about this case directly with senior Sudanese Government figures, including Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour on 24 January, during the visit of the UK Special Representative to Khartoum between 21-28 January. Officials from our Embassy in Khartoum also pressed the Sudanese government to allow access for Dr Mudawi’s family, and we are aware that they visited him in prison on 27 January.
Asked by: Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the benefits to the health and well-being of children of the early identification of cerebral palsy.
Answered by David Mowat
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published on 25 January 2017 the clinical guideline Cerebral palsy in under 25s: assessment and management NICE guideline (NG62).
This provides recommendations for clinicians on the importance of enhanced clinical and developmental follow-up for children up to two years of age who are at increased risk of developing cerebral palsy, and the need for referral for an urgent assessment following the early recognition of possible signs of cerebral palsy.
Asked by: Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department provides on the use of (a) paediatric speech and language therapy, (b) paediatric physiotherapy and (c) paediatric occupational therapy for children and young people with cerebral palsy.
Answered by David Mowat
The Department does not provide specific guidance on the use of paediatric speech and language therapy, paediatric physiotherapy and paediatric occupational therapy for children and young people with cerebral palsy.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline on the management of spasticity in under 19s includes recommendations on the provision of physiotherapy and/or occupational therapy.
In addition, at the request of the Department, NICE published, on 25 January 2017, the clinical guideline Cerebral palsy in under 25s: assessment and management.
Asked by: Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether discussions that officials of his Department had with officials of the Northern Ireland Executive included (a) budgetary challenges facing the Executive during 2015 and (b) the escalated spending exposure under the Northern Ireland non-domestic renewable heat incentive scheme.
Answered by David Gauke
Treasury officials regularly discuss matters of mutual interest with their counterparts in the devolved administrations. At relevant points in time, those discussions will have covered each of the matters highlighted.