Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Wealden)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, how many cases are outstanding (a) in total and (b) for female judges as of 8 June 2022; and what the average time taken to process a case is.
Answered by James Heappey
As of 8 June 2022, there are 15,340 applications awaiting an initial decision. It is not possible to provide a breakdown based on gender or job title.
We are working at pace to consider each application on a case-by-case basis and timelines for processing applications vary significantly from case to case, due to the complexity and personal circumstances of each applicant.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Wealden)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has had discussions with the UK wine industry's (a) domestic producers and (b) importers on the potential scope to reduce the alcoholic content of wine made from fresh grapes; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Costings for this policy were announced at Autumn Budget 2021 and can be accessed via the following link on page 12: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1029980/Policy_Costings_Document_FINAL.pdf
The Treasury is continuing to engage with the UK wine industry on these reforms and is interested in understanding the administrative and economic impacts on businesses.
Further detail about the impact of alcohol duty reforms on industry will be included in a tax information and impact note when the policy is final, or near final, in the usual way.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Wealden)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Government’s proposed changes to alcohol excise duty on duty receipts from (a) beer, (b) cider, (c) spirits and (d) wine and sparkling wine made from fresh grapes; if he will place a copy of this assessment in the Library; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Costings for this policy were announced at Autumn Budget 2021 and can be accessed via the following link on page 12: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1029980/Policy_Costings_Document_FINAL.pdf
The Treasury is continuing to engage with the UK wine industry on these reforms and is interested in understanding the administrative and economic impacts on businesses.
Further detail about the impact of alcohol duty reforms on industry will be included in a tax information and impact note when the policy is final, or near final, in the usual way.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Wealden)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the proportion of still wine sold in the UK that will be subject to a potential increase in duty under the Alcohol Duty Review; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Costings for this policy were announced at Autumn Budget 2021 and can be accessed via the following link on page 12: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1029980/Policy_Costings_Document_FINAL.pdf
The Treasury is continuing to engage with the UK wine industry on these reforms and is interested in understanding the administrative and economic impacts on businesses.
Further detail about the impact of alcohol duty reforms on industry will be included in a tax information and impact note when the policy is final, or near final, in the usual way.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Wealden)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made representations to the International Olympic Committee regarding the upholding of Article 50 of the Olympic Charter in response to a Beijing Games spokesperson’s remarks at a press conference stating that reports of forced labour in Xinjiang were lies made up by deliberate groups.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government supports the International Olympic Committee in its development and application of the Olympic Charter, including Article 50. The Government will not stand for forced labour, wherever it takes place, and has taken measures to help ensure that no British organisations are profiting from or contributing to human rights violations against the Uyghurs or other minorities.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Wealden)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January 2022 to Question 112594 on Xinjiang: Genocide, whether staff in her Department have been tasked with producing a risk assessment of the Xinjiang region in line with that debate's motion agreed by the House.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
As set out in our response to question 112594, the FCDO continues to monitor the human rights situation in Xinjiang closely. The available evidence is used to inform FCDO and broader HMG policy in relation to Xinjiang, and to underpin our robust diplomatic action and domestic policy response. However, it remains the long-standing policy of the British Government not to make determinations in relation to genocide. We keep judgments of competent tribunals and courts on genocide under close review.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Wealden)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January 2022 to Question 112594 on Xinjiang: Genocide, whether her Department has seen and examined the evidence used by the (a) American Government, (b) Canadian Parliament, (c) Lithuanian Parliament and (d) Dutch Parliament to declare that genocide is taking place in Xinjiang.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The FCDO continues to monitor the situation in Xinjiang closely. This includes regular discussion and sharing of analysis with our international partners, in addition to our own monitoring of open source research, extensive commissioning and funding of research from relevant international experts, and diplomatic reporting from our Embassy in Beijing and the wider FCDO network. This evidence and analysis underpins our robust diplomatic action and domestic policy response.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Wealden)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January 2022 to Question 112594 on Xinjiang: Genocide, whether the Government has taken steps to begin producing a risk assessment of the Xinjiang region in line with that debate's motion agreed by the House.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
As set out in our response to question 112594, the FCDO continues to monitor the human rights situation in Xinjiang closely. The available evidence is used to inform FCDO and broader HMG policy in relation to Xinjiang, and to underpin our robust diplomatic action and domestic policy response. However, it remains the long-standing policy of the British Government not to make determinations in relation to genocide. We keep judgments of competent tribunals and courts on genocide under close review.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Wealden)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the debate of 20 January 2022 on Judgment of the Uyghur Tribunal, whether the Government is taking steps to produce a risk assessment of the Xianjiang region in line with that debate's motion agreed by the House.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The FCDO continues to monitor the human rights situation in Xinjiang closely. This includes regular discussion and sharing of information with international partners, close monitoring of open source research, extensive commissioning and funding of research from relevant international experts on issues of concern and diplomatic reporting and analysis from our Embassy in Beijing and the wider FCDO network. This growing body of evidence and analysis will continue to inform FCDO and broader HMG policy in relation to Xinjiang, and underpin our robust diplomatic action and domestic policy response.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Wealden)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Minister for Asia has met with representatives of the World Uyghur Congress.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
As referenced in my response to written questions 100589 and 100590, FCDO Ministers and officials regularly meet members of the Uyghur diaspora and maintain a dialogue with leading human rights Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) about the situation in Xinjiang. Most recently, in December, I hosted a roundtable for human rights NGOs attended by a representative of the World Uyghur Congress.