Lord Archbishop of Canterbury

Allocations from the Port Infrastructure Fund (PIF) have been published at gov.uk. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/port-infrastructure-fund-allocations/port-infrastructure-fund-successful-applicants).

The criteria for awarding grants were set out in the PIF Prospectus. The scope of the PIF concentrated on infrastructure necessary to support GB-EU trade and the Border Operating Model, rather than the movement of people.

The Port of Dover has well-established procedures for handling freight/passenger traffic, including in-built resilience contingencies.

Government is supporting the Port of Dover to meet capacity and resilience challenges in many ways including phasing-in the new Border Operating Model; Kent Access Permits; free COVID testing for hauliers at many sites including Sevington and Manston and a concerted, extensive campaign to brief hauliers on new arrangements and legal requirements. The Government is also taking powers to make it a requirement to have a negative test before entering Kent.

Additionally, Port of Dover is relieved (as is Eurotunnel) of the difficult and expensive prospect of providing border checks facilities on-site. This is due to HMG providing fully-funded inland facilities.

The UK continues to urge the Azerbaijani authorities to ensure that those detained during September 2023's military action in Nagorno-Karabakh are afforded a fair trial and provided safe conditions, in accordance with Azerbaijan's international obligations and commitments. The Minister of State for Europe, North America and UK Overseas Territories discussed this issue with Presidential Representative Elchin Amirbayov on 29 October.

The Minister of State for Europe, North America and UK Overseas Territories spoke with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on 11 October and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov on 31 October. Both parties highlighted progress on peace negotiations, supported by meetings between the two countries in Istanbul and Kazan in October. The Government is clear that a sustainable peace is key for the stability and prosperity of both countries and the region, and we stand ready to support the two sides to achieve this goal.

​The Government released statements on 3 January and 23 January following the deaths of protestors on 31 December 2017 and 21 January 2018. The statements called on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) government to investigate and hold accountable security force members who fired on civilians or ordered the use of lethal force. The UK continues to pressure the DRC government to open political space and allow peaceful demonstrations.

The UK strongly supports the East African Community-led dialogue; it is crucial to finding a sustainable political solution in Burundi. We welcome their decision to appoint the former President of Tanzania, Benjamin Mkapa, as Facilitator of the Burundi Dialogue.

Our High Commissioner in Dar es Salaam met Mr Mkapa on 11 April. Mr Mkapa appears keen to engage and share analysis on the best way forward. We understand that he met with a Burundi government delegation on 13 April, following initial consultations with the Presidents of Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend East (James Duddridge), intends to meet with Mr Mkapa when he visits Europe in May.

We are also considering, in consultation with like-minded partners and Mr Mkapa, how best we can support the dialogue process both financially and politically, including through the Article 96 process and UN Security Council.

The UK recognises the important role Commonwealth countries can play in supporting peace and development in all countries, including Burundi. Commonwealth members Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya play a particularly important role in supporting peace and development in Burundi as part of the East African Community-led dialogue with Burundi. In December 2015, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend East (James Duddridge), visited Uganda and Rwanda where he highlighted the deteriorating situation in Burundi and urged regional players to take concrete steps together to find a political solution. The Parliamentary Under Secretary for International Development, my hon. Friend the Member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner (Nick Hurd), discussed the situation in Burundi with the Tanzanian Foreign Minister on 29 January.

The UK did not have any conversations specifically on peace and development in Burundi with former Commonwealth Secretary-General, General Kamalesh Sharma but we will look for opportunities to discuss Burundi with the new Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon the Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC.

Rwanda is a safe and secure country with respect for the rule of law. We have carried out a robust report that demonstrates our commitment to fully evaluating whether Rwanda would be suitable for each potentially eligible person to be relocated.

We would only ever work with countries that we know are safe and will treat asylum seekers in accordance with relevant international human rights laws. Furthermore, Rwanda’s constitution includes a broad prohibition on discrimination.

Other than unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, anyone arriving in the UK whose claim is inadmissible and who has undertaken a dangerous journey to the UK on or after 1 January 2022 may be considered for relocation to Rwanda.

Everyone considered for relocation will be screened and have access to legal advice. Decisions will be taken on a case-by-case basis and nobody will be removed if it is unsafe or inappropriate for them.

We comply fully with the UK’s legal obligations, including under Article 8 of the Human Rights Act. For those with family links in the UK, who want to be considered for entry to the UK, they should seek to do so via legal and safe routes. Nobody should put their lives into the hands of criminal people smuggling gangs by making dangerous and irregular journeys.

Other than unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, anyone arriving in the UK whose claim is inadmissible and who has undertaken a dangerous journey to the UK on or after 1 January 2022 may be considered for relocation to Rwanda.

Everyone considered for relocation will be screened and have access to legal advice. Decisions will be taken on a case-by-case basis and nobody will be removed if it is unsafe or inappropriate for them.

We comply fully with the UK’s legal obligations, including under Article 8 of the Human Rights Act. For those with family links in the UK, who want to be considered for entry to the UK, they should seek to do so via legal and safe routes. Nobody should put their lives into the hands of criminal people smuggling gangs by making dangerous and irregular journeys.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member

The Government does not a prescribe a definition of affordability, but we recognise that the fundamental purpose of social housing is to provide affordable, safe and secure homes to those who cannot afford to rent or buy through the open market. This purpose is reflected in the definition of affordable housing in the National Planning Policy Framework and in our approach to setting maximum rent levels in social housing. The vast majority of rented social housing in England is let at Social Rent using a formula that takes account of relative county earnings (among several other factors). In the case of Affordable Rent, the initial rent is capped at up to 80 per cent of the equivalent market rent (except in London where both Social Rent and Affordable Rent levels tend to be lower).

The Government continues to invest to deliver different types of rented social housing to meet the needs of a wide range of households including those at risk of homelessness in areas of the country where affordability is most pressured.

For those who cannot afford their rent, Housing Benefit or Universal Credit is available to provide support with housing costs.

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that it is for local authorities to identify the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including those who require affordable housing, and reflect this in planning policies.

The Government is committed to increasing the supply of affordable housing and is investing over £12 billion in affordable housing over 5 years, the largest investment in affordable housing in a decade. This includes the new £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme, which will leverage £38 billion of private finance and provide up to 180,000 new homes across the country, should economic conditions allow.