Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many unauthorised Cross Channel migrants have been returned to France in each year since 2012.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of returns from the UK in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’ on gov.uk. The latest data on returns from the UK by return destination country are published published in table Ret_D02 of the 'Returns Detailed Tables' on gov.uk which can be broken down by return type group. The latest data go up to the end of March 2022.
The data are for all returns from the UK. We do not publish information on method of entry for the returnee i.e. if they are migrants who crossed the channel.
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, together with partners in Zimbabwe, to help reduce the maternal mortality rate in that country.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK has supported and will continue to support essential sexual, reproductive, maternal, new-born, child and adolescent health and nutrition services in Zimbabwe. Alongside international partners, our 'Supporting a Resilient Health System' programme (£130 million, 2017-22) has benefitted 5.4 million women and children in Zimbabwe through delivering essential sexual, reproductive, maternal, new-born, child and adolescent health and nutrition services.
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Zimbabwe regarding the continued detention of opposition Members of Parliament (1) Job Sikhala, and (2) Godfrey Sithole.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK is monitoring the ongoing detention of opposition Members of Parliament Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole in Zimbabwe. The former Minister for Africa met with the Foreign Minister of Zimbabwe on 30 June and reiterated the importance of all political parties respecting the rule of law, refraining from violence and respecting the right of others to campaign freely ahead of upcoming elections in 2023.
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the governments of countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regarding the continued detention of Zimbabwe opposition Members of Parliament (1) Job Sikhala, and (2) Godfrey Sithole.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK is monitoring the ongoing detention of opposition Members of Parliament Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole in Zimbabwe. The former Minister for Africa met with the Foreign Minister of Zimbabwe on 30 June and reiterated the importance of all political parties respecting the rule of law, refraining from violence and respecting the right of others' to campaign freely ahead of upcoming elections in 2023.
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure humanitarian assistance reaches rural areas in Tigray.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The conflict in northern Ethiopia has contributed to one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, leaving 13 million people in Tigray, Amhara and Afar requiring humanitarian assistance. The UK has provided more than £80 million to respond to the humanitarian crises Ethiopia since November 2020. Our support has reached civilians across the country including in conflict areas, drought affected areas, and to refugees. UK support has gone towards water and sanitation, health and nutrition, child protection and gender-based violence prevention and response, livelihoods, logistics, communications, and technical expertise seconded to the UN.
The return to conflict, including the seizure of fuel by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) from the World Food Programme, makes the work of humanitarian agencies more difficult. The UK, working closely with international partners and the UN, is urging all parties to the conflict to guarantee unfettered humanitarian access by immediately ceasing hostilities and allowing aid in.
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with international partners over the renewed conflict in Ethiopia.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The breakdown of the truce and return to conflict between the Tigray People's Liberation Front and the Ethiopian Government is catastrophic for the people of Ethiopia. It risks tens of thousands of deaths, both directly through fighting and indirectly through a further deepening of the already dire humanitarian situation. 22 months since fighting began, it is clear that there is no military solution to the conflict.
The UK is heavily involved in international efforts to de-escalate conflict, stressing the need for a political solution, humanitarian access and accountability for atrocities. We support the African Union's mediation efforts to this end, and encourage a redoubling of these efforts to avert further escalation. The UK urges Tigrayan troops to leave Amhara and Eritrean troops to leave Tigray. We urge the Ethiopian Government to restore services to Tigray and both parties to begin direct talks without preconditions. Our Embassy in Addis Ababa is engaging with all parties to the conflict to deliver these messages.
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the status of the humanitarian truce between the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The breakdown of the truce and return to conflict between the Tigray People's Liberation Front and the Ethiopian Government is catastrophic for the people of Ethiopia. It risks tens of thousands of deaths, both directly through fighting and indirectly through a further deepening of the already dire humanitarian situation. 22 months since fighting began, it is clear that there is no military solution to the conflict.
The UK is heavily involved in international efforts to de-escalate conflict, stressing the need for a political solution, humanitarian access and accountability for atrocities. We support the African Union's mediation efforts to this end, and encourage a redoubling of these efforts to avert further escalation. The UK urges Tigrayan troops to leave Amhara and Eritrean troops to leave Tigray. We urge the Ethiopian Government to restore services to Tigray and both parties to begin direct talks without preconditions. Our Embassy in Addis Ababa is engaging with all parties to the conflict to deliver these messages.
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of reforming the Cycle to Work Scheme to broaden access to (1) those earning at, or near, the National Minimum Wage, and (2) those who are self-employed.
Answered by Baroness Penn - Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
The Government has committed over £2 billion of investment in cycling and walking during this Parliament to deliver on the commitments made in the ‘Gear Change’ walking and cycling strategy. This set out the Government’s vision for cycling and walking to be the natural first choice for many journeys, with the ambition that half of all short journeys in towns and cities will be walked or cycled by 2030. In line with this vision, the Department for Transport continues to publicise guidance for businesses, large and small, on the different ways they can promote cycling and walking, including the Cycle to Work Scheme.
It is encouraging that there has been an increased uptake of the Cycle to Work Scheme, particularly amongst key workers, over the last few years. Government officials are currently undertaking a programme of research to better understand the success of the Cycle to Work Scheme, including motivations for employees joining the Scheme. Any changes to the Scheme will be considered following this programme.
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what joint working, if any, is taking place across Government to unlock additional benefits of the Cycle to Work Scheme to (1) support workers with the rising cost of commuting, and (2) drive outcomes in (a) public health, and (b) reducing carbon emissions.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Cycling to work can reduce the costs of commuting whilst improving physical and mental health for employees and can help reduce carbon emissions. The Cycle to Work scheme enables people do this more cost effectively and in 2019 the Department revised the guidance on the scheme to make it simpler for employers to offer it to their employees.
The Department regularly promotes the Cycle to Work Scheme and has previously commissioned Business in the Community and Sustrans to publish best practice guidance for employers and local authorities highlighting how employers can enable more of their staff to cycle to work using the scheme. The Department and HMRC are in regular contact on these and other issues and the Department regularly meets with the Cycle to Work Alliance to identify opportunities to further increase take up of the scheme.
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to increase take-up of the Cycle to Work Scheme in line with their priorities around boosting active travel.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Cycling to work can reduce the costs of commuting whilst improving physical and mental health for employees and can help reduce carbon emissions. The Cycle to Work scheme enables people do this more cost effectively and in 2019 the Department revised the guidance on the scheme to make it simpler for employers to offer it to their employees.
The Department regularly promotes the Cycle to Work Scheme and has previously commissioned Business in the Community and Sustrans to publish best practice guidance for employers and local authorities highlighting how employers can enable more of their staff to cycle to work using the scheme. The Department and HMRC are in regular contact on these and other issues and the Department regularly meets with the Cycle to Work Alliance to identify opportunities to further increase take up of the scheme.