Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support they have provided to survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in Haiti.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK strongly condemns the violence that continues to undermine efforts to restore democratic rule in Haiti, and the infliction of human rights abuses by gangs on the Haitian people, including rape and sexual violence against women and children. The UK contributes approximately £28 million per annum to development in Haiti via multilateral bodies including through the UN and its agencies. We have supported expansion of the Human Rights Team within the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), with a focus on addressing sexual and gender-based violence. We also funded the creation and implementation of the human rights compliance framework to the Multinational Security Support mission to Haiti and the designation of gang leaders under the UN Sanctions Regime for enabling human rights abuses.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question
To ask the Leader of the House what monitoring process is in place to ensure that responses to Written Questions answer the question that has been asked.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
As Leader I regularly remind Ministers of the importance of timely and accurate answers to written questions. I have met the working group of departmental Parliamentary Clerks and am scheduled to meet separately Permanent Secretaries next week to stress the importance of written questions and the need for those to be answered on time. Alongside this my office routinely contacts departments who have breached the 10 working day target.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question
To ask the Leader of the House whether audits are conducted by departments to assess the accuracy of answers given to Written Questions.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
It is the responsibility for departmental Ministers to ensure that answers to written questions are accurate and address the question posed by the Peer. It is for each individual department to decide its approach to auditing responses. The Guide to Parliamentary Work makes clear that “in responding to questions, ministers should follow the principles of the Ministerial Code making the utmost effort to give accurate and helpful answers”.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assistance they plan to provide to the government of Syria to clear landmines, improvised explosive devices, and other explosive weapons.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Explosive ordnance continues to pose a significant threat to civilians and humanitarian workers across Syria, as well as preventing the rehabilitation of buildings such as schools and clinics, as well as agricultural land.
We provide funding to the mine action sector via the UK-led Aid Fund for Syria, the UK Global Mine Action Programme and the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. We are working with partners to clear mines and unexploded ordnance in North East Syria, to allow restoration of services and landmines.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the rates of child poverty in (1) England, (2) Wales, (3) Scotland, and (4) Northern Ireland.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Relative low income after housing costs is the government’s headline measure of poverty. Based on a three-year average for 2021/22 to 2023/24, 31 per cent of children in England, 31 per cent of children in Wales, 23 per cent of children in Scotland, and 24 per cent of children in Northern Ireland were in relative low income after housing costs.
Further statistics on the number of children living in absolute and relative poverty in the UK are published annually in the “Households Below Average Income” publication, the latest available being: Households below average income: for financial years ending 1995 to 2024 - GOV.UK.
This government is committed to tackling child poverty and the Child Poverty Taskforce is developing an ambitious Child Poverty Strategy which we will publish in the autumn. We are considering all available levers as part of our strategy, including social security reforms, to give every child the best start in life. The causes of child poverty are wide-ranging and deep-rooted, and so it is right that the Taskforce carefully considers and assesses the available levers as it develops this Strategy.
In the meantime, we are pressing ahead with action.
As a significant downpayment ahead of strategy publication, we have already taken substantive action across major drivers of child poverty through the Spending Review 2025. The government will provide £410 million per year by 2028-29 to expand Free School Meals eligibility to all pupils in England with a parent receiving Universal Credit. The government will also provide £80 million per year by 2028-29 for early years and post-16 settings to support this expansion. This expansion will lift 100,000 children out of poverty by the end of the parliament. We are also establishing a long-term Crisis and Resilience Fund supported by £1bn a year, including £158 million to the devolved governments, investing in local family support services and extending the £3 bus fare cap.
In August, we confirmed funding of £600m for the Holiday Activities and Food programme for the next three years, ensuring that children and young people in England can continue to benefit from enriching experiences and nutritious meals during the school holidays.