Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what accessibility adjustments are in place for the consultation on the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper; and whether her Department consulted with disabled people on accessibility requirements for that consultation.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We are committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people and people with health conditions at the heart of everything we do. Throughout the consultation period we will listen, learn and take feedback through an online form, email, post and through accessible in-person and online events.
We will publish a full suite of accessible versions of the Green Paper, to ensure that everyone can engage with the consultation. The consultation will close 12 weeks after the point at which all the accessible versions are available, to ensure that all stakeholders have sufficient time to engage and we hear from as many people as possible. We will also be holding a full schedule of public events which we will publish along with the accessible versions in the coming weeks. The public consultation events will accommodate any reasonable adjustments for individuals who wish to attend, including re-imbursing travel costs and arranging accessible venues and interpreters for attendees.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken as a member of the Peace Implementation Council for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In response to recent secessionist moves by the Republika Srpska leadership, we have worked with our Peace Implementation Council (PIC) partners and the High Representative to support local actors in their robust response, and to protect Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) institutions from attempts to undermine them. On 10 March, I spoke with BiH Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic to reaffirm the UK's support for BiH, the rule of law, and the Dayton Peace Agreement. The UK Ambassador to BiH and our Special Envoy to the Western Balkans have similarly engaged with the High Representative and PIC partners to address the situation.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his counterparts in (a) Germany, (b) France, (c) Italy and (d) the US on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Since Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik's sentence, the UK Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and other officials have repeatedly engaged with our Quint partners (Germany, France, Italy and US, plus EU and NATO), to discuss the situation and develop a forward-leaning response. I, along with the UK Special Envoy to the Western Balkans, Dame Karen Pierce, have also worked with our allies, the High Representative and BiH leaders to underline our support for BiH's sovereignty and territorial integrity. On 10 March, I spoke with BiH Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic to reaffirm the UK's support for BiH, the rule of law, and the Dayton Peace Agreement. We will continue to work with our international partners to support BiH in tackling these most recent threats to its stability.