Asked by: Danny Kinahan (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how his Department is promoting the Defence Discount Service in each region and constituent part of the UK.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Defence Discount Service (DDS) is operated by Blue Light Card Ltd on behalf of the Ministry Of Defence. Blue Light is responsible for all marketing and promotion of the DDS throughout the United Kingdom and uses a variety of initiatives to engage both locally and nationally.
As at 3 March 2017, the DDS scheme had approximately 386,000 members. A regional breakdown of membership is unavailable. However, the following table provides a breakdown by constituent part of the UK:
England | 316,400 |
Scotland | 29,700 |
Wales | 23,200 |
Northern Ireland | 5,800 |
Outside UK | 2,300 |
Opted not to provide location | 8,700 |
Asked by: Danny Kinahan (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the Nepal Government on permitting Christian non-governmental organisations to register and carry out humanitarian work unhindered in that country.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
I have not personally made representations to the Nepal Government on permitting Christian Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to register and carry out humanitarian work, but our Embassy in Kathmandu has raised the issue of NGO operating space regularly with the Government of Nepal and will continue to do so. The former Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Sir Hugo Swire), also raised the issue of operating problems encountered by NGOs with former Foreign Minister Thapa in July 2016.
Asked by: Danny Kinahan (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the treatment of Christians in Nepal.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
The right to freedom of religion is enshrined in the Nepali Constitution of September 2015, but we have concerns regarding the interpretation of the proposed legislation on religious conversion. There have been some isolated reports of attacks on Christians and some cases where Christians have been arrested by the authorities; we continue to monitor the situation. There is no specific category for registration of religious organisations in Nepal, which therefore have to register as Non-Governmental Organisations.
Asked by: Danny Kinahan (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding the Government provides to care for people affected by the troubles in Northern Ireland living in England.
Answered by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
Details of specific funding for people affected by the troubles in Northern Ireland living in England are not available. In England we make no special provision, but all British citizens living in England are fully entitled to National Health Service services.
Asked by: Danny Kinahan (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to establish the Mental Trauma Service in Northern Ireland proposed in the Stormont House Agreement.
Answered by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
This is a matter for the Department of Health in the Northern Ireland Executive.
Asked by: Danny Kinahan (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps is he taking to ensure that each of the four main political parties in Northern Ireland continue to be consulted on his Department's work while the Assembly is dissolved.
Answered by Robin Walker
Ministers in the Department for Exiting the European Union are fully engaged on issues related to Northern Ireland. Both the Secretary of State and I have visited Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland keeps closely engaged on a range of issues of mutual interest and concern with Northern Ireland’s political parties and independents, including on the subject of the UK’s exit from the EU. This engagement includes parties that opted not to join the outgoing Executive.
We want to hear views from all parts of the United Kingdom. The Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations (JMC(EN)) has met on a monthly basis since its inception, and will continue to meet regularly to understand and consider each administration’s priorities; to seek to agree a UK approach to, and objectives for, negotiations, and to consider proposals put forward by the devolved administrations. The Joint Ministerial Committee is also meeting more frequently in plenary format: the Prime Minister has chaired two meetings since the referendum. Representatives from the DUP and Sinn Fein both attended JMC(P) on Monday 30th January and have attended every JMC(EN). Northern Ireland Executive Ministers remain in place until any election and discussions can continue. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland continues to undertake discussions with all of the main political parties and independents in Northern Ireland.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Prime Minister are fully committed to ensuring that as we establish our negotiating position the unique interests of Northern Ireland are protected and advanced. They have a clear understanding of the range of views from across Northern Ireland and will continue to champion NI’s interests over the coming months.
We want to see the political situation in NI resolved and Assembly government continuing and that is what the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is working hard to achieve.
Ministers in our Department will continue to seek the views of all communities and parties in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Danny Kinahan (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what recent discussions he has had with the main opposition parties in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Robin Walker
Ministers in the Department for Exiting the European Union are fully engaged on issues related to Northern Ireland. Both the Secretary of State and I have visited Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland keeps closely engaged on a range of issues of mutual interest and concern with Northern Ireland’s political parties and independents, including on the subject of the UK’s exit from the EU. This engagement includes parties that opted not to join the outgoing Executive.
We want to hear views from all parts of the United Kingdom. The Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations (JMC(EN)) has met on a monthly basis since its inception, and will continue to meet regularly to understand and consider each administration’s priorities; to seek to agree a UK approach to, and objectives for, negotiations, and to consider proposals put forward by the devolved administrations. The Joint Ministerial Committee is also meeting more frequently in plenary format: the Prime Minister has chaired two meetings since the referendum. Representatives from the DUP and Sinn Fein both attended JMC(P) on Monday 30th January and have attended every JMC(EN). Northern Ireland Executive Ministers remain in place until any election and discussions can continue. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland continues to undertake discussions with all of the main political parties and independents in Northern Ireland.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Prime Minister are fully committed to ensuring that as we establish our negotiating position the unique interests of Northern Ireland are protected and advanced. They have a clear understanding of the range of views from across Northern Ireland and will continue to champion NI’s interests over the coming months.
We want to see the political situation in NI resolved and Assembly government continuing and that is what the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is working hard to achieve.
Ministers in our Department will continue to seek the views of all communities and parties in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Danny Kinahan (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential diminishment of US commitment to NATO after President Trump's reorganisation of the US National Security Council.
Answered by Mike Penning
During a recent call with Secretary of State for Defence, US Defense Secretary Mattis emphasised the United States' continued firm commitment to NATO.
This was reiterated during the Prime Minister's visit to the US, where President Trump stated that he is '100 per cent behind' NATO.
Asked by: Danny Kinahan (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with representatives of the Libyan Government of National Accord on compensation for UK victims of Gaddafi-sponsored IRA terrorism.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We have made clear to the Libyan authorities that resolution of legacy issues remains a priority for us. I raised the issue of compensation during respective meetings with Prime Minister Serraj and Deputy Prime Minister Maiteq during the London Ministerial on 31 October 2016. We will continue to encourage the Libyan authorities to engage with UK victims, and their legal representatives, seeking redress, including those seeking compensation. Deputy Prime Minister Maiteq is expected to attend the Libya Reconstruction and Investment Forum in London on Thursday 26 January. We hope to have the opportunity to discuss legacy issues in the margins of this event.
Asked by: Danny Kinahan (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with Libyan Deputy Prime Minister, Ahmed Maiteeq, on the case of victims of IRA terrorism; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We have made clear to the Libyan authorities that resolution of legacy issues remains a priority for us. I raised the issue of compensation during respective meetings with Prime Minister Serraj and Deputy Prime Minister Maiteq during the London Ministerial on 31 October 2016. We will continue to encourage the Libyan authorities to engage with UK victims, and their legal representatives, seeking redress, including those seeking compensation. Deputy Prime Minister Maiteq is expected to attend the Libya Reconstruction and Investment Forum in London on Thursday 26 January. We hope to have the opportunity to discuss legacy issues in the margins of this event.