Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
Increase funding for research into Endometriosis and PCOS.
Gov Responded - 24 Aug 2020 Debated on - 1 Nov 2021 View Hannah Bardell's petition debate contributionsEndometriosis and PCOS are two gynaecological conditions which both affect 10% of women worldwide, but both are, in terms of research and funding, incredibly under prioritised. This petition is calling for more funding, to enable for new, extensive and thorough research into female health issues.
Make LGBT conversion therapy illegal in the UK
Gov Responded - 21 May 2020 Debated on - 8 Mar 2021 View Hannah Bardell's petition debate contributionsI would like the Government to:
• make running conversion therapy in the UK a criminal offence
• forcing people to attend said conversion therapies a criminal offence
• sending people abroad in order to try to convert them a criminal offence
• protect individuals from conversion therapy
These initiatives were driven by Hannah Bardell, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Hannah Bardell has not been granted any Urgent Questions
Hannah Bardell has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
Hannah Bardell has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
Universal Credit Sanctions (Zero Hours Contracts) Bill 2017-19 - Private Members' Bill (Presentation Bill)
Sponsor - Chris Stephens (SNP)
Parliamentary Constituencies (Amendment) Bill 2017-19 - Private Members' Bill (Ballot Bill)
Sponsor - Afzal Khan (LAB)
Gender-based Pricing (Prohibition) Bill 2017-19 - Private Members' Bill (Presentation Bill)
Sponsor - Christine Jardine (LDEM)
To support women in the workplace, we will: extend redundancy protections for women after they return from maternity leave; introduce neonatal leave and pay; and introduce one week of unpaid carer’s leave. We have also recently consulted on measures to increase the availability of flexible working – and look forward to publishing our response to that in due course.
In line with UK protocol, the Agreement will be published when it is laid before Parliament. This is planned for Monday 19 October.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question 125316.
All claims submitted to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme are clinically assessed on a case-by-case basis once all the claimant’s medical records are gathered. The NHS Business Services Authority, who administer the scheme, have established a team of caseworkers to ensure all claims are processed as quickly as possible.
Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) COVID-19 related claims are now being processed and medical records are being requested from claimant’s general practitioners or medical providers. Once these records have been gathered over an average period of six months, they will be passed for independent medical assessment. Since its administration of the VDPS began in November 2021, the NHS Business Services Authority has contacted all claimants to update them on the progress of their cases. As of 18 February 2022, no VDPS claims relating to COVID-19 vaccines had been passed to an independent medical advisor for assessment.
As of 19 January 2022, there have been 733 claims to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme relating to COVID-19.
All claims to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme are clinically assessed on a case-by-case basis.
I was pleased to meet with the Honourable Lady on 19th October to discuss the FCDO's consular work.
The £75 million mentioned in the Foreign Affairs Committee's report was an upper spending limit agreed specifically to support repatriation operations in response to COVID-19. It was not a funding allocation and is not therefore available to other areas of consular assistance.
The FCDO provides tailored assistance to those who need our help. In addition the FCDO contributes funding, via the Ministry of Justice, to the Victim Support Homicide Service to provide support to eligible families bereaved abroad.
I was pleased to meet with the Honourable Lady on 19th October to discuss the FCDO's consular work. Advice on financial assistance for British Nationals abroad is longstanding and sets out all possible options British nationals may explore given the FCDO is not funded to provide financial assistance. We have recently reinforced to consular staff that while individuals may choose to crowdfund this is not an option we require them to explore before they seek an emergency loan to return home. The £75 million referred to was a maximum limit, not a target. We do not accept the Foreign Affairs Committee's suggestion that unspent funds meant those in need did not receive the repatriation support that they needed. The FCDO spent against the funding limit where needed to keep HMG charter flights affordable, in particular where there were fewer British travellers and where there was a need for connecting flights or significant ground transport. Our policy meant that we subsidised flights where it was necessary.
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I was pleased to meet with the Honourable Lady on 19th October to discuss the FCDO's consular work.
Advice on financial assistance for British Nationals abroad is longstanding and sets out all possible options British nationals may explore given the FCDO is not funded to provide financial assistance. We have recently reinforced to consular staff that while individuals may choose to crowdfund this is not an option we require them to explore before they seek an emergency loan to return home.
I was pleased to meet with the Hon Lady on 19th October to discuss the FCDO's consular work. Our consular staff provide tailored assistance and advice to British nationals according to the individual circumstances of each person based on the needs they have, based on who they are, where they are, and their situation. Our staff will make an assessment of the vulnerability of a British national, aiming to assess their needs promptly, making every effort to contact vulnerable British nationals within 24 hours of being notified of their situation.
I was pleased to meet with the Honourable Lady on 19th October to discuss the FCDO's consular work.
The FCDO receives a consular premium of £15.50 which represents 21% of the cost of a standard adult passport (£75.50) to fund its non-fee bearing consular services.
I was pleased to meet with the Honourable Lady on 19th October to discuss the FCDO's consular work.
The funding allocated to the Lucie Blackman Trust is to support missing British nationals abroad and their families; the Lucie Blackman Trust has not received funding from the FCDO to support families bereaved abroad.
I was pleased to meet with the Honourable Lady on 19th October to discuss the FCDO's consular work.
As part of our overall approach to crisis preparedness in the FCDO, we continuously review our plans and processes to ensure that they reflect lessons learned from recent crisis responses. Our learning from the COVID-19 pandemic response has led to us increasing our capacity to plan for pandemics of this scale in the future, including the provision of consular services and the repatriation of British nationals overseas. We have set up a Repatriation Taskforce which is continuing to monitor future repatriation risk, build future FCDO capability and is able to run more charters if needed. Going forward, planning for large scale repatriations will be incorporated into the FCDO's core crisis response capability.
As I discussed with the Honourable Lady on 19th October, consular staff assess the vulnerability of a British national on a case-by-case basis, to provide a tailored level of assistance to the individual. This assessment will also take into account any family members, including children, with whom the British national may be travelling.
We are able to provide full consular support to dual British nationals in a third country (a country of which they are not a national). We would not normally provide consular support to dual British nationals in the country of their other nationality, or get involved in dealings between the individual and the authorities of that state. We may make an exception to this rule if, depending on the circumstances of the case, we consider that the individual is vulnerable and we have humanitarian concerns, for example cases involving a murder or manslaughter, children, forced marriage or an offence which carries the death penalty. However, the help we can provide will depend on the circumstances and the state of the British national's other nationality agreeing to our help.
The FCDO provides consular staff with extensive training to ensure they respond to British people in an empathetic and knowledgeable manner. We use feedback gathered by our dedicated Insight Team, shadowing, skills practice, and 'mystery shopping' to inform and continually develop the skills and knowledge of our staff. While there is no definitive international best practice on how to train consular staff, the UK is an active member of international consular forums and learns from, and shares experiences and practice with, a range of other countries including on the learning and development of consular staff.
As I discussed with the Honourable Lady on 19th October, the level and type of assistance and advice we offer is tailored to the individual circumstances of each person. Our staff will make an assessment of the vulnerability of a British national and the needs they have, based on who they are, where they are, and their situation. We aim to assess their needs promptly and provide effective assistance based on their individual circumstances and local conditions, making every effort to contact vulnerable British nationals within 24 hours of being notified of their situation.
I was pleased to meet with the Hon Lady on 19th October to discuss the FCDO's consular work.
As part of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) commitment to transparency, details of FCDO's consular assistance are available online on http://www.gov.uk in our publication entitled "Support for British Nationals Abroad: A Guide". We consider that there is a strong public interest in protecting the space our staff have to consider and discuss options when making decisions on individual cases, particularly when offering assistance in difficult and distressing circumstances. We consider that their ability to do this, and our overall ability to ensure that we provide a tailored service to those most in need of our help, is likely to be negatively impacted by placing our internal guidance in the Library, which would not be in the public interest.
I was pleased to meet with the Honourable Lady on 19th October to discuss the FCDO's consular work.
There are no plans to bring forward legislative proposals to make consular assistance a legal right. Even if a right to assistance were to be enshrined in UK law, our ability to assist British nationals abroad would continue to remain dependent on co-operation from host countries and local laws. While there is no duty in international or domestic law to provide consular assistance, we strive to provide the right tailored assistance to those who need our help, doing more for those who most need our help.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) works closely with other departments, including the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), to provide consular assistance to British nationals overseas. The FCDO and MoJ work collaboratively in supporting victims bereaved by suspicious death and homicides abroad through our funded partner Victim Support Homicide Service. To support British nationals detained overseas and their families, the FCDO works closely with the NGOs Prisoners Abroad, the Death Penalty Project and Reprieve.
As discussed during the meeting I held with the Honourable Lady on 19th October, we have carefully considered the feedback in the APPG's report and will be pleased to issue a response in the coming weeks. Consular assistance continues to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week from anywhere in the world, by phone, online and via social media. We will continue our focus on those British nationals overseas who are the most vulnerable, training expert frontline staff to provide assistance in country and offering a wider choice of digital services where these can be provided more effectively online.
The FCDO can confirm that consular officials fully responded to the RAND survey in writing in the interests of transparency.
The FCDO is an active member of international consular forums and learns from, and shares experiences and practice with, a range of other countries.
The United Kingdom's consular relations are generally regulated by the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963, multilateral agreements, and bilateral consular conventions which does not specify language that should be used.
The 'Customer Charter' in in the publication 'Support for British Nationals Abroad: A Guide' (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/914039/FCO_BritsAbroad_A4web_020920.pdf) reflects the FCDO's commitment to provide a high quality service to those who need our support. As well as supporting British individuals who have experienced crime or trauma we also issue travel documents and provide notarial services and our publication seeks to set out the full range of help available. I was happy to meet the Honourable Lady on the 19th of October to discuss this aspect of the APPG report "Deaths Abroad, Consular Services and Assistance: Why Families Deserve Better and What Can Be Done".
The FCDO cannot comment on other states' choice of terminology in relation to consular matters.
We welcome the report of the APPG's Death Abroad, Consular Services and Assistance 2019. On 28 August I, (Minister Adams) replied to APPG chair, Hannah Bardell's letter of 28 July. In that letter I confirmed that I and my predecessors have repeatedly offered to meet the APPG to discuss their concerns and recommendations. This offer has not been taken up. We have carefully considered the issues raised in the report.
The Government sent its response to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 25 September.
The FCO noted in its January 2015 review of consular assistance following murder and manslaughter cases overseas, that a new Access to Justice Unit would be operational by January 2015, and that we would report on progress by June 2015. An update was included in a published report called "Consular Strategy 2013-16: progress during year two" published in May 2015.
"Support for British Nationals Abroad: A Guide" sets what we can and cannot provide in terms of consular assistance. In addition we have published guidance on gov.uk outlining consular support available to those bereaved through murder of manslaughter abroad called "Consular support for those bereaved through murder or manslaughter abroad". Vulnerability is assessed individually, according to each person or family's need.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) works with a number of partner organisations where they can provide expertise, specialist support or services that the FCDO cannot. The FCDO contributes grant funding, via the Ministry of Justice, to the Victim Support Homicide Service to provide support to eligible families bereaved abroad. The grant funding provided to the Lucie Blackman Trust is to support missing British nationals and their families.
FCDO officials are in discussion with the Ministry of Justice about the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (Victims' Code) following recommendations made by the Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales in 2019. The Ministry of Justice recently ran a public consultation exercise on changes to the Victims' Code and their officials continue to analyse the responses received.
The creation of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has unified our international efforts so we can maximise the UK's influence around the world.
As the Foreign Secretary has said, we will implement the merger in the most cost-effective way possible. The ultimate shape of the FCDO will depend on the outcomes of the Integrated Review and Spending Review which will define the Government's ambition for the UK's role in the world and the long-term strategic aims for our national security, defence, development and foreign policy. As such, it is not possible to determine yet the anticipated final costs of the merger or the size of the department needed to deliver against those ambitions. We anticipate there may be cost savings in the long term as a result of using our resources more effectively and efficiently, though this is not the primary goal of the merger.
The Foreign Secretary has said there will be no compulsory redundancies as a result of the merger, but that some roles and responsibilities may change. We will continue to engage with staff throughout this process.
The Government has fundamentally reformed regulation of the consumer credit market, including payday lending, by transferring responsibility to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in 2014. This more robust regulatory system is helping to deliver the Government’s vision for a well-functioning and sustainable consumer credit market which is able to meet the needs of all consumers.
Where the FCA has found issues with firms’ practices through its supervision process, it has acted. However, many complaints regarding payday lenders originate before the FCA was responsible for the regulation in this market.
When a firm enters administration, assets are pooled and used to cover customer redress claims and administration costs with these claims being addressed in order of the creditor hierarchy. The payment of redress claims is a matter for the administrators.
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) is the compensation scheme of last resort for customers of UK authorised financial services firms and is funded by a levy on industry. The FSCS is an independent non-governmental body and carries out its compensation function within rules set by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the FCA. The FCA has the power to decide which activities are given FSCS protection. In 2016, the FCA decided not to extend FSCS protection to most consumer credit activities because it believed other regulatory requirements were sufficient. The full reasoning behind the FCA’s decision is set out in a letter from its Chief Executive to the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee on 15 February 2019.
The Government has fundamentally reformed regulation of the consumer credit market, including payday lending, by transferring responsibility to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in 2014. This more robust regulatory system is helping to deliver the Government’s vision for a well-functioning and sustainable consumer credit market which is able to meet the needs of all consumers.
Where the FCA has found issues with firms’ practices through its supervision process, it has acted. However, many complaints regarding payday lenders originate before the FCA was responsible for the regulation in this market.
When a firm enters administration, assets are pooled and used to cover customer redress claims and administration costs with these claims being addressed in order of the creditor hierarchy. The payment of redress claims is a matter for the administrators.
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) is the compensation scheme of last resort for customers of UK authorised financial services firms and is funded by a levy on industry. The FSCS is an independent non-governmental body and carries out its compensation function within rules set by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the FCA. The FCA has the power to decide which activities are given FSCS protection. In 2016, the FCA decided not to extend FSCS protection to most consumer credit activities because it believed other regulatory requirements were sufficient. The full reasoning behind the FCA’s decision is set out in a letter from its Chief Executive to the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee on 15 February 2019.
The response for UIN 11631 was given on 26 February 2020.
Data for professional fees expenditure is published in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts but is not disclosed separately for legal fees.
Home Office Annual Accounts 2018-19 - page 135
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/807126/6.5571_HO_Annual_Report_201920_WEB.PDF
We have provided over £3.2 billion of new funding to help local authorities to reduce risks to public health and to support individuals on the basis of need. This includes those sleeping rough.
The Government recognises that these are unprecedented times and expects local authorities to support people who are sleeping rough, and also to minimise unnecessary risks to public health, acting within the law.
I am grateful to all who took the time to contribute views to our consultation aimed at making the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme simpler and more accessible.
We are carefully reviewing responses and will aim to publish the Government’s response in due course.
The Victim Directive (2012/29/EU) and the Victim Compensation Directive (2004/80/EC) will cease to apply to the UK after the end of the transition period, subject to the winding down provisions contained in the Withdrawal Agreement. The common minimum standards set out in the Victim Directive have been implemented in domestic law; for example, in England and Wales primarily through the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (Victims’ Code) issued under section 32 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. These measures are unaffected by the UK’s exit from the EU. Victims of crime injured in Britain may be eligible for the Britain-wide Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme ('the Scheme'), which provides publicly funded compensation to victims who suffer a serious physical or mental injury as the direct result of a violent crime. Awards under the Scheme are a recognition of public sympathy for the pain and suffering caused by violent crime. Where the crime was committed in an EU Member State, victims may be eligible to apply to the compensation scheme in that State, under the European Convention on the Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes.
The Ministry of Justice is committed to ensuring effective practical and emotional support for those bereaved by homicide and has taken steps to improve the funding available for these victims.
The current Homicide Service commenced in April 2019 and provides bereaved families with access to the fullest range of practical, emotional, specialist and peer support to families bereaved both in England and Wales as well as by homicide abroad.
We have provided Victim Support up to £3.4m per annum in funding for the delivery of the Homicide Service. In 2020/21 we are providing up to £500k in additional funding to the Homicide Service.
The funding available includes a contribution of up to £160k per annum from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to provide support to eligible families bereaved abroad. In addition, the FCDO has contributed funding of £40,000 this financial year to the Lucie Blackman Trust to support missing British nationals and their families.
The Ministry of Justice holds and publishes data on prosecutions, convictions and sentencing outcomes, but not on charges. We have interpreted your questions to be related to non-payment of television licence fees rather than fraud. Figures for prosecutions, convictions and sentencing outcomes for the non-payment of TV licence fees up to 2018 are available in the Outcomes by Offence data tool:
Filter by offence ‘191A Television licence evasion’. Then drag the ‘Sex’ filter into the rows field. The number of a) females, b) males convicted of this offence are shown in rows 35 and 34, respectively.
The number of a) females and b) males sentenced to immediate custody can be found in rows 90 and 89, respectively. However, custody is not a sentencing option for TV licence evasion, therefore these rows appear as nil.