Asked by: Helen Goodman (Labour - Bishop Auckland)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to improve student (a) wellbeing and (b) mental health.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
Mental health is a priority for this government, which is why we continue to work closely with Universities UK (UUK) on embedding the Step Change programme within the sector. Step Change calls on higher education (HE) leaders to adopt mental health as a strategic priority and adopt a whole-institution approach to mental health, embedding it across all policies, cultures, curricula and practice.
In addition, the government actively backs the introduction of a sector-led University Mental Health Charter, launched in June 2018. This will drive up standards in promoting student and staff mental health and wellbeing. It will invite universities to meet high standards of practice, including in areas such as leadership, early intervention and data collection.
HE institutions (HEI) have legal responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 to support students, including those with mental health conditions. It is for HEIs to determine what welfare and counselling services they need to provide to their students to offer that support.
The information requested is not held centrally regarding student suicide. However, in June 2018, the Office for National Statistics released experimental statistics estimating suicide among higher education students in England and Wales which can be found following this link: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/articles/estimatingsuicideamonghighereducationstudentsenglandandwalesexperimentalstatistics/2018-06-25.
The government has worked with UUK, the Office for Students, and other stakeholders to develop guidance on measures to help prevent suicide and deal sensitively with issues that may arise when tragedy does occur. This guidance was published in September 2018, ahead of the 2018/19 academic year.
As independent and autonomous bodies, HEIs are responsible for decisions regarding required training for their staff and have a duty of care to their staff, like all employers, as well as to their students.
Asked by: Helen Goodman (Labour - Bishop Auckland)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what training in health and wellbeing is required of university lecturers.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
Mental health is a priority for this government, which is why we continue to work closely with Universities UK (UUK) on embedding the Step Change programme within the sector. Step Change calls on higher education (HE) leaders to adopt mental health as a strategic priority and adopt a whole-institution approach to mental health, embedding it across all policies, cultures, curricula and practice.
In addition, the government actively backs the introduction of a sector-led University Mental Health Charter, launched in June 2018. This will drive up standards in promoting student and staff mental health and wellbeing. It will invite universities to meet high standards of practice, including in areas such as leadership, early intervention and data collection.
HE institutions (HEI) have legal responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 to support students, including those with mental health conditions. It is for HEIs to determine what welfare and counselling services they need to provide to their students to offer that support.
The information requested is not held centrally regarding student suicide. However, in June 2018, the Office for National Statistics released experimental statistics estimating suicide among higher education students in England and Wales which can be found following this link: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/articles/estimatingsuicideamonghighereducationstudentsenglandandwalesexperimentalstatistics/2018-06-25.
The government has worked with UUK, the Office for Students, and other stakeholders to develop guidance on measures to help prevent suicide and deal sensitively with issues that may arise when tragedy does occur. This guidance was published in September 2018, ahead of the 2018/19 academic year.
As independent and autonomous bodies, HEIs are responsible for decisions regarding required training for their staff and have a duty of care to their staff, like all employers, as well as to their students.
Asked by: Helen Goodman (Labour - Bishop Auckland)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made on the individual project components of the Peru/Colombia: Serious Organised Crime Programme.
Answered by Alan Duncan
Information on individual projects and intended outcomes is included in the Peru/Colombia Programme Summary, while a summary of progress of programmes meeting their objectives and delivering outputs is included in the Annual Review summary. Both of these documents are published online annually (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/conflict-stability-and-security-fund-cssf).
Asked by: Helen Goodman (Labour - Bishop Auckland)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the charges made against Future Forward leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit on political stability in Thailand.
Answered by Mark Field
We continue to monitor the situation in Thailand following 24 March's elections. I issued a statement welcoming the fact that elections had taken place and highlighting that it was important that any reported irregularities were investigated swiftly, fairly and transparently. I also emphasised that the process of government formation should be conducted in a proper and open manner to reflect what people voted for.
On 6 April our Embassy joined 11 other diplomatic missions in observing Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the leader of the Future Forward Party, attend a police station to hear several charges, including one of sedition. These charges relate to an incident in 2015 and could lead to him facing trial in a military court, despite being a civilian.
The United Kingdom has a long standing position against the use of military courts for civilians, including in Thailand. Observing trials, court hearings, and charges at police stations is normal diplomatic practice, which we and other states follow around the world.
The British Government does not support any Thai political party and believes that the outcome of the election should reflect the will of the Thai people.
Asked by: Helen Goodman (Labour - Bishop Auckland)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Colombian counterpart on the need to pursue a negotiated settlement with the National Liberation Army of Colombia.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The UK has reaffirmed its unwavering support to the Colombian authorities as they seek to ensure sustainable peace in Colombia and has reiterated the importance of pressing ahead with work to implement the peace agreement in order to consolidate peace and build stability. At the same time, the UK, alongside international partners, has continued to urge a negotiated end to the conflict.
Asked by: Helen Goodman (Labour - Bishop Auckland)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment of the refusal of the Colombian President Ivan Duque to sign the Statutory Law on the Special Jurisdiction for Peace on the political situation in that country; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The United Kingdom has expressed concern to the Colombian Government over delays to the transitional justice system, which is a critical part of the peace process. The Special Jurisdiction for Peace continues to function under existing legal provisions despite recent objections of President Duque to certain articles of the law. The law has now been returned to Congress. The UK believes that the delay risks undermining the system's authority and reducing cooperation with the FARC. We believe that the Transitional justice law must be approved swiftly to ensure continued confidence in the peace process. On 11 March, our Ambassador in Colombia informed President Duque of the UK position. On 15 March, the UK Permanent Representative to the UN urged Foreign Minister Holmes Trujillo to support the transitional justice system.
Asked by: Helen Goodman (Labour - Bishop Auckland)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Foreign Secretary on the cost to the public purse of the proposed new embassy building in Beijing.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
The Foreign Secretary is responsible for developing plans to re-build the embassy and residence in Beijing. These plans, including the estimated costs, are subject to standard HM Treasury spending controls and approval.
Asked by: Helen Goodman (Labour - Bishop Auckland)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made on the individual project components of the Caribbean - Serious and Organised Crime Programme.
Answered by Alan Duncan
Information on individual projects and intended outcomes is included in the Caribbean Programme Summary, while a summary of progress of programmes meeting their objectives and delivering outputs is included in the Annual Review summary. Both of these documents are published online annually (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/conflict-stability-and-security-fund-cssf).
Asked by: Helen Goodman (Labour - Bishop Auckland)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made on the individual project components of the Colombia: security and access to justice for peace programme.
Answered by Alan Duncan
Information on individual projects and intended outcomes is included in the Colombia Programme Summary, while a summary of progress of programmes meeting their objectives and delivering outputs is included in the Annual Review summary. Both of these documents are published online annually (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/conflict-stability-and-security-fund-cssf).
Asked by: Helen Goodman (Labour - Bishop Auckland)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made on the individual project components of the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund Anguilla Programme.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The aim of the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) Anguilla Territory Programme is to rebuild Anguilla's critical public infrastructure with enhanced resilience, to enable further progress towards sustainable economic development and self-sufficiency, following Hurricane Irma in 2017.
Since it was established in May 2018, the programme has delivered against its primary objective to rebuild Anguilla's critical national infrastructure, including emergency services buildings and equipment, hurricane shelters, airport and ferry terminal operations in time for the 2018 hurricane season (funded in part by the Global Britain Fund).
The Programme continues to make steady progress. To date 17 projects have been progressed with Business Cases agreed for 16. Fire-fighting appliances arrived in early 2019 and a Combined Services Building is scheduled for completion at the end of May 2019. Work on a range of longer term projects, covering education, health and infrastructure is ongoing. One primary school has already been refurbished and another is in progress. Upgrades to wards in the Territory's hospital are continuing while the roof has been strengthened, and new equipment is either on order or already in use.
All remaining projects are due to start construction by summer 2019. A full assessment, with contributions by all Government departments involved in the CSSF programme in Anguilla will be made on completion of the programme in 2021.