Jeffrey M Donaldson

The Gender Recognition Act 2004 is the piece of legislation that enables people to apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate, and thereby gain legal recognition of their gender. Legal gender recognition is entirely separate from any medical treatment an individual may receive to change their gender.

In July 2017, we announced our intention to consult on reforming the Gender Recognition Act 2004. We are currently considering the content of the consultation, and we will be publishing the consultation in due course. The Government recognises that there are a wide range of views on reforming the Act and we are taking time to engage with stakeholders in advance of the consultation to understand these views in more detail.

Any reforms that we might take forward relating to the age limit for applying for a Gender Recognition Certificate, will not affect when an individual can access medical treatment. Surgery is not offered for children and adolescents, and we have no intention of changing this.

Seven licences have been granted to UK companies for military-rated items in the last two years where the end-user was named as the armed forces, national guard or MOD of Ukraine.

A further three licences have been granted for supply of components or technology to end users, for the development or production of goods, for ultimate supply to the armed forces/national guard/MOD of Ukraine.

The proposed Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) by member countries of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) represents the latest in a wave of potential deals covering large portions of global trade. Such deals, once concluded and implemented, would provide a stimulus not just to the countries concerned, but globally. Some of the benefits, especially from any simplification of rules and behind the border barriers, would be enjoyed by those British companies present in the region or reliant on extended supply chains. Moreover, keeping the trade liberalisation agenda moving forward is important: regional trade deals may lead to a greater willingness and ability to liberalise at a multilateral level, or bilaterally with the EU.

Fuel poverty is devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive, which decides its own fuel poverty objectives and policies. For example, the Department for Social Development offers energy efficiency improvement schemes for low income households through the Warm Homes Scheme, Boiler Replacement Scheme and the recently launched Affordable Warmth Scheme. There are no plans to extend the remit of the Warm Home Discount to Northern Ireland.

On 20 May 2020, the UK Government set out our approach to implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol in the Command Paper ‘The UK’s Approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol’. We are committed to meeting our obligations under the Protocol and, as we do, our priority remains protecting Northern Ireland’s place in our United Kingdom, and preserving the huge gains from the peace process and the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

The EU published a technical note on the implementation of the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland on 30th April, which can be found on the Commission’s website here.

The first meeting of the Specialised Committee on Northern Ireland took place on 30 April, following the first meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee.

We stand ready to work with the EU in a constructive and collaborative spirit, building on our initial engagements in the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee and Ireland/Northern Ireland Specialised Committee.

On 20 May 2020, the UK Government set out our approach to implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol in the Command Paper ‘The UK’s Approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol’. We are committed to meeting our obligations under the Protocol and, as we do, our priority remains protecting Northern Ireland’s place in our United Kingdom, and preserving the huge gains from the peace process and the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

The EU published a technical note on the implementation of the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland on 30th April, which can be found on the Commission’s website here.

The first meeting of the Specialised Committee on Northern Ireland took place on 30 April, following the first meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee.

We stand ready to work with the EU in a constructive and collaborative spirit, building on our initial engagements in the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee and Ireland/Northern Ireland Specialised Committee.

The Northern Ireland Office has lead responsibility within Government for exploring options to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland in 2021. My Department will work alongside the NIO, where appropriate, to support that work.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Inciting religious hatred is a crime and the government will not tolerate hate speech against any religion or community. There is a robust regulatory framework in place for broadcasting enforced by Ofcom, the independent communications regulator. Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code makes clear that, unless justified by the context, content which includes hate speech or derogatory material in regards to any individuals, groups, religions or communities must not be included in TV or radio broadcasts. With regard to written media, the government is committed to a free and independent press and does not interfere with what is published, as long as the press abides by the law, including laws against hate speech.

Government remains committed to reconsidering the case for ratification of the 2001 Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage. A decision on timescales for reviewing the Convention will be made in late Spring 2017.

On 14 November 2014 the Prime Minster announced three key events to mark the Centenary of the Gallipoli Campaign and honour the fallen, who so bravely fought for their nations.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cape Helles Memorial in Turkey will host a UK-led Commonwealth and Ireland ceremony on 24 April 2015. On 25 April 2015 the National Commemoration of the Centenary of the Gallipoli Campaign and Anzac Day, a special centenary event led by the UK Government, will be held at the Cenotaph in London. On 6 August 2015 the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth will host an event based upon the refurbished HMS M33, the last surviving ship from the campaign.

I am extremely honoured to be part of such celebrations of immense bravery. This Government and DCMS is committed to marking the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign in the First World War with respect uppermost in our minds.

There are no plans to introduce a predicted grade results system in England for exams in the 2020-21 academic year. Exams and assessments are the best and fairest way of judging students’ performance, and we are clear in our intention that both the autumn and summer exam series should go ahead.

Most students taking exams in the autumn series received a centre assessment grade, based on an assessment of the likely grades that students would have obtained had exams gone ahead, or a calculated grade if that was higher. There is, therefore, no basis on which to award a different grade other than the student sitting the exam. Some students, for example some home-educated students, were not in a position to provide sufficient evidence for them to be able to receive a grade in the summer, and it remains the case that there would be insufficient evidence to award grades to those students unless they sit exams.

We continue to discuss arrangements for exams in summer 2021 with Ofqual, the exam boards, higher and further education representatives and other sector bodies to ensure that arrangements are fair and the 2021 cohort of students receive the qualifications they deserve.

The arrangements for awarding qualifications to students in Northern Ireland are a matter for the Northern Ireland government and the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment Regulation.

All centre assessment grades in England were signed off by head teachers or college principals who confirmed that they honestly and fairly represented the grades that these students would have been most likely to achieve if they had sat their exams as planned.

Following the release of A level results based on calculated grades, it became clear that there were far too many inconsistent and unfair outcomes for students. The Department agreed with Ofqual that grades for A levels and GCSEs should be awarded to students in England on the basis of students’ centre assessment grades or their calculated grades, whichever was higher. The Department believes this to be the fairest approach in the exceptional circumstances of this year, to avoid some students in England receiving grades that did not reflect their prior performance.

There was scope for schools to appeal where they believed that there had been errors of process, and students could also raise complaints if they had evidence of bias or discrimination. Schools have also been able to enter candidates for the exceptional autumn series to sit exams if they remain dissatisfied with their result.

The approach taken in Northern Ireland this summer was a matter for the Northern Ireland government and the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment Regulation.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Education is a devolved matter and therefore any steps taken in response to the Council of Europe Resolution 2036 are a matter for the relevant devolved administration.

With regard to England, schools with a religious character make up a third of all state- funded schools and parents have a large degree of choice over how they can provide their children with an education in line with their own beliefs.

The government also firmly believes in the importance of religious education. Good quality religious education can develop children’s knowledge of the values and traditions of Britain and other countries, and foster understanding among different faiths and cultures. That is why it remains compulsory for all state funded schools in England and Wales, including academies and free schools, at all key stages. Parents also have the right to ask for their child to be withdrawn for religious education.

Religious education is part of schools’ activity to meet their legal duty to promote young people’s spiritual, moral and cultural development. We expect all schools to promote fundamental British values, and that includes encouraging mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

Our ambition remains that all schools should benefit from the freedom and autonomy that academy status brings. Our focus is on building capacity in the system to enable schools to convert voluntarily. We will also continue to convert all schools that are judged inadequate by Ofsted so they can benefit from the support of a strong sponsor.

It is important to be clear that the funding referred to in the previous answer is not solely for failing schools. As set out in our original response, it is funding that has been made available to support all schools converting to academy status, including failing schools.

The criteria for allocating pre-opening funding to converting schools is well established and remain unchanged. Voluntary converters receive £25,000 in order to contribute to the cost of conversion. Sponsored converters receive between £70,000 and £150,000, depending on the type of school and level of failure.

Defra officials are working with colleagues across Government on the implementation of the Windsor Framework, including with regard to movements of waste. We will update businesses on the implications as soon as possible.

The Movement Assistance Scheme has cost £18.08m up to 30 September 2022. This comprises of £3.53m in the 2020/2021 Financial Year, £9.78m in 2021/2022 Financial Year and £4.77m in the 2022/2023 Financial Year. These are the most up to date figures currently available.

The Movement Assistance Scheme only supports trade in agri-food goods within the UK internal market; this is the main factor determining whether costs can be included in scope of the scheme. The scheme therefore avoids constraints arising from the state aid provisions in the Northern Ireland Protocol.

A total of £27.66m, as detailed in the table below, has been spent to date on development of the Digital Assistance Scheme.

*Spend to October 2022. A number of actuals remain outstanding.

We are currently in the process of phased testing for the first stage of the delivery of the Digital Assistance Scheme (DAS). It will include sanitary and phytosanitary declarations. We expect the first phase of DAS involving Export Health Certificates for Products of Animal Origin to be delivered next year. Additional development phases of DAS are planned to include the movement of live animals, phytosanitary certifications and interfaces with customs systems in order to achieve a simplified process for generating documentation. The DAS is a Government-funded programme that aims to simplify the process for movement of goods to Northern Ireland or onward to the Republic of Ireland that require certification.

To date, the UK has pledged £700 million in response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the region. Our support has reached hundreds of thousands of people across all 14 governorates of Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt, with food, access to water, medical relief, shelter and other relief items. The UK continues to spearhead efforts to improve the effectiveness of this international response, including lobbying for better UN leadership and increased in-country capacity.

The Secretary of State regulates the national rail network in Great Britain, and other networks such as the London Underground, to provide appropriate protective security regimes against acts of terrorism. For reasons of security it is not appropriate to discuss these regimes in detail, but they require the implementation of a range of measures by industry which are adapted to the level of assessed threat and which can be varied according to the threat assessment at particular times. The measures directed by the Department are complemented by the counter terrorism activities of the British Transport Police (BTP). The BTP also undertake a full range of policing activities to protect those using our railways against wider criminal acts.

The Department has provided guidance to traffic authorities in the Speed Limit Circular 01/2013- Setting Local Speed Limits. This encourages traffic authorities to keep speed limits under review, and to consider lower speed limits than the default, especially where there may be a relatively high number of bends, junctions or accesses.

Consideration of collision history, road function, mix of road users including presence of vulnerable road users, road geometry, engineering and environment, and actual traffic speed should enable traffic authorities to determine the appropriate limit on rural roads.

I have had no such discussions with the Association for Project Safety (APS). The Health and Safety Executive, however, has had extensive discussions with APS about proposals to revise the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 before, during and following its public consultation on these proposals earlier this year.

The Department recognises safeguarding as an essential aspect of abortion care and officials are working with the Domestic Abuse Commissioners Office to understand issues related to domestic abuse and coercion and home-use of early medical abortion (EMA).

All abortion providers are required to have effective arrangements in place to safeguard women and girls accessing abortion services who may be experiencing domestic abuse or coercion. Following Parliament’s decision to make provisions for at home early medical abortion to be made permanent from 30 August, the Department is ensuring that robust safeguarding systems and processes for home use of EMA are embedded in all abortion services.

The information requested is not collected centrally.

Oral antiviral treatments are available through the PANORAMIC national study, run by the University of Oxford. The study is open to individuals across the United Kingdom. General practitioner practices in Northern Ireland are expected to begin contacting patients eligible to enrol in the PANORAMIC study directly to increase recruitment.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), with advice from the Commission on Human Medicines, has closely evaluated the safety of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine since the vaccination programme was first introduced in the United Kingdom in 2008 and since Gardasil has been in routine use from 2012. Extensive reviews of Gardasil vaccine safety have also been undertaken by other independent health bodies/authorities worldwide, including the European Medicines Agency, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. This continuous surveillance has found no evidence of serious harm or chronic illness caused by any HPV vaccine and is supported by published epidemiological studies from health authorities, including the MHRA and other independent academic researchers.

The Government has had four meetings with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to monitor the evidence on the safety of abortion pills taken at home since 30 March 2020.

The Department continues to closely monitor the impact of the temporary approval for women’s homes to be classed as a place where both sets of medication for early medical abortion can be taken up to 10 weeks gestation. Officials have regular meetings on abortion issues more generally at which the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the CQC and abortion service providers are present and the evidence on the safety of abortion pills taken at home may have been discussed at these meeting in addition to the meetings outlined.