Asked by: Jo Cox (Labour - Batley and Spen)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage the putting in place of a system of verification for violations during the Cessation of Hostilities in Syria; and when he expects such a system to be in place.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Cessation of Hostilities is an important step towards ending the terrible violence in Syria and bringing about a lasting political settlement.
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) met with the HNC Representative, Riyad Hijab in Paris on Friday 4th March to assess the current situation. Since the Cessation of Hostilities came into effect, we have seen a significant reduction in violence, which is of course a huge step forwards. But we need to see this sustained, and to see a reduction in the number of reported violations. To this end we are working with the UN and other members of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), to urgently consolidate a robust verification mechanism to monitor alleged violations of the Cessation of Hostilities. The UK had a number of staff in Geneva last week working on this.
This mechanism is already starting to work through assessments of violations and we will continue to refine the operation as we continue.
Asked by: Jo Cox (Labour - Batley and Spen)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether areas where (a) Al Nusra and (b) other UN Security Council designated terrorist groups are mixed with the moderate opposition are included in the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in Syria; and what assessment he has made of whether such arrangements are being honoured by (i) the Assad government and (ii) Russia.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Cessation of Hostilities agreement in Syria does not apply to Daesh, Jabhat al-Nusra, or other terrorist organisations as designated by the UN Security Council. Discussions over the delineation of territory under the control of those groups are ongoing between the US, Russia and International Syria Support Group members. Our view is that any attacks on Jabhat al-Nusra or other designated terrorist organisations must be highly targeted in order to maintain the Cessation of Hostilities, to have the desired counter-terrorism effects and to ensure that no non-combatants come under attack. Our assessment is that since the start of the Cessation of Hostilities there has been a significant reduction in violence, although there have also been a number of violations, most of which we assess to have been carried out by the regime.
Asked by: Jo Cox (Labour - Batley and Spen)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on recognising Palestine as a state since the House of Commons vote on this matter in October 2014.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Since the debate on 13 October 2014, neither the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) nor I have had any discussions with Ministerial colleagues on this subject.
Asked by: Jo Cox (Labour - Batley and Spen)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on the recognition of Palestinian statehood; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The British Government reserves the right to recognise a Palestinian state bilaterally at a moment of our choosing and when it can best help bring about peace. We are clear that we want to see the creation of a sovereign, independent, democratic, contiguous and viable Palestinian State, living in peace and security, side by side with Israel. Only a negotiated settlement can achieve this.
Asked by: Jo Cox (Labour - Batley and Spen)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he plans to publish the next quarterly progress report to the House on Syria.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Government’s first quarterly progress report on Syria to the House was provided by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 16 December 2015. On 8 February 2016, the Secretary of State for International Development provided a second quarterly progress report to the House.
The next progress report will be provided by a relevant Minister in due course.
Asked by: Jo Cox (Labour - Batley and Spen)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding her Department plans to make available for flood defences along the River Calder and its tributaries in West Yorkshire in each of the next five years.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The following table shows the currently projected Grant in Aid over the next five years for measures to reduce flood risk along the River Calder and its tributaries in West Yorkshire.
As the costs of some of the repairs following the recent floods are still to be finalised, these figures will increase accordingly.
Grant in Aid in £k | ||||
2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 |
1,216 | 923 | 1,269 | 784 | 2,653 |
Schemes were allocated funding based on nationally consistent criteria. The position of a scheme in the programme depends on the availability and timing of contributions and how its appraisal or design are progressing.
The projected funding had been allocated in current spending plans. The Government’s National Flood Resilience Review will re-examine worst case extreme weather scenarios and the resulting potential flood impacts across the country.
Asked by: Jo Cox (Labour - Batley and Spen)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to ensure adequate funding of flood alleviation schemes planned for the River Spen in Cleckheaton and Liversedge.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The Environment Agency plans to undertake investigative work to identify and assess options to further reduce flood risk within the constituency. Depending on the outcome of this work, the Environment Agency has earmarked approximately £1 million of capital funding in the period 2021/22 for works to further reduce flood risk in Cleckheaton and Liversedge.
Asked by: Jo Cox (Labour - Batley and Spen)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made on the proportion of new build housing constructed in this Parliament that will be bungalows.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
It is not for the Department to estimate the amount of new build housing that will be bungalows. The National Planning Policy Framework and planning guidance requires local authorities to plan for a mix of housing based on current and future demographic trends, and the needs of different groups in their area.
Asked by: Jo Cox (Labour - Batley and Spen)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues and local government representatives on transferring responsibility of attendance allowance to local authorities.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
Later this year, the Government will consult on giving more responsibility to support older people with care needs to Local Authorities in England and to Wales, including people who, under the current system, would be supported through Attendance Allowance. Work on the consultation is progressing with the relevant departments, and officials will work with stakeholders throughout the consultation process.
Asked by: Jo Cox (Labour - Batley and Spen)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress he has made on the transfer of responsibility for attendance allowance to local authorities.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
Later this year, the Government will consult on giving more responsibility to support older people with care needs to Local Authorities in England and to Wales, including people who, under the current system, would be supported through Attendance Allowance. Work on the consultation is progressing with the relevant departments, and officials will work with stakeholders throughout the consultation process.