Asked by: Joanna Cherry (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the article in Pécs Journal of International and European Law entitled UK Nuclear Deterrence Policy and International Law: Terrorism with Impunity, published on 15 December 2021; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Ben Wallace
That article raises questions about domestic and international terrorism laws. Ministry of Defence officials have reviewed it and strongly disagree with its analysis. I can assure the House the UK’s nuclear deterrent is fully compliant and compatible with both our domestic and international legal obligations.
The Government considers that offences created by the Terrorism Act 2000 and the Terrorism Act 2006 are not engaged by the UK’s nuclear deterrence policy and rejects the assertion in the article that “most, perhaps all, military action is an offence” under terrorism legislation.
As stated in the UK Integrated Review 2021, the UK would consider using its nuclear weapons only in extreme circumstances of self-defence, including the defence of its NATO Allies. The legality of any such use would depend upon the circumstances and the application of the general rules of international law, including those regulating the use of force and the conduct of hostilities.
Asked by: Joanna Cherry (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill on the UK’s international reputation.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Home Secretary
The UK is playing a positive role in Europe and globally, working with partners to defend freedom and democracy, as we are in Ukraine. We are strengthening our bilateral relationships in Europe and have signed 30 bilateral agreements with European partners since exiting the EU. We are fixing the problems with the Protocol, upholding the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and ensuring the EU is no worse off.
Asked by: Joanna Cherry (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report published by the National Audit Office entitled Investigation into the management of PPE contracts, published on 30 March 2022, what steps were taken to corroborate the legitimacy of (a) certification paper work and (b) factory credentials and product and process certificates when offering contracts to organisations for the supply of personal protective equipment.
Answered by Edward Argar - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Joanna Cherry (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report published by the National Audit Office on 30 March 2022 on their investigation into the management of PPE contracts, whether the Government (a) consulted with or (b) made use of any third-party organisations who have experience in detecting fraud or identifying fake or counterfeit products.
Answered by Edward Argar - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Joanna Cherry (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report published by the National Audit Office on 30 March 2022 on their investigation into the management of PPE contracts, what measures were put in place to check the background of companies and their ability to deliver PPE items.
Answered by Edward Argar - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
All offers received a rigorous financial, commercial, legal and policy assessment, led by officials in various Government departments. The final decision on whether to enter a contract was made by the appropriate Accounting Officer in the Department. Due diligence checks on offers of personal protective equipment were performed by the PPE Cell, the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Defence which confirmed United Kingdom supplier financial accounts information; company health checks such as profitability, financial ratios and supplier information; international supplier accounts; and serious organised crime footprints.
Asked by: Joanna Cherry (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2022 to Question 143714 on Refugees: Ukraine, what steps the Government can take to facilitate the exchange of Hryvnia notes for Sterling given the controls on the Ukrainian currency.
Answered by John Glen - Shadow Paymaster General
I refer the honourable member to the answer that I gave on 24 March 2022 to UIN 143714.
Asked by: Joanna Cherry (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to help Ukrainian refugees who have fled to the UK to exchange their physical currency for sterling.
Answered by John Glen - Shadow Paymaster General
The government will monitor if steps are needed to support financial services provision for Ukrainian refugees in the UK’s marketplace.
Participants in industry have highlighted measures they have taken to support refugees and their access to essential financial services.
The Government recognises that access to a current account is key to enabling people to manage their money on a day-to-day basis effectively, securely, and confidently.
The nine largest personal current account providers in the UK are legally required to offer basic bank accounts to customers in the UK who do not have a bank account or who are not eligible for a bank’s standard current account. Customers must be lawfully resident in the UK to be eligible, and this includes Ukrainian nationals who have entered the UK under the Ukrainian Scheme and Ukrainian Family Scheme.
Asked by: Joanna Cherry (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which stakeholder groups the NHS England National Advisor for LGBT Health has engaged with in the last six months.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
The National Adviser for LGBT Health engages with a wide range of stakeholder groups including Government departments, National Health Service organisations, Royal Colleges, regulators and voluntary and community sector organisations. In the last six months the National Adviser for LGBT Health has engaged with the following organisations:
- The Department of Health and Social Care;
- The Government Equalities Office;
- The Care Quality Commission;
- The General Medical Council;
- The Nursing and Midwifery Council;
- The General Pharmaceutical Council;
- The Royal College of General Practitioners;
- The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology;
- The Royal College of Midwives;
- The Royal College of Nurses;
- The Equality and Human Rights Commission;
- NHS Digital;
- NHSX;
- The UK Health Security Agency;
- The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities;
- Healthwatch;
- Albert Kennedy Trust;
- Opening Doors London;
- National LGB&T Partnership;
- LGBT Consortium;
- LGBT Foundation;
- Metro Charity;
- Stonewall Housing;
- The Proud Trust;
- Stonewall;
- Alike;
- Mermaids;
- Live Through This;
- LGBT Hero;
- Yorkshire Mesmac
- cliniQ;
- Terrence Higgins Trust;
- Gendered Intelligence;
- Leicester LGBT Centre;
- Birmingham LGBT;
- Galop;
- Switchboard;
- London Friend;
- LGBTIQ Outside Project;
- Lancashire LGBT;
- Intersex Equality Rights UK;
- Spectra;
- Intercom Trust;
- LGBT Dorset;
- MindOut;
- ELOP (East London Out Project);
- Parapride;
- Intersex Equality Rights UK;
- National Maternity Voices;
- Beyond Bea;
- Aching Arms;
- LGBT Mummies Tribe;
- Local Maternity Voice Partnership Chairs;
- Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals;
- NHS Youth Forum;
- Womens’ Budget Group;
- Women’s Resource Centre;
- Fair Play for Women;
- Faith Action;
- The Race Equality Foundation; and
- The HOPE Network.
Asked by: Joanna Cherry (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she plans to take in the next financial year to diversify UK aid partners and give more opportunities to small and medium-sized charities to participate in the delivery of UK aid programmes.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The FCDO is currently finalising its spending plans for the next three financial years, including plans for future central funding to civil society. We will take into consideration our support to small and medium-sized charities in the delivery of UK aid. Despite the challenging financial climate as a result of COVID-19, FCDO protected funding this year to the 55 Small Charities Challenge Fund projects which were under implementation. This includes five grants to support the capacity development of small UK charities.Asked by: Joanna Cherry (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when she expects to announce a future round of applications for impact grant funding.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The FCDO is currently finalising its spending plans for the next three financial years, including plans for future central funding for civil society.