Asked by: Leo Docherty (Conservative - Aldershot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he expects defence cooperation between the UK and Saudi Arabia to increase as a result of his Department's announcement of the UK signing of a new military and security cooperation agreement with that country on 19 September 2017.
Answered by Michael Fallon
Yes.
Asked by: Leo Docherty (Conservative - Aldershot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide an update on progress on the potential order by Qatar of 24 Typhoon aircraft.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Development)
The discussions with Qatar over the possible purchase of 24 Typhoon and six Hawk aircraft are ongoing following the signature of a Statement of Intent by the Qatari Defence Minister and the UK Defence Secretary on 17 September 2017. Given the commercial nature of these discussions it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.
Asked by: Leo Docherty (Conservative - Aldershot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support the sale of a second tranche of Typhoon aircraft to Saudi Arabia.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
This Government recognises fully the potential benefits of securing future export orders for Typhoon aircraft. In respect of Saudi Arabia, Ministers and officials are in regular contact with their counterparts to discuss how the UK might help meet that nation's legitimate defence and security requirements. These discussions have included a potential second batch order for Typhoon aircraft.
Asked by: Leo Docherty (Conservative - Aldershot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support his Department is providing to the US in its response to the threat posed by North Korea.
Answered by Michael Fallon
In line with long standing commitments and ongoing defence engagement, the UK provides a small number of staff officers to United Nations Command in Korea and other headquarters across the Asia Pacific region.
The UK as a Sending State is committed to upholding peace and maintaining stability on the Korean peninsula. We will continue to work with our international partners to exert political and economic pressure on North Korea to change its direction and open the way to peaceful resolution.
Asked by: Leo Docherty (Conservative - Aldershot)
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 effectiveness of the Iran nuclear deal JCPOA; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The UK is committed to full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) by all parties. We assess that the deal is working and is the only diplomatic way to neutralise the nuclear threat from Iran. Under the deal Iran has given up two-thirds of its centrifuges and 95% of its uranium stockpile. The deal also provides for unprecedented access and monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA continues to report Iran's compliance with its nuclear commitments under the deal.
Asked by: Leo Docherty (Conservative - Aldershot)
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 effectiveness of the British diplomatic and military support for the Government of Libya.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office published its response to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee investigation on "Libya: Examination of Intervention and Collapse and the UK's Future Policy Options" on 11 November 2016. Helping to bring stability to Libya is a vital part of UK efforts to tackle the threat from terrorism and the challenge of irregular migration. That is why the UK is at the forefront of efforts to support the UN Special Representative, Ghassan Salamé in reaching out to all sides in Libya to revitalise the political process and work to amend the Libyan Political Agreement so that it delivers for all Libyans. A secure and stable Libya, better able to deal with the threat from terrorism and the challenge of migration, is firmly in the UK interest.
Asked by: Leo Docherty (Conservative - Aldershot)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to increase participation in sport by school children.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
Through the primary PE and sport premium, the government has invested over £600m of ring-fenced funding to primary schools to improve PE and sport since 2013. The government has doubled the premium from September 2017 using revenue from the Soft Drinks Industry Levy.
£100m from the Soft Drinks Industry Levy will be used for the Healthy Pupils Capital Fund. The funding is for one year only (2018-19). It is intended to facilitate an improvement in children’s physical and mental health by increasing and improving access to and use of relevant facilities, such as kitchens, dining facilities, changing rooms and sports facilities.
The new PE curriculum is designed to ensure that all pupils develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities, are physically active for sustained periods of time and lead healthy and active lives.
The department also funds targeted grants to support the delivery of the School Games and helps schools to ensure PE and sport is inclusive.
Asked by: Leo Docherty (Conservative - Aldershot)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to raise levels of discipline in schools.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Government has already made great strides in empowering teachers to tackle bad behaviour, making clear teachers can use reasonable force to maintain behaviour, extending their searching powers and allowing teachers to impose same-day detentions.
Recognising poor behaviour is still a problem in some schools. The Government commissioned behaviour expert Tom Bennett to conduct two independent reviews on behaviour. The first, focused on initial teacher training (published July 2016). The second, focused on behaviour management in schools, with a particular focus on leadership, culture and systems used to tackle disruptive pupil’s behaviour (published March 2017). This review highlighted strategies school leaders can employ to design, build, and maintain a school culture that prevent classroom disruption, maintain good discipline and promotes pupils’ education, focus and wellbeing.