Asked by: Marie Rimmer (Labour - St Helens South and Whiston)
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 accuracy of reports that Uighur Muslims in China have been detained for unwanted blood, tissue and DNA tests.
Answered by Mark Field
We have serious concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang and reports of the Chinese Government’s deepening crackdown, including credible reports of re-education camps and widespread surveillance and restrictions targeted at ethnic minorities. We are aware of media reports that some Uyghurs may have been subject to unwanted DNA tests.
The UK supports the statement of 26 October by the European External Action Service highlighting concerns about Xinjiang.
I raised our concerns about Xinjiang with Vice Minister Guo Yezhou during my visit to China on 22 July 2018. The Foreign Secretary, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, also raised our concerns about the region with Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his visit to China on 30 July 2018. The UK raised our concerns about Xinjiang in our Item 4 statement at the September UN Human Rights Council.
Asked by: Marie Rimmer (Labour - St Helens South and Whiston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to evaluate the credibility of the evidence of forced organ harvesting of religious prisoners of conscience in China.
Answered by Mark Field
We are aware of reports that allege that a process of involuntary organ removal may be taking place in China, including suggestions that minority and religious groups are being specifically targeted. The UK government fully supports the Declaration of Istanbul (May 2008), which encourages all countries to draw up legal and professional frameworks to govern organ donation and transplantation activities.
As the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Europe and the Americas, Sir Alan Duncan, stated in a Westminster Hall debate in October 2016: “Although I do not doubt the need to maintain close scrutiny of organ transplant practices in China, we believe that the evidence base is not sufficiently strong to substantiate claims about the systematic harvesting of organs from minority groups. Indeed, based on all the evidence available to us, we cannot conclude that this practice of “organ harvesting” is definitely happening in China.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) collates global data on organ donations and works with China. The WHO view is that China is implementing an ethical, voluntary organ transplant system in accordance with international standards, although the WHO does have concerns about overall transparency.
We continue to review any new evidence that is presented to us.
Asked by: Marie Rimmer (Labour - St Helens South and Whiston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to support the development of an independent international tribunal to investigate claims of forced organ harvesting in China.
Answered by Mark Field
We are aware of reports that allege that a process of involuntary organ removal may be taking place in China, including suggestions that minority and religious groups are being specifically targeted. The UK government fully supports the Declaration of Istanbul (May 2008), which encourages all countries to draw up legal and professional frameworks to govern organ donation and transplantation activities.
As the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Europe and the Americas, Sir Alan Duncan, stated in a Westminster Hall debate in October 2016: “Although I do not doubt the need to maintain close scrutiny of organ transplant practices in China, we believe that the evidence base is not sufficiently strong to substantiate claims about the systematic harvesting of organs from minority groups. Indeed, based on all the evidence available to us, we cannot conclude that this practice of “organ harvesting” is definitely happening in China.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) collates global data on organ donations and works with China. The WHO view is that China is implementing an ethical, voluntary organ transplant system in accordance with international standards, although the WHO does have concerns about overall transparency.
We continue to review any new evidence that is presented to us.
Asked by: Marie Rimmer (Labour - St Helens South and Whiston)
Question to the Department for International Development:
What steps she is taking to ensure that private contractors in receipt of aid spending are held to the same safeguarding standards as charity and non-governmental organisation contractors.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
DFID holds all partners to the same high safeguarding standards. Private sector organisations must follow our Supply Partner Code of Conduct. It sets high, legally enforceable standards for ethical behaviour and compliance with human rights, including specific clauses on sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment.
Asked by: Marie Rimmer (Labour - St Helens South and Whiston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the implications for policing in (a) Merseyside and (b) England and Wales of an increase in crimes recorded and a fall in criminal charges brought since 2014-15.
Answered by Nick Hurd
The likelihood of a crime resulting in a charge can vary for a number of reasons, including the complexity or severity of an offence or the difficulty in identifying a suspect.
Changes in charge rates are likely to be the result of a combination of improved crime recording by the police and forces taking on more complex crimes which take longer to receive an outcome, such as domestic abuse or sexual offences.
The statistics show that there has been a societal shift towards victims reporting ‘hidden’ crimes to the police and we welcome that more victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence are feeling empowered to come forward.
We recognise that demand on the police is changing and have responded positively by providing a strong and comprehensive settlement that provides a £460m increase in overall funding in 2018/19, including increased funding to tackle counter-terrorism and additional funding for local policing through Council Tax precept.
Asked by: Marie Rimmer (Labour - St Helens South and Whiston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the (a) societal and (b) economic effect of the Northern rail timetable changes made in May.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
I refer the Hon Member to my answer given to the Hon Member for Middlesbrough on Friday 13 July 2018 UIN 161175 in regards to Northern timetables.
Asked by: Marie Rimmer (Labour - St Helens South and Whiston)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to abolish the minimum age of eligibility for the mobility component of disability living allowance.
Answered by Sarah Newton
Whilst there are no proposals to change the current age restrictions for the mobility component of Child Disability Living Allowance, the Department understands the difficulties that some families with severely disabled children under the age of three may face, particularly those whose reliance on bulky medical equipment makes transportation difficult.
After being introduced by the Department, the Motability charity and Family Fund have begun a pilot to support families with their mobility needs. While I am not yet in a position to provide full details of the scheme and how it will operate, I hope to be able to do so in the coming months.
Asked by: Marie Rimmer (Labour - St Helens South and Whiston)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 27th February 2018 to Question 129366, what financial support he plans to provide to working parents of disabled children in full-time education aged 16 to 20 and whose earnings status makes them ineligible for carer's allowance.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
Low income households can be eligible for in-work benefits, such as Working Tax Credit, if the household works a minimum number of hours, for example a couple with children must work at least 24 hours, with one partner working at least 16 hours. The government is also reforming the current system of working age benefits. Universal Credit will ensure that individuals working more hours always end up with more income in their pockets.
Asked by: Marie Rimmer (Labour - St Helens South and Whiston)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children under the age of (a) 11 and (b) 18 were taken into care in each of the last three years as a result of their mother being imprisoned; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The information requested is not held centrally.
Asked by: Marie Rimmer (Labour - St Helens South and Whiston)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many children were born to women in custody in each of the last three years.
Answered by Phillip Lee
The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.