Asked by: Martin Horwood (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that the planning system addresses (a) size and quality of housing, (b) opportunities for physical activity such as cycling and walking, (c) air and noise pollution, (d) access to green space, (e) isolation and loneliness and (f) other factors known to affect wellbeing.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, which includes the health, social and cultural well-being of local communities. It:
- sets out that good design is indivisible from good planning and should contribute to making places better for people;
- asks planners to work to create safe and secure layouts which minimise conflicts between traffic and cyclists or pedestrians, and give priority to pedestrian and cycle movements;
- enables local communities, through the preparation of local and neighbourhood plans, to identify for special protection green or open areas of particular importance to them as Local Green Space; and
- seeks to conserve and enhance the natural environment and reduce pollution.
My Department has this year published planning guidance which:
Furthermore, through the Housing Standards Review, the Government has developed a nationally described space standard to offer a consistent set of requirements with regard to the size of new homes. Local authorities will not be required to adopt a space standard, but where they choose to do so, it should be the nationally described space standard.
I also refer the hon. Member to the Government’s cycling delivery plan, published on 16 October, which can be found online at: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/cycling-delivery-plan-informal-consultation
It is for councils and local communities to use their local and neighbourhood plans and existing planning powers to shape where development can go and create well-designed, safe and attractive places.
Asked by: Martin Horwood (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of income inequality on national wellbeing.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has not made an assessment of the effect of income inequality on national wellbeing. However, income inequality remains lower than when this Government came into office.
The Office for National Statistics estimates that individuals in households with higher incomes report higher life satisfaction and happiness, and lower anxiety. Wellbeing increases fastest in relation to increases income for those on the lowest level of income, and receiving a greater proportion of income from cash benefits is associated with lower wellbeing. The Government’s economic plan is focused on creating jobs and making work pay, while reducing reliance on benefits.
Asked by: Martin Horwood (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with her Indian counterpart following the decision of that country to restrict foreign funding to civil society organisations operating in India.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
There has been no decision by the Indian Government to restrict funding.
Asked by: Martin Horwood (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what reports she received of the use of UN humanitarian helicopters to transport military personnel in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo; whether such transport is in accordance with the MONUSCO mandate; whether such transport is funded by her Department; and what assessment she has made of the effect of such transport on the (a) safety and (b) effectiveness of humanitarian personnel.
Answered by Baroness Featherstone
UN humanitarian helicopters are operated by the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), which transports humanitarian organisations and donor representatives in the DRC and completes airlift operations. Unless specially authorised by the UN Humanitarian Coordinator or the World Food Programme Country Director, military personnel may not be carried on UNHAS flights. No arms and ammunition are allowed on board UNHAS flights. On 23 July 2014 the Humanitarian Coordinator in the DRC authorised the transport of some MONUSCO staff in UNHAS planes to small bases in the west of the DRC, in areas where no other transport options are available. MONUSCO staff can only be transported in civilian clothing, and no military equipment will be transported by UNHAS.
Asked by: Martin Horwood (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what guidance on OECD guidelines the UK Government gives to UK companies operating abroad.
Answered by Lord Swire
The UK has a National Contact Point (NCP) on the OECD guidelines, provided by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills with support from the Department for International Development. It raises awareness of the guidelines by undertaking promotional activities, and handling enquiries. Its guidance is available at: www.gov.uk/uk-national-contact-point-for-the-organisation-for-economic-co-operation-and-development-oecd-guidelines-for-multinational-enterprises. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) also provides an extensive and detailed set of information for companies on the policy and implementation of OECD guidelines.
Asked by: Martin Horwood (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what records his Department keeps of UK companies' compliance with OECD guidelines for multinational companies; and what steps his her Department takes when a company is known to be acting contrary to those guidelines.
Answered by Lord Swire
We encourage all UK-registered multinationals fully to respect the OECD Guidelines. They are voluntary principles and standards of corporate behaviour for multinational businesses, and Her Majesty’s Government does not keep a formal record of UK companies’ compliance with them other than the assessments and statements on complaints of the UK National Contact Point (NCP) published at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-national-contact-point-statements
Asked by: Martin Horwood (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the recommendation of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Wellbeing Economics that stable and secure employment for all should be the primary objective of economic policy.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Since the financial crisis the government's long term economic plan has provided the foundations for the current recovery, which is now well established. The government has continued to take the difficult decisions needed to secure a stronger recovery for all and build a fairer society.
The latest official labour market figures show that employment in the UK is at its highest ever level, 30.76 million, an increase of 1.7 million since the Coalition entered office. Over the same period the level of redundancies has fallen by 45 per cent.
Asked by: Martin Horwood (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with the government of Israel about potential breaches of international law by that country.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv discussed Israel’s cooperation with the UN Commission of Inquiry and meeting international standards of accountability as a whole with the Director of International Law at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 30 September. Officials have also lobbied Israeli Cabinet Ministers, the National Security Council and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Members of the Knesset and Knesset officials, for Israel to address the international community’s concerns over the deaths of over 2000 Gazans.
We are pressing Israel to demonstrate accountability for its actions during the recent Gaza conflict. The Israel Defence Forces have launched a number of internal processes to investigate specific cases of engagement, and the Israeli State Comptroller has launched an investigation into the Government’s conduct. We will watch these closely. But there will also be international procedures which must examine the actions of both Hamas and Israel. Both sides should cooperate with the Commission of Inquiry set up by the UN Human Rights Council, which must itself be independent and balanced in its approach.
Asked by: Martin Horwood (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the Israeli government following the announcement of further settlement building on Palestinian land in the West Bank.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
I raised the issue of settlements with the Israeli Justice Minister on 6 October during my visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories from 6-8 October. The UK robustly and repeatedly raises its concerns over settlement building with the Israeli authorities, at all levels. Since the announcement of the expropriation of 988 acres of land on 31 August, the UK has made a number of representations to the Israeli authorities, making our views on the move clear, including to the Israeli Cabinet Secretary, the National Security Advisor, and the Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The UK also raised its serious concern about the Givat Hamatos announcement with Israel’s Cabinet Secretary on 2 October.
Asked by: Martin Horwood (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he had with EU counterparts following the Israeli government's announcement of further settlement building on Palestinian land in the West Bank.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) statement of 1 September made clear, the UK deplores Israel’s decision to expropriate 988 acres of land around the settlement of Etzion. Along with a number of EU counterparts, and the European External Action Service, the Foreign Secretary urged the Israeli authorities to reverse this decision. The UK closely coordinates on the issue of settlements with EU partners on which the UK, and EU’s, position is clear: they are illegal under international law, and an obstacle to the two state solution.