Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will consider introducing capital funding for fire and rescue services.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Fire and rescue authorities have very wide freedoms to borrow and invest. This allows them to set their own capital strategies on the basis they are best placed to understand local needs, without prior government approval. This also ensures they remain accountable to the local electorate.
There are few statutory constraints on borrowing. Most importantly, fire and rescue authorities must not borrow more than they can afford. It is for them to determine what is affordable. In making that decision, they are required by the statute to have regard to the Prudential Code, published by CIPFA, which provides broad guidance on the affordability assessment.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has made an assessment of the effectiveness of 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Ministry of Justice is committed to supporting the effective operation of the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and works closely with international partners to support the effective operation of the Convention and to facilitate safe, timely outcomes. This includes engaging with the Hague Conference on Private International Law and its Member States at regular Special Commissions to discuss operational matters and to share best practice.
The Ministry of Justice is also assessing and taking seriously concerns about the operation of the Convention in situations where domestic abuse is present. We were an active participant in two international Fora discussing this issue and contributed financial support to these events.
Recognising the complexity of the issue, the Ministry of Justice has since initiated a research project involving analysis of court proceedings in England and Wales under the Hague Convention where allegations of domestic abuse are raised.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if the Government’s aim to end rough sleeping includes people with No Recourse to Public Funds.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Where an individual has a no recourse to public fund condition, they will not be eligible for homelessness assistance under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996. However, local authorities may have other duties or powers under which they may be able to assist people who are sleeping rough and have no recourse to public funds, depending on the person’s circumstance and the support proposed. Local authorities should exhaust all options available to them to support individuals who have no recourse to public funds and must be satisfied that they have a lawful basis for any assistance provided.
In general, the expectation of the UK Government is that migrants who are given leave to be in the UK with an NRPF condition should be able to maintain and accommodate themselves and their dependants without recourse to public funds.