23/02/2016 House of Commons

Order, order. Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and

Commonwealth Affairs. We oppose the use of the death penalty in all

circumstances and advocate global abolition. The Government supports

programmes around the world to promote abolition and Eamonn Tory on

executions in those countries where the death penalty is still on the

statute book. Can I ask if he will resent a new strategy for the

abolition of the death penalty following on from the 2010, 2015

strategy and will it include Saudi Arabia? We oppose the death penalty

in every country including Saudi Arabia and other states where that

is still part of the criminal law. The abolition of the death penalty

remains integral to all human rights work that this department does. I

welcome the fact that the trend is for reducing the number of

executions and the number of states carrying out executions. When he

joined me in expressing concern in areas where that is not the case and

does he agree that if it is wrong to take a life, it is wrong for the

state to take a life in revenge? That is certainly my view and it is

the Government's position to oppose capital punishment. We need to

bearing in mind that while capital punishment exists, it means it is

potentially a risk for a British citizen anywhere in the world who

might be found guilty of a criminal offence. Does he share my horror

that on the top five countries which execute people come remains the

United States of America, despite a reduction in the number of

executions last year? Where did the last speak to his American

counterpart about their record in executing people? As I am sure she

knows, in the US, this is largely a matter for state legislature 's and

state governments rather than the ferret -- Federal Government. We to

take up, when appropriate, the particular cases with the relevant

authorities. Belarus is the only country still executing its

citizens. Does my right honourable friend share my concern that in the

last three months, two Belarus citizens have been sentenced to

death? If they want to become a full member of the Council of Europe,

they should abide by international laws and the European ledgers --

European legislation is? We, in all our dealings with the Government

there, we make clear the need for them to move to international and

European standards on capital punishment, but also to take action

to improve what is frankly still a dismal human rights record in that

country. Further to the answer from the honourable member from Slough,

is he aware of the organisation that drugs companies exported to the

state of Arkansas for use in lethal injections? They say they don't

export for this purpose but go on to say any sales usually occur through

the use of distributors. It seems an obvious loophole. Why is nobody

closing it? I will look into the particular case at -- that he

describes and try to him in due course. -- and write to him in due

course. Humanitarian assistance was sent to besieged communities in

Syria. The first deliveries of aid have now been made and yesterday

there was an announcement of agreement between Russia and the

United States on the detailed arrangements for the sentenced --

for the hostilities which will come into force on midnight on Saturday.

If that is implemented by all the parties, this could be an important

step towards a lasting political settlement in Syria. The bombing of

two hospitals and other health facilities in northern Syria is

completely unacceptable and a clear breach of international humanitarian

law. Does the Minister agree that those responsible must be brought to

justice and that this reinforces the need for United Nations Security

Council to refer the situation to the International Criminal Court?

The Honourable Lynne de -- Lady raises an incident that has caused

widespread outrage. It requires a resolution of the United Nations

Security Council, one veto holding member of whom is the Russian

Federation. It is unlike -- it is unlikely that we will succeed going

down that route. Turkish policy towards Syrian Kurdish forces seems

inconsistent with our own, inconsistent with the prospect of

supporting Syrian peace talks and inconsistent with the opportunity to

form a united front against die -ish. This Syrian Kurds are an

important part of the equation and have to be brought into any enduring

solution. Turkey has a problem with links with the PKK and other Syrian

groups. PKK is a terrorist group designated in Turkey and indeed in

the UK. There are overlaying conflicts here. It is a major

complicating factor. What we have seen is very disturbing evidence of

coordination between Syrian Kurdish forces, the Syrian regime and the

Russian air force which are making us distinctly uneasy about the

Kurds's role in this. The bombings are driving the refugee

crisis and destabilising and weakening Europe. Now is not the

time to even talk about weakening the EU sanctions against the Putin

regime. I agree with the honourable gentleman that now is not the time

to send Russia any signals of compromise or pulling back. The only

language Putin accepts is that of confrontation. We have to stand up

and be counted, how ever inconvenient that might be for some

that have to be counted. Whether we like it or not, Russia is a

prerequisite to the successful talks if they are going to be successful.

The American Secretary of State has a close working relationship with

the Russian Foreign Minister, talking to him nearly every week.

Whether the Foreign Secretary will speak to the Russian Foreign

Secretary and what is he doing to improve his personal relationship

with him? Our relationships are difficult. I spoke to Sergei Lavrov

on the 11th of February in Munich where he and I had some prolonged

and robust exchanges around the table during that evening. I do

speak regularly to the US Secretary of State and am aware of the

discussions he is having with our mutual Russian counterpart. The

problem is that Russian policy on Syria is not made in the Russian

Foreign Ministry comment is made inside a tiny cabal around President

Putin around the heart of the Kremlin. What dialogue has the

minister had with French counterparts as a result of the

Syrian crisis regarding the safety and protection arrangements for

unaccompanied children refugees that are at grave risk and due to be

disbursed from the jungle camp? I have had discussions with my former

French counterpart who retired the week before last and indeed my new

French counterparts. The issues relating to would-be migrants

accumulated around Calais after the Home Secretary and she has very

regular discussions with her counterpart. The Russians are a key

part to establishing a meaningful political settlement in Syria. Would

he agree that it doesn't mean we give in to the Russians across the

rest of Europe and that the Nato commitment in the Baltic states is

just as important a counterbalance whatever partnerships we use the

Russians for in Syria? We are dealing with a raised level of

Russian assertiveness in many areas. In the Baltic, in Ukraine and now in

the Middle East. We have to be robust in all areas. He is right

that Russia holds the key to the situation in Syria. I have said in

this house before that there is one person in the world who has the

power to bring the misery in Syria to an end by picking up the phone

and making one phone call and that person is Vladimir Putin. The whole

house will welcome the ceasefire agreement which is so badly needed.

However, there have been promises from Russia before. They have been

claiming to be attacking terrorist groups when they have been attacked

in moderate opposition forces and civilians. Can the Foreign Secretary

set out how breaches of the ceasefire agreement will actually be

assessed? She has put her finger on the

problem. The ceasefire agreement will allow continued operations

against Daesh and associated terrorist groups submitted by the UN

Security Council, and nobody would disagree with that. The problem is,

the Russians claim that the date, all of their action has been against

those groups. So on the face of it, the Russians could be entering onto

this arrangement on the basis of not changing their behaviour. This

cessation of hostilities will fail before it has got off the ground if

that is their intention. Can the Foreign Secretary explain what

consideration has been given to a UN resolution to strengthen the

ceasefire agreement and support the peace talks? Yes, first of all,

there is an arrangement agreed between the Russians and Americans

for investigating alleged breaches of the ceasefire, and there is a

commitment on both sides to working out a coordination cell between US

and Russian sides to try to identify legitimate targets that can be

structuring the ceasefire. In terms of UN dimensions to this, we are

looking at that, we would welcome a UN resolution behind the ceasefire,

we already have the resolution 2254 which we did on the 18th of December

in New York, but that can only happen if the Russians are prepared

to work with us. Number three. Mr Speaker, Daesh is presently being

defeated in Iraq, as the competence of Iraqi security forces improves,

specifically writing to Kurdistan, we are providing the peshmerga with

air power, logistical support and training. I thank him for that

answer. Report suggest that 45% of Kurdish forces are composed of

women. A commander recently said, we do this not to protect ourselves but

to change the way of thinking of the army, not only to gain power but to

change society and develop it. What steps is the government taking to

ensure their participation in regional diplomatic talks, post

Daesh? Can I just paid should be to be quite she has given and the work

she has done in pioneering the role that women can play. This is

something of the UN envoy recognises and is trying to include the bosses

of women. We have British training taking place in northern Iraq and we

have training teams that will be training female units in the

peshmerga itself. What is the minister's current assessment of the

relations between the government of Turkey and the Kurdistan regional

government? It is important Russian ship that they are developing, not

just for economic reasons, but as he has just outlined, the there are

concerns by Turkey because of the role and involvement and influence

of the PKK, we will be monitoring that carefully. Since the breakdown

of the peace process in summer last year, they have been reports of an

escalation of violence and reports of a breach of human rights in

south-eastern Turkey, in the Kurdish areas. There have been the deaths of

hundreds of innocent civilians, curfews, imprisonment of democratic

re-elected politicians who would be key interlocutors in future

negotiations. Can he assure me that it will form part of the peace

process talks in Syria? I'm grateful for her question, it is something I

was able to raise during my visit to the north of Iraq, at the end of

last year. We are concerned about the reports of human rights abuses

and it's something we need to make sure is not overlooked. Question

number four. Mr Speaker... The pleasure is entirely mutual! Let me

say to the Minister of State, I much appreciate his courtesy in notifying

me of his travel plans, I know he has only recently got off a plane so

we're delighted to have him here, especially in view of the fact of

which he has previously informed the house, that he is responsible for

three quarters of the world! You have just stolen my first line

again. On this important subject, I would repeat, for India and

Pakistan, they need to find a lasting resolution to the situation

in Kashmir, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. It is

not for the UK to prescribe a solution. And tragically, this house

has a great deal of respect for UN resolutions, and I'm sure that the

Minister will be aware that in 1948 the UN Security Council passed

resolution 47, instructing the government of India and Pakistan to

prepare for a plebiscite to decide the future of Kashmir. Now almost 70

years have passed, thousands of Kashmiri men, women and children

have been slaughtered and atrocities are committed on a daily basis and

there is still no sign of any action to allow these people to vote on

this most important issue. Does he agree with me that the people of

Kashmir should have the right of self-determination and will he give

an assurance that the British government... I hope she is near the

end of the sentence? Finish the sentence. That the British

government will do everything in its power to make this happen. We don't

intend to support an international conference or put the site on

Kashmir, our long-standing position is this is a matter for India and

Pakistan to find a resolution. We are acutely aware of the human

rights allegations in Kashmir, this was discussed when Prime Minister

Modi was here in 2015, and we continue to monitor the situation

closely. Many of my constituents, who are of Kashmiri origin and

heritage, take the view that this entire problem was left behind by

the UK will be ruled in that area. Does not the Minister feel that

there is a real obligation on the UK to actually take a more proactive

role in this, and do something positive to bring about a resolution

to this long-running problem? We are talking about two sovereign

countries, India and Pakistan, it is not for the UK to come between them

other than to urge them to talk and to ask them, good moves and

communications between the leaders, they are discussing the subject

among other things and that we very much welcome. I would say that this

has been going on for decades and decades and the UK does have some

expertise in building more peaceful settlements. Isn't there a bit more

that the UK could do to promote confidence building measures between

India and Pakistan and are very least raise this as a priority with

the youth special representative so that our allies know it's more of a

priority? I just said to the Right Honourable gentleman, we do things

as best we can without getting directly involved and we welcome the

fact that on the 25th of November they visited each other, the

leaders, but I would repeat again, he knows full well the long-standing

position of the government and when he was in government, it was no

different, this is a matter for the Indians and Pakistanis to resolve.

Number five. The UK is committed to strengthening engagement with the

Commonwealth, the Prime Minister, the member for Whitney, led a strong

delegation to the Commonwealth summit in November where Lord Maud

and I promoted trade opportunities within the Commonwealth. The

reticence in British manufacturing and engineering is not only a

testament to this government's determination to rebalance the

economy but has also contributed to 62% employment in my constituency.

Does he agree with me that our historic links, especially trade

links with other Commonwealth countries, are vital to the

continued success of these sectors and the jobs they support? I'm

pleased to hear the figures coming in from my honourable friend's

constituency, they can be echoed around the country, I would say we

are an open, free trading state, we trade around the world and trade

within the Commonwealth is extremely important and we need to do more to

promote it to stop it clear that trading between two Commonwealth

countries is 19, 20% cheaper than trading outside the Commonwealth, it

is something we need to do. We need to engage trading ministers more

formally. Last year, Prime Minister Modi and our Prime Minister

designated next year as the year of culture between India and the United

Kingdom. Will they join me in welcoming the British Curry

Festival, taking place in New Delhi in March of this year, when British

chefs from Leicester, London and Reading, will be going to Delhi to

make curry there? That he not agree this is a real example of good

relations between Commonwealth countries? At the risk of seeking to

curry favour with the right honourable gentleman... We must all

wish our curry chefs every successfully travelled to India and

hope that they have a speedy return, because we would all miss our curry

wedding at home. -- -- were they not at home. It was this point, as well

as talking about trade between the UK and Commonwealth countries, the

functioning of the Commonwealth will surely be enhanced if there is more

trade between Commonwealth countries, and to what extent can

the UK play a role in trying to enhance that ensure trade,

particularly in areas where we have substantial representation? It's as

well to remember that we are an equal partner within the

Commonwealth, we don't run it, and we wish Baroness Scotland every

success in so doing, and we want... She has the universal support of

this house, clearly! We want her to refocus the Commonwealth, we want to

spend more time... There are similar issues going on elsewhere in the

world but we want to spend more time boosting trade, and getting rid of

tariffs and promoting intra- Commonwealth trade, and that we can

do. I know the business and investment Council is doing a great

job, business will play a large role in the Commonwealth conference in

2018. Can I ask is serious question about the Commonwealth and the

dramatic relations. How may members of the Commonwealth don't have an

extradition agreement with this country? Increasingly be find people

commit ghastly crimes, they need to Pakistan and we can't get them back

to face justice. What is he doing about that? I say that is a very

wide-ranging accusation and if he will write to me or come and see me

on a specific case, I will be happy to look at this, we deal with these

things on a case-by-case basis. Mr Speaker, with permission I will

answer this question together with question 14. The conduct regulations

which said that the detailed framework of how the referendum poll

will be administered have now been agreed by both Houses of Parliament.

The date of the referendum must now be agreed by Parliament in the

further statutory instrument, laid before both houses in draft

yesterday. A record number of people registered to vote in the Scottish

independence referendum, 97% of the adult population. What efforts as

the UK Government taking the match that success? This, as he will know,

is the responsibility of the electoral commission, and they are

planning a campaign to raise awareness of the need to register in

good time for the referendum. Can the Minister give comfort to

those Scottish students who are studying across Europe and can he

provide the House with details of what contingency plans are in place

should there be a no vote in the EU Referendum Bill? My advice to

Scottish students studying in universities elsewhere is to ensure

that they are registered to vote so that their votes to count along with

everybody else in the referendum. You put your finger on one of the

uncertainties about eight potential access from the EU because it is,

after all, treaties that give British citizens the right to live,

study and work in other EU countries. The Minister may recall

that in response to my amendments to the Finance Bill, the Government

promised to negotiate with the European Commission for zero VAT for

sanitary products. As the Prime Minister used his recent

negotiations to raise this issue and what progress has been made? The

question of value added tax was already part of the EU system before

the United Kingdom ever joined the European communities in the 1970s.

There is a review of the current EU directives on value added tax that

is due to take place this year and that is the appropriate forum in

which to raise this issue and it is something the Government hopes to

secure the reforms about which she is speaking. A successful UK

Government has signed up to a range of agreements with regards to

protecting our environment, and ensuring EU wide energy markets. The

removal of environmental controls would be a backward step. I am sure

the Minister for Europe will agree with me that a membership of the EU

is vital in promoting the interests of people in Scotland and across the

UK. However, the Minister will be aware that the Justice Secretary

said last week, that our membership of the European Union prevents us to

change law and stops us from choosing critical decisions which

affect all of our lives. Can he confirm... Finish the sentence, very

quickly. Can he confirm how his Government's plans have been

constrained by European legislation or regulations? Like every member

state of the EU, there will be particular issues that come up,

particular measures where we find some of the ruling irksome. On

balance, as the Prime Minister set out clearly yesterday, the

Government is convinced membership of a reformed European Union will

make the British people more prosperous, more secure and more

influential in the world than any of the alternatives so far proposed. It

is important that voters have the full fax at their disposal when

making a choice in June. Can the Minister confirmed to the House that

the Government has calculated the cost of implementing the proposals

agreed at the EU Council last week, in particular those relating to the

administration of the new benefits rules. What will be savings to the

Treasury be? Some of this will be a matter for the implementation of

regulations that will now follow both at European level and at

national level. The answer to the honourable lady's question will

depend upon what the level of benefits and tax credits is at the

appropriate time in the UK. Those matters will become clear as time

goes on. I wish the Minister great success in trying to alter the level

of VAT on sanitary towels but could he confirm that if the British

people decided to leave the European Union, could he confirm that will be

up to the British Government to decide the level of VAT on sanitary

towels and other products? That would depend upon the nature of the

subsequent relationship because the reason why value-added tax has since

before our membership of the EU, been something dealt with at EU

level, is because the price at which goods are sold as a direct impact

upon the notion of a single market and free trade within Europe will

stop the issue that my honourable friend raises would have to be

tackled in the course of negotiations about such a future

relationship. As the House is aware, all prices are hovering around $30 a

barrel, the lowest in 13 years and this is a consequence of lower

global demand, continued production and the resilient production in the

USA. Countries are taking action and they are diversifying their

economies and removing subsidies. In reference to Russia, around half of

the Government revenues have come from oil and gas and the GDP has

declined by 4% last year. Clearly, foiling -- falling oil prices are

having an effect on many countries. I was part of a delegation visiting

Saudi Arabia last week. What encouragement is our Government

doing to other countries to help and support them diversify and what

opportunities does the Minister Seif British companies to assist in that?

There are enormous opportunities as my honourable friend outlined is not

just in Saudi Arabia but across the golf -- golf. We are working to

diversify to help these countries with renewables, green energy and

also Saudi Arabia has expressed an interest in opening up tourism.

These are important aspects that Britain can play an important role

in. I will is the eight and nine together. Britain was a driving

force between -- behind the creation of the global coalition. We hosted

the first meeting in January 2015 in London. I discussed the campaign

against Daesh with other international partners including at

a coalition small group meeting in Rome earlier this month. The Army in

-- the Kurdish army has been battling since 2014. When he paid

tribute to the Peshmerga and Seymore as to what role they may play no

liberation. I am happy to pay tribute to the Peshmerga. They have

proved themselves to be a resilient fighting force and the most

effective force operating against Daesh. The UK's training and

providing equipment to the Peshmerga. I had an opportunity to

meet with the President of the KR G2 talk about the liberation of Mosul

and be the role the Peshmerga might pay -- play. The Kurdish regional

Government is more open to the idea that the Peshmerga will play a role

in the liberation of Mozilla. They have also agreed to Iraqi security

forces being based in the KR G in order to prepare for the assault on

Mosil. It is more likely that we will see a successful assault on

Mosil sooner rather than later. Seeking a solution in Syria has gone

hand-in-hand with our humanitarian aid in the region. When he set out

how increased diplomatic cooperation will improve and assist our

humanitarian aid in the region, specifically neighbouring countries

such as Jordan and Lebanon? We hosted a successful Syria and

regional conference on the 4th of February raising $11 billion in a

single day. The real significance of that meeting was that we moved on

from the idea of simply collecting money and distributing it, to

working with host countries in the region, to ensure that refugees are

able to access the labour market, can get education for their children

and can access health care, making them less likely to feel the need to

decamp and become regular migrants heading towards Europe. King

Abdullah of Jordan asks that we reach out to areas like Bosnia which

may be the next trouble spots. Are we making any progress? We should be

very much focused not only on those countries that are already facing

this challenge, but the countries that are next in line for the

challenge, seeking to enforce them. The Prime Minister's of all Western

Balkan countries were in London yesterday and I had been Minister to

meet the President of Bosnia-Herzegovina over. We're

working closely with them to ensure the resilience and the European

trajectory of that region. On the issue of Daesh fighters returning

home to countries within Europe, whatever its have been made in terms

of diplomatic coordination to ensure there is a more common response

among countries in Europe to ensure we keep our citizens here safe and

prevent these people coming back to wreak havoc through terrorism on

towns and cities in the UK? Different countries in Europe have

different domestic legislation around this issue. We have some of

the most robust measures available to us to deal with returning

fighters. It is precisely because of the importance of exchange of

information between European partners, that the Prime Minister

was able to confirm that we believe Britain is safer and more resilient

against the threat of terrorism by its cooperation with EU. If

operations against Daesh are successful... Thank you, I hope the

gentleman will not be deflected. What is the threat of them moving to

Libya and has the Foreign Secretary made an assessment of that

eventuality? There is clearly a risk that as Daesh is defeated in Iraq

and Syria, the embryonic presence in Libya, particularly around one area

could be a base for operations 100 miles off the coast of Europe. That

is why we are working with our partners and allies to encourage the

formation of a Libyan Government of National cord that we can work with

to start stabilising the country and pushing back on those Daesh

footholds in Libya. Could the Secretary of State say how far ahead

we are in terms of bringing about that coordination and bringing a

stable authority within Libya to take on Daesh? We have seen an

increasing Daesh activity and there is still a lot of disconnect between

different bodies in Libya. What progress has been made? There is

progress being made among European partners and with the US preparing

the support we can give to a Government of National cord in Libya

when and if it is formed. The problem is that several months after

we first expected to happen, it still not been formed. We are

working closely with the parties in Libya and with the regional powers

who have influence, particularly Egypt, to encourage Prime Minister

-- the Prime Minister to get that Government formed an approved so we

can engage. There is a strong commitment by the European partners

to engage once that Government is created.

Much does get said during the election of cycles and we were

concerned by some of the statements that have been made during the

Israeli election. I was in Israel last week and I can confirm that I

had meetings with Prime Minister Netanyahu. He remains committed to

the two state solution. It has been over 20 years since Oslo and there

are more than 350,000 illegal Israeli settlers in the occupied

West Bank. 300,000 Israeli settlers in east Jerusalem and the Government

continues to announce the building of more illegal settlements. Does he

believe this will aid the priest process and if not, what is he doing

about it? -- peace process. This is unhelpful and takes us into the

wrong direction. Through my visit, I visited some of the settlements

developing there and while announcing when new settlements have

slowed down, we are seeing the existing settlements are starting to

grow and that happens without people seeing this. We have an area to the

north of Jerusalem and if that continues to grow in the method that

it does, it will link up towards the north of Jericho. It will

essentially say there are no two state solutions. We need Israel to

show it is committed to this and stop the settlements. On the issue

of words, something that is rubbished is the issue of incitement

and the increasing amounts of incitement we're seeing from the

Palestinian Authority 's and media. Some has been referenced by those

committing knife attacks on innocent civilians. Last week I said -- spent

a visit to a school in Brussels where I had appalling stories of

anomie -- anti-Semitism in Europe where people deliberately conflate

Jews and Israel. The Minister condemned not only the incitement

we're seeing outside of the Palestinian Authority, but the

attacks which we are seeing in Europe as a result of this?

I agree that what we are seeing, Israelis, subject to brutality and

murder, is unacceptable and Israel has the obligation to defend its

citizens. But we are seeing is the anti-Semitism there, the reaction

often through websites, reappearing in Europe or closer to home and we

have been working hard with international colleagues, to make

sure that we stamp out anti-Semitism, no matter where full.

A clear majority of Israelis support the setting up of a Palestinian

state but as the Minister agree that actions like how mass, mounting

attacks on Israel from Gaza, makes it less attainable? She is right,

what we are seeing is some of the developments, it is like deja vu,

we're going round again, the rebuilding of the tunnels

themselves, the missiles start to fly, where does it take us? This is

not a confidence building measure, in the same way that building

settlements is not a confidence building measure. We need to make

sure we empower the Palestinian Authority so it has the ability to

look after and take responsibility for the governments of Gaza, that is

the way forward. I'm sure there is a big contrast in the growth of

extremism, Israeli authorities deal with Jewish extremism, they

investigate, prosecute and condemn. Whereas violent extremists, so far

as the Palestinian Authority, the name schools after them, sporting

events after them, they glorify them on television. Will they take the

opportunity to condemn absolutely the attitude of the Palestinian

Authority and urge them to cease this senseless encouragement to

violence? He makes a powerful argument, and it's important that we

actually see that there are affirmative actions on both sides to

reduce tensions, but I raise the specific matter of inflaming, of

using words, health Minister in the Palestinian Authority was unhelpful

in the comments she made recently in condemning the attacks taking place.

This takes us into the wrong direction. We should be doing

things, making steps that encourage others to act in consequence of

that. I wish we had more time but we haven't. Question number 11. I had

productive discussions at the joint ministerial Council with other

overseas Territory leaders in December, we agreed progress on in

permitting central registers, a system should be kept under

continuous and close review, discussions are ongoing but I want

to see significant progress ahead of the anti-corruption Summit being

hosted by the Prime Minister in May. Will he confirm that the overseas

territories and Crown dependencies will be at the summit and will we do

our part to make sure that we secure commitment from them to clean up

their act and make company on this public? Final in bytes for the

summit have not yet gone out of the discussions are ongoing, -- invites.

The director is currently visiting the Cayman Islands and British

Virgin Islands, thrashing out some of the details. Does the Minister

expect those registers will be publicly available all of close to

one, to gain access to relevant authorities? I am sorry, I was

strong to follow his question as to whether they would be open or

closed. They will be open registers available for law enforcement

agencies to interrogate, not publicly open registers. That is a

long-term aspiration but initially we want to get that access for law

enforcement agencies, which will create greater transparency and

reduce corruption. In April 2014 the Prime Minister said that, I believe

the beneficial ownership and public access of a central register is key

to improving the transparency of company ownership and vital to

meeting the urgent challenges of tax evasion. Nearly two years have

passed and there still appears to be no time table for transparency

arrangements in regard to the financial centres, why is this?

There has already been much progress. I think she dismisses that

progressed to regulate. There are checkpoints, last week we were

speaking with overseas territory leaders, there are people there at

the moment and we hope to crystallise some of these

improvements before them summit in May on corruption, which was brought

by the Prime Minister and will be held in London, demonstrating their

commitment to this important issue. Can the Minister told the house the

exact date by which he expects overseas territory financial centres

to ensure proper transparency arrangements, or are we going to

continue to hear more excuses for inaction in the years to come? This

is an area of direction rather than an ultimate direction, and we will

constantly be asking the international community to do more

to create greater transparency but it is crucial that the international

community, whether the Crown dependencies, overseas territories,

are moved together on this, because we want to eliminate the problem of

corrupt money rather than shift it from territory to territory. It is

the best bit quickfire questions, quickfire answers. Number one. The

Foreign Office's mission is to protect our values through our

diplomacy and the Prime Minister's deal with the EU but offers the

basis for Britain's feature prosperity and future in Europe. The

crisis in Syria, the result in migration to Europe, the levels of

Russian aggression and the Terror is the threat from Islamist extremism

remain the principal threats to the security of the UK and UK citizens

around the world. I should recommend this to the register of interests,

as we know from Northern Ireland, conciliation is only possible if

both sides want it to move forward. Will he recognise efforts made by

the Sri Lankan sides in building a strong democracy and unite the

island, and will he encourage them to continue? I was in Franco last

month and I was able to meet the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and

travel to the north -- I was in Sri Lanka. I have spoken to the High

Commissioner in Geneva, who has been there, he was there in February, we

are looking forward to his update on Sri Lanka at the UN human rights

Council in June. As events in the Ukraine and Middle East have

reminded us, nations committed to peace, security and democracy need

to stand together in the face of aggression. Our membership of the US

is one of the most important ways in which we do this and the Foreign

Secretary knows that ending our alliance with the Ewart sent a

dangerous signal, including two Daesh and President Putin. Why does

he think that's his cabinet colleagues cannot see this and are

intent on a course of action that would weaken's voice in the world

and undermine our security? Each person in this country will have to

make up their own mind about the questions before them in the

forthcoming referendum and I have always said this is a balancing

equation, there are pluses and minuses in every international

relationship but I agree that on the question of Britain's security and

influence in the world, there is no doubt we are stronger, safer and

more influential as part of the European Union. I'm grateful to the

Foreign Secretary for that reply. The report of the UN human rights

Council enquiry on Syria, published this month, found that, "Flagrant

politicians of human rights and international humanitarian law

continued unabated. " The ceasefire is needed but it will only relieve

suffering if it is adhered to. What a CSS are the prospects for ensuring

that Russia respects the ceasefire by ending its attacks on the Syrian

people and if it does not, what further pressure can be put on

President Putin to do so? The issue is going to be this, the Russians

will say that they are complying with the ceasefire, and they will

say that continued attacks, air strikes, are justified by the terms

of the ceasefire and that they will be a Mrs D to pour over individual

attacks by the US and Russia in the coordination sought to identify what

happened. The big picture is this. Unless the level of Russian air

strikes tragically decreases, this ceasefire will not hold because the

moderate armed opposition cannot lay down their weapons and will not,

while they are being annihilated from the air by the Russian

aircraft. The Tanzanian electoral commission announced the general

election results in Zanzibar at the end of last year and there has been

increased electoral violence in Zanzibar as we head to the poll on

March 20. What representations on making the 10th union government to

make sure we do not return to the violence of the thousand and 2001?

-- the Tanzanian government. We are concerned by the decision to annul

the elections for the Zanzibar Presidency and the house of

representatives on the 28th of October. Our position will set out

in the statement by the British High Commissioner on the 29th of October

and we have raised these concerns at the highest level, including the

Foreign Secretary in his telephone call to the then Prime Minister, my

telephone call to be Foreign Minister in December and my right

honourable friend in his meeting with the same individual in January.

I hope to visit Tanzania in the coming months and raised these pods

personally. Given his response to earlier questions rating the benefit

to the UK of remaining in the Yukon is it not a real concern that many

of his colleagues in the government would put our security at risk by

Brexit? This is a referendum in which members of Parliament will

each have one vote, along with every member of the UK electorate. In my

experience, there are deeply held views both for and against petition

on the ship in both my party and the Honourable Lady's party. My view is

clear that this country is going to be more prosperous, more secure,

more influential in the world through continued EU membership.

Given the ongoing Russian incursion into Georgian sovereign territory,

but he absolutely condemn the situation in the southern Caucasus,

and does he think the situation in South city must now be regarded as

the new norm? We should be alert to Russia's aggressive actions in

former Soviet Union countries, wherever they are, not just in

Ukraine and arguably we were too slow to recognise what was happening

in Georgia was the beginning of a new mention the Russian foreign

policy, we should have resisted it robustly and we should push back

wherever we can. Can he confirm whether or not his discussions with

the US about Libya have included the possibility of UK military action

and can confirm there will be none without approval from this house?

Have a long established convention which he knows that before

committing UK come back forces to combat, in all situations where it

is possible, other than the direct emergency, or where considerations

of secrecy make it impossible, the Prime Minister is committed to bring

the issue to the house and allowing the house and opportunity to

discuss. What have they made of the securities situation in Burundi and

what steps have been taken to bolster Her Majesty's government's

presents there? In response to the crisis, we have stepped up military

and support to people fleeing Burundi, abiding money, the

parliamentary under Secretary of State for International Development

has decided to recruit a full-time coordinator, based in Bujumbura,

this will be good news, they have been pressing the government to do

this and we will commit on both sides of the house. On the 4th of

January the Secretary of State told the house that China's claim to be

treated as a market economy should be judged through the prism of

steel. Given that 70% of the Chinese steel industry is owned by the

Chinese government, can the Secretary of State confirm that

China should empathic they not be granted market economy status? What

I said in January, he will find if he checks the record, is I had come

back from China, where I had conveyed the message to the Chinese

that there claim to market economy status and the consideration of the

claim would be judged through the prism of their actions in the nation

to steal, they gave me assurances then and in October that they are

seeking to address overcapacity in the Chinese market will stop we have

just had discussion about this this morning and I've learnt that there

protests going on in China about loss of steel jobs just as there are

in the UK and other places throughout Europe. The reality is we

have a massive surplus of steel capacity throughout the world and we

have to address it. Following the action against Daesh,

what are the plans to make a permanent memorial? There is a

migration and a concern that Daesh is moving out under pressure in Iraq

and Syria to other parts of the world, including Libya. He is right

to make the connection between what happened in Libya, the terrorist

attack that took place killing many Britons. We all hold a memorial

service on the 12th of April to mark this event. A recent UN report

suggested Saudi Arabia's military operation Yemen is targeting

civilians. Is the minister confident that the UK Government is fulfilling

its obligations under the arms trade treaty in relation to Saudi Arabia

in this case? We have discussed the expert's panel for the UN on this

report. We are looking at the report in detail. It was done by satellite

evidence. The experts didn't visit the country itself and we have to

bear that in mind. We have passed the information on and are

discussing it with Saudi Arabia. I had a letter from the ambassador

this week confirming that every effort is made to follow human

rights law in the support of the President and UN resolution 2216.

Immigration controls in Calais are governed by the Treaty of Le

Touquet. He will also know that the treaty can only be broken if the

British or the French choose to do so and it has nothing to do with

whether we are members of the European Union or not. We ask, which

ever person said it, to stop talking this nonsense, that if we leave the

EU, we are suddenly going to find a massive refugee camp in the heart of

Kent? The Treaty of Le Touquet is certainly vital to this country's

border security of the 100,000 people who have been stopped from

entering the UK in the past five years, roughly a quarter were

stopped at Calais. We cooperate closely with the French Government

but I fear my honourable friend underestimates the extent of

domestic French opposition and protest against the controls, that

if we left the EU, the stock of goodwill towards the Treaty of Le

Touquet would be severely depleted. On the Foreign Office website, there

is advice to companies thinking of doing business with illegal Israeli

settlements. It says financial transactions, investments,

procurements as well as other economic activities in Israeli

settlements and tell legal and economic risks. We do not encourage

or office opposed to such activity. Does the Government give the same

advice to public bodies including loud -- local councils with regard

to their procurement assistance? We are clear with local authorities

that they should not be bound by -- that they are bound by procurement

rules. We do not support boycott movements and the Minister for the

Cabinet Office was in Israel last week and made that abundantly clear

them. With the US wishing to continue for a further 20 years, is

military presence on Diego Garcia, what discussions are the Foreign

Office planning to have with Washington about facilitating

bringing them back? We made it clear we wanted the US presence to

continue but the Government has not held discussions with the US about

continuing that arrangement. I very much welcome his discussions if you

weeks ago at the Foreign Office as part of the all-party group visit to

the Foreign Office. I will continue to liaise with him when the

Government does come to a conclusion following the report and following

the consultation. Following on from yesterday's dropping the value of

sterling, implication does the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

office anticipate for Britain and Northern Ireland as a result of the

uncertainty around the referendum? Uncertainty always has a cost to

business. Business hates uncertainty and the markets will reflect that

uncertainty. That is why it is right to hold the referendum at the

earliest possible date, 23rd of June, so people can get on with

their business. When I canvassed the streets of Newark for local

elections, people asked me what the views of my local councillors are

refuse collection or potholes. I rarely hear them ask their views on

foreign policy. What my right honourable friend agree that foreign

policy is set by the Foreign Secretary and by the Government and

debated in this house, not by our town halls and we should all

therefore support the Government's action against boycotts and

sanctions? One of my colleagues has reminded me he is not the only one

who pounded the patents of Newark. Everybody on these benches did so.

Foreign policy is a matter for the Government of the United Kingdom and

is the business of this Parliament and it is important we have a single

foreign policy which is clearly projected so Britain's position in

the world is understood and strengthened. Demand always

massively exceeds supply at Question Time. We haven't time but I am

allowing time for one last question. , Press the Foreign Secretary

further on and they gave to my honourable friend from Sheffield

South East? Is there anything in the rules which feted as a public

institutions ability to act on the advice that his website puts out my

honourable friend quoted? Public bodies in this country are bound by

the EU procurement directive in their purchasing activity and must

follow those rules. I am sorry to disappoint colleagues. There is huge

interest in what the Foreign Office does and says. We'll have to leave

it there for today. Urgent question. To ask the Secretary of State for

Health to make a statement on the Government's responds to the final

report of the independent mental health task force.

Achieving parity of esteem for mental and physical health remains a

priority for this Government and I appreciate the honourable lady in

raising the question this afternoon. We welcome the independent mental

health task force launched by the NHS England last year with every

minute to explore the variation in the availability of mental health

services across England. Look at the outcomes for people using services

and identify key priorities for improvement. The task force, chaired

by Paul Farmer, I want to thank him and his vice chair and all their

team for the remarkable work they did. Also considered ways of

promoting positive wealth fund -- positive health and well-being, and

whether we are spending money and time on the right things. The

publication of the task force's report marked the first time a

national strategy had been designed in partnership with all the

health-related bodies in order to live a change across the system. It

demonstrated a way in which society and the NHS and this house now holds

mental health and how it is to be seen and how it is to be approached.

This Government has made great strides in the way we think about

treatment will help in this country. We have given the NHS more money

than ever before and are introducing access and waiting time targets for

the first time. We have made it clear NHS services must follow our

lead by increasing the amount they spend on mental health and make sure

bets are always. Despite these improvements, the task force pulled

no punches and gave a frank assessment about the state of

current mental health care across the NHS. Highlighting the one in

four people were experiencing mental health problem in their lifetime and

the cost of mental ill health to the economy, NHS and society is ?105

billion a year. We can agree that the human and financial cost of

inadequate care is an acceptable. Therefore, we welcome the

publication of the task force report and the Department of Health will

work with NHS England and other partners to establish a plan that

progresses the recommendation for improving mental health. To make

these recommendations are reality, we will spend an extra ?1 billion on

mental health by 20 20/20 one, improve access to services that

people receive the right care in the right place when they need it the

most. This will mean increasing bin amount of people from 468,002 agent

of thousands. Doubling the amount of pregnant women or new mothers

receiving mental health support from 12,000 to 42,000 year. Training 1700

U therapists and helping 29,000 more people to find or stay and work

through individual placements are bought and talking therapies. I can

assure all members of the House that they will have ample opportunity to

ask questions and debate issues as we work together to progress the

task force's recommendation. The final report of the mental health

task force commissioned by NHS England gives a frank assessment of

the state of mental health care today and describes a system which

is ruining some people's lives. It makes a number of recommendations

which, if implemented in full, could make a difference to services which

have had to contend with funding cuts and staffing shortages at a

time of rising demand and stop too many from people without the right

care and support. It is extremely disappointing that the opposition

has had to compel the Minister to come to the Chamber today to insure

Parliament can give the report and the Government's responds to it the

attention and scrutiny it deserves. This is all the more regrettable

because the Prime Minister himself chose to announce their response to

the media during recess last week. A courtesy which had it not been for

this urgent question today, would still not have been afforded to this

house. The apparent announcements from the Government include an

additional ?1 billion worth of investment by 2020, get a number of

vital questions remain unanswered. Will the Minister explain why the

report was delayed and published in recess? Did ministers have a say

over the timing and if so does the Minister access that this level of

interference by ministers raises questions over the independence of

this report? Can the Minister confirm that no additional money

will be allocated from the Treasury to fund their announcements and that

they will be funded from the pre-existing ?8 billion that has

been set aside for the NHS by 2020? Given that mental health receives

just under 10% of the total NHS budget, surely mental health

services would have been expecting to receive much of this additional

money as part of the NHS settlement anyway. Can the Minister explain how

this money can be expected to deliver the transformation in our

mental health services, that the task force says is urgently

required? Can the Minister confirm that he is accepting all of the

recommendations relating to the NHS? Does he intend to respond to the

other recommendations and when can we expect that response? We don't

solve the challenges of our nation's mental health from the Department of

Health. For the many thousands of people who have been let down by

this Government who are desperate to see a change in how we approach

mental health and who are owed a full explanation from the Government

on the response to this damning report, I look forward to the

Minister's reply. I thank the honourable lady for her questions

and the opportunity it presents to say more about what we are doing in

relation to mental health and how far it has come since 2010. The

honourable lady could have said 1400 more people a day or having access

to mental health treatment than in 2010. A comparison in what was done

then and what is being done now. The central point is there is more to be

done which is a common view that we share and that is right to bring it

out and what this report did. The timing was not up to Government.

This is an independent report commissioned by the NHS of an

independent task force and the timing and the content was decided

by them. I have the occasional meetings with Paul Farmer about it

and made sure I have spoken to him and said it is your report. Forget

the papers and who wants what in the report. This is yours and it has to

be yours and it is clear that it was. The decision to publish it was

theirs and the Prime Minister was able to respond. It emphasises the

importance that is given to this issue, compared with times past.

In relation to the finance, the important thing to note is the Prime

Minister announced in January how the ?600 million in the spending

review, which is included in the NHS Bottom Line until 2021, was going to

be spent. That included mental health, crisis care and psychiatric

liaison in A and the crisis care community work. What was said by the

Prime Minister in relation to the task force report represents a new

money available for the NHS and mental health by 2021. Which will be

a billion pounds extra by 2021 than it is spending at the moment. With

the additional number of people to be treated that I outlined. In terms

of how that will be handled by ourselves, I spoke to the task force

after the issuing of the report. What I don't particularly want to do

is produce a response to the task force report. What I'd prefer to do

is have a series of rolling responses, which, when we have

responded to a recommendation and when we are moving on and delivering

on the recommendation, I will say so. It will be related back to what

the task force has done. Some of those may involve announcements in

parliament or written statements. But I don't want a Big Bang in terms

of a response, because the Prime Minister has already said we will

accept these recommendations. Instead of report being produced and

sitting on the shelf, by constant reference to it by doing something,

saying this is a response to what the task force said we should be

doing towards 2021, it can get the stamp of support and recognition,

which I think is important. In relation to what the honourable lady

claims is the thousands let down. I would gently remind the honourable

lady, it was this government who was the first government to set waiting

times for physical and mental health. A chance missed by her

government when they were in government. It is this government

that has made the commitment of ten billion pounds extra to the NHS,

which was never a commitment made a her or her party. It is easy to talk

about new things in mental health when you don't have a budget or an

economic team producing anything of any credibility, but this government

has the responsibilities and is doing the work. But we are agreed

the state of mental health services cries out for more to be done. That

is what we are doing. The direction of travel and physical delivery is

happening on a day by day basis. We will do more and we will continue to

do more and I welcome her team's pressure on me and my right

honourable friend to continue to do more. We will meet that challenge

but we meeting it like no government has done before. Can I congratulate

my honourable friend on his personal commitment towards this issue. Will

he accept those who suffer from mental health or often poor

advocates for their own cause and it is easy for money to be diverted

into other areas of health care spending, when others are able to

shout louder for that money. Will he and his front bench team consider

whether it is possible to ring fence inside the NHS budget, this money

from mental health care, so it doesn't become the Cinderella

subject in the future that it has been in the past? I thank my

honourable friend but his interest and he liked me, has come across

this conundrum. We talked from the dispatch box about more money going

into mental health and in areas they say, it is not happening here. It

has been a genuine reality we need to do something about. What we need

to do, by being more directive to clinical groups and examining their

finances and the guidance from the NHS that says they expect the

proportional increase in finance in the NHS going appropriately to

mental health services and the specific commitments we have even to

the series of services announced by the Prime Minister, we hope to make

sure that diversion of funds in the future will not sorry, the diversion

of funds in the past will not happen in the future. I think all of us in

the House welcomed the strides that have been made in changing the

stigma around mental health. The people who have been brave enough to

speak out. The campaign we had in Scotland, which was See Me. Often

the money has not gone to the services. Mental health trust

suffered a 2% cut between 2013 and 2015 in their budget. The number of

psychiatric nurses went down by 1.4%. As he mentioned about money

often ending up somewhere else is something that must be avoided. I

think we would need to focus on children also. One in ten of

children are suffering from mental health problems between the ages of

five and 16. They are waiting a very long time to get help. We have the

same challenge in Scotland, we measure it and know how difficult it

is. We have managed to improve it by increasing staff and funding. But we

also have a long road to walk. We're not thinking about the whole spread

of mental health support in the community. The way people work,

insecure jobs, people struggling to keep a roof over their head. We will

later debate welfare reforms and the mental health issues coming from

that. Three times the number of poor children will have a mental health

issue as children in a stable and well financed family. I would like

to ass, are we not going to try to join up our decisions and look at

other policy areas in how people work, in how people are supported

and the mental health suffering that comes from that? Can I thank the

honourable lady for her usual well-informed contribution to the

debate on these issues. I thank her for what she said about stigma and

the general approach the government has been taking. Absolutely right,

we have supported the time to change the anti-stigma campaign. We have

got to do more. She is right about children and wider cross government

work. In relation to children and young people we have a minister in

the Department for Education in England with responsibilities for

mental health. In terms of cross government work, my honourable

friend from the Home Office is here to demonstrate we do take those

cross government responsibilities seriously. One of the ways we will

manage the response to the task force is there will be a cross

governmental team to make sure departments are joined up, housing

has something to do with this as well as education. Work and pensions

has something to do with this, as the honourable lady said. We will

make sure it is done. I should have said in my remarks of course, but

didn't for reasons of time, what has been said in the task force on what

the Prime Minister said is in addition to the one .5 billion

pounds that was announced in March for the mental health service the

children in England and the 30 million pounds a year eating

disorder work to recognised increased pressures on children,

because she is right, the earlier help the children do better. Can I

join the minister in thanking the Independent mental health task force

for the work they have done, but can I ask him to go further in how we

are going to track with greater transparency, this money is spent in

the right place, not just within health but social care as well. He

will know those suffering from mental health problems, are cared

for in the community and the social care. It is vital we have parity

across social care. Can I thank my honourable friend and recognise the

work of the Royal College, it's President, Simon Wesley, was

involved in the report and they were closely involved, so I thank them

for that. It is important to track this. The clinical commissioning

groups assessment framework will help us do this through the health

service. The money that Prime Minister announced in relation to

community crisis, the extra 400 million pounds announced in January,

will be spent throughout the community. It is essential we do

track it. There has been a lack of data. The honourable lady away

victory knows about this. I answer questions to her saying this

information is not collect it centrally. I have noticed this. We

are in the process of changing that. The data was in process of being

changed and more information will be available. In order to track

properly, we need the information. We are improving the data, but it is

important to track it both in local authority work as well as community

work. It is immensely encouraging he notices his own answers. Mr Kevin

Jones. Extra resources are important, but what are the main

messages from this report is we need to hard-wire mental health and

well-being into public policy. Twice as many people take their own lives

and are killed on our roads every year. With the Minister agree with

me it is time for a national campaign to address this issue? Yes,

Mr Speaker and I thank the right honourable gentleman for his

comments and his own work in this area. Included in the

recommendations is a national ambition to reduce, by 10%, the

number of suicides, which will be a reduction of 400 a year. There are

some areas that are piloting what is called a zero suicide ambition

strategy. Three areas piloting this and this needs probably more

prominence than it has got. There is an national suicide prevention

strategy. I am reviewing that and seeing how it can be better

implemented locally. Not all local areas have a similar strategy. It is

right it gets better prominence. We had a debate on it not too long girl

at Westminster Hall and it is a significant issue for men in

particular. Three times as many men take their own lives, as women.

Although the increase in the number of women, which was noticed a few

weeks ago, is significant. It is important we talk about this more,

recognise suicide is not inevitable, have an ambition to challenge that

and do more and I'm confident the honourable gentleman can do that, as

he has done other things. It is a sad fact that in health care, those

professionals who at the most to the service do not necessarily receive

the same level of acclamation of those working in more glamorous

specialties. What does the Minister think can be done to improve the

status of those working within mental health care and thus mental

health care as an attract career option? Good question. It is

important true value is given to those who work in such an area. At

all levels. When we have seen some of the examples of poor quality care

and the tragedies that have occurred, we realise the value is

placed on those who display a kindness as well as skill, and

demonstrate their qualifications. We need to talk about the quality of

good care. We need to make sure people who go into these professions

have a career path from what other entry level they have. We want to

encourage greater psychiatric awareness in medical training and

clinical, medical political training for those leaving medical schools. I

know Simon Wesley from the Royal College has done much work relating

to this. But emphasising those who care for those in the most

distressed situations, whether it is hospital or in the communities,

deserve our thanks, encouragement and proper training. Increased money

for training is included in the package the government will be

working on, will be a vital part of that. Two weeks ago the minister

came to talk to parents who are campaigning to get an inpatient

facility for children and young people in the Hull area, as the

previous one was closed several years ago. I wonder if the minister

could update my constituents about any progress and whether any of the

money allocated to mental health services will be used in Hull? I

thank the honourable lady for her question. It was good to see her

there with her constituents. I don't think there is any new money

specifically needed in order to deliver the commitment in providing

inpatient care for young people in Hull and the surrounding area. It

seems it was already agreed right people, the problem was the

delivery. She will recall the frustration I expressed sitting

round a table, there where trust representatives, but for some reason

it was impossible for people to come to a decision. The update is, I have

taken that away with some degree of concern on how we resolve the issue,

whether has to be a national decision on the allocation of

finance and priorities, where you have a clear, local need which does

need to be dealt with. And we will make progress on this. On bird 's

generally, we have more beds the young people than ever before, 15

more since I came into my role, but they are not always in the right

places. Her area demonstrated that. But I don't think there is anything

in the announcement that affected the importance of it that had

already been recognised. I warmly welcome the initiative,

Eiffel this area was cross-party. Can I make two brief pleas to the

Minister, one is that we mustn't lose sight of acute mental health

episodes, for children and young people out of hours and weekends

which is an issue that has been long-standing, for instance in my

constituency and the other issue is to ret syndrome, it falls between

the strategies of education and health. One in 100 children are

diagnosed with it, it is an important neurological decision that

we need to address. Will he deal with it as part of his wider mental

view. I thank the honourable gentleman, indeed, the attention

that is now being paid, recognising people who need urgent treatment

will go to accident and emergency, it has been recognised by the

government 's determination to ensure emergency access 24-7 by

placing more psychiatric liaison in hospitals and in improving crisis

care in the community, so my honourable friend is right to

recognise that. There are a number of syndromes and issues that have

particular qualities associated with them that need individual care and

my honourable friend is right to raise those who suffer from

Tourette's. Thank you Mr Speaker, the task force recognises the

importance of housing, and I think it is right that his department made

no representations to the Treasury before the changes to housing

benefit for tenants in supported housing was announced and they have

made no official representations to other departments as recently as

three weeks ago. Will the minister now make the case to his colleagues

in the Department for Communities and Local Government and the

Department for work and pensions, to exempt people. I understand, the

honourable Lady's point, and I know that such issues are being

considered extremely carefully by those who are responsible for

developing the policy, but I will make sure that her further concerns

are noted and that the department's interest is already recognised.

There is so much good stuff in this report that I would also like to

congratulate the authors of the report and my honourable friend for

the interest he has taken in it. I particularly welcome the recognition

of psychiatric liaison in the report, the gap in the provision and

the commitment to having psychiatric liaison services at the core level,

in half of hospitals by 2020. Could my honourable friend tell me whether

this is fully funded and given the difficulties in getting the services

in place, will he take a close interest in the plan to make this

happen in practice? I thank my honourable friend for her interest

in the subject which he had expressed to me previously, and her

work in relation to this. Yes, how determination is that the extra ?1

billion a year that will be spent on mental health services, will cover,

training and the commitment that we have made in elation to this 24-7

cover. -- made in relation. It was identified, in the crisis care can

call that, that was so successful in the first 12 or 18 months, and I

determination is to make sure that these facilities are provided. The

report adds to the consensus, led by Lord crisp's commission, and led by

my right honourable friend from North Norfolk, ending out of

practice out of area treatment. Would the Minister, put a timetable

on that process? Mr Speaker, the task force recommendation is that

out of area placement should be entered by 2020, Lord crisp's report

said 2017. I would like to see it done soon as is reasonably

practicable, because we want to make sure, that where people can be

treated locally it makes a real difference and the Honourable Lady

for Hull North, who was talking just a moment ago, there have been one or

two cases there that have been treated further away than they

should. They lose the local community links, to assist them. We

all want to see an end to that. I wanted to be done as soon as

possible and it will certainly be done within the task force

recommended timescale and if it can be done any quicker locally, area by

area then I will be very much welcoming that. Thank you Mr Speaker

and I welcome the government's positive response to the task force.

While effective acute care is vital, and prevention is better than two,

will the government look at ongoing training for all GPs in mental

health, so that all patients can have access to early diagnosis, care

and treatment, to prevent problems escalating. Yes, my honourable

friend again makes a good point, GPs will very often be contacted first

about some of these issues, wearing problem Mr burping. I know from my

contacts with the BMA and the Royal College, and the Royal College also

was very involved and interested in the task force report, it want to

make sure that the doctors have enough training. Because it there is

according to interest, but I know that all GPs are very concerned

about this. They want to make sure that they have got the skills, but

equally, they need to know that they can refer in the right place, that

is where the increase in support for emergency and community services is

about. That there are proper pathways so that people don't get

stuck in any particular stage. White my 15-year-old constituents, Matthew

Garnet who has autism has spent the last six months in psychiatric care

30 miles from home. This unit does not have the specialism to meet his

needs and he has to tear rate significantly, the specialist that

he needs is in Northampton, where Matthew's family have been told that

there are five young people ready for discharge but his ongoing care

cannot be arranged. There is clearly a crisis on mental health care for

children and adolescents, when will the Minister bring a plan to the

house to address this and will he intervene to secure Matthew Garnett

the bed that he so desperately needs? I thank the Honourable lady

for her question, and of course if she wants to make a particular

approach on that case, I am ready to listen. It is already in the works.

To say a couple of things about it, in talking about specialist care,

even though we want most young people to have access to get close

to home, there will always be some particular specialist care that will

require out of area treatment and that is perhaps the circumstance is

that the honourable lady is referring to. It is then a question

of getting the place, that requires, that emphasises why it is so

important to have community care available so that there is discharge

possible, proper care package and the like. That is precisely what the

task force looked at and made recommendations, that way is already

ongoing. As my timing of this has shown me, there are variations in

practice in different places to make sure that discharges are handled

better in some areas than others, the practice of the best has got to

become the practice for all and everything is done to make sure that

people are treated in the appropriate place at the appropriate

time. Keeping people in hospital is not what everyone wants, that work

is already going on, and I will make sure that the honourable lady gets

an answer to her question. Thank you, I welcome his personal

commitment to this issue, in this area. Because it demonstrates the

importance of mental health issues in the NHS. Would he be able to

clarify how he is going to be able to hold the NHS to account so that

this money is spent on additional mental health, as opposed to just

frittered away? Mr Speaker I think the engagement of the NHS with his

task force needs to be recognised and emphasised, this was a task

force that will see the NHS itself set up, because it wanted to be very

clear about the state of mental health services and take a five-year

forward view which is what the task force is about. And the task force

went beyond that to say it has got a 10-year vision which I welcome. But

everything can be done in meek -- not everything can be done in the

Parliamentary cycles. I think that the certainty that he wants, is

demonstrated in the NHS's own involvement and the endorsement of

the recommendation and the work on transparency that is so important to

us to make sure that we can all see where the money is gone and spent.

That is what should hold them to account on the expenditure issue.

Rachel. The report highlights that 50% of diagnosis for mental health,

by the age of 14, 70 5% by the age of 24. Yet he also said in his

report, most children and young people get no support. I want to ask

the minister what specific work will be put in place to look at

prevention and early intervention including early diagnosis? Again, I

thank the honourable lady for her interest and her considerable

knowledge in these issues that she has raised a number of times before.

As an example, two things, we need increased expenditure on children

and Young People's of services, the 1.25 billion that will be spent over

the next five years, that is improving the baseline which

includes early prevention. I would also mention the full roll-out of

the services to children by 2018. That is already in place for 70% of

the country and it will be completed by 2018. That ensures that children

get early access to the psychological therapies that they

need and I think it is an important development which I hope that she

welcomes. As chairman for the all Parliamentary party group for mental

health by very much welcome this report and I think it should be

welcomed on all sides of the house. With the Minister agree with me that

we actually have now a unique opportunity, we have a high-quality

public debate in mental health where we are addressing the stigma. We

have a government, with the Prime Minister who has made speeches in

the last three weeks about mental health setting out the government's

priorities. This is a unique opportunity for him and this

change in mental health. And to change in mental health. And to

deliver real quality change. I thank my right honourable friend, can I

pay tribute to his own work as chair of the committee, and indeed to all

colleagues in the house who have raised these issues over a period of

time and partly through their own personal experiences and bravery in

talking about them have helped them in a process that we are engaged on.

Yes we have a great opportunity, we have got a 10-year vision set out by

the task force, we have got a commitment from the NHS. We have a

top level, on all sides of the house, a commitment to this. I hope

that we will see an opportunity to develop services as people would

have wanted and for which in all honesty they have waited too long.

Can I welcome the task force report and also can I welcome the

government's reaction to it, the minister, of state did indicate that

there was ?1 billion being made available by 2021, I'm wondering

what relationship there will be with that and the devolved institutions

in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. And if there is any

consequences for finances there? Although Mr Speaker I read the

answers to my own questions, I can't recall on this, the honourable

gentleman has caught me out on something I don't generally know the

answer to. I will write to him or put an answer in the library dealing

with devolved administrations, I think we're talking about

responsibility for England because this is a devolved matter. In terms

of the development of the mental health services, there is good close

cooperation between officials and that will certainly continue. I will

make sure that there is an answer in the finances in the library. Mr

Speaker, the work that the Minister is outlining, has in my mind being

one of the most important pieces of work in this Parliament and I

welcome the investment, can I just build on the comment from Mike on

the wall friend -- from my honourable friend, on this stigma

side of mental health. With depression being one of the most

terrible diseases someone could suffer from. Can I also congratulate

the writers of Coronation Street, with the Steve Magoffin all

storylines that has addressed some stigmas and stereotypes that come

with that. I urge my right honourable friend to make sure that

as much effort is put into tackling the stigma of mental health as well

as the practical investment in services that can also be offered.

I thank my honourable friend for his question. I do praise the storyline

in Coronation Street, just as much as East Enders who have done a

tremendous job in the perinatal story with Stacey over the past few

weeks. We much informed, particularly by young people

themselves we have worked with, in relation to change. It is a terrible

thing. It has been partly responsible for the breaking of the

link between physical and mental health. One of the things the task

force recommended and the government is going to deliver on, is to make

sure more people with mental health problems have their physical issues

related to, so we can have this terrible issue of a different

mortality ratio between those with mental health difficulties and

others. And dealing with stigma to make sure people can come forward. I

thank the Minister for his statement and acknowledged the work of the

task force report. Can I encourage the Minister, along with his

colleague, take a particular interest in mental health in-school

training programme, which has been specifically developed by a number

of practitioners to ensure schools are better equipped to support the

mental health and well-being needs of pupils. And to help to safeguard

those interests in a system that is designed to run similarly to that of

child protection, which schools are obviously well familiar? I know of

his long-standing interest on these issues. In England there is a pilot

project of 27 schools being run by the Department for Education to

locate and identify a single point of contact in those schools for

mental health issues for young people. And depending on the results

of that, more can be rolled out. Early identification support in

school is essential. Artwork is going on. There is a number of

different initiatives, sometimes inspired by people who have seen

personal tragedies in their families. I have seen some of those,

where people have realised a tragedy that has befallen their young

person, might not have happened if their friends had been more aware of

the circumstances, if school or college had been more aware. We are

looking at all of these different initiatives in terms of West

practice, but the honourable gentleman was right to raise it. Can

I congratulate the Minister for his commitment to this and the

government. As he spoke about best practice in his last answer, in

Stafford last month we held a round table about mental health. One of

the issues that came of local initiatives, both in the public and

the NGO sector, but sometimes they didn't know about each other. Could

he point us to best practice in this sector? I am happy to do so. As I

indicated earlier, one of the things that has perplexed me since being in

the role is the variation of practice in different places. At the

time when it has never been easier through a lack Nick means to

transfer information, get people aware of best practice, it is still

difficult to move things around. We need to make sure there is a

clearing house, a website of clearing house ideas in areas like

this. Sorry? Absolutely. We need to make sure we have got a proper ways

to access all the different ideas. I know a lot of work is already put

into this and we need to make sure it is easier to access different

ideas, but there is a lot going on and a lot can be done in relation to

spreading of practice. Exchanges here are not a private conversation.

It is quite important from the vantage point of those who take a

full and complete record of all proceedings, they can hear what is

being said. The Minister has welcomed the work

of the task force and its report is very comprehensive. I agree with him

entirely. He has said he will look to implement these measures on a

rolling programme. Will he, and can we infer from that, he is committed

to implementing all of the measures and accepts all of the

recommendations? Yes, I think we have indicated we accept all of the

recommendations by the task force. What I'd like to do is roll out

responses to them over a period of time so very regularly back to the

House. But the commitment he have, both in expenditure, training and

dealing with the recommendations is clear. Mr Speaker, you wouldn't want

to hear all of the private conversations on the floor of the

House, nor would be upstairs, but I see the honourable lady quite often

over this, it is not unnatural we have the odd exchange over the

dispatch box. I must declare an interest as a registered clinical

psychologist and I thank the Minister for his commitment and the

task force for their report. Considering mental health, the

report highlights 40% of people living in care homes after two by

depression. This contributes to morbidity. Alongside medical and

social care, will the Minister commit to funding for older adults

to address the growing older mental health needs? I thank the honourable

lady for both her work in relation to this area, her commitment to this

area since she has been in the House and being at a National Autistic

Society event last night. Can I look at that particular suggestion? It is

recognised with the growing incidence of dementia and other

issues, those in care homes increasingly frail, of course there

will be need for further specialised work. Can I look at that area in

particular and come back to her in due course. Urgent question, Mr

Chris Bryant. Mr Speaker, Wilbur leader of the House make a statement

on the government consultation on shorter money? Minister, John

Penrose. I am happy to confirm since we last discuss this topic on the

day the House rose the recess, we have completed the steps I promised

at the time. On the 12th of February I tabled the statutory implements to

change policy development grants in line with the recommended changes

put forward by the Independent electoral commission. Last Thursday,

the deputy leader of the House and myself tabled a request for views

about potential similar changes to short money. Therefore I hope the

how's and appreciate why I am responding. Both forms of taxpayer

funding for political parties are strong and since short money is more

valuable, it seems sensible to take a similar approach. The request for

views asks important questions. The cost of short money has gone up why

50% since 2010. And by a whopping 68% by the end of this Parliament,

if nothing is done. At a time when everybody else outside Westminster

has had to tighten their belts, why should politicians expectedly

treated differently, feathering their own nests at the tax payer's

expense. The rises in short money are linked to the retail price index

inflation every year. Benefits claimants get rises linked to the

lower consumer price index inflation each year. So how can any politician

look their constituents in the eye and say they deserve a bigger rise

every year and someone who is looking for a job or on a pension,

or living with a disability? The rises in short money also linked to

the number of votes cast at elections. This is contributed this

year to an enormous 30% increase from 7.4 quarter of ?1 million to

almost 9.5 million pounds earlier this year. How can this be justified

when many vital public services of having to cope with cuts of 19%.

Short money is also notably and transparent, it is tax payer's money

after all, but there is no requirements to publish details on

how it is spent. There are, rightly, requirements on the development

grants and pretty much every area of government funding. How can it be

right in the modern age, the politicians do expect to be given a

load of hard earned taxpayer's cash, more than ?35 million in total since

2010 for the Labour Party, without at least explaining how it gets

spent? And finally, the distribution of short money between parties

throws up some odd results. Ukip, with one MP gets 688 thousand

pounds, although the honourable gentleman has, in a principled

stand, turned it down. While the Green party, also with one MP get

less than a third of that. It makes sense to ask if this can be

improved. These are important questions which need to be answered.

The request for views runs until March the 7th, so there is plenty of

time for all sides of the House to submit their views and opinions.

There will be plenty of time to debate these issues here or in

Westminster Hall. We are off to a flying start and I will take

contributions from everybody here today in the spirit of constructive

submissions and suggestions in answer to the questions, which the

request for views has raised. That is all very well, at short money has

absolutely nothing to do with the Cabinet Office. It is House

business, not government is must. The point is it enables Parliament

to do it is in this properly. The accounting officer is not the

permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office, it is the clerk of this

House. And the leader of the House should be doing his job properly and

answering questions. Can this minister confirm that any changes

will have to be debated and voted on the floor of this House? Can he

confirm that big cars this is House business, it will not subject to a

government whip? This is the saltiest so-called concentration I

have ever come across. It deliberately forgets to mention that

short money is linked to how many seats and how many votes all the

opposition parties got at a general election. So the main reason short

money has increased in 2015, is because this government has a much

smaller majority than the Labour government or the Coalition

Government and the opposition party has got more seats and votes than in

previous parliaments. Can the Minister confirm, contrary to what

he says, this isn't an 19% cut, with inflation it is a 24% cut. How can

that be right when the Chancellor has increased the cost of his

political office to the taxpayer, by 204%? Or is there one rule for the

opposition and quite another for the government. The minister said last

time, the cost and number of taxpayer Tory special advisers, the

only bitty is responsible for, is coming down. But that is not true

either. Since the general election, that figure has gone up. Will the

government be taking an 19% cut on the 1st of April? No, I don't

suppose they will. The consultation published in the half term recess,

he should be ashamed of himself, and allows 11 working days for responses

and then seems to intend to implement a decision less than three

weeks later. The lack of time to the two Conservative chaired select