Skip to main content

1-20 of 64 results for subject:Protection

Answering member X
Hilary Benn

Type

House

Session

Year

Department

Member

Primary member

Answering member

More
Benn, Hilary (64)

Legislative stage

Legislation

Subject

More

Publisher


Show detailed: On Off
Results: 10 20 50 100
Sort by: Newest first Oldest first

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Defence and Cabinet colleagues on the potential role of the Royal Navy in ensuring the safe passage of British-registered vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

Asked by
Alex Easton (Independent (affiliation))
Answering body
Northern Ireland Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Date
5 June 2026
Reference
3941
House
House of Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent steps he has taken to help support (a) safeguarding reform in Northern Ireland and (b) cross‑border learning with safeguarding regulators in England, Scotland and Wales under the Four Nations Memorandum of Understanding.

Asked by
Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice)
Answering body
Northern Ireland Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Date
11 February 2026
Reference
111057
House
House of Commons
What steps he is taking to protect children accused of witchcraft in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Asked by
Mary Creagh (Labour)
Answering body
Department for International Development
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Date
12 July 2006
Reference
448 c1375-6; 84328
House
House of Commons
I agree that the elections, the first phase of which will take place on 30 July, are fundamental to the future of the DRC. Indeed, the people of the DRC have invested an enormous amount of hope in the democratic process as a way of improving their lives. We have provided help with the electoral registration process, and to the observers who will be going, and I wish good luck to the Members of the House who will be taking part in the elections. The two most important factors are, first, that the international community should support the newly elected Government and help them to do their job of improving public services; and secondly, and most importantly, that those who take part in the electoral process—including those who do not win—stay with that process. It would be unforgivable if, after three years of transitional government, those who have come into it then went back to conflict just because they were not successful. The fact is that democracy is the only hope that the DRC has of moving forward.
Answered by
Hilary Benn (Labour)
Answering body
Department for International Development
Type
Oral answers to questions
Date
12 July 2006
Reference
448 c1377
House
House of Commons
I wish the hon. Gentleman and his colleagues a successful meeting with the Papal Nuncio. Indeed, I would urge all those who can bring influence to bear on these churches to do so. This terrible practice has nothing to do with any faith that I understand, and it is important that those in positions of responsibility speak out openly and honestly to encourage pressure to be brought to bear to bring it to an end.
Answered by
Hilary Benn (Labour)
Answering body
Department for International Development
Type
Oral answers to questions
Date
12 July 2006
Reference
448 c1376-7
House
House of Commons
If the hon. Gentleman is talking about any of those churches being suspended by the Congolese authorities, I am not aware that that has happened. However, I shall make inquiries about that and come back to him. I know that our ambassador, Andy Sparks, has raised the issue directly with President Kabila, and I pay tribute to the work that he, DFID colleagues and others have done in pursuing the matter. The hon. Gentleman can rest assured that we will continue to raise the issue, and I would be very happy to consider any suggestions that hon. Members on both sides of the House would like to make about further ways in which we can help.
Answered by
Hilary Benn (Labour)
Answering body
Department for International Development
Type
Oral answers to questions
Date
12 July 2006
Reference
448 c1377
House
House of Commons
The UK raised awareness of the problem of children being accused of witchcraft in the DRC as part of our EU presidency, and we are working with civil society, established Churches and the Congolese Government to push for action to bring those who abuse children to justice. We have supported training on child protection, and we are also making significant contributions to the 2006 UN action plan and the International Committee of the Red Cross appeal, both of which include programmes to protect vulnerable children.
Answered by
Hilary Benn (Labour)
Answering body
Department for International Development
Type
Oral answers to questions
Date
12 July 2006
Reference
448 c1375-6
House
House of Commons
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend and her colleagues for raising this matter, in which she takes a close interest and which we have discussed previously. We are working with NGOs in the DRC to compile information on pastors who are responsible for identifying children as witches, leading to their being subject to the abuse that my hon. Friend has drawn to the attention of the House. We are working on that with the FCO and the Home Office. It would be helpful if other European countries would do the same, because pastors come not only to the UK, but to France and Belgium because of the historic links between the DRC and the Francophone world. Sadly, this is not part of the tradition in the DRC, but something that has arisen in recent years, partly because of poverty. Charlatans set up these charismatic churches, and when their prayers do not work they finger poor innocent children and blame them for it. It is a scandal, and we will continue to raise it with the Government of the DRC.
Answered by
Hilary Benn (Labour)
Answering body
Department for International Development
Type
Oral answers to questions
Date
12 July 2006
Reference
448 c1376
House
House of Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps he is taking to ensure that orphaned survivors of the tsunami are protected from the activities of paedophile rings; and whether it is his policy to ensure that partner aid agencies take action to minimise such risks.

Asked by
Steve Webb (Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
Department for International Development
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Date
20 January 2005
Reference
209829; 429 c1074W
House
House of Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate he has made of the number of child soldiers in Darfur. - No figures given.

Asked by
John Bercow (Conservative)
Answering body
Department for International Development
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Date
17 January 2005
Reference
209067; 429 c682W;429 c680W
House
House of Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much aid has been provided in support of heritage protection in Iraq; and what form that aid has taken. - Inc figures.

Asked by
John Hayes (Conservative)
Answering body
Department for International Development
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Date
11 January 2005
Reference
207077; 429 c398W
House
House of Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of Sudan about the need to ensure that all parties to the peace process grant the International Committee of the Red Cross the assistance it needs to carry out its protection...

Asked by
John Bercow (Conservative)
Answering body
Department for International Development
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Date
4 November 2004
Reference
426 c408-9W; 194486
House
House of Commons

To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what measures the Department is taking to tackle (a) illegal trafficking of children, (b) exploitation of children through child labour and (c) the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

Asked by
Lindsay Hoyle (Labour)
Answering body
Department for International Development
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Date
1 September 2003
Reference
126861; 409 c871-2W
House
House of Commons

To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, What action the Department is taking to support the indigenous Indian communities of the Amazon. (Failed OPQ) - Inc figures.

Asked by
Lord Taylor of Goss Moor (Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
Department for International Development
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Date
11 June 2003
Reference
406 c863W;406 c865W; 118390
House
House of Commons

To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what steps his Government is taking to protect the aid agencies' warehouses containing stockpiles of humanitarian aid in Iraq.

Asked by
Caroline Spelman (Conservative)
Answering body
Department for International Development
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Date
3 June 2003
Reference
406 c273W; 115411
House
House of Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with EU colleagues regarding the inclusion of specific children's rights in EU policy.

Asked by
Jimmy Wray (Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Date
7 May 2003
Reference
110778; 404 c746W;404 c742W
House
House of Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many child protection officers are stationed at UK ports and airports; what plans he has to increase these numbers; and what plans he has to create a permanent child protection unit.

Asked by
Jimmy Wray (Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Date
7 May 2003
Reference
110782; 404 c747W;404 c743W
House
House of Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research he has commissioned into the potential impact of making compulsory the reporting of (a) allegations and (b) suspicions of child abuse by persons in positions of authority.

Asked by
Helen Clark (Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Date
6 May 2003
Reference
110993; 404 c596W;404 c592W
House
House of Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to review the law concerning reporting allegations and suspicions of child abuse. - Includes ref to 'Working Together to Safeguard Children'.

Asked by
Helen Clark (Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Date
6 May 2003
Reference
110358; 404 c595-6W;404 c591-2W
House
House of Commons
Answered by
Hilary Benn (Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
Date
28 April 2003
Reference
404 c5-6
House
House of Commons