The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

The Government has carefully considered the responses to the consultation on extending the Charity Commission’s powers to tackle abuse in charities.

The intention is to publish a summary of consultation feedback in the usual manner after the summer recess, followed by a draft bill for pre-legislative scrutiny.

The British Government obviously has no control over what other countries choose to put on their currency. However, we are clear that incorporating the Falkland Islands in this way in no way affects either the UK’s sovereignty or the right of the Falkland Islanders to self–determination, which they exercised in March 2013 in an overwhelming vote to remain part of the UK.

We are deeply concerned by reports of more than 100 executions in the first three months of 2014, including for crimes not considered by the international community to be the ‘most serious’ and for which the death penalty can be applied. We have raised our concerns about Iran’s use of the death penalty with the Iranian authorities; and will continue to do so.

Provisions in the Deregulation Bill implement a Stakeholder Working Group recommendation for a preliminary assessment by the local authority of every application for a public right of way, and authorities will be able to reject without further consideration any applications that do not meet a prescribed standard.

In addition there is provision in the Bill for certain of the rights of way measures to be applied to applications that have not yet resulted in an order. The preliminary assessment and the ability of local authorities to reject applications that do not meet the prescribed standard are included in those measures.

Provisions in the Deregulation Bill implement a Stakeholder Working Group recommendation that it should be the local authority and not the applicant that approaches landowners and occupiers. The authority will be required to notify every owner and occupier of any land to which the application relates, stating that an application has been made and the authority is considering it.

Guidance will require authorities to informally explain to landowners and occupiers, at an early stage the process, how the case will be dealt with.

This will be only where the application is good enough to pass a preliminary assessment by the local authority. Authorities will be able to reject without further consideration any applications that do not meet a prescribed standard.

Another recommendation is for a right to appeal to the magistrates’ court for anyone who has made an application to record a public right of way, where the local authority has not decided the application within 12 months of receiving it.

The magistrates’ court may direct the authority to take certain steps in relation to the application within a reasonable period. This right of application to the magistrates’ court will also be available to any landowner or occupier to which the application relates. It will not be available where the authority has already used its new power to reject the application after a preliminary assessment.

Provisions in the Deregulation Bill implement a Stakeholder Working Group recommendation that it should be the local authority and not the applicant that approaches landowners and occupiers. The authority will be required to notify every owner and occupier of any land to which the application relates, stating that an application has been made and the authority is considering it.

Guidance will require authorities to informally explain to landowners and occupiers, at an early stage the process, how the case will be dealt with.

This will be only where the application is good enough to pass a preliminary assessment by the local authority. Authorities will be able to reject without further consideration any applications that do not meet a prescribed standard.

Another recommendation is for a right to appeal to the magistrates’ court for anyone who has made an application to record a public right of way, where the local authority has not decided the application within 12 months of receiving it.

The magistrates’ court may direct the authority to take certain steps in relation to the application within a reasonable period. This right of application to the magistrates’ court will also be available to any landowner or occupier to which the application relates. It will not be available where the authority has already used its new power to reject the application after a preliminary assessment.

All Syrians are suffering greatly as the situation continues to deteriorate, and Christians are no exception. Syria’s Christians are said to number around 2.5 million (11 per cent) of

the population, although this figure has probably been reduced by pre-uprising emigration and recent displacement. The largest Christian communities in the country were in Aleppo and Homs, cities which have seen some of the most intense clashes between the regime and opposition. We regularly meet with representatives of minority groups, including a number of Christian religious leaders, and they have been similarly affected by the wider implications of the conflict; internal displacement, lack of security, seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. Using UK Conflict Pool funding, we are working with civil society organisations in Syria and the wider region to support inter-faith dialogue and tolerance.

We have expressed our strong concern over a number of reports of the kidnapping and killing of clergymen inside Syria. The most high-profile example to date has been the kidnap of Bishops of Aleppo, Boulus Yazigi and Yuhanna Ibrahim. However, it is not clear that they were abducted on the basis of their religion.

The regime’s actions continue to undermine the stability and security of Syria and therefore endanger all Syria’s citizens, including Christians and other religious minorities. We welcome the statements made by the Syrian National Coalition leadership in November, and reiterated since, that it is committed to a future in Syria in which there is a place for all Syrians regardless of ethnicity or religious belief.

The European Commission’s 2012 annual progress report on Turkey’s accession to the EU highlighted that the Armenian Christian community continued to face difficulties, particularly with training of clergy and public anti-Armenian sentiment. However, we welcomed, in September 2012, the third religious service since 1915 to be held at the Armenian Holy Cross Church on the Akdamar island in lake Van; and the granting of foundations status to the Armenian Tibrevank Lycée in Istanbul.

Along with the EU Commission and others, we strongly encourage Turkey to maintain efforts to strengthen freedoms for all religious minorities in Turkey including the Armenian Christians, in line with Turkey’s commitments as an EU candidate country and a member of the Council of Europe.

I refer my noble friend to the Answer given by the Senior Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the right honourable Baroness Warsi, on 21 January (Official Report, col. WA 164).

We remain very concerned about Liu Xiaobo. We most recently raised our concerns about Liu Xiaobo and our broader concerns about freedom of expression in China in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s 2012 human rights report published on 15 April 2013. We are aware of reports about Shi Tao and remain concerned for his welfare. We continue to urge the Chinese authorities to release both men.

Ministers and officials regularly raise our concerns about human rights in China with the Chinese authorities, and most recently did so at official level on 19 April.

The delivery of this scheme is the responsibility of the operator, Stagecoach South West Trains.

However, we can confirm that the planned package of work for Templecombe station is indeed to provide a new waiting room, ticket office and public lavatory, and we have been advised that the works will begin in June this year and will take approximately 12 weeks to complete.

We are concerned about the high incidence of violence against women in and the risks faced by journalists in Mexico, of whom 67 have been killed since 2007. We are aware of the situation of Lydia Cacho, a journalist who focuses on violence against women. Ms Cacho has been subjected to death threats and physical assaults following her exposure of an alleged paedophile ring. Our embassy in Mexico City follows these issues very closely. It attended last week’s launch of a report on violence against women journalists, at which Lydia Cacho spoke.

Promoting better human rights is central to our bilateral relationship with Mexico. We raise concerns about violence against women, attacks on journalists and threats to freedom of expression whenever possible

with the Mexican authorities. The Mexican Government in 2012 introduced a new protection mechanism for human rights defenders and journalists, and we are encouraging them to make progress towards its implementation.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Stephen Penneck, Director General for the Office for National Statistics, to Lord Patten, dated September 2012

As Director General for the Office for National Statistics I have been asked to reply to your question to Her Majesty's Government asking what estimate they have made of when the population of London will reach 8.6 million people. its former peak, and what assessment they have made of the implications of such a size for the rest of the United Kingdom. [HL2008]

Estimates of future population are available as population projections. The most recent sub-national population projections are based on mid-year population estimates for 2010 and they project the population of London to reach 8.6 million by mid-2016.

Sub-national population projections are not forecasts and do not attempt to predict the impact of future government policies, changing economic circumstances or the capacity of an area to accommodate a change in population. They provide an indication of the future size and age structure of the population if recent demographic trends continued.

The Office for National Statistics is an independent non-ministerial department and does not comment on any assessments of the implications of projected population size.