Iran's human rights record continues to be of serious concern to the UK, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has designated it as one of its Human Rights Priority Countries. We regularly raise the treatment of religious and ethnic minorities in Iran with the Iranian Government, and we continue to take action with the international community to press Iran to improve its poor record on all human rights issues. At the UN General Assembly in September, we brought the international community together at a UK-hosted event to shine a spotlight on Iran's human rights abuses. We will also be using Iran's forthcoming Universal Periodic Review in November, to raise concerns about the ongoing discrimination and targeting of religious minority groups, including the Christian community.

We are aware of reports about the continued harassment and mistreatment that the Christian and other minority groups face. The continued restrictions on freedoms of expression, religion and belief are deeply worrying. While some religious minorities are formally protected in the constitution, the reality is that many non-Muslims face discrimination. Despite constitutional recognition, the persecution of Christians has been continuous, systemic, and institutionalised.

We support the assessment of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights that discrimination against the Christians in Iran is sanctioned by a lack of constitutional recognition and the absence of other legal protections for adherents of this faith. We regularly call upon Iran to cease harassment of all religious minorities and to fulfil its international and domestic obligations to protect freedom of religion or belief. Work has begun to implement the recommendations from the Bishop of Truro’s Review in a way that will bring real improvements in the lives of those persecuted because of their faith or belief.

Earlier this year, a Call for Evidence was held on the review of the Department’s Building Bulletin 100: ‘Design for Fire Safety in Schools’. This included questions on fire suppression systems, such as sprinklers. The responses have been analysed and follow up technical studies are being carried out by consultants. Until this work is completed, the Department’s policy on installing sprinklers in schools remains unchanged.

As part of this review, Department officials will be liaising further with their counterparts in Scotland and Wales on the impact of requiring sprinkler installation in new and refurbished school buildings.

Earlier this year, a Call for Evidence was held on the review of the Department’s Building Bulletin 100: ‘Design for Fire Safety in Schools’. This included questions on fire suppression systems, such as sprinklers. The responses have been analysed and follow up technical studies are being carried out by consultants. Until this work is completed, the Department’s policy on installing sprinklers in schools remains unchanged.

As part of this review, Department officials will be liaising further with their counterparts in Scotland and Wales on the impact of requiring sprinkler installation in new and refurbished school buildings.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency’s ongoing study of the wild badger population at Woodchester Park can adapt to assess any new impacts on the badger population, including from licensed badger culling taking place across Gloucestershire, which is in the Bovine TB High Risk Area of England. Woodchester Park’s work will continue to support policy and research in line with our TB strategy’s adaptive and evidence-based approach.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency’s ongoing study of the wild badger population at Woodchester Park can adapt to assess any new impacts on the badger population, including from licensed badger culling taking place across Gloucestershire, which is in the Bovine TB High Risk Area of England. Woodchester Park’s work will continue to support policy and research in line with our TB strategy’s adaptive and evidence-based approach.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency’s ongoing study of the wild badger population at Woodchester Park can adapt to assess any new impacts on the badger population, including from licensed badger culling taking place across Gloucestershire, which is in the Bovine TB High Risk Area of England. Woodchester Park’s work will continue to support policy and research in line with our TB strategy’s adaptive and evidence-based approach.

The Groceries Code Adjudicator’s (GCA) remit is set out in the Groceries Code Adjudicator Act 2013. The GCA’s statutory functions are to investigate suspected breaches of the Code based on issues raised and information received and to arbitrate, where requested, in disputes between suppliers and designated retailers. Since June 2013 the GCA has concluded two investigations and seven arbitrations. In each investigation the GCA found the relevant designated retailer had breached the Groceries Supply Code of Practice. The outcome of arbitrations is confidential.

This information is not collected in the format requested.

NHS Digital published its Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity for 2018-19 on 19 September 2019.

Data are set out in the following table.

Further information is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/hospital-admitted-patient-care-activity/2018-19

Data from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) in the following table. shows the number of students accepted onto midwifery courses over the last three full academic years.

Midwifery student acceptances

The following table shows the number of midwives who graduated in England in 2016-17. Data for 2018-19 is not yet available.

Midwifery graduates

In 2016/17 HEE commissioned 2,605 midwifery places of which 2,602 were filled. Following the removal of the bursary in 2017 midwifery places are no longer directly commissioned by HEE. Places are filled via the normal university application process with the Department making funding available for the provision of their clinical placements while studying.

NHS Digital publishes Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) workforce statistics for England. These include staff working in hospital trusts and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), but not staff working in primary care, local authorities or other providers.

The following table shows the number of midwives as at June 2019, the latest available data broken down by age and nationality. The data is headcount because nationality data relates to individuals.

Halfway through the recruiting year, approximately 70% of the Army’s regular soldier requirement have either started training or are due to do so. In addition, direct entry officer and reserve recruitment targets are all expected to be achieved.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person (usually the owner, employer or managing agent) is required to undertake and review regularly a fire risk assessment of the premises and ensure adequate fire protection measures are in place and maintained appropriately in order to mitigate the risk to life from fire. To help responsible persons identify and mitigate fire risk and comply with the provisions of the Order, Government has made available guidance, including a specific guide for education premises, which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-risk-assessment-educational-premises

The Fire and Rescue National Framework for England requires fire and rescue authorities to have a management strategy and risk-based inspection programme in place to ensure compliance with the Fire Safety Order within their respective areas.

Fire and rescue authorities visit premises to audit compliance. They check the fire risk assessment and that the fire precautions in place are adequate and effective in keeping the risk to life as low as reasonably practicable. If the audit shows a premises to be unsatisfactory, fire and rescue authorities can issue an informal notice suggesting safety measures or, in more serious cases, a formal notice.

To support the development of Environmental Land Management Schemes, we are undertaking a number of tests and trials working with farmers and land managers to co-design elements of the new scheme. The work is being facilitated by a range of stakeholders, including farmer groups, representative bodies and non-governmental organisations, and covers a range of geographies and sectors. 46 proposals are currently being taken forward in phase 1 and we anticipate that a number of these will begin soon with Defra reimbursing agreed costs incurred in their delivery. We have received a further 200 proposals for phase 2. We will prioritise those proposals from phase 2 that fill gaps identified from the coverage of phase 1 proposals. We will communicate the results of our analysis of the phase 2 proposals to stakeholders later this month.