Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1697401

registered interest
date	20/03/2024
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Nagorno Karabakh: Cultural Heritage
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will hold discussions with his Armenian counterpart on the protection of Armenian Christian cultural heritage sites in Nagorno-Karabakh; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the inclusion of Nagorno-Karabakh in Open Door UK’s World Watch List, published on17 January 2024.
tabling member constituency	North West Leicestershire
tabling member printed	Andrew Bridgen
uin	19618
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2024 answer text <p>We are clear that the preservation of religious and cultural sites in the region is an important issue and we take seriously reports of the destruction of churches and other sites of religious significance in both Armenia and Azerbaijan as a result of their long-running conflict. Ministers and the British Embassies in Yerevan and Baku have raised the need to protect such sites with the Armenian and Azerbaijani Governments consistently and at the most senior levels. Open Door UK's World Watch List provides a sobering account of the extreme difficulties faced by many Christians around the world. We note the report's comments regarding Azerbaijan and regularly raise human rights issues with the Azerbaijani Government.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 25/03/2024 16:40:27 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
tabling member	4133 label Biography information for Andrew Bridgen

1697077

registered interest
date	19/03/2024
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Arms Trade: Export Controls
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of creating a replacement to the Committee on Arms Export Controls.
tabling member constituency	Argyll and Bute
tabling member printed	Brendan O'Hara
uin	19381
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2024 answer text <p>Parliamentary scrutiny is a matter for the House. In January 2024, the Business and Trade Committee (BTC) became the Parliamentary scrutiny committee with oversight of arms export controls, a role formerly carried out by the Committees on Arms Exports Controls (CAEC). The Government is committed to keeping the BTC updated on export controls.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 22/03/2024 09:08:14 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
tabling member	4371 label Biography information for Brendan O'Hara

1697084

registered interest
date	19/03/2024
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Nagorno Karabakh: Churches and Cultural Heritage
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Azerbaijan on the (a) condition and (b) security of Armenian Christian (i) churches and (ii) other heritage sites in Nagorno-Karabakh.
tabling member constituency	North West Leicestershire
tabling member printed	Andrew Bridgen
uin	19361
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2024 answer text <p>The UK Government is clear that the preservation of religious and cultural sites in the region is an important issue and we take seriously reports of the destruction of churches or other sites of religious significance. We are aware of allegations from both Armenia and Azerbaijan that cultural and religious sites have been deliberately damaged over the course of the conflict. UK Ministers and the British Embassy in Baku have raised the topic of religious and cultural destruction with the Azerbaijani government consistently and at the most senior levels.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 25/03/2024 16:39:27 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
tabling member	4133 label Biography information for Andrew Bridgen

1697087

registered interest
date	19/03/2024
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Nagorno Karabakh: Refugees
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department is taking diplomatic steps to help ensure the right of return to Nagorno-Karabakh of Christian Armenians.
tabling member constituency	North West Leicestershire
tabling member printed	Andrew Bridgen
uin	19362
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2024 answer text <p>The UK Government is clear that Azerbaijan must create the conditions for a safe and secure return of ethnic Armenians who were displaced during September's military operation and want to return. We welcomed Azerbaijan's provision of a registration portal, though more work is needed to assist those considering a return. Ministers and officials have discussed these issues with the Azerbaijani Government and encourage Azerbaijan to be proactive in enabling the return of those who wish to do so.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 25/03/2024 16:39:15 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
tabling member	4133 label Biography information for Andrew Bridgen

1697123

registered interest
date	19/03/2024
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Kosovo: Recognition of States
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what diplomatic steps his Department is taking to encourage European Union nations to recognise Kosovo as an independent sovereign state.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	19324
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2024 answer text <p>We welcome the fact that the vast majority of EU members states recognise Kosovo's statehood. In line with our longstanding support for Kosovo's international integration as a sovereign independent state, the UK continues to use suitable opportunities to reinforce the case for recognition with the five remaining EU members states which have yet to recognise Kosovo's statehood.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 25/03/2024 16:41:43 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1697124

registered interest
date	19/03/2024
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Kosovo: Council of Europe
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make it his policy to support Kosovo becoming a member of the Council of Europe.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	19325
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2024 answer text <p>The UK supports Kosovo's current application to join the Council of Europe. Membership of the Council of Europe would bring practical benefits and protections for all Kosovo citizens, including minority communities. The Foreign Secretary made our support clear during his visit to Kosovo in January this year.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 25/03/2024 16:41:19 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1697126

registered interest
date	19/03/2024
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Kosovo: Foreign Relations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will publish a summary of the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs' recent visit to Kosovo.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	19326
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2024 answer text <p>The Foreign Secretary reflected on his recent visit to Kosovo at the Foreign Affairs Committee session on 9 January (https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/44138eb7-41b6-47eb-9c61-e9ac76acc233), sharing his views on the severity of the attack in Banjska in September 2023 and the need for the West to ensure its approach to the Western Balkans fully accounts for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Government issued a press release in advance of his visit (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-to-visit-kosovo-to-underline-uk-support), and the Foreign Secretary himself gave an overview of his meeting with UK troops deployed to Kosovo as part of NATO's Kosovo Force (KFOR) during the visit (https://twitter.com/FCDOGovUK/status/1742992750079770754?s=20).</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 25/03/2024 16:40:26 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1696643

registered interest
date	18/03/2024
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	International Law: Arms Trade
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a scrutiny body within his Department that is tasked with assessing the consequences of individual arms licences on the Government's international legal obligations.
tabling member constituency	Argyll and Bute
tabling member printed	Brendan O'Hara
uin	19074
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2024 answer text <p>The Government takes its defence export responsibilities extremely seriously and operates some of the most robust export controls in the world. We examine each new application on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. The Criteria maintain the UK's high standards on counter proliferation and give effect to the UK's international obligations and commitments.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 21/03/2024 14:32:54 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
tabling member	4371 label Biography information for Brendan O'Hara

1696644

registered interest
date	18/03/2024
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Arms Trade: Export Controls
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what account of ongoing geopolitical fragility his Department takes in considering applications for licences for the export of arms to states in sensitive areas.
tabling member constituency	Argyll and Bute
tabling member printed	Brendan O'Hara
uin	19075
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2024 answer text <p>The Strategic Export Licensing Criteria provide a thorough risk assessment framework for export licence applications and require us to think hard about the impact of providing equipment and its capabilities. We consider a range of factors, including examining the political and security conditions in the destination country, the nature of the equipment to be exported, the organisation or unit which will ultimately be the user of the equipment, and all available information about how similar equipment has been used in the past and how it is likely to be used in the future. We can and do respond quickly and flexibly to changing or fluid international situations. We take the principles of responsible export control set out in the Criteria incredibly seriously.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 21/03/2024 14:33:54 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
tabling member	4371 label Biography information for Brendan O'Hara

1696645

registered interest
date	18/03/2024
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Arms Trade: Export Controls
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what account of the risk of atrocity crimes being committed by states his Department takes in considering applications for licences for the export of arms to such states.
tabling member constituency	Argyll and Bute
tabling member printed	Brendan O'Hara
uin	19076
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2024 answer text <p>All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. The Criteria provide a thorough risk assessment framework. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, which includes Criterion 2, covering respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country of final destination, as well as respect by that country for international humanitarian law.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 21/03/2024 14:35:07 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
tabling member	4371 label Biography information for Brendan O'Hara