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1125305

registered interest
date	08/05/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Arctic: China and Russia
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his (a) Russian and (b) Chinese counterparts on the Arctic.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	251875
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>​Officials from our Embassy Moscow discussed the importance of continued international cooperation in the Arctic with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 6 May. A Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) official also attended the Fifth International Arctic Forum in St Petersburg on 9 April. The Head of Polar Regions Department, in the FCO, attended the recent Arctic Council Ministerial meeting in Rovaniemi, Finland and spoke with the Head of the Chinese Delegation on the margins. Officials from the British Consulate-General in Shanghai will attend the Arctic Circle Forum on 10-11 May in Shanghai to further understand China's interest in the region.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 13/05/2019 16:23:23 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1125358

registered interest
date	08/05/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Colombia: Human Rights
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the risks to human rights defenders in Colombia.
tabling member constituency	Cardiff Central
tabling member printed	Jo Stevens
uin	252050
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The situation facing human rights defenders in Colombia is concerning: over the past year they have faced increasing levels of threats, intimidation and killings. We regularly express our concern over this issue to the Colombian government. On 9 May the Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon met with Colombian High Counsellor for Stabilisation, Emilio Archila, and directly raised the issue. Our Embassy in Bogotá funds human rights programmes that help human rights defenders, and we work closely with civil society groups to bring individual cases to the Colombian government’s attention.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 13/05/2019 16:09:27 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	4425 label Biography information for Jo Stevens

1124987

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Afghanistan: Sikhs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of threat to the Sikh community in Afghanistan.
tabling member constituency	Warley
tabling member printed	John Spellar
uin	251206
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>​Security remains an ongoing challenge in Afghanistan. The Afghan National Defence and Security Forces are committed to tackling this threat. As part of NATO's Resolute Support Mission, the UK supports the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces in its efforts to improve security for all communities.</p><p>Ethnic and religious minorities in Afghanistan, including the Christian, Sikh and Hindu communities, continue to face challenges. We regularly raise human rights issues with the Government of Afghanistan, including the need to protect the rights of all ethnic and religious groups in line with the constitution. The UK condemns in the strongest possible terms the targeting of innocent people based on their beliefs. Last year, I publicly condemned the 1 July attack on a group of Sikhs and Hindus in Jalalabad as &quot;a despicable attack on Afghanistan's historic Sikh and Hindu community&quot;.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 13/05/2019 14:52:08 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1125050

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Cameroon: Human Rights
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the political and human rights situation in Cameroon; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
uin	251239
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>​The UK continues to be deeply concerned at the worsening humanitarian situation in the North-West and South-West (Anglophone) regions of Cameroon and the reports of human rights violations and abuses committed by both security forces and separatists. Violence is driving people from their homes, and impacting on the lives of ordinary civilians, particularly women and children. The UK is providing lifesaving assistance to 10,000 people in the Anglophone regions following a £2.5m contribution to UNICEF in December.</p><p>The British Government regularly raises concerns about the political, human rights, and humanitarian situation with the Government of Cameroon. Further to a phone call in March with Cameroon Prime Minister, Joseph Ngute, on 30 April, I met with the Cameroon High Commissioner to London to reiterate UK concerns. We discussed the plight of the 530,000 people who have been internally displaced within the Anglophone regions, the 32,000 refugees in Nigeria who have fled from the crisis, and the arrest and detention of Opposition Leader, Maurice Kamto and other political actors. I urged the Government of Cameroon to urgently take steps to establish a credible dialogue to tackle the root causes of the crisis in the Anglophone regions, and ensure fair and timely trial, or release, of detainees. The UK continues to call for unhindered humanitarian access to affected populations, and investigations into all reports of human rights violations and abuses. The UK and Austria delivered a joint statement with support from 37 countries on the deteriorating situation in Cameroon at the UN Human Rights Council in March, demonstrating the increasing concerns of the wider international community.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin grouped question UIN 251243 question first answered 13/05/2019 14:25:04 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

1125064

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Cameroon: Politics and Government
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the political and humanitarian situation in Cameroon; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
uin	251243
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>​The UK continues to be deeply concerned at the worsening humanitarian situation in the North-West and South-West (Anglophone) regions of Cameroon and the reports of human rights violations and abuses committed by both security forces and separatists. Violence is driving people from their homes, and impacting on the lives of ordinary civilians, particularly women and children. The UK is providing lifesaving assistance to 10,000 people in the Anglophone regions following a £2.5m contribution to UNICEF in December.</p><p>The British Government regularly raises concerns about the political, human rights, and humanitarian situation with the Government of Cameroon. Further to a phone call in March with Cameroon Prime Minister, Joseph Ngute, on 30 April, I met with the Cameroon High Commissioner to London to reiterate UK concerns. We discussed the plight of the 530,000 people who have been internally displaced within the Anglophone regions, the 32,000 refugees in Nigeria who have fled from the crisis, and the arrest and detention of Opposition Leader, Maurice Kamto and other political actors. I urged the Government of Cameroon to urgently take steps to establish a credible dialogue to tackle the root causes of the crisis in the Anglophone regions, and ensure fair and timely trial, or release, of detainees. The UK continues to call for unhindered humanitarian access to affected populations, and investigations into all reports of human rights violations and abuses. The UK and Austria delivered a joint statement with support from 37 countries on the deteriorating situation in Cameroon at the UN Human Rights Council in March, demonstrating the increasing concerns of the wider international community.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin grouped question UIN 251239 question first answered 13/05/2019 14:25:04 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

1125118

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Civil Servants: Training
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increased religious literacy across the Civil Service.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
uin	251281
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government has long held the view that religion plays an important role in the political and social life in many countries throughout the world. The FCO provides a wide range of resources, including though the Diplomatic Academy, to ensure that staff, including those across Whitehall working in our overseas posts, understand the influence that faith can have on foreign policy, and on their specific jobs.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 13/05/2019 14:55:09 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1125124

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Religious Freedom
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the merits of extending the remit of the review of religious persecution led by the Bishop of Truro to (a) the Department for International Development, (b) the Department for International Trade, (c) the Home Office, (d) the Cabinet Office and (e) the National Security Office.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
uin	251282
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The Review was commissioned by the Foreign Secretary into the work of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, so it would be inappropriate for it to review, or make recommendations for, other departments. However, other government departments may wish to take note of the Review report and its findings.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 13/05/2019 15:04:21 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1125134

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	North Korea: Christianity
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of repression of Christians in North Korea.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
uin	251291
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK continues to have grave concerns over the repression of Christians in North Korea. The Bishop of Truro’s interim report as part of his independent review into Christian persecution cites a number of reports on the different forms of persecution faced by North Koreans who seek to practise Christianity outside of state-controlled organisations. There is nothing to indicate the situation is getting better. We raised the lack of freedom of religious belief with the North Korean authorities during their Universal Periodic Review on 9 May. We will continue working with our international partners in the Human Rights Council and elsewhere to hold the North Korean government to account. We continue to urge North Korea to engage positively with the international community on this issue, including through our Embassy in Pyongyang.</p><p>​</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 13/05/2019 15:08:37 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1124684

registered interest
date	03/05/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	China: Uyghurs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Chinese counterpart on the reported mass detention of Uighur Muslims in that country.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	250765
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2019 answer text <p>Ministers and senior officials regularly raise our serious concerns about the treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang directly with the Chinese authorities, and will continue to do so. During my most recent visit to China in July 2018, I raised our concerns with my counterpart the Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Mr Field, Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific raised our concerns with Vice Minister Guo Yezhou during his visit to China on 22 July 2018.</p><p> </p><p>We spoke publicly about the situation in Xinjiang at the 40th UN Human Rights Council which took place earlier this year. The Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion and Belief, Lord Ahmad, raised our concerns during his opening address on 25 February. The UK also spoke about Xinjiang during our “Item 4” national statement on 12 March, and we co-sponsored a side event on “Protecting the fundamental freedoms in Xinjiang” on 13 March.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, in our statement at China’s Universal Periodic Review on 6 November, we made clear our concern about the treatment of Uyghurs in China. The UK issued a specific recommendation to China that it implements the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’s recommendations on Xinjiang and allows the UN to monitor the implementation.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 09/05/2019 13:26:31 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1124732

registered interest
date	03/05/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Christianity: Oppression
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to combat the persecution of Christians abroad.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	250744
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2019 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is committed to using our influence to defend Freedom of Religion or Belief as a universal human right which should be enjoyed by everyone. That is why the Prime Minister appointed Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon as the Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief. We regularly raise Christian persecution with our international counterparts, for example through the Human Rights Council. In recent years we have seen reports of a particular rise in the persecution of Christians. The Foreign Secretary launched the independent review of FCO support for persecuted Christians on 30 January. The Review is led by the Bishop of Truro. It will map levels of persecution and discrimination against Christians around the world, and provide robust recommendations on how the FCO can respond. The Bishop has now submitted his interim report and will submit his final report in Summer.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 09/05/2019 13:20:16 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham