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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

1125476

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	Hamed bin Haydara
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 representations at the appeal hearing in the case of Hamed bin Haydara, a Yemeni member of the Baha’i faith sentenced to death by a Houthi court in Sana’a in January 2018, scheduled for 16 June; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	251900
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>We strongly condemn Mr bin Haydara's death sentence and the continued persecution of Baha'is in Yemen for their religious beliefs. We continue to follow the treatment of the Baha’is in Yemen closely, including through meeting their representatives in the UK and lobbying the relevant authorities. We continue to call on the parties to the conflict to respect the human rights of all Yemenis.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 13/05/2019 16:25:25 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1125480

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	Yemen: Capital Punishment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Houthi regime in Yemen on the use of the death penalty; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	251902
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The British Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country, including Yemen. We regularly raise human rights concerns at the highest levels with the Houthi regime.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 13/05/2019 16:24:05 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

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