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49380

registered interest
date	01/05/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what active steps his (a) Department has taken and plans to take to facilitate the convening of a conference on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons.
tabling member constituency	Newport West
tabling member printed	Paul Flynn
uin	197556
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2014 answer text <p>The UK is fully committed to convening a Conference on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction as soon as possible, in line with the 2010 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference Action Plan. The Foreign Secretary, Ministers and officials have discussed the Conference with their counterparts from the region, and will continue to do so. Officials have attended, and supported, recent informal consultations between the Facilitator and states of the region at Glion in Switzerland, and will engage in future informal consultations to build agreement. The UK continues to provide financial support for the work of the Facilitator, Finnish Under Secretary of State Jaakko Laajava.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Hugh Robertson question first answered 08/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1415 label Biography information for Sir Hugh Robertson
tabling member	545 label Biography information for Paul Flynn

49381

registered interest
date	01/05/2014
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
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 (a) the the government of Sri Lanka's decision to proscribe a number of Tamil groups and individuals for alleged links to terrorist activities and (b) the effect this will have on the reconciliation process.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	197551
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>I am concerned at reports that the Sri Lankan government has proscribed a number of individuals and Tamil organisations operating outside Sri Lanka. Whilst we respect the right of the Sri Lankan government to take appropriate action against individuals and groups where there is clear evidence of their involvement in terrorist activities, our High Commissioner to Sri Lanka has made clear to the Sri Lankan government that proscription should not be used to prevent or stifle the right to freedom of speech, particularly at a time when Sri Lanka's human rights record is under international scrutiny. We believe that this development is not conducive to a successful reconciliation process and will continue to monitor developments closely.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

49382

registered interest
date	01/05/2014
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
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 human rights situation in Sri Lanka; what recent representations he has made to the government of Sri Lanka about the arrest and detention of human rights defenders; and what recent discussions he has had with his Sri Lankan counterpart about the use of that country's Prevention of Terrorism Act.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	197542
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>We continue to have serious concerns about respect for human rights in Sri Lanka, in particular continued intimidation and harassment of human rights defenders and activists. We have consistently made clear to the Sri Lankan government the importance of safeguarding freedom of expression and protecting human rights defenders, and continue to urge the Sri Lankan government to uphold their international human rights obligations and to ensure that civil society, human rights defenders and activists are allowed the space to act freely.</p><p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Human Rights Report for 2013 and the quarterly updates to the report, which are available online, includes Sri Lanka as a ‘Country of Concern' for human rights and outlines our assessment more fully.</p><p>I made clear to the Sri Lankan government following the arrest of Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen - who have now been released – that it is important that human rights defenders are not subject to intimidation and have a right to freedom of expression. We are also aware of the arrests of Mrs Jeyakumari Balendran and others in Sri Lanka. Officials at our High Commission in Colombo have raised concerns with the Sri Lankan government, in particular on the lack of clarity around the evidence against the suspects and the charges brought.</p><p>We have previously raised concerns with the Sri Lankan government about the length of time individuals can be detained without charge under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. On 27 March, the UN Human Rights Council agreed a resolution which calls on the Sri Lankan government to make progress on human rights issues and to implement Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) recommendations, which includes the re-evaluation of detention policies.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

49383

registered interest
date	01/05/2014
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
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 the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights about the implementation of the UN Human Rights Council resolution on Sri Lanka of 27 March 2014; what technical advice and assistance his Department will provide to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for the investigation into alleged war crimes and human rights violations in Sri Lanka; and what representations he has made to the government of Sri Lanka about the UN Human Rights Council resolution.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	197543
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2014 answer text <p>Our officials in Geneva continue to discuss the March 2014 UN Human Rights Council (UN HRC) resolution with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). We will continue to fully support and work with the UN HRC and international partners to ensure proper implementation of this resolution. The OHCHR will lead an independent investigation into alleged violations. We continue to urge the Sri Lankan government to co-operate with the UN resolution.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 07/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

49396

registered interest
date	01/05/2014
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
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 to his Egyptian counterpart about the mass trial of and death sentences on members of the Muslim brotherhood.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	197567
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2014 answer text <p>In a meeting with the Egyptian Foreign Minister on 2 April, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) raised his concern over the death sentences imposed on 529 people. He asked the Egyptian Government to review these issues as a matter of urgency and to ensure that individuals' human and legal rights were properly upheld.</p><p>The Foreign Secretary also made a statement on 28 April expressing deep concerns that a further 683 people had been sentenced to death by the same court and that 37 of the original death sentences handed down on 24 March had been upheld. He expressed concern at the potential negative impact of such sentences on the Egyptian Government's ability to take forward an inclusive political process, and urged that the sentences be reviewed. We will continue to raise this issue in our conversations with the Egyptian Government.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Hugh Robertson question first answered 07/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1415 label Biography information for Sir Hugh Robertson
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

49414

registered interest
date	01/05/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 25 March 2014 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr M Woronycz.
tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
tabling member printed	Sir Gerald Kaufman
uin	197503
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2014 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) responded to the right hon. Member on 1 May 2014.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 08/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	451 label Biography information for Sir Gerald Kaufman

49426

registered interest
date	01/05/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with UN Women about the abduction of schoolgirls from Chibok in north-eastern Nigeria on 14 April 2014; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Camberwell and Peckham
tabling member printed	Ms Harriet Harman
uin	197532
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2014 answer text <p>Since the abduction of the Nigerian school girls on 14 April, we have focused our efforts on working with the Nigerian Government to locate and secure the release of the girls. We have made no representations to UN Women about the case. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) made a statement condemning the schoolgirls abduction on 16 April.</p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Mark Simmonds question first answered 07/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1393 label Biography information for Mark Simmonds
tabling member	150 label Biography information for Ms Harriet Harman

49427

registered interest
date	01/05/2014
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
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 (a) the UN and (b) any UN agency on the abduction of schoolgirls from Chibok in north-eastern Nigeria on 14 April 2014.
tabling member constituency	Camberwell and Peckham
tabling member printed	Ms Harriet Harman
uin	197520
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2014 answer text <p>Since the abduction of the Nigerian school girls on 14 April, we have focused our efforts on working with the Nigerian government to locate and secure the release of the girls. We have discussed the issue with officials from counterpart members of the UN Security Council in New York. On 7 May, I spoke with UN Special Representatives (SR), Zainab Bangura (UN SR for Sexual Violence) and Leila Zeroughi (UN SR for Children and Armed Conflict), to discuss what more the UN can do to help.</p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Mark Simmonds question first answered 07/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1393 label Biography information for Mark Simmonds
tabling member	150 label Biography information for Ms Harriet Harman

49444

registered interest
date	01/05/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2014, Official Report, column 413W, on Falkland Islands, if he will discuss the correct use of the name Falkland Islands with the Secretary of State for the Home Office; and given the misuse of the name by his Department in its internal guidance if he will now issue cross-Department guidance.
tabling member constituency	Dunfermline and West Fife
tabling member printed	Thomas Docherty
uin	197475
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2014 answer text <p>Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials have been in contact with the Home Office to remind them of the appropriate terminology for the Falkland Islands. All Government departments and agencies should refer to ‘the Falkland Islands' in all instances. There is no evidence that incorrect terminology has been used other than in the isolated cases which the Honourable Member highlights. Therefore no cross-Departmental guidance has been issued.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 07/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	3962 label Biography information for Thomas Docherty

49503

registered interest
date	01/05/2014
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
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 he is taking to achieve agreement at the UN climate summit in September 2014 on the amount of finance that will be pledged to assist developing countries with their climate actions.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	197476
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2014 answer text <p>The UK is actively engaged in discussions on preparations for the UN Secretary General's climate summit in September 2014. We welcome this opportunity to further build international momentum to tackle climate change, and towards a new global, legally-binding climate agreement in 2015.</p><p>The UK is committed to the goal of jointly mobilising USD 100 billion of climate finance per year by 2020 from a range of public, private and alternative sources, and encourages all countries to work on strategies for scaling up climate finance. The UK is also actively supporting the development of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which we hope will be ready for initial resource mobilisation in 2014. The UK's International Climate Fund (£3.87 billion of UK public funds provided by the Department for International Development, Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, in 2011-16) already supports a range of adaptation, low carbon development and innovative finance projects to assist developing countries with their climate actions.</p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Mark Simmonds question first answered 07/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1393 label Biography information for Mark Simmonds
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy