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91969

registered interest
date	26/09/2014
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
hansard heading	International Relations
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 reports he has received of increased ties between North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	209370
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2014 answer text <p>North Korea: Russian relations with North Korea have been gradually increasing in the last 12 months. The Russian Duma voted in June to 'forgive' nearly $10 billion of debt. At the beginning of October DPRK Foreign Minister Ri visited Moscow and, according to DPRK media, during this visit Russia agreed to provide food aid to the DPRK. A series of Russian investment visits reportedly planned for the rest of 2014. Russia shares international concerns over North Korea’s security posture and is a party to the (stalled) Six-Party Talks to resolve these concerns.<br> <br>Iran: Presidents Putin and Rouhani recently met in the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Summit. We have expressed our concerns that the proposed “oil for goods” deal between Russia and Iran seems to run contrary to ongoing sanctions against Iran. Russia also continues to be heavily involved in the Iranian civilian nuclear sector, running the Bushehr nuclear plant for Iran. The UK and Russia also work together as part of the E3+3 to ensure the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme.<br> <br>Venezuela: Venezuela has signed a range of cooperation agreements over the past ten years with Cuba, the People's Republic of China, Russian Federation and Iran, mostly in commercial areas. There are regular meetings between the Venezuelan government and those governments. Venezuela and Cuba have very strong political, economic and social ties. In June 2014, a resolution published in the Venezuelan National Gazette gave agreement for North Korea to reopen an embassy in Caracas</p><p>Cuba: Russia and Cuba have continued the traditionally close ties established between the Soviet Union and Cuba. President Putin visited Cuba prior to the BRICS summit in July and reportedly ‘forgave’ $30 billion of Cuban debt to the Soviet Union (90% of Cuba’s outstanding debt to Russia).<br> <br>China: Russia and China have expanded their relations in the last 12 months, including signing in May of a key energy deal - the culmination of years of negotiations. The deal, worth an estimated $400 billion will see Russia start to provide natural gas resources to China from 2018, and through to 2044. This was an expected development between the country with the world’s largest energy reserves (Russia), and the country with the highest energy consumption (China). China has not supported Russia’s actions in Ukraine at the UN Security Council, nor in the UN General Assembly. Both sides have announced they will sign further deals to expand trade and investment at the upcoming ASEM summit in Milan this month.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 15/10/2014 14:04:27 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

91978

registered interest
date	26/09/2014
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
hansard heading	Foreign Relations
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 UK's relations with (a) Cuba, (b) North Korea, (c) Venezuela, (d) Russia and (e) Iran; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	209367
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2014 answer text <p>The UK’s bilateral relations with Cuba cover a broad range of foreign policy subjects including climate change, counter narcotics, trade and human rights. We continue to engage with the Cuban government to strengthen bilateral relations and promote reform. This includes support for recent economic changes such as a new foreign investment law, and by raising human rights concerns where appropriate.</p><p>The UK and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) have had formal bilateral relations since December 2000. Since then, the UK has concentrated on two main foreign policy areas: counter-proliferation and human rights. Our policy of “critical engagement” is intended to promote incremental change: it allows us directly to communicate issues of substantial concern, and focuses on exposing people in North Korea to international values and the benefits of engaging with the international community. Our Embassy in Pyongyang helps to improve our understanding of what is happening inside the country, as well as providing support for small-scale projects aimed at improving the lives of the most vulnerable in DPRK society.</p><p>The UK and Venezuela have a constructive and practical relationship and engage in cooperation in areas of mutual interest: our counternarcotics cooperation is vital in tackling illegal drugs trafficking; we are engaging closely ahead of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations; and our trade links support economic development in both countries, particularly in the oil sector. We have been following the political situation in Venezuela closely and were deeply saddened by the deaths that occurred in protests earlier this year. The British Government called on all sides to reduce tension and take steps to promote political reconciliation through genuine dialogue.</p><p>The UK has endeavoured over the past 23 years to build a constructive and mutually beneficial relationship with Russia, to support its integration into the international community and international rules-based system. By its illegal annexation of Crimea, and its aggressive destabilisation of south eastern Ukraine, the Russian leadership has rejected that offer of partnership and instead chosen a path of confrontation. We deeply regret this. Moscow needs to understand that military aggression, destabilisation of a sovereign neighbour, and flouting of international commitments have serious consequences. So whilst we need to maintain a relationship with Russia that enables dialogue and ongoing co-operation on high priority global issues, it cannot be business-as-usual. The UK hopes that the Russian leadership will take the necessary steps to help secure a lasting peace in eastern Ukraine that restores respect for Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity and enables Russia to return to a constructive relationship with the rest of the world.</p><p>Following the attack on our Embassy in Iran on 29 November 2011, diplomatic relations with Iran were reduced to their lowest level possible, but were not completely severed. Over the past year, we have been seeking to improve UK/Iran relations on a step-by-step and reciprocal basis. Most recently, My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met President Rouhani on 24 September in the margins of the UN General Assembly - the first such meeting since the Iranian Revolution in 1979. Both agreed that there had been significant differences between our countries in the past, and that we should seek to progressively improve our bilateral relationship.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 15/10/2014 12:36:32 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

92213

registered interest
date	26/09/2014
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
hansard heading	Ukraine
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 received from the government of Ukraine on membership of the EU; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	209673
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2014 answer text <p>On 16 September the Ukraine Parliament (Rada) ratified the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, demonstrating Ukraine’s commitment to closer integration with the European Union. The European Parliament gave its consent to the Agreement in parallel. The Rada also voted in favour of Ukraine submitting an application for EU membership.</p><p>On 25 September, President Poroshenko announced that Ukraine would submit a bid for membership of the EU in 2020.</p><p>We have consistently made clear our position that any European country that meets the criteria should be able to apply for EU membership; this includes Ukraine, if that is what the people of Ukraine want. Countries must meet all the rigorous conditions of membership in full before joining the EU. No bilateral representations on this issue have been received.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 15/10/2014 12:39:53 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

92215

registered interest
date	26/09/2014
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
hansard heading	NATO
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 NATO counterparts on defence of the eastern borders of the Alliance; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	209692
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2014 answer text <p>My Rt Hon Friend The Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) and the Secretary of State for Defence, my Rt Hon Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Mr Fallon), discussed defence, deterrence and reassurance to Allies in relation a range of threats to the Alliance at the North Atlanitc Treaty Organisation (NATO) Summit in Wales on 4-5 September 2014.</p><p>As the Prime Minister set out in his statement to the House on 8 September, Official Report, column 653, the Wales Summit launched a NATO Readiness Action Plan which will enable NATO to respond faster to the new and emerging threats, including on NATO’s eastern border. To support this, the UK will continue to participate in assurance measures to support our Eastern Allies and contribute 3,500 personnel for exercises.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 15/10/2014 12:38:12 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

92217

registered interest
date	26/09/2014
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
hansard heading	Belarus
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 received on human rights in Belarus; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	209668
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2014 answer text <p>We regularly receive and make representations to the Belarusian government on human rights both bilaterally and through the EU, particularly on the release of political prisoners and the abolition of the Death Penalty. Most recently, in September our Ambassador in Belarus met with Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) officials to discuss the Death Penalty. We have also recently engaged with the Belarusian MFA on the establishment of a National Human Rights Institution in Belarus.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 15/10/2014 12:40:30 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

92233

registered interest
date	26/09/2014
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
hansard heading	Moldova
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 with his counterparts in the EU to ensure that the upcoming parliamentary elections in Moldova are free and fair; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	209669
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2014 answer text <p>The United Kingdom plans to contribute to an international mission observing the elections in Moldova. The mission is being led by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE’s) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OHDIR). We expect other EU Member States to do likewise.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 15/10/2014 14:03:41 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

90708

registered interest
date	04/09/2014
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
hansard heading	Energy
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 reduce energy costs in his Department; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	208342
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2014 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is committed to meeting the Greener Government Commitments and to reducing the energy use of its operations. In 2014/15, the FCO will be undertaking the following measures to reduce the energy costs of its UK operations: installing additional LED lighting; installing additional daylight and motion sensors on lighting; improvements to equipment and operation of the heating infrastructure in the King Charles Street main building; virtualising and consolidating the server estate in our main data-centre; adjustments and interventions to reduce the cooling requirement of its main data-centre; and installing additional automated meter reading and more efficient pumps. Consolidation of the FCO’s principal London offices into one building in 2015 will also bring large net energy savings.</p><p>The energy savings from these measures in 2014/15 will add to numerous energy saving initiatives in recent years such as installation of voltage regulation equipment and thermostatic radiator valves; LED lighting; decommissioning legacy IT systems; powering down desktops at night and staff switch off campaigns.</p><p>In addition the FCO enjoys the benefits of utilising the centralised Government Procurement service framework for the purchasing of its electricity and gas.</p><p>The answer relates to the FCO's UK Estate, which comprises King Charles St, Old Admiralty Building, Lancaster House, Carlton Gardens, Hanslope Park and Northgate House. It would incur a disproportionate cost to source this information from our network of overseas Posts, as this information is held locally.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 11/09/2014 14:27:41 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

89600

registered interest
date	29/08/2014
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
hansard heading	Tuvalu
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 promote LGBT rights in Tuvalu; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	207228
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2014 answer text <p>Work to combat violence and discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people forms an important part of our wider international human rights work. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office works through our Embassies and High Commissions, and through international organisations, including the Commonwealth, the EU and the UN, to promote tolerance and non-discrimination against LGBT people and to address discriminatory laws, in particular those that criminalise homosexuality. <br> <br>The UK has been a member of the LGBT core group in Geneva since 2011, playing a key role in passing the UN’s first ever resolution on LGBT rights and recently joined its counterpart group in New York.</p><p>Within the Commonwealth we continue to encourage the Secretariat and the Secretary-General to do more to promote the rights of its LGBT people. The former Foreign Secretary, my Rt hon friend the Member for Richmond, Yorks (William Hague), wrote to the Commonwealth Secretary-General in March urging him to take concrete action to address this issue within the Commonwealth.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington grouped question UIN 207082 207083 207084 207085 207086 207087 207093 207094 207095 207141 207168 207169 207170 207171 207189 207190 207191 207192 207205 207206 207226 207227 207229 207230 207231 207232 207233 207234 207235 207236 207237 207238 207239 207240 207244 207245 207246 207247 207248 207249 question first answered 05/09/2014 14:17:21 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

89601

registered interest
date	29/08/2014
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
hansard heading	Tonga
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 promote LGBT rights in Tonga; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	207227
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2014 answer text <p>Work to combat violence and discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people forms an important part of our wider international human rights work. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office works through our Embassies and High Commissions, and through international organisations, including the Commonwealth, the EU and the UN, to promote tolerance and non-discrimination against LGBT people and to address discriminatory laws, in particular those that criminalise homosexuality. <br> <br>The UK has been a member of the LGBT core group in Geneva since 2011, playing a key role in passing the UN’s first ever resolution on LGBT rights and recently joined its counterpart group in New York.</p><p>Within the Commonwealth we continue to encourage the Secretariat and the Secretary-General to do more to promote the rights of its LGBT people. The former Foreign Secretary, my Rt hon friend the Member for Richmond, Yorks (William Hague), wrote to the Commonwealth Secretary-General in March urging him to take concrete action to address this issue within the Commonwealth.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington grouped question UIN 207082 207083 207084 207085 207086 207087 207093 207094 207095 207141 207168 207169 207170 207171 207189 207190 207191 207192 207205 207206 207226 207228 207229 207230 207231 207232 207233 207234 207235 207236 207237 207238 207239 207240 207244 207245 207246 207247 207248 207249 question first answered 05/09/2014 14:17:21 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

89603

registered interest
date	29/08/2014
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
hansard heading	Dominica
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 promote LGBT rights in Dominica; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	207206
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2014 answer text <p>Work to combat violence and discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people forms an important part of our wider international human rights work. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office works through our Embassies and High Commissions, and through international organisations, including the Commonwealth, the EU and the UN, to promote tolerance and non-discrimination against LGBT people and to address discriminatory laws, in particular those that criminalise homosexuality. <br> <br>The UK has been a member of the LGBT core group in Geneva since 2011, playing a key role in passing the UN’s first ever resolution on LGBT rights and recently joined its counterpart group in New York.</p><p>Within the Commonwealth we continue to encourage the Secretariat and the Secretary-General to do more to promote the rights of its LGBT people. The former Foreign Secretary, my Rt hon friend the Member for Richmond, Yorks (William Hague), wrote to the Commonwealth Secretary-General in March urging him to take concrete action to address this issue within the Commonwealth.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington grouped question UIN 207082 207083 207084 207085 207086 207087 207093 207094 207095 207141 207168 207169 207170 207171 207189 207190 207191 207192 207205 207226 207227 207228 207229 207230 207231 207232 207233 207234 207235 207236 207237 207238 207239 207240 207244 207245 207246 207247 207248 207249 question first answered 05/09/2014 14:17:20 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby