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1060601

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
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	Palestinians: Universities
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the effect of the decision by the US Administration to cut funding to Palestinian university programmes in the West Bank and Gaza on the provision of those programmes; and whether the Government plans to provide additional support or scholarships to Palestinian students in response to that cut in funding.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	220971
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/02/2019 answer text <p>We are aware of the decision by the US Administration to cut funding to Palestinian university programmes. The UK is already making a significant contribution to higher education in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Our support to the Ministry of Education and Higher Education helps 25,000 young Palestinians to receive an education, and we support a number of Palestinian students every year to study at masters level in the UK through the Chevening scholarship programme.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 22/02/2019 14:04:11 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1060628

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
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	EU Staff: British Nationality
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the number of British civil servants who (a) have been based in Brussels in each year since 2010 and (b) will remain based in Brussels after the UK leaves the EU.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	220769
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/02/2019 answer text <p>The UK has three diplomatic Missions in Brussels: the bilateral Embassy to Belgium; the UK Permanent Representation to the European Union (UKRep); and the UK Delegation to NATO. All employ British civil servants, alongside locally recruited staff. The civil servants normally serve fixed tour lengths of between 1-4 years. In addition, there are British civil servants working in Brussels at the Scottish Government EU Office, the Welsh Government EU Office, for Border Force at Gare du Midi Eurostar, and on secondment to the EU Institutions, NATO and the World Customs Organisation.</p><p>The table below provides the number of FCO UK-based staff in Brussels each year since 2013. These statistics do not include locally recruited staff, staff in Brussels funded by other Government Departments, nor the Scottish or Welsh Governments. Up until 1st April 2015, Department of Trade staff (former UKTI) were included in FCO staff headcount. We are unable to provide headcount information prior to 2013 as the FCO revised its approach to recording staff headcount in December 2012, adopting a new methodology in line with Office for National Statistics guidelines.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Reference Month</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>FCO UK-based staff in Brussels</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>January 2019</p></td><td><p>c.150</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2018</p></td><td><p>c.120</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2017</p></td><td><p>c.100</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2016</p></td><td><p>c.100</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2015</p></td><td><p>c.100</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2014</p></td><td><p>c.100</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2013</p></td><td><p>c.100</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>After the UK leaves the EU, the UK will retain its three diplomatic Missions in Brussels, although UKRep will become a third country Mission to the EU. We expect their overall headcount to increase marginally. This reflects both our desire for a future close relationship with the EU and our increased focus on the bilateral relationship with Belgium when we are no longer an EU Member State.</p><p>We do not expect to have any secondees in the EU Institutions immediately after the UK leaves the EU but, in line with the Political Declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the EU and UK, we will seek to agree arrangements for the secondment of experts where appropriate and in our mutual interest. In January 2010 the UK had 92 seconded national experts to the EU; we currently have 36 in Brussels, plus a further 10 who are taking part in the National Experts in Professional Training programme. There are also currently 7 British civil servants seconded to NATO and one to the World Customs Organisation (WCO), all based in Brussels.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 22/02/2019 14:50:35 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1060656

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
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	USA: INF Treaty
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 his counterpart in the US administration on the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty since the US has suspended its obligations to that treaty.
tabling member constituency	Kensington
tabling member printed	Emma Dent Coad
uin	221032
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/02/2019 answer text <p>We have been discussing the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with the US for a number of years as part of our continuous dialogue on security issues. The US also initiated a series of meetings on INF with close Allies in 2017 and 2018, during which we discussed the US approach and exchanged detailed information on the Russian violation and how we might best achieve our shared policy objectives.</p><p>We support the US decision to suspend its participation in the INF Treaty and start the treaty's formal withdrawal process. A situation whereby the US was fully abiding by the INF Treaty and Russia was not, was not sustainable. Following the US announcement, NATO issued a statement declaring full support for US action and urging Russia to use the six month withdrawal period to return to full and verifiable compliance to preserve the INF Treaty.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 20/02/2019 16:34:34 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	4683 label Biography information for Emma Dent Coad

1060658

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
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	Europe: Press Freedom
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 his Department is taking to promote press freedom in Central and Eastern Europe.
tabling member constituency	Lanark and Hamilton East
tabling member printed	Angela Crawley
uin	220961
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/02/2019 answer text <p>​We believe that media freedom is the lifeblood of democracy, and that it is vital to protect the ability of journalists and other media workers to hold the powerful to account. We are concerned by the increase in the number of journalists being targeted because of their work. For this reason we are placing the resources of the Foreign &amp; Commonwealth Office behind a campaign to shine a spotlight on this issue and to galvanise a consensus behind the protection of journalists.</p><p>We regularly raise media and press freedom in visits to Central and Eastern European countries as well as in multilateral fora, including the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. We work with media organisations and civil society across the region to deliver projects to protect and support journalists.</p><p>Additionally, the UK continues to be vocal in calling for an end to attacks on journalists, including in the case of the horrific murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée in Slovakia in February last year.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 20/02/2019 16:12:07 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4469 label Biography information for Angela Crawley

1060659

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
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	Russia: INF Treaty
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 his counterpart in the Russian Government on the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty since the US suspended its obligations to that treaty.
tabling member constituency	Kensington
tabling member printed	Emma Dent Coad
uin	221033
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/02/2019 answer text <p>NATO Allies first expressed concerns about Russian non-compliance with its INF Treaty obligations in 2014. In the last two years, there has been an intensification of Allied activity to encourage Russia to return to compliance.</p><p>We have not discussed INF directly with Russia since the US, and subsequently Russia, suspended their participation in the Treaty. However, we and our Allies stated our shared concerns during the NATO-Russia Council in late January.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 20/02/2019 16:35:48 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	4683 label Biography information for Emma Dent Coad

1060681

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
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	EU Common Foreign and Security Policy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government has plans to seek continued UK participation in the Common Foreign and Security Policy after the UK leaves the EU.
tabling member constituency	Exeter
tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
uin	220748
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/02/2019 answer text <p>The UK’s departure from the EU will enable us to achieve a fully independent foreign policy, not constrained by the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. The Political Declaration sets out our intentions – not to participate in the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy - but to develop an ambitious future partnership that will enable the UK, the EU and our European allies to cooperate closely on foreign and security policy issues, where in our mutual interest.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 20/02/2019 16:25:45 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

1060682

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
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	Sudan: Detention Centres
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the UK Government last held discussions with the Government of Sudan on that country's use of detention centres.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	220753
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>We have consistently made clear to the Government of Sudan our expectation that all detainees will be treated in accordance with international standards and afforded their full legal rights guaranteed in Sudanese law. We have seen no evidence of systemic mistreatment among the general prison population. Following the recent protests we have seen credible evidence of mistreatment of detainees in facilities operated by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS). We strongly urge the Government of Sudan to implement the recommendations of the National Dialogue that relate to the powers of the security services to arrest and detain individuals. Most recently, senior UK officials in Khartoum raised the issue with the Government of Sudan's Europe Director on 13 February. When I met with the Sudanese Foreign Minister on 22 January I conveyed our concern about the Sudan Government's response to protests and emphasised the importance of rule of law and human rights.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 18/02/2019 15:17:58 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1060683

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
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	EU Common Foreign and Security Policy
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 extent of the UK's potential ability to influence European foreign policy after the UK has left the EU and no longer attends meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Exeter
tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
uin	220749
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/02/2019 answer text <p>UK and EU partners will continue to face the same threats and share the same priorities. The UK will leave the formal structures of EU Common Foreign and Security Policy, including meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council, but the Political Declaration sets out a new model of cooperation that will enable us to continue to cooperate closely on foreign and security policy issues, where in our mutual interest. This will provide mutual influence between independent actors. We hear repeatedly from our EU partners that they want to cooperate closely with us, a desire shared by this Government. We will continue to do this bilaterally, as well as through European and international fora, and multilateral bodies, during and after the Implementation Period.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 20/02/2019 16:30:06 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

1060684

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
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	Sanctions
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 extent of potential UK influence on EU sanctions policy after the UK has left the EU.
tabling member constituency	Exeter
tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
uin	220750
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/02/2019 answer text <p>UK and EU partners will continue to face the same threats, for which sanctions will remain a valuable and effective tool. The UK is a global leader on sanctions and has always played a leading role in the proposal, design and negotiation of EU sanctions. The Political Declaration, setting out the long-term vision for our partnership, envisages continued close UK-EU consultation and cooperation on the development of sanctions where appropriate, while enabling both to pursue independent sanctions policies. During and after the Implementation Period, we will maintain close cooperation and work closely with the EU and EU Member States, in order to ensure that sanctions are designed and implemented effectively. Under the planned Exit arrangements, the UK will be able to impose sanctions using the powers provided by the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 20/02/2019 16:33:05 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

1060729

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
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	Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans she has for another international meeting on ending violence against women in conflict following the Global Summit to end sexual violence in conflict in 2014.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	221013
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>​My noble Friend, Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Prime Minister's Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, will host the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict International Conference from 18-20 November 2019. The conference will celebrate progress, address remaining challenges, and secure further commitments to action, five years on from the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 18/02/2019 17:27:31 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi