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1130720

	registered interest
	date	07/06/2019
	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 his Department is taking to help ensure the protection of Christians from persecution in (a) Africa, (b) the Middle East and (c) East Asia.
	tabling member constituency	Thornbury and Yate
	tabling member printed	Luke Hall
	uin	261520
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2019 answer text <p>​The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief as a universal human right which should be enjoyed by everyone. The Government is deeply concerned about the severity of violations of Freedom of Religion or Belief in many parts of the world. In recent years we have seen reports of a particular rise in the persecution of Christians. The Foreign Secretary recently asked the Bishop of Truro to conduct an independent global review into the persecution of Christians. The review will provide recommendations on the additional practical steps the FCO can take to support persecuted Christians. The Bishop has now submitted his interim report; he will submit his final report in the Summer.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 17/06/2019 15:33:05 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall

1130721

	registered interest
	date	07/06/2019
	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 promote religious tolerance throughout the world.
	tabling member constituency	Thornbury and Yate
	tabling member printed	Luke Hall
	uin	261521
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2019 answer text <p>​The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief as a universal human right which should be enjoyed by everyone. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief leads this work across Government and we regularly raise this issue with governments across the world, through our diplomatic network and at the Human Rights Council and the UN. The UK also funds and supports projects that promote respect for all people of different faiths and none.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 17/06/2019 15:35:59 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall

1130723

	registered interest
	date	07/06/2019
	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 assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing a fund to support persecuted Christians through help with legal fees and access to justice.
	tabling member constituency	Thornbury and Yate
	tabling member printed	Luke Hall
	uin	261523
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2019 answer text <p>We have not made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a fund for legal fees and access to justice. The Foreign Secretary has however launched the independent review of Foreign and Commonwealth Office support for persecuted Christians on 30 January. This review will provide robust recommendations on how the FCO can respond to the persecution of Christians when the final report is submitted in the Summer.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 17/06/2019 15:39:43 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall

1130978

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2019
	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	Hong Kong: 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 discussions his Department has had with representatives of the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	262375
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2019 answer text <p>British diplomats meet people representing the full spectrum of peaceful political views in Hong Kong, in line with normal diplomatic practice.</p><p>Hong Kong citizens are guaranteed the right to freedom of assembly and demonstration under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. Hong Kong's success and stability depend on its high degree of autonomy and respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 17/06/2019 15:11:11 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1130993

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2019
	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	Hong Kong: 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 representations he has made to the Government of People's Republic of China on the suppression of political activists in Hong Kong.
	tabling member constituency	South Antrim
	tabling member printed	Paul Girvan
	uin	262441
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2019 answer text <p>We speak to the Chinese Government at all levels on a range of issues concerning Hong Kong. The British Consul General to Hong Kong discussed political developments in Hong Kong with the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing in April 2019. We also raise Hong Kong in the course of regular dialogue with China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</p><p>We have raised a number of issues relating to the proposals with the Hong Kong Government at senior levels and Chinese officials in Beijing. These include potential implications for our bilateral extradition treaty, as well as the potential consequences for the UK business community and for UK citizens living in or travelling through Hong Kong. We will continue to seek clarity from the authorities on these points.</p><p>The Foreign Secretary and Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chrystia Freeland, issued a Joint Statement on 30 May 2019,which noted concern for the potential effect of the proposals on the large number of UK and Canadian citizens in Hong Kong, on business confidence and on Hong Kong's international reputation. They made clear that any extradition arrangements in Hong Kong should be in line with 'One Country, Two Systems' and fully respect Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy. They also urged the Hong Kong Government to engage meaningfully with Hong Kong's broad range of local and international stakeholders in order to ensure their concerns are fully considered.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 17/06/2019 15:15:25 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4633 label Biography information for Paul Girvan

1131224

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	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	Libya: Migrants
	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 Home Secretary on the number of refugees the Government plans to resettle from detention centres in Libya.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	263145
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2019 answer text <p>The ongoing plight of refugees in Libya is a matter of deep concern for the British Government. A range of interventions, including the focus and scale of the Government's existing resettlement programmes, are regularly discussed between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Home Office. We continue to pressure the Libyan authorities to pursue alternatives to detention and prioritise human rights. I met the Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister last week and pressed the issue.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 17/06/2019 15:23:17 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

1131253

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	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: Internet
	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 plans to make to his Sudanese counterpart on the restoration of access to the internet in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	263044
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2019 answer text <p>​The Foreign Secretary's statement on 6 June called for internet and full media freedom to be restored to avoid escalation. I have also called for the blocking of the internet in Sudan to stop.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 17/06/2019 15:04:38 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1131261

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	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: Demonstrations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what advice his Department has provided to UK embassy staff in Khartoum on attending street demonstrations.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	263045
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2019 answer text <p>​On 5 June the decision was taken to withdraw non-essential British Embassy staff and dependents from Sudan. All British Embassy staff remaining are advised to avoid all protests and street demonstrations. This is in line with the Foreign and Commonwealth office Travel Advice for UK citizens, that advise against 'all but essential travel' to Khartoum and all other remaining areas of Sudan due to developments in the security and political situation, in addition to long-standing existing advice against travel to certain areas of the country.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 17/06/2019 15:07:10 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1131263

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	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: Violence
	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 estimate he has made of the death toll from violence in Khartoum; and what steps he is taking to negotiate a ceasefire between the Transitional Military Council and the Forces for Freedom and Change.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	263046
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2019 answer text <p>The UK continues to engage with a range of opposition, members of the protest movement as well as the Transitional Military Council (TMC) and with those leading the negotiations. The UK, alongside Troika partners Norway and the US, has called for all sides to engage in an inclusive dialogue that leads to a swift, orderly and peaceful transition to civilian rule. On 29 May our Ambassador delivered this message to Yassir Arman of Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) and encouraged all armed movements to return to Sudan and take part in the talks. We have condemned the way that the opposition leaders have since been treated by the TMC since they returned.</p><p>On 4 June in a joint Troika statement, we condemned the recent violent attacks by Sudanese security forces against peaceful protestors in Sudan which left many civilians dead or injured. The death toll has been reported with over 100 people killed that includes 19 children. We also expressed serious concern over TMC's announcement that it would cease negotiations and called for an agreed transfer of power to a civilian-led government. British Embassy Officials in Khartoum have engaged with all elements of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), encouraging them to be inclusive in their approach and seek a realistic compromise. The TMC have promised the release of political prisoners and employees who observed the strike. Talks between the TMC and FFC have resumed via the mediators.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 17/06/2019 15:15:12 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1131266

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	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	Yasir Arman
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has plans to make representations to the Sudanese authorities on allowing Yassir Arman to return to Sudan from his exile in South Sudan.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	263047
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2019 answer text <p>The British Government condemns the arrest and detention of Yasir Arman by the Sudanese security forces. We are aware that Yasir Arman has been deported to South Sudan. We call for his immediate release and for the legitimate demands of Sudanese people to be respected. Violence must not be used, including against opponents. Sudanese people should not be faced with the threat of arbitrary detention or deportation. We consistently made clear to the former Government of Sudan our expectation that all detainees should be treated in accordance with international standards; we continue to call upon the Sudanese authorities to do so.</p><p>On 6 June, I summoned the Sudanese Ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to express the grave concerns of the United Kingdom at the use of violence against civilians by the Sudanese authorities. Our Embassy in Khartoum calls on members of the Transitional Military Council both in public and directly the steps that needed to be taken to improve the situation in Sudan, including the release of all political detainees. We also engage regularly with civil society groups on the issue of detainee treatment.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 17/06/2019 15:19:14 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew