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91981

	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	Senkaku Islands
	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 participated in discussions on resolving tensions between the People's Republic of China and Japan over the Senkaku Islands; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
	uin	209363
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2014 answer text <p>Whilst the UK does not take a position on the underlying question of sovereignty, we have a clear interest in maintaining regional peace and stability. We have urged both China and Japan to resolve the matter peacefully and in accordance with international law.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 16/10/2014 13:57:20 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
	tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

92563

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2014
	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	Baltic States
	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 given assurances to the Baltic States about the UK's commitment to (a) the NATO alliance and (b) their territorial integrity; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
	uin	209916
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2014 answer text <p>At the Wales Summit the Alliance reaffirmed its commitment to meet treaty obligations to any member under threat. A key UK objective for the Wales Summit was to provide greater reassurance to Eastern Allies as part of a robust response to Russia. The Summit launched a “Readiness Action Plan” which includes a continuous pattern activity in the air, on land and at sea, on a rotational basis. The Summit also agreed a new “spearhead unit” within the NATO Response Force, which will be able to deploy at very short notice. At the Summit, the Prime Minister, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), announced that the UK offer would be a Battle Group and a Brigade HQ. In addition to this, the UK deployed RAF Typhoons to NATO’s standing peacetime Baltic Air Policing Mission in May 2014 and provided E3-D support and 3500 troops for exercises in Eastern Europe before the end of 2015. These actions demonstrate the UK‘s continuing commitment to our eastern Allies, including the Baltic States, as we safeguard the freedom and security of all Allies by political and military means. I underlined the UK’s strong support when I met Foreign Ministers Linas Linkevičius and Urmas Paet at the Wales Summit.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 16/10/2014 12:43:05 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
	tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

92919

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2014
	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	Private Finance Initiative
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the total private finance initiative liabilities of his Department are for the next 20 years; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
	uin	210089
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has only one private finance initiative liability. This is in relation to the British Embassy in Berlin. The FCO Berlin Private Finance Initiative (PFI) liability (the Unitary Payment) expires in June 2030. The Unitary Payment under the PFI agreement is annually indexed using an agreed index formula. The value of the PFI is commercially sensitive, as the release of such information would likely be commercially disadvantageous to the FCO when tendering future contracts as part of the initiative.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 20/10/2014 16:31:53 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

92232

	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	Armed Conflict: Children
	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 African Union governments to end the recruitment of children into the national armed forces of countries where this practice takes place; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
	uin	209687
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>The UK Government is committed to helping countries end the recruitment and use of children in conflict. <br> <br>During the United Nations General Assembly in New York, I hosted a Ministerial roundtable, chaired by the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict, Ms Leila Zerrougui. The event brought together Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Yemen and African Union (AU) Commissioner for Peace and Security, Mr Smail Chergui.</p><p>The meeting looked at ways to end the recruitment and use of children in conflict by government forces, particularly through the implementation of UN Action Plans. It allowed countries that have successfully ended this practice to share lessons with those who are working towards this goal.</p><p>The roundtable built on an event during the End Sexual Violence in Conflict Summit in London in June, led by my Honourable friend Mark Simmonds MP, where Ministers from Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia underlined their commitment to ending the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict.</p><p>The UK is also the majority funder of a Child Protection Adviser at the AU. This post is designed to ensure child protection policies are mainstreamed in AU peace enforcement operations on the continent.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 29/10/2014 14:43:10 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	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

91976

	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	China: Taiwan
	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 dialogue between the People's Republic of China and Taiwan; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
	uin	209360
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2014 answer text <p>The UK considers that the issue of cross-Strait relations should be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Strait. Her Majesty's Government welcomes recent improvements in relations.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 16/10/2014 13:43:56 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
	tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

89604

	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	Solomon Islands
	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 the Solomon Islands; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
	uin	207226
	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 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

89642

	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	Seychelles
	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 the Seychelles; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
	uin	207084
	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 207085 207086 207087 207093 207094 207095 207141 207168 207169 207170 207171 207189 207190 207191 207192 207205 207206 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 14:17:16 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
	tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

89654

	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	Maldives
	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 the Maldives; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
	uin	207171
	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 207189 207190 207191 207192 207205 207206 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 14:17:19 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
	tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby