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844020

	registered interest
	date	19/02/2018
	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: Religious 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 recent assessment he has made of the level of religious freedom in Sudan; and what steps he is taking to help promote the right to freedom of religion or belief in that country.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	128136
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2018 answer text <p>Sudan remains a Human Rights Priority Country for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. We remain concerned about infringements and restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, including restrictions on Christian school opening days, and the demolition of churches. We consistently raise our concerns with the Government of Sudan, most recently in meetings with senior Government officials on 11 February. Promoting freedom of religion or belief as a means of enhancing tolerance and inclusion will remain a key part of our ongoing engagement with the Government of Sudan.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 27/02/2018 16:25:24 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1056018

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2019
	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	Zimbabwe: Human Rights
	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 level of human rights violations that have recently taken place in Zimbabwe.
	tabling member constituency	Woking
	tabling member printed	Mr Jonathan Lord
	uin	217580
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2019 answer text <p>Figures from the respected Zimbabwe Human Rights Non-Government Organisations (NGO) Forum and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission suggest at least 17 deaths, 81 gunshot injuries and many hundreds of other injuries. They also recorded at least 17 incidents of sexual assault by security forces and 873 arrests and detentions.</p><p>I summoned the Zimbabwean Ambassador on 17 January and spoke to Foreign Minister Moyo on 30 January, to express our concern at the ongoing situation, urge the security forces to stop using disproportionate force, and to investigate any cases of alleged human rights violations.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 13/02/2019 15:02:52 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
	tabling member	4090 label Biography information for Mr Jonathan Lord

1079338

	registered interest
	date	28/02/2019
	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: Arrests
	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 his Sudanese counterpart on recent reports of the arrest by the Sudan police of fourteen academics in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Woking
	tabling member printed	Mr Jonathan Lord
	uin	227100
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2019 answer text <p>We are aware of an incident in February during which a number of academics were arrested by Sudan's security services following a protest outside the University of Khartoum. We understand that these individuals were released within 24 hours. The UK has made frequent representations to the Government of Sudan through official engagement in Khartoum, public messaging and at Ministerial levels, urging the authorities to respect in full the right of the Sudanese people to protest. We continue to call for the immediate release of all of those detained as a result of protests, and for them to be treated in accordance with international standards.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 08/03/2019 09:22:46 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
	tabling member	4090 label Biography information for Mr Jonathan Lord

1038003

	registered interest
	date	08/01/2019
	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	Forced Marriage
	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 he has made of the number of victims of forced marriages who have signed emergency loan agreements in each of the last 10 years; and of those people how many have (a) not repaid within six months and (b) been charged the additional 10 per cent surcharge; and what the total value of those surcharges is.
	tabling member constituency	Witham
	tabling member printed	Priti Patel
	uin	206334
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2019 answer text <p>The UK is a world-leader in the fight to tackle out the brutal practice of forced marriage, with our joint Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) which leads efforts to combat it both at home and abroad. After careful consideration, the Foreign Secretary has decided that victims of forced marriage who are helped to return to the UK by the FMU will no longer be asked to take out a loan for their repatriation costs.</p><p>From now on, none of those who are assisted by the FMU - and would previously have been offered a loan - will have to cover the costs of their repatriation. Where possible, the Government will continue to seek to ensure the costs fall on the perpetrators by means of Forced Marriage Protection Orders.</p><p>The Government has also agreed to ensure that those victims who have outstanding loans will have no further cost fall to them. Their passports will also be unblocked.</p><p>The FMU provides support and advice for victims, those at risk, and professionals, through its public helpline. The support offered ranges from providing information and guidance to organising rescue and repatriation to the UK for victims overseas.</p><p>Between 2012-2017, the FMU supported almost 1,500 victims of forced marriage who were overseas, of whom 52 took loans. There were nine cases where surcharges were added. The total value of the surcharges was £588.26.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin grouped question UIN 206338 question first answered 11/01/2019 13:45:01 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
	tabling member	4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel

1038007

	registered interest
	date	08/01/2019
	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	British Nationals Abroad: Forced Marriage
	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 publish the Government policy on assistance available to repatriate British nationals who have been the victims of forced marriages; on what date it was decided that those people should enter into emergency loan agreements if they do not have the resources to fund travel themselves; and if he will change the policy to ensure that victims of forced marriage are exempt from reliance on emergency loan agreements.
	tabling member constituency	Witham
	tabling member printed	Priti Patel
	uin	206338
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2019 answer text <p>The UK is a world-leader in the fight to tackle out the brutal practice of forced marriage, with our joint Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) which leads efforts to combat it both at home and abroad. After careful consideration, the Foreign Secretary has decided that victims of forced marriage who are helped to return to the UK by the FMU will no longer be asked to take out a loan for their repatriation costs.</p><p>From now on, none of those who are assisted by the FMU - and would previously have been offered a loan - will have to cover the costs of their repatriation. Where possible, the Government will continue to seek to ensure the costs fall on the perpetrators by means of Forced Marriage Protection Orders.</p><p>The Government has also agreed to ensure that those victims who have outstanding loans will have no further cost fall to them. Their passports will also be unblocked.</p><p>The FMU provides support and advice for victims, those at risk, and professionals, through its public helpline. The support offered ranges from providing information and guidance to organising rescue and repatriation to the UK for victims overseas.</p><p>Between 2012-2017, the FMU supported almost 1,500 victims of forced marriage who were overseas, of whom 52 took loans. There were nine cases where surcharges were added. The total value of the surcharges was £588.26.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin grouped question UIN 206334 question first answered 11/01/2019 13:45:01 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
	tabling member	4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel

1038009

	registered interest
	date	08/01/2019
	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	British Nationals Abroad: Forced Marriage
	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 he has made of the total cost to the Official Development Assistance budget of supporting UK nationals who are victims of forced marriages.
	tabling member constituency	Witham
	tabling member printed	Priti Patel
	uin	206340
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2019 answer text <p>​No Official Development Assistance budget is used to support UK nationals who are victims of forced marriages.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 15/01/2019 16:38:14 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
	tabling member	4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel

1052429

	registered interest
	date	01/02/2019
	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	Forced Marriage: Repatriation
	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 people in forced marriages his Department has helped to repatriate in each of the last ten years broken down by country; and how many of those people have (a) signed emergency loan agreements, (b) been given financial assistance without needing to sign emergency loan agreements.
	tabling member constituency	Witham
	tabling member printed	Priti Patel
	uin	215575
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2019 answer text <p>Repatriation data was not recorded separately prior to 2016. Estimates for 2016 and 2017 (latest year for which estimates are available) are as follows:</p><p>2016: Forced Marriage Unit assisted 57 repatriations: 21 from Pakistan; 8 from Bangladesh; remaining 26 from 16 different countries. 17of those who were assisted signed an emergency loan agreement.</p><p>2017: Forced Marriage Unit assisted 29 repatriations: 12 from Pakistan; 12 from Somalia; remaining 5 from 4 different countries. 9 of those who were assisted signed an emergency loan agreement.</p><p>There are different routes available for funding repatriation costs which differ according to age and individual circumstances, including whether a Forced Marriage Protection Order has been made. The Forced Marriage Unit do not keep a record of the different funding routes used by victims. Prior to 9 January 2019, emergency loans were offered to some adults to assist with repatriation costs as a last resort. As from 9 January, no victim of forced marriage helped to return to the UK by the Forced Marriage Unit will be asked to take out a loan for their repatriation costs. The Government has agreed to ensure that those victims who have outstanding loans will have no further cost fall to them.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 06/02/2019 16:28:34 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
	tabling member	4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel

926900

	registered interest
	date	19/06/2018
	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	Zimbabwe: 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 assessment the Government has made of the effect of President Mnangagwa’s first six months in office in Zimbabwe on relations with UK.
	tabling member constituency	West Lancashire
	tabling member printed	Rosie Cooper
	uin	155228
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2018 answer text <p>The British Government welcomes President Mnangagwa's commitment to political and economic reform. As we have made clear, including in the Foreign Secretary's meeting with Foreign Minister Moyo on 20 April, the Zimbabwe Government must deliver the free, fair and peaceful elections that the people of Zimbabwe deserve. Genuine reforms will enable the UK and the wider international community better to support Zimbabwe's recovery.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 25/06/2018 16:01:08 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
	tabling member	1538 label Biography information for Rosie Cooper

1010317

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2018
	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	Central African Republic: Peacekeeping Operations
	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 efficacy of the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSCA in protecting civilian security, life, and rights in the Central African Republic, and what assessment he has made of the effect of (a) troop levels, (b) resourcing levels, and (c) the temporary nature of the mandate, in determining that level of efficacy in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	West Ham
	tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
	uin	192907
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2018 answer text <p>​The UK commends MINUSCA's efforts to respond to, and stop, the violence and uphold its mandate to protect civilians. In order to achieve peace in the Central African Republic, efforts to stabilise the country in the short term must go hand in hand with longer-term progress on reconciliation, justice, and peace-building.</p><p>We are committed to working within the UN Security Council to ensure that MINUSCA can deliver support to the AU Peace Initiative as part of its mandate.</p><p>As part of the latest mandate renewal process, the UN Secretary General recommended maintaining the mission's current troop ceiling. The UN General Assembly agreed a gross budget of US$930 million for MINUSCA for the current UN peacekeeping financial year. The UK contributes 5.8 per cent, which for the last UK financial year amounted to £40.5 million.</p><p>Separately, I am aware of the death of a Tanzanian soldier on 16 November, serving with MINUSCA forces in CAR. I have passed on my condolences to the government of Tanzania.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 26/11/2018 16:51:35 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
	tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1121755

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2019
	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	The Gambia: Corruption
	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 an assessment of the current efficiency of anti-corruption measures in The Gambia.
	tabling member constituency	West Ham
	tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
	uin	245741
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2019 answer text <p>Corruption undermines the rule of law and democracy and damages trust in government, the efficient use of public resources and national security. It corrodes the fabric of society and creates barriers to doing business. The UK is committed to tackling corruption both at home and overseas, as set out in the UK anti-corruption strategy 2017-2022. Corruption in The Gambia was rife under the regime of former President Yahya Jammeh. A recent report by the Organized Crime and Corruption Project (OCCRP) highlighted that potentially up to US$1billion of state assets may have been stolen by Jammeh. The Gambia’s Commission of Inquiry, investigating assets stolen by Jammeh, has also recently submitted its report to the Government. We urge the Government of The Gambia to act on the findings of the reports, ensuring due process is followed. Corruption remains a concern in The Gambia, however the new Government has shown a welcome commitment to trying to stamp it out. A draft Anti-Corruption Bill will include proposals for the establishment of an Anti-Corruption Commission and is awaiting Cabinet approval. The Bill will also seek to provide effective measures for the eradication, suppression and prevention of corruption and corrupt practices in both private and public life in The Gambia. The UK would welcome the establishment of an Anti-Corruption Commission. ​</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 29/04/2019 16:21:01 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
	tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown