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1226931

	registered interest
	date	21/07/2020
	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	Hezbollah and Yemen: Weapons
	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 effectiveness of UN Security Council resolutions (a) 1540, (b) 1701 and (c) 2216 in prohibiting the proliferation of weapons to Hezbollah and the Houthis.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	77765
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2020 answer text <p>The UK remains concerned by reports that Hizballah continues to amass an arsenal of weapons in breach of UN Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701. We regularly raise this at the UN Security Council, and we call on all parties to abide by the provisions of the relevant UNSCRs. The UK is also concerned that, according to the UN Panel of Experts on Yemen, military equipment of Iranian origin was introduced into Yemen after the imposition of the targeted arms embargo, in violation of Security Council Resolution 2216 (2015). This reaffirms our concerns about destabilising Iranian activity in Yemen and the wider region.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly grouped question UIN 77766 question first answered 01/09/2020 13:19:47 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1226933

	registered interest
	date	21/07/2020
	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	Hezbollah and Yemen: Weapons
	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 his Department has made of the (a) weapons arsenals and (b) origin of weaponry of (i) Hezbollah and (ii) the Houthis.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	77766
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2020 answer text <p>The UK remains concerned by reports that Hizballah continues to amass an arsenal of weapons in breach of UN Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701. We regularly raise this at the UN Security Council, and we call on all parties to abide by the provisions of the relevant UNSCRs. The UK is also concerned that, according to the UN Panel of Experts on Yemen, military equipment of Iranian origin was introduced into Yemen after the imposition of the targeted arms embargo, in violation of Security Council Resolution 2216 (2015). This reaffirms our concerns about destabilising Iranian activity in Yemen and the wider region.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly grouped question UIN 77765 question first answered 01/09/2020 13:19:47 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1200661

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2020
	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	Iran: UN Resolutions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2020 to Question 49098 on Iran: Arms Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of UN Security Council Resolutions 2231, 1540, 2216 and 1701 in tackling Iran’s regional threat.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	54996
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2020 answer text <p>We have long been clear about our concerns over Iran's continued destabilising activity throughout the region. As part of this, we have significant and longstanding concerns, alongside our international partners, over Iran's ballistic missile programme, which poses a further threat to regional security. Reports that Iran has carried out a satellite launch - using ballistic missile technology - are of significant concern and inconsistent with UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which calls on Iran not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering a nuclear weapon. Iran must abide by this.</p><p>We remain concerned about the activities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the revelation it has developed an independent military space launch capability, and call on Iran urgently to cease all forms of destabilising activity. We regularly examine options and activity to address these issues and call on Iran to fully comply with UNSCRs 2231, 1540, 2216 and 1701.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 11/06/2020 14:39:45 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1200662

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2020
	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	Marine Environment: Treaties
	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 ensure that a new UN high seas treaty to protect ocean biodiversity and conservation is negotiated in 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	54997
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2020 answer text <p>The FCO and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have been closely involved in the negotiation of a new Implementing Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction - the BBNJ Agreement - as an important step forward in addressing the challenges that the ocean faces. The UK is pressing for an ambitious Agreement. It will be a key mechanism in enabling the designation of at least 30 per cent of the global ocean as Marine Protected Areas by 2030.</p><p>Unfortunately, due to the impacts of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the fourth session of the Inter-Governmental Conference, scheduled for 23 March to 3 April in New York, was postponed. The UK is supportive of re-scheduling the fourth session for the earliest possible opportunity that will enable all delegations to be present for the negotiations in New York. The UK also strongly supports intersessional work, which is vital to ensure that we maintain momentum towards the successful conclusion of these important negotiations.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 12/06/2020 13:13:26 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1197069

	registered interest
	date	19/05/2020
	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	Iran: Arms Trade
	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 regional threat posed by Iran re-entering the arms market following the expiration of the UN conventional arms embargo in October 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	49098
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/06/2020 answer text <p>The UK remains committed to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA), a reciprocal deal that lifts sanctions in exchange for tough nuclear limits. Iran has broken the nuclear limits in the JCPoA and we are working to bring Iran back into compliance through the deal's Dispute Resolution Mechanism.</p><p>United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2231, which underpins the JCPoA, includes a number of clauses designed to allow sanctions to expire on fixed dates: the UN conventional arms embargo is due to expire in October 2020. We have repeatedly set out concerns about Iranian destabilising behaviour, including proliferation to non-state actors. UNSCRs 1540, 2216 and 1701, which prohibit the proliferation of weapons to the Houthis and Lebanese Hizballah, will remain in place after the arms embargo expires. The EU arms embargo and UN ballistic missile restrictions will also remain in place until 2023. We are consulting partners on the broader implications of the UN arms embargo expiry and encourage all states to implement national export control best practice.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 03/06/2020 16:42:52 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1188961

	registered interest
	date	21/04/2020
	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: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many emergency repatriation loans have been paid; and what the total value is of those loans.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	38519
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2020 answer text <p>British nationals and UK residents who are overseas and wish to return to the UK, but cannot afford travel costs and have exhausted all other options for getting funds to return home, may apply for an emergency loan from the government as a last resort. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) usually issues around 250 emergency repatriation loans per year. We estimate that over 750 loans have been issued this year with an approximate total value of over £100,000. Some loans are still being processed. Since 7 April, the FCO has been working with Corporate Travel Management (CTM), which is authorised to administer such loans on behalf of the FCO, to extend the FCO's capacity to consider loan requests from British nationals.</p><p>The welfare of British nationals remains our top priority, and we remain committed to ensuring that British travellers around the globe are able to return home.</p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams question first answered 01/05/2020 07:55:52 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1188962

	registered interest
	date	21/04/2020
	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 Overseas Territories: Coronavirus
	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 support the British Overseas Territories during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	38520
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2020 answer text <p>The UK Government is firmly committed to supporting the Overseas Territories in dealing with Covid-19. Baroness Sugg (Minister for the Overseas Territories) is in regular contact with the political leaders and Governors of the Territories, to understand the situation on the ground and identify how the UK Government can best support them. The impact of the pandemic on the Territories varies, and our support is being calibrated accordingly. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development are leading a cross-Whitehall effort, working closely with the Overseas Territories governments to provide support across the key areas we have identified, of healthcare, economy, security and access.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 30/04/2020 14:06:55 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1167485

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2019
	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	Syria: British Nationals Abroad
	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 care needs of British children trapped in north-east Syria.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	7789
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2019 answer text <p>​The UK has no consular presence within Syria from which to assess the needs of or provide assistance to British children, but we carefully consider all requests for consular assistance on a case by case basis. The Foreign Secretary has made clear that the Government will seek to assist any British unaccompanied minors and orphans in Syria who are brought to our attention, where feasible and subject to national security concerns.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 05/11/2019 10:09:14 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1150476

	registered interest
	date	17/10/2019
	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	Syria: Children
	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 had discussions with the Kurdish authorities on their ability to deliver repatriated children to the Syrian border.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	1761
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2019 answer text <p>Officials have discussed the evacuation and repatriation of British orphans and unaccompanied minors with representatives of the civilian de facto authorities in north east Syria on several occasions, most recently on 21 October. Any repatriation will be subject to national security concerns.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 24/10/2019 13:32:37 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1121728

	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	Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
	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 that Administration's decision to classify Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organisation.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	245937
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2019 answer text <p>We regularly engage with the US on Iran policy at a variety of levels, including through a visit to Washington by our Ambassador to Iran last month.</p><p>We have long expressed our deep concerns about the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC's) destablising activity both within and outside Iran, including its illicit economic activity and its role in Iran's ballistic missile development and support to non-state groups around the region.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 25/04/2019 14:37:43 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1111234

	registered interest
	date	10/04/2019
	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	Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
	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 involvement of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in terrorist activity in the region.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	243542
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government is deeply concerned by Iran's destabilising involvement in regional conflicts, including in Syria and Yemen, through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and IRGC Qods Force, and by reported financial and military support to militant and proscribed groups, such as Hizballah and the Houthis. The Foreign Secretary raised these concerns directly during his visit to Iran last November.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 15/04/2019 13:27:17 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1082718

	registered interest
	date	06/03/2019
	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	Gaza: Israel
	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 Israeli counterpart on (a) Gazan patients allegedly using medical permits to smuggle weapons or explosives into Israel at the behest of Hamas and (b) the extent of fraudulent applications for medical permits by Gazans.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	229271
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2019 answer text <p>​While we are aware of the background behind the question, we have not specifically raised this issue with the Israeli Government. We strongly condemn all acts of terrorism and call upon Hamas and other terrorist groups to permanently end their incitement and rocket fire against Israel. We are also aware that Israeli restrictions severely restrict the movement of medical professionals and patients in Gaza, hampering the provision of quality health services. Our Embassy to Israel regularly raises the matter of medical permits with the Israeli authorities.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 14/03/2019 17:30:54 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1061016

	registered interest
	date	14/02/2019
	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: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if his Department will assess the merits of the conclusions and recommendations of the report entitled, No Choice: It takes a world to end the use of child soldiers, published by World Vision International in February 2019; and what steps his Department is taking to protect children at risk of recruitment by armed forces and his groups.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	221786
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/02/2019 answer text <p>​The UK government actively engages with civil society organisations, recognising that collaborative engagement can strengthen the protection of children in armed conflict. On 12 February 2019, the International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon met four youth participants from World Vision UK's newly launched campaign entitled '<em>It takes a World...To End Violence Against Children'</em>, to discuss their views and recommendations for government action regarding the use of children in armed forces and groups. The UK government recognises the importance of amplifying young people's voices and the powerful impact this can have in raising the profile of the Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) Agenda. The UK government therefore continues to engage with World Vision on this agenda. An invitation has been extended to World Vision to present at the newly established cross-government Working Group on CAAC.</p><p> </p><p>The UK is an active member of the United Nations Working Group on CAAC, which leads the international response to the issue of child soldiers and child protection. This includes pressing those parties to conflict listed in the UN Secretary-General's annual report on CAAC to enter into concrete action plans with the UN to verify and release any child soldiers associated with armed groups and forces and to prevent re-recruitment. The UK is the largest single financial contributor to the office of the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for CAAC, contributing £800,000 in the last five years. We have shown our support for the SRSG's recently launched Global Coalition for Reintegration (GCR) by joining the 'Friends of Reintegration' group, a forum to generate new ideas for supporting reintegration programmes and prevention of re-recruitment for children formerly associated with armed groups. The UK has confirmed it will be increasing its funding to the office of the SRSG for CAAC to £450,000 for the FY19/20 to continue assisting the SRSG with her current mandate and will be giving an additional £50,000 to fund extended activities pertaining to the GCR.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 20/02/2019 16:39:47 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1058904

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2019
	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: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office, what programmes his Department (a) promotes and (b) funds to rehabilitate and reintegrate former child soldiers into their communities.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	219527
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2019 answer text <p>​The UK is firmly committed to ending the recruitment and use of child soldiers and to protecting all children affected by armed conflict.</p><p>The UK is an active member of the United Nations Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), which leads the international response to the issue of child soldiers and child protection. This includes pressing those parties to conflict listed in the UN Secretary-General's annual report on CAAC to enter into concrete action plans with the UN to verify and release any child soldiers associated with armed groups and forces and to prevent re-recruitment. We apply diplomatic pressure to listed governments and armed groups, and fund projects to help protect and rehabilitate vulnerable children. We also press for the inclusion of child protection in peacekeeping responses through UN mandate renewals and resolutions.</p><p>The UK is the largest single financial contributor to the office of the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for CAAC contributing £800,000 in the last five years. We have shown our support for the SRSG's recently launched Global Coalition for Reintegration (GCR) by joining the 'Friends of Reintegration' group, a forum to generate new ideas for supporting reintegration programmes for children formerly associated with armed groups. The GCR is working to provide more reliable funding to ensure higher quality, longer-term reintegration programming and prevention of re-recruitment for all children formerly recruited and used by armed groups and forces. The UK has confirmed that it will be increasing its funding to the office of the SRSG for CAAC to £450,000 for the FY19/20 to continue assisting the SRSG with her current mandate, and will be giving an additional £50,000 to fund extended activities pertaining to the GCR.</p><p>In 2018, the UK endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration, a political commitment to reduce the impact of conflict on education, and the Vancouver Principles, a political commitment to ensure that child protection and preventing the recruitment and use of children by armed forces and armed groups are operational priorities during the conduct of United Nations peace operations. As a member of the Group of Friends of CAAC in Geneva, we also participated in a joint statement to the 37th session of the Human Rights Council in March 2018, in which we reiterated our strong support for the mandate of the SRSG for CAAC. We worked very closely with Sweden and others to agree Resolution 2427 adopted by the UN Security Council in July 2018, to strengthen protection mechanisms for children in armed conflict.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field grouped question UIN 219529 question first answered 19/02/2019 16:24:51 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1058905

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2019
	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	Central African Republic: Armed Conflict
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office, what steps his Department is taking to prevent the recruitment of children by (a) armed forces and (b) groups in the Central African Republic.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	219528
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2019 answer text <p>​The UK recognises the recruitment of children by armed groups is a significant problem in the Central African Republic (CAR). Partners of the Department for International Development (DFID) based in CAR integrate child protection principles throughout all programmes, ensuring that the dignity and safety of children is paramount in all services. We were the fourth largest donor to the CAR Humanitarian Response in 2018 and the largest donor to the CAR Humanitarian Fund. Through the CAR Humanitarian Fund, 59,318 (16,000 DFID attributable) girls and boys were supported with protection focussed activities, including 11,420 (3,083 DFID attributable) children with identification, documentation, tracing and reunification support. 31,309 (8,453 DFID attributable) children also benefitted from psychological support activities, protection mechanism and life-saving message training while 176 teachers and parents were trained on psychosocial support.</p><p>UNICEF has reported that since 2014 approximately 13,000 children have been released from armed groups in CAR. The UK is also funding War Child UK to reach conflict-affected boys and girls in CAR and help them to receive education and psychosocial support, integral services for facilitating recruitment prevention. Through our humanitarian partners in CAR, we will continue to monitor the situation on the ground to prevent more children from being recruited into armed groups.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 19/02/2019 16:30:16 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1058906

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2019
	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: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office , what funding his Department has allocated to programmes to prevent the recruitment of children by armed forces and groups.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	219529
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2019 answer text <p>​The UK is firmly committed to ending the recruitment and use of child soldiers and to protecting all children affected by armed conflict.</p><p>The UK is an active member of the United Nations Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), which leads the international response to the issue of child soldiers and child protection. This includes pressing those parties to conflict listed in the UN Secretary-General's annual report on CAAC to enter into concrete action plans with the UN to verify and release any child soldiers associated with armed groups and forces and to prevent re-recruitment. We apply diplomatic pressure to listed governments and armed groups, and fund projects to help protect and rehabilitate vulnerable children. We also press for the inclusion of child protection in peacekeeping responses through UN mandate renewals and resolutions.</p><p>The UK is the largest single financial contributor to the office of the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for CAAC contributing £800,000 in the last five years. We have shown our support for the SRSG's recently launched Global Coalition for Reintegration (GCR) by joining the 'Friends of Reintegration' group, a forum to generate new ideas for supporting reintegration programmes for children formerly associated with armed groups. The GCR is working to provide more reliable funding to ensure higher quality, longer-term reintegration programming and prevention of re-recruitment for all children formerly recruited and used by armed groups and forces. The UK has confirmed that it will be increasing its funding to the office of the SRSG for CAAC to £450,000 for the FY19/20 to continue assisting the SRSG with her current mandate, and will be giving an additional £50,000 to fund extended activities pertaining to the GCR.</p><p>In 2018, the UK endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration, a political commitment to reduce the impact of conflict on education, and the Vancouver Principles, a political commitment to ensure that child protection and preventing the recruitment and use of children by armed forces and armed groups are operational priorities during the conduct of United Nations peace operations. As a member of the Group of Friends of CAAC in Geneva, we also participated in a joint statement to the 37th session of the Human Rights Council in March 2018, in which we reiterated our strong support for the mandate of the SRSG for CAAC. We worked very closely with Sweden and others to agree Resolution 2427 adopted by the UN Security Council in July 2018, to strengthen protection mechanisms for children in armed conflict.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field grouped question UIN 219527 question first answered 19/02/2019 16:24:52 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1058907

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2019
	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: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office, what assessment his Department has made on the effectiveness of steps by the international community to reintegrate and rehabilitate children previously recruited by armed forces and groups.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	219530
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2019 answer text <p>The UK is firmly committed to ending the recruitment and use of child soldiers and to protecting all children affected by armed conflict.</p><p>To mark the International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers (Red Hand Day), the UK took part in an UN Security Council (UNSC) Arria meeting on protecting children in shrinking humanitarian spaces. The UK called for better integration of the Children and Armed Conflict portfolio into UNSC country specific discussions and for all states to sign up to the key international commitments traversing this CAAC portfolio: the Paris Principles, the Vancouver Principles and the Safe Schools Declaration. The UK also highlighted the importance of mainstreaming child protection in peacekeeping missions and the need to consider whether denial of humanitarian access should be a violation which triggers a listing in the Secretary-General's annual report on CAAC. Sharing experiences on UK engagement on the CAAC agenda with other states serves to open up the humanitarian space and understand how collaborative engagement can strengthen the protection of children in armed conflict. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon also met youth participants in the newly launched World Vision campaign '<em>It takes a World…to end violence against children</em>' to discuss their views and recommendations for the UK government regarding children in armed forces and groups, including how the UK can galvanise the international community to better support this agenda.</p><p>The UK can see a strong case in principle for re-galvanising our approach to reintegration and remains committed to supporting the valuable work of the SRSG's office in this respect. The UK has shown its support for the SRSG's recently launched Global Coalition for Reintegration (GCR) by joining the 'Friends of Reintegration' group, a forum to generate new ideas for supporting reintegration programmes for children formerly associated with armed groups and sharing best practice and lesson learnt with key member states. The GCR is working to provide more reliable funding to ensure higher quality, longer-term reintegration programming and prevention of re-recruitment for all children formerly recruited and used by armed groups and forces. The UK has confirmed that it will be increasing its funding to the office of the SRSG for CAAC to £450,000 for FY19/20 to continue assisting the SRSG with her current mandate and will be giving an additional £50,000 to fund extended activities pertaining to the GCR.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 19/02/2019 16:40:02 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

535528

	registered interest
	date	12/07/2016
	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	Venezuela: Economic Situation
	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 the government of Venezuela on the ongoing economic situation and food shortages in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	Calum Kerr
	uin	42488
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/08/2016 answer text <p>The Government shares the concern of the international community regarding the deteriorating economic and humanitarian situation in Venezuela. We have urged all sides to work constructively together in the best interests of the country and the people of Venezuela. We support the planned dialogue between the Venezuelan Government and Opposition, facilitated by the Union of South American Nations regional body. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials are in contact with their counterparts in the Department for International Development and the EU to discuss what future assistance might be offered, if requested by the Venezuelan Government.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 02/08/2016 13:22:27 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan previous answer version 7702 answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
	tabling member	4379 label Biography information for Calum Kerr

535529

	registered interest
	date	12/07/2016
	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	Venezuela: 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, whether he has made representations to his Venezuelan counterpart on reports of detention without charge, arbitrary detentions, the excessive use of force by security forces and other human rights violations in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	Calum Kerr
	uin	42489
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/08/2016 answer text <p>The Government shares the concern of the international community regarding the deteriorating political situation in Venezuela. The then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), conveyed his concerns at the detention of prominent political opposition figures, and human rights more generally, directly to the Venezuelan Foreign Minister and Deputy Foreign Minister at bilateral meetings held in London during 2015. He has also discussed Venezuela extensively with counterparts from across the region.</p><p>Since 2012, we have funded 22 human rights and democracy projects in Venezuela, with both Government and Non-Government Organisations. These projects have varied from protecting the rights of indigenous people to supporting political dialogue and reconciliation and the promotion of electoral reform.</p><p>Venezuela was designated a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights Priority Country for 2016/2017 in April. This status will allow us to further expand our work on human rights and democracy in the country, including project work with local communities.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 02/08/2016 13:23:55 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan previous answer version 7703 answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
	tabling member	4379 label Biography information for Calum Kerr

535249

	registered interest
	date	11/07/2016
	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	Venezuela: 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 reports he has received on the steps taken by the Venezuelan government in response to shortages of basic commodities and political unrest in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	Calum Kerr
	uin	42299
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/08/2016 answer text <p>The Government shares the concern of the international community regarding the deteriorating political, economic and social situation in Venezuela.</p><p> </p><p>We have urged all sides to work constructively in the best interests of the country and the people of Venezuela. We support the planned dialogue between the Venezuelan Government and Opposition, facilitated by the Union of South American Nations regional body.</p><p> </p><p>We are aware of the acute shortages of basic foods and medicines. On 10 July, parts of Venezuela’s border with Colombia were opened temporarily for the first time since August 2015. This allowed thousands of Venezuelans to cross into Colombia to purchase basic food and medicines. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials are in contact with their counterparts in the Department for International Development and the EU to discuss what future assistance might be offered, if asked by the Venezuelan Government</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 02/08/2016 15:19:44 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
	tabling member	4379 label Biography information for Calum Kerr