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535524

	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	Bangladesh: Terrorism
	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 (a) economic effect and (b) effect on the garment industry in Bangladesh of recent violence in that country.
	tabling member constituency	St Albans
	tabling member printed	Mrs Anne Main
	uin	42491
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/07/2016 answer text <p>Bangladesh’s export market, in particular the ready-made garments sector plays a pivotal role in Bangladesh’s economy. A loss of investor confidence, due to recent violence and attacks against foreign nationals, could adversely harm Bangladesh’s economy and as a consequence its impressive progress towards middle-income status. <br> <br> Extremist related violence is an international problem that requires all countries to work closely together to prevent atrocities and tackle the root causes. Along with the international community we are committed to supporting Bangladesh in this global challenge. As the largest grant aid donor to Bangladesh we continue to address some of the root causes such as poverty and economic marginalisation.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 20/07/2016 16:55:38 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	1568 label Biography information for Mrs Anne Main

535530

	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	Commonwealth: Trade Agreements
	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 his Department has had with other Commonwealth countries on sharing trade negotiating capabilities and resources.
	tabling member constituency	Pendle
	tabling member printed	Andrew Stephenson
	uin	42470
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/07/2016 answer text We have been consulting, and will continue to consult, a broad range of stakeholders, including governments and businesses, on the implications of the referendum result for trade. We have been encouraged by the interest coming from a range of non-EU countries, including some of our closest allies. Across government, we are preparing options for our future trade policy for the Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) to consider. We are also rapidly building civil service capacity and capability on trade. answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 20/07/2016 16:17:37 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson

536143

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2016
	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	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, if he will provide support to overseas students who convert to Christianity in the UK to ensure they are not persecuted for their religious beliefs when they return to their country of origin.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	42608
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2016 answer text <p>The UK is a staunch defender of the right to freedom of religion or belief internationally. We believe that societies where freedom of religion or belief is protected are fairer, more tolerant and better able to resist extremist ideologies.</p><p>With this in mind, we actively lobby governments for changes to laws and practices that discriminate against individuals on the basis of their religion or belief.</p><p>In many cases students have access to alumni networks, often supported or endorsed by the British Embassy, once they have returned to their country of origin. Such networks can offer moral and practical support in times of need.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 22/07/2016 13:42:45 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

536149

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2016
	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	Kashmir: 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 he has had with the governments of (a) India and (b) Pakistan on the current situation in Kashmir.
	tabling member constituency	Walsall South
	tabling member printed	Valerie Vaz
	uin	42655
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/07/2016 answer text The former Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire) was deeply saddened by recent reports of unrest in Kashmir, and offered his condolences to the victims and their families. Our High Commission in Delhi is monitoring the situation closely and we have updated our travel advice. The Pakistani Foreign Secretary briefed our High Commissioner along with other P5 Ambassadors on Pakistan’s views on the current situation in Kashmir on 12 July. answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 19/07/2016 16:29:07 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4076 label Biography information for Valerie Vaz

536269

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2016
	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	International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance
	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 list the UK representatives appointed to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Northfield
	tabling member printed	Richard Burden
	uin	42733
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2016 answer text <p>The list of the members of the UK delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) is available on the country pages of the IHRA website. The current UK delegation is:</p><p>Sir Eric Pickles (UK Envoy for Post Holocaust Issues) – Head of Delegation <br>Sue Breeze (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) – Deputy Head of Delegation <br>Karen Hamling (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) – Deputy Head of Delegation <br>Samantha Abrahams (Holocaust Educational Trust) - Communication Working Group <br>Paula Cowan (University of the West of Scotland - Faculty of Education, Health and Social Sciences, School of Education) – Academic Working Group <br>Alan Fell (JW3 - Jewish Community Centre London) – Education Working Group <br>Trudy Gold (JW3 - Jewish Community Centre London) <br>Jerold Gotel (JW3 - Jewish Community Centre London) – Education Working Group <br>Ben Helfgott (’45 Aid Society of Holocaust Survivors) – Museums and Memorials Working Group <br>Olivia Marks-Woldman (Holocaust Memorial Day Trust) – Museums and Memorials Working Group <br>Alex Maws (Holocaust Educational Trust) – Education Working Group <br>Michael Newman (Association of Jewish Refugees) – Communication Working Group <br>Alice Pettigrew (Institute of Education, University of London) – Education Working Group <br>Karen Pollock (Holocaust Educational Trust) – Education Working Group <br>Paul Salmons (Institute of Education, University of London) – Education Working Group</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 29/07/2016 14:53:14 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma previous answer version 7522 answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan answering member 343
	tabling member	301 label Biography information for Richard Burden

536270

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2016
	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	International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the UK's representatives on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance were appointed and to whom they report.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Northfield
	tabling member printed	Richard Burden
	uin	42734
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2016 answer text The UK delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance is currently led by Sir Eric Pickles, the UK Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues, appointed in September 2015, who reports to the Minister for Human Rights in the Foreign Office and also to the Prime Minister. There is no formal process for appointing members of the UK delegation. Representatives are drawn from a range of UK non-government organisations and academic institutions, covering Holocaust education, remembrance and research. Delegates are expected to play an active part in the IHRA’s various working groups and committees, including taking part in discussions between formal meetings, and fund their own travel costs. We always welcome expressions of interest from organisations interested in being represented. answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 25/07/2016 13:12:52 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma previous answer version 7524 answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan answering member 343
	tabling member	301 label Biography information for Richard Burden

536275

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2016
	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	International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans the Government has for parliamentary scrutiny of the work of the UK's representatives on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance; and if he will list the (a) dates and (b) means by which its decisions have been reported to Parliament during 2016.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Northfield
	tabling member printed	Richard Burden
	uin	42760
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2016 answer text <p>The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance was established in 1988 as a result of the Stockholm Declaration, which represents a political commitment between signatories, rather than a legal one. Its decisions are not legally binding and have no direct impact on UK legislation, policy or resources. As such there is no formal requirement for parliamentary scrutiny of its <br>decisions. All its activities and decisions are reported in full on its website.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 25/07/2016 13:14:44 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma previous answer version 7525 answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan answering member 343
	tabling member	301 label Biography information for Richard Burden

536462

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2016
	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	Burma: Rohingya
	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 the Myanmar government on steps to prevent hate speech and incitement of violence against Rohingya people in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Luton South
	tabling member printed	Mr Gavin Shuker
	uin	42850
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2016 answer text <p>This is an issue of serious concern in light of the extensive inter-communal violence of 2012 and the large-scale Buddhist nationalist protests seen across Rakhine at the start of July this year. The British Government has repeatedly raised our concerns with the Burmese Government at the highest levels, and will continue to do so. The former Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the member for East Devon (Mr Swire), raised this a number of times, including in July 2015 last year during his visit to Burma, when he also visited Rakhine. We are encouraged to see that the new Burmese Government has started to take real steps to try to defuse tensions in Rakhine while making progress for the Rohingya, including through forming a cross-Government Rakhine committee and re-starting the citizenship verification exercise.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 22/07/2016 13:44:25 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4013 label Biography information for Mr Gavin Shuker

536463

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2016
	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	Burma: Nationality
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Myanmar government on reform of that country's 1982 Citizenship Law.
	tabling member constituency	Luton South
	tabling member printed	Mr Gavin Shuker
	uin	42851
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2016 answer text <p>The British Government’s concerns that Burma’s 1982 citizenship law does not meet international standards is well known. It is clear that a thorough process of legislative and judicial reform is required in Burma. The new Government have formed a parliamentary committee to consider laws that require reform or repeal. That body has produced an initial list of 142 pieces of legislation to be considered. We encourage the new Government to consider the 1982 citizenship law within this exercise.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 22/07/2016 13:46:16 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4013 label Biography information for Mr Gavin Shuker

536464

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2016
	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	Burma: 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 his policy is on supporting an independent investigation with international experts to investigate human rights violations in Rakhine State, Myanmar.
	tabling member constituency	Luton South
	tabling member printed	Mr Gavin Shuker
	uin	42847
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2016 answer text <p>Ms Yanghee Lee, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights Situation in Burma, produces regular reports which assess specifically allegations of human rights violations, particularly in Rakhine. Her role is mandated by annual UN Human Rights Council Resolutions, which the UK continues to support firmly. Additionally, UN High Commissioner Zeid presented a report to the June Human Rights Council in Geneva detailing patterns of violations and abuses committed over a prolonged period of time against the Rohingya and other minorities in Burma</p><p><br>While it is clear that violations and abuses have taken place in Rakhine State, our priority is to encourage the new civilian Government to take urgent steps to: improve security and the humanitarian situation; lift restrictions on freedom of movement; and find a sustainable solution on citizenship.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 22/07/2016 13:55:59 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4013 label Biography information for Mr Gavin Shuker

536465

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2016
	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	Burma: 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 steps he is taking to support the Myanmar government beginning a reconciliation process between different communities and faith groups in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Luton South
	tabling member printed	Mr Gavin Shuker
	uin	42848
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2016 answer text <p>We are extremely concerned by the recent increase in inter-faith tensions in Burma, the violent incidents in Bago and Hpakant and anti-Muslim protests in Rakhine. Our Embassy in Rangoon has raised these concerns in detail with the Burmese authorities, stressing the need to uphold the rule of law for all communities.</p><p>We are promoting peace and reconciliation efforts in Burma through a range of bilateral and multilateral initiatives in support of the peace process, such as the Peace Support Fund and the Joint Peace Fund. We are providing £19 million over five years to the Peace Support Fund and, with a £5 million contribution, we are the largest donor to the multinational Joint Peace Fund. The British Government is one of the biggest humanitarian donors in Rakhine, contributing over £18m since 2012.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 22/07/2016 13:40:41 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4013 label Biography information for Mr Gavin Shuker

536467

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2016
	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	Bangladesh: 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 discussions his Department has had with the government of Bangladesh on tackling levels of violence against minority Hindu communities in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	42822
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2016 answer text <p>The British Government is extremely concerned by the increase in extremist-related violence against a number of minority groups including Hindus in Bangladesh since September 2015. The former Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) most recently talked to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh about countering extremism in the margins of the G7 meeting in Japan on 27 May. The former Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire) raised this with Foreign Minister Ali on 5 July. The British High Commissioner regularly discusses these issues with Bangladesh government ministers.</p><p>We welcome Prime Minister Hasina’s “zero tolerance” approach towards terrorism, but this must be implemented in a way that fully respects the international rights standards that Bangladesh has signed up to and which, as a member of both the Commonwealth and the UN Human Rights Council, it has pledged to uphold.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 42823 question first answered 22/07/2016 13:54:15 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

536468

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2016
	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	Bangladesh: 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 steps his Department is taking to encourage the government of Bangladesh to put perpetrators of violence against religious minorities on trial as soon as possible.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	42823
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2016 answer text <p>The British Government is extremely concerned by the increase in extremist-related violence against a number of minority groups including Hindus in Bangladesh since September 2015. The former Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) most recently talked to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh about countering extremism in the margins of the G7 meeting in Japan on 27 May. The former Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire) raised this with Foreign Minister Ali on 5 July. The British High Commissioner regularly discusses these issues with Bangladesh government ministers.</p><p>We welcome Prime Minister Hasina’s “zero tolerance” approach towards terrorism, but this must be implemented in a way that fully respects the international rights standards that Bangladesh has signed up to and which, as a member of both the Commonwealth and the UN Human Rights Council, it has pledged to uphold.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 42822 question first answered 22/07/2016 13:54:15 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

536680

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2016
	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	China: 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, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2016 to Question 39875, when he plans to hold the next round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	42896
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2016 answer text We continue to press the Chinese authorities for dates for the next round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue. We value the Dialogue to raise the full range of our human rights concerns, but in its absence we raise individual cases of human rights abuse in other meetings. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my noble Friend, the Rt Hon. the Baroness of Anelay of St Johns raised the importance of the Dialogue and two individual cases of concern relating to religious freedoms and minority rights with Fu Ying, chair of China’s National People’s Congress’ Foreign Affairs on 7 July. answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 25/07/2016 13:06:15 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

539560

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2016
	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	Bangladesh: 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 discussions he has had with his counterpart in Bangladesh on tackling increasing levels of violence against minority Hindu communities in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	43157
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/07/2016 answer text <p>The British Government is extremely concerned by the increase in extremist-related violence against a number of minority groups including Hindus in Bangladesh since September 2015. The former Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) most recently talked to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh about countering extremism in the margins of the G7 meeting in Japan on 27 May. The former Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire) raised this with Foreign Minister Ali on 5 July. The British High Commissioner regularly discusses these issues with Bangladesh government ministers. We welcome Prime Minister Hasina’s “zero tolerance” approach towards terrorism, but this must be implemented in a way that fully respects the international rights standards that Bangladesh has signed up to and which, as a member of both the Commonwealth and the UN Human Rights Council, it has pledged to uphold.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 26/07/2016 15:11:01 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

539562

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2016
	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	Bangladesh: 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, if his Department will take steps to encourage the government of Bangladesh to put the perpetrators of violence against religious minorities in the region on trial as soon as possible.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	43156
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/07/2016 answer text <p>The British Government is extremely concerned by the increase in extremist-related violence against a number of minority groups including Hindus in Bangladesh since September 2015. The former Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) most recently talked to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh about countering extremism in the margins of the G7 meeting in Japan on 27 May. The former Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire) raised this with Foreign Minister Ali on 5 July. The British High Commissioner regularly discusses these issues with Bangladesh government ministers. We welcome Prime Minister Hasina’s “zero tolerance” approach towards terrorism, but this must be implemented in a way that fully respects the international rights standards that Bangladesh has signed up to and which, as a member of both the Commonwealth and the UN Human Rights Council, it has pledged to uphold.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 26/07/2016 14:59:42 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

539564

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2016
	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	Kashmir: 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 recent representations he has made to the Indian government to ensure the welfare and safe return of British citizens affected by the curfew in Kashmir.
	tabling member constituency	Bradford West
	tabling member printed	Naz Shah
	uin	43104
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2016 answer text <p>Our High Commission in Delhi is monitoring the situation closely. We have updated our travel advice and encourage British nationals in Kashmir to monitor it. We have not made any representations to the government of India on this issue.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 21/07/2016 16:02:09 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4409 label Biography information for Naz Shah

539571

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2016
	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	Kashmir: Press Freedom
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Indian government on suppression of the press in Kashmir and Jammu.
	tabling member constituency	Burnley
	tabling member printed	Julie Cooper
	uin	42988
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2016 answer text <p>The UK Government has not made any representation to the Government of India on freedom of press in Jammu and Kashmir. We recognise that there are broader human rights concerns in Kashmir. In November 2015, Indian Prime Minister Modi assured the former Prime Minister, my Rt hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) of his commitment to and respect for India’s core values of tolerance and freedom.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 21/07/2016 16:00:00 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4405 label Biography information for Julie Cooper

539573

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2016
	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	China: Organs
	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 representations to the UN on forced organ harvesting in China.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	43036
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/07/2016 answer text <p>The Government has no plans to make representations to the UN on organ harvesting in China. We pay close attention to the human rights situation in China, including allegations of organ harvesting and encourage China to implement its public commitment to stop the use of organs from prisoners. Our current assessment of the human rights situation in China can be found in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 26/07/2016 15:08:15 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

539574

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2016
	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	China: Abduction
	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 Chinese government on the abduction of activists from outside mainland China.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	43035
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/07/2016 answer text <p>The British Government remain concerned by the case of British citizen Lee Po and the other four Hong Kong booksellers. The National Security Adviser, Mark Lyall Grant, raised the case with the Chinese authorities on 13 June at the UK-China Security Dialogue. The former Foreign Secretary my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) also raised the case with the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities on 8 and 9 April.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 26/07/2016 15:05:34 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

539575

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2016
	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	Tibet: 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 discussions he has had with the government of China on human rights in Tibet.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	43037
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/07/2016 answer text <p>We set out our human rights concerns about China, and specifically in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office annual report on Human Rights and Democracy. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my noble Friend, the Rt Hon. the Baroness of Anelay of St Johns raised our concerns about the Tibetan language advocate Tashi Wangchuk with the Director of the National People’s Congress Foreign Affairs Committee on 7 July.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 26/07/2016 15:10:21 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

539576

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2016
	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	Hong Kong: 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 discussions he has had with Chinese government on protection of freedom of religious belief and human rights in Hong Kong.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	43038
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/07/2016 answer text <p>We take a close interest in the respect of all rights and freedoms guaranteed for Hong Kong in the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law, including freedom of religion. In the Government’s six monthly report to the House published in February 2016 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/six-monthly-report-on-hong-kong-july-to-december-2015), we raised concerns about freedom of the press. During his meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on 9 April, the former Foreign Secretary my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) stressed the importance of respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms of all residents of Hong Kong.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 26/07/2016 15:21:04 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

539577

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2016
	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	China: Christianity
	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 representations to the Chinese government on the removal of crosses from Christian churches in Zhejiang province.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	43039
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/07/2016 answer text <p>We pay close attention to the human rights situation in China and remain concerned by all reports of restrictions to freedom of religion or belief and persecution of faith groups, including reports of the removal of crosses from Christian churches in Zhejiang Province. A British official visited Wenzhou in May and spoke to church leaders. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my noble Friend, the Rt Hon. the Baroness of Anelay of St Johns raised the case of Ding Cuimei, who reportedly died while protesting the demolition of her church in Zhejiang province, with the Director of the National People’s Congress Foreign Affairs Committee on 7 July.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 26/07/2016 15:22:26 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

539578

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2016
	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	Tibet: 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 recent discussions the Government has had with (a) the Dalai Lama and (b) dissidents on human rights in Tibet.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	43040
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/07/2016 answer text <p>The Dalai Lama has not visited the UK since September 2015. Ministers did not meet the Dalai Lama during that visit. Officials discuss the human rights situation in Tibet regularly with NGOs and human rights activists. UK officials visited Tibetan regions in Gansu in March. UK officials have requested permission to visit the Tibet Autonomous Region later this year, but the Chinese authorities have not yet confirmed a date.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 26/07/2016 15:26:46 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

539779

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2016
	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	Kashmir: Military Intervention
	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 the Government is making to the government of Indian on the Indian Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act 1990 and scrutiny of Indian military intervention in Kashmir.
	tabling member constituency	Bradford West
	tabling member printed	Naz Shah
	uin	43275
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2016 answer text <p>The UK Government has not made any recent representations to the Government of India on the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) or on Indian military intervention in Kashmir. We are aware of the concerns regarding allegations of immunity from prosecution for Indian armed forces personnel under the AFSPA. We continue to follow developments on this issue. The Indian Government have an established mechanism though which people can request that cases of concern be investigated. In November 2015, Indian Prime Minister Modi assured the former Prime Minister, my Rt hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) of his commitment to and respect for India’s core values of tolerance and freedom.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 21/07/2016 15:58:54 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4409 label Biography information for Naz Shah

539780

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2016
	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	Kashmir: 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 Indian government on civilians killed and injured in Kashmir since the death of Burhan Wani.
	tabling member constituency	Bradford West
	tabling member printed	Naz Shah
	uin	43267
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2016 answer text <p>I was deeply saddened by reports of unrest in Kashmir earlier this month and offer my condolences to the victims and their families. Our High Commission in Delhi is monitoring the situation closely and we have updated our travel advice. We have not made any representations to the government of India on this issue.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 21/07/2016 16:00:52 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4409 label Biography information for Naz Shah

541019

	registered interest
	date	20/07/2016
	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	Kashmir: 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 steps he is taking to encourage a reduction in violence in Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
	tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
	uin	43606
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2016 answer text <p>I remain very concerned by reports of violence and offer my condolences to the victims and their families. The UK abides by its commitments under international law and expects all countries to comply with their international legal obligations. Our High Commission in Delhi is monitoring the situation closely and we have updated our travel advice.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 05/09/2016 14:21:13 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

542187

	registered interest
	date	21/07/2016
	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	Indonesia: Capital Punishment
	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 encourage the abolition of the death penalty in Indonesia.
	tabling member constituency	Llanelli
	tabling member printed	Nia Griffith
	uin	43959
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2016 answer text <p>The British Government is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. We raise our concerns at the highest level and will continue to do so. <ins class="ministerial">My Rt Hon. Friend t</ins><del class="ministerial">T</del>he former Prime Minister<del class="ministerial">, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Witney</del> (Mr <ins class="ministerial">David </ins>Cameron), reiterated our position to Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in April <ins class="ministerial">and I expressed my concerns </ins>following the executions which took place in July.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 05/09/2016 14:30:14 question first ministerially corrected 05/10/2016 10:03:22 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma previous answer version 8984 answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	1541 label Biography information for Dame Nia Griffith

542188

	registered interest
	date	21/07/2016
	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	Indonesia: LGBT+ People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to promote LGBT rights in Indonesia.
	tabling member constituency	Llanelli
	tabling member printed	Nia Griffith
	uin	43961
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2016 answer text <p>The British Ambassador and Deputy Head of Mission in Jakarta have discussed this issue with a range of civil society organisations and have raised our concerns with Indonesian Ministers, including the Minister for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection. Embassy officials will continue to meet the LGBT community and human rights activists to understand their concerns and provide support where we are able.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 05/09/2016 14:23:25 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	1541 label Biography information for Dame Nia Griffith

542189

	registered interest
	date	21/07/2016
	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	Papua: 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 steps his Department is taking to promote human rights in West Papua.
	tabling member constituency	Llanelli
	tabling member printed	Nia Griffith
	uin	43962
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2016 answer text <p>We follow the situation in the province of West Papua with close interest, whilst respecting the territorial integrity of Indonesia. The British Ambassador to Indonesia has visited West Papua a number of times to raise our concerns on this issue with members of the police, religious and community leaders.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 05/09/2016 14:24:58 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	1541 label Biography information for Dame Nia Griffith

542190

	registered interest
	date	21/07/2016
	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	Indonesia: Mental Illness
	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 Indonesian government on the treatment of people living with mental health conditions in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Llanelli
	tabling member printed	Nia Griffith
	uin	43963
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2016 answer text <p>The Deputy Head of Mission at our Embassy in Jakarta has raised this issue with the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection. The United Kingdom is committed to working with other states to ensure the rights of people with mental health conditions are upheld in full. It is important to recognise the inherent dignity and worth, and the equal and inalienable rights, of all people.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 05/09/2016 14:27:33 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	1541 label Biography information for Dame Nia Griffith

542258

	registered interest
	date	21/07/2016
	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	Capital Punishment
	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 the abolition of the death penalty worldwide.
	tabling member constituency	Llanelli
	tabling member printed	Nia Griffith
	uin	43960
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2016 answer text <p>The UK strongly supports global abolition of the death penalty. It is part of the day-to-day work of all diplomatic missions to countries that retain the death penalty.</p><p>Under the Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy, the Foreign Office has this year approved funding for anti death penalty projects worth over £500,000, covering more than 10 countries.</p><p>We continue to work closely with our international partners to promote the abolition of the death penalty, including supporting the UN resolution on a global moratorium on the death penalty.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 05/09/2016 14:32:34 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	1541 label Biography information for Dame Nia Griffith

573435

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2016
	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	Bangladesh: British Council
	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 took place between (a) his Department and the British Council and (b) the UK High Commission in Dhaka and the British Council in Bangladesh before the decision was taken to close that Council's centres in that country; and what timetable is in place for reopening those centres.
	tabling member constituency	Poplar and Limehouse
	tabling member printed	Jim Fitzpatrick
	uin	44114
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2016 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and UK High Commission in Dhaka have maintained close contact with the British Council before and since the closure, following the 1 July terrorist attack at Holey Bakery. The Council has completed its security review and is taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of its staff and buildings before reopening.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 08/09/2016 13:29:44 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	197 label Biography information for Jim Fitzpatrick

573438

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2016
	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	Kashmir
	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 Indian government on the killing of protestors in the Kashmir Valley in July 2016.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	44134
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2016 answer text <p>I remain very concerned by reports of violence and offer my condolences to the victims and their families. The United Kingdom abides by its commitments under international law and expects all countries to comply with their international legal obligations. Our High Commission in Delhi is monitoring the situation closely and we have changed our travel advice. The long standing position of the UK is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting resolution to the situation in Kashmir, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. It is not for the UK to prescribe a solution or to act as a mediator.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 08/09/2016 13:37:26 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

573439

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2016
	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	Kashmir
	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 the Commonwealth Secretary General on the situation in Kashmir.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	44135
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2016 answer text <p>I have not discussed Kashmir with the Commonwealth Secretary General. The long standing position of the United Kingdom is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting resolution to the situation in Kashmir, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. It is not for the UK to prescribe a solution or to act as a mediator.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 08/09/2016 13:39:13 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

573442

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2016
	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	Kashmir
	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 at the UN on implementation of Security Council Resolution 47 on Kashmir.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	44188
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2016 answer text <p>The United Kingdom does not intend to support an international conference or a plebiscite on Kashmir in line with UN Security Council Resolution 47. I have not had any discussions at the UN on this issue. The longstanding position of the UK is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting resolution to the situation in Kashmir, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. It is not for the UK to prescribe a solution or to act as a mediator.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 09/09/2016 12:37:44 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

573443

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2016
	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	Bangladesh: Terrorism
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports his Department has received on the changing level of threat of Islamist terrorism in Bangladesh.
	tabling member constituency	Hyndburn
	tabling member printed	Graham Jones
	uin	44159
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2016 answer text <p>The British Government is concerned by the increase in terrorist and extremist-related violence in Bangladesh. Since the 1 July 2016 attack on the Holey Bakery Café in Dhaka, targeting foreign nationals, the Government has continued to raise its concerns over security directly with senior officials in the Bangladeshi government. We will continue to engage with regional partners and the wider international community to support efforts to address terrorism, extremism and to promote human rights in Bangladesh.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 08/09/2016 13:41:51 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	3999 label Biography information for Graham P Jones

573444

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2016
	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	Bangladesh: 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 steps his Department plans to take to assist Bangladeshis living in the UK to bring their families to the UK in the event of an escalation in political violence in Bangladesh.
	tabling member constituency	Hyndburn
	tabling member printed	Graham Jones
	uin	44161
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2016 answer text <p>The UK has consistently called upon all parties to refrain from using violence, intimidation and confrontational action. The UK will continue to engage constructively with all political parties in Bangladesh and with international partners, to strengthen democratic accountability and build the willingness and capacity to hold future participatory elections. We are under no obligation to consider asylum claims lodged outside UK territory and it is not appropriate to do so. Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach; that is the fastest route to safety.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 08/09/2016 13:45:55 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	3999 label Biography information for Graham P Jones

573445

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2016
	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	Bangladesh: 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 account his Department plans to take of alleged human rights abuses in Bangladesh in advising on any future trade deal with that country; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of imposing sanctions on Bangladesh in order to improve that country's respect for political and other rights.
	tabling member constituency	Hyndburn
	tabling member printed	Graham Jones
	uin	44162
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2016 answer text <p>The Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) has established the Department for International Trade to promote British trade across the world and ensure the United Kingdom takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us. The Government is currently reviewing its trade policy. We will engage fully with a broad range of stakeholders, including both governments and business over the coming weeks and months, taking a large number of political and economic factors into consideration.</p><p>We are concerned about protection of human rights in Bangladesh, but believe that engagement, not sanctions, is the correct course of action. Sanctions would isolate Bangladesh at a time when it is, like so many, facing the global threat of terrorism. Trade sanctions would have a damaging effect on Bangladesh’s development and on efforts to bring people out of poverty.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 08/09/2016 13:54:01 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	3999 label Biography information for Graham P Jones

573446

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2016
	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	Bangladesh: 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 steps his Department has taken to encourage the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to (a) hold fair and open elections in 2019 and (b) ensure Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal investigates impartially the 1971 War of Independence.
	tabling member constituency	Hyndburn
	tabling member printed	Graham Jones
	uin	44160
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2016 answer text <p>The United Kingdom will continue to engage constructively with all political parties in Bangladesh and with international partners, to strengthen democratic accountability and build the willingness and capacity to hold future participatory elections. Peaceful, credible elections are the true mark of a mature functioning democracy, and all political parties share a responsibility for delivering them. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office named Bangladesh as one of its 30 Human Rights Priority Countries in its 2015 report. The report cited the confrontational actions of the two main political parties as one of the areas of particular concern.</p><p>The Government has made clear its support for Bangladesh’s efforts to bring to justice those accused of atrocities committed during the 1971 War of Independence. However, this must be done in a way that meets appropriate international legal standards. NGOs continue to raise concerns about the process and we urged the Bangladesh government to ensure compliance with these standards during Bangladesh’s second Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council in 2013. We continue to emphasise these points in our discussions with the Bangladeshi authorities.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 08/09/2016 13:44:06 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	3999 label Biography information for Graham P Jones

573451

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2016
	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	China: Dogs
	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 Chinese government on the treatment of dogs during that country's Yulin Dog Meat Festival.
	tabling member constituency	North Cornwall
	tabling member printed	Scott Mann
	uin	44110
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2016 answer text <p>The United Kingdom Government takes seriously all reports of animal cruelty. We are committed to raising standards of animal welfare and to phasing out cruel and inhumane practices both in the UK and overseas. However, there are limits to what the UK can do. Consumption of dog meat is legal in the People’s Republic of China and the UK has no legal grounds to intervene or take trade measures to prevent this.</p><p>We have instead focused our efforts on co-operation with China to tackle the illegal wildlife trade. We also work through the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), to promote the welfare of a range of species internationally, such as stray dogs and farmed animals. We encourage China, as a member of OIE, to meet the required standards.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 08/09/2016 13:24:04 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4496 label Biography information for Scott Mann

573678

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2016
	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	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 steps the Government is taking to encourage recognition of same-sex marriage in countries where it is not currently recognised.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Hall Green
	tabling member printed	Mr Roger Godsiff
	uin	44600
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2016 answer text <p>The United Kingdom is committed to tackling discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. We take discrimination to include the non-enjoyment of equal civil rights by all members of society, including the right to marry. Through our diplomatic network, Her Majesty's Government regularly demonstrates its support for the principle of same sex marriage and encourages others to follow that example.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 08/09/2016 13:56:32 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	304 label Biography information for Mr Roger Godsiff

573679

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2016
	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	Australia: Refugees
	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 raise with his Australian counterpart the issue of the living conditions of refugees on Nauru.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Hall Green
	tabling member printed	Mr Roger Godsiff
	uin	44616
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/09/2016 answer text <p>We welcome Prime Minister Turnbull’s announcement that the Australian Government will examine complaints about the treatment of detainees at its immigration detention centre in Nauru. We would not want to prejudge the outcome of that process. The United Kingdom has previously raised these issues with the Australian Government, including at the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review of Australia in November 2015.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 07/09/2016 15:33:07 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	304 label Biography information for Mr Roger Godsiff

573680

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2016
	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	Pakistan: Terrorism
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support the Government is providing to Pakistan following the bomb attack on lawyers at a hospital in Quetta.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	44617
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/09/2016 answer text <p>My thoughts are with the people of Pakistan, including the victims and all those affected by the terrible attack in Quetta. The UK continues to stand with Pakistan in its efforts to tackle terrorism and the extremism that sustains it. Our ongoing support includes working together to help Pakistan deal with improvised explosive devices, to reform the civilian criminal justice system so terrorists are held to account, and to help Pakistan confront the extremist narratives that underpin terrorism.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 07/09/2016 15:31:41 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

573685

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2016
	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	Kashmir: 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 support the British High Commissions in India and Pakistan are providing to British citizens affected by the violence in Kashmir.
	tabling member constituency	Bradford East
	tabling member printed	Imran Hussain
	uin	44279
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2016 answer text <p>The Foreign &amp; Commonwealth Office encourages all British nationals to check the FCO's Travel Advice web pages before travelling. This highlights the current unrest in Indian-administered Kashmir. It explains that due to the accessibility and current unrest in the area, the level of consular assistance that the FCO can provide is extremely limited.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 09/09/2016 12:35:46 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4394 label Biography information for Imran Hussain

573686

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2016
	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	Kashmir
	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 and his Department have had with the Indian government on recent violence in Kashmir.
	tabling member constituency	Bradford East
	tabling member printed	Imran Hussain
	uin	44278
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2016 answer text <p>I remain very concerned by reports of violence and offer my condolences to the victims and their families. The United Kingdom abides by its commitments under international law and expects all countries to comply with their international legal obligations. Our High Commission in Delhi is monitoring the situation closely and we have changed our travel advice. The long standing position of the UK is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting resolution to the situation in Kashmir, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. It is not for the UK to prescribe a solution or to act as a mediator.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 08/09/2016 13:55:14 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4394 label Biography information for Imran Hussain

573687

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2016
	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	Sri Lanka: Water
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports his Department has received on the lack of clean water in Sri Lanka's Jaffna Peninsula; and if he will raise that scarcity with the Sri Lankan government.
	tabling member constituency	Croydon North
	tabling member printed	Mr Steve Reed
	uin	44239
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/09/2016 answer text <p>The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka visited Jaffna in June and raised concerns about water contamination with the local authorities. He received assurances that they were aware of the issue and were addressing it. They also discussed water quality in general and longer term plans for providing water through desalination.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 07/09/2016 15:35:33 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed

573689

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2016
	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	United Nations: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much the UK contributed to the funding of UN special envoys through (a) the UN regular budget, (b) the UN peacekeeping budget and (c) voluntary contributions in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	44301
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2016 answer text <p>This response answers PQ 44298 and PQ 44301. For the purpose of these PQs we have defined ‘UN special envoy missions’ as Special Political Mission thematic cluster I, which covers special and personal envoys and advisers of the UN Secretary General.</p><p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office pays the UK’s assessed contributions for these as a part of our contribution to the UN Regular Budget, which are mandatory under the UN Charter. The UK’s fixed percentage share of the budget for each Special Political Mission was 6.604% during 2011 and 2012, and 5.179% from 2013 to 2015. The peacekeeping budget does not fund Special Political Missions. The UK does not hold a central register of UK voluntary contributions to SPMs.</p><p>The table below provides the total number, annual budget and UK contribution to the cluster I SPM for calendar years 2011-2015.</p><p>Year Number Total budget (UK contribution) in US$ millions<br>2015 11 $37.3m ($1.93m)<br>2014 10 $24.9m ($1.29m)<br>2013 8 $16.7m ($0.866m)<br>2012 7 $11.43m ($0.755m)<br>2011 6 $8.69m ($0.574m)</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 09/09/2016 12:46:35 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

573690

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2016
	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	United Nations
	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 UN special envoy missions there have been in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	44298
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2016 answer text <p>This response answers PQ 44298 and PQ 44301. For the purpose of these PQs we have defined ‘UN special envoy missions’ as Special Political Mission thematic cluster I, which covers special and personal envoys and advisers of the UN Secretary General.</p><p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office pays the UK’s assessed contributions for these as a part of our contribution to the UN Regular Budget, which are mandatory under the UN Charter. The UK’s fixed percentage share of the budget for each Special Political Mission was 6.604% during 2011 and 2012, and 5.179% from 2013 to 2015. The peacekeeping budget does not fund Special Political Missions. The UK does not hold a central register of UK voluntary contributions to SPMs</p><p>The table below provides the total number, annual budget and UK contribution to the cluster I SPM for calendar years 2011-2015. <br>Year Number Total budget (UK contribution) in US$ millions<br>2015 11 $37.3m ($1.93m)<br>2014 10 $24.9m ($1.29m)<br>2013 8 $16.7m ($0.866m)<br>2012 7 $11.43m ($0.755m)<br>2011 6 $8.69m ($0.574m)</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 09/09/2016 12:47:01 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

573696

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2016
	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	Sri Lanka: Water
	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 the Sri Lankan government on water pollution from the Chunnakam Oil Plant in the Jaffna Pensinsula.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	44404
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2016 answer text <p>The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka visited Jaffna in June and raised concerns about water contamination with the local authorities. He received assurances that they were aware of the issue and were addressing it. They also discussed water quality in general and longer term plans for providing water through desalination.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 09/09/2016 12:50:23 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake