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1127862

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	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	China and India: Diplomatic Service
	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 diplomatic staff employed by his Department on matters relating to (a) India and (b) China are stationed in (i) London, (ii) India and (iii) China.
	tabling member constituency	West Dorset
	tabling member printed	Sir Oliver Letwin
	uin	256907
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/05/2019 answer text <p>In London as at 30 April 2019, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has 20-39 FCO diplomatic staff that work within South Asia and Afghanistan Directorate (SAAD) which includes India, and 40-59 diplomatic staff that work within Asia Pacific Directorate (APD), including China. This does not include home civil servants. We are unable to offer numbers working on inividual countries within these Directorates. In addition, there are officers in other areas of the FCO whose work relates to China or India but we do not hold this level of detail on our central Human resources management systems.</p><p>The Her Majesty's Government networks in India and mainland China are two of the largest in the world. There are nearly 700 UK government staff nationwide in China and around 1,000 UK government staff in India, in both cases representing a number of British government departments.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 30/05/2019 15:26:57 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	247 label Biography information for Sir Oliver Letwin

1127098

	registered interest
	date	16/05/2019
	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	Council of Europe
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reason the Government supported proposals to close the youth department of the Council of Europe.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	255253
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2019 answer text <p>​No decision has been taken to close the youth department of the Council of Europe. The suggestion to decouple the youth budget from the main budget is just one option proposed to manage the budget deficit in the organisation flowing from Russian non-payment and also as part of a wider drive for reforms and efficiency savings. It has yet to be discussed. The UK's priority is to protect the core functions of the organisation, including the court and the convention system.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 24/05/2019 13:28:54 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1127118

	registered interest
	date	16/05/2019
	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	Brunei: 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, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2019 to Question 250501 on Brunei: LGBT People, what representations he has made to his counterpart in Brunei on revoking in their entirety the anti-LGBT laws in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Tooting
	tabling member printed	Dr Rosena Allin-Khan
	uin	255359
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK is committed to the principle of non-discrimination on any grounds, including on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Human rights are universal and should apply equally to all people. The Foreign Secretary and I have made that position clear through public and parliamentary statements and in conversations with the Government of Brunei.</p><p>We welcomed assurances provided by The Sultan of Brunei on 5 May regarding the implementation of phase 3 of the Sharia Penal Code. His Majesty confirmed that the de facto moratorium on the death penalty will apply to punishments under the Sharia Penal Code and has committed to ratify the United Nations Convention Against Torture. The assurances provided by the Sultan go some way to addressing our anxieties about the human rights situation in Brunei. We have urged Brunei to build on these assurances and formalise its commitment to respect individual freedoms and minorities. We echoed this message in the UK's statement at Brunei's Universal Periodic Review on 10 May.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 24/05/2019 13:31:37 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4573 label Biography information for Dr Rosena Allin-Khan

1127472

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	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	Brunei: 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 steps he is taking to safeguard (a) British armed forces personnel and (b) British citizens based in Brunei from strict new laws against homosexuality and adultery in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Streatham
	tabling member printed	Chuka Umunna
	uin	256252
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>The British government has been in close consultation with the Government of Brunei and has ensured the necessary protections are in place with the Government of Brunei to mitigate against any issues that might arise from the introduction of the final phases of the Sharia Penal Code. British Forces have been instructed to conform to all Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice. We encourage all British passport holders visiting Brunei to read the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's travel advice pages which are updated on a regular basis.</p><p>On 5 May, the Sultan of Brunei confirmed that the de facto moratorium on the death penalty will apply to the Sharia Penal Code and committed Brunei to ratifying the United Nations Convention Against Torture. We have welcomed these announcements. The Sultan’s assurances confirm the value of addressing sensitive issues such as this, through respectful dialogue and diplomacy and, in that vein, we continue to encourage Brunei to remove corporal and capital punishments from its statues. Brunei’s commitments regarding the death penalty and United Nations Convention Against Torture go a significant way to addressing our anxieties about the human rights situation in Brunei.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 29/05/2019 10:30:02 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4128 label Biography information for Chuka Umunna

1127617

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	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	Afghanistan: Taliban
	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 increased Taliban presence in Afghanistan; and whether the security situation in Afghanistan remains a priority for his Department.
	tabling member constituency	Heywood and Middleton
	tabling member printed	Liz McInnes
	uin	256386
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>The British Government continues to closely monitor the security situation in Afghanistan. Our analysis is that the Taliban cannot win this conflict. The British Government believes a political peace settlement, between the Afghan government and the Taliban, is the only way to achieve lasting stability and security in Afghanistan. We welcome the progress made towards starting a credible peace process by the US Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad. We continue to urge the Taliban to take advantage of the current opportunity for peace, and to begin a genuine dialogue with the elected government of Afghanistan.</p><p>Her Majesty's Government, along with our North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies and other partners, also remains committed to supporting The Afghan Government and the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces. This is vital to protect the Afghan population from the conflict and from terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda and Daesh Khorasan Province. It is also an essential effort to ensure that Afghanistan does not again become a safe-haven for international terrorism.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 29/05/2019 10:33:12 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4342 label Biography information for Liz McInnes

1127619

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	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	India: Hate Crime
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent estimate he has made of changes in the level of hate crimes against Muslims in India.
	tabling member constituency	Heywood and Middleton
	tabling member printed	Liz McInnes
	uin	256388
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>India has a strong democratic framework and constitutionally enshrined protections for freedom of religious belief, but faces some challenges enforcing these due to its size and social and economic development. The situation for religious minorities in India varies, depending on location, socio-economic background and proportion of religious minorities.</p><p>We maintain a continuous assessment of the human rights situation across India. We engage with India on the full range of human rights matters, both bilaterally and through the European Union. We work with Union and State Governments, and with Non-Governmental Organisations, to build capacity and share expertise to promote human rights for all. The British High Commission in New Delhi, and our Deputy High Commissions across India, also run projects promoting minority rights and regularly meet religious representatives, as well as official figures such as the Chair of the National Human Rights Commission and the National Commission for Minorities. Recent project work included ‘Empowering Muslim youth’ which reached 150 youths, 20 teachers and over 100 educational institutions.</p><p>​</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field grouped question UIN 256389 question first answered 29/05/2019 10:36:02 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4342 label Biography information for Liz McInnes

1127620

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	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	India: 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 assessment he has made of the adequacy of India’s adherence to Article 18 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
	tabling member constituency	Heywood and Middleton
	tabling member printed	Liz McInnes
	uin	256389
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>India has a strong democratic framework and constitutionally enshrined protections for freedom of religious belief, but faces some challenges enforcing these due to its size and social and economic development. The situation for religious minorities in India varies, depending on location, socio-economic background and proportion of religious minorities.</p><p>We maintain a continuous assessment of the human rights situation across India. We engage with India on the full range of human rights matters, both bilaterally and through the European Union. We work with Union and State Governments, and with Non-Governmental Organisations, to build capacity and share expertise to promote human rights for all. The British High Commission in New Delhi, and our Deputy High Commissions across India, also run projects promoting minority rights and regularly meet religious representatives, as well as official figures such as the Chair of the National Human Rights Commission and the National Commission for Minorities. Recent project work included ‘Empowering Muslim youth’ which reached 150 youths, 20 teachers and over 100 educational institutions.</p><p>​</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field grouped question UIN 256388 question first answered 29/05/2019 10:36:02 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4342 label Biography information for Liz McInnes

1127759

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	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	Elections: Monitoring
	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 he has for UK participation in non-European country election monitoring after the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Bassetlaw
	tabling member printed	John Mann
	uin	256940
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/05/2019 answer text <p>​UK officials and private citizens take part in electoral observation missions organised by international organisations such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Commonwealth and the EU. The Government does not organise such missions unilaterally. After the UK has left the EU, UK officials and private citizens will continue to take part in electoral observation missions organised by international organisations of which the UK is a member or is otherwise eligible to participate.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 28/05/2019 12:08:31 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	1387 label Biography information for Lord Mann

1127760

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	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	North Korea: Human Trafficking
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government will take steps to respond to the atrocities detailed in the report of 20 May 2019 presented to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for North Korea by the Korea Future Initiative entitled Sex Slaves, The Prostitution, Cybersex and Forced Marriage of North Korean Women and Girls in China.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	256975
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2019 answer text <p>We are grateful to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for North Korea for its ongoing work to highlight the grave human rights situation in North Korea. The Korea Future Initiative’s new report presents a stark and worsening picture of the plight of North Korean women and girls in China. We are deeply concerned at its accounts of women and girls being trafficked from North Korea to China for prostitution and forced marriage, and the misery and suffering they endure.</p><p>We will continue to raise with China our concerns over the repatriation of North Korean refugees, which we believe puts them at serious risk of exploitation. We continue to emphasise to China that those fleeing North Korea should be treated as legitimate asylum claimants. The UK is at the forefront of raising global awareness of modern slavery and sexual violence. As such, we will consider the best way to address the issues in the report including raising these with the appropriate Chinese and North Korean authorities.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 04/06/2019 09:53:34 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

1127804

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	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	Bougainville: Referendums
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has plans to send election observers to monitor the forthcoming Bougainvillean independence referendum in October 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Bishop Auckland
	tabling member printed	Helen Goodman
	uin	256984
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2019 answer text <p>​The British Government is fully committed to supporting the Bougainville Peace Process, including the forthcoming referendum. We are contributing £95,000 to the UN's Bougainville Referendum Support Project, and have shared our expertise on post-conflict reconciliation, including from Northern Ireland. We have yet to receive an invitation to deploy election observers but stand ready to help ensure a free, fair and peaceful vote.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 04/06/2019 09:56:17 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	1484 label Biography information for Helen Goodman