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1127190

	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	Fracking
	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 (a) official development aid and (b) non-official development aid has been spent via the Prosperity Fund by his Department to provide fracking expertise to foreign Governments since 2016.
	tabling member constituency	Nottingham North
	tabling member printed	Alex Norris
	uin	255376
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>Through the Prosperity Fund, the FCO has spent around £87,000 Official Development Assistance (ODA) on projects intended to improve the environmental regulation of shale gas development in China since 2016.</p><p>The UK regulatory regime for Shale gas is considered among the most robust and stringent in the world. Sharing UK expertise within the UK oil and gas sector, including on environmental regulation, can help ensure that the exploration or development of resources like natural gas is done to a high standard and is managed as part of a transition to low carbon energy system, as well as supporting economic development and poverty reduction</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 21/05/2019 14:36:05 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4641 label Biography information for Alex Norris

1128332

	registered interest
	date	22/05/2019
	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	Fracking
	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 21 May 2019 to Question 255376, what assessment he has made of the effect of Official Development Assistance spending on shale gas development on (a) the Chinese fracking industry and (b) the environment.
	tabling member constituency	Nottingham North
	tabling member printed	Alex Norris
	uin	257570
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/06/2019 answer text <p>There have been three Official Development Assistance projects related to unconventional gas in China, which have focused on ensuring a sustainable, responsible approach to China's planned development of its shale gas resources and helping accelerate the transition away from coal as an energy source. The first project supported the development of improved standards for local and community engagement with large infrastructure projects, including shale gas. The second project supported Sichuan Province in China to develop shale gas in a sustainable way by improving its environmental protection and mineral rights regulation. The third produced a scoping study to advise Her Majesty's Government on options for future Prosperity Fund projects with China on shale gas. Outcomes recorded from these, now-completed, projects include 1) increased understanding of international standards for public engagement related to energy infrastructure, 2) endorsement by the Sichuan Energy Bureau and Sichuan Environmental Protection Bureau of policy recommendations supporting the development of the first set of provincial environmental regulations for shale gas in China, and 3) improved understanding of the barriers to development of the Chinese shale gas industry, including the lack of a coherent environmental framework.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 05/06/2019 11:13:49 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4641 label Biography information for Alex Norris

1129317

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2019
	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	Tibet: Human Rights and Political Prisoners
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps the Government is taking with the Chinese Government to help (a) secure the release of Tibetan political prisoners, (b) ensure access by independent observers to Tibet and (c) protect the human rights of the Tibetan people.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	259434
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>We have serious concerns about the human rights situation in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) including restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, and restrictions on freedom of assembly and association.</p><p> </p><p>We consistently urge China to respect all fundamental rights across the People's Republic of China, including in Tibet, in line with both its own constitution and the international frameworks to which it is a party. We believe that long-term stability in Tibet will be best achieved through respect for universal human rights and genuine autonomy for Tibet within the framework of the Chinese constitution. Meaningful dialogue is the best way to address and resolve the underlying grievances and we continue to urge all sides to restart talks.</p><p> </p><p>Further, the UK is active in raising Tibet in multilateral fora. We made a statement at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in June 2018 where we reiterated our concerns over restrictions on civil and political freedoms, particularly minority rights, and freedom of religion in China, including Tibet. Additionally, we asked an advanced question about Tibet at China’s last Universal Periodic Review, and included our concerns in our statement.</p><p> </p><p>We are also aware of, and concerned by, reports of the apparent increasing isolation of TAR through restrictions on foreign tourists, journalists and officials (including those representing the UN and EU) seeking to visit TAR. To this end, we are monitoring the progress and impact of the US Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, including through discussions with our US counterparts</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 11/06/2019 13:00:14 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1132164

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2019
	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	Hong Kong: Demonstrations
	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 recent protests in Hong Kong.
	tabling member constituency	Morley and Outwood
	tabling member printed	Andrea Jenkyns
	uin	264480
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>The recent protests demonstrate the strength of feeling among the people of Hong Kong about proposed changes to Hong Kong's extradition laws, and the importance they attach to the preservation of the rights and freedoms and high degree of autonomy guaranteed in the Sino-British Joint Declaration and Hong Kong's Basic Law.</p><p>The protests have been largely peaceful, although the violence that occurred on 12 June is a cause for serious concern. All allegations of inappropriate use of force by the Hong Kong police should of course be fully investigated by the Hong Kong SAR Government.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 20/06/2019 14:45:05 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4490 label Biography information for Dame Andrea Jenkyns

1132165

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2019
	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	Hong Kong: Extradition
	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 implications for human rights in Hong Kong of the proposed new Chinese extradition law that would allow criminal suspects in Hong Kong to be sent for trial in mainland China.
	tabling member constituency	Morley and Outwood
	tabling member printed	Andrea Jenkyns
	uin	264481
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>In a statement to the House on 13 June, I set out in detail our assessment of the implications for human rights of the proposed changes to its extradition legislation and the recent protests in Hong Kong. This included our belief that, if enacted, the proposals could pose a risk to the rights and freedoms and high degree of autonomy guaranteed by the Sino-British Joint Declaration.</p><p>We welcome the Chief Executive's statement on 18 June that she would not proceed with the second reading of the Bill if the fears and anxieties of the people of Hong Kong were not addressed.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 20/06/2019 14:48:24 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4490 label Biography information for Dame Andrea Jenkyns

1130441

	registered interest
	date	06/06/2019
	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	Indonesia: Armed Forces
	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 plans to make representations to his Indonesian counterpart on ending virginity tests for women applying to the Indonesian military.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	261140
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/06/2019 answer text <p>We are aware that the Indonesia military continues to conduct virginity tests on women recruits and have raised our concerns at senior levels with the Indonesian Government. This test is against our values and we will work closely with international partners to bring this practice to an end.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 13/06/2019 15:29:26 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1129063

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2019
	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: 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, with reference to the upcoming anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, whether he plans to use that anniversary to make representations to the Chinese Government on the human rights situation that country.
	tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
	tabling member printed	Catherine West
	uin	259369
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>To mark the 30<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the tragic events in Tiananmen Square, the Foreign Secretary released a statement remembering those who lost their lives when protesting peacefully, and urging the Chinese Government to respect the rights and freedoms enshrined in China’s constitution and in international law.</p><p> </p><p>The British Government raises human rights with the Chinese authorities at all levels and will continue to do so. I raised human rights concerns with State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during my last visit to China. We also raise issues publicly, for example, we registered our concerns about human rights in China in our national statements at recent sessions of the UN Human Rights Council and through our activity at China’s last Universal Periodic Review in November 2018.</p><p> </p><p>British diplomats in Beijing have reported increased censorship and surveillance of citizens in China in the weeks leading up to 4 June. This is a common pattern they observe in the run up to the 4 June anniversary. In recent years, the Chinese authorities have also focused on censoring discussion on the anniversary on social media in China, which has reportedly included some Western news websites being restricted more than usual within China around this period. The British Embassy in China experienced such censorship first hand this week; the Embassy posted my statement in English and Chinese through social media, which was then censored within a few minutes.</p><p> </p><p>We remain concerned by all restrictions on freedom of expression in China and urge the authorities to safeguard citizens’ rights to freedom of speech and expression. It is crucial that governments allow their societies and citizens to remember, debate and discuss important historical events, even when this is uncomfortable for the governments concerned.</p><p> </p><p>The British Government also remains committed to making representations to the Chinese Government on the rights of relatives of protestors. During the Foreign Secretary’s last visit to China, he met with family members of detained Chinese human rights lawyers who were arrested in the so-called “709 crackdown.”</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 11/06/2019 13:03:52 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1129064

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2019
	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: Human Rights
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the accuracy of reports of increased surveillance and censorship ahead of the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.
	tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
	tabling member printed	Catherine West
	uin	259370
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>To mark the 30<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the tragic events in Tiananmen Square, the Foreign Secretary released a statement remembering those who lost their lives when protesting peacefully, and urging the Chinese Government to respect the rights and freedoms enshrined in China’s constitution and in international law.</p><p> </p><p>The British Government raises human rights with the Chinese authorities at all levels and will continue to do so. I raised human rights concerns with State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during my last visit to China. We also raise issues publicly, for example, we registered our concerns about human rights in China in our national statements at recent sessions of the UN Human Rights Council and through our activity at China’s last Universal Periodic Review in November 2018.</p><p> </p><p>British diplomats in Beijing have reported increased censorship and surveillance of citizens in China in the weeks leading up to 4 June. This is a common pattern they observe in the run up to the 4 June anniversary. In recent years, the Chinese authorities have also focused on censoring discussion on the anniversary on social media in China, which has reportedly included some Western news websites being restricted more than usual within China around this period. The British Embassy in China experienced such censorship first hand this week; the Embassy posted my statement in English and Chinese through social media, which was then censored within a few minutes.</p><p> </p><p>We remain concerned by all restrictions on freedom of expression in China and urge the authorities to safeguard citizens’ rights to freedom of speech and expression. It is crucial that governments allow their societies and citizens to remember, debate and discuss important historical events, even when this is uncomfortable for the governments concerned.</p><p> </p><p>The British Government also remains committed to making representations to the Chinese Government on the rights of relatives of protestors. During the Foreign Secretary’s last visit to China, he met with family members of detained Chinese human rights lawyers who were arrested in the so-called “709 crackdown.”</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 11/06/2019 13:06:45 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1129065

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2019
	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: 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 plans he has to make representations to the Chinese Government on the rights of the family members of the Tiananmen Square protesters.
	tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
	tabling member printed	Catherine West
	uin	259371
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>To mark the 30<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the tragic events in Tiananmen Square, the Foreign Secretary released a statement remembering those who lost their lives when protesting peacefully, and urging the Chinese Government to respect the rights and freedoms enshrined in China’s constitution and in international law.</p><p> </p><p>The British Government raises human rights with the Chinese authorities at all levels and will continue to do so. I raised human rights concerns with State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during my last visit to China. We also raise issues publicly, for example, we registered our concerns about human rights in China in our national statements at recent sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council and through our activity at China’s last Universal Periodic Review in November 2018.</p><p> </p><p>British diplomats in Beijing have reported increased censorship and surveillance of citizens in China in the weeks leading up to 4 June. This is a common pattern they observe in the run up to the 4 June anniversary. In recent years, the Chinese authorities have also focused on censoring discussion on the anniversary on social media in China, which has reportedly included some Western news websites being restricted more than usual within China around this period. The British Embassy in China experienced such censorship first hand this week; the Embassy posted my statement in English and Chinese through social media, which was then censored within a few minutes.</p><p> </p><p>We remain concerned by all restrictions on freedom of expression in China and urge the authorities to safeguard citizens’ rights to freedom of speech and expression. It is crucial that governments allow their societies and citizens to remember, debate and discuss important historical events, even when this is uncomfortable for the governments concerned.</p><p> </p><p>The British Government also remains committed to making representations to the Chinese Government on the rights of relatives of protestors. During the Foreign Secretary’s last visit to China, he met with family members of detained Chinese human rights lawyers who were arrested in the so-called “709 crackdown.”</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 11/06/2019 13:09:19 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1131745

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2019
	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	Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Statistics
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on how many occasions his Department has received representations from the UK Statistics Authority on his Department's presentation and use of statistics in each year since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	263722
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>​Details on the UK Statistics Authority's interventions are published in the correspondence<a href="https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/correspondence-list/" target="_blank">[1]</a>, publications<a href="https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/publications-list/" target="_blank">[2]</a>, and issues log<a href="https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/reports-and-correspondence/issues-log/" target="_blank">[3]</a> sections of their website since 2010.</p><p>The Authority's Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) also carry out regular assessments and systemic reviews, details of which can also be found on the Authority's website<a href="https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/osr/" target="_blank">[4]</a>.</p><p>In September 2018, the Authority published the first annual summary of its interventions for the financial year 2017/18<a href="https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/publication/annual-casework-review-20172018/" target="_blank">[5]</a>. The report for 2018/19 will be published in the autumn.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 20/06/2019 15:00:11 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane