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1171148

registered interest
date	15/01/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Tanzania: Religious Freedom
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of religious freedom and tolerance in Tanzania.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	3698
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2020 answer text <p>​The promotion and protection of the right to freedom of religion or belief is a priority for the UK. We regard freedom of thought, conscience or belief as a fundamental human right. Tanzania has a long history of religious tolerance and has alternated between Christian and Muslim leaders since multi-politics was reintroduced in 1992. Our officials in Tanzania regularly engage with civil society organisations, religious groups and the Tanzanian Government to promote tolerance and trust across communities.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 21/01/2020 16:30:55 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1170727

registered interest
date	14/01/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	South Sudan: Armed Conflict
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the level of hostilities in South Sudan in (a) 2018 and (b) 2019.
tabling member constituency	West Worcestershire
tabling member printed	Harriett Baldwin
uin	3188
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2020 answer text <p>The first half of 2018 saw some of the worst violence of the South Sudan civil war that led to the deaths of nearly 400,000 people since 2013. Fighting between the Government and opposition groups in Unity State in April and May 2018 was especially violent and was referred to by the UN as 'deliberate, ruthless and violently bloody attacks on civilians'.</p><p>In June 2018 the parties to the conflict signed the Khartoum Declaration, which recommitted to earlier cessation of hostilities agreements and paved the way for the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), signed on 18 September 2018. Since then, there has been a significant and sustained reduction in violence between the parties to the agreement. Making an accurate assessment of fatalities and conflict incidents in 2018 and 2019 is challenging but, according to the Armed Conflict Location &amp; Event Data Project, fatalities reduced from 848 in 2018, to 485 up to November 2019.</p><p>South Sudan remains a violent country and fighting continues today in some areas, most notably in Central Equatoria between the Government and the National Salvation Front, a militia group who are not signatories to the agreement. Further, whilst inter-communal conflict over resources and historic grievances pre-date the civil war, they have been exacerbated by it and continue to this day.</p><p>What peace there is in South Sudan is fragile. The UK consistently urges the parties to 2018 R-ARCSS to implement all commitments in full, to engage in a spirit of compromise and to adhere to the ceasefire. Through our Conflict Security and Stability Funding, the UK also supports the ceasefire monitoring bodies and sub-national efforts to address the drivers of conflict.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 21/01/2020 16:29:07 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
tabling member	4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin

1168322

registered interest
date	19/12/2019
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	Cameroon: Peace Negotiations
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 Cameroonian counterpart on a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflict in Cameroon.
tabling member constituency	The Wrekin
tabling member printed	Mark Pritchard
uin	68
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2020 answer text <p>The British Government remains deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in the North-West and South-West (Anglophone) regions of Cameroon. We continue to maintain a spotlight on the crisis and raise our concerns at the highest levels, including with the Government of Cameroon, at the United Nations (UN) and with international partners. At a UN security Council briefing session on 6 December, the UK welcomed the National Dialogue that took place in Cameroon from 30 September – 4 October. The latter was called by the government and is an initial step to bring parties together. During a visit to Cameroon in September the FCO’s Permanent Under-Secretary urged the government to ensure the National Dialogue was comprehensive and inclusive. It is imperative that the Government of Cameroon now engages in inclusive discussions about the root causes of the crisis and follows up on all the recommendations made at the National Dialogue. Supporting security, stability and good governance in Africa is a foreign policy priority and we urge all sides to engage in efforts to bring peace to the North-West and South-West regions. The UK has shared experiences with the Government of Cameroon on conflict resolution and remains ready to support.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 07/01/2020 10:47:54 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
tabling member	1576 label Biography information for Mark Pritchard

1167922

registered interest
date	05/11/2019
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	Tax Avoidance: International Cooperation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on tackling international tax avoidance.
tabling member constituency	Thirsk and Malton
tabling member printed	Kevin Hollinrake
uin	900305
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2019 answer text <p>The Foreign Secretary meets regularly with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss a broad range of topics.</p><p>The Government is committed to tackling tax avoidance and evasion to ensure that everyone, no matter who they are, pays the right amount of tax at the right time.</p><p>Since 2010, the Government has introduced over 100 measures that clamp down on tax avoidance and evasion and has secured and protected an additional £200 billion that would have otherwise gone unpaid.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 05/11/2019 14:59:57 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
tabling member	4474 label Biography information for Kevin Hollinrake

1167378

registered interest
date	30/10/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	South Sudan: Money Laundering
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his (a) Kenyan, (b) Ugandan and (c) South Sudanese counterparts on preventing money-laundering and profiteering by the South Sudanese elite.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	7752
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>​Illicit finance is a driver of destabilisation, poor governance and conflict. In South Sudan this leads to resources being diverted that could be used to support peace process implementation and end the suffering of the people of South Sudan. We encourage the region to address weaknesses in their financial systems that provide channels for illicit finance, including in relation to South Sudan. In January the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, HM Treasury and Home Office Ministers wrote to their Kenyan and Ugandan counterparts outlining UK concerns, as well as offering practical support to help ensure robust systems are in place to deter corruption and illicit financial flows. The UK has also deployed technical expertise from both the National Crime Agency and Department for International Development to ensure Kenya’s compliance with Financial Action Task Force standards that can help to address the illicit financial flows in the region. British officials in Juba also frequently engage with the South Sudanese Ministry of Finance to ensure its spending is in line with its approved budget and to urge transparency and accountability in line with the provisions of the 12 September 2018 Peace Agreement.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 04/11/2019 14:56:13 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1167477

registered interest
date	30/10/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	The Gambia: 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 assessment he has made of the human rights situation in The Gambia in relation to (a) freedom of expression and (b) freedom of association.
tabling member constituency	Heywood and Middleton
tabling member printed	Liz McInnes
uin	7724
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>The British Government has a strong relationship with The Gambia and is encouraged by positive progress on the human rights situation since President Barrow took office in 2017. We welcome the commitment of the President and the Government of The Gambia to embrace change by drafting a new Gambian Constitution that has a human rights based approach to development with freedom of expression, freedom of association and media freedom at the heart of it. As the former Foreign Secretary acknowledged at the UNESCO World Press Freedom Day event on 2 May 2019, The Gambia has made huge strides in improving media freedoms having climbed 30 places in the World Press Freedom Index over the last year.</p><p>When our Ambassador for Human Rights visited The Gambia in October, she held constructive meetings across the Government of The Gambia and with civil society on human rights issues. We now look forward to The Gambia’s upcoming Human Rights Universal Periodic Review on 5 November and urge the Government of the Gambia to implement recommendations appropriately in fulfilment of their human rights obligations.</p><p>The UK will continue to support The Gambia taking specific action to resolve the challenges still to be addressed so that the human rights of all its citizens are respected and protected.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson grouped question UIN 7725 question first answered 04/11/2019 14:47:51 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
tabling member	4342 label Biography information for Liz McInnes

1167478

registered interest
date	30/10/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	The Gambia: 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 steps his Department is taking to help promote media freedom in The Gambia.
tabling member constituency	Heywood and Middleton
tabling member printed	Liz McInnes
uin	7725
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>The British Government has a strong relationship with The Gambia and is encouraged by positive progress on the human rights situation since President Barrow took office in 2017. We welcome the commitment of the President and the Government of The Gambia to embrace change by drafting a new Gambian Constitution that has a human rights based approach to development with freedom of expression, freedom of association and media freedom at the heart of it. As the former Foreign Secretary acknowledged at the UNESCO World Press Freedom Day event on 2 May 2019, The Gambia has made huge strides in improving media freedoms having climbed 30 places in the World Press Freedom Index over the last year.</p><p>When our Ambassador for Human Rights visited The Gambia in October, she held constructive meetings across the Government of The Gambia and with civil society on human rights issues. We now look forward to The Gambia’s upcoming Human Rights Universal Periodic Review on 5 November and urge the Government of the Gambia to implement recommendations appropriately in fulfilment of their human rights obligations.</p><p>The UK will continue to support The Gambia taking specific action to resolve the challenges still to be addressed so that the human rights of all its citizens are respected and protected.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson grouped question UIN 7724 question first answered 04/11/2019 14:47:51 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
tabling member	4342 label Biography information for Liz McInnes

1166618

registered interest
date	28/10/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Eswatini: 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 assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Swaziland.
tabling member constituency	St Helens North
tabling member printed	Conor McGinn
uin	6438
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>​The British Government is aware of unconfirmed reports of human rights violations during recent protests in Eswatini. We continue to call for respect of the freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association enshrined in Eswatini’s constitution. The appointment of a resident High Commissioner to Eswatini in July 2019 has given us the opportunity to deepen our engagement with the Eswatini government. Our High Commissioner has raised the need for proportionate response to protest with senior officials in the Eswatini Government. On 24 October he also raised with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the need for any allegations of human rights violations to be investigated.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 31/10/2019 16:12:28 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
tabling member	4458 label Biography information for Conor McGinn

1166902

registered interest
date	28/10/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	South Sudan: Peace Negotiations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement in South Sudan.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Stephen Gethins
uin	6430
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>The UK recognises that a significant amount of progress has been achieved since the signing of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan on 12 September 2018, including a reduction in fighting between the parties. However, implementation of a number of important agreed tasks is falling behind, including the unification of armed forces, security arrangements for returning opposition leaders, and the future number and composition of states. Further effort is required now from all sides to ensure the conditions to allow an inclusive, transitional government to form. The 12 November 2019 deadline for the formation of a transitional government is an important step in the peace process; we urge parties to show unity, cooperation and compromise.</p><p>We engage frequently in Juba, the region and internationally to urge all parties to deliver on their promises made in the 12 September 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan. When I met the President of South Sudan on 13 August 2019 I reaffirmed the UK's support for the people of South Sudan. I urged President Kiir to take the steps necessary to form a government of national unity. In the last month, our Ambassador in Juba has reinforced this message with all sides including with President Kiir; the Ministers of finance, security and foreign affairs; and all signatories to the peace agreement and key interlocutors. On 21 October we, alongside Troika partners (UK, US and Norway) issued a statement urging the all sides to demonstrate their commitment to peace by increasing co-operation and working together to resolve outstanding issues (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/south-sudan-troika-statement-october-2019" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/south-sudan-troika-statement-october-2019</a>). The UK Special Envoy will be in Juba and the region next week to reinforce these messages and urge progress.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson grouped question UIN 6431 6432 question first answered 04/11/2019 14:54:28 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
tabling member	4434 label Biography information for Stephen Gethins

1166905

registered interest
date	28/10/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	South Sudan: 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 the Government is taking to address the key concerns of international observers and the people of South Sudan on potential difficulties in the formation of a Government of National Unity in that country.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Stephen Gethins
uin	6431
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>The UK recognises that a significant amount of progress has been achieved since the signing of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan on 12 September 2018, including a reduction in fighting between the parties. However, implementation of a number of important agreed tasks is falling behind, including the unification of armed forces, security arrangements for returning opposition leaders, and the future number and composition of states. Further effort is required now from all sides to ensure the conditions to allow an inclusive, transitional government to form. The 12 November 2019 deadline for the formation of a transitional government is an important step in the peace process; we urge parties to show unity, cooperation and compromise.</p><p>We engage frequently in Juba, the region and internationally to urge all parties to deliver on their promises made in the 12 September 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan. When I met the President of South Sudan on 13 August 2019 I reaffirmed the UK's support for the people of South Sudan. I urged President Kiir to take the steps necessary to form a government of national unity. In the last month, our Ambassador in Juba has reinforced this message with all sides including with President Kiir; the Ministers of finance, security and foreign affairs; and all signatories to the peace agreement and key interlocutors. On 21 October we, alongside Troika partners (UK, US and Norway) issued a statement urging the all sides to demonstrate their commitment to peace by increasing co-operation and working together to resolve outstanding issues (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/south-sudan-troika-statement-october-2019" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/south-sudan-troika-statement-october-2019</a>). The UK Special Envoy will be in Juba and the region next week to reinforce these messages and urge progress.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson grouped question UIN 6430 6432 question first answered 04/11/2019 14:54:28 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
tabling member	4434 label Biography information for Stephen Gethins