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1006034

registered interest
date	13/11/2018
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: Elections
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 ensure (a) international oversight by observers and (b) the accuracy of the voter registration database in relation to parliamentary elections in Bangladesh; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	St Albans
tabling member printed	Mrs Anne Main
uin	190837
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2018 answer text <p>​The British Government has been clear that we want to see a free, fair and pluralistic election in Bangladesh and I have repeatedly encouraged the Government of Bangladesh and opposition parties to engage in an effective dialogue to this end. Through our High Commission in Dhaka we have been clear that the Election Commission should be allowed to continue its important work, including the registration of voters, without interference. We have consistently made the case for international oversight of the election and the EU has agreed to send an Election Expert Mission. Through the Department for International Development funding, the UK will also support local observation of the general election.</p><p>The Foreign Secretary raised his concerns regarding the next election in Bangladesh with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when they met at the UN General Assembly in New York on 24 September. In a call on 1 November with State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, I again made the case for a free, fair and participatory election. Allowing freedom of expression and freedom of assembly is an integral aspect of this, and through our High Commission in Dhaka the UK continues to make its concerns heard regarding freedom of expression in Bangladesh.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 21/11/2018 12:05:28 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	1568 label Biography information for Mrs Anne Main

1006035

registered interest
date	13/11/2018
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: Elections
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 counterpart in the Bangladesh Government on ensuring freedom to (a) campaign and (b) assemble in advance of the parliamentary elections in that country.
tabling member constituency	St Albans
tabling member printed	Mrs Anne Main
uin	190838
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2018 answer text <p>The British Government has been consistently clear that we wish to see a free, fair and pluralistic election in Bangladesh. I have repeatedly encouraged the Government of Bangladesh and opposition parties to engage in an effective dialogue to this end. Through our High Commission in Dhaka we have been clear that the Election Commission should be allowed to continue its important work, including the registration of voters, without inteference. We have consistently made the case for international oversight of the election and the EU has agreed to send an Election Expert Mission. Through the Department for International Development funding, the UK will also support local observation of the general election.</p><p>The Foreign Secretary raised his concerns regarding the next election in Bangladesh with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when they met at the UN General Assembly in New York on 24 September. In a call on 1 November with State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, I again made the case for a free, fair and participatory election. Allowing freedom of expression and freedom of assembly is an integral aspect of this, and through our High Commission in Dhaka the UK continues to make its concerns heard regarding freedom of expression in Bangladesh.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 21/11/2018 12:06:43 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	1568 label Biography information for Mrs Anne Main

1006084

registered interest
date	13/11/2018
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: 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 representations he has made tho his Bangladeshi counterpart on the proposed forced repatriation of Rohingya refugees from that country.
tabling member constituency	Warrington North
tabling member printed	Helen Jones
uin	190783
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>On 14 November I released a public statement expressing deep concern at reports that returns of Rohingya refugees to Burma were imminent. I called on Bangladesh and Burma not to return any refugees until the conditions were in place for voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable returns that uphold human rights. I am pleased that no repatriations began on 15 November, but I remain concerned that such repatriations might commence before appropriate conditions are in place. I agree with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) that the conditions for safe and dignified returns do not yet exist. Neither is the access in Burma required for necessary independent monitoring by UN agencies in place.</p><p>I contacted Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Ali on 15 November to welcome the fact that repatriations had not taken place and received his assurance that the Government of Bangladesh remained committed to the principle of voluntary returns with UNHCR monitoring.</p><p>Previously, I spoke to Bangladesh Minister of State Shahriar Alam and Burmese Minister for International Cooperation Kyaw Tin on 1 November and stressed the UK's assessment that conditions in Rakhine State were not currently suitable for refugee returns.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 19/11/2018 15:25:49 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	432 label Biography information for Helen Jones

1006085

registered interest
date	13/11/2018
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: 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 diplomatic steps he is taking to protect women Rohingya refugees that are repatriated from gender-based violence; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Warrington North
tabling member printed	Helen Jones
uin	190784
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>The UK is deeply concerned at Bangladesh and Burma's announcement that the repatriation of refugees will begin in mid-November. I have registered our concerns with ministers from both governments, and issued a statement expressing concerns on 14 November. The UK shares the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' assessment that the conditions for safe and dignified returns do not yet exist. The UK supports the UN High Commissioner's call for his agency to be given unfettered access to northern Rakhine, which would enable it to monitor the safety, including from gender-based violence, of any refugees that do return.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 19/11/2018 15:35:05 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	432 label Biography information for Helen Jones

1006172

registered interest
date	13/11/2018
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	Jagtar Singh Johal
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 his Department has made to the Indian Government on the continuing imprisonment of Jagtar Singh Johal.
tabling member constituency	Warley
tabling member printed	John Spellar
uin	190760
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>​We continue to press the Indian Government at official and Ministerial level to address concerns raised with them on behalf of Jagtar Singh Johal, including allegations of torture and mistreatment. Baroness Williams and I raised the case with the Minister of State for External Affairs, on 11 June and 7 May respectively, and most recently I raised Mr Johal’s case with the outgoing Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Mr Y K Sinha, on 23 October 2018. Our consular staff in India continue to visit Mr Johal regularly.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 19/11/2018 15:33:30 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1006176

registered interest
date	13/11/2018
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: Blasphemy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Pakistan on ensuring the security and protection of (a) lawyers and judges in Pakistan who are involved in blasphemy cases and (b) (i) Asia Bibi's lawyer Saiful Malook and (ii) the three Supreme Court judges involved in Asia Bibi’s case.
tabling member constituency	Mitcham and Morden
tabling member printed	Siobhain McDonagh
uin	190748
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2018 answer text <p>In August, the Prime Minister raised with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan the importance of Pakistan delivering on its commitments to strengthen institutions responsible for upholding the rule of law. As the Prime Minister recognised in Parliament on 14 November, Imran Khan has publicly supported the Supreme Court and promised to uphold the rule of law, while providing continued protection for Asia Bibi.</p><p>The UK is helping improve the justice system in Pakistan. Our Rule of Law programme aims to strengthen the formal criminal justice system through more effective investigations and prosecutions of crime.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 21/11/2018 12:02:21 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	193 label Biography information for Dame Siobhain McDonagh

1006189

registered interest
date	13/11/2018
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: Hazara
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 Afghanistan Government on protecting Hazaras people in Ghazni and Uruzgan provinces.
tabling member constituency	Edmonton
tabling member printed	Kate Osamor
uin	190970
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2018 answer text <p>We regularly raise issues concerning freedom of religion with the Government of Afghanistan, underlining, the need to protect the rights of all ethnic and religious groups in line with the constitution of Afghanistan.</p><p>We are concerned about the high number of civilian casualties and displaced persons that have resulted from the recent violence in Ghazni and Uruzgan. We urge that all parties to the conflict respect International Humanitarian Law, protecting the civilian population and facilitating the provision of assistance by neutral and impartial humanitarian agencies. We assess that the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) are now working to stabilise the security situation in both provinces. We understand that those who have been displaced are receiving assistance from local authorities.</p><p>We continue to monitor the impact that fighting may have had on tensions between different communities. Ultimately, we urge all parties to negotiate a peaceful end to the conflict, which is causing the tragic death of innocent civilians.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 21/11/2018 12:08:54 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4515 label Biography information for Kate Osamor