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421072

registered interest
date	13/10/2015
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	Syria: Sexual Offences
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 level of sexual violence (a) within Syria and (b) in camps for Syrian refugees.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	11597
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2015 answer text We are extremely concerned by the high levels of sexual violence in Syria and within Syrian refugee camps. The UN Commission of Inquiry report of September 2015 highlighted widespread sexual abuse carried out by the Syrian regime, ISIL and some armed opposition groups within Syria. Assad’s forces and militia are responsible for the vast majority of sexual violence, which include threats, rape, degrading body searches and sexual harassment in prisons and branches of the security agencies. ISIL propaganda condones the barbaric treatment of male and female captives, sexual relations with adolescent girls and sexual slavery. Unfortunately, many of those who flee the conflict remain extremely vulnerable to sexual violence. Exploitation of vulnerable individuals within refugee camps was highlighted by the UN Equity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women report “We keep Silent” issued in April 2014. The UK is providing £1 billion in humanitarian aid, which includes support to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to provide services for survivors of sexual violence and has so far reached over 27,000 women in Syria. We are also supporting case management in Jordan for over 800 survivors and cash assistance to vulnerable refugee women in Lebanon. The FCO has committed £5.2 million to projects preventing sexual violence in Syria. We are supporting projects to train health professionals and human rights defenders in collecting and preserving evidence of human rights abuses including sexual violence. answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 19/10/2015 14:08:51 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood previous answer version 23902 answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

420699

registered interest
date	12/10/2015
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	Middle East: 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 his Department has made of the role played by access to natural resources across Iraq and Syria in the ongoing conflict in those countries; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	11451
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2015 answer text Natural resources are a factor in the conflicts in Iraq and Syria. Oil is one of ISIL’s main sources of revenue. The UK has played a key role in efforts to limit ISIL’s access to revenue sources, such as by supporting UN Security Council Resolutions 2177 and 2199 and working with international partners to ensure those resolutions are enforced. ISIL control of territory along the Euphrates river valley in both Iraq and Syria is affecting water levels in the region, exacerbating the humanitarian situations in Iraqi and Syria. The UK Government remains committed to defeating ISIL and to ending the wider conflict in Syria through a political transition away from the Assad regime. answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 15/10/2015 11:57:20 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

420700

registered interest
date	12/10/2015
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	Gaza: Reconstruction
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 his Israeli counterpart on the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	11441
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2015 answer text <p>Our Embassy in Tel Aviv raised the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism with officals from Israel's Ministry of Defence on 17 September. We regularly urge the Israeli Government to intensify measures to support Gaza’s reconstruction and economic development. On 10 September, during Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to the UK the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (David Cameron), and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Runnymead and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), emphasised the importance of improving daily life for the people of Gaza, for example through better power and water supplies and facilitating exports from Gaza.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 15/10/2015 11:55:51 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

419789

registered interest
date	09/10/2015
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	Arms Trade: 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 the sale of arms manufactured by UK companies to governments which have committed human rights abuses.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	10747
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2015 answer text This Government supports a responsible defence and security industry that helps meet the legitimate defence needs of other states, and contributes to their security and law and order. We take our arms export responsibilities very seriously and we operate one of the most rigorous and transparent arms export control regimes in the world. All defence and dual-use exports are required to meet the UK’s strict export control legislation and adhere to the UK international commitments including international treaties and obligations. Each application for an export licence is subject to rigorous case-by-case assessment against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. Risks around human rights violations are a key part of our assessment. answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 15/10/2015 13:36:36 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

420011

registered interest
date	09/10/2015
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	Palestinians
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 Palestinian Authority on introducing legislation to abolish the death penalty.
tabling member constituency	The Wrekin
tabling member printed	Mark Pritchard
uin	10984
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2015 answer text <p>The Government opposes all use of the death penalty as a matter of principle, including sentences imposed by the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. I have asked that my officials in Jerusalem raise the issue of the death penalty with the Palestinian Authority in due course.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 15/10/2015 12:14:16 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1576 label Biography information for Mark Pritchard

420014

registered interest
date	09/10/2015
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	Arms Trade: Treaties
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 universalisation and implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty.
tabling member constituency	The Wrekin
tabling member printed	Mark Pritchard
uin	10978
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2015 answer text <p>The UK encourages States not party to the ATT to accede to it as soon as possible. A first step towards universalisation was enabling full participation by interested states in the ATT First Conference of States Parties (CSP1) in August 2015. To that end, the UK contributed £150,000 towards the sponsoring of developing States to attend CSP1.</p><p>We are also funding projects totalling approximately £276,000 which are focused on effective ATT implementation and universalisation. In addition, the UK supports efforts by the UN and EU to provide technical assistance to states looking to accede to or implement the ATT.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 15/10/2015 13:23:04 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1576 label Biography information for Mark Pritchard

420025

registered interest
date	09/10/2015
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	Ali Mohammed al-Nimr
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 has made to the government of Saudi Arabia on the case of Ali Mohammed al-Nimr who was sentenced to death by crucifixion.
tabling member constituency	Caerphilly
tabling member printed	Wayne David
uin	11099
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/10/2015 answer text <p>We are very concerned about the case Ali Mohammed Al Nimr. We have raised this case with the Saudi Arabian authorities at a senior level including by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond). We will continue to follow this case closely. The UK opposes the death penalty in all cases. Ministers, our Ambassador, and the Embassy team frequently raise the issue of the death penalty with the Saudi authorities, bilaterally and through the European Union.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 14/10/2015 15:54:51 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1398 label Biography information for Wayne David

420026

registered interest
date	09/10/2015
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	Palestinians: 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 steps the Government has taken to stop UK funding being used to pay the wages of convicted terrorists from the Palestinian Territories in custody in Israeli prisons.
tabling member constituency	The Wrekin
tabling member printed	Mark Pritchard
uin	11067
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2015 answer text <p>No UK money is used for payments to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The UK’s direct financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) is used to pay the salaries of PA public sector workers only. Our support is provided through a World Bank trust fund which carries out close monitoring of PA expenditure. The whole process is independently audited, which means we know exactly how our money is spent. We also have robust accounting procedures in place which mean we are confident that our funds do not benefit terrorist groups, and we ensure that our partners do the same.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 15/10/2015 11:54:13 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1576 label Biography information for Mark Pritchard

420038

registered interest
date	09/10/2015
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	Occupied Territories
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what advice or guidance the Government provides on the potential risks associated with investing in or conducting business with Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
tabling member constituency	Oxford East
tabling member printed	Mr Andrew Smith
uin	10937
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2015 answer text <p>In December 2013, we placed advice online to raise awareness of the key security and political risks which UK businesses may face when operating abroad, including in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This includes guidance on Israeli settlements (www.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/overseas-business-risk-palestinian-territories)</p><p>We advise British businesses to bear in mind the British Government's view on the illegality of settlements under international law when considering investments and activities in the region. This is voluntary guidance to British businesses. It is the decision of an individual or company whether to operate in settlements in the Occupied Territories, but the British Government would neither encourage nor support such activity.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 15/10/2015 12:02:53 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	95 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Smith

420039

registered interest
date	09/10/2015
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	Palestinians
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 effectiveness of the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	10687
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2015 answer text <p>Through the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM) over 95,000 people have now been able to buy materials to repair homes that were damaged during the conflict. However, we are concerned that none of the homes destroyed have been rebuilt yet. We therefore welcome the June 2015 agreement between the Israeli and the Palestinian authorities on the Residential Stream of the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism to support the reconstruction of homes that were completely destroyed. DFID is providing £700,000 to the Materials Monitoring Unit which monitors the import, storage, supply and use of construction materials into Gaza under the GRM. The UK is also calling on all donors to disburse pledges made at the October 2014 Cairo Gaza Reconstruction Conference without delay.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 15/10/2015 13:09:05 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman