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387824

registered interest
date	06/07/2015
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	Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Travel
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 (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers in his Department are entitled to the use of (i) a car with a dedicated driver, (ii) a car from the Government car pool and (iii) a taxi ordered through a departmental account.
tabling member constituency	West Bromwich East
tabling member printed	Tom Watson
uin	5739
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2015 answer text Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff in the UK do not use a car with dedicated driver. FCO Services has a small pool of vehicles and security cleared drivers which are used mainly for transporting Queen's Messengers, diplomatic bags and other classified material. As part of a long-standing arrangement, the Permanent Under-Secretary and other senior officials are able to draw on this pool for official and operationally necessary travel. The FCO does make use of a taxi service provider which FCO staff are entitled to use according to strict policy rules governing the use of taxis for official journeys. FCO policy states that ‘for duty travel staff should use the most efficient means of transport; the use of taxis for official business should be avoided unless it is absolutely necessary, usually when there is no other means of public transport to the destination, or there is a need to transport bulky official materials (not personal luggage) to or from a course, seminar or meeting. FCO Staff are entitled to use a taxi when it is considered the most efficient means of transport. Special Advisers are not entitled to us ethe FCO Services provided small car pool or the departmental taxi provision. The statistical information requested is not held centrally and can only be collated at disproportionate cost. answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 09/07/2015 13:44:41 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1463 label Biography information for Lord Watson of Wyre Forest

387594

registered interest
date	03/07/2015
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	Egypt: Capital Punishment
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 Egypt on the court rulings on 16 May 2015 recommending the death penalty for 122 people, including former President Mohamed Morsi, the academic Emad Shahin and other Muslim Brotherhood officials.
tabling member constituency	Cynon Valley
tabling member printed	Ann Clwyd
uin	5544
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2015 answer text <p>I made a statement on 17 May setting out the Government's deep concern at the sentencing to death of former President Morsi and over 100 others, including Dr Emad Shahin (in absentia) and Muslim Brotherhood officials. I also raised our concerns with the Egyptian Ambassador in London on 17 May. Senior officials have also discussed this case with representatives of the Egyptian government.</p><p>We have been clear that the Egyptian authorities must apply the rule of law consistently in line with international standards, and protect the political and legal rights of all Egyptians. It is the long-standing policy of the Government to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. We note that there are further stages in the legal process, and will continue to follow this case closely.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 09/07/2015 13:51:06 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	553 label Biography information for Ann Clwyd

387596

registered interest
date	03/07/2015
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	Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has made representations to the government of Egypt on the legal action being taken against the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Cynon Valley
tabling member printed	Ann Clwyd
uin	5569
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2015 answer text <p>The UK Government is concerned about the decreasing space for civil society to operate in Egypt, including for Non Government Organisations (NGOs) such as the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies. UK officials have raised these concerns, including the case of Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, with representatives from the Egyptian government in both London and Cairo.</p><p>The UK Government believes that a free and robust civil society is the bedrock of democracy. We have urged the Egyptian government to ensure full implementation of the provisions for the free operation of civil society, as contained in the constitution, including through a revised NGO law that conforms to international standards and protects freedom of expression.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 09/07/2015 13:59:29 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	553 label Biography information for Ann Clwyd

387615

registered interest
date	03/07/2015
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	Amnesty International: Surveillance
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 Investigatory Powers Tribunal Determination of 22 June 2015, IPT/13/194/H, and subsequent correction of 1 July 2015, under what statutory provision the interception of the communications of Amnesty International by GCHQ was authorised.
tabling member constituency	Haltemprice and Howden
tabling member printed	Mr David Davis
uin	5586
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2015 answer text <p>It is the longstanding policy of successive British governments not to comment on intelligence matters. I refer my hon. Friend to the judgment of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, 22 June 2015, as corrected on 1 July 2015, which found that any interception that occurred was lawful and proportionate under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 08/07/2015 13:13:25 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	373 label Biography information for Sir David Davis

387307

registered interest
date	02/07/2015
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	Tunisia: 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, if he will hold discussions with his French counterpart on improving collaboration between the French and UK governments in providing governance and capability training for Tunisian national and regional government bodies.
tabling member constituency	The Wrekin
tabling member printed	Mark Pritchard
uin	5352
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2015 answer text Since the 26 June terrorist attack in Sousse, The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) and The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) have spoken to their French counterparts and discussed areas in which we can work more closely together to support Tunisia. The Home Secretary and I also visited Tunisa with the French (and German) Interior Ministers on 29 June both to pay our respects to the victims of the Sousse attack and for discussions with the Tunisian Authorities. answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 08/07/2015 13:01:34 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1576 label Biography information for Mark Pritchard

387444

registered interest
date	02/07/2015
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	Nuclear Disarmament
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 encourage nuclear non-proliferation and multilateral disarmament of existing nuclear weapons.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	5363
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2015 answer text <p>We work with international partners in a variety of fora to prevent nuclear proliferation and to help achieve our shared goal of nuclear disarmament. The UK plays a very active role in the Iran nuclear negotiations, in upholding sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and in applying export controls via the Nuclear Suppliers Group. We encourage States that have not yet done so, to sign up to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) so that this important treaty can enter into force, pending which we provide significant financial and technical support to the international monitoring system designed to detect nuclear tests. We also encourage States that have not done so to sign up to International Atomic Energy Agency Additional Protocols. We continue to urge the start and early completion of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on a Fissile Material Cut off Treaty, to seek universalisation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and continue to work to build trust and confidence with other Nuclear Weapon States through the P5 process.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 07/07/2015 11:27:58 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

387445

registered interest
date	02/07/2015
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	Piracy
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 scale of international at-sea piracy; and what steps the Government is taking to counter piracy at sea.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	5364
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2015 answer text <p>Recorded acts of piracy have increased in South East Asia from 128 to 141 2014 and 2015. The UK is an active member of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against ships in Asia (ReCAAP) who work to combat piracy in the region.</p><p>International action has suppressed piracy off the coast of Somalia and there has not been a successful attack since 2012. However, the situation is reversible and we remain vigilant. The UK hosts the headquarters of EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA and NATO Operation Ocean Shield, and provides a Deputy Commander to the Combined Maritime Forces. The UK also supports bilateral capacity building in East Africa through EUCAP NESTOR and UN Office on Drugs and Crime.</p><p>The situation in the Gulf of Guinea has remained stable over the last 10 years but there were 67 attacks in 2014. The UK remains committed to supporting west African states build their capacity ashore and at sea.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 07/07/2015 15:13:17 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

387041

registered interest
date	01/07/2015
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: Military Aid
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 support to the YPG and YPJ in repelling ISIS in Syria; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	5071
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2015 answer text <p>We recognise the difficult circumstances the Syrian Kurds face in the midst of the continuing civil war and their fight against ISIL. We welcome the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG/YPJ) and allied Free Syrian Army militia driving out ISIL from Tel-Abyad with the assistance of Coalition airstrikes.</p><p>The UK is not providing any direct assistance to the YPG or its political wing the Democratic Union Party (PYD), although we are supporting Coalition airstrikes which have helped groups, including the YPG win significant victories on the ground. We remain concerned that they continue to maintain links with the Assad regime and the PKK, the latter of which is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK. In the past year, UK officials have discussed our concerns with the PYD.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 06/07/2015 14:42:59 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

386640

registered interest
date	30/06/2015
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: Military Aid
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support and assistance the Government is providing to the Al Sanadid Arabs in the fight against ISIS in Syria.
tabling member constituency	The Wrekin
tabling member printed	Mark Pritchard
uin	4762
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2015 answer text <p>The al-Sanadid army, based in Hasakeh Province, has recently supported the Kurdish armed group, the YPG, in retaking ground from ISIL. However, the UK is not providing any material assistance to the al-Sanadid army. We recognise the difficult circumstances the Syrian Kurds face in the midst of the continuing civil war and their fight against ISIL. They are making gains against ISIL with the help of anti-ISIL coalition airstrikes. But we are concerned that the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) continues to maintain links with the Assad regime and refuses to cooperate fully with the moderate Syrian Opposition. We are also concerned that the PYD maintains some links with the PKK, a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK. Over the past year, UK officials have met PYD representatives to raise our concerns.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 07/07/2015 12:11:40 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1576 label Biography information for Mark Pritchard

386641

registered interest
date	30/06/2015
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: Military Aid
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support and assistance the Government is providing to the Syriac Military Council in the fighting against ISIS in Syria.
tabling member constituency	The Wrekin
tabling member printed	Mark Pritchard
uin	4763
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2015 answer text <p>The UK does not provide lethal assistance to anyone in Syria. We are, however, helping to train vetted members of the Syrian moderate opposition through the US-led Train and Equip programme. The UK are providing up to 86 military trainers and headquarters staff to the US-led train and equip programme across the region. This commitment will be incremental as the programme is established.</p><p>The goal is for the train and equip programme to build the capabilities of moderate Syrian fighters to defend the Syrian people, stabilise areas under opposition control, promote the conditions for a negotiated settlement of the conflict in Syria and empower trainees eventually to conduct offensive operations against the so called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).</p><p>The UK continues to support the Syrian National Coalition to bring about an end to the conflict in Syria.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 08/07/2015 12:54:23 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1576 label Biography information for Mark Pritchard