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1128902

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	Kashmir: 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, with reference to the death of Zakir Musa, what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Kashmir.
tabling member constituency	Heywood and Middleton
tabling member printed	Liz McInnes
uin	259251
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>We are aware of reports that last month Indian security forces killed Zakir Musa, the Chief of the Al Qaeda-affiliated Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH) group, during a counter-insurgency operation in Kashmir’s Pulwama district and that a number of protests followed. We continue to monitor the security situation in Kashmir and we keep our travel advice under review. We are concerned by levels of firing and shelling between Indian and Pakistani troops in Kashmir and urge both sides to exercise restraint and improve channels of communication. We welcome the exchanges between Prime Minister Khan and Prime Minister Modi following Prime Minister Modi’s re-election, and we encourage India and Pakistan to engage in dialogue and find lasting, diplomatic solutions to maintain regional stability.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 11/06/2019 13:24:26 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4342 label Biography information for Liz McInnes

1128927

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	Kashmir: 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 representations he has made to his Indian counterpart on Indian security forces upholding international human rights in Kashmir in the last 12 months.
tabling member constituency	Halifax
tabling member printed	Holly Lynch
uin	259319
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>We encourage both India and Pakistan to uphold their international human rights obligations. Any allegations of human rights violations or abuses is concerning and must be investigated thoroughly, promptly and transparently. I discussed the situation in Kashmir with the Indian Foreign Secretary on my visit to India in March this year. The Permanent Under Secretary to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office also raised the situation in Kashmir with the Foreign Secretary during bilateral talks last month (May).</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 11/06/2019 13:15:53 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4472 label Biography information for Holly Lynch

1128928

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	Yasin Malik
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 he seek assurances from his Indian counterpart that Kashmiri activist Yasin Malik will receive a fair trial following his arrest in April 2019.
tabling member constituency	Halifax
tabling member printed	Holly Lynch
uin	259320
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>​It is not for the UK to comment on or intervene in an independent judicial process in another country. However, the British Government does encourage all states, including India, to ensure that their domestic laws meet international standards for free and fair trials. We will continue to monitor the case.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 11/06/2019 13:19:50 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4472 label Biography information for Holly Lynch

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

1129090

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	International Assistance: Security
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 applications for Overseas Security and Justice Assistance have required Ministerial approval from his Department in each financial year since 2015-16.
tabling member constituency	Llanelli
tabling member printed	Nia Griffith
uin	259114
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office updated its guidance on Overseas Security and Justice Assistance in 2017 by written ministerial statement. Since then, information on its implementation has been included in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office annual Human Rights and Democracy Report. Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessments completed for specific projects or interventions are working documents, and are regularly updated in line with developments in the country concerned. Information on the number of Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessments completed in previous years and a more detailed breakdown of applications requiring Ministerial approval is not held centrally and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.</p><p>The guidance applies to any security and justice assistance from Her Majasty's Government that could result in changes to the laws, policies, practices or capabilities of foreign justice or security institutions and/or result in individuals being identified, investigated, arrested, detained, interviewed, interrogated, prosecuted, tried or sentenced by foreign authorities.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 06/06/2019 16:43:07 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	1541 label Biography information for Dame Nia Griffith

1129091

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	International Assistance: Security
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 an assessment of the potential merits of reforming its guidance on Overseas Security and Justice Assistance to include separate advice on assistance provided to non-state groups.
tabling member constituency	Llanelli
tabling member printed	Nia Griffith
uin	259115
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office updated its guidance on Overseas Security and Justice Assistance in 2017 by Written Ministerial Statement. Since then, information on its implementation has been included in the The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's annual Human Rights and Democracy Report. Overseas Security and Justice Assitance assessments completed for specific projects or interventions are working documents, and are regularly updated in line with developments in the country concerned. Information on the number of Overseas Security and Justice Assitance assessments completed in previous years and a more detailed breakdown of applications requiring Ministerial approval is not held centrally and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.</p><p>The guidance applies to any security and justice assistance from Her Majasty's Government that could result in changes to the laws, policies, practices or capabilities of foreign justice or security institutions and/or result in individuals being identified, investigated, arrested, detained, interviewed, interrogated, prosecuted, tried or sentenced by foreign authorities.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 11/06/2019 16:06:38 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	1541 label Biography information for Dame Nia Griffith

1129092

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	International Assistance: Security
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a cross-departmental electronic database system for collating Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessments, as part of its roll out of the Fusion Doctrine.
tabling member constituency	Llanelli
tabling member printed	Nia Griffith
uin	259116
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>Responsibility for complying with the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) Guidance rests with the department or agency with oversight of the assistance being delivered. Where more than one department or agency is involved, in most cases the implementing body will lead on the project-specific assessment, and the funding or coordinating body will lead on securing the necessary approval. All organisations regularly involved in security and justice assistance have a designated OSJA Lead who is responsible for ensuring consistency in the application of the OSJA Guidance in their department.</p><p>Government departments use the OSJA Guidance as a central part of their risk management procedures. OSJA assessments completed for specific projects or interventions are working documents, and are regularly updated in line with developments in the country concerned.</p><p>We do not assess that there is a need for a central database to support these risk management arrangements.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 06/06/2019 16:50:54 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	1541 label Biography information for Dame Nia Griffith

1129213

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	Conflict Resolution
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the level of (a) direct (b) indirect support provided by his Department to UK peace building and conflict resolution services globally in each of the last three years.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
tabling member printed	Ian Murray
uin	259182
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>​The UK Government plays a leading role in financing and supporting peacebuilding and conflict resolution through a broad range of bilateral and multilateral channels. For example, in the last three financial years the UK has contributed £19,055,708 (FY2016/17), £22,547,737 (FY2017/18), and £20,708,625 (FY2018/19) towards the UN's Special Political Missions. In addition to our contributions through the UN, the Government has supported a range of bilateral conflict prevention, stabilisation and peacebuilding initiatives, many funded through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund - total expenditure £242.4m in FY2017/18. The cross-Government Stabilisation Unit and our offices and network of missions overseas also play an important role in delivering UK government support to peacebuilding and conflict resolution activities.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 06/06/2019 16:46:53 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray