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173187

registered interest
date	12/01/2015
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	Burma
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 progress by Burma towards establishing democracy; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	220428
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2015 answer text <p>We recognise the significant steps towards democratic reform that the government of Burma has taken over the past two years. This includes releasing hundreds of political prisoners and discharging hundreds of child soldiers. It has also included lifting of restrictions on the media, which has opened the space for the growth of a vibrant civil society.</p><p> </p><p>At the same time, we recognise much more needs to be done, and that in some areas progress has declined. We remain deeply concerned about the recent intimidation, detention and sentencing of reporters and political activists, the appalling situation of Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State, and about ongoing conflict in ethnic areas and associated human rights abuses, including sexual violence. All of our concerns are thoroughly documented in our Annual Report on Human Rights, and the quarterly updates to them. I personally raise our concerns regularly with the government of Burma.</p><p> </p><p>Burma’s elections, scheduled for October or November this year, will be a critically important test of the government’s commitment to see the reforms through to their conclusion. It is vital for Burma’s future development that these are inclusive and credible. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) made this point to President Thein Sein at the Group of Twenty (G20) summit in Brisbane in November.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 15/01/2015 12:17:36 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

173191

registered interest
date	12/01/2015
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	Burma
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 improve UK-Burmese diplomatic relations; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	220465
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2015 answer text <p>The UK’s relations with Burma have improved since 2011 when President Thein Sein embarked on a programme of reform. Since then we have been a critical friend, using our bilateral relationship to encourage reforms and speaking out where Burma has fallen short of accepted international standards of democracy and human rights. As a result of our engagement, the UK has been able to increase our access and influence with the government of Burma.</p><p> </p><p>Since the reform process began, the government of Burma has made progress in a number of areas, not least by releasing hundreds of political prisoners and child soldiers, and opening up space for the media and civil society to operate. The UK’s support has included a package of development assistance, worth £82 million in financial year 2015-16. We will continue to use our diplomatic relations to encourage reform in 2015, when elections due to be held towards the end of the year will be a critically important milestone in Burma’s transition to a more open and democratic society. At the same time, we recognise there is still a lot further to go, including on human rights, and we will continue to make our concerns known to the government of Burma, both publicly and privately.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 15/01/2015 12:21:22 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

172782

registered interest
date	08/01/2015
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	Columbia
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 finding by UNHCR that there were 40 killings of human rights defenders in Colombia in the first nine months of 2014, what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in that country.
tabling member constituency	Blaydon
tabling member printed	Mr David Anderson
uin	220207
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2015 answer text <p>We are aware of the report by Amnesty International which informs that the UNHCHR has confirmed the murder of at least 40 human rights defenders (HRDs) between January and September 2014. ABColombia’s 2014 report stated that 78 human rights defenders were assassinated in 2013, which suggests a decrease this year, though there are reports that threats against HRDs have increased in the same period. However, we await more comprehensive reports including data covering the whole of 2014.</p><p>The UK Government publishes updates on the human rights situation in Colombia every quarter. The most recent report can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/colombia-country-of-concern/colombia-country-of-concern" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/colombia-country-of-concern/colombia-country-of-concern</a>.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 14/01/2015 15:20:34 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1486 label Biography information for Mr David Anderson

172784

registered interest
date	08/01/2015
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	Ilois
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 are being taken to ensure that the Chagossians are taken to the Chagos Islands as soon as possible, since the cancellation by his Department of their scheduled annual trip in November 2014.
tabling member constituency	Islington North
tabling member printed	Jeremy Corbyn
uin	220171
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/01/2015 answer text <p>We are committed to the Chagossians visiting the British Indian Ocean Territory in April 2015. BIOT Administration officials judge that this is the earliest time that safety concerns caused by mechanical problems on board the BIOT Administration's vessel will be satisfactorily addressed, and the logistics of such a complex trip completed. Additionally, the community leaders are working with us to reallocate the funds set aside for the postponed 2014 visit to community projects.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 13/01/2015 14:31:34 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	185 label Biography information for Jeremy Corbyn

172786

registered interest
date	08/01/2015
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	British Indian Ocean Territory
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when and for what reasons permission was given to representatives of the Zoological Society of London to travel to the Chagos Islands.
tabling member constituency	Islington North
tabling member printed	Jeremy Corbyn
uin	220170
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/01/2015 answer text <p>On 14 October 2014, the Administration of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) granted permission for a consortium of scientists, led by representatives of the Zoological Society of London, to undertake an expedition to BIOT (which includes the Chagos Archipelago) in January 2015. The purpose of this expedition, now underway, is to conduct observations on the pelagic ecology within BIOT’s marine protected area. The BIOT Administration is committed to promoting research that increases scientific understanding and informs global conservation efforts, and has identified the documentation of pelagic ecosystems as a priority.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 13/01/2015 14:32:50 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	185 label Biography information for Jeremy Corbyn

172511

registered interest
date	07/01/2015
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	Mexico
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 he has made to the Mexican government about human rights in that country.
tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
tabling member printed	Cathy Jamieson
uin	219970
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/01/2015 answer text <p>We regularly discuss human rights with the Mexican authorities, through our Embassy in Mexico and at Ministerial level. During my visit to Mexico in November, I discussed the human rights situation. I have also subsequently raised the issue with visiting Mexican Ministerial counterparts.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 13/01/2015 14:52:22 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4011 label Biography information for Cathy Jamieson

172512

registered interest
date	07/01/2015
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	Sudan
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 government of Sudan on the legal status and detention of Dr. Amin Mekki Medani, Farouk Abu Eissa and Farah Ibrahim Mohamed Algar.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North East
tabling member printed	Mr William Bain
uin	220052
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/01/2015 answer text <p>Officials from our Embassy in Khartoum have made representations to the Government of Sudan about the detention of Dr. Amin Mekki Medani, Farouk Abu Eissa and Farah Ibrahim Mohamed al-Agar. Additionally, we issued a statement with our Troika partners (the United States and Norway) on 23 December calling for their immediate release.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 13/01/2015 14:38:35 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1610 label Biography information for Mr William Bain

172514

registered interest
date	07/01/2015
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	Cuba
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 meetings he has had with representatives of the Cuban government.
tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
tabling member printed	Cathy Jamieson
uin	219969
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/01/2015 answer text <p>I visited Cuba from 29 October to 1 November and met Cuban Vice-President Cabrisas, Foreign Minister Rodriguez and Trade and Investment Minister Malmierca. I also met the Cuban Deputy Ministers for agriculture, energy, trade and investment, tourism, health and foreign affairs. In my meetings, I discussed our bilateral relationship, including issues related to trade and investment, foreign affairs, human rights, tourism and co-operation in the fight against Ebola. I also signed three Memoranda of Understanding with the Cuban Government, covering foreign policy, trade and investment and sport. I agreed that a British trade delegation should visit Cuba later this year to explore opportunities for foreign investors to help with Cuba’s economic development.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 13/01/2015 14:46:53 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4011 label Biography information for Cathy Jamieson

172516

registered interest
date	07/01/2015
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	North Korea
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 tackle the persecution of Christians in North Korea.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	220024
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/01/2015 answer text <p>We are deeply concerned by reports of widespread and systematic state sanctioned human rights violations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), particularly by the reports of the persecution of Christians detailed by the UN Commission of Inquiry and elsewhere. We have called on the DPRK to respect the provision in its constitution guaranteeing “freedom of belief in religion”. Our belief is that if the DPRK will not hold human rights violators to account, the international community must be ready to do so. We worked with likeminded partners to ensure the resolutions adopted at the Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly included strong language to make clear there can be no impunity for human rights violations and to call for appropriate action to ensure accountability.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 13/01/2015 14:54:56 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

172521

registered interest
date	07/01/2015
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	Democratic Republic of Congo
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 plans to take in response to the shooting of the Northern Irish missionary, Ms Maud Kells OBE, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	220093
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/01/2015 answer text We were very concerned to hear about the shooting of a British national in the Democratic Republic of Congo. FCO officials in London and the Democratic Republic of Congo are providing consular assistance. The Government will continue to provide assistance and seek updates from the local authorities who are investigating. answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 13/01/2015 14:41:40 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson