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722493

registered interest
date	19/04/2017
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: LGBT People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on the new guidance on sexual orientation and gender identity in Afghanistan which may lead to the return of failed LGBT asylum seekers to Afghanistan.
tabling member constituency	Heywood and Middleton
tabling member printed	Liz McInnes
uin	71295
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2017 answer text <p>Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials provided evidence to the Home Office (Annex A of the Country Policy and Information Note) in advance of the publication of the updated guidance.</p><p>The FCO will continue to provide analysis to the Home Office on issues relevant to the Country Policy. The Home Office consider each claim on its individual merits. Where someone is found to be at risk of persecution or serious harm in their country of origin because of their sexuality or gender identity, refuge will be granted.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 24/04/2017 15:38:57 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4342 label Biography information for Liz McInnes

722494

registered interest
date	19/04/2017
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	Embassies: Cider
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 UK embassies serve cider at functions.
tabling member constituency	North Herefordshire
tabling member printed	Bill Wiggin
uin	71283
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2017 answer text <p>A number of our High Commissions and Embassies serve cider at functions. We do not centrally hold details of the occasions and the cider that is served. The Foreign &amp; Commonwealth Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs work closely with partners across Government and the private sector, including the National Association of Cider Makers, to promote Britain's world class offer in this area, including through the GREAT campaign. Our High Commissions and Embassies are uniquely positioned to showcase British food and drink across the world.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 26/04/2017 08:51:00 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	1428 label Biography information for Sir Bill Wiggin

722496

registered interest
date	19/04/2017
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	Dogs: Meat
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 (a) his global counterparts and (b) animal rights groups on cruelty in the global dog meat trade; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Margaret Ferrier
uin	71322
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2017 answer text <p>I met with animal rights activists earlier this year to discuss this issue and my officials are in ongoing discussions with them to identify how to improve animal welfare and raise awareness of the cruelty and potential health implications of the global dog meat trade.</p><p>The consumption of dog meat is legal in many countries, and the UK has no grounds to intervene or take trade measures to prevent this. As such, I have not raised the matter with my global counterparts. However, the British Ambassador in Seoul has raised the issue with the Korean authorities, and officials from the British Embassy in Seoul have accompanied non-government organisations on a dog farm visit. Officials have also met with police representatives from China to discuss their implementation of animal welfare regulations.</p><p>As I stated in the Westminster Hall Debate on 12 September 2016, it is encouraging that in countries where dog meat is consumed there are signs that attitudes are changing.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 26/04/2017 09:08:27 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4386 label Biography information for Margaret Ferrier

722219

registered interest
date	18/04/2017
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	Raymond Koh
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 Malaysian authorities on the recent disappearance and apparent abduction of Christian Pastor Raymond Koh.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	71154
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2017 answer text <p>​I am concerned by the recent disappearance and apparent abduction of Pastor Koh. A police investigation is ongoing. We have regular dialogue with Malaysian ministers on human rights and I discussed Pastor Koh's case with civil society representatives during my recent visit to Malaysia. Our High Commissioner has also raised Pastor Koh's case with the Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister. We shall continue to follow developments in this case and wider civil society in Malaysia very closely.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 24/04/2017 14:39:34 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

722221

registered interest
date	18/04/2017
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: Visas
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information his Department holds on how many UK nationals have been issued with visas for the purpose of visiting North Korea in a (a) professional and (b) tourism capacity since 1 January 2017.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	71158
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2017 answer text <p>It is for the North Korean authorities to issue visas to British Nationals visiting the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The UK does not hold details of the number of visas they issue to British Nationals.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 24/04/2017 14:35:30 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

720463

registered interest
date	13/04/2017
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	Hong Kong: Foreign Relations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Chief Executive of Hong Kong since her recent election.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	70242
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2017 answer text <p>Until 1 July 2017, the incumbent Mr CY Leung remains Chief Executive. The British Government looks forward to working with the Chief Executive-elect Carrie Lam when she takes office in July. I wrote to Chief Executive-elect Carrie Lam on 28 March to congratulate her on her victory. I have had no discussions with Carrie Lam since her election on 26 March.</p><p>Our Consul General in Hong Kong, Mr Andrew Heyn OBE met Chief Executive-elect Carrie Lam on 19 April and discussed deepening UK-Hong Kong cooperation when she takes office in July.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 21/04/2017 13:34:25 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

720466

registered interest
date	13/04/2017
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: Security
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 political and security situation in Sangin, Helmand Province, Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	70346
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2017 answer text <p>The security situation across Afghanistan, including in Helmand, remains challenging and we expect this forthcoming fighting season to be as difficult as 2016. However, we should be mindful that this is the third year that the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) have taken the lead for security since the closure of the International Security Assistance Force combat mission. The ANDSF continue to improve under difficult security circumstances, supported by mentors from NATO's Resolute Support (RS) mission. The Taliban continue to test the ANDSF, particularly in rural areas and occasionally threaten some provincial capitals, but the ANDSF have shown professionalism and resilience in managing security and countering terrorism, including from Daesh's affiliate in the region.</p><p>Along with international partners, the UK is committed to helping Afghanistan to build a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan. At the Warsaw Summit in July 2016, NATO agreed to sustain the non-combat Train, Advise and Assist RS mission through 2017. We have increased the UK forces under RS command to a total of 500. The Brussels Conference on Afghanistan, which I attended, on 4 October 2016 sent a strong signal of international resolve. At Brussels, the UK pledged £750 million in development support to Afghanistan through until 2020. Ultimately a political settlement offers the best prospect for an enduring peace. We urge the Taliban to join the political process and become part of a brighter future for Afghanistan.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 20/04/2017 13:21:21 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

720467

registered interest
date	13/04/2017
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: British Nationals Abroad
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 UK nationals are held in detention in China; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Bridgend
tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
uin	70327
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2017 answer text <p>We are aware of 11 British nationals being held in detention in China. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its global network seeks to offer consular assistance to all British nationals in detention overseas.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 25/04/2017 15:22:00 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

720473

registered interest
date	13/04/2017
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	Antisemitism
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 times he has discussed anti-Semitism with his international counterparts in the last calendar year.
tabling member constituency	Bassetlaw
tabling member printed	John Mann
uin	70428
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2017 answer text <p>​Combating all forms of discrimination, including anti-semitism, remains an important part of the Government's human rights work internationally. Through our membership of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), we actively supported the adoption of a Working Definition of Antisemitism in 2016. The UK is now encouraging individual states to adopt the definition domestically. Since 2010, the UK's Special Envoy for post-Holocaust issues has played an important role in driving a more coherent and strategic approach to our work in this area, including on anti-semitism. The current Special Envoy Sir Eric Pickles raised antisemitism during his recent visits to Poland in October 2016 and March 2017.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 70702 question first answered 25/04/2017 16:45:13 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	1387 label Biography information for Lord Mann

720476

registered interest
date	13/04/2017
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	Sri Lanka: 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 recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Sri Lanka; and what progress the Sri Lankan Government has made in improving human rights in that country.
tabling member constituency	Calder Valley
tabling member printed	Craig Whittaker
uin	70583
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2017 answer text <p>Since the election of President Sirisena in January 2015, the Sri Lankan government has made progress in addressing the legacy of its civil war, including the restoration of important democratic checks and balances, improvements in respect for freedoms of expression and movement, the return of some military-held land to civilians, passing of legislation to establish an Office for Missing Persons (OMP) and the ratification of the Convention on Enforced Disappearances. The Sri Lankan government has also co-sponsored two UN Human Rights Council resolutions on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka, in October 2015 and March 2017.</p><p>However, much remains to be done and the UK encourages the Government of Sri Lanka to now take the steps necessary to deliver in full the commitments it has made to its people and to the international community.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 25/04/2017 15:00:27 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	3940 label Biography information for Craig Whittaker