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156268

registered interest
date	18/11/2014
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	Zimbabwe
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 the government of Zimbabwe on the (a) democratic process and (b) seizure of land.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	214823
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2014 answer text As set out in the FCO's last quarterly update to the Human Rights and Democracy Report, we continue to have concerns about the situation in Zimbabwe. Through our Embassy in Harare, we regularly raise issues of human rights, democracy and respect for the rule of law, including land and property rights, with the Government. We will continue to support the aspirations of the Zimbabwean people for a more democratic, stable and prosperous Zimbabwe. answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 21/11/2014 12:45:57 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

155903

registered interest
date	17/11/2014
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	Somalia
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 the Somali government on honouring its commitment to manage its weapons stockpiles and prevent leaks to Al Shabaab; what consideration his Department has given to the proposal by the Somali Prime Minister for UK assistance for an investigation into Al Shabaab penetration into the Somali government; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	214462
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/11/2014 answer text <p>The allegations of corruption contained in the Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group report are deeply concerning. We take them seriously and continue to work in partnership with the Somali authorities and other international partners such as the World Bank to improve the overall transparency and accountability of public financial management in Somalia.</p><p>Reforming Somalia’s public financial management system has been a priority for the Federal Government since 2012, when they inherited extremely weak systems. Since then they have taken various steps, such as the introduction of an automated financial management information system, and also established a “Financial Governance Committee (FGC)” in early 2014 composed of key members of the Federal Government and international financial institutions (IFIs), which we welcomed. The FGC has enabled the IFIs to provide key reform advice at the request of the Somalis on asset management, public sector procurement processes, and public financial management reforms. We continue to monitor the progress being made around delivering against the advice that has been received and will support further public financial management reforms to create transparent and sustainable public systems.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge grouped question UIN 214461 question first answered 24/11/2014 16:08:01 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

92065

registered interest
date	26/09/2014
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	UN Security Council
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 list the initiatives taken by the UK while holding the Chair of the UN Security Council; and which such initiatives received support from the full Security Council.
tabling member constituency	Newport West
tabling member printed	Paul Flynn
uin	209566
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2014 answer text <p>The UK held the presidency of the UN Security Council in August, and focused on a theme of conflict prevention, coinciding with the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. The main event was an open debate on conflict prevention at which the Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2171. This emphasised the role of the UN in preventing conflict, placed conflict prevention firmly on the Security Council’s ongoing agenda, and acknowledged human rights violations as early indicators of conflict. The Council also undertook a trip to Europe – where they visited a First World War battlefield and the International Court of Justice at the Hague – and Somalia and South Sudan. This visit was welcomed by all Council members. The principal responsibility of the presidency is to ensure regular Security Council business is efficiently discharged. To this end, there were debates and discussions on a range of issues, including Libya, ISIL, Yemen, the UN’s mission in Darfur (UNAMID), and Ukraine. Overall, the UK drafted five resolutions and a Presidential Statement. All were agreed unanimously. My Hon Friend, the Member for Boston and Skegness (Mark Simmonds MP), the former Minister for Africa, also chaired a Security Council debate on achieving lasting peace and stability in the Africa's Great Lake regions.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 17/10/2014 11:11:48 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	545 label Biography information for Paul Flynn

91732

registered interest
date	12/09/2014
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	UN Resolutions: Females
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 ensure women from caste communities are taken into account in the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative and the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 National Action Plan.
tabling member constituency	Foyle
tabling member printed	Mark Durkan
uin	209217
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/10/2014 answer text <p>The Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) is focused on ending impunity for crimes of sexual violence committed in conflict and the provision of greater support to the survivors of these crimes. Where caste based sexual violence and so-called punishment rape are used in conflict they fall within the overarching objectives of the Initiative.</p><p>The UK’s National Action Plan (NAP) on implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1325 reaffirms and strengthens the Government’s ambition to pursue visible change for women and girls affected by conflict. The 2014-2017 NAP promotes the participation of women, from all backgrounds, in decision-making processes related to the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts.</p><p>PSVI and the NAP are complemented by wider government activity on tackling violence against women and girls, underpinned by the cross-government action plan, ‘A Call to End Violence against Women and Girls’, which sets out the Government’s programme of domestic and international work in this area. This includes working though our network of embassies overseas and with non-governmental organisations to address the full range of violations of women’s rights, including sexual and other forms of violence committed against them</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 13/10/2014 14:43:58 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	1594 label Biography information for Mark Durkan

91643

registered interest
date	11/09/2014
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	Burkina Faso
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 effects of political instability in Burkina Faso on (a) the Sahelian region and (b) the Ebola outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Wirral South
tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
uin	209143
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/10/2014 answer text <p>Serious political instability in Burkina Faso would have a wider effect given the fragility of the Sahel region. Burkina Faso has demonstrated commitment to ensuring regional stability through its role as a mediator on behalf of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) during the Mali crisis, and as a major contributor to the United Nations Multi-Dimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali. We are working with international partners to make clear to the Burkina Faso government our desire to see this positive approach to external stability mirrored domestically.<br>The Ebola outbreak in West Africa is an unprecedented human tragedy. The UN has declared it a public health crisis requiring an urgent international response.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 14/10/2014 13:15:42 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern

91441

registered interest
date	10/09/2014
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	Africa
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 has taken to (a) provide and (b) facilitate (i) military and (ii) other training to law enforcement agencies in Africa to tackle wildlife poaching and smuggling.
tabling member constituency	Warley
tabling member printed	Mr John Spellar
uin	208998
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2014 answer text <p>The UK Government is committed to playing its part in international action to tackle wildlife poaching and smuggling.</p><p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is using its network of diplomatic posts to influence international efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade, including through supporting anti-poaching and trafficking initiatives.</p><p>In December 2013 the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for International Development announced £10 million of funding, over 4 years, to help developing countries tackle the illegal wildlife trade. The funding will support actions under three themes: developing sustainable livelihoods for communities affected by illegal wildlife trade, strengthening law enforcement and the role of the criminal justice system, and reducing demand for the products of illegal wildlife trade.</p><p>One of the projects already selected for funding aims to identify trafficking routes, individuals and networks involved in the illegal trade of elephant ivory and rhinoceros horns in Uganda, Kenya and South Africa. This project will increase cooperation between national and international authorities.</p><p>Further information about projects that successfully applied for funding under the competitive “Illegal Wildlife Challenge Fund” this summer will be available soon.</p><p>The FCO is working with a number of African countries in assisting them with options to provide anti-poaching training. For example, the British Army ran a training programme for the Kenyan Wildlife Service and the Kenyan Forestry Service, beginning in December 2013, with the aim of sharing operational tactics with Kenyan rangers following the killing of over 60 rangers on duty across the country by poachers in the past two years.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 15/10/2014 13:36:36 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

91444

registered interest
date	10/09/2014
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 Sudanese government in support of raising the legal age of marriage in Sudan from 10 to 18 year in order to comply with international standards on child rights.
tabling member constituency	Foyle
tabling member printed	Mark Durkan
uin	208989
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/10/2014 answer text <p>The UK ensured that the Government of Sudan was represented at the Girl Summit, which took place in London in July this year. The Government of Sudan will now develop the first National Strategy and Action Plan to combat Child, Early and Forced Marriage. The UK has been invited to participate and will continue to press the Government of Sudan to raise the legal age of marriage to 18.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 10/10/2014 15:11:53 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	1594 label Biography information for Mark Durkan

91508

registered interest
date	10/09/2014
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	Forced Marriage: Repatriation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the average cost is of repatriating a victim of forced marriage stranded outside the UK; and who is responsible for paying that cost.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	208976
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/10/2014 answer text <p>The UK is regarded as a world leader in its work to tackle forced marriage. The Prime Minister hosted the UK’s first Girl Summit in July 2014, to build on current efforts and rally a global movement to end early and forced marriage, and FGM in a generation. The UK Government made commitments to act domestically and internationally, including promises to improve the police response, increase support available to those affected, and strengthen community-led prevention. Our work to repatriate victims is a key element of our work to end forced marriage. <br><br>Before paying for the repatriation of a victim of forced marriage back to the UK, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office takes every step to ensure there are no other means of obtaining funds from relatives or friends who may be willing to transfer money or purchase a ticket back to the UK. Only in exceptional circumstances and after other means of obtaining the funds have been exhausted will a discretionary loan be made available, which must be repaid at a later date. <br><br>Where it has been demonstrated that all possible avenues of funding have been exhausted and there is a clear inability to enter into a loan agreement (normally due to a victim being underage or not having sufficient mental capacity to sign an agreement), the FCO can provide limited financial support. Since April 2013, the average cost of repatriation in these cases has been £744.00.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 13/10/2014 14:14:26 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

91510

registered interest
date	10/09/2014
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	Forced Marriage: Repatriation
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 habitual British residents, British dual nationals and British nationals have been rescued by British consular staff from forced marriages abroad and repatriated to the UK since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	208977
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/10/2014 answer text <p>The Forced Marriage Unit leads on the UK Government’s forced marriage policy, outreach and casework, operating both in the UK, where support is provided to any individual, and overseas, where consular assistance is provided to British nationals, including dual nationals. From 2010 – 2013, the Forced Marriage Unit provided advice or assistance related to a possible forced marriage in 5990 cases. To provide more information on the nature of the assistance provided in all these cases, including those which have involved repatriation, would involve a disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 13/10/2014 14:17:03 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

91278

registered interest
date	09/09/2014
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	West Africa
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 has taken to protect the health of UK diplomatic staff and their dependents in West African nations affected by the ebola outbreak; and what monitoring of their health is available to them on their return to the UK.
tabling member constituency	Ilford North
tabling member printed	Mr Lee Scott
uin	208755
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/10/2014 answer text <p>We take the health and safety of our staff in the UK and overseas seriously. We are working with partners in all of the affected countries to maintain adequate health facilities and medical evacuation provision for staff. We keep this under constant review. In some cases we have removed dependents from Posts because of the impact of ebola on local health infrastructure. There are checks and information for all passengers leaving affected countries. Our staff understand the ebola symptoms and to contact a medical professional immediately if necessary.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 13/10/2014 14:41:53 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	1534 label Biography information for Mr Lee Scott