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1105184

registered interest
date	26/03/2019
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	Belarus: Diplomatic 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 recent assessment he has made of the UK’s diplomatic relations with Belarus.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Stephen Gethins
uin	237136
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/04/2019 answer text <p>​The UK has steadily increased its engagement with Belarus since the release of political prisoners and consequent lifting of the majority of EU Restrictive Measures in February 2016. UK engagement is focused on building regional stability in Europe's Eastern Neighbourhood and on encouraging Belarus' closer participation in the international rules-based system. This includes encouraging Belarus to show greater respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. We also continue to promote the economic, commercial and cultural links between our countries. I met President Lukashenka and Foreign Minister Makei respectively in September 2017 and in March 2018.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 01/04/2019 13:57:03 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	4434 label Biography information for Stephen Gethins

1105185

registered interest
date	26/03/2019
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	Belarus: Human Rights and Press Freedom
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 steps his Department has taken to promote (a) human rights and (b) press freedom in Belarus.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Stephen Gethins
uin	237137
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/04/2019 answer text <p>​The UK remains concerned about the human rights situation in Belarus. We continue to urge Belarus to show greater respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including media freedom. Our Ambassador in Minsk raised these issues most recently with the Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister in a meeting on 19 February 2019. Our Embassy subsequently attended the trial of the editor of the independent online media outlet, tut.by. The UK also joined EU partners in raising human rights concerns during the EU-Belarus Coordination meeting on 12-13 December 2018. Through the Global Britain Fund, our Embassy funds a number of Human Rights projects, including support for Non-Governmental Organisations advocating a moratorium on the death penalty and support for the growth of independent media in Belarus.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 01/04/2019 14:01:03 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	4434 label Biography information for Stephen Gethins

1105186

registered interest
date	26/03/2019
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	Baltic States and Eastern Europe: Disinformation
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 with his overseas counterparts to tackle the distribution of disinformation in (a) Ukraine, (b) Belarus and (c) the Baltic States.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Stephen Gethins
uin	237138
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2019 answer text <p>​We have a regular dialogue with international partners on the challenge posed by hostile state disinformation, including to align donor support in this field. The Foreign Secretary discussed disinformation at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 21 January in the context of the European Commission's ambitious Action Plan Against Disinformation. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's own dedicated Counter Disinformation and Media Development Programme aims to protect national security by countering disinformation directed at the UK and its Allies from Russia. It funds projects in a number of different countries that seek to enhance independent media, support civil society organisations that expose disinformation and share good practice with partner governments. Media plurality, institutional resilience and public awareness provide strong defences against disinformation, whatever the source, and sit at the heart of our efforts. In particular, we are supporting a new Open Information Partnership of European Non-Governmental Organisations, charities, academics, think-tanks and journalists which are working to respond to manipulated information in the news, social media and across the public space.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 03/04/2019 15:24:39 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	4434 label Biography information for Stephen Gethins

1051283

registered interest
date	30/01/2019
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	Diplomatic Relations: Climate Change
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 his Department has made of the effect of climate change on UK diplomatic relations with states that have (a) a maritime border with and (b) territorial claims to Antarctica.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Stephen Gethins
uin	214586
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2019 answer text <p>All countries with a territorial claim to Antarctica (Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand and Norway) are signatories of the Paris climate change agreement. We have also worked positively with them within the Antarctic Treaty System to ensure issues relating to climate change impacts are addressed. Working collaboratively with these countries, and other signatories to the Antarctic Treaty, to understand how climate change is affecting Antarctica and migrating its effects on the continent has a positive effect on UK diplomatic relations with those nations.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 07/02/2019 12:57:15 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	4434 label Biography information for Stephen Gethins

1051457

registered interest
date	30/01/2019
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	Syria: Armed Conflict
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 his Turkish counterpart on the ongoing conflict in Syria.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Stephen Gethins
uin	214588
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2019 answer text <p>I have had a number of recent conversations with my Turkish counterparts over the conflict in Syria, as have my ministerial colleagues and the Prime Minister. While we recognise Turkey's security interests, we are concerned about the humanitarian impact of a potential Turkish military operation, as well as the impact on the campaign against Daesh.</p><p>Our priority is to end the conflict in Syria through a negotiated political settlement: we believe only an inclusive, non-sectarian government can unite the country and protect the rights of all Syrians.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 07/02/2019 17:04:27 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	4434 label Biography information for Stephen Gethins

1041481

registered interest
date	14/01/2019
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	Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Brexit
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 staff in his Department are working on his Department’s plans for the UK to leave the EU.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Stephen Gethins
uin	208421
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/01/2019 answer text <p>Through Treasury EU Exit funding and a process of internal reprioritisation, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has created approximately 550 EU Exit roles in the UK and overseas. We have used these roles to strengthen our diplomatic network in the UK and across Europe so that we are better able to represent and promote British interests and engage with our European partners in support of a successful EU Exit. In addition, we have a number of other staff working on a range of EU Exit planning issues as part of their wider responsibilities.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 17/01/2019 16:29:50 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	4434 label Biography information for Stephen Gethins

1027377

registered interest
date	17/12/2018
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	Spain: Political Prisoners
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 his Spanish counterpart on prisoners who were members of the Catalan Parliament that on hunger strike.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Stephen Gethins
uin	202868
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/12/2018 answer text <p>The British Government has been clear that the situation in Catalonia is a matter for Spain. The British Government has not had discussions with Spain regarding the separatist prisoners on hunger strike.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 24/12/2018 13:57:56 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	4434 label Biography information for Stephen Gethins

1019982

registered interest
date	04/12/2018
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	Colombia: 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 the Colombian Government on the need for (a) individual and (b) collective protection mechanisms for human rights defenders in that country.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Stephen Gethins
uin	198878
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2018 answer text <p>The UK raised concerns about violence against human rights defenders (HRDs) during the Universal Periodic Review of Colombia's human rights on 10 May in Geneva. During the review, Colombia also accepted all UK recommendations including to improve protective measures for HRDs.</p><p>I have also discussed the importance of tackling violence against HRDs with visiting Colombian officials, most recently President Duque's adviser for International Affairs and Human Rights during his visit to London on 17 October. The British Ambassador in Bogota has also raised the issue of collective protection mechanisms in a meeting with the Director of Colombia's National Protection Unit on 26 November. Through our Embassy-run human rights programme, the UK is working with the Norwegian Refugee Council to implement a collective protection mechanism for 'at risk' HRDs in rural communities.</p><p>I welcome the Colombian Government's decision to host an official visit by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders, Mr Michel Forst. The UK is ready to help the Colombian Government implement the recommendations in Mr Forst's final report.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 12/12/2018 15:18:13 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	4434 label Biography information for Stephen Gethins

1019983

registered interest
date	04/12/2018
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	Colombia: Females
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 women’s organisations in Colombia receive UK funding.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Stephen Gethins
uin	198879
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2018 answer text <p>All UK ODA programmes are required to take account of gender. The FCO Human Rights Fund has allocated over £1.5m for projects in Colombia related to the prevention of sexual violence since 2011. This programme supports grass roots women’s organisations in ten regional departments through financing their umbrella organisation in Bogota. During 2018, programmes managed by our Embassy in Colombia have worked with over 400 women in rural areas supporting their empowerment and access to justice. The UK has also supported the documentation of over 1200 cases of conflict-related sexual violence, and helped bring these cases before the transitional justice system. One of the International Climate Finance (ICF) programmes in Colombia will open a “call for proposals” in January 2019 for projects working with indigenous organisations led by indigenous women in the Colombian Amazon.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 12/12/2018 15:21:28 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	4434 label Biography information for Stephen Gethins

1019985

registered interest
date	04/12/2018
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	Colombia: Rural Areas
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 organisations in rural Colombia receive funding from the UK.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Stephen Gethins
uin	198880
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2018 answer text <p>UK-funded programmes in Colombia work across the country, at national, regional and municipal level. Recovery of post conflict rural communities is a priority focus for the Cross-Government Conflict Security and Stability Fund (CSSF) programme supporting the peace process in Colombia. It directly supports 18 organisations working in rural parts of the country. The Cross-Government Prosperity Fund programme works with 6 local rural partners. International Climate Finance programmes support 5 larger partner organisations working in rural areas, including FEDEGAN and Naidiseros del Pacífico SAS, and have worked directly with over 3800 farms, and 19 indigenous and 13 rural communities.</p><p>Through financial support to international partners such as the United Nations Trust Fund, the UN Office for Human Rights, and the International Organisation for Migration (IMO) as well as Colombian Government agencies, the UK's support will reach many other organisations working across all parts of Colombia.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 12/12/2018 15:22:41 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	4434 label Biography information for Stephen Gethins