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1172345

registered interest
date	21/01/2020
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: Coronavirus
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 Chinese counterpart on the novel coronavirus detected in the city of Wuhan; and what assessment he has made of the risk posed by the novel coronavirus to (a) British citizens in China and (b) to the UK.
tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
uin	6183
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2020 answer text <p>The Foreign Secretary spoke to his Chinese counterpart on 28 January about the coronavirus. The British Government is liaising directly with our international partners and the Chinese authorities through our Embassy in Beijing.</p><p>To date there have been no cases of British nationals confirmed with the virus. We are liaising directly with Public Health England, who currently assess the threat to the UK to be low. Based on the emerging evidence regarding case numbers, potential sources, and human to human transmission, we have advised against all travel to Hubei Province.</p><p>​</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 29/01/2020 17:09:23 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1169767

registered interest
date	09/01/2020
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: Uyghurs
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 Chinese counterpart on the treatment of Uighur Muslims; and what assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Xinjiang.
tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
uin	1797
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2020 answer text <p>We have particularly serious concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang including the extra-judicial detention of over a million Uyghur Muslims and other minorities in “political re-education camps”, systematic restrictions on Uyghur culture and the practice of Islam, and extensive and invasive surveillance targeting minorities. Reports indicating that forced labour is being used and children are being forcibly separated from their parents add to the growing body of evidence about the disturbing situation that Uyghurs and other minorities are facing in Xinjiang.</p><p>I have not had recent discussions with my Chinese counterpart on the treatment and living conditions of the Uyghur Muslims in China. We regularly raise our concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang with the Chinese authorities. The British Ambassador to China raised our concerns with Vice Foreign Minister Qin Gang on 24 December 2019. We also regularly discuss the situation in Xinjiang with likeminded partners including at the UN. We have issued or joined a number of statements of concern in recent months: on 29 October 2019 at UN Third Committee, the UK read out a joint statement signed by 22 others drawing attention to the human rights violations and abuses in Xinjiang and called on China to uphold its obligations to respect human rights; on 24 September, during the UN General Assembly the Minister of State for the Commonwealth, UN and South Africa called on China to allow UN observers immediate and unfettered access to the region; on 17 September 2019, at the 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council, the UK again called for UN experts to be granted unfettered access to Xinjiang and raised our concerns on arbitrary detention.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 14/01/2020 15:03:01 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1169768

registered interest
date	09/01/2020
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: Uyghurs
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 his Chinese counterpart on the treatment and living conditions of the Uighur people in China; and what assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Xinjiang.
tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
uin	1798
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2020 answer text <p>We have particularly serious concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang including the extra-judicial detention of over a million Uyghur Muslims and other minorities in “political re-education camps”, systematic restrictions on Uyghur culture and the practice of Islam, and extensive and invasive surveillance targeting minorities. Reports indicating that forced labour is being used and children are being forcibly separated from their parents add to the growing body of evidence about the disturbing situation that Uyghurs and other minorities are facing in Xinjiang.</p><p>I have not had recent discussions with my Chinese counterpart on the treatment and living conditions of the Uyghur Muslims in China. We regularly raise our concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang with the Chinese authorities. The British Ambassador to China raised our concerns with Vice Foreign Minister Qin Gang on 24 December 2019. We also regularly discuss the situation in Xinjiang with likeminded partners including at the UN. We have issued or joined a number of statements of concern in recent months: on 29 October 2019 at UN Third Committee, the UK read out a joint statement signed by 22 others drawing attention to the human rights violations and abuses in Xinjiang and called on China to uphold its obligations to respect human rights; on 24 September, during the UN General Assembly the Minister of State for the Commonwealth, UN and South Africa called on China to allow UN observers immediate and unfettered access to the region; on 17 September 2019, at the 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council, the UK again called for UN experts to be granted unfettered access to Xinjiang and raised our concerns on arbitrary detention.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 14/01/2020 15:05:38 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1169120

registered interest
date	07/01/2020
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	India: Nationality
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 his Indian counterpart on the violence used against students protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 in India.
tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
uin	1054
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/01/2020 answer text <p>The British High Commission in New Delhi and our network of Deputy High Commissions across India are following reports on the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens, as well as the Government of India’s response. We raise our concerns with the Government of India where appropriate. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon discussed the Government of India’s intent with, and popular response to, the CAA with India’s Minister of State for External Affairs on 19 December 2019. The British High Commissioner in New Delhi also raised this issue with the Indian Government on 6 January.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 13/01/2020 13:05:22 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1168328

registered interest
date	19/12/2019
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: Uyghurs
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 adequacy of the (a) governance and (b) humanitarian situation of the Uyghurs in the Xinjiang province, China.
tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
uin	225
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2020 answer text <p>We have serious concerns about the human rights and humanitarian situation in Xinjiang, where there are credible reports of Uyghurs and other minorities being detained.” British diplomats in China visit Xinjiang regularly, most recently in November, in order to see the situation at first-hand. Their observations have supported much of the recent open source reporting, including reports of widespread surveillance measures, restrictions targeted at specific ethnic groups, and restrictions on the ability to freely practice religion.</p><p>​</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 07/01/2020 09:25:00 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1168329

registered interest
date	19/12/2019
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 discussions he has had with his UN counterparts on improving humanitarian access in Xinjiang province, China.
tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
uin	226
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2020 answer text <p>We regularly discuss concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang with likeminded partners at the UN. We have issued or joined a number of statements of concern in recent months: on 29 October at UN Third Committee, the UK read out a joint statement signed by 22 others drawing attention to the human rights violations and abuses in Xinjiang and called on China to uphold its obligations to respect human rights; on 24 September, during the UN General Assembly Lord (Tariq) Ahmad called on China to allow UN observers immediate and unfettered access to the region; on 17 September, at the 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council, the UK again called for UN experts to be granted unfettered access to Xinjiang and raised our concerns on arbitrary detention.</p><p>​</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 07/01/2020 09:29:23 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1168330

registered interest
date	19/12/2019
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	India: Nationality
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 the Citizenship Amendment Act in India and its effect on minority communities.
tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
uin	227
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2020 answer text <p>The British Government and the British High Commission in New Delhi are following the human rights situation across India and raise issues with Indian officials where appropriate.</p><p>​</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 07/01/2020 09:31:33 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1168331

registered interest
date	19/12/2019
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: Telecommunications
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 Answer of 4 November 2019 to Question 7221, what steps the Government is taking in respect of the reported continued use of detentions and restrictions on communications in India-administered Kashmir.
tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
uin	228
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2020 answer text <p>We remain concerned about the continued use of detentions and restrictions on communications. We are in regular contact with the Government of India and raise our concerns with them, most recently during Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon's meeting with Indian MEA Minister Muraleedharan on 19 December.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 07/01/2020 09:34:38 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1167155

registered interest
date	29/10/2019
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: Telecommunications
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 Indian counterpart on the communications blackout in Kashmir; and what plans he has to support the humanitarian effort in Kashmir.
tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
uin	7221
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>​The continued use of detentions and restrictions on communications in India-administered Kashmir is of concern. It is important that individual rights are fully respected and that there is constructive dialogue with affected communities.</p><p>We are monitoring the situation in Kashmir closely and are in regular contact with the Indian Government. The Prime Minister has spoken to Prime Minister Modi about the situation in Kashmir<strong>,</strong> and the Foreign Secretary has spoken to Indian Minister of External Affairs Jaishankar to express concerns around the situation. The Minister for South Asia has also had regular engagement with the Indian High Commissioner. He raised the situation in Kashmir with the Indian Minister for Minority Affairs earlier this month.</p><p>We urge the Governments of India and Pakistan to ensure that the humanitarian needs of the people of India-administered Kashmir and Pakistan-administered Kashmir are being met, and encourage India and Pakistan to engage in dialogue to find lasting, diplomatic solutions to maintain regional stability.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 04/11/2019 17:24:49 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1167158

registered interest
date	29/10/2019
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 assessment he has made of the adequacy of the implementation of UN resolutions to uphold the human rights of the Kashmiri people.
tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
uin	7222
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>​We recognise that there are human rights concerns in both India-administered Kashmir and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Any allegation of human rights abuse is deeply concerning and must be investigated thoroughly, promptly, transparently and independently. We encourage all states to uphold their international human rights obligations and to ensure domestic laws are in line with international standards.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 04/11/2019 17:26:44 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan