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101553

registered interest
date	29/10/2014
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	India
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 address the situation of religious minorities in India following the recent elections.
tabling member constituency	Belfast East
tabling member printed	Naomi Long
uin	212429
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>Our High Commissioner to New Delhi, Sir James Bevan, met the new Indian Minister for Minorities, Mrs Najma Heptulla, on 16 June and discussed issues facing minority communities in India. Our High Commission in New Delhi also maintains a regular dialogue with officials in India’s national human rights institutions, including the Minorities Commission, and with the relevant State level authorities. We will continue to maintain a dialogue with the new Indian government about minority rights issues. <br><br>We also support religious and other minorities in India through the Department for International Development’s programme in India which helps to promote equal treatment and access to services for the most disadvantaged communities.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 05/11/2014 14:47:54 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	3920 label Biography information for Naomi Long

101558

registered interest
date	29/10/2014
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	Montenegro
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 NATO counterparts about offering a Membership Action Plan for Montenegro; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	212391
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>The first cycle of Montenegro’s Membership Action Plan was initiated in 2009.</p><p>The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), together with his counterparts from NATO Allies, met NATO’s aspiring members, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Macedonia and Montenegro, on 4 September 2014 during the NATO Summit in Wales to discuss their progress towards joining the Alliance. The Allies welcomed the significant progress made by Montenegro in its reforms and looked to Montenegro to continue its efforts to address the remaining challenges, particularly with respect to the rule of law and completing security sector reform.</p><p>At the Summit, NATO Foreign Ministers agreed to commence ‘intensified and focused talks’ with Montenegro before reassessing their progress no later than December 2015. As a part of this process NATO’s Military Committee visited Montenegro on 27-28 October 2014.</p><p>The United Kingdom strongly supports NATO’s Open Door policy on enlargement and welcomes the membership aspirations of all the countries currently seeking to join the Alliance.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 05/11/2014 14:52:20 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

101559

registered interest
date	29/10/2014
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	Macedonia
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 Macedonian counterpart about the possibility of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia joining NATO; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	212392
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text The first cycle of Macedonia’s Membership Action Plan was initiated in 1999 and in 2008 the Allies agreed that an invitation to join NATO would be extended as soon as a mutually acceptable solution to the issue over its name has been reached with Greece within the framework established by the UN. This condition has not yet been fulfilled. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) together with his counterparts from NATO Allies, met NATO’s aspiring members, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Macedonia and Montenegro, on 4 September 2014 during the NATO Summit in Wales to discuss their progress towards joining the Alliance. At the Summit, the Allies reaffirmed their continued support for Macedonia’s eventual membership and encouraged them to meet the established conditions on which their next steps towards NATO depend. The United Kingdom strongly supports NATO’s Open Door policy on enlargement and welcomes the membership aspirations of all the countries currently seeking to join the Alliance. answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 05/11/2014 14:49:38 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

101561

registered interest
date	29/10/2014
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	Georgia
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 NATO counterparts about offering a Membership Action Plan for Georgia; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	212462
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge, (Mr Hammond) together with his counterparts from NATO Allies, met NATO’s aspiring members, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Macedonia and Montenegro, on 4 September 2014 during the NATO Summit in Wales to discuss their progress towards joining the Alliance.</p><p>At the Summit, NATO Foreign Ministers agreed to provide Georgia with a ‘substantial package’ of support and engagement measures in recognition of the reform progress it has made.</p><p>Georgia was awarded an Annual National Programme, which is the tool used by MAP countries, in 2008. It continues to reflect Georgia’s strong and productive relationship with NATO and their commitment to the reform process.</p><p>The United Kingdom strongly supports NATO’s Open Door policy on enlargement and welcomes the membership aspirations of all the countries currently seeking to join the Alliance.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 05/11/2014 15:01:29 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

101592

registered interest
date	29/10/2014
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	India
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 short term objectives are of the Indian Diaspora Champion.
tabling member constituency	Leicester East
tabling member printed	Keith Vaz
uin	212444
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Witham (Ms Patel), was appointed to the role by the Prime Minister in November 2013. Since then, she has led a programme of Indian diaspora engagement across the UK focused on strengthening UK-India ties. Her work has included direct outreach visits – including to Gravesend, Hounslow, Neasden, Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Leicester in the UK – as well as engagement with key people in the UK’s diaspora and in India itself, and relevant media work.</p><p>Since her appointment, the Indian Diaspora Champion has made three visits to India. Funding for these visits has come from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s existing budget.</p><p>The Indian Diaspora Champion has made representations to both the UK Government and the Government of India on several issues on behalf of the Indian diaspora, including the EU ban on importing Indian mangoes, visa service issues, and bilateral trade and investment matters. Like other British Government representatives, the Indian Diaspora Champion has also sought to address misconceptions of the offer that the UK makes to Indian students in the UK, making clear that the UK welcomes Indian students, that there is no cap on total student numbers who can come to the UK, and that they can stay on after completing study if they secure a graduate-level job.</p><p>The Government engages closely on a day-to-day basis with many diaspora communities in the UK, but has no plans at present to appoint further diaspora champions.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 05/11/2014 15:00:49 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	338 label Biography information for Keith Vaz

101593

registered interest
date	29/10/2014
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	Ethnic Groups
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to appoint a diaspora champion for (a) Pakistan and (b) other countries.
tabling member constituency	Leicester East
tabling member printed	Keith Vaz
uin	212445
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Witham (Ms Patel), was appointed to the role by the Prime Minister in November 2013. Since then, she has led a programme of Indian diaspora engagement across the UK focused on strengthening UK-India ties. Her work has included direct outreach visits – including to Gravesend, Hounslow, Neasden, Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Leicester in the UK – as well as engagement with key people in the UK’s diaspora and in India itself, and relevant media work.</p><p>Since her appointment, the Indian Diaspora Champion has made three visits to India. Funding for these visits has come from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s existing budget.</p><p>The Indian Diaspora Champion has made representations to both the UK Government and the Government of India on several issues on behalf of the Indian diaspora, including the EU ban on importing Indian mangoes, visa service issues, and bilateral trade and investment matters. Like other British Government representatives, the Indian Diaspora Champion has also sought to address misconceptions of the offer that the UK makes to Indian students in the UK, making clear that the UK welcomes Indian students, that there is no cap on total student numbers who can come to the UK, and that they can stay on after completing study if they secure a graduate-level job.</p><p>The Government engages closely on a day-to-day basis with many diaspora communities in the UK, but has no plans at present to appoint further diaspora champions.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 05/11/2014 15:03:34 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	338 label Biography information for Keith Vaz

101594

registered interest
date	29/10/2014
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	India
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 Indian Diaspora Champion is taking to implement the Government's goal of stronger ties with India.
tabling member constituency	Leicester East
tabling member printed	Keith Vaz
uin	212446
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Witham (Ms Patel), was appointed to the role by the Prime Minister in November 2013. Since then, she has led a programme of Indian diaspora engagement across the UK focused on strengthening UK-India ties. Her work has included direct outreach visits – including to Gravesend, Hounslow, Neasden, Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Leicester in the UK – as well as engagement with key people in the UK’s diaspora and in India itself, and relevant media work.</p><p>Since her appointment, the Indian Diaspora Champion has made three visits to India. Funding for these visits has come from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s existing budget.</p><p>The Indian Diaspora Champion has made representations to both the UK Government and the Government of India on several issues on behalf of the Indian diaspora, including the EU ban on importing Indian mangoes, visa service issues, and bilateral trade and investment matters. Like other British Government representatives, the Indian Diaspora Champion has also sought to address misconceptions of the offer that the UK makes to Indian students in the UK, making clear that the UK welcomes Indian students, that there is no cap on total student numbers who can come to the UK, and that they can stay on after completing study if they secure a graduate-level job.</p><p>The Government engages closely on a day-to-day basis with many diaspora communities in the UK, but has no plans at present to appoint further diaspora champions.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 05/11/2014 15:06:02 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	338 label Biography information for Keith Vaz

101595

registered interest
date	29/10/2014
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	India
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 purpose is of domestic visits by the Indian Diaspora Champion.
tabling member constituency	Leicester East
tabling member printed	Keith Vaz
uin	212447
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Witham (Ms Patel), was appointed to the role by the Prime Minister in November 2013. Since then, she has led a programme of Indian diaspora engagement across the UK focused on strengthening UK-India ties. Her work has included direct outreach visits – including to Gravesend, Hounslow, Neasden, Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Leicester in the UK – as well as engagement with key people in the UK’s diaspora and in India itself, and relevant media work.</p><p>Since her appointment, the Indian Diaspora Champion has made three visits to India. Funding for these visits has come from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s existing budget.</p><p>The Indian Diaspora Champion has made representations to both the UK Government and the Government of India on several issues on behalf of the Indian diaspora, including the EU ban on importing Indian mangoes, visa service issues, and bilateral trade and investment matters. Like other British Government representatives, the Indian Diaspora Champion has also sought to address misconceptions of the offer that the UK makes to Indian students in the UK, making clear that the UK welcomes Indian students, that there is no cap on total student numbers who can come to the UK, and that they can stay on after completing study if they secure a graduate-level job.</p><p>The Government engages closely on a day-to-day basis with many diaspora communities in the UK, but has no plans at present to appoint further diaspora champions.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 05/11/2014 15:08:54 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	338 label Biography information for Keith Vaz

101596

registered interest
date	29/10/2014
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	India
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 candidates there were for the role of Indian Diaspora Champion; and how that Champion was selected.
tabling member constituency	Leicester East
tabling member printed	Keith Vaz
uin	212448
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Witham (Ms Patel), was appointed to the role by the Prime Minister in November 2013. Since then, she has led a programme of Indian diaspora engagement across the UK focused on strengthening UK-India ties. Her work has included direct outreach visits – including to Gravesend, Hounslow, Neasden, Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Leicester in the UK – as well as engagement with key people in the UK’s diaspora and in India itself, and relevant media work.</p><p>Since her appointment, the Indian Diaspora Champion has made three visits to India. Funding for these visits has come from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s existing budget.</p><p>The Indian Diaspora Champion has made representations to both the UK Government and the Government of India on several issues on behalf of the Indian diaspora, including the EU ban on importing Indian mangoes, visa service issues, and bilateral trade and investment matters. Like other British Government representatives, the Indian Diaspora Champion has also sought to address misconceptions of the offer that the UK makes to Indian students in the UK, making clear that the UK welcomes Indian students, that there is no cap on total student numbers who can come to the UK, and that they can stay on after completing study if they secure a graduate-level job.</p><p>The Government engages closely on a day-to-day basis with many diaspora communities in the UK, but has no plans at present to appoint further diaspora champions.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 05/11/2014 15:14:18 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	338 label Biography information for Keith Vaz

101597

registered interest
date	29/10/2014
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	India
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 visits the Indian Diaspora Champion has made.
tabling member constituency	Leicester East
tabling member printed	Keith Vaz
uin	212449
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Witham (Ms Patel), was appointed to the role by the Prime Minister in November 2013. Since then, she has led a programme of Indian diaspora engagement across the UK focused on strengthening UK-India ties. Her work has included direct outreach visits – including to Gravesend, Hounslow, Neasden, Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Leicester in the UK – as well as engagement with key people in the UK’s diaspora and in India itself, and relevant media work. <br><br>Since her appointment, the Indian Diaspora Champion has made three visits to India. Funding for these visits has come from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s existing budget. <br><br>The Indian Diaspora Champion has made representations to both the UK Government and the Government of India on several issues on behalf of the Indian diaspora, including the EU ban on importing Indian mangoes, visa service issues, and bilateral trade and investment matters. Like other British Government representatives, the Indian Diaspora Champion has also sought to address misconceptions of the offer that the UK makes to Indian students in the UK, making clear that the UK welcomes Indian students, that there is no cap on total student numbers who can come to the UK, and that they can stay on after completing study if they secure a graduate-level job. <br><br>The Government engages closely on a day-to-day basis with many diaspora communities in the UK, but has no plans at present to appoint further diaspora champions.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 05/11/2014 15:16:06 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	338 label Biography information for Keith Vaz