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1132440

registered interest
date	17/06/2019
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: Chemical Weapons
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he was informed that there was dissent among Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) team members on 14 March 2019 when the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Executive Council voted down a proposal to allow all FFM team members to brief the OPCW Executive Council on the FFM investigation of an alleged chemical weapons attack in Douma in 2018.
tabling member constituency	Derby North
tabling member printed	Chris Williamson
uin	265497
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>Ministers receive regular and frequent advice on Syria, including the use of chemical weapons by the Asad regime. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) published on 1 March 2019 the Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) report into the chemical weapons attacks in Douma. The FFM conducted a full briefing of States Parties on 5 March. The Director General of the OPCW offered all States Parties the opportunity to submit further questions in writing; and to have technical discussions with the FFM. At the Executive Council on 14 March, the Russian delegation proposed without prior notice a vote on an FFM briefing to State Parties. The UK voted against holding a vote on this issue, as did a clear majority of Executive Council members. The Director General OPCW has confirmed that all evidence and views were taken into consideration in preparing the FFM report; and that the Technical Secretariat stands by the findings. These are: that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a toxic chemical, likely molecular chlorine, was used as a weapon in Douma on 7 April 2018. This is a clear breach of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The UK has confidence in the FFM's investigation and the conclusions of its report.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 20/06/2019 15:39:18 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	3976 label Biography information for Chris Williamson

1132455

registered interest
date	17/06/2019
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: Chemical Weapons
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he instructed the UK's permanent representative on the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Executive Council to vote against a proposal to allow all Fact Finding Mission (FFM) team members to brief the OPCW Executive Council on the FFM investigation into the alleged chemical weapons attack in Douma in 2018.
tabling member constituency	Derby North
tabling member printed	Chris Williamson
uin	265498
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>On 14 March 2019 the UK and a clear majority of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Executive Council members voted against holding a vote on a Russian proposal on the handling of a briefing by the Fact-Finding Mission (FFM). The vote was called without prior notice. Instructions to the UK Delegation to the OPCW issued in line with normal procedures. The FFM briefed States Parties on 5 March on the findings of the Douma report and regular briefings are held, most recently on 28 May, on the OPCW's work in Syria. We continue to have confidence in both our own and the FFM conclusions into the chemical weapons attack in Douma on 7 April 2018.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 20/06/2019 15:41:50 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	3976 label Biography information for Chris Williamson

1131998

registered interest
date	13/06/2019
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	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 steps his Department is taking to encourage the UN to prioritise the protection of (a) people with disabilities and (b) older people in conflict zones.
tabling member constituency	Heywood and Middleton
tabling member printed	Liz McInnes
uin	264424
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>The British Government has been a leader in developing policies and practical action to promote the Protection of Civilians within the UN system. The Government is updating its Protection of Civilians Strategy to ensure that it is fit for purpose in the context of modern conflict, and comprehensive in addressing the situation of children and other particularly vulnerable people such as people with disabilities and older people in conflict zones. As part of that commitment the Government is working with the Polish Government to introduce a new UN Security Council Resolution specifically addressing the needs of the disabled in armed conflict within the broader protection of civilians resolutions that have already been agreed. The Government expects that Resolution to be passed before the end of June 2019.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 20/06/2019 15:35:29 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4342 label Biography information for Liz McInnes

1132164

registered interest
date	13/06/2019
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	Hong Kong: Demonstrations
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 recent protests in Hong Kong.
tabling member constituency	Morley and Outwood
tabling member printed	Andrea Jenkyns
uin	264480
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>The recent protests demonstrate the strength of feeling among the people of Hong Kong about proposed changes to Hong Kong's extradition laws, and the importance they attach to the preservation of the rights and freedoms and high degree of autonomy guaranteed in the Sino-British Joint Declaration and Hong Kong's Basic Law.</p><p>The protests have been largely peaceful, although the violence that occurred on 12 June is a cause for serious concern. All allegations of inappropriate use of force by the Hong Kong police should of course be fully investigated by the Hong Kong SAR Government.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 20/06/2019 14:45:05 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4490 label Biography information for Dame Andrea Jenkyns

1132165

registered interest
date	13/06/2019
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	Hong Kong: Extradition
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 implications for human rights in Hong Kong of the proposed new Chinese extradition law that would allow criminal suspects in Hong Kong to be sent for trial in mainland China.
tabling member constituency	Morley and Outwood
tabling member printed	Andrea Jenkyns
uin	264481
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>In a statement to the House on 13 June, I set out in detail our assessment of the implications for human rights of the proposed changes to its extradition legislation and the recent protests in Hong Kong. This included our belief that, if enacted, the proposals could pose a risk to the rights and freedoms and high degree of autonomy guaranteed by the Sino-British Joint Declaration.</p><p>We welcome the Chief Executive's statement on 18 June that she would not proceed with the second reading of the Bill if the fears and anxieties of the people of Hong Kong were not addressed.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 20/06/2019 14:48:24 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4490 label Biography information for Dame Andrea Jenkyns

1131745

registered interest
date	12/06/2019
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: Statistics
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on how many occasions his Department has received representations from the UK Statistics Authority on his Department's presentation and use of statistics in each year since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
uin	263722
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>​Details on the UK Statistics Authority's interventions are published in the correspondence<a href="https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/correspondence-list/" target="_blank">[1]</a>, publications<a href="https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/publications-list/" target="_blank">[2]</a>, and issues log<a href="https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/reports-and-correspondence/issues-log/" target="_blank">[3]</a> sections of their website since 2010.</p><p>The Authority's Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) also carry out regular assessments and systemic reviews, details of which can also be found on the Authority's website<a href="https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/osr/" target="_blank">[4]</a>.</p><p>In September 2018, the Authority published the first annual summary of its interventions for the financial year 2017/18<a href="https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/publication/annual-casework-review-20172018/" target="_blank">[5]</a>. The report for 2018/19 will be published in the autumn.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 20/06/2019 15:00:11 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

1131863

registered interest
date	12/06/2019
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	Christianity: Oppression
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 help tackle the persecution of Christians abroad.
tabling member constituency	North Antrim
tabling member printed	Ian Paisley
uin	263917
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief as a universal human right which should be enjoyed by everyone. The UK regularly raises this issue with governments across the world, through our diplomatic network and at the Human Rights Council, and the UK funds and supports projects that promote respect for all people of different faiths and none. As the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon regularly raises this subject with his international counterparts. The Foreign Secretary launched an independent Review of FCO support for persecuted Christians on 30 January. The Review is led by the Bishop of Truro. It will map levels of persecution and discrimination against Christians around the world, and provide robust recommendations on how the FCO can respond. The Bishop submitted his interim report in May and will submit his final report in Summer.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 20/06/2019 14:54:33 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4129 label Biography information for Ian Paisley

1131875

registered interest
date	12/06/2019
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	Darfur: Human Rights
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports by Amnesty International stating that forces of the government of Sudan, including the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias, have continued to commit war crimes and other serious human rights violations in Darfur, including (1) the destruction of villages, (2) unlawful killings, and (3) sexual violence, in the last year.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL16293
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>We continue to support efforts to deliver long-term peace for the people in Darfur, including through development and humanitarian assistance. We condemn the recent looting of the UN mission's West Darfur Headquarters and call for all to respect humanitarian principles. We have been consistent in public and in private that there must be accountability for the crimes committed by members of the former regime. The UK strongly supports the mission of the International Criminal Court; due legal process must be followed.</p><p>On 6 June, the Minister of State for Africa summoned the Sudanese Ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to express our grave concerns at the use of all forms of violence, including sexual violence against civilians by the Sudanese authorities. The UK has called for the human rights of all Sudanese people to be respected, the resumption of the political process leading to an agreed peaceful transfer of power to a civilian-led government, as demanded by the Sudanese people.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 20/06/2019 12:39:38 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1131876

registered interest
date	12/06/2019
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	Darfur: Human Rights
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of continued reported human rights abuses in Darfur, whether they will oppose (1) the withdrawal of all the remaining United Nations African Union Peacekeepers (UNAMID) from Darfur by June 2020, and (2) the closure of the remaining UNAMID team sites by December 2019, at all forthcoming meetings of the UN Security Council; and whether they will raise at those meetings the failure to hand over closed UNAMID bases for civilian purposes and their current occupation and use by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL16294
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>We will continue to support a gradual, conditions-based review of the conditions for the exit of the UN/Africa Union hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and await the outcome of the UNAMID Strategic Review, which will take account of the current circumstances in Sudan.</p><p>Despite recent reports of violence in areas of Darfur since the removal of Bashir as President and the establishment of the Transitional Military Council, the security situation on the ground has evolved in much of Darfur, and therefore we supported the Security Council's decision in June 2018 to reconfigure UNAMID. However, we recognise that the security situation remains fragile. Our priority is to ensure that changes made to the Mission are sensible, with appropriate review points, and to make sure that a smaller, more flexible UNAMID is still able to fulfil the core components of its mandate.</p><p>At the UN Security Council, we have urged fellow Council members closely to monitor the impact of UNAMID's reconfiguration, and carefully consider whether the situation on the ground remains conducive to further changes. We are in regular contact with UNAMID and are monitoring the reconfiguration of the Mission closely.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 20/06/2019 12:41:28 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1131877

registered interest
date	12/06/2019
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	Sudan: Demonstrations
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that paramilitaries from the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan carried out more than 70 rapes during an attack on a protest camp in Khartoum; and what assistance they are providing to opposition groups in Sudan to ensure that evidence in relation to such reports is collected to enable those responsible to be brought to justice.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL16295
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>​On 6 June, the Minister of State for Africa summoned the Sudanese Ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to express our grave concerns at the use of all forms of violence, including sexual violence against civilians by the Sudanese authorities last week. We have been consistent in public and in private that there must be accountability for the crimes committed by members of the former regime. The UK strongly supports the mission of the International Criminal Court; due legal process must be followed.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 20/06/2019 12:43:01 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool