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90840

registered interest
date	05/09/2014
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	Written Questions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proportion of named day written questions were answered by his Department within the prescribed period in the (a) 2012-13 session, (b) 2013-14 session and (c) 2014-15 session to date.
tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
uin	208425
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2014 answer text <p>In 2012-13 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) received 572 named day questions, of which 570 (99.7%) were answered on time. In 2013-14 the FCO received 721 named day questions, of which 713 (98.9%) were answered on time. As at 5 September 2014, 195 named day questions had been tabled with dates for answer on or before 5 September, of which 185 (94.8%) had been answered on time.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 10/09/2014 12:20:15 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

90704

registered interest
date	04/09/2014
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	Russia: Ukraine
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 whether the actions of the Russian Federation in relation to Ukraine are compliant with the provisions of the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances.
tabling member constituency	Clwyd West
tabling member printed	Mr David Jones
uin	208218
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2014 answer text <p>The situation in Ukraine remains of very grave concern to the UK, and Russia’s actions have presented the most serious security crisis in Europe since the end of the Cold War. With international partners we have unreservedly condemned all illegal interventions by Russia in Ukraine. In particular, the UK does not, and will not, recognise the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia. This violates the UN Charter, is illegal under international law and breaches the commitments Russia made in the Budapest Memorandum. That is why Russia has been isolated in the Security Council and in the wider international community. We have, as required under the the terms of the memorandum, consulted the US frequently since the occupation and annexation of Crimea and destabilisation of the east by Russian-backed separatists. Both the US and UK continue to ensure that Russia pays a price through sanctions for the annexation of Crimea and its incursion into south-eastern Ukraine; we will maintain our pressure on Russia to use its influence to de-escalate the situation in the east.</p><p>The Budapest Memorandum does not specify any military commitments. In this Memorandum, in return for Ukraine giving up its nuclear weapons, Russia joined the UK and US in reaffirming their obligation to “refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine, and that none of their weapons will ever be used against Ukraine except in self-defence or otherwise in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.” Russia is in clear breach of those commitments as well as a number of other international obligations and commitments, including under the UN Charter and the OSCE Helsinki Final Act.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 09/09/2014 16:06:15 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	1502 label Biography information for Mr David Jones

90707

registered interest
date	04/09/2014
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	Sri Lanka
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 plans to take through the Commonwealth and UN to secure Sri Lanka's compliance with the UN Human Rights Committee's resolution on the war crimes and civil rights investigation.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	208355
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2014 answer text <p>We welcome the passing of the UN Human Rights Council resolution on Sri Lanka on 27 March, which established an international investigation into alleged violations and abuses of international law on both sides of the military conflict in Sri Lanka, in addition to calling for progress on human rights and reconciliation. The UK was a main co-sponsor of the resolution and will continue to give full support to the Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in establishing an international investigation, as mandated by the UN Human Rights Council.</p><p>The UN resolution calls upon the Sri Lankan government to co-operate with the OHCHR in the implementation of the resolution. We continue to urge the Sri Lankan government to co-operate with the OHCHR, and to view the international investigation as an opportunity to address the grievances of the past in the spirit of lasting peace and reconciliation. We also continue to call for the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, and the Commonwealth Secretary-General, to use their leverage to encourage Sri Lanka’s co-operation.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 09/09/2014 10:51:51 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

90476

registered interest
date	03/09/2014
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	Saudi Arabia
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 Saudi Arabian government over its financial and logistical support for Islamic State terrorists in Syria.
tabling member constituency	Newport West
tabling member printed	Paul Flynn
uin	207997
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2014 answer text <p>The UK and Saudi Arabia maintain a close dialogue on a broad range of counter terrorism issues, including terrorist financing and logistical support. The Saudi government is acutely aware of the threat from terrorist groups such as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to their own and global security and they have been at the forefront of efforts to combat the threat facing us all. Saudi Arabia has a comprehensive set of laws in place to prevent terrorist financing, which they vigorously enforce.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 09/09/2014 07:27:58 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	545 label Biography information for Paul Flynn

90477

registered interest
date	03/09/2014
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	Climate Change: 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 international counterparts on the effect of climate change on human rights in countries particularly affected by climate change.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	208075
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2014 answer text <p>This government is committed to securing a new global, legally-binding agreement on climate change by the end of 2015, which we firmly believe is the most effective way to minimise the impact of climate change on vulnerable states. The impact of climate change on the realisation of individuals’ human rights was most recently discussed at the UN Human Rights Council in June this year, when the Government supported a resolution on climate change and human rights and called for an expert discussion on how to address the adverse impacts of climate change on individuals’ human rights. We also continue to make it clear at all levels, and in all appropriate fora, that states should ensure they meet their human rights obligations when taking action to tackle climate change.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 08/09/2014 09:09:14 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

90478

registered interest
date	03/09/2014
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	Qatar
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he met the Secretary General of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy; and what plans he has for future meetings with that official.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Walton
tabling member printed	Steve Rotheram
uin	208009
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2014 answer text <p>My predecessor, the Rt Hon. Sir Hugh Robertson KCMG MP, called on the Secretary General of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, Hassan Al Thawadi, during his visit to Doha in January 2014. He subsequently met Mr Al Thawadi during the Supreme Committee’s visit to the UK in February. I hope to visit Doha in the near future.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 08/09/2014 14:44:38 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4035 label Biography information for Steve Rotheram

90479

registered interest
date	03/09/2014
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	Ukraine: Russia
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on a link between pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine and the Russian government.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	208105
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2014 answer text <p>The Russian government has been linked with the crisis in Ukraine since its beginning, when some Russian servicemen were given state medals for their role in the illegal annexation of Crimea in spite of initial denials by Russia that they had been involved.</p><p> </p><p>On 28 August the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) expressed his concern by further mounting evidence of Russian troop involvement in Ukraine. This followed the release of satellite imagery taken by NATO on 21 and 23 August which showed Russian self-propelled artillery units inside Ukraine in the vicinity of the Luhansk province. Brigadier-General Nico Tak, Head of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's (NATO) crisis management centre, said that NATO had also detected large quantities of advanced weapons, including air defence systems, artillery, tanks and armoured personnel carriers being transferred to separatist forces in eastern Ukraine.</p><p> </p><p>On 28 August the British Ambassador to the UN made a statement which detailed evidence he had received further demonstrating the extent of Russian involvement in Ukraine. The separatist arsenal included up to 100 Main Battle Tanks; 80 Armoured Personnel Carriers; 100 MANPADs; 500 Anti-Tank weapons; and over 100 artillery pieces. Almost all of these were supplied directly by Russia since the conflict started.</p><p> </p><p>On 15 August a convoy of 23 armoured personnel carriers crossed into Ukraine close to where the Russian humanitarian convoy was awaiting customs clearance. The following day a further convoy of 84 military vehicles crossed the border.</p><p> </p><p>On 7 August, 50 vehicles, including tanks, armoured personnel carriers, and BM-21 GRAD Multiple Rocket Launchers crossed from Russia into Ukraine at the Chervonopartisansk border crossing.</p><p> </p><p>On 25 August, 10 Russian paratroopers belonging to the 331st Regiment of the 98th Svirsk Airborne Division were captured near the village of Dzerkalne - 20km inside Ukrainian territory. Satellite imagery confirmed the deployment of Russian armoured vehicles supported by artillery south of Donetsk close to this location. On 28 August another Russian soldier, Petr Khokhlov, serving with the 9th Motor Rifle Brigade, was captured and detained in Luhansk.</p><p> </p><p>In light of this evidence, it is not credible for Russia and pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk to claim that these serving members of the Russian armed forces were in Ukraine ‘by accident’ or ‘on holiday’.</p><p> </p><p>Russia can no longer pretend that it is not a direct party to this conflict, indeed this conflict would no longer exist without direct Russian military involvement in support of the separatists. The Prime Minister has called for such activity to cease immediately and has warned of further sanctions if Russia’s behaviour continues.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 10/09/2014 12:18:52 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

90480

registered interest
date	03/09/2014
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	Russia
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 European counterparts on further sanctions against Russia.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	208107
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2014 answer text <p>Since the start of the Ukraine crisis, The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon Friend the member for Runnymead and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) and I have regularly discussed Russia, including sanctions, with European colleagues. Most recently, further sanctions were discussed at the Gymnich on 29 and 30 August, the European Council on 30 August, and at the NATO Summit in Wales on 4 and 5 September.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 09/09/2014 16:10:49 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

90481

registered interest
date	03/09/2014
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	Lesotho
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the situation in Lesotho; and what steps he is taking to support the reinstatement of democracy in that country.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	208095
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2014 answer text <p>British High Commission Officials in Pretoria, who cover our relations with Lesotho, continue to closely monitor developments in the country given the deteriorating political and security situation there since 30 August. I welcome the engagement of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and have expressed our hope that all Lesotho’s parties will work together to ensure disputes are settled peacefully in line with Lesotho’s Constitution. At my request our High Commissioner reiterated these messages in a phone call to Lesotho’s Prime Minister on 5 September.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 08/09/2014 14:27:36 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

90482

registered interest
date	03/09/2014
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	Diplomatic Service
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 protect staff working in HM embassies from security threats.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	208094
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2014 answer text <p>Staff in our overseas posts face a range of security threats, which are currently running at a historically high level. We monitor the risks carefully, and manage them rigorously using a mix of threat assessment, security advice, staff training and provision of specialist security equipment.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 09/09/2014 16:11:49 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell