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1136186

registered interest
date	02/07/2019
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	Venezuela: Arms Trade
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 effectiveness of the European Union’s embargo on sales of arms and military equipment to the Venezuelan Government.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Stephen Gethins
uin	272165
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2019 answer text <p>​The UK led international efforts for the introduction of a rigorous EU sanctions regime against Venezuela in November 2017 which includes an arms embargo and an embargo on equipment which could be used for repression. We are not aware of any sales of arms or military equipment by EU countries to the Venezuelan Government since that date<strong>.</strong></p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 09/07/2019 15:55:30 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	4434 label Biography information for Stephen Gethins

1136187

registered interest
date	02/07/2019
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	Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
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 Iranian counterpart on (a) allowing a UK Government representative to meet Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in prison in Iran to assess her health and well-being and (b) the implications of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's diplomatic status for the terms of her detention.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Stephen Gethins
uin	272166
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2019 answer text <p>The treatment of all British-Iranians detained in Iran, including Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, is a priority for the Government. We continue to raise her case, and our other consular cases, with the Iranian Government at every opportunity, including requesting consular access. I did this during my visit to Tehran on 23 June. We will continue to take action in line with what we believe will produce the best outcomes in their cases</p><p> </p><p><br> Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe does not hold diplomatic status; rather, the Foreign Secretary exercised diplomatic protection in her case. Whilst he was clear that diplomatic protection would not lead to immediate results, it is essential that we formally recognise that Iran has failed in its treatment of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe in its obligations under international law, and we will continue to consider using all the diplomatic and legal tools available to us to secure her release.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 09/07/2019 14:01:13 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
tabling member	4434 label Biography information for Stephen Gethins

1136196

registered interest
date	02/07/2019
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	Israeli Settlements: Imports
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to tackle the import to the UK of products from illegal settlements in the Palestinian Occupied Territories.
tabling member constituency	Wigan
tabling member printed	Lisa Nandy
uin	272169
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2019 answer text <p>​There are currently no plans for UK legislation to ban the import of products from illegal settlements. We do not however recognise the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), including the settlements, as part of Israel. In order to enable consumers to make a more fully informed decision concerning the products they buy, in December 2009 the UK introduced voluntary guidelines to enable produce from Israeli settlements in the OPTs to be specifically labelled as such. We understand that multiple British retailers who have stocked settlement produce have adopted the labelling policy recommended in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs voluntary guidance.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 10/07/2019 16:09:13 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
tabling member	4082 label Biography information for Lisa Nandy

1136217

registered interest
date	02/07/2019
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	Khaleda Zia
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 potential effect of the imprisonment of the main opposition leader in Bangladesh, Khaleda Zia, on political stability in that country; and what representations he has made to his Bangladeshi counterpart on that matter.
tabling member constituency	Harrow East
tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
uin	272185
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2019 answer text <p>We continue to stress to the Government of Bangladesh, both in public and in private, the importance of respect for human rights and the rule of law. We expect those in detention including Khaleda Zia to be treated in accordance with Bangladesh's international commitments on human rights, and we regularly engage with the Government of Bangladesh on the treatment of those in detention and on the integrity and independence of the judicial process.</p><p>The Foreign Secretary has written to Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen this year to express our concerns about the general election in December 2018 and to encourage the Government of Bangladesh to maintain dialogue with opposition parties and civil society.</p><p>The Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific reiterated these concerns and the importance of respect for human rights when he met the Prime Minister and ministers during his visit to Bangladesh in April 2019.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 10/07/2019 13:31:07 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1136222

registered interest
date	02/07/2019
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	Law of the Sea
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 Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, what steps the Government is taking to ensure benefits from areas of the ocean beyond national jurisdiction are shared fairly and equitably; if he will make it his policy to promote the international law principle of common heritage of mankind in future sessions of that Conference; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	272190
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2019 answer text <p>​The UK regards a new Implementing Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction as an important step forward in addressing the challenges that the ocean faces. The UK is pressing for an ambitious Agreement to be concluded in 2020. It will be a key mechanism in enabling the designation of 30 per cent of the ocean as Marine Protected Areas by 2030.</p><p>UNCLOS makes clear that the concept of &quot;the common heritage of mankind&quot; applies only to the non-living resources of &quot;the seabed and ocean floor and subsoil thereof, beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.&quot; Any new Implementing Agreement under UNCLOS must be consistent with this concept. The UK is an active member of the International Seabed Authority, which is currently drafting a Code for Deep Sea Mining, and considering a mechanism for the equitable sharing of benefits arising from deep-sea mining.</p><p>The UK supports a regime of benefit sharing under the new Implementing Agreement that is focused on the sharing of scientific data and research and better coordinated capacity building and the transfer of marine technology to developing countries to enable them not only to better share in the sustainable use of the resources of the ocean, but also in its conservation. We are studying positively proposals for the new Implementing Agreement to achieve this outcome.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 09/07/2019 15:57:15 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1136260

registered interest
date	02/07/2019
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, what preparations his Department is making for the UK leaving the EU without an agreement; and how much funding has been allocated to those preparations.
tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
tabling member printed	Tom Brake
uin	272112
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2019 answer text <p>We remain focused on ensuring our smooth and orderly withdrawal from the EU with a deal as soon as possible. As part of this, we continue to prepare for all Brexit scenarios. We are continuing to make sensible decisions about the timing and pace at which some of this work is progressing. This includes working closely with our overseas network and other Government Departments to put in place a range of mitigations to minimise any disruption in the event of no deal.</p><p>The Treasury has allocated over £4.2 billion of additional funding to departments and Devolved Administrations for EU exit preparations so far. This breaks down as £412 million over the spending review period for the Department for Exiting the European Union, Department for International Trade and the Foreign &amp; Commonwealth Office (Autumn Statement 2016); £286 million of additional funding for 2017/18 (a full breakdown of which can be found in Supplementary Estimates 2017/18); over £1.5 billion for 2018/19 (Supplementary Estimates 2018/19); and over £2 billion for 2019/20 (Main Estimates 2019/20). This funding is to cover all exit scenarios and is in addition to departmental efforts to reprioritise from business as usual toward preparations for the UK's departure from the EU. Work on no-deal exit preparations cannot be readily separated from other EU exit work, given the significant overlap in plans in many cases. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also received £5.6 million of additional funding in 2018/19, for no-deal civil contingency planning.</p><p>We continue to keep advice on how people should prepare updated on gov.uk/euexit.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 10/07/2019 08:26:13 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1136267

registered interest
date	02/07/2019
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	Falkland Islands: Sovereignty
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 has had recent discussions with his Argentinian counterpart on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	272201
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2019 answer text <p>None. The position remains unchanged.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 09/07/2019 15:58:50 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1136269

registered interest
date	02/07/2019
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	Trinidad and Tobago: 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 steps he has taken to improve diplomatic relations with Trinidad and Tobago.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	272203
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2019 answer text <p>​Bilateral relations between the UK and Trinidad and Tobago are warm and positive. Our close cooperation on shared priorities such as crime and security is underpinned by a 2017 bilateral Security Memorandum of Understanding. Working together through the Commonwealth, we promote democratic values and equality, and jointly tackle global challenges such as climate change. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s International Programme Fund, cross-HMG Conflict, Security and Stability Fund and Counter Terrorism Programme Fund all support our work in Trinidad and Tobago.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 09/07/2019 16:00:27 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1136270

registered interest
date	02/07/2019
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	Malawi: 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 steps he has taken to improve diplomatic relations with Malawi.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	272204
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2019 answer text <p>Bilateral relations between the UK and Malawi remain strong. Following the Presidential election on 21 May, our High Commission in Lilongwe is engaging with the newly appointed Government to agree areas for future co-operation. The UK supports prosperity and development for the people of Malawi with around £140 million invested per year through the Department for International Development (DFID)'s work, which is targeted on the most vulnerable in society. The UK-funded Commonwealth Trade Facilitation Programme is helping Malawi adopt faster and more efficient customs procedures. In turn, these will reduce the cost of doing business and create a more enabling environment for intra-Commonwealth Trade. In conjunction with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD), we are also providing expertise and training to Malawian rangers to tackle the Illegal Wildlife Trade. The recently announced Royal Visit to Malawi by HRH The Duke of Sussex in the Autumn will strengthen further our deep and long-standing relationship with Malawi.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 09/07/2019 14:08:20 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1136271

registered interest
date	02/07/2019
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	Brazil: Rainforests
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Brazilian counterpart on protecting the Amazon rainforest.
tabling member constituency	Warrington South
tabling member printed	Faisal Rashid
uin	272247
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2019 answer text <p>Our posts in Brazil frequently engage with the Brazilian Government on a number of environmental issues including deforestation. We have been having positive discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture and work closely with them on our International Climate Fund programmes.</p><p>We are working with Brazil to help ensure it continues to protect the Amazon and have invested nearly £120 million through the International Climate Fund on projects to limit deforestation, prevent forest fires and implement the Forestry Code in the Amazon, Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 09/07/2019 16:08:24 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	4670 label Biography information for Faisal Rashid