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172516

registered interest
date	07/01/2015
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	North Korea
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 tackle the persecution of Christians in North Korea.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	220024
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/01/2015 answer text <p>We are deeply concerned by reports of widespread and systematic state sanctioned human rights violations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), particularly by the reports of the persecution of Christians detailed by the UN Commission of Inquiry and elsewhere. We have called on the DPRK to respect the provision in its constitution guaranteeing “freedom of belief in religion”. Our belief is that if the DPRK will not hold human rights violators to account, the international community must be ready to do so. We worked with likeminded partners to ensure the resolutions adopted at the Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly included strong language to make clear there can be no impunity for human rights violations and to call for appropriate action to ensure accountability.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 13/01/2015 14:54:56 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

172521

registered interest
date	07/01/2015
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	Democratic Republic of Congo
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 Government plans to take in response to the shooting of the Northern Irish missionary, Ms Maud Kells OBE, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	220093
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/01/2015 answer text We were very concerned to hear about the shooting of a British national in the Democratic Republic of Congo. FCO officials in London and the Democratic Republic of Congo are providing consular assistance. The Government will continue to provide assistance and seek updates from the local authorities who are investigating. answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 13/01/2015 14:41:40 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

172527

registered interest
date	07/01/2015
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
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 provide support to civilians in the Kashmir region affected by the recent violence between Pakistani and Indian troops.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	220118
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/01/2015 answer text <p>We are concerned about the incidents that have taken place in recent weeks on both sides of the Line of Control and the International Border in Kashmir. We encourage both sides to take steps to reduce tensions. <br><br>We are monitoring the situation. We have not received a request from either government for assistance.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 13/01/2015 15:00:11 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

172528

registered interest
date	07/01/2015
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	AirAsia
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 plans to take to support the families of people who died in the recent AirAsia plane crash.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	220117
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/01/2015 answer text <p>Following confirmation that a British national was aboard flight QZ8501, consular staff from the British Embassy in Indonesia and British High Commission in Singapore, together with consular and press office staff from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London, have been working together to ensure that the family receive all the support they need during this difficult time. Staff met family members in Singapore and accompanied them during meetings with the airline and authorities in Surabaya, Indonesia. Consular staff remain in close contact and continue to offer our full support.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 13/01/2015 14:58:12 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

164355

registered interest
date	24/11/2014
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	Central African Republic
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 Government is taking to promote religious respect and the safety of Christians in the Central African Republic.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	215734
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2014 answer text <p>Addressing religious tensions in the Central African Republic (CAR) is an important part of supporting international efforts to protect the population from ongoing violence. The Inter-Religious platform in CAR is made up of Muslim and Christian leaders and has been at the forefront of peace-building and reconciliation efforts, engaging with communities that have been directly affected by sectarian violence in CAR. We welcome their efforts to promote dialogue, and have called for similar actions from CAR's transitional government. As my hon friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Tobias Ellwood) said in Westminster Hall on 19 November, without justice, peace and reconciliation, there can be no future for the CAR.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 01/12/2014 14:47:21 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

156271

registered interest
date	18/11/2014
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	Sudan
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 his Department has taken to address the persecution of Christians in the Sudan region.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	214894
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/11/2014 answer text <p>We raise our concerns about freedom of religion with the Government of Sudan as part of our regular engagement on human rights issues. Most recently our Embassy in Khartoum raised this issue with the External Affairs Secretariat of the National Congress Party (the ruling political party) and Sudan’s National Human Rights Commission. Additionally, our Embassy regularly engages with Christian groups based in Sudan, and where possible, follows up on specific cases. We also highlight our concerns in the Department’s ‘Human Rights Country of Concern’ quarterly update for Sudan.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 24/11/2014 16:16:46 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

64733

registered interest
date	30/06/2014
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 steps the Government is taking to improve the situation of Christian people in Saudi Arabia who face difficulties as a result of publicly practising their faith.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	203144
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2014 answer text <p>We have made clear to the Saudi authorities our strong support for the right to freedom of religion or belief. The Senior Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Warsi raised the importance of religious tolerance in meetings with Governor and Mayor of Makkah, Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques, and the Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in February 2014.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Hugh Robertson question first answered 04/07/2014 13:19:30 answering member 1415 label Biography information for Sir Hugh Robertson
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

61706

registered interest
date	12/06/2014
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	Christianity
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what direct steps the Government has taken to ensure the safety of Christians in countries where they are being persecuted for their faith.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	200349
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2014 answer text <p>Freedom of religion or belief is a priority for this Government internationally. On 15 November 2014, the Senior Minister of State, my noble Friend, the right hon. Baroness Warsi gave a speech in Washington stressing the need for an international response to the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities. The full text of her speech is available on our website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/an-international-response-to-a-global-crisis. We are concerned about the rising tide of persecution of individuals on the basis of their religion and belief. We regularly raise individual cases and discriminatory legislation with other governments and we support overseas programmes designed to overcome prejudice, discrimination and sectarianism. We also work in multilateral fora to ensure that the right to freedom of thought, conscience and belief is afforded the international legal protection that it deserves. Furthermore the Senior Minister of State has convened meetings of international leaders to generate practical steps to promote freedom of religion or belief and to fight religious intolerance within our societies.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 19/06/2014 10:22:12 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

61707

registered interest
date	12/06/2014
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	China
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 assessment he has made of the human rights situation in China.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	200350
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2014 answer text <p>We do have concerns about restrictions to civil and political freedoms in China, particularly around ethnic minority rights; the death penalty; and freedom of expression, association and assembly.</p><p>The climate for human rights defenders and civil society is very difficult, and security in areas with ethnic minorities remains tight.</p><p>Ministers regularly raise human rights issues with Chinese counterparts, and we highlight our concerns in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 19/06/2014 15:20:57 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson