Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1125113

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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	Poland: Ethnic Cleansing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2019 to Question 246491, whether he has raised the comments of Senator Grzegorz Bierecki with his Polish counterpart.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
uin	251277
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>The Foreign Secretary has not raised the comments of Senator Grzegorz Bierecki with his Polish counterpart.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 15/05/2019 13:03:37 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1125116

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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 has taken to help extend protections for Christians from persecution internationally.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
uin	251280
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is committed to using our influence to defend Freedom of Religion or Belief as a universal human right which should be enjoyed by everyone. That is why the Prime Minister appointed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon as her Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief. Lord Ahmad regularly raises this topic with his international counterparts and through the Human Rights Council. In recent years we have seen reports of a particular rise in the persecution of Christians. The Foreign Secretary launched the 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 has now submitted his interim report and will submit his final report in Summer. ​</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 15/05/2019 08:53:23 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1125118

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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	Civil Servants: Training
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 merits of increased religious literacy across the Civil Service.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
uin	251281
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government has long held the view that religion plays an important role in the political and social life in many countries throughout the world. The FCO provides a wide range of resources, including though the Diplomatic Academy, to ensure that staff, including those across Whitehall working in our overseas posts, understand the influence that faith can have on foreign policy, and on their specific jobs.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 13/05/2019 14:55:09 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1125124

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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	Religious Freedom
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 an assessment of the merits of extending the remit of the review of religious persecution led by the Bishop of Truro to (a) the Department for International Development, (b) the Department for International Trade, (c) the Home Office, (d) the Cabinet Office and (e) the National Security Office.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
uin	251282
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The Review was commissioned by the Foreign Secretary into the work of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, so it would be inappropriate for it to review, or make recommendations for, other departments. However, other government departments may wish to take note of the Review report and its findings.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 13/05/2019 15:04:21 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1125125

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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	Egypt: Churches
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the extent of the (a) destruction and (b) closure of places of religious worship for Coptic Christians in Egypt (i) Manshiyet Zafarana and (ii) other towns and villages.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
uin	251283
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>​We are concerned about reports of the destruction or closure of Coptic places of worship in Egypt at a local level. We condemn all discrimination against religious minorities and constraints on their freedom to practise their faith. Positive steps forward on this agenda are to be welcomed, including President Sisi's calls for peaceful coexistence and the Government of Egypt's expression of support for the rights of Christians and for religious tolerance.</p><p>The 2016 Church Building Law represents another step forward in this area, increasing the number of registered churches in Egypt.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 15/05/2019 15:09:28 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1125126

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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	India: 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 assessment his Department has made of the safety of Christians in India during the current elections from reported actions by (a) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and (b) other Hindu nationalist groups.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
uin	251284
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>India has a strong democratic framework and constitutionally enshrined protections for freedom of religious belief. However it faces numerous challenges enforcing these, including for some Christians and other religious minorities, due to its size and social and economic development. We maintain a continuous assessment of the human rights situation across India. The situation for Christians is varied depending on location, socio-economic background, and the proportion of religious minorities.</p><p>We engage with India on the full range of human rights matters, both bilaterally and through the EU. We work with Union and State Governments, and with non-governmental organisations, to build capacity and share expertise to promote human rights for all. We have raised Christian persecution with the Indian Government. Most recently, on 25 March 2019, the British High Commission highlighted the importance of tackling Christian persecution with India’s Ministry of External Affairs.</p><p>The British High Commission in New Delhi, and our Deputy High Commissions across India, also run projects promoting minority rights and regularly meet with religious representatives. Most recently, the High Commissioner met senior Christian leaders on 2 and 17 April, and the Chair of the National Human Rights Commission on 25 April, to discuss the situation for Christians across India​</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field grouped question UIN 251285 251286 question first answered 15/05/2019 06:28:46 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1125127

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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	India: Religious Freedom
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 reports by Open Doors UK, what representations he has made to his Indian counterpart on anti-conversion laws in eight Indian states.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
uin	251285
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>India has a strong democratic framework and constitutionally enshrined protections for freedom of religious belief. However it faces numerous challenges enforcing these, including for some Christians and other religious minorities, due to its size and social and economic development. We maintain a continuous assessment of the human rights situation across India. The situation for Christians is varied depending on location, socio-economic background, and the proportion of religious minorities.</p><p>We engage with India on the full range of human rights matters, both bilaterally and through the EU. We work with Union and State Governments, and with non-governmental organisations, to build capacity and share expertise to promote human rights for all. We have raised Christian persecution with the Indian Government. Most recently, on 25 March 2019, the British High Commission highlighted the importance of tackling Christian persecution with India’s Ministry of External Affairs.</p><p>The British High Commission in New Delhi, and our Deputy High Commissions across India, also run projects promoting minority rights and regularly meet with religious representatives. Most recently, the High Commissioner met senior Christian leaders on 2 and 17 April, and the Chair of the National Human Rights Commission on 25 April, to discuss the situation for Christians across India​</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field grouped question UIN 251284 251286 question first answered 15/05/2019 06:28:46 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1125128

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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	India: Educational Institutions
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 his Indian counterpart on laws and legislation to close (a) foreign institutions and (b) Christian-led schools.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
uin	251286
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>India has a strong democratic framework and constitutionally enshrined protections for freedom of religious belief. However it faces numerous challenges enforcing these, including for some Christians and other religious minorities, due to its size and social and economic development. We maintain a continuous assessment of the human rights situation across India. The situation for Christians is varied depending on location, socio-economic background, and the proportion of religious minorities.</p><p>We engage with India on the full range of human rights matters, both bilaterally and through the EU. We work with Union and State Governments, and with non-governmental organisations, to build capacity and share expertise to promote human rights for all. We have raised Christian persecution with the Indian Government. Most recently, on 25 March 2019, the British High Commission highlighted the importance of tackling Christian persecution with India’s Ministry of External Affairs.</p><p>The British High Commission in New Delhi, and our Deputy High Commissions across India, also run projects promoting minority rights and regularly meet with religious representatives. Most recently, the High Commissioner met senior Christian leaders on 2 and 17 April, and the Chair of the National Human Rights Commission on 25 April, to discuss the situation for Christians across India​</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field grouped question UIN 251284 251285 question first answered 15/05/2019 06:28:46 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1125129

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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	Ukraine: Churches
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 his Department has made of the extent of destruction of churches in Russian-occupied Eastern Ukraine.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
uin	251287
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>We are extremely concerned by reports from Eastern Ukraine of the seizing and sealing of churches and other places of worship, forced cancellation of services and arrests and harassment of clergy. This is part of a wider pattern of human rights violations and abuses perpetrated by Russian-backed separatists in the non-government controlled areas of eastern Ukraine.</p><p>We continue to call on Russia to use its considerable influence over the separatists to ensure respect for all human rights, and on all sides to implement recommendations contained in the reports of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 15/05/2019 12:41:59 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1125130

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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	China: 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 assessment his Department has made of the accuracy of reports of the (a) repression of Christians (b) arrest of Pastor Wang Yi, (c) installation of surveillance equipment in churches, (d) destruction of churches, (e) eviction of congregations and (f) banning of the sale of the Bible online in the People’s Republic of China.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
uin	251288
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>We are concerned about developing restrictions on freedom of religion or belief in China. This includes reports that authorities are tightening control over how certain religions are practiced, including Christianity. The freedom to practise, change or share ones faith or belief without discrimination or violent opposition is a human right that all people should enjoy.</p><p>We are aware of credible reports of the closure or demolition of unregistered churches in some areas of China, including the Early Rain Covenant Church and the arrest and detention of its Pastor Wang Yi. British diplomats met with Chinese officials in January and expressed concerns on the pressures facing Christians and directly raised Pastor Wang’s case. Also in January, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief, raised concerns about the case in the House of Lords.</p><p>We are also concerned by reports that individuals are being harassed or detained for their beliefs across China, and that new guidelines on religion may restrict lawful and peaceful observance. There is also evidence to suggest restrictions on sales of Bibles by unauthorised sellers are in place.</p><p>The Foreign Secretary, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, has asked the Bishop of Truro to review what the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) can do to better support persecuted Christians worldwide, including in China. The Review will map levels of persecution and discrimination against Christians around the world; assess the impact of the FCO’s current and recent support; and make recommendations. At the publication of the Bishop’s interim report, the Foreign Secretary said “I look forward to seeing the Bishop’s final report in the summer, and identifying further specific steps the FCO can take to do more to address the fate of persecuted Christians around the world.”</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 15/05/2019 08:24:23 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown