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172782

registered interest
date	08/01/2015
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	Columbia
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 finding by UNHCR that there were 40 killings of human rights defenders in Colombia in the first nine months of 2014, what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in that country.
tabling member constituency	Blaydon
tabling member printed	Mr David Anderson
uin	220207
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2015 answer text <p>We are aware of the report by Amnesty International which informs that the UNHCHR has confirmed the murder of at least 40 human rights defenders (HRDs) between January and September 2014. ABColombia’s 2014 report stated that 78 human rights defenders were assassinated in 2013, which suggests a decrease this year, though there are reports that threats against HRDs have increased in the same period. However, we await more comprehensive reports including data covering the whole of 2014.</p><p>The UK Government publishes updates on the human rights situation in Colombia every quarter. The most recent report can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/colombia-country-of-concern/colombia-country-of-concern" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/colombia-country-of-concern/colombia-country-of-concern</a>.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 14/01/2015 15:20:34 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1486 label Biography information for Mr David Anderson

169504

registered interest
date	10/12/2014
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	Bahrain
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 encourage democratic change in Bahrain; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Blaydon
tabling member printed	Mr David Anderson
uin	218054
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2014 answer text <table><tbody><tr><th> </th><td><table><tbody><tr><td>I held discussions on Bahrain’s recent elections at the UK-Bahrain Joint Working Group on 4 December with the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) held similar discussions with the King and Crown Prince of Bahrain during his visit there on 6 December. In both meetings we commended the election of a broad range of candidates, although the opposition political societies decided not to take part. I will continue to encourage the Government of Bahrain to build on the success of the elections and move forward with further reform to advance the democratisation and human rights agenda.</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 17/12/2014 11:53:37 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1486 label Biography information for Mr David Anderson

168941

registered interest
date	09/12/2014
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	Bahrain
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 secure the release of political prisoners in Bahrain.
tabling member constituency	Blaydon
tabling member printed	Mr David Anderson
uin	217950
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2014 answer text <table><tbody><tr><th> </th><td><table><tbody><tr><td>We encourage the Government of Bahrain to respect the rights of all peaceful opposition figures. If we have specific concerns around convictions or sentencing, we raise these with the Government of Bahrain as part of our wider dialogue on human rights and reform.</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 16/12/2014 15:15:22 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1486 label Biography information for Mr David Anderson

168943

registered interest
date	09/12/2014
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	Bahrain
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 have been made to his Bahraini counterpart about the health facilities on offer in prison to Dr Abduljalil Al Singace.
tabling member constituency	Blaydon
tabling member printed	Mr David Anderson
uin	217948
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2014 answer text <p>Our Embassy in Bahrain raised the case of Dr Abduljalil Al Singace, along with a number of other cases, with the Ombudsman for the Ministry of Interior in May. Our Ambassador in Bahrain also raised our broader concerns around detainee rights and prison conditions with HM the King, HRH the Crown Prince and the Minister of Interior.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 16/12/2014 15:11:56 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1486 label Biography information for Mr David Anderson

168944

registered interest
date	09/12/2014
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	Bahrain
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many political prisoners there are in Bahrain.
tabling member constituency	Blaydon
tabling member printed	Mr David Anderson
uin	217949
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2014 answer text <table><tbody><tr><th> </th><td><table><tbody><tr><td>The UK Government does not hold details on all the cases and charges against prisoners in Bahrain. If we have specific concerns around convictions or sentencing we raise these with the Government of Bahrain as part of our wider dialogue on human rights and reform. Most recently, on 6 December, the The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) discussed progress on the reform agenda with HM the King and HRH the Crown Prince of Bahrain.</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 16/12/2014 15:16:07 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1486 label Biography information for Mr David Anderson

168653

registered interest
date	08/12/2014
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	Tanzania
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 (a) to the government of Tanzania and (b) in international fora about the proposed eviction of the Masai to provide a hunting reserve.
tabling member constituency	Blaydon
tabling member printed	Mr David Anderson
uin	217611
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text We were aware of media reports last month about plans by the Government of Tanzania in relation to land occupied by Masai pastoralists. Since then, on November 23, Tanzanian President Kikwete confirmed that “there has never been, nor will there ever be, any plan by the government of Tanzania to evict the Masai people from their ancestral land”. answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 15/12/2014 14:47:51 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	1486 label Biography information for Mr David Anderson

165868

registered interest
date	25/11/2014
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	Crimes against Humanity
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the UK's responsibilities are in international law to identify, prevent, suppress and punish acts of genocide and crimes against humanity; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Blaydon
tabling member printed	Mr David Anderson
uin	215972
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p>The UK is party to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide 1948 which requires that we prevent and punish the crime of genocide in our jurisdiction. We are also party to the Convention Against Torture 1948 which requires us to take measures to prevent torture in our jurisdiction, and to prosecute or extradite individuals who are in the UK, and who are alleged to have committed torture anywhere in the world.</p><p> </p><p>As a State Party to the International Criminal Court Statute (ICC), the UK has also made it a domestic crime to commit any of the crimes in the ICC Statute, including genocide and crimes against humanity. Where such crimes take place in the UK, or are committed by UK nationals, they can be prosecuted before the UK courts.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 02/12/2014 15:35:42 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	1486 label Biography information for Mr David Anderson

164364

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	Kashmir
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 Indian and Pakistani counterparts on a resolution to the situation in Kashmir.
tabling member constituency	Blaydon
tabling member printed	Mr David Anderson
uin	215726
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2014 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), has spoken to both his Indian and Pakistani counterparts about regional issues in recent weeks. The longstanding position of the UK is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting resolution to the situation in Kashmir, one which takes into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. It is not for the UK to prescribe a solution or to mediate in finding one.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 27/11/2014 14:30:18 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1486 label Biography information for Mr David Anderson

101554

registered interest
date	29/10/2014
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	Cyprus
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 reports he has received of the misselling of and corruption related to mortgages for properties for UK citizens buying in Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Blaydon
tabling member printed	Mr David Anderson
uin	212434
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2014 answer text <p>Officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regularly brief me on the scale of property problems in Cyprus and the distressing impact it is having on individuals. Most cases of mis-selling relate to purchases that were made between 2005 and 2010. Many purchasers and investors were advised to take out mortgages in Swiss Francs. As the Swiss Franc strengthened the cost of loans rose. Those affected complain that they were not properly advised that interest rates and exchange rates could rise which would affect the cost of their mortgage over time. We are also aware of allegations that lawyers and property professionals were working collectively and against the best interests of foreign buyers.</p><p>The British Government has no authority to intervene in matters concerning Cypriot domestic legislation. However, we continue to work with the Cypriot government to assist in finding resolutions to problems related to property purchases in Cyprus. This has included organising working visits to the UK for staff from the Cypriot Land Registry and the Financial Ombudsman. The High Commission is involved in assisting with public sector reform - specifically with the Ministry of Justice and local government – which will ultimately impact on the way property issues are dealt with.</p><p>Although we cannot intervene in individual cases, we do raise wider property problems by lobbying at high level. Both the Leader of the House of Commons and First Secretary of State, my Rt Hon Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), and I have raised property issues experienced by British nationals with the Cypriot Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides. Most recently I raised the subject with Mr Kasoulides on 23 July and Cyprus property mis-selling was raised in the UK Parliament on 22 July. The All Party Parliamentary Group for the Defence of the Interests of British Property Owners in Cyprus also met and discussed the issue on 14 October. Our former and current High Commissioners in Cyprus have regularly raised property issues with the Cypriot Attorney-General and the Finance Minister.</p><p>Our lobbying is having an effect. The Cypriot government has set up a Ministerial Committee to look at addressing property issues. This is a positive step and we are working with the authorities to encourage the committee to take effective action.</p><p>We recognise the significant impact that property disputes has on many families in the UK, some of whom risk losing their life savings. We strongly believe that those affected should continue to pursue their cases through the Cypriot (and if appropriate the UK) courts though we recognise that for many this will be an expensive and protracted route. In parallel we remain committed to lobbying at high level to encourage the Cypriot government to take effective action to resolve existing problems and to reform the property sector to prevent such problems occurring in the future.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 04/11/2014 15:14:47 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	1486 label Biography information for Mr David Anderson

89662

registered interest
date	29/08/2014
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	Kurds
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 the Kurdistan Regional Government or its representatives in the UK on the situation in that region.
tabling member constituency	Blaydon
tabling member printed	Mr David Anderson
uin	207428
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2014 answer text <p>The Prime Minister, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), have both spoken to Kurdistan Region President Barzani. The Secretary of State for International Development, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), and I visited Erbil on 27 August and met with President Barzani, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Deputy Prime Minister Talabani, and other Ministers. I have also met the KRG’s representative in the UK and officials are in regular contact with the KRG offices in both the UK and Iraq.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 05/09/2014 14:22:56 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1486 label Biography information for Mr David Anderson