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 question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1137506

registered interest
date	08/07/2019
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	Syria: Demilitarized and Neutral Zones
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 (a) monitor the demilitarised zone in Idlib and (b) ensure that civilians, rescue workers, and medics are effectively protected.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	274628
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/07/2019 answer text <p>The UK is gravely concerned by the situation in Idlib, which we are closely monitoring, in coordination with our international partners and relevant UN bodies.</p><p>We have repeatedly called on all parties to end the violence, return to the ceasefire agreed in September 2018, and abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law, including at three emergency sessions of the UN Security Council. The Prime Minister raised the urgent need to restore the ceasefire in Idlib with President Putin and President Erdogan at the G20 Summit on 28-29 June.</p><p>UK aid continues to support the protection of civilians in Idlib, where DFID partners are working to support health facilities and establish mobile emergency protection teams. We also support an innovative new technology to provide early warning of airstrikes through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 11/07/2019 15:43:40 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1134597

registered interest
date	25/06/2019
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	Syria: Conflict Resolution
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps the Government is taking to support a peaceful conclusion to the conflict in Syria.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	269139
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2019 answer text <p>​The British Government continues to believe that only a negotiated political settlement will end the Syria conflict, as we reiterated at the UN Security Council on 27 June. We fully support the efforts to this end of the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, who the Foreign Secretary hosted in London in March. The UK Special Envoy for Syria discussed the situation with Mr Pedersen and international counterparts from the Syria Small Group on 23 June. We are also using our role at the UN Security Council to put pressure on the regime and Russia to end their ongoing offensive in Idlib.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 03/07/2019 16:34:24 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1134598

registered interest
date	25/06/2019
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	USA: Iran
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 support a diplomatic resolution to the stand-off between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	269140
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2019 answer text <p>We are concerned by the risk of unintended escalation between the United States and Iran. We are also concerned by the potential of further tension as a result of the failure of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. We continue to call on the US to preserve the gains that the Iran nuclear deal has brought, avoiding actions that would prevent the remaining parties from meeting their commitments to uphold the deal. We remain in close co-ordination with international partners to find diplomatic solutions to de-escalate tensions, and specifically advising Iran – using our diplomatic relationship – that escalation is not in their interest,as I did during my Tehran visit in June.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 03/07/2019 16:08:32 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1129317

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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	Tibet: Human Rights and Political Prisoners
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps the Government is taking with the Chinese Government to help (a) secure the release of Tibetan political prisoners, (b) ensure access by independent observers to Tibet and (c) protect the human rights of the Tibetan people.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	259434
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>We have serious concerns about the human rights situation in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) including restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, and restrictions on freedom of assembly and association.</p><p> </p><p>We consistently urge China to respect all fundamental rights across the People's Republic of China, including in Tibet, in line with both its own constitution and the international frameworks to which it is a party. We believe that long-term stability in Tibet will be best achieved through respect for universal human rights and genuine autonomy for Tibet within the framework of the Chinese constitution. Meaningful dialogue is the best way to address and resolve the underlying grievances and we continue to urge all sides to restart talks.</p><p> </p><p>Further, the UK is active in raising Tibet in multilateral fora. We made a statement at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in June 2018 where we reiterated our concerns over restrictions on civil and political freedoms, particularly minority rights, and freedom of religion in China, including Tibet. Additionally, we asked an advanced question about Tibet at China’s last Universal Periodic Review, and included our concerns in our statement.</p><p> </p><p>We are also aware of, and concerned by, reports of the apparent increasing isolation of TAR through restrictions on foreign tourists, journalists and officials (including those representing the UN and EU) seeking to visit TAR. To this end, we are monitoring the progress and impact of the US Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, including through discussions with our US counterparts</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 11/06/2019 13:00:14 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1122118

registered interest
date	18/04/2019
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	Azza Soliman
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 his has made to his counterpart in Egypt on that Government's decision to prosecute Azza Soliman, co-founder the centre for Egyptian women's legal assistance and later Lawyers for Justice and Peace.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	245971
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2019 answer text <p>We have followed Azza Soliman's case closely, and raised it publicly. We have raised the related issue of the foreign funding of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) with the Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights. In September 2018, we made a statement at the UN Human Rights Council in which we expressed concern about the &quot;arrests of activists, bloggers and journalists&quot;. Our Embassy in Cairo remains in regular contact with Ms Soliman.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 30/04/2019 15:47:34 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1081775

registered interest
date	04/03/2019
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	Yemen: Military Intervention
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 prevent Saudi Arabia from employing child soldiers in Yemen.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	228082
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/03/2019 answer text <p>We are firmly committed to ending the recruitment and use of child soldiers and to protecting all children affected by armed conflict.</p><p>The UK is an active member of the UN Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), which leads the international response to the issue of child soldiers and child protection. This includes pressing those parties to conflict listed in the UN Secretary-General's annual report on CAAC, including Yemen, to enter into concrete action plans with the UN to verify and release child soldiers.</p><p>The UK is also the largest single financial contributor to the office of the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for CAAC, contributing £800,000 in the last five years. We have shown our support for the SRSG's recently launched Global Coalition for Reintegration (GCR) by joining the 'Friends of Reintegration' group, a forum to generate new ideas for supporting reintegration programmes and for the prevention of re-recruitment of children formerly associated with armed groups. The UK has confirmed it will be increasing its funding to the office of the SRSG for CAAC to £450,000 for the FY19/20 to continue assisting the SRSG with her current mandate, and will be giving an additional £50,000 to fund extended activities pertaining to the GCR.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 07/03/2019 17:59:53 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1081776

registered interest
date	04/03/2019
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	Sudan: Politics and Government
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government will issue a formal statement in support of the uprising against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	228083
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/03/2019 answer text <p>​The UK remains deeply concerned by the response to recent protests in Sudan, including the implementation of a year-long state of emergency on 22 February. We have been clear that the legitimate grievances expressed by protesters must be addressed, most recently in a statement made on 26 February with the USA, Norway and Canada. We continue to monitor the situation.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 07/03/2019 15:03:50 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1054654

registered interest
date	04/02/2019
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	Papua: Chemical Weapons
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the accuracy of reports that the Indonesian Armed Forces used Chemical weapons on West Papuan civilians on 15 December 2018.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	216381
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2019 answer text <p>The British Government condemns the attack on construction workers by an armed group on 2 December in Nduga district in Papua. We have called on the Indonesian authorities to ensure that the security response is proportionate. Our Ambassador has discussed this with senior officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We are aware of a media claim about the possible use of white phosphorus. This has been strongly denied by the Indonesian authorities. We have been in touch with NGOs and others who have looked into the allegation; they have not found any evidence to support it.</p><p>​</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 07/02/2019 13:44:48 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1045796

registered interest
date	22/01/2019
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	Papua: Measles
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What discussions he has had with his Indonesian counterpart on (a) the provision of measles vaccinations in West Papua and (b) access to healthcare for West Papuans.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	908718
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2019 answer text <p>Officals at our Embassy in Jakarta, including the Ambassador, visit Papua and West Papua regularly. During these visits they press the Indonesian authorities to address legitimate concerns and ensure the sustainable and equitable development of the province. This includes access to healthcare. We have not to date raised the specific issue of measles immunisations, but I am happy to confirm to the honourable member that we shall do so.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 22/01/2019 14:58:52 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1041329

registered interest
date	14/01/2019
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	Members: Correspondence
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 letter to him of 27 September 2018 from Marom UK on Marom Budapest and its community centre Aurora, what response he has made to that letter.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	208346
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/01/2019 answer text <p>FCO officials met the Board of Deputies of British Jews on 9 January. The Board of Deputies made representations on behalf of the Marom organisation about the Aurora building in Budapest. A substantive response reflecting the outcome of the meeting was sent on 15 January 2019, that underlined that the UK remains committed to strengthening international co-operation across Europe to tackle antisemitism and ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten.</p><p>We welcome Hungary's stated commitment to address and eliminate antisemitism and all forms of racism.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 17/01/2019 16:51:31 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel