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228801

registered interest
date	20/03/2015
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	South China Sea
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on China's artificial island expansion in disputed waters in the South China Sea.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	228565
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2015 answer text <p>We continue to monitor developments in the South China Sea closely, not least land reclamation and construction activities in disputed waters. We remain concerned about continuing tensions which have the potential to undermine regional stability. The UK does not take a position on the underlying sovereignty disputes, but we continue to emphasise to all claimants, including China, the need to refrain from any activities that could heighten the risk of escalation and to resolve disputes peacefully in accordance with international law.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 24/03/2015 16:08:23 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

228150

registered interest
date	18/03/2015
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	Yemen
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 effect of the Houthi rebellion in Yemen on stability in the Middle East.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	228175
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2015 answer text <p>The Houthi take-over in Yemen is a violation of the 1994 constitution and the principles of the Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative. As a long-standing principle, we do not support military intervention to achieve political aims. If a political settlement to the current crisis is not reached, the likelihood of civil war, economic collapse, and a humanitarian catastrophe will increase, which will in turn threaten stability in the wider region. Further instability could also create space for Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and other emergent terrorist groups to mount opportunistic attacks both within Yemen and beyond its borders. Instability, as well as a deterioration in the economic situation, is likely to cause an increase in humanitarian needs. Instability in Yemen could also threaten the wider region.</p><p>The UK continues to believe that an inclusive political settlement is the best way to ensure long term stability and avoid civil war, economic collapse, and a humanitarian catastrophe. We continue to support Abu Rabbuh Mansour Hadi as the legitimate President of Yemen, and are working to encourage all parties to engage in good faith in the UN-led talks to establish an inclusive government that that commits to implementing the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Initiative and its Implementation Mechanism, the National Dialogue conference outcomes, and the Peace and National Partnership Agreement.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 24/03/2015 14:31:46 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

228151

registered interest
date	18/03/2015
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	Yemen
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 operational capability of Al Qaeda in Yemen.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	228176
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2015 answer text <p>Al Qaeda in Yemen or Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has been operating in Yemen since 2009 and has murdered hundreds of Yemenis each year, including civilians and members of the police and security forces. AQAP also continues to pose a serious and direct threat to the UK and its interests, and remains intent on, and capable of, conducting external attacks. We currently assess that the gravest threat to the UK from AQAP comes from its ongoing ambition to strike international airliners and cause mass civilian casualties. We also have concerns that AQAP could cooperate and share its technical capability with other Al Qaeda (AQ)-aligned groups. Through their extremist propaganda (e.g. Inspire magazine) AQ and its affiliates also wish to radicalise Muslims and incite extremist violence.</p><p>Continued instability in Yemen, longer-term, increases the risk of opportunistic AQAP attacks and may allow AQAP to exploit the power vacuum to project violence beyond Yemen’s borders. However, we assess that AQAP’s overall strategic aim remains to establish an AQ-ruled Emirate in Yemen.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 24/03/2015 14:34:23 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

225470

registered interest
date	05/03/2015
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	Hamas
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information his Department holds on which countries have donated funds to Hamas.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	226487
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2015 answer text <p>We assess that funding for Hamas comes from a range of sources in the region and internationally, not all of which are clear. An EU asset freeze is in place against Hamas in its entirety, which prevents funds being made available to the organisation from within EU Member States.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 12/03/2015 14:27:29 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

224863

registered interest
date	03/03/2015
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	Syria
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on whether Iranian forces have established a military presence in the Golan Heights region of Syria.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	226212
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/03/2015 answer text <p>We have seen no reports on this issue other than those in the media. We have seen numerous media reports that a senior Iranian military commander was killed in the Syrian Golan Heights area and that there have been recent Syrian army regime offensives in the area, that, according to media reports, are backed by Hizballah and Iran.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 10/03/2015 14:34:56 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

224864

registered interest
date	03/03/2015
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	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 assessment his Department has made of the effect of the falling cost of oil on the economy of Iran.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	226213
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/03/2015 answer text <p>Iran's oil revenues have been drastically constrained by sanctions. So while a fall in the oil price will have an impact on Iran's public finances and economy this will be less significant than if sanctions were not in place: Oil revenues were c.12% of Iran’s GDP last year. The extent of the impact will be affected by the length of time oil prices will stay low.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 10/03/2015 16:25:58 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

223616

registered interest
date	25/02/2015
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	EU Reform
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 effect of the outcome of the Government's Balance of Competences Review on his Department's policy on EU reforms.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	225414
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2015 answer text <p>The review of the Balance of Competences provides the most extensive analysis of the impact of EU membership ever undertaken by the UK or any Member State. Across the entire review, the reports draw on nearly 2,300 pieces of evidence. The reports provide a wealth of evidence that supports the government’s aim to reform the EU to make it more open, competitive, flexible and democratically accountable, with fair treatment of countries inside and outside the eurozone for the benefit of everyone in Europe. This includes the need for a broader and deeper Single Market, greater competitiveness and flexibility, better (and less) regulation and more transparent and accountable institutions and processes.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 04/03/2015 14:46:43 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

177508

registered interest
date	03/02/2015
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	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 discussions his Department has had with the Turkish government on locating people missing as a result of violence in Cyprus in 1974.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	223112
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2015 answer text <p>We share the concerns of both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities over the missing persons following the events of 1974. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not had any recent discussions with the Turkish government about this, but we take very seriously the issue of missing persons in Cyprus. We supported UN Security Council Resolution 2197 renewing the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), which called upon all parties to provide more expeditious, full access to all areas. The UK also contributes to the work of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which supervises the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights judgement in Cyprus v Turkey of 2001 on missing persons. We strongly support the humanitarian work of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) in Cyprus, in which bi-communal teams undertake painstaking and sensitive work. So far, the remains of 568 individuals have been identified and returned to their families. We have supported the work of the CMP financially, donating US$220,133 bilaterally, while EU funding of the CMP, to which the UK contributes, totalled US$16,289,719 from 2006-14. In addition to this financial support, the UK facilitates the CMP by enabling it to work from a British-owned site in the Buffer Zone, thus easing its administration costs. The British High Commission in Nicosia remains in regular contact with the CMP to establish how the UK may further support its work.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 10/02/2015 15:27:48 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

175422

registered interest
date	23/01/2015
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	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 assessment he has made of the consequences of Iran's refusal to allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors access to its Arak and Parchin nuclear-related facilities.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	221808
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2015 answer text <p>The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has monthly access to the reactor at Arak. The IAEA Director General’s 7 November report confirms that Iran continues to abide by its commitment under the Joint Plan of Action (JPoA) not to make further advances on the Arak reactor for the duration of the JPoA.</p><p>Access for the IAEA to Parchin remains an important but unfulfilled step. The 7 November IAEA report reiterates that clean-up activities at the site are likely to have undermined the Agency’s ability to conduct effective verification, however it is imperative that Iran provides access as the Agency continues to request. We fully support their work on this crucial issue.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 29/01/2015 14:17:55 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

175423

registered interest
date	23/01/2015
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	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 recent assessment his Department has made of Iran's financial and material support for Hezbollah.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	221809
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2015 answer text <p>We continue to have serious concerns about Iran's support for the military wing of Hizballah. This support includes the provision of significant financial resources, military equipment and training, in contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 1747, which prohibits the export of weapons by Iran. We call on Iran to implement its obligations under this resolution and end its military support which undermines regional security.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 29/01/2015 14:19:28 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord