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1125305

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	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	Arctic: China and Russia
	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 (a) Russian and (b) Chinese counterparts on the Arctic.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
	tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
	uin	251875
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>​Officials from our Embassy Moscow discussed the importance of continued international cooperation in the Arctic with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 6 May. A Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) official also attended the Fifth International Arctic Forum in St Petersburg on 9 April. The Head of Polar Regions Department, in the FCO, attended the recent Arctic Council Ministerial meeting in Rovaniemi, Finland and spoke with the Head of the Chinese Delegation on the margins. Officials from the British Consulate-General in Shanghai will attend the Arctic Circle Forum on 10-11 May in Shanghai to further understand China's interest in the region.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 13/05/2019 16:23:23 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
	tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1125020

	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	Iran: Foreign Relations
	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 UK relations with Iran; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
	tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
	uin	251188
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK’s relationship with Iran is complex and based on a long history. Maintaining a bilateral relationship with Iran provides an opportunity to hold discussions on a range of issues, including our consular cases, human rights and Iran’s role in the region. We do not agree on everything, and there are many areas in which we have real concerns, but through dialogue we seek to influence Iran’s views on the subject that matter to the UK. I have no plans to make a statement at this time. ​</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 13/05/2019 16:26:29 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1110339

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2019
	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	Antarctic Treaty
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what contribution the UK Government makes to the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
	tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
	uin	241978
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/04/2019 answer text <p>The UK’s contribution to the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat for the 2019/2020 financial year was $60,347 USD, which was paid in January 2019. Details of annual contributions by all Antarctic Treaty Parties can be found in the meeting records of each Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting at <a href="http://www.ats.aq/" target="_blank">www.ats.aq</a>.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 11/04/2019 16:35:51 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
	tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1110340

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2019
	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	Antarctic Treaty
	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 obligations are under the Antarctic Treaty.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
	tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
	uin	241979
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/04/2019 answer text <p>The UK is fully committed to the Antarctic Treaty and its objective to preserve the continent for peace and science. The Treaty sets out the obligations of Parties, including the participation in, and facilitation of, Antarctic Treaty inspections and the participation in annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings. Formal decisions taken by Antarctic Treaty Parties come into force internationally when they have been approved by all Parties. The UK is one of only a few Parties to be up-to-date with this process. The UK is also a Member of the Commission of the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, which sets out rights and obligations for managing fisheries in the Southern Ocean; and a Party to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, which ensures that all activities undertaken by British nationals are pre-planned and potential environmental impacts are mitigated. The Antarctic Acts 1994 and 2013 establish the UK’s obligations under the Treaty, the Convention and the Protocol in domestic legislation.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 11/04/2019 16:37:25 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
	tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1110341

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2019
	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	Antarctic: 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 assessment he has made of the use of bases belonging to the Peoples Republic of China in the Antarctic.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
	tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
	uin	241980
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/04/2019 answer text <p>China has established four scientific stations in Antarctica and is currently establishing a fifth. In terms of number of scientific papers, during the period 2011-2015, China ranked sixth (the UK was second) and its scientific activities have continued to increase. Its scientific stations are strategically located across Antarctica and underline China’s ambition to increase their influence within the Antarctic Treaty System. China has stated its objective to ‘understand, protect and use’ Antarctica. Whilst the UK, and many other Parties, have expressed concern regarding China’s reference to the ‘use’ of Antarctica, in light of the Treaty’s objectives of Conservation and protection, there is no evidence to date of China undertaking any activities in contravention to the Treaty.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 11/04/2019 16:39:00 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
	tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1110342

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2019
	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	Antarctic: China
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether bases in the Antarctic belonging to the People's Republic of China have been inspected under the provisions of the Antarctic Treaty; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
	tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
	uin	241981
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/04/2019 answer text <p>In the past 20 years, China's Great Wall Station, based in the British Antarctic Territory, has been inspected 12 times, including 4 times by the UK, most recently in 2012. Zhongshan, in the Australia Antarctic Territory has been inspected 3 times. Kunlun (established in 2009) and Taishan (established in 2014) have yet to be formally inspected. The conclusion of the most recent inspection to Great Wall station by the UK, Netherlands and Spain, was that the station facilities had been recently expanded and was one of the best equipped in the region, and that there appeared to be scope for more international collaboration on science programmes. China welcomed the inspection and committed to increase scientific collaboration at the station.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 11/04/2019 16:40:47 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
	tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1110343

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2019
	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	Antarctic: China
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether military activities have been detected in the bases belonging to the People’s Republic of China in the Antarctic; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
	tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
	uin	241982
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/04/2019 answer text <p>No military activities have been detected in the bases belonging to the People's Republic of China in the Antarctic. The Antarctic Treaty does not prevent the use of military personnel or equipment for scientific research or for any other peaceful purpose. All inspections and observations of Chinese Antarctic scientific stations have concluded that operations are in full compliance with the Antarctic Treaty. Along with other Parties, the UK will also continue to monitor closely activities by China and other states to ensure compliance with the Antarctic Treaty.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 11/04/2019 16:42:19 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
	tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1105201

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2019
	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	Israel: Golan Heights
	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 the Government of (a) the United States and (b) Israel on sovereignty of the Golan Heights.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
	tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
	uin	236977
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/04/2019 answer text <p>On 26 March officials from our Embassy in Washington raised our concerns with US counterparts about the US Presidential Proclamation recognising that the Golan Heights are part of the State of Israel. We are clear that the UK views the Golan Heights as territory occupied by Israel. Annexation of territory by force is prohibited under international law, including the UN Charter. The decision by the US to recognise lsraeli sovereignity over the Golan Heights is in contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 497. The UK did not recognise Israel's annexation in 1981 and we have no plans to change our position. On 26 March we joined Belgium, France, Germany and Poland at the UN Security Council in reiterating this position.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 01/04/2019 16:15:35 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1090989

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2019
	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	Iran: BBC Persian Service
	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 Iranian counterpart on the harassment of BBC Persian staff in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
	tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
	uin	233432
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2019 answer text <p>We continue to raise the issue of BBC Persian at all levels with the Iranian Government. Most recently, this was through the UK’s statement at the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran, on 11 March.</p><p>​</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 21/03/2019 15:30:06 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1083741

	registered interest
	date	07/03/2019
	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	Turkey: Guided Weapons
	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 NATO on the Turkish Government's procurement of the Russian S-400 Missile Defence System.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
	tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
	uin	229594
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2019 answer text <p>​We have raised our concerns with the NATO Secretary General and discussed this issue with a number of Allies. The Secretary General has made clear that while defence equipment procurement decisions are for nations, it is very important that our respective systems are interoperable. We share this view.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 12/03/2019 15:02:17 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
	tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching