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45742

	registered interest
	date	27/03/2014
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the independence of the judiciary in Egypt.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Coventry
	uin	HL6391
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2014 answer text <p>The new Egyptian constitution, adopted in January 2014, states that the judicial system is independent, and allows the judiciary its own budget, and to appoint the Prosecutor General and members of the Supreme Constitutional Court. We do however have some concerns over recent judicial decisions, including the sentencing to death of 529 people in Minya on 24 March. Reports that many of the defendants were tried in their absence and may not have been represented properly are deeply troubling. We have been urging the Egyptian authorities to ensure that the rights of defendants are fully respected in all cases.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 23/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
	tabling member	4266 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry

45774

	registered interest
	date	27/03/2014
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what current plans they have to enhance stability and democracy in Bosnia Herzegovina.
	tabling member printed	The Earl of Dundee
	uin	HL6423
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2014 answer text <p>The United Kingdom continues to be deeply committed to enhancing stability and democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The UK is a strong supporter of European Union Force (EUFOR) Operation Althea's maintenance of the safe and secure environment in BiH, and is proud of its contributions in theatre, and through a reserve company, 1 Scots. Our support for BiH's policing has led to our contributing to establishing a trilateral Police Cooperation Centre (PCC) in Trebinje, resulting in more efficient and effective actions being taken between law enforcement agencies in the region. UK Ministers and officials have made clear to BiH's leaders their responsibility for ensuring that their public rhetoric is not inflammatory or ethnically divisive. <br><br>Following the recent protests, we have made clear to BiH's leaders that they need to respond to the population's legitimate desire for change, most recently when the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), met the BiH Presidency and Foreign Minister on 27 March. During his recent visit the Foreign Secretary met representatives of civil society and plenums and expressed our support to widen the political space in BiH so as to allow citizens to hold politicians to account. <br><br>Part of our work to widen the political space is the recent British BiH Fellowship Programme. A one-month residential programme in the UK designed to equip BiH's future leaders with the skills and experience to lead positive change in their country. <br><br>The Foreign Secretary also announced continuing UK assistance for BiH's path towards EU membership, in the form of new funding to foster democratic governance in Bosnia by strengthening the judiciary, civil society organisations, governance and supporting BiH's EU accession process. Specific examples include political and financial support focused on strengthening the State Court and State Prosecutor's Office, which will improve the operation of Rule of Law systems in BiH. <br><br>In addition, the UK supports the activities of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), whose work in BiH has focused on equipping local non-governmental organisations with the skills they need to provide effective evidence for parliamentary committees. WFD has done valuable work with BiH's Parliament to raise awareness of the value of such committees. This has influenced positively the formation of legislation, and opened up the process of law-making to public scrutiny, while promoting citizen participation in the democratic process.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 23/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
	tabling member	2735 label Biography information for The Earl of Dundee

47245

	registered interest
	date	07/04/2014
	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
	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 jobs have been transferred from the public to the private sector as a result of privatisations or outsourcing by his Department since May 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester Central
	tabling member printed	Lucy Powell
	uin	195511
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2014 answer text <p>Comprehensive information on all outsourcing activities and the number of jobs involved is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Hugh Robertson question first answered 23/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1415 label Biography information for Sir Hugh Robertson
	tabling member	4263 label Biography information for Lucy Powell

47399

	registered interest
	date	07/04/2014
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their evaluation of the situation in Venezuela as regards the rule of law, freedom of speech and the protection of human rights.
	tabling member printed	Lord Lester of Herne Hill
	uin	HL6631
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2014 answer text <p>Anti-government protests have been taking place in Caracas and other cities in Venezuela since early February. Around 40 people have died, and over 500 injured. About half the victims are anti-government protestors and the rest pro-government supporters, security forces and bystanders. More than 2,000 people have been detained in relation to the protests, although most have been released on parole. <br><br>We are concerned by reports of excessive use of force in protests, and reports of armed groups using violence. We condemn all acts of violence and call on all sides to show restraint. It is important that the Venezuelan government respects the right to protest peacefully and freedom of speech, and ensures that those detained are afforded due process. We have called for all sides to avoid confrontation, reduce tensions and to create the right conditions for genuine dialogue to take place. <br><br>The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), has written to the Venezuelan government emphasising the importance of respecting peaceful protest and the importance of dialogue taking place between the parties. He has offered the UK's assistance in the reconciliation process and asked to speak to his Venezuelan opposite number. Our Embassy in Caracas urges peaceful dialogue through its contacts with a range of actors in Venezuelan society.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 23/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
	tabling member	2037 label Biography information for Lord Lester of Herne Hill

47418

	registered interest
	date	07/04/2014
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have plans to propose a European Union working-party to discuss and make proposals for assisting Bosnia-Herzegovina to draw up an appropriate constitution that would make possible the ending of various forms of international supervision.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
	uin	HL6650
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2014 answer text <p>The challenges that Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) faces are regularly discussed in the EU working group on the western Balkans. However these discussions have not focussed on constitutional change. The UK fully supports BiH's aspiration to join the EU but they must meet the conditions. We continue to call on BiH's leaders to make the necessary decisions to progress on the EU accession path, namely through aligning their Constitution with the European Court of Human Rights' judgement in the Sejdic-Finci case. The onus is on BiH's leaders to work collectively to resolve the issue. <br><br>Until real progress is made, the international community must remain closely engaged in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The UK fully supports the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and the European Union Force (EUFOR) Operation Althea and their work to ensure implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement. Closure of the OHR will occur once the BiH authorities have met the agreed five objectives and fulfilled the agreed two conditions. Disagreement among the main political parties has prevented the agenda's full implementation. The UK is committed to EUFOR's maintenance of a safe and secure environment in BiH, and is proud of its own contributions, including through a reserve company, 1 Scots. Recent protests have demonstrated the fragility of the security situation in BiH. Therefore, it is vital that EUFOR continues to be able to fulfil its role in country. The UK will continue to support EUFOR's presence in BiH until conditions on the ground change sufficiently to merit its withdrawal.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 23/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
	tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

47419

	registered interest
	date	07/04/2014
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will request that the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture visits the United Arab Emirates.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
	uin	HL6651
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2014 answer text <p>The British Government supports the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, and encourages an interactive dialogue with all states. Thus, the UK extends a “standing invitation” to all Special Rapporteurs and commits to full cooperation should they wish to visit. We encourage other states to do the same. At the same time, we respect the independence of Rapporteurs, so do not plan to request a specific visit to the United Arab Emirates.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 23/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
	tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

47420

	registered interest
	date	07/04/2014
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last made representations to the government of Pakistan about the personal security and protection needs of Christians, Hindus, Shias and Ismailis; and what responses they received.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
	uin	HL6652
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2014 answer text <p>It is vital that the Government of Pakistan protects and guarantees the rights of all its citizens, regardless of their faith or ethnicity, as laid down in the Constitution and in accordance with international standards. As Senior Minister of State for Faith and Communities with a personal commitment to freedom of religious belief, I had frank discussions with the Pakistani Prime Minister and other ministers during my most recent visit to Pakistan and during the UN General Assembly. I will continue to press the Pakistani government to meet these commitments. The British Government also remains fully committed to working in partnership with Pakistan to tackle terrorism and violent extremism in all forms which threatens the people of both our countries and the security of all communities in Pakistan. Our concerns are documented in the latest Foreign and Commonwealth Office annual Human Rights report launched on 10 April.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 23/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
	tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

47434

	registered interest
	date	07/04/2014
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to request European Union monitoring at the border between Gibraltar and Spain.
	tabling member printed	Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
	uin	HL6666
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2014 answer text <p>The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), raised the border delays with the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, last August, making clear that the Spanish checks were unjustified, politically motivated and therefore unlawful. This led to the European Commission sending a border monitoring mission to Gibraltar on 25 September. As a result, the Commission made a number of concrete recommendations to both Spain and Gibraltar and requested an update within six months. The Government of Gibraltar has taken action to implement the recommendations made to them and we fully expect Spain to do the same. In December the Prime Minister reminded Mr Barroso of the Commission's commitment to review the situation.</p><p>We remain in frequent contact with the European Commission about the ongoing delays, including on the need for the Spanish authorities to implement the EU's recommendations. Senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials discussed border issues with European Commission officials in January and February this year. The Commission has reserved the right to pay another visit to the border in the future if appropriate and we will support them in doing so.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 23/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
	tabling member	4282 label Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

47435

	registered interest
	date	07/04/2014
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Spain through (1) the European Union, and (2) the United Nations, with regard to the speed of border checks carried out by Spain at the border with Gibraltar.
	tabling member printed	Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
	uin	HL6667
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2014 answer text <p>The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), raised the border delays with the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, last August, making clear that the Spanish checks were unjustified, politically motivated and therefore unlawful. This led to the European Commission sending a border monitoring mission to Gibraltar on 25 September. As a result, the Commission made a number of concrete recommendations to both Spain and Gibraltar and requested an update within six months. The Government of Gibraltar has taken action to implement the recommendations made to them and we fully expect Spain to do the same. In December the Prime Minister reminded Mr Barroso of the Commission's commitment to review the situation.</p><p>We remain in frequent contact with the European Commission about the ongoing delays, including on the need for the Spanish authorities to implement the EU's recommendations. Senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials discussed border issues with European Commission officials in January and February this year. The Commission has reserved the right to pay another visit to the border in the future if appropriate and we would support them in doing so.</p><p>This is not a matter for the United Nations.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 23/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
	tabling member	4282 label Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

47771

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to instigate an inquiry into possible links between the 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia and the incidence of leukaemia and cancer in that country.
	tabling member printed	Lord Tebbit
	uin	HL6719
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2014 answer text <p>We do not plan to instigate an inquiry into possible links between the 1999 North Atlantic Treaty Organisation air operation in the former Republic of Yugoslavia and any incidence of leukaemia and cancer in Serbia. An assessment by the UN Environment Programme in 2002 found no evidence of harm by depleted uranium weapons.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 23/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
	tabling member	952 label Biography information for Lord Tebbit