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 grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1131279

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	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	Colombia: Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy
	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 publish the outcomes of his Department's Magna Carta Fund project on the UN guiding principles on business and human rights in Colombia.
	tabling member constituency	Bishop Auckland
	tabling member printed	Helen Goodman
	uin	263093
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2019 answer text <p>Over the 2016-2018 financial years, we financed a project, implemented by <a href="http://creer-ihrb.org/" target="_blank">Centro Regional de Empresas y Emprendimientos Responsables</a> CREER in Colombia, to help implement the measures in Colombia's National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights which provide for non-judicial remedy of potential disputes related to extractive industry projects. The guide for firms, produced following extensive consultations, workshops and three pilot projects, can be found <a href="https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/134a42_fe9b054fe5c4424a8d88ced4fdc2bc49.pdf" target="_blank">here</a> (in Spanish).</p><p>For more information on the global objectives of this (and other) programmes, please see our <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-development-assistance-oda-fco-departmental-programme-spend-objectives-2018-to-2019" target="_blank">ODA collection pages on GOV.UK</a> . The Foreign and Commonwealth Office remains committed to meeting transparency requirements, <a href="https://data.gov.uk/dataset/f7ec44fa-b876-4882-a171-477afafc7d3d/official-development-assistance-oda-fco-programme-spend" target="_blank">published on gov.uk</a></p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field grouped question UIN 263097 question first answered 17/06/2019 15:20:30 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	1484 label Biography information for Helen Goodman

1131320

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	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	Colombia: Peace Negotiations
	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 publish a report on the Government-funded project to support the engagement of the private sector with the truth commission in Colombia.
	tabling member constituency	Bishop Auckland
	tabling member printed	Helen Goodman
	uin	263097
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2019 answer text <p>Over the 2016-2018 financial years, we financed a project, implemented by <a href="http://creer-ihrb.org/" target="_blank">Centro Regional de Empresas y Emprendimientos Responsables</a> CREER in Colombia, to help implement the measures in Colombia's National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights which provide for non-judicial remedy of potential disputes related to extractive industry projects. The guide for firms, produced following extensive consultations, workshops and three pilot projects, can be found <a href="https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/134a42_fe9b054fe5c4424a8d88ced4fdc2bc49.pdf" target="_blank">here</a> (in Spanish).</p><p>For more information on the global objectives of this (and other) programmes, please see our <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-development-assistance-oda-fco-departmental-programme-spend-objectives-2018-to-2019" target="_blank">ODA collection pages on GOV.UK</a> . The Foreign and Commonwealth Office remains committed to meeting transparency requirements, <a href="https://data.gov.uk/dataset/f7ec44fa-b876-4882-a171-477afafc7d3d/official-development-assistance-oda-fco-programme-spend" target="_blank">published on gov.uk</a></p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field grouped question UIN 263093 question first answered 17/06/2019 15:20:30 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	1484 label Biography information for Helen Goodman

1130978

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2019
	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	Hong Kong: 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, what recent discussions his Department has had with representatives of the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	262375
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2019 answer text <p>British diplomats meet people representing the full spectrum of peaceful political views in Hong Kong, in line with normal diplomatic practice.</p><p>Hong Kong citizens are guaranteed the right to freedom of assembly and demonstration under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. Hong Kong's success and stability depend on its high degree of autonomy and respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 17/06/2019 15:11:11 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1130993

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2019
	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	Hong Kong: 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, what recent representations he has made to the Government of People's Republic of China on the suppression of political activists in Hong Kong.
	tabling member constituency	South Antrim
	tabling member printed	Paul Girvan
	uin	262441
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2019 answer text <p>We speak to the Chinese Government at all levels on a range of issues concerning Hong Kong. The British Consul General to Hong Kong discussed political developments in Hong Kong with the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing in April 2019. We also raise Hong Kong in the course of regular dialogue with China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</p><p>We have raised a number of issues relating to the proposals with the Hong Kong Government at senior levels and Chinese officials in Beijing. These include potential implications for our bilateral extradition treaty, as well as the potential consequences for the UK business community and for UK citizens living in or travelling through Hong Kong. We will continue to seek clarity from the authorities on these points.</p><p>The Foreign Secretary and Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chrystia Freeland, issued a Joint Statement on 30 May 2019,which noted concern for the potential effect of the proposals on the large number of UK and Canadian citizens in Hong Kong, on business confidence and on Hong Kong's international reputation. They made clear that any extradition arrangements in Hong Kong should be in line with 'One Country, Two Systems' and fully respect Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy. They also urged the Hong Kong Government to engage meaningfully with Hong Kong's broad range of local and international stakeholders in order to ensure their concerns are fully considered.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 17/06/2019 15:15:25 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4633 label Biography information for Paul Girvan

1130722

	registered interest
	date	07/06/2019
	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	Pakistan: Christianity
	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 support Christians on death row in Pakistan on charges of blasphemy.
	tabling member constituency	Thornbury and Yate
	tabling member printed	Luke Hall
	uin	261522
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/06/2019 answer text <p>It is the British Government's longstanding policy to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances and in all countries. In Pakistan, we remain deeply concerned by the misuse of blasphemy laws, and that religious minorities, including Christians, are disproportionately affected. The harsh penalties for blasphemy, including the death penalty, add to these concerns.</p><p>We regularly raise our human rights concerns with the Government of Pakistan at a senior level. My colleague, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, raised our concerns about Freedom of Religion or Belief and the protection of minority religious communities with Pakistan's Human Rights Minister in February 2019.</p><p>To ensure the United Kingdom is providing the right levels of support to persecuted Christians overseas, the Foreign Secretary asked the Bishop of Truro, Rt Revd. Philip Mounstephen, to carry out an independent review. The Bishop has submitted his interim report; with the full report due later this year.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 13/06/2019 15:36:35 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall

1130441

	registered interest
	date	06/06/2019
	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	Indonesia: Armed Forces
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he plans to make representations to his Indonesian counterpart on ending virginity tests for women applying to the Indonesian military.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	261140
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/06/2019 answer text <p>We are aware that the Indonesia military continues to conduct virginity tests on women recruits and have raised our concerns at senior levels with the Indonesian Government. This test is against our values and we will work closely with international partners to bring this practice to an end.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 13/06/2019 15:29:26 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1130511

	registered interest
	date	06/06/2019
	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	China: Human Rights and Civil Society
	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 representations he has made to his Chinese counterpart on the protection of civil society groups and human rights in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	261229
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/06/2019 answer text <p>We remain concerned about the lack of protection of civil society groups and the failure to respect civil and political rights in China. We currently have particular concerns relating to the persecution of certain ethnic minorities, including Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang; the use of the death penalty; and reductions in freedom of expression, association and assembly; and limits on freedom of religion or belief.</p><p> </p><p>While I have not made recent representations to my Chinese counterpart on the protection of civil society groups and human rights in China, the British Government remains committed to raising these issues with the Chinese authorities, and will continue to do so. The Prime Minister spoke about human rights during her most recent visit to China. Additionally, the Foreign Secretary highlighted his concerns about human rights in China with State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his last visit to China in July 2018; I also did the same with my counterpart earlier that month.</p><p> </p><p>Moreover, we highlight our human rights concerns publicly in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy – the 2019 report was published earlier this month. The United Kingdom has also taken regular action bilaterally and multilaterally, including in the March 2019 session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, to support civil society groups in the country. During China’s last Universal Periodic Review, we asked China publically what steps it is taking to ensure these groups are protected from detention and harassment. The Foreign Secretary has also raised the cases of detained human rights lawyers, including Wang Quanzheng and Yu Wensheng, with Chinese Government Ministers.</p><p>​</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 13/06/2019 15:31:21 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1130513

	registered interest
	date	06/06/2019
	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	China: Human Rights
	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 human rights situation in China in (a) 2019 comparative to (b) 1989.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	261230
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/06/2019 answer text <p>Over the past 30 years China has ratified a number of United Nations instruments relating to human rights. However we have serious concerns about the continued lack of respect for civil and political human rights in China, particularly relating to the rights of ethnic minorities; the death penalty; freedom of expression, association and assembly; and freedom of religion or belief.</p><p> </p><p>The advent of advanced surveillance technologies has facilitated increased restrictions on the rights of citizens in China. This has been particularly noticeable in Xinjiang, where there are credible reports of over a million Uyghurs and other minorities being detained in so called “re-education camps”. Reliable reporting suggests the region is subject to widespread surveillance, overt discriminatory profiling of members of ethnic minorities, and an omnipresent security apparatus. British diplomats most recently visited Xinjiang in May 2019 and their observations supported much of the recent open source reporting about the situation in the province.</p><p> </p><p>We urge the Chinese authorities to safeguard their citizens’ rights as enshrined in China’s constitution and in international law.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 13/06/2019 15:33:33 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1130117

	registered interest
	date	05/06/2019
	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	Kashmir: Riot Control 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 his Indian counterpart on the use of pellet guns in Indian Administered Kashmir.
	tabling member constituency	Halifax
	tabling member printed	Holly Lynch
	uin	260686
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/06/2019 answer text <p>​We welcome the reduction in the use of pellet guns since 2017 but are aware of, and concerned by, continued reports of their use and related injuries. We have raised this issue with the Indian Government. I discussed the situation in Kashmir with the Indian Foreign Secretary on my visit to India in March this year. The Permanent Under Secretary to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Sir Simon McDonald) also raised the situation in Kashmir with the Foreign Secretary during bilateral talks last month (May).</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 13/06/2019 15:26:08 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4472 label Biography information for Holly Lynch

1129806

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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	Papua: Armed Conflict
	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 tackle the political and conflict situation in West Papua as part of its role as the UN Security Council penholder on peacekeeping and protection of civilians in armed conflict.
	tabling member constituency	Bishop Auckland
	tabling member printed	Helen Goodman
	uin	259909
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>The British Government follows the situation in Papua closely. We respect the territorial integrity of Indonesia. Officials at the Embassy in Jakarta, visit Papua and West Papua provinces regularly. I met the Indonesian Ambassador in January and raised Papua with him, and I addressed a parliamentary debate on the issue on 8 May.</p><p>We fully support efforts by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and her officials to arrange a visit to Papua at the invitation of the Indonesian government. Officials in our Embassy in Jakarta have discussed the proposed visit with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and encouraged Indonesia to agree dates as soon as possible.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 11/06/2019 13:11:59 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	1484 label Biography information for Helen Goodman