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938725

registered interest
date	11/07/2018
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	Southern Rhodesia: Civil Servants
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 pay the pension arrears owing to the former members of HM's overseas civil service who remained at their posts after Southern Rhodesia became independent.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	162948
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2018 answer text <p>The Zimbabwe Government recognised their legal obligation to pay for pensions of former Southern Rhodesia civil servants in a letter from the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare on 28 October 2016. Representatives from the British Embassy in Harare regularly raise the requirement of the Government of Zimbabwe to pay these pensions with the Zimbabwean Government and will continue to do so.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 16/07/2018 15:16:37 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

937865

registered interest
date	10/07/2018
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	Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made on the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting Communiqué entitled Towards a Common Future published on 20 April 2018.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	162458
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2018 answer text <p>As Chair-in-Office, the UK is working with Commonwealth partners to ensure the delivery of commitments set out in the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) communique and to build a Commonwealth which is fairer and more prosperous, sustainable, and secure.</p><p>The Commonwealth Secretariat and Commonwealth Member States have already made good progress in the two months following CHOGM. For example:</p><p>· The Commonwealth Secretariat convened, and the UK chaired, the first Senior Trade Officials Meeting to agree the framework for implementation of the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda for Trade and Investment;</p><p>· Vanuatu, which co-Chairs the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Alliance with the UK, became the first country in the world to enact a ban on the manufacture and sale of single use plastic bags, polystyrene takeaway boxes, and plastic drinking straws. Indian Prime Minister Modi has announced a ban of all single use plastics, which will come into effect in 2022;</p><p>· The UK and the International Trade Centre launched SheTrades Commonwealth in Kenya to enable the increased participation of women-owned businesses in international trade; and</p><p>· Thérèse Coffey MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Life Opportunities, hosted Commonwealth High Commissioners to discuss ambitions and expertise in tackling plastic pollution, and provide more detail of the UK support available to them to help them reduce plastic pollution in our Oceans under the Commonwealth Blue Charter.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 16/07/2018 14:57:25 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

933897

registered interest
date	02/07/2018
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	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, when his Department plans to report in light of the National Security Capability Review 2018 on the settled strategy for the coordinated deployment of UK soft power.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	159482
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2018 answer text <p>The National Security Capability Review 2018 recommended the creation of a cross-government soft power strategy. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is leading the development of this strategy working with Departments across Whitehall and aims to publish the final strategy in late autumn.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 05/07/2018 15:37:01 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

931961

registered interest
date	27/06/2018
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	Gaza: Borders
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 Israel on lifting the illegal closure of Gaza.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	158142
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2018 answer text <p>​I visited Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including Gaza, at the end of May. I met Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Hotovely and Israeli Minister for Regional Cooperation Hanegbi, and encouraged urgent action to improve the situation in Gaza. We welcome the steps that Israel has taken to ease some restrictions. However whilst recognising legitimate security concerns, we want to see Israel go much further. We continue to stress to the Israeli authorities the damage that their restrictions are doing to the living standards of Palestinians in Gaza and that supporting legal trade for Gazans is firmly in Israel’s long-term interests. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary both raised concerns about the situation in Gaza during their meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on 6 June.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 02/07/2018 16:18:16 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

931963

registered interest
date	27/06/2018
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	Gaza: Electricity
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 make representations to the Government of Israel to improve the flow of electricity supplies from Israel to Gaza.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	158143
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2018 answer text <p>​Increased water and electricity supplies are a prerequisite to improving life in Gaza. We welcome reports that the Gaza power plant is back online meaning the average electricity supply has now increased to around 5 hours per day. However this still leaves Gazans with at least 19 hours a day without electricity. Ultimately the best solution is a political agreement between all parties on sustainable solutions to increase the electricity supply to Gaza. We press for immediate discussions to alleviate the situation.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 02/07/2018 16:19:48 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

931333

registered interest
date	26/06/2018
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	Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
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 nature of the Government's involvement is in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	157608
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2018 answer text <p>The UK is not a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and does not have any interest or official relations with the body.</p><p> </p><p>​</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 02/07/2018 17:18:15 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

931408

registered interest
date	26/06/2018
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	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, with which other government departments he is coordinating British soft power for global Britain.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	157610
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2018 answer text <p>​The National Security Capability Review 2018 recommended the creation of a cross-government soft power strategy. The FCO is leading the development of this strategy, working with Departments across Whitehall including Department for International Trade, Department for International Development, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Home Office, Ministry of Defence, Her Majesty's Treasury, Cabinet Office, Department for Exiting the European Union, Department for Education, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Ministry for Justice and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 03/07/2018 12:09:27 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

931410

registered interest
date	26/06/2018
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	Geneva Conventions
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 has plans to seek to reform the Geneva Convention; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	157611
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2018 answer text <p>The UK has a strong history of upholding and promoting the principles of international humanitarian law (IHL). The four Geneva Conventions of 1949 constitute the bedrock treaties of IHL. There are no plans to seek reform of these globally recognised Conventions. We believe that efforts should be directed primarily at improving compliance with IHL. To this end, we consistently call on states and non-state actors engaged in armed conflict to respect IHL and act in accordance with their obligations under it. We are also an active participant in the intergovernmental process, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross and government of Switzerland, aimed at strengthening respect for IHL.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 02/07/2018 17:11:58 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field previous answer version 67022 answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

931182

registered interest
date	25/06/2018
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	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 steps his Department is taking to set the strategic direction for the coordinated deployment of British Soft Power.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	157010
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/06/2018 answer text <p>The National Security Capability Review 2018 recommended the creation of a cross-government soft power strategy. The FCO is leading the development of this strategy, working with Departments across Whitehall and seeking the views of a range of stakeholders outside government.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 28/06/2018 16:14:39 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

931183

registered interest
date	25/06/2018
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	Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
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 has plans to seek to reform the Vienna Convention 1961.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	157011
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2018 answer text <p>​Her Majesty's Government has no plans to seek to reform the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 03/07/2018 12:13:45 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching