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1204168

registered interest
date	16/06/2020
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	Eritrea: Coronavirus and Malnutrition
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports (1) of widespread starvation in Eritrea, in particular in Southern and Northern Red Sea regions, and (2) that COVID-19 has been used by the Eritrean regime to target Red Sea Afar people.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL5743
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2020 answer text <p>We are concerned that the people of Eritrea are facing food insecurity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 and the desert locust outbreak have impacted existing humanitarian need as a result of lasting effects of war and climate change. Humanitarian and development programmes in Eritrea are being adapted to address current food security challenges. DFID funds life-saving activity in Eritrea, including providing £4m to UNICEF in 2019-20 to help treat malnutrition in under-fives and provide access to safe hygiene and sanitation services.</p><p>We are also aware of reports that the Government of Eritrea is targeting the Red Sea Afar people during the COVID-19 pandemic. We raise our concerns about human rights in Eritrea with the Government at every opportunity, and we will continue to make clear that measures taken by them to tackle COVID-19 must be necessary, proportionate, time-bound, transparent and regularly reviewed. Eritrea remains a priority country for the FCO under our annual human rights reporting, and we will continue to monitor the situation there.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 24/06/2020 10:55:17 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1204169

registered interest
date	16/06/2020
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	Riot Control Weapons
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by Amnesty International Tear Gas: an investigation, published in June, which details examples of tear gas misuse in 22 countries including the territory of Hong Kong; what assessment they have made of the effects of tear gas (1) when fired directly at people in large volumes, (2) in response to peaceful protests, and (3) in confined spaces; what steps can be taken if UN Guidelines on its use are ignored; and what plans they have to press for more effective regulation of the design, trade and use of tear gas.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL5744
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/07/2020 answer text <p>Whilst the Department of Health Committee on Toxicity has approved the use of CS spray, actions taken by the police or security agencies during protest must be proportionate, necessary and in accordance with guidelines.</p><p>The Government takes strategic export control responsibilities seriously. We examine every strategic export application on a case-by-case basis against strict Criteria. We draw on a range of sources in making assessments, including NGOs and international organisations, our diplomatic posts, and reports from our overseas networks. Our export licensing system allows us to respond quickly to changing facts on the ground and we can take action when our assessment changes. The Department for International Trade would not issue a licence if to do so was inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. If it was being misused, the Foreign and Commonwealth office would advise them accordingly on export licence applications.</p><p>We continue to monitor developments closely, seeking further information where appropriate. As an example, on 25 June 2019, the then Foreign Secretary announced that we would not issue any further export licenses for crowd control equipment to Hong Kong until we are satisfied that concerns raised on human rights and fundamental freedoms have been thoroughly addressed. As we have said repeatedly, we believe the Hong Kong SAR Government should establish a robust and independent investigation into events.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 13/07/2020 14:55:28 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1204210

registered interest
date	16/06/2020
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	Palestinians: World Heritage Sites
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to protect sites owned by Palestinians which have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites from being damaged by Israeli (1) settlers, or (2) forces.
tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
uin	HL5813
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>In our meetings with the Israeli authorities we regularly raise the need to respect the status quo of the holy sites in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. We continue to urge the Israeli and Palestinian leadership to avoid actions that make it more difficult to achieve a negotiated solution to the conflict.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 30/06/2020 12:27:09 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

1204211

registered interest
date	16/06/2020
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	Israeli Settlements
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what action they plan to take, if any, to protect any Palestinian villages within the areas designated for annexation by the government of Israel which are at risk of (1) forced removal, or (2) destruction.
tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
uin	HL5814
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>We are deeply concerned by reports that the new Israeli Government coalition has reached an agreement which may pave the way for annexation of parts of the West Bank. We are urging Israel not to proceed. The Foreign Secretary reiterated this message during a call with Alternate Israeli Prime Minister Gantz on 20 May and Israeli Foreign Minister Ashkenazi on 2 June. The UK position is clear: any unilateral moves toward annexation would be damaging to renewed efforts to restart peace negotiation, and contrary to international law. Demolitions and evictions of Palestinians from their homes cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians and, in all but the most exceptional of cases, are contrary to International Humanitarian Law.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 30/06/2020 12:22:25 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

1204213

registered interest
date	16/06/2020
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	West Bank: Demolition
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that Palestinian-owned property in Al-Walaja is under threat of demolition to make way for construction of a park exclusively for Israelis; and what support, if any, are they giving to the owners of any such property.
tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
uin	HL5816
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>Our legal aid supports residents in Al-Walaja and officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv and Consulate-General in Jerusalem visited the area on 17 June. As we made clear at the UN Security Council remote meeting on the Middle East Peace Process on 20 May, the UK is seriously concerned by the continued demolition of Palestinian property by Israeli authorities. In all but the most exceptional of circumstances demolitions by an occupying power are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. The practice causes unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians and is harmful to the peace process. We urge both sides to avoid taking actions which make peace more difficult to achieve.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 30/06/2020 14:26:57 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

1204263

registered interest
date	16/06/2020
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	Nigeria: 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, with reference to the report published by Amnesty International entitled We dried our tears: addressing the toll on children of Northeast Nigeria's conflict, if he will make it his policy that continued support by the Government for Operation Safe Corridor is conditional on the Nigerian authorities (a) undertaking a full investigation into deaths in the military-run detention centre and (b) taking steps to ensure that the military respects children's rights.
tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
uin	59800
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2020 answer text <p>We are concerned by allegations of human rights abuses in Amnesty International's recent report, We Dried Our Tears. The British High Commissioner has raised the report's findings with the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, calling for a full investigation into the allegations and prosecution of any individuals found to have committed abuses in military detention facilities. The UK Government does not provide any support to the military detention facilities mentioned or provide funding directly to the Government of Nigeria.</p><p>We are also concerned by criticisms in the report of Operation Safe Corridor. The programme is run by the Federal Government of Nigeria and is intended to provide defectors from Boko Haram with a voluntary way to disarm and reintegrate with society through de-radicalisation, psychosocial support and livelihood training. By providing a way to disengage from conflict, these programmes are an essential part of peacebuilding but they must fit for purpose and conducted in a way that fully respects human rights.</p><p>The UK, alongside the US and EU, provides funding to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to assist in the reintegration element of the Operation Safe Corridor. All UK Government programme spend is subject to regular monitoring and review. We are urgently following up points raised in the report with IOM, in particular in relation to the process for screening participants, the conditions in which they are detained and the timeline for rehabilitation. IOM have assured us that no children are currently enrolled. The UK's position on human rights is clear: they are universal and must apply equally to all people. The UK will continue to call on all parties to the conflict in North East Nigeria to respect human rights, including the rights of children, and abide by international humanitarian and human rights law.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 23/06/2020 15:07:51 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

1204361

registered interest
date	16/06/2020
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	Ethiopia: Dams
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether officials in his Department have had discussions with their (a) Egyptian, (b) Sudanese and (c) Ethiopian counterparts on the Grand Renaissance Dam.
tabling member constituency	Orkney and Shetland
tabling member printed	Mr Alistair Carmichael
uin	59708
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2020 answer text <p>We are aware of reports on the ongoing dispute between Ethiopia and Egypt over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. We continue to urge all parties involved to come to an agreement and to avoid taking any unilateral action. The Foreign Secretary spoke to Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry on these terms on 8 June, as did the Minister for Africa with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedu on 20 May. We welcome the resumption of talks between the Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt to work towards a peaceful resolution.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 22/06/2020 15:42:21 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	1442 label Biography information for Mr Alistair Carmichael

1204397

registered interest
date	16/06/2020
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 and Commonwealth Office: Reorganisation
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 received from (a) Ambassadors and (b) other stakeholders on the merging of his Department and the Department for International Development.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Lloyd Russell-Moyle
uin	59863
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2020 answer text <p>We will engage closely with interested stakeholders in the weeks and months to come as we work to create a new department, which will unite our development expertise and first class diplomatic service to deliver in the national interest and seize the opportunities that lie ahead.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 22/06/2020 16:31:24 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	4615 label Biography information for Lloyd Russell-Moyle

1204421

registered interest
date	16/06/2020
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	British Nationals Abroad: Coronavirus
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 UK citizens are stranded in (a) Spain and (b) Europe as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Ellesmere Port and Neston
tabling member printed	Justin Madders
uin	59808
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2020 answer text <p>Since the outbreak in Wuhan, we estimate that over 1.3 million people have returned to the UK via commercial routes - the majority supported by our work to keep vital routes open. We have now brought home over 38,000 people on 186 special charter flights organised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, from 57 countries and territories. We believe the vast majority of British travellers seeking to return to the UK - and who don't have commercial options - have now done so. The welfare of British nationals remains our top priority. We remain committed to ensuring that British travellers around the globe are able to return and that commercial routes are maintained.</p><p>At the current time, there remain commercial options to return to the UK from Spain and most countries in Europe. Our Embassy in Madrid have been working closely with the Government of Spain, airlines and other travel providers to keep vital routes open and help bring back British travellers to the UK. Our consular team continues to work around the clock to provide support, advice and information to British travellers in Spain. Our travel advice and social media pages are also regularly updated to ensure that those wishing to return are aware of further developments.</p><p>Through our embassies, and a dedicated central team, we are continuing to monitor whether there are more British travellers abroad seeking to return home immediately, how many, where they are located, whether there are commercial routes available to them and whether support is required.</p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams question first answered 22/06/2020 16:09:21 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
tabling member	4418 label Biography information for Justin Madders

1204437

registered interest
date	16/06/2020
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: 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 recent representations has he made to his Turkish counterpart Turkey on (a) that country's treatment of human rights defenders and (b) the condition of detention facilities in which they are kept in that country.
tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
uin	59806
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2020 answer text <p>We remain concerned by the Amnesty arrests in the summer of 2017 of eleven human rights defenders, including Amnesty Turkey's former director, Idil Eser, and former chair, Taner Kılıç. We have followed the cases closely, including attendance at court hearings. We have raised their cases at Ministerial level with the Turkish Government on several occasions, as well as raising them in January this year through the UN's Universal Periodic Review of Turkey. We hope that the outstanding charges against them can be brought to a timely and equitable conclusion. We will be monitoring the next hearing in early July.</p><p>The United Kingdom recognises that human rights defenders play an essential role in promoting and protecting democracy, respect for human rights, and the rule of law. We regularly raise our human rights concerns with the Turkish authorities at the highest level, particularly around detentions, freedom of expression and association. We continue to urge the authorities to ensure that all detainees are treated in accordance with relevant international human rights standards, such as access to legal representation and medical care We will continue to engage the Turkish Government on these important issues. We are clear in our expectation that Turkey, like all countries, should live up to its human rights obligations towards all its citizens.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton grouped question UIN 59805 question first answered 24/06/2020 10:01:09 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron