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175071

registered interest
date	21/01/2015
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	Bahrain
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 recieved about the imprisonment and welfare of (a) Dr Abduljalil Alsingace and (b) other political prisoners; and what discussions he has had with his counterparts in Bahrain about those matters.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Northfield
tabling member printed	Richard Burden
uin	221611
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2015 answer text Our Embassy in Bahrain has raised the issue of access to medical treatment for Dr Abduljalil Alsingace, along with a number of other cases, with the Ombudsman for the Ministry of Interior. We encourage the Government of Bahrain to meet all of its human rights obligations, and ensure all defendants have access to the medical care they require. Our Ambassador in Bahrain has raised our broader concerns about detainee rights and prison conditions with the Government of Bahrain at the highest levels, and will continue to do so. The UK has provided support to improving the judicial system by strengthening the checks and balances in the judicial process through working with the Ministry of Justice, Attorney General and the Supreme Judicial Council on the court administration system reform. We have also introduced members from the Attorney General’s Office and the Special Investigation Unit to the experience of the public prosecution services in UK, and will continue to provide technical support to develop independent prosecution services in line with the human rights standards. answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 28/01/2015 15:48:44 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	301 label Biography information for Richard Burden

175072

registered interest
date	21/01/2015
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	Wildlife: Smuggling
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 foreign UK-based and locally-engaged staff of his Department worked (a) part-time and (b) full-time on tackling the illegal wildlife trade in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13, (iv) 2013-14 and (v) 2014-15 to date; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Zac Goldsmith
uin	221604
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2015 answer text <p>Prior to 2013, work on the illegal wildlife trade (IWT), in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) was handled by individual geographical departments and figures on staffing are not available without disproportionate cost. In 2013 a dedicated illegal wildlife trade team of three full-time staff, including one funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), was set up in the FCO. This team was responsible for organising the London Conference on IWT in February 2014, working closely with Defra, the lead government department. Following the London Conference, this team was reduced to one full-time staff member. Since July 2014, in the run up to the Botswana Conference, two staff members in the FCO have been working predominantly on IWT, supported by a number of others working part-time.</p><p> </p><p>In the FCO’s overseas network, several UK based and locally engaged staff work part time on IWT. It is not possible to provide a breakdown without disproportionate cost. From January to March 2015, there has been one UK based member of staff working full time on the IWT temporarily seconded to support the government of Botswana.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 27/01/2015 16:20:57 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

175074

registered interest
date	21/01/2015
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	Wildlife: Smuggling
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what funds his Department allocated to tackling the illegal wildlife trade in each financial year since 2010; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Zac Goldsmith
uin	221602
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2015 answer text <p>Prior to 2013, work to tackle the illegal wildlife trade (IWT) was handled by individual geographical teams working with Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) posts across the world. Therefore, an aggregate figure for funds allocated to this matter during this time is not available. In 2013, a dedicated IWT team was established. £113,000 was allocated in financial year 2013-14 towards the costs of the London Conference on IWT held in February 2014. Funds were also contributed towards the conference by other government departments. No specific stand-alone project funds have been allocated by the FCO in financial year 2014-15, on top of staff costs.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 27/01/2015 16:35:18 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

175075

registered interest
date	21/01/2015
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	Wildlife: Smuggling
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which British embassies and high commissions include tackling the illegal wildlife trade in their business plans; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Zac Goldsmith
uin	221603
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2015 answer text <p>A small number of posts include tackling the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) in their business plans. Posts also respond to specific pieces of work as required by the central IWT team based in the Prosperity Directorate of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Our efforts are focussed in Asia and Africa.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 27/01/2015 16:31:25 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

175077

registered interest
date	21/01/2015
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	Wildlife: Smuggling
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 the extent of links between the illegal wildlife trade and (a) conflict and (b) terrorism in Africa; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Zac Goldsmith
uin	221600
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2015 answer text <p>The Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) is an organised and widespread criminal activity, involving transnational networks. The proceeds are in some cases used to support other criminal activities, and have been linked to armed groups engaged in internal and cross border conflicts. There is a risk that terrorist and insurgent groups could benefit from this multi-billion dollar trade and that it fuels insecurity in fragile states.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 27/01/2015 16:38:30 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

174732

registered interest
date	20/01/2015
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
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 Amnesty International on human rights in Colombia.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	221442
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2015 answer text <p>Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials in London held a roundtable meeting on 28 October 2014 with Amnesty International, ABColombia, Peace Brigades International, CORE Coalition as well as two Colombian community Leaders, Ms Yomaira Mendoza and Mr Enrique Cabezas, to discuss human rights in Colombia, including the threats against human rights defenders and land claimants. <br><br>Subsequently, on 28 November, an official attended Amnesty International's briefing on their report on the progress of the Land Restitution Law, entitled 'A Land Title is not Enough: Ensuring Sustainable Land Restitution in Colombia'. Our Embassy in Bogota has subsequently held several conversations with Amnesty International regarding the Afro-descendant community of La Toma, Cauca, which is affected by mining. Our officials will meet Amnesty International in London again this month.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 27/01/2015 14:51:15 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

174733

registered interest
date	20/01/2015
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	Democratic Republic of Congo
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 support the Government has given to the authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	221357
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2015 answer text <p>The UK is making a significant contribution to international efforts to promote stability, development and greater democratisation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). DFID’s programme in the DRC will spend £790 million over the years 2011-2016 and is committed to addressing the urgent needs of the most vulnerable and poorest people.</p><p>DFID’s operational plan, updated in December 2014, https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/389482/DRC_Operational_Plan.pdf outlines how HMG will use its role as the second biggest bilateral donor in DRC to deliver support and expertise in a wide range of sectors; most notably in humanitarian assistance, security sector reform, education, WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) and private sector development.</p><p>We strongly support the role played by MONUSCO, the UN’s biggest peacekeeping mission, in resolving the conflict in the eastern part of the DRC, and our contribution to MONUSCO in 2014-2015 is estimated to be £61 million. UK diplomatic influence supports efforts to build a stronger, more stable and more prosperous future in the DRC, making conflict and humanitarian crises less likely.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 27/01/2015 14:40:04 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

174734

registered interest
date	20/01/2015
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	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 EU counterparts on expansion of the sanctions regime on Russia.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	221358
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2015 answer text <p>I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Secretary of state for Foreign and Commowealth Affairs, my right hon. friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), to the hon. Member for Washington and Sunderland West (Mrs Hodgson) on 20 January 2015 (PQ 907106) official report column 77. The UK and our EU partners have been very clear with Russia about what it needs to do for the easing of sanctions to be considered. Conversely, if it continues to ignore its obligations under the Minsk agreements, and continues to destabilise Ukraine, we will need to consider strengthening our sanctions.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 26/01/2015 16:25:27 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

174735

registered interest
date	20/01/2015
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	Sri Lanka
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 his Department has made of the election in Sri Lanka and the prospects for an independent war crime inquiry in that country.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	221359
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2015 answer text <p>The Sri Lankan Presidential Election was generally peaceful and well-managed with a high voter turnout. We commend Sri Lanka’s Election Commission for its conduct of the election, and all Sri Lanka’s political parties and people for accepting the final result and committing to the peaceful transfer of power. The result on the day reflected the will of the Sri Lankan people.</p><p> </p><p>However, we also note the view of Commonwealth Observers that an inadequate electoral and legal framework coupled with an unequal pre-electoral environment, meant the election contest fell short of key benchmarks for democratic elections. We hope that this is something Sri Lanka will now address, with the support of the international community.</p><p> </p><p>We are encouraging the new government to engage with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, including over the UN Human Rights Council resolution agreed in March 2014. This is consistent with the Prime Minister's, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), statement after the elections that the UK “encourages President Sirisena to support the ongoing UN Office of the High Commission for Human rights investigation into human rights abuses so that the issues of the past can be addressed and the country can move forward to a brighter, peaceful future where all Sri Lankan’s can play a role.”</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 27/01/2015 14:48:10 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

174736

registered interest
date	20/01/2015
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	Hamas
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 has taken in response to the decision of the General Court of the European Union on Hamas.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	221360
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2015 answer text <p>The EU General Court judgment is procedural and does not mean the EU and UK have changed their position on Hamas. The effects of the EU Hamas listing, including asset freezes, remain in place. We are studying the detail of the judgment carefully, and will work with partners to ensure that the Hamas listing at the EU is maintained. Hamas’ military wing has been proscribed in the UK since 2001 under separate UK legislation. This is not affected by the EU General Court judgment.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 27/01/2015 14:43:18 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord