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1674984

registered interest
date	04/12/2023
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Members: Correspondence
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to respond to the letter of 29 November to Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton from the Uyghur Tribunal regarding the treatment of the Uyghurs of Xinjiang in North-West China; and if so (1) when, and (2) whether they will publish this response.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL793
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/12/2023 answer text <p>The Government intends to respond as per standard procedures and timelines.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 19/12/2023 10:37:51 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1675031

registered interest
date	04/12/2023
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Democratic Republic of Congo: Children
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Lord Benyon on 30 November (HL Deb cols 1172–1174), what assessment they have made of the prevalence of non-state actors recruiting children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, whether they have conducted a Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability assessment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in recent years, and if so, what were the findings in relation to the use of children for forced labour and in armed conflict as recruited by non-state actors.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL795
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2023 answer text <p>The UK is firmly committed to ending the recruitment and use of child soldiers and to protecting all children affected by armed conflict. We are working with the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to ensure their approach to community-based disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) and stabilisation includes a focus on the need to provide tailored support to children associated with armed groups. The DRC Government has not published figures on the prevalence of child labour, but we note continued reports of modern slavery within the mining sector of DRC, especially in cobalt mining. Our support for the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) recognises the humanitarian problem posed by non-state actors recruiting children for forced labour, and aims to eradicate this by improving transparency and governance in the mining sector.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 14/12/2023 16:57:22 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1675032

registered interest
date	04/12/2023
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Democratic Republic of Congo: Children
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Lord Benyon on 30 November (HL Deb cols 1172–1174), what discussions they have held with the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and what support they have provided to that government to ensure that children are not incarcerated, penalised, or physically harmed solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of their exploitation in child labour.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL796
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2023 answer text <p>We note the continued prevalence of child labour in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and are committed to eradicating all forms of modern slavery, forced labour and human trafficking in line with achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 by 2030. We regularly raise the issue of child labour in DRC both with the DRC government, and through multi-lateral fora such as the Human Rights Council. In addition, the Home Office is funding work through the Modern Slavery Innovation Fund with the objective of strengthening partnerships to prevent and remedy forced labour in supply chains from DRC. Through such partnerships, we are committed to ensuring that children are not penalised any further for their unlawful exploitation. The UK government is committed to the principles laid out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and is dedicated to providing the best possible opportunities for all children, but especially those who have had the hardest start in life.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 14/12/2023 16:57:51 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1675033

registered interest
date	04/12/2023
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Democratic Republic of Congo: Children
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Lord Benyon on 30 November (HL Deb cols 1172–1174), what assessment they have made of the (1) health impacts, (2) developmental damage, and (3) risk of sexual assault, that may arise for children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a result of cobalt mining.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL797
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2023 answer text <p>The use of child labour in artisanal cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains a serious problem. We regularly raise the issue of child labour in DRC's mining sector with both the DRC government and through multilateral fora such as the Human Rights Council. We also raise concerns about gender-based violence in DRC. The UK was the first country in the world to require businesses to report on the steps they have taken to tackle modern slavery. Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires businesses with a turnover of £36 million or more to report annually on steps they take to prevent modern slavery in operations and supply chains. We are also committed to addressing the developmental impacts of illicit mining on children, and have provided funding to the Effective Approaches to Ending the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Fragile Contexts consortium, to develop innovative approaches to ending child labour in DRC.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon grouped question UIN HL798 question first answered 18/12/2023 13:03:36 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1675034

registered interest
date	04/12/2023
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Democratic Republic of Congo: Children
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Lord Benyon on 30 November (HL Deb cols 1172–1174), what steps they are taking to identify whether the cobalt-containing products imported into the UK are associated with child labour in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; what assessment they have made of the credibility of assurances given by consumer-facing technology and electronic vehicle companies that their cobalt supply chains are not associated with child labour, forced labour, hazardous conditions, or environmental destruction arising from mining operations; and what steps they are taking to ensure (1) that the products arriving in the UK contain correct information about the supply chain, (2) that any falsified information is fully addressed, and (3) that, where it is not possible to give assurance from legal and ethical sources, this should be clearly disclosed on the products.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL798
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2023 answer text <p>The use of child labour in artisanal cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains a serious problem. We regularly raise the issue of child labour in DRC's mining sector with both the DRC government and through multilateral fora such as the Human Rights Council. We also raise concerns about gender-based violence in DRC. The UK was the first country in the world to require businesses to report on the steps they have taken to tackle modern slavery. Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires businesses with a turnover of £36 million or more to report annually on steps they take to prevent modern slavery in operations and supply chains. We are also committed to addressing the developmental impacts of illicit mining on children, and have provided funding to the Effective Approaches to Ending the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Fragile Contexts consortium, to develop innovative approaches to ending child labour in DRC.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon grouped question UIN HL797 question first answered 18/12/2023 13:03:37 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1674504

registered interest
date	30/11/2023
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Pakistan: Textbooks
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made representations to the government of Pakistan regarding reports that Pakistani school textbooks encourage religious discrimination.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL749
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2023 answer text <p>We continue to engage on the critical need for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in Pakistani schools. At Pakistan's Universal Periodic Review in January, the UK recommended action to ensure that school textbooks are inclusive of all religions, and urged Pakistan to ensure that religious minorities can access suitable alternatives to compulsory Qu'ranic studies. In July 2023, the British High Commission participated in a civil society-led panel discussion on Minorities and Education. We have previously supported initiatives to review the National Curriculum of Pakistan, providing technical assistance to create a more inclusive curriculum and textbooks.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 14/12/2023 16:35:40 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1674236

registered interest
date	29/11/2023
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Pakistan: Development Aid
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what specific mechanisms are in place within UK Aid Direct to ensure that UK aid is distributed in an equitable manner to organisations that offer aid to minority religious communities in Pakistan.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL691
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2023 answer text <p>We prioritise our aid to achieve maximum impact for the people of Pakistan in line with our strategic priorities, including promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). The UK Aid Direct programme is now closed. When operational, it funded the Coalition for Religious Equity and Inclusive Development (CREID) project in Pakistan from 2018 to 2022, which worked to reduce religious inequalities. In addition, it funded projects supporting faith and community leaders to form networks championing FoRB in Pakistan. The UK Government continues to fund projects with local Pakistani organisations to empower minority religious communities and to tackle online hate-speech.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 13/12/2023 15:38:42 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1674237

registered interest
date	29/11/2023
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Nigeria: Development Aid
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps UK AID Direct has taken to ensure that a proportion of UK Aid funds to Nigeria are dedicated to (1) reducing conflict based on religion or belief, and (2) promoting freedom of religion and belief in the region.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL692
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2023 answer text <p>Insecurity has impeded on the rights of people of all faiths in Nigeria. UK Aid Direct closed in October 2023 but the UK continues to support Nigeria to deliver on its constitutional commitment to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) through our development programming and security cooperation. Since 2020, we have provided over £80,000 in funding to promote FoRB in Nigeria, including peacebuilding projects to build dialogue between religious groups, in Plateau, Kaduna, Benue and Niger States. In April 2023 we launched the £40 million Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria programme (SPRING) to help Nigeria tackle the causes of conflict.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 11/12/2023 11:54:51 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1672481

registered interest
date	22/11/2023
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Cholera
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cholera outbreak reported by the United Nations as affecting 27 localities across seven states with 78 associated deaths, with more than 3 million people estimated to be at risk by the end of the year.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL498
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/12/2023 answer text <p>Due to the ongoing conflict, Sudan continues to grapple with mass displacement, disease outbreaks and malnutrition. The health system has been overwhelmed by attacks on health facilities and the scarcity of medical supplies, equipment, health workers and operational funds. The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting Sudan with cholera treatments (including antibiotics, oral rehydration solution, intravenous fluids and rapid diagnostic tests), in addition to providing direct support to cholera isolation centres. The UK is funding Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and health activities in Sudan via the Sudan Humanitarian Fund, UNICEF, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). With support from WHO and health partners, the Ministry of Health is coordinating efforts (in areas of the country that are still accessible) to scale up access to clean water and sanitation facilities, as well as ensuring affected and at-risk communities are aware of transmission risks and proper hygiene practices to reduce contamination risks and prevent further spread of the outbreak. We are supporting the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (WHO), and will deploy a Senior Epidemiologist to assist with coordination efforts to bolster the national response. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 06/12/2023 17:36:05 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1672482

registered interest
date	22/11/2023
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Sudan: Internally Displaced People
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that more than 6 million people, half of them children, have been forcibly displaced in Sudan; and that Sudan now represents the biggest displacement crisis globally.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL499
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/12/2023 answer text <p>The UK condemns the ongoing violence in Sudan, and the consequent humanitarian impacts on people displaced both inside the country and those forced to flee to neighbouring countries. We commend those countries who have kept their borders open. In May, the Minister for Development and Africa announced that the UK would provide £21.7 million in humanitarian aid for people in need in Sudan. This followed an earlier announcement of £5 million to help meet the urgent needs of refugees and returnees fleeing to South Sudan and Chad. We continue to call on both sides of the conflict to abide by their responsibilities under International Law, protect civilians and to grant immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access, so that aid can reach those who need it, including those who have been displaced.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 06/12/2023 17:45:08 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool