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420480

registered interest
date	12/10/2015
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	Human Rights
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether human rights remain a foreign policy priority.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL2455
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2015 answer text <p>Human rights remain an integral part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's work. They are mainstreamed across our work and they are intrinsically linked with many aspects of our national interest, including the stability and prosperity of our international partners.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 22/10/2015 15:20:31 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

420481

registered interest
date	12/10/2015
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	Human Rights
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the proportion of their budget and personnel that is allocated to promoting human rights, the rule of law and democracy in other countries.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL2456
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2015 answer text <p>As explained in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)’s 2014 Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report, it is not possible to disaggregate an exact figure for what we spend annually on human rights and democracy work. This is because it is mainstreamed across the network, and thus a component of a wide range of FCO activities. However, by combining relevant programme spend, grant-in-aid spending, and estimated personnel costs, we were able to calculate a conservative figure of approximately £42.6 million for the financial year 2014-15. This figure does not include the cross-departmental Conflict Pool Fund (now the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund).</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 22/10/2015 15:21:08 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

420482

registered interest
date	12/10/2015
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	China: Human Rights
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of China and the Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom on the human rights situation in China, with respect to the arrest and detention of lawyers and campaigners.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL2457
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2015 answer text <p>I refer the noble Lord to my response of 24 July 2015 (HL1378). We remain concerned by reports of the detention of human rights lawyers since 9 July. We supported an EU press statement on the matter on 15 July, and since then have continued to express our concern. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), personally raised the matter during his visit to China in August. Most recently, in a written statement to the Human Rights Council on 21 September, the UK urged the Chinese authorities to release these lawyers and to uphold the right to the peaceful expression of views.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 26/10/2015 15:37:02 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

420483

registered interest
date	12/10/2015
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	Sudan: Armed Conflict
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will invite the UN Security Council to refer the targeting and bombing by the Sudanese Air Force of civilian and humanitarian targets in South Kordofan, including Médécins sans Frontières’s hospital in Frandala, field hospitals and standing medical structures, to the International Criminal Court.
tabling member printed	Lord Avebury
uin	HL2458
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2015 answer text <p>We have repeatedly raised our concerns at the UN Security Council over the reported bombing of hospitals in South Kordofan. Any decision to refer to the International Criminal Court must be made on the basis of what will be the most effective means to bring those responsible to account. We will therefore continue to look at every available option to ensure accountability, and to work with our international partners on what can be done to both assist the victims and to bring those responsible to justice. We will also continue to urge the Government of Sudan to cooperate fully with the UN Independent Expert, whose mandate was renewed at the recent Human Rights Council in September and allows him to assess, verify and report on the human rights situation throughout Sudan.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 19/10/2015 15:32:41 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	1665 label Biography information for Lord Avebury

420506

registered interest
date	12/10/2015
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	Syria: Peace Negotiations
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the participation of Houthi leaders in UN-sponsored discussions, whether similar discussions will be held with the authorities that govern the cantons of north and north-east Syria; and if not, why not.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL2481
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2015 answer text It will be for all Syrians to decide the exact nature of the political settlement in Syria as part of a transition process, including whether an autonomous region will be created for the Kurds in Syria. The UK supports the efforts of the UN envoy, Staffan de Mistura, who is working with the parties in Syria to seek ways forward on a political process. He has announced the setting up of working groups to facilitate intra-Syrian discussions on key issues. The UN Security Council and wider international community must support Mr de Mistura's efforts as he works with the Syrian parties including the Democratic Union Party (PYD), to deliver a sustainable political solution. answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 19/10/2015 15:33:54 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

420507

registered interest
date	12/10/2015
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	Egypt: Detainees
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Egypt about detainees held in Egypt and reports of random arrests, pre-trial torture, forced confessions, and the use of military courts for civilian cases.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL2482
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2015 answer text <p>In January this year, I personally raised concerns over reports of mistreatment of detainees and the importance of due process with the Egyptian Deputy Assistant Minister for Human Rights, Dr Mahy Abdel Latif. Our ambassador and officials in Cairo, regularly raise these issues with the Egyptian authorities, most recently in September 2015.</p><p>During the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review in November 2014, we expressed our concern on a number of issues relating to detainees, including the number of detainees in pre-trial detention and reports of mistreatment or torture. The UK also raised the issue of torture and inhumane treatment in detention in Egypt at the UN Human Rights Council in June 2015.</p><p>The British Government condemns the use of torture in all its forms and strongly urges the Egyptian authorities to ensure that all human and legal rights of all detainees are upheld.</p><p><strong></strong></p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 19/10/2015 15:34:56 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

420508

registered interest
date	12/10/2015
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	Turkey: Human Rights
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of reports of killing of civilians, attacks on party offices, and injuries to children in Turkey, what representations they have made to the government of Turkey regarding compliance with its human rights obligations.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL2483
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2015 answer text <p>Ministers and officials regularly raise human rights issues in their contacts with Turkish Ministers and officials at all levels. We will continue closely to monitor events in the run up to and after November’s elections.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 21/10/2015 13:50:17 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

420510

registered interest
date	12/10/2015
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	European Council
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proposals they will bring to the European Council meeting in Valletta in November.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL2485
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2015 answer text <p>We are working with EU and African partners to ensure that the Valletta Summit produces a genuine partnership between the EU and African countries and an action plan of practical areas for joint working that will tackle the root causes of migration, support transit countries, and that deals with the criminal elements involved in people trafficking and smuggling.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 21/10/2015 14:01:09 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

420519

registered interest
date	12/10/2015
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	Middle East: Christianity
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the welfare and security of the Chaldean Catholic communities in the Middle East; and whether any Chaldean Christians have been afforded refugee status in the United Kingdom since 2010.
tabling member printed	Lord Patten
uin	HL2494
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2015 answer text <p>Conflict and instability in the Middle East and North Africa has made the plight of many minorities, including Chaldean Catholics, a significant concern. We have witnessed systematic and deliberate attacks against religious and ethnic minorities in the region, and some countries tragically risk seeing the disappearance of communities that have existed there peacefully for centuries. We deplore all discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities and constraints on their freedom to practise their faith. We regularly urge all governments in the region to ensure the protection of all religious minorities. We encourage them to develop inclusive political systems that represent all of their citizens. We also work proactively in the region to promote community cohesion and inclusive governance.</p><p>On the granting of refugee status to Chaldean Catholics, the British Government does not divulge which groups are granted asylum in order to protect their identities. The Refugee Convention requires asylum to be granted to those who are outside their countries of origin and have a well-founded fear of persecution on return for reasons which include religion or ethnic origin. The UK has a proud tradition of providing refuge to those who come here in need of protection and we are ready to assist those who come here to seek asylum. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), recently announced that the UK would resettle a further 20,000 Syrian refugees over the next five years under the Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 19/10/2015 15:36:46 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

420520

registered interest
date	12/10/2015
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	Egypt: Detainees
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of allegations that secret detention without charge or information being given to relatives and torture is in widespread use in the Egyptian security forces; and whether any United Kingdom citizens have been or are currently involved.
tabling member printed	Lord Patten
uin	HL2495
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2015 answer text We are concerned by recent reports containing allegations of secret detentions and the use of torture in Egypt. The British Government condemns the use of torture in all its forms and strongly urges the Egyptian authorities to ensure that the human rights of all detainees are upheld and due process is observed. We continue to raise these issues with the Egyptian government. In January this year, I personally raised concerns over reports of mistreatment of detainees and the importance of due process with the Egyptian Deputy Assistant Minister for Human Rights, Dr Mahy Abdel Latif. The UK raised the issue of torture and inhumane treatment in detention in Egypt at the UN Human Rights Council in June 2015. Our ambassador and officials in Cairo, regularly raise these issues with the Egyptian authorities, most recently in September 2015. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office takes all allegations or concerns of torture and mistreatment extremely seriously. Where UK nationals are involved, with the prisoner’s permission, we follow up all allegations of torture and mistreatment with the Egyptian authorities, depending on the circumstances of each case. answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 19/10/2015 15:38:12 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten