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387041

registered interest
date	01/07/2015
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: Military Aid
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on support to the YPG and YPJ in repelling ISIS in Syria; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	5071
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2015 answer text <p>We recognise the difficult circumstances the Syrian Kurds face in the midst of the continuing civil war and their fight against ISIL. We welcome the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG/YPJ) and allied Free Syrian Army militia driving out ISIL from Tel-Abyad with the assistance of Coalition airstrikes.</p><p>The UK is not providing any direct assistance to the YPG or its political wing the Democratic Union Party (PYD), although we are supporting Coalition airstrikes which have helped groups, including the YPG win significant victories on the ground. We remain concerned that they continue to maintain links with the Assad regime and the PKK, the latter of which is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK. In the past year, UK officials have discussed our concerns with the PYD.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 06/07/2015 14:42:59 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

387042

registered interest
date	01/07/2015
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: Military Aircraft
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 he has taken in response to recent incidents of Russian jets operating near UK airspace.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	5072
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2015 answer text <p>This year Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft have deployed on four occasions to escort Russian aircraft in the vicinity of the UK – a similar level to previous years. At no point did these aircraft represent a threat or enter UK sovereign air space. In January, we summoned the Russian Ambassador to account for a Russian military flight that caused disruption to civilian air traffic over the English Channel.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 06/07/2015 15:16:26 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

387043

registered interest
date	01/07/2015
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	Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Visits Abroad
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, to which countries (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department plan to pay official visits in the next 12 months.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	5073
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2015 answer text <p>Travel in pursuit of UK interests, outside regular international meetings (e.g. UN General Assembly; EU Foreign and General Affairs Councils; G7) can often arise at short notice in response to international events. Long-term Ministerial travel plans are not announced in advance for security reasons.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 06/07/2015 16:43:20 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

387092

registered interest
date	01/07/2015
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	Eritrea: National Service
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 he is taking in response to findings of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea on national service conscripts being used within foreign-operated companies.
tabling member constituency	Wakefield
tabling member printed	Mary Creagh
uin	5208
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2015 answer text <p>National service is compulsory in Eritrea and many conscripts serve indefinitely. The national service system was one of the reasons the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) listed Eritrea as a “Country of Concern” in its annual Human Rights Report (2014). The report set out that civilian national service has often included work for government and state-owned companies on low salaries, exposing the Government of Eritrea to the allegation of using forced labour. We have been clear to the Government of Eritrea that it must amend or abolish its national service system. Eritrean government representatives have assured UK officials that the term of service will be strictly limited to 18 months for all new recruits starting from March 2015. We will continue to monitor the situation closely. FCO officials recently met with representatives of the Canadian mining company, Nevsun Mining, who operate the largest mine in Eritrea. Nevsun Mining set out the strict procedures that they had in place to prevent national service conscripts working at the mine.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 06/07/2015 14:51:39 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	1579 label Biography information for Mary Creagh

386634

registered interest
date	30/06/2015
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	Ukraine
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 security situation in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	4812
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2015 answer text <p>The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine reports that the situation on the ground in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of eastern Ukraine remains tense. A ceasefire agreed in Minsk on 12 February has led to a general reduction in fighting, and some withdrawal of heavy weapons. But some fighting has continued in Shyrokyne and Donetsk Airport, and heavy weapons continue to be used. The OSCE needs to be given full and unhindered access to all areas of the crisis zone so they can verify and monitor the heavy weapons withdrawal.</p><p>The heavy fighting around Maryinka, near Donetsk, on 3 June constituted the most serious violation of the ceasefire under the Minsk agreements since February. The OSCE’s report of 3 June presented a clear picture of large amounts of heavy weapons from Donetsk moving westwards towards Maryinka, indicating this was a provocation by the separatists.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 06/07/2015 15:05:07 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

386637

registered interest
date	30/06/2015
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: Sanctions
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 effectiveness of EU sanctions against the Russian Federation.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	4813
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2015 answer text <p>EU sanctions are delivering a significant cost to Russia for its actions in Ukraine. The fall in the global oil price has driven an economic slump in Russia, including a shrinking economy and sharply declining currency. The wide-ranging restrictions of EU and US economic sanctions are exacerbating these negative trends. Sanctions are an important element of the range of diplomatic measures we are undertaking to effect a change in Russia’s behaviour, including to compel Russia to fulfil its obligations under the Minsk agreements. The EU stands ready to impose additional measures if necessary.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 06/07/2015 15:05:45 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

386638

registered interest
date	30/06/2015
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	Nigeria: Capital Punishment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the government of Nigeria on the recent sentencing to death of nine people for blasphemy in that country; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Tewkesbury
tabling member printed	Mr Laurence Robertson
uin	4803
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2015 answer text <p>We are aware of this case. It is the longstanding policy of the UK to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle: We continue to regularly raise these concerns with the Government of Nigeria and will continue to press them to abolish the death penalty.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 06/07/2015 14:52:12 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	253 label Biography information for Mr Laurence Robertson

386643

registered interest
date	30/06/2015
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	Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Press
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which periodicals and newspapers his Department subscribes to; how many of each such periodical his Department acquires; and what the cost of subscribing to such periodicals was in 2014.
tabling member constituency	Preston
tabling member printed	Mr Mark Hendrick
uin	5033
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2015 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) reviews subscriptions to newspapers and periodicals annually. I have placed a list of the periodicals and newspapers provided centrally in 2014 in the library of the House. The vast majority of those titles listed are provided in electronic format. The breadth of journals reflects the wide range of issues, events and crises the FCO’s staff around the world need to keep track of in order to protect Britain’s interests at home and overseas.</p><p>The total cost of periodical subscriptions provided centrally in 2013-14 was £66,469.</p><p>Electronic copies of newspapers and journals, procured as a single FCO-wide subscription, are available to all FCO staff via our Digital Library.</p><p>Access to periodicals and newspapers procured centrally extends to all of the UK’s 267 embassies and diplomatic posts overseas as well as the FCO’s offices in London. Other subscriptions taken out by embassies and diplomatic posts or by individual departments within the FCO are funded from delegated budgets. As a result, comprehensive information on individual publications not procured centrally is not recorded and collating this information would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 06/07/2015 15:58:51 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington attachment 1 file name PQ5033 Periodicals and newspaper list.pdf title List of periodicals
tabling member	473 label Biography information for Sir Mark Hendrick

386647

registered interest
date	30/06/2015
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	Diplomatic Service: LGBT+ People
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 and UK embassies are taking to promote LGBT rights (a) in British Overseas Territories, (b) the Commonwealth and (c) globally.
tabling member constituency	Westmorland and Lonsdale
tabling member printed	Tim Farron
uin	4911
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2015 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) works through our embassies and high commissions, and through international organisations, including the Commonwealth, the EU and the UN, to promote tolerance and non-discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGB&amp;T) people and to address discriminatory laws, in particular those that criminalise homosexuality. The UK Overseas Territories are self-governing administrations with their own laws and constitutions and such matters fall within the remit of local legislatures. The FCO works with Overseas Territory Governments to ensure they adhere to international human rights standards generally and encourages them to pursue policies and, where appropriate, enact legislation guaranteeing LGB&amp;T rights.</p><p>As a member of the Commonwealth, the UK encourages both the Commonwealth Secretariat and our fellow member states to do more to protect the rights of its LGB&amp;T citizens. Through our High Commissions, we continue to urge all Commonwealth States to review laws that criminalise homosexuality and that discriminate against people on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. At the same time, we raise cases of discrimination and violence against LGB&amp;T people in individual Commonwealth countries.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 06/07/2015 15:06:54 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	1591 label Biography information for Tim Farron

386648

registered interest
date	30/06/2015
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	Diplomatic Service: LGBT+ People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much his Department spent on promoting LGBT rights (a) in British Overseas Territories, (b) in the Commonwealth and (c) globally in the last year.
tabling member constituency	Westmorland and Lonsdale
tabling member printed	Tim Farron
uin	4912
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2015 answer text <p>Over the past year, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) promoted inclusive societies in all parts of the world including in the Commonwealth and British Overseas Terrirories, and condemned restrictions on and violence against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGB&amp;T) people. In September 2014, we strongly supported the adoption of the UN’s second ever resolution on sexual orientation at the Human Rights Council and at the United Nations General Assembly. We worked hard to retain language in the biennial resolution on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, which calls for the protection of the right to life of all people, including those targeted on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity. <br> <br>In the Caribbean, we supported a regional workshop for LGB&amp;T rights defenders. In Jamaica, we worked with the Jamaican police to improve the investigation of complaints and set up a public forum to tackle homophobic bullying in schools. Other examples may be found in our Annual Report on Human Rights, launched in April 2015. <br> <br>The FCO regularly raises these issues with Territory governments.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 06/07/2015 15:08:17 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	1591 label Biography information for Tim Farron