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425611

registered interest
date	03/11/2015
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	Companies: Ownership
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will ensure that any agreement on a central registry of beneficial ownership in the British Virgin Islands will include access for the public with legitimate reason, in line with the Fourth EU Anti Money Laundering Directive.
tabling member constituency	Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
tabling member printed	Dr Paul Monaghan
uin	14573
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2015 answer text <p>I refer the Honourable Gentleman to the answer the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend, the Member for South West Hertfordshire (David Gauke MP), gave on 16 October 2015 (PQ10437, PQ10438 and PQ10448), which sets out the criteria we expect the Overseas Territories to meet in relation to their central register of company beneficial ownership, or similarly effective system.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 11/11/2015 14:33:06 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4383 label Biography information for Dr Paul Monaghan

425692

registered interest
date	03/11/2015
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: Politics and Government
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 his Department has made of the security situation in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	14578
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2015 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office regularly reviews the security situation in Sri Lanka. Current advice on this is posted on the Government’s foreign travel advice website on the “Safety and Security” page.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 06/11/2015 14:58:13 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

425693

registered interest
date	03/11/2015
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	Islamic State: Yazidis
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 he has made of whether attacks by ISIL against Iraqi Yazidis constitute to genocide.
tabling member constituency	Hyndburn
tabling member printed	Graham Jones
uin	14608
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2015 answer text <p>The Government believes that recognition of genocides should be a matter for international courts. It should be a legal, rather than political determination, decided by international judges after consideration of all the evidence available in the context of a credible international judicial process. I deplore the targeting and persecution of Yezidis and other minorities by the so called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. We continue to urge the Government of Iraq to do all it can to ensure the security and rights of all minority communities in Iraq, including the Yezidi. We are working in Iraq to build consensus around the importance of freedom of religion or belief; and supporting practical projects on community dialogue with civil society and faith groups. The UK is supporting the international humanitarian relief effort in Iraq by providing £79.5m to help the 3.2 million internally displaced Iraqis, including many who have fled their homes on account of ISIL’s persecution on the grounds of religion. The money is providing clean water, sanitation, essential medicines, and funding for NGOs and charities, some of which is specifically designed to protect women and children.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 06/11/2015 14:10:38 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	3999 label Biography information for Graham P Jones

425694

registered interest
date	03/11/2015
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	NATO Enlargement
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress there has been on delivering support to NATO aspirant countries since the NATO summit in Wales in 2014.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	14543
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2015 answer text <p>There is no formal list of NATO aspirant countries. However, this term is presently understood within the Alliance to refer to Georgia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia. The United Kingdom strongly supports NATO’s open door policy for any European country in a position to undertake the commitments and obligations of membership, and contribute to security in the Euro-Atlantic area. We therefore support the membership aspirations of all countries currently seeking to join the Alliance.</p><p>At the NATO Summit in Wales, the Alliance agreed a ‘Substantial Package’ of support for Georgia to strengthen defence capabilities and interoperability with the Alliance, and provide a new “enhanced partnership” status. Separately, Allies agreed to establish Defence Capacity Building (DCB) Missions in Georgia. The initial infrastructure for the first DCB project, the Joint Training &amp; Evaluation Centre, was inaugurated by the NATO Secretary General at the end of August. The UK has provided a Strategic Communications Subject Matter Expert to the NATO Core Team in Georgia, while other Allies have offered similar secondments. The UK has also contributed £1,750,000 to a new Trust Fund to help facilitate these.</p><p>Following the Wales Summit, NATO intensified talks with Montenegro to help them further prepare for future membership. The UK has supported Montenegro’s aim to increase public support for NATO membership and has initiated a number of Defence Engagement activities focussed upon changing public perceptions and putting Montenegro’s international credentials and capabilities into the public eye. The UK has supported a NATO Trust Fund set up to decommission surplus arms and ammunition in the country, and has provided financial and managerial support for the provision of English Language training in Montenegro, underpinning the ability to deploy officers on international operations including NATO. Foreign Ministers are due to take a decision in December on whether to invite Montenegro to open accession talks.</p><p>Since January 2015, the UK has been the NATO Contact Point Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Embassy organised its first outreach event in Bijelijina in June, with the new NATO Commander and a representative of the Bosnian Armed Forces on the panel. Complementing its role as Contact Point, the British Embassy continues to run its officer Selection and Training project, which provides a framework and support for the Bosnian Armed Forces to recruit and train a new cadre of officers.</p><p>NATO Allies, including the UK, continue to support the conditional invitation granted to Macedonia in 2008, subject to stipulated conditions. Macedonia completed its latest Annual National Plan process in September. The UK has continued to underline to Macedonia the importance of reforms in areas such as democratic dialogue, media freedom and judicial independence in order to meet the standards expected of a future NATO Ally.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 11/11/2015 13:31:48 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn

425695

registered interest
date	03/11/2015
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	Yemen: 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 his oral Answer of 22 October 2015, Official Report, column 444WH, what steps he has taken to assess whether British-manufactured arms have been used in a responsible manner in Yemen.
tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
uin	14515
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2015 answer text <p>The Government takes its arms export responsibilities very seriously and operates one of the most robust arms export control regimes in the world. All export licence applications are carefully assessed on a case by case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. A licence will not be issued, for any country, if to do so would be inconsistent with any provision of the Criteria, including where we assess there is a clear risk that it might be used in the commission of a serious violation of international humanitarian law. We are aware of reports of alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law in Yemen by all sides to the conflict and keep these under regular review. We have raised our concerns with the Saudi Government and have received repeated assurances of IHL compliance. We continue to engage with them on those assurances and urge all sides to investigate such incidents fully.</p> answering member constituency Runnymede and Weybridge answering member printed Mr Philip Hammond question first answered 10/11/2015 15:24:19 answering member 105 label Biography information for Lord Hammond of Runnymede previous answer version 28337 answering member constituency Runnymede and Weybridge answering member printed Mr Philip Hammond answering member 105 label Biography information for Lord Hammond of Runnymede
tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

425696

registered interest
date	03/11/2015
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	Yemen: 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 his oral Answer of 22 October 2015, Official Report, column 445WH, what steps he has since taken to try and persuade the parties to the conflict to adopt an immediate ceasefire in Yemen.
tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
uin	14516
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2015 answer text <p>The UK is actively supporting the UN’s efforts to achieve a lasting ceasefire and return to the political transition in Yemen, and I welcome the recent announcement by the UN Special Envoy of the Secretary General for Yemen on upcoming talks. All Yemeni parties should engage without preconditions and in good faith in these talks to allow Yemen to move towards a sustainable peace. I therefore welcome President Hadi’s announcement confirming the readiness of the Government of Yemen to participate in the consultations. I discussed the need to accelerate the political process in Yemen, as well as humanitarian issues, with President Hadi in September; with King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir of Saudi Arabia during a visit to Riyadh in October; and with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed also in October.</p> answering member constituency Runnymede and Weybridge answering member printed Mr Philip Hammond question first answered 10/11/2015 15:27:49 answering member 105 label Biography information for Lord Hammond of Runnymede previous answer version 28338 answering member constituency Runnymede and Weybridge answering member printed Mr Philip Hammond answering member 105 label Biography information for Lord Hammond of Runnymede
tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

425697

registered interest
date	03/11/2015
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	North Korea: Diplomatic Relations
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 Democratic People's Republic of Korea officials the British Embassy in Pyonyang has met in the last year; and how many such officials were women.
tabling member constituency	Congleton
tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
uin	14505
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2015 answer text <p>The British Embassy in Pyongyang met a range of officials from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) over the past year in support of UK policy objectives. This contact enables our Embassy to deliver our policy of “critical engagement” with the DPRK, and helps inform our diplomatic reporting and analysis. However, given the breadth of contact, it is not practical for the Embassy to maintain a list of all individual meetings.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 10/11/2015 15:44:10 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

425698

registered interest
date	03/11/2015
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	North Korea: 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, if he will request information from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on the measures it has taken to meet the recommendations of the UN Universal Periodic Review.
tabling member constituency	Congleton
tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
uin	14506
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2015 answer text <p>We consistently raise concerns over the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) appalling human rights record. In late October, a senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) official met the DPRK Ambassador to the United Kindom and pressed for the DPRK to make tangible progress in addressing these concerns. We believe that implementation of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) recommendations presents an opportunity for progress to be made on human rights in DPRK. Earlier in October, a senior FCO official met the International Organisations Department of the Workers’ Party of Korea, responsible for DPRK engagement on human rights at the UN, and requested details of their implementation plans for the UPR’s recommendations. We were informed the accepted recommendations were being discussed by the relevant domestic DPRK institutions. We will continue to raise the need for implementation plans to be shared.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 10/11/2015 15:46:15 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

425700

registered interest
date	03/11/2015
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	Pakistan: Politics and Government
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 he has made of the progress of Pakistan in securing justice for people killed in the 2007 Mumbai attacks.
tabling member constituency	North Dorset
tabling member printed	Simon Hoare
uin	14509
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2015 answer text <p>The 2008 Mumbai attacks were a deplorable act of terrorism in which a British national was amongst the 166 innocent people killed. Many hundreds of others were seriously wounded. Given the gravity of those horrific events, the UK Government is deeply concerned by the release on bail of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, one of the alleged planners, in April. Pakistan has committed to bring to justice the perpetrators and sponsors, and we continue to urge Pakistan at the highest levels to follow through on that commitment.</p><p>The UK Government recognises that Pakistan is on the frontline of terrorism, and continues to make considerable sacrifices on a daily basis. We remain fully committed to working in partnership with Pakistan to tackle the scourge of violent extremism which threatens both our interests. It is essential for stability in the South Asia region and for the safety of UK nationals that Pakistan delivers on its commitment to tackle all terrorist groups.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 05/11/2015 11:33:51 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4494 label Biography information for Simon Hoare

425701

registered interest
date	03/11/2015
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	NATO Enlargement
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 on extending the list of NATO aspirant countries.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	14546
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2015 answer text <p>There is no formal list of NATO aspirant countries. However, this term is presently understood within the Alliance to refer to Georgia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia. The United Kingdom strongly supports NATO’s open door policy for any European country in a position to undertake the commitments and obligations of membership, and contribute to security in the Euro-Atlantic area. We therefore support the membership aspirations of all countries currently seeking to join the Alliance.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 11/11/2015 15:00:48 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn