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421372

registered interest
date	14/10/2015
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	Burma: Elections
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 his Department has had with the government of Burma on the possible postponement of elections in that country.
tabling member constituency	Bethnal Green and Bow
tabling member printed	Rushanara Ali
uin	11981
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2015 answer text <p>None. Burma’s Union Election Commission consulted the main political parties on 13 October over the possibility of a postponement to the 8 November general election because of flooding, but decided against such a postponement shortly thereafter.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 19/10/2015 15:26:06 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4138 label Biography information for Rushanara Ali

421376

registered interest
date	14/10/2015
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	Colombia: Peace Negotiations
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 implications for peace talks in Colombia of the on-going violence perpetrated by paramilitaries in that country.
tabling member constituency	Foyle
tabling member printed	Mark Durkan
uin	11986
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2015 answer text <p>We strongly believe that the best way to achieve a sustainable peace in Colombia after decades of conflict is through the current Peace Process. We welcome the announcement by both sides on 23 September, on an agreement for justice and victims' reparations. The agreement ends any notion of impunity, including those alleged to be involved in Paramilitary groups.</p><p>Our Embassy in Bogotá receives regular reporting on the security and human rights situation in Colombia from a range of sources including non-governmental organisations operating in Colombia. This includes allegations of abuses by paramilitary groups such as attacks against leaders of land restitution claims and human rights defenders. The majority of such abuses continue to take place in areas affected by the ongoing conflict. We remain concerned about the ongoing activity of paramilitary forces operating in Colombia and we continue to raise this issue of Human rights regularly with the Colombian authorities.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 19/10/2015 15:28:45 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1594 label Biography information for Mark Durkan

421380

registered interest
date	14/10/2015
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	Libya: Freezing of Assets
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 make it his policy to ensure that interest earned on Libyan assets frozen in the UK is used to compensate the victims of IRA/Libyan-sponsored violence; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	North Down
tabling member printed	Lady Hermon
uin	11988
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2015 answer text <p>There is no legal basis upon which the UK could re-direct Libyan assets or the interest accrued to individuals for the purposes of compensation. Regarding assets which belonged to Qadhafi or other regime figures, the UN Security Council has stipulated that when these are unfrozen, they will be made available to, and for the benefit of the Libyan people. For the duration of time that these assets are frozen, they and any interest they accrue will be governed in accordance with the specific sanctions in place over the individuals or entities to which the assets belong. In this case, the asset freezing measures are set out under EU Regulation 204/2011 which prohibits the release of frozen funds and the interest accrued belonging to listed individuals or entities except in very specific circumstances, which do not apply here.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 19/10/2015 14:54:07 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1437 label Biography information for Lady Hermon

421055

registered interest
date	13/10/2015
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	Australia: Foreign Relations
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 his Australian counterpart on the effect of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull coming into office on Australian-UK relations.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	11717
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2015 answer text <p>The UK and Australia continue to enjoy a close and productive partnership. At the heart of this are regular dialogues between Ministers on important policy issues. Our shared values and interests mean that dialogues continue even as counterparts change. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) most recently spoke to Malcolm Turnbull on 8 October. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) is also in regular contact with his Australian counterpart.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 19/10/2015 15:33:50 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

421072

registered interest
date	13/10/2015
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: Sexual Offences
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 the Government has made of the level of sexual violence (a) within Syria and (b) in camps for Syrian refugees.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	11597
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2015 answer text We are extremely concerned by the high levels of sexual violence in Syria and within Syrian refugee camps. The UN Commission of Inquiry report of September 2015 highlighted widespread sexual abuse carried out by the Syrian regime, ISIL and some armed opposition groups within Syria. Assad’s forces and militia are responsible for the vast majority of sexual violence, which include threats, rape, degrading body searches and sexual harassment in prisons and branches of the security agencies. ISIL propaganda condones the barbaric treatment of male and female captives, sexual relations with adolescent girls and sexual slavery. Unfortunately, many of those who flee the conflict remain extremely vulnerable to sexual violence. Exploitation of vulnerable individuals within refugee camps was highlighted by the UN Equity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women report “We keep Silent” issued in April 2014. The UK is providing £1 billion in humanitarian aid, which includes support to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to provide services for survivors of sexual violence and has so far reached over 27,000 women in Syria. We are also supporting case management in Jordan for over 800 survivors and cash assistance to vulnerable refugee women in Lebanon. The FCO has committed £5.2 million to projects preventing sexual violence in Syria. We are supporting projects to train health professionals and human rights defenders in collecting and preserving evidence of human rights abuses including sexual violence. answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 19/10/2015 14:08:51 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood previous answer version 23902 answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

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

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