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224711

registered interest
date	03/03/2015
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	Israel
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 representations he has received on restricting the supply of arms to the Israeli government from UK weapons manufacturers; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	225977
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/03/2015 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office receives regular representations on the Government’s policy on UK arms exports to Israel. These representations include Parliamentary questions, Ministerial and public correspondence and engagement with NGOs. This Government supports a responsible defence and security industry that helps meet the legitimate defence needs of other states, and contributes to their security and law and order. We take our arms export responsibilities very seriously and operate one of the most rigorous and transparent arms export control regimes in the world. All defence and dual-use exports are required to meet the UK’s strict export control legislation and adhere to the UK international commitments including international treaties and obligations. Each application for an export licence is subject to rigorous case-by-case assessment against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. The licences issued for items for Israel are no different. The United Kingdom does not believe that imposing an arms embargo on Israel would promote progress in the Middle East Peace Process. We continue to monitor closely the situation in Israel and Gaza and take into account the latest circumstances when assessing licence applications.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 10/03/2015 14:31:24 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

222534

registered interest
date	20/02/2015
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
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 state of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	224686
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2015 answer text <p>We strongly supported US Secretary of State John Kerry’s tireless efforts to deliver a final status deal in 2014. We were disappointed that the parties proved unable to make more progress. Our priority remains the achievement of a two-state solution. We continue to believe that the best way to achieve this is through negotiations and hope that it will be possible to resume the process after the Israeli elections.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 26/02/2015 15:30:50 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

222535

registered interest
date	20/02/2015
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
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 conversations he has had with his international counterparts on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	224687
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2015 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymead and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with US Secretary of State John Kerry on 21 February. I spoke to Arab League Secretary General Nabil El Araby on 18 February about the need for swift disbursement of pledges made by donors at the Gaza Reconstruction Conference in Cairo.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 26/02/2015 15:32:27 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

222537

registered interest
date	20/02/2015
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	Occupied Territories
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 with representatives of the Israeli government on the construction of settlements on occupied Palestinian land.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	224611
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2015 answer text <p>The UK’s position on Israeli settlements is clear: they are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace and take us further away from a two state solution. I made a statement on 30 January, urging the Government of Israel to reverse its decision to publish new tenders for 450 settlement units in the West Bank. Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv continue to lobby repeatedly against settlement activity with a range of Israeli contacts.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 26/02/2015 15:28:08 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

175718

registered interest
date	26/01/2015
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	Nuclear Disarmament
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 with his overseas counterparts on the multilateral disarmament of nuclear weapons.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	222027
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2015 answer text <p>Multilateral nuclear disarmament discussions are held throughout the year in Geneva at the UN Conference on Disarmament. There are annual meetings in New York of the UN General Assembly First Committee and the UN Disarmament Commission and a five-yearly cycle of Non-Proliferation Treaty Preparatory Committees and Review Conferences, where the UK is normally represented at Ambassador or Official level. The UK also meets annually with the P5 nuclear weapon states at senior official level to discuss disarmament and non-proliferation issues, with the next meeting to be held in London on 4-5 February.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 02/02/2015 16:56:28 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

175719

registered interest
date	26/01/2015
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	Nuclear Disarmament
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 steps the Government has taken towards its aim of achieving nuclear disarmament.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	222035
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2015 answer text <p>I refer the Hon Member to the written ministerial statement (HCWS210) made on 20 January by the Secretary of State for Defence.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 02/02/2015 14:50:08 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

173761

registered interest
date	14/01/2015
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	Religious Freedom
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 steps he has taken to reduce religious persecution across the world.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	220807
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2015 answer text <p>Freedom of religion or belief is one of our international human rights priorities. We work actively both bilaterally and multilaterally to ensure governments protect the right of all individuals to practise their religion or belief free from persecution or discrimination. Government foreign policy on freedom of religion or belief is informed by expertise from UK civil society and Parliament, including through an Advisory Group to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Human Rights. We are active in the United Nations, European Union and other relevant international organisations in calling on states to promote and protect the right to freedom of religion or belief and ensure the free and equal participation of all in society. As an example of our bilateral work, the UK is currently providing Nigeria with a package of support to assist in its fight against the extremist and intolerant views of Boko Haram, whose indiscriminate attacks have caused suffering in communities of different faiths and ethnicities.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 21/01/2015 16:54:26 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

173762

registered interest
date	14/01/2015
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	Saudi Arabia
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 international counterparts on the flogging of Raif Badawi in Saudi Arabia.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	220843
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2015 answer text Whilst the latest flogging has been postponed, we remain seriously concerned by Raif Badawi’s case. The UK condemns the use of cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment in all circumstances. We have raised Mr Badawi’s case at a senior level with the Saudi authorities. The UK is a strong supporter of freedom of expression around the world. We believe that people must be allowed to freely discuss and debate issues, challenge their governments, exercise the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and speak out against violations of human rights wherever they occur. answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 21/01/2015 14:37:55 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

173763

registered interest
date	14/01/2015
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	Corporal 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 his international counterparts on the use of corporal punishment for penal purposes.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	220844
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2015 answer text <p>The UK Government condemns all forms of judicial corporal punishment. We believe it amounts to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and is incompatible with international human rights law and the obligations of States Parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Convention against Torture. Where we have concerns, we raise these with the appropriate authorities. As part of the UK’s global strategy on torture prevention, Ministers and senior officials frequently raise concerns about torture in multilateral fora, including on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Convention Against Torture on 10th December 2014.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 21/01/2015 13:54:46 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

173765

registered interest
date	14/01/2015
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
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 to promote freedom of speech in the Middle East.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	220842
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2015 answer text Freedom of expression has been a human rights priority for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, from the beginning of this Parliament; and the subject of an Expert Group which advises Ministers. We raise press freedom regularly in multilateral fora, supporting relevant initiatives and resolutions, and in bilateral conversations – in both private and public. We regularly raise the importance of freedom of speech with counterparts in government across the Middle East and North Africa. Through our Arab Partnership Initiative, we are working to support the development of legitimate and inclusive institutions to improve governance, enable inclusive reform and protect fundamental freedoms such as freedom of speech. Our Arab Partnership Participation Fund has supported the training of journalists in countries across the region, including Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt to deliver un-biased reporting and work to protect freedom of speech. In Iraq, we have worked to build a legal and regulatory environment in order to allow Iraqi media to operate safely, freely and effectively. answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 21/01/2015 15:32:01 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman