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348286

registered interest
date	03/06/2015
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	Travel: Insurance
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 is taking to promote the use of travel insurance by people travelling on holiday abroad.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	942
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2015 answer text Encouraging travellers to obtain comprehensive travel insurance is a key part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s ‘Know Before You Go’ communications campaign, which has been active since 2001. Messaging on insurance is prominent in many of our travel safety materials and we run specific campaigns on insurance. In May this year we worked with the Association of British Insurers to create a new ‘checklist’ to help travellers choose the right insurance policy for their needs, which we communicated through social media and our network of industry partners. I believe our ‘Know Before You Go’ partners have a crucial role to play, and have urged them to continuing working with us to encourage British nationals to travel with insurance – including at our last annual gathering of partners in December 2014. Our messages on insurance have also been reinforced by broadcasts on a wide range of national, regional and community TV and radio stations. answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 11/06/2015 13:17:20 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

227135

registered interest
date	12/03/2015
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	Russia
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 ensure that Russia remains a member of the Council of Europe.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	227446
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2015 answer text <p>The Government believes that in the current circumstances, Russia should remain a member of the Council of Europe. The UK actively engages with Russia in the Council of Europe, encouraging Russia to embed the high standards in the field of human rights, the rule of law and democracy to which it has signed up to through its membership. We are equally pressing for greater scrutiny and challenge of Russia’s behaviour through Council of Europe mechanisms. We will continue to work in the Council of Europe and other international organisations of which Russia is a member, such as the UN and the Organisation for Security and Cooporation in Europe, to uphold the rules and standards that Russia has signed up to, and to bring more pressure to bear when Russia fails to meet its commitments. This approach is more constructive than one of isolation, which would shield Russia from international pressure and vigilance, and it is supported by the majority of human rights campaigns in Russia with whom we have had contact.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 19/03/2015 16:02:44 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

227137

registered interest
date	12/03/2015
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	Abduction: Children
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 ensure that child abduction cases are dealt with in a manner which takes account of the sensitivity of such cases.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	227444
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2015 answer text <p>Consular staff who provide assistance to families have a range of training and support available to them to ensure that they manage such cases sensitively. This includes specific guidance for staff on child abduction with an accompanying training workshop and mandatory safe-guarding training. The FCO also has a global network of designated safe-guarding officers. Additional support for Consular staff is provided by a children’s policy advisor and by a qualified social work advisor specialising in children’s issues.</p><p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also works with and part funds the support organisation Reunite, which runs a mediation service and provides advice and support to parents.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 18/03/2015 14:09:28 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

223575

registered interest
date	25/02/2015
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	Colombia
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2014 to Question 211346, what response the Colombian government provided to the Minister for Latin American Affairs when human rights were raised during the Minister's visit in June 2014; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	225466
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2015 answer text <p>During my visit to Colombia in June 2014 I met two Deputy Ministers for Foreign Affairs and the Heads of the Colombian government’s major human rights agencies. I set out the UK’s concerns regarding attacks against human rights defenders and cases of impunity for those responsible. I also handed over a list of specific cases that our Embassy in Bogotá has been monitoring. <br><br>The Director of the National Protection Unit explained that Colombia has the largest protection system for human rights defenders anywhere in the world. The Attorney-General’s office confirmed that sentences for those attacking human rights defenders were rising (including sentences against servicemen). <br><br>Improving the respect for human rights in Colombia remains a top priority for the government of President Santos, and the UK welcomes the progress they have made, while noting that there is, of course, still more that can be done. I am delighted to be co-hosting a Members–only ‘Dialogue on Colombia’ on 10 March, which His Excellency Mr Néstor Osorio is kindly holding at the Colombian Embassy in London. This highlights the willingness of both our governments to engage with parliamentarians on human rights issues.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 02/03/2015 14:45:05 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

222943

registered interest
date	23/02/2015
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	Yemen
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what effect the recent changes in the Yemeni government have had upon the case of Mr bin Haydara and the Bahá'í community in Yemen.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	224993
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2015 answer text <p>I am aware of this case and I have spoken with a representative from the Baha’i community in London about it. I also wrote to the Yemeni Foreign Minister on 29 December expressing our concern over Mr Hamed Kamal bin Haydara and that Yemen should comply with International legal obligations and asked that Mr Hamed Kamal bin Haydara and all other citizens are treated in line with the human rights principles set out in Yemen’s National Dialogue Conference. I also copied the letter to the Yemeni Prime Minister, Interior Minister, Human Rights Minister and the Head of the National Security Bureau. HM Ambassador also raised this case in Sana’a on 16 December. Due to the uncertain political situation in Yemen at the moment, it may be hard to make significant progress on this case. On 11 February, we suspended Embassy operations in Sana’a temporarily and have withdrawn diplomatic staff due to a deterioration in the security situation. We will continue to work internationally, where possible, to deliver our objectives in Yemen.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood grouped question UIN 224992 question first answered 26/02/2015 15:22:54 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

222944

registered interest
date	23/02/2015
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	Yemen
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of the prosecution of Hamed Kamal bin Haydara in Yemen.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	224992
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2015 answer text <p>I am aware of this case and I have spoken with a representative from the Baha’i community in London about it. I also wrote to the Yemeni Foreign Minister on 29 December expressing our concern over Mr Hamed Kamal bin Haydara and that Yemen should comply with International legal obligations and asked that Mr Hamed Kamal bin Haydara and all other citizens are treated in line with the human rights principles set out in Yemen’s National Dialogue Conference. I also copied the letter to the Yemeni Prime Minister, Interior Minister, Human Rights Minister and the Head of the National Security Bureau. HM Ambassador also raised this case in Sana’a on 16 December. Due to the uncertain political situation in Yemen at the moment, it may be hard to make significant progress on this case. On 11 February, we suspended Embassy operations in Sana’a temporarily and have withdrawn diplomatic staff due to a deterioration in the security situation. We will continue to work internationally, where possible, to deliver our objectives in Yemen.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood grouped question UIN 224993 question first answered 26/02/2015 15:22:53 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

170692

registered interest
date	16/12/2014
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	Kenya
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 Kenyan government about the massacre of bus passengers on 22 November 2014.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	218886
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/12/2014 answer text <p>We have an ongoing dialogue with the Kenyan Government on security and counter-terrorism. The Foreign Secretary most recently discussed security with the Kenyan Foreign Minister in Copenhagen on 19 November. We will continue to support Kenya’s efforts to bring to justice those responsible for the appalling recent attacks in accordance with international law.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 22/12/2014 14:03:14 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

156264

registered interest
date	18/11/2014
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	Thailand
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 the government of Thailand on sex tourism; and what steps he is taking to stop (a) paedophiles and (b) others from the UK using Thailand as a destination for sex tourism.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	214820
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/11/2014 answer text <p>The UK liaises with Thailand to counter a range of activity, including sex tourism and child exploitation. A delegation from Thailand will attend the Global Summit to Tackle Online Child Sexual Exploitation in December. It is aimed at addressing the growing threat to children and will focus on how government, industry and civil society can join together to tackle this crime.</p><p>The National Crime Agency (NCA) uses a number of tactics to disrupt the activities of British child sex offenders and other offenders in Thailand. These include the extradition of offenders for trial in the UK, using Mutual Legal Assistance channels in criminal matters to share evidence to support prosecution, and sharing information to enable the exclusion or deportation of convicted offenders through the Thai Immigration Act.</p><p>The NCA engages in investigations with the Thai authorities where appropriate and in accordance with British Government Human Rights guidelines. It is a member of the Foreign Law Enforcement Community in Thailand's Child Sex Offender Working Group. For several years the NCA Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre Command, with funding from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, has delivered training in child protection throughout the region, including Thailand. The International Child Protection Network also has an Advisory Panel in Thailand. This is made up of officials from relevant Thai bodies, non-governmental organisations and relevant UK law enforcement bodies. In addition, a key strand of our engagement in Thailand is focused on British criminals who use Thailand as an operating platform for their international criminal enterprises. High-level political bilateral exchanges have been affected by the coup, but I discussed joint working on these issues during the first UK/Thailand Strategic Dialogue which took place in Bangkok in May 2013. Officials in Bangkok and the UK continue to discuss these issues regularly with Thai counterparts.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 25/11/2014 16:16:23 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

156268

registered interest
date	18/11/2014
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	Zimbabwe
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 the government of Zimbabwe on the (a) democratic process and (b) seizure of land.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	214823
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2014 answer text As set out in the FCO's last quarterly update to the Human Rights and Democracy Report, we continue to have concerns about the situation in Zimbabwe. Through our Embassy in Harare, we regularly raise issues of human rights, democracy and respect for the rule of law, including land and property rights, with the Government. We will continue to support the aspirations of the Zimbabwean people for a more democratic, stable and prosperous Zimbabwe. answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 21/11/2014 12:45:57 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

93195

registered interest
date	14/10/2014
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
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 hold discussions to ensure that British companies working in Colombia are not involved in land-grab from peasant land-owners.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	210495
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2014 answer text <p>The former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) visited Colombia in February this year and discussed business and human rights in his meetings with President Santos, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance and Trade and with civil society. We have a strong partnership with the government of Colombia on implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, in the context of the November 2011 Joint Declaration on Human Rights. I had a substantive discussion with the Deputy Foreign Minister regarding these matters during my visit to Bogota in June.</p><p> </p><p>The Ambassador and Embassy team regularly meet representatives of Civil Society to hear their concerns about human rights in Colombia, including business behaviour. If British firms are involved we raise issues with them as appropriate. The team in Bogota also meets with British companies and encourages adherence to best practice and global standards in their operations.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 21/10/2014 15:50:18 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon