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1186665

registered interest
date	19/03/2020
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: Antisemitism
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 (a) Jordanian, (b) Egyptian, (c) Saudia Arabian counterparts and (d) the Palestinian Authority on the removal of reported antisemitic ideology from national curriculums.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Siobhan Baillie
uin	32290
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to combatting the rise of anti-Semitism in all its forms and we have a regular, frank and open dialogue with international partners on this issue. The International Development Secretary reiterated our concerns about allegations of incitement in Palestinian textbooks in a call to the Palestinian Education Minister just last month, during which they discussed the Palestinian Authority's review of the content of Palestinian textbooks. The Foreign Secretary discussed freedom of religion or belief with the Saudi authorities during his visit to Riyadh on 4 and 5 March. Saudi Arabia has committed to several education reform programmes including the revision of textbooks. Although we do not believe that Jordan's curriculum contains materials which promote hatred in any form, we have a major programme in support of education in Jordan. My predecessor met the Jordanian Minister of Education in January. We have a regular, positive engagement with the Egyptian authorities on freedom of religion or belief. Our Honourary Consul in Alexandria attended a service at the Synagogue of Alexandria in February to mark its reopening after refurbishment.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 27/03/2020 14:40:49 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	4847 label Biography information for Siobhan Baillie

1177462

registered interest
date	10/02/2020
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	Marine Environment: Conservation
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 the Government is taking to help to protect the oceans; what role the Government will have in the forthcoming UN global ocean treaty negotiations; and which (a) Ministers and (b) officials will be involved in those negotiations.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Siobhan Baillie
uin	14806
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2020 answer text <p>The UK is leading the way on ocean protection. The Blue Belt Programme is on track to protect over 4 million square kilometres of ocean around the Overseas Territories before the end of the year. The Government has committed to extend this programme. We are also working closely with Commonwealth partners through the Commonwealth Marine Economies Programme (CMEP) to support sustainable development of their marine economies; and the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Alliance (CCOA) to reduce marine plastic pollution, amongst other initiatives. The Government is committed to further action to protect the ocean including through the £500 million Blue Planet Fund.</p><p>My Department and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have been closely involved in the negotiation of a new Implementing Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction - the BBNJ Agreement - as an important step forward in addressing the challenges that the ocean faces. The UK is pressing for an ambitious Agreement to be concluded in 2020. It will be a key mechanism in enabling the designation of at least 30 per cent of the global ocean as Marine Protected Areas by 2030. A joint FCO-DEFRA team of officials will represent the UK in these talks based on positions agreed by ministers.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 26/02/2020 17:11:55 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4847 label Biography information for Siobhan Baillie

1166680

registered interest
date	28/10/2019
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	Iran: Christianity
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 made to the Iranian authorities on the treatment of Christians in that country.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	6182
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>Iran's human rights record continues to be of serious concern to the UK, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has designated it as one of its Human Rights Priority Countries. We regularly raise the treatment of religious and ethnic minorities in Iran with the Iranian Government, and we continue to take action with the international community to press Iran to improve its poor record on all human rights issues. At the UN General Assembly in September, we brought the international community together at a UK-hosted event to shine a spotlight on Iran's human rights abuses. We will also be using Iran's forthcoming Universal Periodic Review in November, to raise concerns about the ongoing discrimination and targeting of religious minority groups, including the Christian community.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 31/10/2019 16:44:04 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1166681

registered interest
date	28/10/2019
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	Iran: 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 monitoring his Department has undertaken of prison sentences imposed on Christian ministers and other religious figures by the Government of Iran on the basis of that people in those positions present a risk to national security.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	6183
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>We are aware of reports about the continued harassment and mistreatment that the Christian and other minority groups face. The continued restrictions on freedoms of expression, religion and belief are deeply worrying. While some religious minorities are formally protected in the constitution, the reality is that many non-Muslims face discrimination. Despite constitutional recognition, the persecution of Christians has been continuous, systemic, and institutionalised.</p><p>We support the assessment of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights that discrimination against the Christians in Iran is sanctioned by a lack of constitutional recognition and the absence of other legal protections for adherents of this faith. We regularly call upon Iran to cease harassment of all religious minorities and to fulfil its international and domestic obligations to protect freedom of religion or belief. Work has begun to implement the recommendations from the Bishop of Truro’s Review in a way that will bring real improvements in the lives of those persecuted because of their faith or belief.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 31/10/2019 16:54:38 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1147052

registered interest
date	30/09/2019
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, what recent representations he has made to his Sudanese counterpart on the removal of their troops from Yemen.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	292077
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/10/2019 answer text <p>​Sudan is a member of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. UK policy is that the use of any national force in another country must be authorised under international law. British Embassy Khartoum routinely engages with the recently appointed civilian government in Sudan on key priority areas and how we can support them, including on human rights and rule of law.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 03/10/2019 15:09:57 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1147193

registered interest
date	30/09/2019
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	Sino-British Joint Declaration
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 (a) the Chinese Government's compliance with the Sino-British Declaration and (b) the effect of that declaration under international law.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	292079
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/10/2019 answer text <p>​The Sino-British Joint Declaration is a legally binding treaty, registered with the UN, that remains in force. The UK, as a co-signatory, has an obligation to monitor its implementation closely, and we are committed to doing so. We respect China's sovereignty but we also believe it is important to speak out where we have concerns and to make sure that the Joint Declaration, recognised in international law, is upheld.</p><p>The government reports to Parliament at six monthly intervals on implementation of the Joint Declaration. The next Six Month Report will be published shortly. The government has not assessed to date that China has explicitly breached the Joint Declaration, with the exception of the involuntary removal of Mr Lee Po, a British citizen, to mainland China without any due process under Hong Kong Special Administrative Region law in 2015. That incident constituted a serious breach and undermined the principle of &quot;One Country, Two Systems&quot; which assures Hong Kong residents of the protection of the Hong Kong legal system.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 07/10/2019 12:04:58 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1147194

registered interest
date	30/09/2019
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	Hong Kong: Violence
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 made on (a) human rights, (b) police violence and (c) repression in Hong Kong to (i) his Chinese counterpart, (ii) the Chinese Ambassador to the UK and (iii) the Government in Hong Kong; and what response has been received to those representations.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	292080
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/10/2019 answer text <p>​We are in regular contact with the Governments of Hong Kong and China on this issue. The Foreign Secretary spoke to Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam on 9 August, where he raised our concern about the situation in Hong Kong and the police's response to the protests. He also raised Hong Kong with Chinese State Counsellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi in Bangkok on 31 July, where he underlined that the UK and China have a joint and legal commitment to the freedoms enshrined in the Joint Declaration.</p><p>The Chinese Ambassador to the UK was summoned to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on 3 July to meet the Permanent Under Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service, Sir Simon McDonald, where he was told the comments he made on UK policy towards Hong Kong were unacceptable and inaccurate. Since that date FCO officials have been in regular and frequent contact with senior officials at the Chinese Embassy in London to discuss the situation in Hong Kong, including on the right to peaceful protest and the use of force by police in Hong Kong.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 07/10/2019 12:07:25 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1147195

registered interest
date	30/09/2019
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	Hong Kong: 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, whether (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have plans to hold meetings with the delegation from Fight for Freedom Stand With Hong Kong to discuss the recent events in Hong Kong.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	292081
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/10/2019 answer text <p>Neither the Foreign Secretary nor other Foreign and Commonwealth Office ministers have plans to meet this organisation, but we will consider all meeting requests on their merits when they are received.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 07/10/2019 12:09:13 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1146075

registered interest
date	25/09/2019
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: 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 role the troika of UK, US and Norway has had in Sudan’s constitutional settlement.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	290613
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/10/2019 answer text <p>​Along with Africa Union and Ethiopian mediation efforts the Troika (UK, US and Norway) engaged frequently with members of the Transitional Military Council and the Forces of Freedom and Change to encourage an agreement. The UK and our Troika partners welcomed the signing of a Constitutional Declaration on 17 August setting out the process of transition to civilian-led government. On 22 August the UK, with Troika countries, issued a statement congratulating Dr. Abdalla Hamdok on his appointment as Prime Minister and commended his commitment to freedom, peace and justice (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dr-abdalla-hamdok-made-prime-minister-of-sudan-troika-statement" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dr-abdalla-hamdok-made-prime-minister-of-sudan-troika-statement</a>).</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 02/10/2019 09:05:02 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1146079

registered interest
date	25/09/2019
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: 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, whether his Department has discussed term limits for governing and elected officials in Sudan with (a) military leaders and (b) civilian members of the (i) sovereign council and (ii) legislative council and (c) Ministers of that country.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	290614
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/10/2019 answer text <p>​The UK welcomes the Constitutional Declaration signed on 17 August which sets out the plan for Sudan's transition to civilian-led government. We are engaging with the Sovereign Council and newly appointed Prime Minister to support reform and change in Sudan. On 11 September, our Ambassador in Khartoum met with Prime Minister Hamdok to discuss how the UK can provide practical support to the Prime Minister's priorities of establishing peace across Sudan and reforming the economy. We look forward to working with the Cabinet, including the new Foreign Minister Asma Mohamed Abdalla. Our Ambassador in Khartoum has also met with a number of civilian members of Sudan's Sovereign Council, including Mohamed Hasan al Ta'yushi on 2 September and Aisha Musa on 22 September, to discuss a range of issues such as the importance of civilian roles in democracy. As part of the agreed process of transition to civilian rule set out in the Constitutional Declaration the Sovereign Council acts in lieu of a head of state during the 39 month transition period. The UK does not take a view on term limits of governing and elected officials in Sudan, but we do support the establishment of proper democratic processes in line with the agreed Constitutional Declaration.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson grouped question UIN 290615 question first answered 02/10/2019 09:13:32 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew