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1003821
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2018-11-09more like thismore than 2018-11-09
answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
answering dept id 16 more like this
answering dept short name Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
answering dept sort name Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
hansard heading Syria: Islamic State more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the (a) Government of Turkey and (b) Syrian Democratic Forces on the reported suspension of operations against Daesh by the SDF in response to recent strikes carried out by the Turkish air force in and around Kobane. more like this
tabling member constituency Islington South and Finsbury remove filter
tabling member printed
Emily Thornberry more like this
uin 189637 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2018-11-15more like thismore than 2018-11-15
answer text <p>The UK, with our allies, has raised concerns with Turkey about the recent escalation and we have stressed that our shared goal, as members of the Global Coalition against Daesh, must remain completing the defeat of Daesh. The Coalition has made similar points to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Following a reduction in violence, the SDF announced on 11 November the resumption of operations against Daesh.</p> more like this
answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire more like this
answering member printed Alistair Burt more like this
question first answered
less than 2018-11-15T15:55:16.013Zmore like thismore than 2018-11-15T15:55:16.013Z
answering member
1201
label Biography information for Alistair Burt more like this
tabling member
1536
label Biography information for Emily Thornberry more like this
1002685
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2018-11-06more like thismore than 2018-11-06
answering body
Department for International Development more like this
answering dept id 20 more like this
answering dept short name International Development more like this
answering dept sort name International Development more like this
hansard heading Syria: Abduction more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment her Department has made of the risk of kidnap for ransom to (a) aid workers and (b) other representatives of non-governmental organisations operating in Idlib province in Syria. more like this
tabling member constituency Islington South and Finsbury remove filter
tabling member printed
Emily Thornberry more like this
uin 188759 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2018-11-13more like thismore than 2018-11-13
answer text <p>Kidnapping for ransom poses a threat to the safety and security of aid workers and NGO staff operating throughout Syria, including in Idlib province. The UK continues to call on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians and humanitarian actors, so aid can reach those in desperate need, and those responding to the crisis can help the most vulnerable without fear of attack. Under a duty of care to their staff, humanitarian agencies should be conducting risk assessments and taking appropriate mitigating action to protect workers. The UK will continue to support any action to protect humanitarian actors throughout the country.</p><p> </p><p>The UK does not make ransom payments, on the basis that providing money or property fuels terrorist activity and encourages further kidnappings. Any payment to, or for the benefit of, a proscribed terrorist organisation is contrary to UN sanctions, and therefore illegal. DFID aid complies with UK and international counter terrorism legislation, and our funding agreements commit partners to understand and comply with international counter terrorism legislation. All partners undergo a stringent due diligence process and strict controls and procedures are in place to prevent diversion, to ensure that UK aid reaches its intended beneficiaries.</p>
answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire more like this
answering member printed Alistair Burt more like this
grouped question UIN 188761 more like this
question first answered
less than 2018-11-13T17:58:53.073Zmore like thismore than 2018-11-13T17:58:53.073Z
answering member
1201
label Biography information for Alistair Burt more like this
tabling member
1536
label Biography information for Emily Thornberry more like this
1002686
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2018-11-06more like thismore than 2018-11-06
answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
answering dept id 16 more like this
answering dept short name Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
answering dept sort name Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
hansard heading Syria: Abduction more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information her Department holds on the organisations responsible for the kidnap for ransom of (a) aid workers and (b) other representatives of non-governmental organisations operating in Idlib province in Syria. more like this
tabling member constituency Islington South and Finsbury remove filter
tabling member printed
Emily Thornberry more like this
uin 188760 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2018-11-12more like thismore than 2018-11-12
answer text <p>​A number of armed groups operate in Idlib province, several of which have either engaged in or pose a risk of kidnap for ransom. There remains a very high risk of kidnapping in Idlib and throughout Syria, which can be for financial or political gain. An individual's occupation may not protect them against kidnapping, and many terrorists in Syria view those engaged in humanitarian aid work as legitimate targets. We continue to advise British nationals against travel to Syria and our Travel Advice highlights the very real threat from kidnapping.</p> more like this
answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire more like this
answering member printed Alistair Burt more like this
question first answered
less than 2018-11-12T16:08:41.113Zmore like thismore than 2018-11-12T16:08:41.113Z
answering member
1201
label Biography information for Alistair Burt more like this
tabling member
1536
label Biography information for Emily Thornberry more like this
1002687
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2018-11-06more like thismore than 2018-11-06
answering body
Department for International Development more like this
answering dept id 20 more like this
answering dept short name International Development more like this
answering dept sort name International Development more like this
hansard heading Syria: Abduction more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether funding allocated by her Department to non-governmental organisations operating in Idlib province in Syria has been used to make ransom payments to obtain the release of kidnapped aid workers in 2018. more like this
tabling member constituency Islington South and Finsbury remove filter
tabling member printed
Emily Thornberry more like this
uin 188761 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2018-11-13more like thismore than 2018-11-13
answer text <p>Kidnapping for ransom poses a threat to the safety and security of aid workers and NGO staff operating throughout Syria, including in Idlib province. The UK continues to call on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians and humanitarian actors, so aid can reach those in desperate need, and those responding to the crisis can help the most vulnerable without fear of attack. Under a duty of care to their staff, humanitarian agencies should be conducting risk assessments and taking appropriate mitigating action to protect workers. The UK will continue to support any action to protect humanitarian actors throughout the country.</p><p> </p><p>The UK does not make ransom payments, on the basis that providing money or property fuels terrorist activity and encourages further kidnappings. Any payment to, or for the benefit of, a proscribed terrorist organisation is contrary to UN sanctions, and therefore illegal. DFID aid complies with UK and international counter terrorism legislation, and our funding agreements commit partners to understand and comply with international counter terrorism legislation. All partners undergo a stringent due diligence process and strict controls and procedures are in place to prevent diversion, to ensure that UK aid reaches its intended beneficiaries.</p>
answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire more like this
answering member printed Alistair Burt more like this
grouped question UIN 188759 more like this
question first answered
less than 2018-11-13T17:58:53.137Zmore like thismore than 2018-11-13T17:58:53.137Z
answering member
1201
label Biography information for Alistair Burt more like this
tabling member
1536
label Biography information for Emily Thornberry more like this
1002688
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2018-11-06more like thismore than 2018-11-06
answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
answering dept id 16 more like this
answering dept short name Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
answering dept sort name Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
hansard heading Syria: Politics and Government more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the proportion of the area of Idlib province in Syria that is under the control of (a) Hay’at Tahrir a-Sham and (b) the Syrian Salvation Government. more like this
tabling member constituency Islington South and Finsbury remove filter
tabling member printed
Emily Thornberry more like this
uin 188762 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2018-11-15more like thismore than 2018-11-15
answer text <p>Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the HTS-affiliated so-called Syrian Salvation Government retain influence over parts of Idlib province. However, given the fluid situation and the often limited extent of governance on the ground, it is not possible to provide a reliable estimate for territorial control.</p> more like this
answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire more like this
answering member printed Alistair Burt more like this
question first answered
less than 2018-11-15T15:12:43.907Zmore like thismore than 2018-11-15T15:12:43.907Z
answering member
1201
label Biography information for Alistair Burt more like this
tabling member
1536
label Biography information for Emily Thornberry more like this
1002690
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2018-11-06more like thismore than 2018-11-06
answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
answering dept id 16 more like this
answering dept short name Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
answering dept sort name Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
hansard heading Tanzania: Politics and Government more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the validity of the grounds for the detention of the Tanzanian MP Zitto Kabwe by that country’s security services on 31 October 2018. more like this
tabling member constituency Islington South and Finsbury remove filter
tabling member printed
Emily Thornberry more like this
uin 188764 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2018-11-14more like thismore than 2018-11-14
answer text <p>The British Government is concerned about the arbitrary arrest of opposition parliamentarians in Tanzania. Most recently on 2 November, following the arrest and detention of MP Zitto Kabwe the British High Commission in Dar es Salaam raised the case with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urging the Tanzanian authorities to follow due process. We have subsequently also raised the case with the Minister of Home Affairs. Additionally, the High Commissioner met with Zitto Kabwe on 7 November to hear first hand his account of his detention and subsequent treatment.</p> more like this
answering member constituency West Worcestershire more like this
answering member printed Harriett Baldwin more like this
question first answered
less than 2018-11-14T15:23:20.063Zmore like thismore than 2018-11-14T15:23:20.063Z
answering member
4107
label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin more like this
tabling member
1536
label Biography information for Emily Thornberry more like this
1002691
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2018-11-06more like thismore than 2018-11-06
answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
answering dept id 16 more like this
answering dept short name Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
answering dept sort name Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
hansard heading Tanzania: Politics and Government more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will ask the Chair of the Commonwealth Ministerial Advisory Group to initiate an inquiry into the recent conduct of the Government of Tanzania to assess its potential infringement of the Commonwealth's shared political values. more like this
tabling member constituency Islington South and Finsbury remove filter
tabling member printed
Emily Thornberry more like this
uin 188765 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2018-11-13more like thismore than 2018-11-13
answer text <p>We are in close contact with the Commonwealth Secretariat and with other Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) members on a range of issues related to the observance of the Commonwealth's fundamental political values. The Commonwealth Secretariat and the Secretary General assess whether there has been a serious or persistent violation of the Commonwealth's political values, including by bringing matters to CMAG's attention. However, discussions between CMAG members are by convention not disclosed. Alongside international partners we will continue to raise our concerns at the deteriorating human rights situation with the Government of Tanzania.</p> more like this
answering member constituency West Worcestershire more like this
answering member printed Harriett Baldwin more like this
question first answered
less than 2018-11-13T15:31:05.32Zmore like thismore than 2018-11-13T15:31:05.32Z
answering member
4107
label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin more like this
tabling member
1536
label Biography information for Emily Thornberry more like this
1002692
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2018-11-06more like thismore than 2018-11-06
answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
answering dept id 16 more like this
answering dept short name Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
answering dept sort name Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
hansard heading Tanzania: Politics and Government more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the prospects for fair and impartial trials of members of the Tanzanian parliament facing criminal charges in that country. more like this
tabling member constituency Islington South and Finsbury remove filter
tabling member printed
Emily Thornberry more like this
uin 188766 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2018-11-14more like thismore than 2018-11-14
answer text <p>The British Government is concerned about the arbitrary arrest and detention of opposition parliamentarians in Tanzania and the deteriorating space for democracy and human rights. Most recently on 2 November, following the arrest and detention of an opposition MP the British High Commission in Dar es Salaam raised the case with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urging the Tanzanian authorities to follow due process. We have subsequently also raised the case with the Minister of Home Affairs.</p> more like this
answering member constituency West Worcestershire more like this
answering member printed Harriett Baldwin more like this
question first answered
less than 2018-11-14T15:25:01.357Zmore like thismore than 2018-11-14T15:25:01.357Z
answering member
4107
label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin more like this
tabling member
1536
label Biography information for Emily Thornberry more like this
1002693
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2018-11-06more like thismore than 2018-11-06
answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
answering dept id 16 more like this
answering dept short name Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
answering dept sort name Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
hansard heading Tanzania: Politics and Government more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterpart in Tanzania on recent prosecutions of members of that country’s political opposition under the provisions of that country's penal code criminalising speech deemed insulting to the president. more like this
tabling member constituency Islington South and Finsbury remove filter
tabling member printed
Emily Thornberry more like this
uin 188767 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2018-11-13more like thismore than 2018-11-13
answer text <p>When I met the Tanzanian Minister for Constitutional and Legal Affairs on 11 October we discussed democracy and political space in Tanzania. On 2 November, following the arrest and detention of an opposition MP, the British High Commission in Dar es Salaam raised the case with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urging the Tanzanian authorities to follow due process. We have subsequently also raised the case with the Minister of Home Affairs. We will continue to raise publicly and privately our concerns with the Government of Tanzania on developments which threaten democratic values and the rights of all Tanzanians.</p> more like this
answering member constituency West Worcestershire more like this
answering member printed Harriett Baldwin more like this
question first answered
less than 2018-11-13T15:32:19.357Zmore like thismore than 2018-11-13T15:32:19.357Z
answering member
4107
label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin more like this
tabling member
1536
label Biography information for Emily Thornberry more like this
1002695
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2018-11-06more like thismore than 2018-11-06
answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
answering dept id 16 more like this
answering dept short name Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
answering dept sort name Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
hansard heading Tanzania: LGBT+ People more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his counterpart in Tanzania urging the Government of that country to prevent the proposed rounding up of LGBT people by the local authorities in Dar es Salaam. more like this
tabling member constituency Islington South and Finsbury remove filter
tabling member printed
Emily Thornberry more like this
uin 188769 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2018-11-13more like thismore than 2018-11-13
answer text <p>I am concerned by reports of threats against the LGBT community in Tanzania. The British High Commission, alongside international partners, carried out a demarche on the Tanzanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 2 November, urging the authorities to respect human rights and protect all citizens from discrimination. I welcome the Government of Tanzania's statement on 4 November making clear that such threats do not represent government policy, and that it will protect human rights as enshrined in the country's constitution. We must all reject language that invites violence against any group in society.</p> more like this
answering member constituency West Worcestershire more like this
answering member printed Harriett Baldwin more like this
question first answered
less than 2018-11-13T15:33:28.397Zmore like thismore than 2018-11-13T15:33:28.397Z
answering member
4107
label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin more like this
tabling member
1536
label Biography information for Emily Thornberry more like this