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1226724

registered interest
date	21/07/2020
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	Israel: Sanctions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether it remains the Government's policy not to support the boycott of Israeli (a) goods and (b) services.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	77582
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2020 answer text <p>The British Government has made its position on boycotts/sanctions clear. We are firmly opposed to boycotts/sanctions against Israel. We believe that open and honest discussions, rather than supporting anti-Israeli boycotts, best supports our efforts to help progress in the peace process and achieve a negotiated solution.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 01/09/2020 16:59:46 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1225955

registered interest
date	17/07/2020
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	China: Iran
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 his policies on regional stability of reports that Iran has signed a 25-year strategic agreement with China.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	76002
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/07/2020 answer text <p>The reports in the press that Iran and China have agreed a 25-year strategic agreement are premature. Iranian authorities, including Foreign Minister Zarif, have stated publicly that any agreement between the two countries has yet to be finalised and that negotiations are still ongoing. Details of the potential agreement are still emerging, and it is too early to make an assessment of any possible effects on wider regional stability.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 24/07/2020 14:14:36 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1225957

registered interest
date	17/07/2020
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	Iran: Nuclear Power
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 Iran’s current level of compliance with the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	76003
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/07/2020 answer text <p>The Foreign Secretary made clear in his statement with France and Germany on 19 June that Iran's reductions in compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) raise serious proliferation concerns. The UK, with France and Germany, triggered the JCPoA's Dispute Resolution Mechanism (DRM) on 14 January to try to resolve these concerns. Iran must engage constructively with that DRM process and implement its commitments under the deal. We remain committed to working with all JCPoA parties, including Iran, to find a diplomatic way forward.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 24/07/2020 14:16:17 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1220329

registered interest
date	02/07/2020
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	Iran: Capital 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 representations he has made to his Iranian counterpart on the imposition of the death penalty against Amir-Hossein Moradi, Saeed Tamjidi and Mohammad Rajabi.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	68330
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2020 answer text <p>Iran's human rights record continues to be of serious concern to the UK. We remain deeply concerned by Iran's failure to uphold its international legal obligations. The continued use of the death penalty, weak rule of law and restrictions on freedoms of expression are deeply worrying. It remains a long-standing policy of the United Kingdom to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. While we have not made representations on these particular cases, the UK regularly raises human rights with the Iranian authorities at all levels. We unreservedly support the right to peaceful protest, and we continue to take action with the international community to press Iran to improve its poor record on all human rights issues.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 10/07/2020 16:27:33 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1216271

registered interest
date	22/06/2020
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	Sudan: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the number of UK nationals stranded in Sudan as a result of the Sudanese Government closing commercial airports in response to the covid-19 pandemic.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	62403
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>The UK Government has helped over 200 British travellers return to the UK from Sudan on a HMG special chartered flight on 21 May. When commercial flights were available, the embassy highlighted these to British traveller through its Travel Advice and social media channels. They also worked with international partners to enable British travellers to return on other countries' charter flights. There are currently no further HMG special charter flights planned but we welcome the decision by Emirates to offer a commercial flight from Khartoum to Dubai on 26 June which anyone wishing to depart Sudan could consider.</p><p>We believe that the majority of those British travellers in Sudan who are able and wished to leave have taken one of these available means of return. Some appear to have decided not to return at this point. It is difficult to be precise on the numbers of British travellers who still wish to return home because there have been instances of multiple registrations by the same individual, people not reporting their return to the UK via other means, and long term residents registering for flights even though they were not eligible. Through our embassy in Khartoum, officials are in regular contact with those British travellers who have expressed a desire to return to the UK. We encourage British travellers in Sudan wishing to return to the UK to visit our Travel Advice page: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/sudan" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/sudan</a> which is regularly updated to ensure that those wishing to return are aware of further developments.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 30/06/2020 16:08:37 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1188839

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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	Law of the Sea
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 take steps to support the establishment of a new UN Law of the Sea.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	38039
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2020 answer text <p>The FCO alongside 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. 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.</p><p>Unfortunately, due to the impacts of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the fourth session of the Inter-Governmental Conference, scheduled for 23 March to 3 April in New York, was postponed. The UK is supportive of re-scheduling the fourth session for the earliest possible opportunity that will enable all delegations to be present for the negotiations in New York. The UK also strongly supports intersessional work, which is vital to ensure that we maintain momentum towards the successful conclusion of these important negotiations.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 27/04/2020 15:00:26 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1185272

registered interest
date	16/03/2020
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	Deep Sea Mining
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 the precautionary principle is applied to deep sea mining techniques that cannot be monitored from the surface.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	29901
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2020 answer text <p>The UK is using the precautionary principle in relation to deep sea mining and has agreed not to sponsor or support the issuing of any exploitation licences for deep sea mining projects until there is sufficient scientific evidence about the potential impact on deep sea ecosystems and strong and enforceable environmental standards have been developed by the ISA and are in place.</p><p>The UK is calling for the precautionary principle to be included in the development of the Regulations, Standards and Guidelines for deep sea mining at the International Seabed Authority (ISA).</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 26/03/2020 09:19:12 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1185274

registered interest
date	16/03/2020
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	International Seabed Authority
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 an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the (a) governance, (b) accountability and (c) competency for (i) contract reviews, (ii) inspections, (iii) audits, (iv) environmental monitoring, (v) enforcement and (vi) other regulatory activities of the International Seabed Authority.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	29903
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2020 answer text <p>The functions and structure of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) are laid out in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The work of the ISA is overseen by the Council and Assembly of the ISA. The UK is a member of both organs. UNCLOS provides for a periodic review of the ISA, the most recent of which was completed in 2017. In the Council and Assembly the UK supports the importance of the ISA having adequate resources and expertise to carry out these functions, in particular in anticipation of a future move from exploration to exploitation.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 26/03/2020 09:20:18 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1185275

registered interest
date	16/03/2020
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	Deep Sea Mining
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if she will undertake a review of the (a) scope and (b) objectives of the proposed International Seabed Authority Mining Code to ensure that that code includes a process for (i) protecting biodiversity, (ii) assessing the potential effects of mining on the environment and (iii) avoiding those effects that is (A) is able to take into account independent scientific advice, (B) includes stakeholder consultation, (C) allows for the rejection of mining proposals where the potential effects of those proposals are too great or uncertain and (D) provides for the potential closure of large, ecologically important areas of the deep sea to mineral extraction.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	29904
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2020 answer text <p>The draft Regulations for the exploitation phase of deep sea mining are being negotiated at the International Seabed Authority (ISA). The UK will continue to call for transparent, science-based and environmentally sound regulation of seabed mining by the ISA to ensure effective protection of deep sea habitats and biodiversity. We will use our position in the Council and Assembly of the ISA to secure the adoption of a mining code that provides for robust and accountable oversight of mining activity. This includes enshrining the precautionary principle and an ecosystem approach in the mining code; ensuring that in addition to the core regulations, effective and binding standards and guidelines to ensure environmentally sound mining have been adopted before exploitation licences are granted, and that these reflect the different specific environmental and other features of the different mineral deposits; ensuring that Regional Environmental Management Plans (REMPs) with robust environmental objectives are established before exploitation licences can be granted and that there is a clear regulatory link between the REMPs and exploitation licences; ensuring transparency in the implementation of the Regulations; reinforcing the importance of consultation and expert input both in the development of the Regulations, Standards and Guidelines and in the consideration of any future applications; allowing for the suspension of mining activities when operators fail to adhere to environmental safeguards or where new evidence of risk of serious harm arises.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 24/03/2020 16:19:08 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1183920

registered interest
date	10/03/2020
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	Cyprus: 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, if he will make representations to his UN counterparts to resume efforts to establish a summit between opposing parties in Cyprus to seek a reunification of that island.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	27568
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2020 answer text <p>The UK is a strong supporter of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus issue, based on the internationally accepted model of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. We endorse the UN Secretary-General's view that prospects for a settlement remain alive. We welcome his continued willingness to work with the parties, such as his meeting of 25 November with the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leaders, and the engagement of UN Secretary General's Representative on the Cyprus Dispute, Ms Jane Holl Lute, and hope this will lead to a return to comprehensive negotiations.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 18/03/2020 16:43:43 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord