Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

860585

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2018
	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: 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 representations his Department has to the Chinese authorities on the detention of (a) Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, (b) Falun Gong practitioners, (c) Christian leaders, (d) other members of religious minorities and (e) people who defend the right to freedom of religion or belief in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	131942
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2018 answer text <p>​We remain concerned about restrictions on freedom of religion or belief in China. We issued an item IV statement at the 37th UN Human Rights Council on 14 March which reiterated our concerns about the situation in China. We also supported the EU item IV statement at the same session, which called on China to respect freedom of religion.</p><p>We raised our concerns about these issues directly with the Chinese authorities at the UK/China Human Rights Dialogue which took place in Beijing on 27 June 2017.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 19/03/2018 15:23:52 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

860584

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2018
	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: Religious Buildings
	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 his Department has made to the Chinese authorities on the demolition of (a) Christian churches, (b) Tibetan Buddhist institutes and (c) religious buildings in China.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	131941
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2018 answer text <p>​We have been concerned for some time by continued reports of the closure or demolition of places of worship across China, including Tibet. We raised our concerns directly with the Chinese authorities at the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue in Beijing on 27 June 2017.</p><p>We consistently urge the Chinese authorities to respect all rights across the People's Republic of China, including freedom of religious or belief, in line with both its own constitution and the international institutions and frameworks to which it is a party.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 15/03/2018 17:17:57 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

748585

	registered interest
	date	05/07/2017
	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, what assessment he has made of the implementation of the one-country-two-systems principle in Hong Kong.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	3187
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2017 answer text <p>​The Foreign Secretary, issued a Written Ministerial Statement on 29 June to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (<a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statements/" target="_blank">http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statements/</a>) which outlined our assessment of the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle, as well as referencing specific concerns over its implementation. The UK believes that it is vital for Hong Kong's continued success that the Special Administrative Region's high degree of autonomy and rule of law are preserved and that the principle of 'One Country, Two Systems' is fully upheld.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 10/07/2017 12:51:48 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

872293

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2018
	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, how many posts there are in his Department relating to policy on freedom of religion or belief.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	134207
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/03/2018 answer text <p>​Many departments within the FCO promote freedom of religion and belief as part of their work. The same is true of staff at Embassies and High Commissions overseas. It is therefore not possible to give an exact figure for the number of staff working on this issue.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 29/03/2018 09:18:32 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

806444

	registered interest
	date	14/12/2017
	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	North Korea: Refugees
	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 the Government of the People's Republic of China on the treatment of refugees from North Korea in China.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	119520
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/12/2017 answer text <p>We remain concerned that China continues to regard North Koreans fleeing the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as economic migrants, and return them to North Korea, rather than as refugees under the 1951 refugee convention. Despite claims by the DPRK authorities that forcibly repatriated refugees are well treated and reintegrated into DPRK society, there are many credible reports, including from the UN Special Rapporteur, that they are often mistreated by the authorities.</p><p>During his 11 December speech at the UN Security Council meeting on the human rights situation in the DPRK, UK Permanent Representative Matthew Rycroft urged all Member States, including China, not to repatriate DPRK refugees. We have asked the Chinese authorities to respect the fundamental principle of non-refoulement and raised the matter at the UK/China Human Rights Dialogue which took place on 27/28 June.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 21/12/2017 17:09:17 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

1088246

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2019
	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	Confucius Institutes
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission's report of 18 February 2019, what assessment he has made of the validity of concerns that China’s Confucius Institutes may represent a threat to academic freedoms and freedom of expression.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	231982
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2019 answer text <p>We have read the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission’s report with interest and note its conclusions.</p><p>The UK values its relationship with China, and recognises that education has an important role to play in providing opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration and partnerships between the two countries. Universities are autonomous institutions and can choose who they cooperate with, including whether to partner with Chinese Higher Education Institutions or Confucius Institutes.</p><p>We encourage UK Higher education providers to work with international partners, including from China. However, providers have duties to ensure that in doing so, freedom of expression is protected for students and staff, and that the academic freedoms of their staff are protected, by taking reasonable steps to ensure debates and discussions can go ahead.</p><p>The government, with the support of key stakeholders in the higher education sector, has worked alongside the Equalities and Human Rights Commission to produce new guidance ‘Freedom of Expression: A Guide for Higher Education Providers and Students’ Unions in England and Wales’.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 18/03/2019 17:25:37 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

1088247

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2019
	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	Educational Institutions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government will bring forward legislative proposals to require transparency from and ensure that Confucius Institutes and other foreign institutions are not able to hold undue influence, whether political, ideological or religious, on the curriculum and teaching practices of British institutions.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	231983
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2019 answer text <p>We have read the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission’s report with interest and note its conclusion.</p><p>The UK values its relationship with China, and recognises that education has an important role to play in providing opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration and partnerships between the two countries. Universities are autonomous institutions and can choose who they cooperate with, including whether to partner with Chinese Higher Education Institutions or Confucius Institutes.</p><p>We encourage UK Higher education providers to work with international partners, including from China. However, providers have duties to ensure that in doing so, freedom of expression is protected for students and staff, and that the academic freedoms of their staff are protected, by taking reasonable steps to ensure debates and discussions can go ahead.</p><p>The government, with the support of key stakeholders in the higher education sector, has worked alongside the Equalities and Human Rights Commission to produce new guidance ‘Freedom of Expression: A Guide for Higher Education Providers and Students’ Unions in England and Wales’.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 18/03/2019 17:17:54 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

1127760

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	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	North Korea: Human Trafficking
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government will take steps to respond to the atrocities detailed in the report of 20 May 2019 presented to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for North Korea by the Korea Future Initiative entitled Sex Slaves, The Prostitution, Cybersex and Forced Marriage of North Korean Women and Girls in China.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	256975
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2019 answer text <p>We are grateful to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for North Korea for its ongoing work to highlight the grave human rights situation in North Korea. The Korea Future Initiative’s new report presents a stark and worsening picture of the plight of North Korean women and girls in China. We are deeply concerned at its accounts of women and girls being trafficked from North Korea to China for prostitution and forced marriage, and the misery and suffering they endure.</p><p>We will continue to raise with China our concerns over the repatriation of North Korean refugees, which we believe puts them at serious risk of exploitation. We continue to emphasise to China that those fleeing North Korea should be treated as legitimate asylum claimants. The UK is at the forefront of raising global awareness of modern slavery and sexual violence. As such, we will consider the best way to address the issues in the report including raising these with the appropriate Chinese and North Korean authorities.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 04/06/2019 09:53:34 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

1126546

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	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	North Korea: Repatriation
	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 the Governments of (a) China and (b) South Korea on the forced repatriation to North Korea of (i) Choi Byai and (ii) six other North Korean defectors.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	254176
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>We are aware of reports of the seven North Koreans currently being detained in China. We have not raised these particular cases directly with the Chinese or ROK Government but understand the ROK Government is looking into them closely. We continue to emphasise to China that people fleeing North Korea should be treated as legitimate asylum claimants and should not be returned as stipulated by the 1951 UN Refugee Convention.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 20/05/2019 16:07:43 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

985753

	registered interest
	date	11/10/2018
	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: Visas
	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 Hong Kong counterpart in on the issue of work visas to journalists.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	178276
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2018 answer text <p>The Foreign Secretary issued the following statement on 9 October 2018:</p><p>“I remain very concerned by the Hong Kong authorities’ unprecedented rejection of a visa for senior British journalist Victor Mallet. In the absence of an explanation from the authorities we can only conclude that this move is politically motivated. This undermines Hong Kong’s freedom of speech and freedom of the press, both guaranteed by the Joint Declaration, and the Basic Law, and increases the pressure on the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ framework. I urge the Hong Kong authorities to reconsider this decision. Confidence in Hong Kong’s rights and freedoms is an essential component of its future success.”</p><p>It is imperative that journalists are allowed to perform their work independently, and without interference.</p><p>We have raised this issue with the Hong Kong authorities.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 16/10/2018 16:32:49 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce