{ "format" : "linked-data-api", "version" : "0.2", "result" : {"_about" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?AnswerDate=2019-07-18&min-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2019-07-15T15%3A12%3A02.047Z&answeringDeptSortName=Foreign+and+Commonwealth+Office", "definition" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/meta/answeredquestions.text?AnswerDate=2019-07-18&min-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2019-07-15T15%3A12%3A02.047Z&answeringDeptSortName=Foreign+and+Commonwealth+Office", "extendedMetadataVersion" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?AnswerDate=2019-07-18&min-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2019-07-15T15%3A12%3A02.047Z&answeringDeptSortName=Foreign+and+Commonwealth+Office&_metadata=all", "first" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=0&AnswerDate=2019-07-18&min-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2019-07-15T15%3A12%3A02.047Z&answeringDeptSortName=Foreign+and+Commonwealth+Office", "hasPart" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?AnswerDate=2019-07-18&min-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2019-07-15T15%3A12%3A02.047Z&answeringDeptSortName=Foreign+and+Commonwealth+Office", "isPartOf" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?AnswerDate=2019-07-18&min-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2019-07-15T15%3A12%3A02.047Z&answeringDeptSortName=Foreign+and+Commonwealth+Office", "items" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139221", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139221/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Freedoms of speech, assembly, the press, movement, correspondence, travel, of strike, and academic research are all guaranteed rights under the legally binding Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984.<\/p>
The British Government supports the Hong Kong people's right to peaceful and lawful protest, which is also one of the fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong. It is imperative that any protests are conducted in a peaceful manner, and that the authorities' response is proportionate. We note the announcement of a special inquiry by the Independent Police Complaints Council into recent events in Hong Kong, and look forward to the publication of further details about the scope and composition of the investigation.<\/p>
The Foreign Secretary announced on 25 June that we will not issue export licenses for crowd control equipment to Hong Kong unless we are satisfied that concerns raised on human rights and fundamental freedoms have been thoroughly addressed.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1466", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Wiltshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dr Andrew Murrison"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-23T16:17:41.07Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Hong Kong: Extradition"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the Hong Kong Government's policing of the recent protests against the proposed extradition law with sections of the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984 on rights and freedoms related to (a) speech, (b) assembly, (c) the press, (d) movement, (e) correspondence, (f) travel, (g) to strike and (h) academic research.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4573", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Rosena Allin-Khan"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Tooting"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Rosena Allin-Khan"} ], "uin" : "277805"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139300", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139300/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We are aware of the report undertaken by Freedom from Torture. We remain concerned at the human rights situation in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) which includes sexual and gender based violence, arbitrary arrest and detention, extrajudicial killings, inhumane and degrading treatment and restrictions to democratic space. We continue to call upon the government of the DRC to exercise restraint and proportionality in any security response, and to investigate and hold to account those accused of committing acts of violence, including members of the security forces.<\/p>
The UK continues to work to improve the human rights situation in the DRC, including by helping to educate human rights defenders and by promoting conflict resolution. The UK also helps fund the United Nation Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO), which tracks human rights abuses and violations in DRC. We have also financed projects in support of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI), gender inequality, improving democratic participation and through DFID programmes we are supporting security reforms. We continue to raise human rights and rule of law in our regular discussions with the DRC government. When I met the President during my visit to DRC in May I encouraged him to fulfil his inauguration commitment to improve the lives of the Congolese people and address the human rights situation.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4107", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Worcestershire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Harriett Baldwin"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "277754"} , {"_value" : "277755"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-22T14:57:43.21Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Democratic Republic of Congo: Torture"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the evidence of torture in the Democratic Republic of the Congo submitted to his Department by the Freedom From Torture charity.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4342", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Liz McInnes"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Heywood and Middleton"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Liz McInnes"} ], "uin" : "277753"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139301", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139301/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We are aware of the report undertaken by Freedom from Torture. We remain concerned at the human rights situation in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) which includes sexual and gender based violence, arbitrary arrest and detention, extrajudicial killings, inhumane and degrading treatment and restrictions to democratic space. We continue to call upon the government of the DRC to exercise restraint and proportionality in any security response, and to investigate and hold to account those accused of committing acts of violence, including members of the security forces.<\/p>
The UK continues to work to improve the human rights situation in the DRC, including by helping to educate human rights defenders and by promoting conflict resolution. The UK also helps fund the United Nation Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO), which tracks human rights abuses and violations in DRC. We have also financed projects in support of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI), gender inequality, improving democratic participation and through DFID programmes we are supporting security reforms. We continue to raise human rights and rule of law in our regular discussions with the DRC government. When I met the President during my visit to DRC in May I encouraged him to fulfil his inauguration commitment to improve the lives of the Congolese people and address the human rights situation.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4107", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Worcestershire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Harriett Baldwin"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "277753"} , {"_value" : "277755"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-22T14:57:43.257Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Democratic Republic of Congo: Torture"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the extent of the use of torture against political activists by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4342", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Liz McInnes"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Heywood and Middleton"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Liz McInnes"} ], "uin" : "277754"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139302", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139302/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We are aware of the report undertaken by Freedom from Torture. We remain concerned at the human rights situation in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) which includes sexual and gender based violence, arbitrary arrest and detention, extrajudicial killings, inhumane and degrading treatment and restrictions to democratic space. We continue to call upon the government of the DRC to exercise restraint and proportionality in any security response, and to investigate and hold to account those accused of committing acts of violence, including members of the security forces.<\/p>
The UK continues to work to improve the human rights situation in the DRC, including by helping to educate human rights defenders and by promoting conflict resolution. The UK also helps fund the United Nation Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO), which tracks human rights abuses and violations in DRC. We have also financed projects in support of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI), gender inequality, improving democratic participation and through DFID programmes we are supporting security reforms. We continue to raise human rights and rule of law in our regular discussions with the DRC government. When I met the President during my visit to DRC in May I encouraged him to fulfil his inauguration commitment to improve the lives of the Congolese people and address the human rights situation.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4107", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Worcestershire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Harriett Baldwin"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "277753"} , {"_value" : "277754"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-22T14:57:43.303Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Democratic Republic of Congo: Torture"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if his Department will make the eradication of torture in detention settings a priority for the Government's engagement with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4342", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Liz McInnes"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Heywood and Middleton"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Liz McInnes"} ], "uin" : "277755"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139383", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139383/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
\u200bEnglish Connects is a major new programme connecting the UK with the next generation of African youth through English. It will improve the quality of English language learning and teaching and facilitate digital literacy; creating opportunities that enable young people to fulfil their potential. The programme, initially focused on Cote D\u2019Ivoire, Mali and Senegal, is being expanded to Niger, Cameroon, Gabon, Guinea, Djibouti, Angola and Democratic Republic of the Congo. The British Council and Foreign and Commonwealth Office will provide support through £3.9 million in funding from the Official Development Assistance budget.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4107", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Worcestershire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Harriett Baldwin"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-23T15:08:44.447Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sub-Saharan Africa: English Language"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the recently announced £4 million programme for English language teaching in sub-Saharan Africa will be funded from the Official Development Assistance budget.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4651", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dan Carden"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Liverpool, Walton"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dan Carden"} ], "uin" : "277833"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139417", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139417/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We do not comment on intelligence matters.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1466", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Wiltshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dr Andrew Murrison"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-23T15:15:47.197Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Hezbollah and Islamic Resistance Support Organization"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the relationship between Hezbollah and the Islamic Resistance Support Organisation.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/318", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Spellar"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Warley"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "John Spellar"} ], "uin" : "277639"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139438", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139438/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We have not made an assessment of this matter. However we have stressed to Israel the need for independent and transparent investigations of deaths. We are deeply concerned by the significant deaths and injuries of civilians in Gaza over the last year. We urge the Israeli Government to publish the findings of the investigations launched by the Military Attorney General on 13 March. The UK remains concerned about the use of live ammunition and excessive force by the Israel Defense Forces. While Israel has the right to self-defence, it is vital that its actions are proportionate and seek to avoid civilian casualties. Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories remains a human rights country of concern.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1466", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Wiltshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dr Andrew Murrison"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-26T13:26:45.233Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Palestinians: Health Services"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the extent to which Israel\u2019s internal investigations into the killings of Palestinian health workers comply with international standards of (a) independence, (b) impartiality, (c) promptness, (d) thoroughness and (e) transparency.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/411", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Huddersfield"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Barry Sheerman"} ], "uin" : "277647"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137075", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137075/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
\u200bThe PSVI conference 'Time For Justice: Putting Survivors First' will take a survivor-centred approach, focusing on tangible next steps and enabling survivors to contribute to policy debates and outcomes. The newly created role of PSVI Survivor Champion will help ensure that survivors' needs, concerns and priorities are at the forefront of our policy and programming, including for the conference.<\/p>
The UK Government is working closely with stakeholders, including international survivor networks, to ensure survivors of conflict-related sexual violence from a range of countries and communities are involved in and can attend the PSVI conference on 18-20 November 2019. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is coordinating across Government departments, including with the Home Office, on preparations for the conference. This includes planning on policy deliverables, logistics and attendance.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-15T15:14:27.253Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to include the presence of survivors of sexual violence from conflict zones at the Preventing Sexual Violence In Conflict Initiative Conference in November; and whether the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will liaise with the Home Office to ensure that such people are not prevented from entering the UK to attend that conference.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4222", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Collins of Highbury"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Collins of Highbury"} ], "uin" : "HL16939"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137086", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137086/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
It is disappointing that Mauritius\u2019 claim that the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is part of Mauritius, which we strongly refute, should have been referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) by the UN General Assembly. It is an accepted international principle that States should not be compelled to have their bilateral disputes adjudicated upon by the ICJ without their consent. Circumventing this principle sets a dangerous precedent. BIOT has been under continuous British sovereignty since 1814. No international court or tribunal has ever found UK sovereignty to be in doubt. Mauritius agreed to the detachment of the islands in 1965, in return for certain benefits including a UK commitment, which we stand by, to cede sovereignty of the territory to Mauritius when it is no longer required for defence purposes. Mauritius affirmed that agreement numerous times following independence, and in March 2015 a United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Arbitral Tribunal ruled the agreement to be internationally binding.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-18T14:46:48.64Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision of the United Nations General Assembly that the decolonisation of Mauritius has not been lawfully completed because the detachment of the Chagos Archipelago was not based on the free and genuine expression of the will of the people of Mauritius; whether they accept that decision; and if not, why not.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/248", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Jones of Cheltenham"} ], "uin" : "HL16950"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137087", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137087/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Under the United Nations Charter, the UN General Assembly passes resolutions that make recommendations to Member States. These resolutions are not legally binding. While resolutions express the view of the General Assembly as a whole, those Member States which vote against or abstain on individual resolutions are not legally committed to implement their respective contents. Of the 313 resolutions adopted during the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly (2017-18), 234 were adopted by consensus (i.e. without a vote). Of the remaining 79 which were adopted by vote, the UK voted in favour of 44, against 25 and abstained on 10 occasions.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-18T14:47:09.19Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "UN General Assembly"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times they have not complied with decisions of the United Nations General Assembly.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/248", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Jones of Cheltenham"} ], "uin" : "HL16951"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "next" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=1&AnswerDate=2019-07-18&min-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2019-07-15T15%3A12%3A02.047Z&answeringDeptSortName=Foreign+and+Commonwealth+Office", "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 10, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }