There is considerable speculation over how much the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and other terrorist groups have secured from kidnapping for ransom. In October 2014 the UN Al Qaeda Sanctions Monitoring Team estimated that ISIL had received between US$35 and US$45 million in ransom payments in the preceding twelve months.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-12-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-12-11T12:48:40.623Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-11-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Islamic State"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government how much they estimate IS to have received in kidnap ransoms; and what assessment they have made of the reported Iraqi intelligence estimates that they have received $200 million.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4286", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Mendelsohn"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Mendelsohn"} ], "uin" : "HL3186"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/166203", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/166203/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UN Al Qaeda Sanctions regime sets out the international legal framework. It makes clear that ransom payments to terrorist organisations are illegal. All UN Member States are bound by this. We are unable to comment on reports of ransom payments by other countries.
The UK policy position is clear. We do not pay ransoms or make any other substantive concessions to terrorists. Ransom payments strengthen terrorist groups and encourage them to carry out further kidnaps. This is why the UK has also led the drive to secure agreement on the principle of not paying ransoms. Under UK Presidency in 2013 the G8 made an unequivocal commitment to reject ransom payments to terrorists. The UK also secured the first standalone UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) on tackling terrorist ransom payments, which was unanimously adopted in January 2014, as UNSCR 2133.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-12-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-12-04T15:52:59.537Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-11-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Islamic State"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government which governments they are aware of which have paid ransoms to IS; and what discussions they have had with them.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4286", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Mendelsohn"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Mendelsohn"}
], "uin" : "HL3187"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/166206", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/166206/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "The UK has been a strong and consistent supporter of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) since its creation in 1996. We support the ICMP in all of its program areas \u2013 the Western Balkans, Colombia, Iraq and Libya. The UK has provided grants to the ICMP for the following amounts: 2012: £18,101; 2013: £160,407; 2014: £253,051. These grants have supported projects which relate to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) identification activities at the Tomasica Excavation Site in Bosnia and aiding the Government of Libya address the issue of missing persons. The UK also provides political support as the ICMP\u2019s work supports our wider objectives on justice and accountability. With our Dutch colleagues, the UK has successfully led a recent initiative to develop an international agreement that will grant the ICMP a new, international legal status."}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-12-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-12-04T15:54:11.84Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-11-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "International Commission on Missing Persons"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what support has been provided by the United Kingdom to the International Commission on Missing Persons in each of the last three years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4168", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale"}
], "uin" : "HL3190"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/166207", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/166207/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "Yes. The UK and the Netherlands have led a recent initiative to draft an international agreement that will accord the International Commission on Missing Persons the status of an international organisation and we expect that the UK and other States will sign the agreement shortly."}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-12-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-12-04T15:54:38.26Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-11-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "International Commission on Missing Persons"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government whether they expect to secure international agreement on the legal status of the International Commission on Missing Persons as an international organisation.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4168", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale"}
], "uin" : "HL3191"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/166208", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/166208/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Our Ambassador in Tel Aviv raised the high number of Palestinian civilians killed \u2013 including ten children \u2013 at the hands of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) since the start of 2014 with a high-ranking Israeli military official on 26 November. He urged robust investigation into these incidents, and encouraged restraint on the IDF\u2019s use of live fire to control crowds.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-12-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-12-04T16:00:27.027Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-11-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Middle East"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what representations they will make to the government of Israel in the light of the finding by Defence for Children International that 10 children were killed by live ammunition in the West Bank in 2014.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/200", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Tonge"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Tonge"} ], "uin" : "HL3192"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/166214", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/166214/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We are deeply concerned about human rights abuses being experienced by Crimean Tatars, including a new wave of disappearances, as noted in the latest report by the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights and by the Council of Europe\u2019s Commissioner for Human Rights. The UK Permanent Representative to the UN in New York raised our concerns about the intimidation and harassment of Crimean Tatars, ethnic Ukrainians and all those who have refused Russian citizenship in Crimea in his statement to the UN Security Council on 12 November.<\/p>
<\/p>
We call on Russia to use its influence to ensure that the de facto authorities in Crimea do not violate the human rights and fundamental freedoms of any of those living there, and allow free and unconditional access by international humanitarian and human rights organisations to Crimea at all times.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-12-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-12-09T14:29:04.1Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-11-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Ukraine"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what is their assessment of recent allegations that abductions, murders, illegal arrests and searches, and judicial repression have been carried out against the Tatar population of the Crimea; and whether they have requested that the United Nations send rapporteurs to that region.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2018", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hylton"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hylton"} ], "uin" : "HL3198"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/166312", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/166312/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "Estimates of the number of political prisoners in Burma vary. Organisations such as the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) (AAPPB) monitor the figures and provide regular status updates. Their latest from October, indicates that there are 75 political prisoners remaining in Burma, down from 2,073 in March 2011. Our Embassy in Rangoon remains in close contact with the AAPPB and other civil society networks to support their work. We continue to press for the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Burma."} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1408", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Swire"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Devon"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Hugo Swire"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-12-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-12-01T17:53:36.593Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-11-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Burma"} , "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 estimate he has made of the number of political prisoners in Burmese prisons.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4076", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Valerie Vaz"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Walsall South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Valerie Vaz"} ], "uin" : "216060"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/166313", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/166313/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK\u2019s goal is to prevent Iran from attaining a nuclear weapons capability. The UK, with E3+3 partners and Iran, will use the extended negotiating period until end of June to explore fully a deal which achieves this by restricting key elements of Iran\u2019s programme and by building confidence over time in the peaceful nature of Iran\u2019s programme. Sanctions will only be lifted in return for concrete actions which address our proliferation concerns.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bournemouth East"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Tobias Ellwood"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-12-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-12-03T12:56:10.08Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-11-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Iran"} , "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 his priorities are for the extended negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme; and if he will make it his policy to withhold UK support for lifting sanctions until his Department sees irrefutable evidence of Iran dismantling any nuclear weapons capability.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1388", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Belfast North"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Nigel Dodds"} ], "uin" : "216031"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/166314", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/166314/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government\u2019s Action Plan commitment to keep the provision of remedy under review reflects the importance we attach to this pillar of the UN Guiding Principles. We will continue to monitor the provision of both judicial and non-judicial mechanisms, including as part of our review of the Action Plan in 2015.<\/p>
The UN Guiding Principles are a voluntary framework, but we have been ready to back these up with specific measures, including regulatory measures, where necessary. Examples of this are the amendment to the Companies Act, introduced on 1 October 2013, which requires Listed Companies to report on their human rights impacts and which will be strengthened further in 2016, and the Modern Slavery Bill, which includes provisions for greater transparency in supply chains.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/15", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir David Lidington"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Aylesbury"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr David Lidington"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-12-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-12-03T17:44:07.883Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-11-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Business: Human Rights"} , "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, how the Government plans to take forward the commitment to review access to justice set out in the Government's Business and Human Rights Action Plan.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4082", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lisa Nandy"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wigan"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lisa Nandy"} ], "uin" : "216000"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/166315", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/166315/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK\u2019s National Action Plan reflects the Government\u2019s commitment to implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. We are committed to reviewing and issuing an updated Action Plan by the end of 2015. We will use a cross-Government approach, as we did when developing the Action Plan, to reflect the fact that business and human rights goes across a broad range of Government activities and responsibilities. We continue to report back each year on progress in our Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/15", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir David Lidington"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Aylesbury"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr David Lidington"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-12-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-12-03T15:10:15.38Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-11-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Business: Human Rights"} , "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 the timetable is for review of the Government's Business and Human Rights Action Plan.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4082", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lisa Nandy"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wigan"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lisa Nandy"} ], "uin" : "216001"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "next" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?date=2014-11-26&_page=1&sessionNumber=4&max-ddpModified.=2016-10-27T19%3A39%3A36.467Z&max-dateTabled=2016-10-27&answeringDeptSortName=Foreign+and+Commonwealth+Office", "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 30, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }