The Government\u2019s position has not changed. As the Prime Minister\u2019s former Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion and Belief, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, said in Parliament on 25 July,<\/p>
\u201cI note the time and energy that the International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China has dedicated to this issue. Officials have reviewed the evidence thoroughly. While the evidence is not incontrovertible, we take these allegations seriously and have consulted the World Health Organization and international partners. The evidence provided disturbing details about the mistreatment of Falun Gong practitioners, and raised worrying questions about China\u2019s transplant system. We continue to monitor all available evidence.\u201d<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4053", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Derbyshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mrs Heather Wheeler"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-21T16:35:28.203Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "China: Prisoners"} , "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, with reference to the Answer of 3 September 2019 to Question 281598 on Organs, what assessment the Government has made of the validity of reports of organ harvesting in the People\u2019s Republic of China; and what steps the Government is taking in response to those reports.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1583", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Ham"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lyn Brown"} ], "uin" : "1644"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1150121", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1150121/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and other international organisations act independently of the British Government, and as such we cannot disclose, nor oblige them to disclose, the details of their work. Our most recent consultation with the WHO relating to organ harvesting in China took place on 15 May.<\/p>
We consult and share assessments with a wide range of human rights and international organisations on the basis of confidentiality. In order to maintain working relationships with these organisations, we do not publish details of discussions between them and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.<\/p>
\u200b<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4053", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Derbyshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mrs Heather Wheeler"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-23T11:07:50.167Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "China: Prisoners"} , "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, with reference to the Answer of 1 October 2019 to Question HL17757 on China: Prisoners, if he will publish the evidence relating to organ harvesting in the People\u2019s Republic of China provided to his Department by (a) the World Health Organisation and (b) other international organisations.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1583", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Ham"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lyn Brown"} ], "uin" : "962"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1150122", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1150122/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and other international organisations act independently of the British Government, and as such we cannot disclose, nor oblige them to disclose, the details of their work. Our most recent consultation with the WHO relating to organ harvesting in China took place on 15 May.<\/p>
We consult and share assessments with a wide range of human rights and international organisations on the basis of confidentiality. In order to maintain working relationships with these organisations, we do not publish details of discussions between them and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4053", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Derbyshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mrs Heather Wheeler"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-21T16:27:58.177Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "China: Prisoners"} , "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, with reference to the Answer of 1 October 2019 to Question HL17757 on China: Prisoners, when his Department held its most recent consultation relating to organ harvesting in the People\u2019s Republic of China with (a) the World Health Organisation and (b) other international organisations.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1583", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Ham"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lyn Brown"} ], "uin" : "963"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1150123", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1150123/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
There is credible evidence that Falun Gong practitioners are subjected to serious mistreatment. We regularly raise concerns with China on the treatment of religious and ethnic minorities, and continue to monitor evidence surrounding abuses taking place within China\u2019s transplant system.<\/p>
On 26 September during an Urgent Question on Hong Kong, the Foreign Secretary set out the UK\u2019s position on the persecution of religious groups in China, including Falun Gong practitioners, on the grounds of religion or belief. As the Foreign Secretary stated in the House, we are concerned that Chinese Government guidelines on unapproved religious activity, education and travel may restrict the peaceful observation of those rights. Further, at the 41st<\/sup> session of the UN Human Rights Council in July 2019, we raised our concerns about freedom of religion or belief in our \u2018Item 4\u2019 national statement.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4053", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Derbyshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mrs Heather Wheeler"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-21T16:32:52.143Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "China: Transplant Surgery"}
, "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, with reference to the Answer of 3 September 2019 to Question 281598 on Organs, what steps the Government plans to take in response to reports of (a) the mistreatment of Falun Gong practitioners and (b) abuses taking place within China\u2019s transplant system.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1583", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Ham"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lyn Brown"}
], "uin" : "964"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1150124", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1150124/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The UK is concerned by data that suggests a surge in forest fires in the Amazon rainforest in 2019. Whilst the data is complex there is evidence that indicates this surge in fires follows months of accelerated deforestation. In recent years we have seen some evidence that climate change is making forest fires more frequent and severe in Amazon countries and elsewhere. Unlike previous years when El Niño caused severe droughts, climatic conditions were probably not a significant factor this year\u2019s increase in fires.<\/p> We agree that the interests of the Myanmar military and companies linked to it are deeply entrenched across Myanmar's economy. But targeted sanctions on specific commercial entities are difficult, as those entities are not always wholly controlled by the military. Any decision to impose sanctions on such entities would have to be carefully considered. Targeting companies or whole sectors could disrupt Myanmar\u2019s financial system, harm economic development across Myanmar and inadvertently harm vulnerable people. We continue to discuss with international partners whether we can add further targeted sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations in a way that minimises the impact on the people of Myanmar.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4053", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Derbyshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mrs Heather Wheeler"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-08T12:55:10.96Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Burma: Arms Trade"}
, "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 he will make it his policy (a) to impose sanctions on companies linked to the military of Myanmar and (b) to take diplomatic steps to encourage other countries to impose such sanctions.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1583", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Ham"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lyn Brown"}
], "uin" : "294693"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1148339", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1148339/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " In order to prevent DFID Myanmar funds going to military owned companies we already have enhanced private sector due diligence in place. We are constantly working to strengthen this process. DFID Myanmar has recently written to its partners asking them to review their supply chains to check UK money is not being used to purchase goods and services from companies identified as military owned by the recent UN Fact Finding Mission report on Myanmar.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4062", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Richmond Park"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Zac Goldsmith"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-08T12:51:34.1Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Burma: Overseas Aid"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will include conditions in UK aid grants and loans to ensure that recipients do not use the grants to purchase goods and services from companies linked to the military of Myanmar.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1583", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Ham"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lyn Brown"}
], "uin" : "294694"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1148231", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1148231/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Department currently has no plans to make an assessment of the methodological adequacy of the October 2019 Outpatient Hysteroscopy Survey.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4008", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gosport"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Dinenage"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-08T10:47:00.737Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Gynaecology: Surveys"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the methodological adequacy of the October 2019 Outpatient Hysteroscopy Survey being conducted by the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1583", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Ham"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lyn Brown"}
], "uin" : "294122"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1148232", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1148232/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Outpatient Hysteroscopy survey was organised by the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy.<\/p> <\/p> Neither the Department nor NHS England were involved in designing this survey.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4008", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gosport"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Dinenage"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-08T10:45:33.827Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Gynaecology: Surveys"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, (a) which patient groups were consulted and (b) what other patient involvement there was during the design of the October 2019 Outpatient Hysteroscopy Survey being conducted by the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1583", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Ham"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lyn Brown"}
], "uin" : "294123"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1147937", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1147937/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Figures on number of active cases managed by the Child Maintenance Service broken down by Parliamentary constituency are intended for future publication.<\/p> <\/p> The Department currently publishes figures which show geographical breakdowns to Local Authority level of the main figures from the Child Maintenance Service statistics to June 2019.<\/p> <\/p> These can be found here:<\/p>
Amazon countries are established key partners for the UK in our collective efforts to promote sustainable growth, tackle deforestation and mitigate climate change. As stated in my response on 2 October 2019, the UK supports a number initiatives, as part of multilateral climate funds and the UK\u2019s bilateral relationship with several Amazon countries, that aim to: i) improve the capacity of governments to reduce deforestation; ii) incentivise forest protection through results based payments; iii) enable businesses and communities to grow rural economies sustainably whilst protecting standing forests.<\/p>
These initiatives continuously monitor and implement mitigation strategies for risks, such as increasing deforestation, in the course of their ongoing activities.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4134", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kwasi Kwarteng"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Spelthorne"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kwasi Kwarteng"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-23T12:58:52.39Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Rainforests: Amazonia"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Answer of 2 October 2019 to Question 290776 on Rain Forests: Amazonia, what assessment her Department has made of recent trends in the level of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1583", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Ham"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lyn Brown"}
], "uin" : "965"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1148338", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1148338/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "