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1379286

registered interest
date	17/11/2021
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Ethiopia: Violence
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help prevent an escalation of religious or belief-based violence in Ethiopia and the surrounding region.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	76690
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/11/2021 answer text <p>We are extremely concerned by reports of widespread human rights violations and abuses in Ethiopia committed by all sides to the conflict. The Foreign Secretary spoke to Deputy Prime Minister Demeke on 5 November. Our Ambassador in Addis Ababa spoke to Prime Minister Abiy on 28 October. I spoke at a Westminster Hall Debate on 3 November and highlighted the horrific scale and nature of human rights abuses against civilians as reported by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. It is essential that all those responsible for human rights violations and abuses be held to account. All parties must implement the report's recommendations and ensure that victims have access to support. We have stressed the need for Ethiopia to safeguard its incredible diversity of faith and identity in order to uphold freedom of religion and belief. The Foreign Secretary, our Ambassador in Addis Ababa and I continue to raise human rights issues in our discussions with the Ethiopian Government and more broadly we have reminded all warring parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law. I raised our concerns about ethnic profiling and detentions with Ethiopian State Minister Redwan on 18 November. Our priority is to ensure that Ethiopians, irrespective of ethnicity, religion and political affiliation, receive life-saving aid and that humanitarian access to areas affected by conflict and insecurity is restored.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 24/11/2021 15:44:21 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1379287

registered interest
date	17/11/2021
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Turkey: Minority Groups
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department has taken in response to evidence of continued human rights abuses and persecution of Kurds, Christians, Jews, Armenians, and other minorities in Turkey.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	76691
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/11/2021 answer text <p>We strongly support all minority groups in Turkey and encourage the Turkish authorities to safeguard their welfare and respect their human rights, in line with provisions in the Turkish constitution that protect the rights of religious minorities. We participated in the 2020 UN Universal Periodic Review of Turkey and pressed particularly for removing obstacles to freedom of expression, including freedom of religion or belief. We will continue to engage with Turkey on these important issues and monitor the treatment of minorities, as well as government moves to close down the People's Democratic Party (HDP).</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton grouped question UIN 76692 question first answered 25/11/2021 17:51:37 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1379288

registered interest
date	17/11/2021
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Turkey: Minority Groups
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of the Turkish Government's policies on political pluralism and freedom of association on religious or belief minority groups in that country.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	76692
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/11/2021 answer text <p>We strongly support all minority groups in Turkey and encourage the Turkish authorities to safeguard their welfare and respect their human rights, in line with provisions in the Turkish constitution that protect the rights of religious minorities. We participated in the 2020 UN Universal Periodic Review of Turkey and pressed particularly for removing obstacles to freedom of expression, including freedom of religion or belief. We will continue to engage with Turkey on these important issues and monitor the treatment of minorities, as well as government moves to close down the People's Democratic Party (HDP).</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton grouped question UIN 76691 question first answered 25/11/2021 17:51:37 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1379317

registered interest
date	17/11/2021
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	British Council: Closures
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to publish the business case for the closure of British Council offices.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
uin	76782
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2021 answer text <p>The unprecedented impact of the pandemic required the government to take tough but necessary decisions on the British Council's global presence and reinforced the need for the Council to do more to adapt to a changing world. As the interim CEO stated in June 2021, the British Council will stop spending Grant-in-Aid funding in 11 countries and deliver Grant-in-Aid programming through offices in other countries in a further nine. Decisions on presence were only taken after a thorough assessment - in partnership with the Council - of how the British Council's priorities link to the Government's foreign policy objectives, as set out in the Integrated Review, and how the Council can achieve the greatest impact. The British Council are in the process of determining their future operating model, which is subject to staff consultation, and this remains an operational matter for the Council.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 23/11/2021 09:25:26 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1379318

registered interest
date	17/11/2021
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	UNRWA: Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much the Government has (a) pledged to UNRWA in the financial year 2021-22 and (b) dispersed to UNRWA as of 17 November 2021.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
uin	76783
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2021 answer text <p>In Financial Year 2021/22 the United Kingdom (UK) has provided £11m to United Nations Relief and Works Agency's (UNRWA) core programme budget to help UNRWA provide basic education to more than 533,000 children a year (half of which are girls), access to health services for 3.5 million Palestinian refugees and social safety net assistance for around 255,000 of the most vulnerable across the region. The UK also provided £3.2m to the UNRWA's emergency appeal in May 2021 to help provide basic services, such as healthcare and clean water following the Gaza conflict.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 22/11/2021 16:44:46 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1379319

registered interest
date	17/11/2021
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Iran: Political Prisoners
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the matters raised in EDM 615 on Recognising the 1988 massacre in Iran.
tabling member constituency	Chipping Barnet
tabling member printed	Theresa Villiers
uin	76606
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2021 answer text <p>The UK Government takes any allegations of extrajudicial killings seriously, and we have always been clear that Iran must uphold its international legal obligations, including conducting thorough and independent investigations into suspected human rights violations, both past and present. We strongly support the work done by the Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran and urge Iran to allow him access to the country, so that he can also conduct research and investigations into human rights concerns reported there, including the events of 1988.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 22/11/2021 17:33:09 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	1500 label Biography information for Theresa Villiers

1379352

registered interest
date	17/11/2021
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Montenegro: Russia
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to her Russian counterparts on Russian interference in religious institutions in Montenegro.
tabling member constituency	Shrewsbury and Atcham
tabling member printed	Daniel Kawczynski
uin	76625
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/11/2021 answer text The Foreign Secretary has not discussed Montenegrin religious institutions bilaterally with her Russian counterpart Foreign Minister Lavrov. In the context of tensions in September surrounding the inauguration of the new Metropolitan of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro, alongside likeminded partners, we strongly condemned all forms of violence. We called for all involved to de-escalate tensions and establish a democratic, inclusive and constructive dialogue, while respecting religious freedoms, freedom of expression, and freedom to peaceful assembly, as well as the need for individuals to be held to account for their actions. answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 25/11/2021 17:45:34 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	1566 label Biography information for Daniel Kawczynski

1379354

registered interest
date	17/11/2021
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Bosnia and Herzegovina: NATO
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support her Department is providing to assist Bosnia and Herzegovina with joining NATO.
tabling member constituency	Shrewsbury and Atcham
tabling member printed	Daniel Kawczynski
uin	76626
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/11/2021 answer text <p>The UK supports Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) aspirations to become a NATO member, when it meets the conditions. Working in close cooperation other members of the Alliance, the UK has helped the BiH MoD develop its medical capacities, support to civilian organisations, gender integration, officer training, international interoperability, and assisted in BiH's programme of reforms with NATO. We also support the NATO HQ in Sarajevo, including through the secondment of UK staff officers, who are playing an important role in building the capacity of the BiH Armed Forces.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 25/11/2021 17:48:34 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	1566 label Biography information for Daniel Kawczynski

1379355

registered interest
date	17/11/2021
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	North Macedonia: Politics and Government
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations her Department has made to the (a) government of North Macedonian on improving prison conditions in that country prior to its application to join the European Union and (b) government of Russia on possible Russian interference in North Macedonian elections.
tabling member constituency	Shrewsbury and Atcham
tabling member printed	Daniel Kawczynski
uin	76627
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/11/2021 answer text <p>The UK supports North Macedonia through a range of projects, including to improve the functioning of prisons and electoral processes. I visited North Macedonia in October and discussed the steps the Government of North Macedonia is taking to achieve greater Euro-Atlantic integration with Deputy Prime Minister Dimitrov. I also discussed security issues, including recent interference from Russia, with Foreign Minister Osmani. The UK's approach to Russia more broadly is set out in the Integrated Review: the UK takes the threat from the Russian State extremely seriously and we will continue to call out Russian aggression.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 25/11/2021 17:51:12 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	1566 label Biography information for Daniel Kawczynski

1379358

registered interest
date	17/11/2021
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that Afghans who are (a) not eligible under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy and (b) at risk of harm from the Taliban in Afghanistan are given assistance before the Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme opens.
tabling member constituency	Wentworth and Dearne
tabling member printed	John Healey
uin	76576
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2021 answer text <p>We have committed to provide £286 million in humanitarian and development support and continue to explore the best ways to provide support to the Afghan people. The Prime Minister's Special Representative for the Afghan Transition, Sir Simon Gass, and Chargé d'Affaires of the UK Mission to Afghanistan in Doha, Dr Martin Longden, travelled to Afghanistan on 5 October to hold talks with the Taliban. Sir Simon and Dr Longden stressed the need to ensure continued safe passage for those who wish to leave the country and respect human rights, including the rights of minorities and women and girls.</p><p>During Op PITTING we were able to get approval for evacuation of a number of Afghan nationals, to whom the Home Secretary agreed to grant Leave Outside the Rules to enter the UK, in addition to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy contingent and British nationals. These people were identified as being particularly at risk and not all were able to leave before the end of the Operation. Providing assistance to those individuals eligible for HMG support remains our priority.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 22/11/2021 17:38:39 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	400 label Biography information for John Healey