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1662161

registered interest
date	19/09/2023
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	Hong Kong: Press Freedom
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hong Kong, Inquiry into Media Freedom in Hong Kong: The Case of Jimmy Lai and Apple Daily, published in April 2023; and what steps they are taking to respond to its recommendations.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL10296
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/10/2023 answer text <p>We welcome the All-Party Parliamentary Group's (APPG) report of 24 April on Media Freedom in Hong Kong. Under the National Security Law, a once free and vibrant press in Hong Kong has been severely diminished. As the Foreign Secretary made clear in the latest Six-monthly Report to Parliament, published on 19 September, Jimmy Lai and others are being deliberately targeted under the guise of national security to silence criticism. The Foreign Secretary has made clear our views on the erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy, rights and freedoms and raised Mr Lai's case at the UN Human Rights Council and with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, most recently on 31 August. We were pleased to host a side event on media freedom in Hong Kong at the UN Human Rights Council on 27 September to consider these issues further.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 03/10/2023 15:03:55 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1662162

registered interest
date	19/09/2023
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	Democratic Republic of Congo: Cobalt
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to their counterparts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in relation to the issues of fair pricing and child labour in the cobalt mining industry; and what practical assistance they have provided to that country to address these issues.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL10297
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/10/2023 answer text <p>Illicit mining in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the use of child labour remains a problem. We regularly raise the issue of child labour in DRC's mining sector both with the DRC government and through multilateral fora such as the Human Rights Council. The UK supports the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) which aims to improve transparency and governance in the mining sector. The UK provided funding to the &quot;Effective Approaches to Ending the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Fragile Contexts&quot;, a multi-stakeholder consortium which develops innovative approaches to ending child labour in DRC. In addition, the Home Office is funding work through the Modern Slavery Innovation Fund with the objective of strengthening partnerships to prevent and remedy forced labour in supply chains from DRC.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 03/10/2023 15:05:42 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1662163

registered interest
date	19/09/2023
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	Democratic Republic of Congo: Ethnic Groups
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the situation of the Banyamulenge and Hema minority communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), given the recent attacks against them; what representations they have made to their counterparts in the DRC concerning these communities; and what practical assistance they have provided to support the DRC in assisting these communities.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL10298
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/10/2023 answer text <p>The UK condemns all forms of hate speech and violence committed against all individuals and communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). We continue to actively lobby the Government of DRC to tackle the drivers of conflict, introduce human rights reforms, combat impunity, and push for the imposition of sanctions through the UN against individuals who have committed serious human rights abuses. We will continue to work with members of the international community to counter hate speech and incitement to violence in DRC through shared messaging, both private and public. We are fully supportive of the work carried out by the UN peacekeeping Mission, MONUSCO, and note their vital work in providing protection for those displaced from these communities in Ituri and South Kivu. We contribute financially and militarily to MONUSCO, and as permanent members of the UN Security Council, continue to ensure that the protection of civilians remains central to MONUSCO's mandate.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 03/10/2023 15:08:03 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1662164

registered interest
date	19/09/2023
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 Korea: Refugees
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of the Republic of Korea about reports that an estimated 2,000 North Korean refugees will be forcibly repatriated to North Korea by the People's Republic of China; and whether they intend to take joint action with the Republic of Korea on behalf of these refugees.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL10299
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/10/2023 answer text <p>As the UK and partners regularly make clear, we call on states not to forcibly repatriate refugees to countries where they could face further human rights abuses. At the 17 August UN Security Council meeting on the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the UK called on all states to abide by the principle of non-refoulement. The UK continues to engage with allies including the Republic of Korea (ROK) to hold the DPRK to account for its egregious human rights record.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 03/10/2023 15:06:50 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1662165

registered interest
date	19/09/2023
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 Korea: Refugees
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to raise reports that an estimated 2,000 North Korean refugees will be forcibly repatriated to North Korea by the People's Republic of China (1) with the People's Republic of China, and (2) in the United Nations Human Rights Council; and whether they will remind the People's Republic of China of its obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL10300
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/10/2023 answer text <p>We are aware of reports of North Korean escapees detained in China. The UK actively promotes the implementation of the 1951 UN Refugee Convention which asserts that a refugee should not be returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom. We emphasise directly to the Chinese authorities that they should not be detaining North Korean refugees with the intention of returning them to North Korea. At the 17 August UN Security Council meeting on the human rights situation in the DPRK, the UK called on all states to abide by the principle of non-refoulement.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 03/10/2023 15:01:33 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1662173

registered interest
date	19/09/2023
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	Overseas Students: West Africa
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what arrangements they are making to ensure students from Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso are able (1) to begin planned studies, or (2) continue to be able to study, in the UK following the coups in those nations.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL10308
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/10/2023 answer text <p>Despite ongoing political instability, we continue to award Chevening scholarships to successful candidates from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso to study for post graduate degrees in the UK. For the academic year 2023-2024 we have two scholars from Niger and two from Mali. All scholars receive support with their visa applications and travel arrangements from the Chevening Secretariat.</p><p>The UK also continues to provide support for education in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso through the Education Cannot Wait Fund, a multilateral fund which supports the provision of education interventions targeting children in emergencies, and through Global Partnership for Education which supports the transformation of education systems globally, including in Burkina Faso and Mali.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 03/10/2023 15:38:07 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1662175

registered interest
date	19/09/2023
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	Libya: Floods
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, following reports that 20,000 pregnant women in the Libyan city of Derna are in urgent need of healthcare, what specific assistance they are providing to women and girls there.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL10310
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/10/2023 answer text <p>The FCDO is closely monitoring the impact of Storm Daniel on Eastern Libya and utilising humanitarian needs assessments to inform our response. The UK has already delivered over 5,000 emergency shelter items, over 800 portable solar lanterns, over 2,000 water filters and over 1,000 hygiene kits. These items will be distributed by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN's International Organization for Migration to those in need, including women and girls affected by the devastating flooding. We will continue to coordinate with partners on the ground to understand the humanitarian health needs, including for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 03/10/2023 15:29:22 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1662178

registered interest
date	19/09/2023
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	Imports: Cyprus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to begin directly importing Turkish Cypriot products, including fresh produce, to the UK from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
tabling member printed	Lord Hannan of Kingsclere
uin	HL10313
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/10/2023 answer text <p>In accordance with the rest of the international community, with the sole exception of Turkey, the UK does not recognise the self-declared &quot;Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus&quot; as an independent state. Several UN Security Council Resolutions and other multilateral agreements also limit links between UK and the north. The UK has no intention to begin directly importing products. We continue to believe that a just and lasting settlement in Cyprus is the best means of resolving the difficulties caused by the division of the island.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 03/10/2023 15:34:27 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4905 label Biography information for Lord Hannan of Kingsclere

1662180

registered interest
date	19/09/2023
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	Israel: Palestinians
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) reports that leading Israeli public figures such as the former head of the Mossad intelligence agency, Tamir Pardo, and the former speaker of the Israeli parliament, Avraham Burg, have stated that the State of Israel is imposing a form of apartheid on the Palestinian people; and (2) the statement made by members of The Elders organisation, including Mary Robinson and Ban Ki-moon, after visiting the West Bank, of the “ever-growing evidence that the situation meets the international legal definition of apartheid”.
tabling member printed	Baroness Janke
uin	HL10315
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/10/2023 answer text <p>The UK is committed to making progress towards a two-state solution, as the Foreign Secretary made clear during his recent visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on 11-13 September.</p><p>However, the UK does not agree with the use of this terminology. Any judgment on whether serious crimes under international law have occurred is a matter for judicial decision, rather than for governments or non-judicial bodies. As a friend of Israel, we have a regular dialogue on human rights. This includes encouraging the Government of Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and do all it can to uphold the values of equality for all.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 03/10/2023 15:02:32 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4337 label Biography information for Baroness Janke

1662186

registered interest
date	19/09/2023
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	Global South
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what is their definition of the 'Global South' when they use that term.
tabling member printed	Lord Patten
uin	HL10321
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/10/2023 answer text <p>The term 'Global South' is commonly used to refer to developing countries. However, we recognise that our lower- and middle-income partners are not a homogenous block. As set out in our response to the International Development Committee's report on Racism in the Aid Sector, published in December 2022, we continually review the impact of our language. This is an important part of how we will modernise our long-term partnerships, in line with the ambition set out by the Minister for Development and Africa in his Chatham House speech in April 2023.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 03/10/2023 14:11:41 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten