Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1679278

registered interest
date	19/12/2023
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	Afghanistan: Refugees
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to remarks by Lord Sharpe of Epsom on 18 December 2023 (HL Deb cols 2046–2049), what plans they have to respond to the recommendations of the Hazara Inquiry report, published in September 2022, and which of its recommendations, if any, they plan to take forward.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL1317
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/01/2024 answer text <p>The report has done much to raise awareness of the situation of Hazaras in Afghanistan. In line with the report's recommendations, we continue to monitor and document discrimination and abuses against Hazaras, both through the UN and other institutions, and through our own programme work. The FCDO does not plan to respond further to the report.</p><p>More broadly, officials from the UK Mission to Afghanistan regularly press Taliban acting ministers and Afghan officials to protect religious and ethnic minorities, including Shia Muslims and Hazara communities.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 08/01/2024 12:31:15 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1669322

registered interest
date	13/11/2023
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	Afghanistan: Refugees
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the human rights implications of the forced deportations of Afghans from Pakistan.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL197
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/11/2023 answer text <p>The UK Government continues to monitor the return of Afghans from Pakistan. Pakistan has a long history of welcoming vulnerable refugees and we urge them to respect the human rights of all Afghans in Pakistan. We are working with the UN Refugee Agency to ensure Pakistan adheres to its international human rights obligations. Since September, we have committed £18.5 million to the International Organisation for Migration in Afghanistan to support vulnerable undocumented people returning from Pakistan and Iran. We are monitoring the situation in Afghanistan, including the humanitarian and human rights implications. We note the Taliban's creation of a Refugee Commission to aid the resettlement of people returning.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon grouped question UIN HL198 HL199 question first answered 29/11/2023 16:53:31 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1669323

registered interest
date	13/11/2023
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	Afghanistan: Refugees
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the impact of the deportations of Afghans from Pakistan on religious minorities affected by the deportations, particularly (1) Hazaras, and (2) Ahmadis.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL198
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/11/2023 answer text <p>The UK Government continues to monitor the return of Afghans from Pakistan. Pakistan has a long history of welcoming vulnerable refugees and we urge them to respect the human rights of all Afghans in Pakistan. We are working with the UN Refugee Agency to ensure Pakistan adheres to its international human rights obligations. Since September, we have committed £18.5 million to the International Organisation for Migration in Afghanistan to support vulnerable undocumented people returning from Pakistan and Iran. We are monitoring the situation in Afghanistan, including the humanitarian and human rights implications. We note the Taliban's creation of a Refugee Commission to aid the resettlement of people returning.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon grouped question UIN HL197 HL199 question first answered 29/11/2023 16:53:31 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1669324

registered interest
date	13/11/2023
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	Afghanistan: Refugees
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the level of instability in Afghanistan as a result of the mass deportations of Afghans from Pakistan.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL199
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/11/2023 answer text <p>The UK Government continues to monitor the return of Afghans from Pakistan. Pakistan has a long history of welcoming vulnerable refugees and we urge them to respect the human rights of all Afghans in Pakistan. We are working with the UN Refugee Agency to ensure Pakistan adheres to its international human rights obligations. Since September, we have committed £18.5 million to the International Organisation for Migration in Afghanistan to support vulnerable undocumented people returning from Pakistan and Iran. We are monitoring the situation in Afghanistan, including the humanitarian and human rights implications. We note the Taliban's creation of a Refugee Commission to aid the resettlement of people returning.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon grouped question UIN HL197 HL198 question first answered 29/11/2023 16:53:31 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1606097

registered interest
date	21/03/2023
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	Afghanistan: Refugees
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) the situation of (a) Afghan refugees who lack identification documents, and (b) those from Hazara backgrounds, living in Pakistan, and (2) reports that those groups lack access to the services of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, including medical treatment, accommodation, education and documentation, especially in the city of Islamabad.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL6658
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2023 answer text <p>The UK is a member of Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees, a group established in 2019 to bring together regional governments, the United Nations and donors to support long-term solutions for Afghan refugees. We encourage Pakistan to include all refugees in services provided to the wider population. We regularly raise the mistreatment and exclusion of minority religious and ethnic groups with the Government at a senior level. The Foreign Secretary raised Afghanistan, including the relocation of eligible Afghans, when he spoke to Foreign Minister Bhutto-Zardari on 20 December 2022. The UK has provided £6.5 million to support refugee preparedness in Pakistan and offer vital health services and additional nutritional support to communities hosting refugees.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon grouped question UIN HL6659 question first answered 04/04/2023 12:03:11 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1606098

registered interest
date	21/03/2023
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	Afghanistan: Refugees
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that Hazara refugees in Pakistan have been denied legal refugee status by the government of Pakistan.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL6659
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2023 answer text <p>The UK is a member of Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees, a group established in 2019 to bring together regional governments, the United Nations and donors to support long-term solutions for Afghan refugees. We encourage Pakistan to include all refugees in services provided to the wider population. We regularly raise the mistreatment and exclusion of minority religious and ethnic groups with the Government at a senior level. The Foreign Secretary raised Afghanistan, including the relocation of eligible Afghans, when he spoke to Foreign Minister Bhutto-Zardari on 20 December 2022. The UK has provided £6.5 million to support refugee preparedness in Pakistan and offer vital health services and additional nutritional support to communities hosting refugees.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon grouped question UIN HL6658 question first answered 04/04/2023 12:03:11 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1606099

registered interest
date	21/03/2023
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	Afghanistan: Refugees
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether Afghan refugees from Christian, Ahmadi, Baha’i, and atheist backgrounds have their freedom of religion or belief protected in (1) Afghanistan and (2) Iran.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL6660
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2023 answer text <p>In Afghanistan, since the Taliban took control, the marginalisation of minorities has increased. Religious minorities are often victims of targeted attacks. FCDO officials regularly press the Taliban to protect religious minorities.</p><p>Iran hosts around 4.5 million Afghans from different backgrounds almost all of whom live side by side with Iranians in their host communities. Nonetheless, Iran has a track record of systematic discrimination, harassment, and targeting of minority religious and ethnic communities. We continue to raise human rights, including freedom of religion or belief, with Iran at all appropriate opportunities. The UK is committed to working with our partners to hold Iran to account for its dire human rights record.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 04/04/2023 12:04:02 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1467970

registered interest
date	06/06/2022
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	Afghanistan: Refugees
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 26 May (HL Deb col 1011) regarding evacuation from Afghanistan, how many evacuations and resettlements from Afghanistan to the UK have occurred; how many people are awaiting resettlement in camps in Pakistan and Iran; how many of these people are from at-risk minority groups; and what permanent resettlement assistance is being provided by other countries, including those in the Gulf and Central Asia.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL600
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2022 answer text <p>During and since the evacuation from Afghanistan in August last year, around 20,000 people have been brought to safety, including British Nationals and their families, Afghans who loyally served the UK and others identified as particularly at risk. According to UNHCR there are currently just over 2 million registered refugees from Afghanistan in Pakistan and Iran. Very few of these refugees are eligible to come to the UK. Under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme, UNHCR can refer some Afghan refugees to the UK for resettlement. There are currently over 800 Afghan citizens assessed as provisionally eligible to come to the UK who the Government is supporting in third countries while they await clearance to come to the UK. We do not collect comprehensive data on the minority status of eligible individuals. The Government is grateful to countries providing shelter for refugees and assisting the UK in helping eligible Afghans come to the UK.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 20/06/2022 15:49:11 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1456879

registered interest
date	05/04/2022
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	Afghanistan: Refugees
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan regarding that government's plans (1) to ratify the Refugee Convention, and (2) to provide assistance to Hazaras from Afghanistan; and what discussions they have had with that government about the number of Afghan refugees who have fled to Pakistan, including (a) their estimate of how many are Hazaras, and (b) the assistance they received upon arrival.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL7667
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2022 answer text <p>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'. FCDO officials have discussed potential refugee flows from Afghanistan with the Government of Pakistan, and what assistance is available to new refugee arrivals.</p><p>The Government of Pakistan hosts 1.4 million Afghan refugees. UNHCR reports that between Jan 2021 and Feb 2022 117,547 Afghans arrived in Pakistan, 95,145 of whom arrived since August 2021. The ethnic breakdown of arrivals is 62% Pashtun, 17% Hazara, 11% Tajuk and 9% other. In Islamabad, the FCDO is providing assistance through the UN (UNHCR, WFP and UNICEF) to support existing and new refugee arrivals who may have entered Pakistan.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 21/04/2022 15:59:59 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1354402

registered interest
date	09/09/2021
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	Afghanistan: Refugees
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions the Foreign Secretary had with his Pakistani counterparts during his recent visit to that country regarding the plight of Afghanistan ethnic and religious minorities fleeing through Pakistan, whether the Foreign Secretary asked for assistance in assisting those Afghans to reach safe third countries; and, if so, what response he received.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL2570
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/09/2021 answer text <p>The former Foreign Secretary met with Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Qureshi on 3 September and discussed working together, to support the people of Afghanistan and to ensure safe passage out of the country. We will continue to explore all routes (air or land) with neighbouring countries, and what means can be put in place for Afghans to come to the UK, where that is their most appropriate destination. The PM is clear that we will support vulnerable and at risk groups, including ethnic and religious minorities, to come to the UK where appropriate.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 23/09/2021 16:03:00 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool