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520639

registered interest
date	23/05/2016
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Saudi Arabia: Arms Trade
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policy on arms export licences to Saudi Arabia of the recent reports that a BL755 cluster bomb made by UK firm Hunting Engineering Ltd was found to be in use against civilians in Yemen.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Hall Green
tabling member printed	Mr Roger Godsiff
uin	38054
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2016 answer text <p>We are aware of recent reports that the Coalition may have used cluster munitions in Yemen. We have raised this issue with the Saudi Arabian authorities and, in line with our obligations under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, continue to encourage Saudi Arabia, as a non-party to the Convention, to accede to it.</p><p>The UK Government takes its arms export responsibilities very seriously and operates one of the most robust arms export control regimes in the world. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, taking account of all relevant factors at the time of the application. A licence will not be issued for any country, including Saudi Arabia, if to do so would be inconsistent with any provision of the mandatory Criteria, including where we assess there is a clear risk that the items might be used in the commission of a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law.</p><p>The Government is confident in our robust case-by-case assessment and is satisfied that extant licences for Saudi Arabia are compliant with the UK’s export licensing criteria. The conflict in Yemen is being monitored closely, and relevant information gathered from that monitoring is taken into account as part of the careful risk assessment for the licensing of exports to Saudi Arabia.</p><p>Minister for Defence Procurement, Philip Dunne, responded to an urgent question on the reports of UK manufactured cluster bombs in Yemen on Tuesday 24 May.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 26/05/2016 15:49:13 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	304 label Biography information for Mr Roger Godsiff

520761

registered interest
date	23/05/2016
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	EU Staff
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK nationals have been on the staff of the European Parliament in each year since 2010; and what proportion of such staff in each such year were of administrator grade.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	38069
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2016 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available</del>.</p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">The European Parliament does not publish statistics on numbers of permanent staff by nationality. According to our own internal records, the total numbers of UK nationals employed by the European Parliament, including secondees, in each year since 2010 are: </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">2010: 290 (149 at AD)</ins><br /><ins class="ministerial">2011: 306 (159 at AD)</ins><br /><ins class="ministerial">2012: 305 (155 at AD)</ins><br /><ins class="ministerial">2013: 291 (152 at AD)</ins><br /><ins class="ministerial">2014: 271 (152 at AD)</ins><br /><ins class="ministerial">2015: 251 (141 at AD)</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The latest figure available is for May 2016 and is 257 (146 at AD).</ins></p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington previous answer version 1058 answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington 1060 answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington question first answered 26/05/2016 16:19:12 question first ministerially corrected 31/05/2016 13:09:53 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

520763

registered interest
date	23/05/2016
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	EU External Relations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's policy is on the EU Global Strategy.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	38062
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2016 answer text <p>At the European Council meeting of 25-26 June, European leaders asked the EU High Representative to prepare an EU Global Strategy on foreign and defence policy to replace the 2003 European Security Strategy, which was last updated in 2008. It will identify and describe EU Member State interests, priorities and objectives, existing and evolving threats, challenges and opportunities, and the instruments and means to meet them. The Government supports this initiative, which complements the UK’s Strategic Defence and Security Review, and has engaged regularly with the High Representative during its preparation. The Government believes that the Global Strategy can enhance UK and other Member State foreign and security policy by covering the full range of EU external action tools.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 26/05/2016 11:37:23 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

520769

registered interest
date	23/05/2016
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Nigeria: Abduction
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the Nigerian government on securing the release of girls who have been abducted by Boko Haram.
tabling member constituency	South Down
tabling member printed	Ms Margaret Ritchie
uin	37955
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2016 answer text <p>We regularly raise the issue of abducted girls, and indeed everyone abducted by Boko Haram, with the Nigerian government at the highest levels. Most recently the Foreign Secretary reiterated UK support for Nigeria’s efforts to tackle Boko Haram, when he met President Buhari in Abuja in May.</p><p>We are providing a substantial and increasing package of intelligence, military and development support to Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram including support to those targeted by its indiscriminate campaign of violence, and assistance to find those who are missing.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 26/05/2016 13:16:31 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

520773

registered interest
date	23/05/2016
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Turkey: Politics and Government
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will summon the ambassador of Turkey to explain why the Co-chair of the Democratic Regions Party, Kamuran Yuksek, has been arrested and charged with being a member of a terrorist organisation.
tabling member constituency	Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
tabling member printed	Dr Paul Monaghan
uin	37860
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2016 answer text <p>The PKK continues to mount deadly terrorist attacks in Turkey, particularly in the country’s south-east. In the course of security operations in that region, a number of Democratic Regions Party officials have been detained, including Kamuran Yuksek. We regularly urge the Turkish authorities to respect human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, in the course of anti-terror operations, and to support the rule of law. We will continue to monitor these issues closely.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 26/05/2016 16:25:02 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	4383 label Biography information for Dr Paul Monaghan

520775

registered interest
date	23/05/2016
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Turkey: EU Aid
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to other EU member states at the Council of the EU on cessation of Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance II funding to Turkey in 2014-20.
tabling member constituency	Clacton
tabling member printed	Mr Douglas Carswell
uin	37928
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2016 answer text <p>The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance funding is used to promote political reform and human rights, cut corruption and strengthen the rule of law and to bring Turkey - and other EU accession countries - up to EU standards, economically and politically. It has also been used to help Turkey respond to the migration crisis. It promotes cooperation on issues that matter to the UK, such as the rule of law, organised crime and migration. Improving the business environment in Turkey and other EU accession countries will lead to more commercial opportunities for British goods and investment.</p><p>As the Prime Minister has made clear, Turkey’s EU accession is not remotely on the cards for many years to come.</p><p>Turkey has to negotiate 35 different chapters. Since EU accession negotiations with Turkey started in 2005, only one chapter has been closed. Decisions to open chapters, to agree that conditions have been met and to close chapters all require the unanimous agreement of EU Member States. Once all chapter negotiations have been completed and closed, there must be another unanimous decision on accession. All 28 Member States then have to ratify an accession treaty, and the European Parliament has to approve the accession. Some EU Member States have already committed to undertake a referendum on Turkey’s accession to the EU. In the case of the UK, under the European Union Act 2011, ratification cannot take place without an Act of Parliament to approve the new accession. We can therefore ensure that our requirements are respected in any future EU enlargement.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 26/05/2016 15:05:11 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	1527 label Biography information for Mr Douglas Carswell

519557

registered interest
date	19/05/2016
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Bosnia and Herzegovina: Mosques
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the recent reconstruction and reopening of the Ferhadija Mosque in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL122
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2016 answer text <p>The Government warmly welcomes the reopening of the Ferhadija Mosque, which took place on 7 May. This is an unmistakable symbol of religious diversity and tolerance in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The atmosphere during the reopening ceremony, which our Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina attended, was dignified and celebratory. The Ferhadija Mosque will serve as a powerful symbol of how communities can support each other on the long journey towards reconciliation.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 26/05/2016 15:02:08 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

519689

registered interest
date	19/05/2016
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Turkey: Syria
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of recent reports that Turkish border guards have shot and killed Syrians crossing the border to seek asylum in Turkey.
tabling member constituency	Aberavon
tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
uin	37556
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2016 answer text <p>We are aware of the allegations of the use of lethal force against civilians trying to cross the border from Syria into Turkey. We are unable to verify these allegations, as is the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The allegations have been strongly refuted by the Government of Turkey. We regularly raise with the Government of Turkey issues relating to the management of the border with Syria and the treatment of refugees. Turkey is hosting over 2.7million Syrian refugees and we understand that the Turkish government has made preparations to accept more Syrian refugees should conditions in Syria make that necessary, but that its priority is to enable humanitarian aid to be provided to affected populations inside northern Syria.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 26/05/2016 16:22:49 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock

519693

registered interest
date	19/05/2016
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Egypt: Torture
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the prevalence of torture in Egyptian detention facilities.
tabling member constituency	Cynon Valley
tabling member printed	Ann Clwyd
uin	37636
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2016 answer text <p>We remain deeply concerned with reports of torture in Egyptian detention facilities and we have raised this on a number of occasions with senior Egyptian officials in Cairo and in London, most recently on 5 May. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Annual Human Rights Report 2015 designated Egypt a human rights priority country and recorded that, “In 2015, reports of torture, police brutality, and forced disappearance increased. A local NGO documented reports of 676 cases of torture and 137 deaths in detention.”</p><p>The UK unreservedly condemns the use of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment as a matter of fundamental principle. The UK will continue to be a leader in advocating strong international systems to combat torture in all its forms.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 26/05/2016 13:13:55 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	553 label Biography information for Ann Clwyd

519699

registered interest
date	19/05/2016
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Egypt: Counter-terrorism
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance the Government has provided to the government of Egypt for counter-terrorism in (a) 2013, (b) 2014, (c) 2015 and (d) 2016 to date; what equipment has been provided to that government for that purpose; and what types of capacity-building activity and training have been provided.
tabling member constituency	Cynon Valley
tabling member printed	Ann Clwyd
uin	37667
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2016 answer text <p>The UK and Egypt have a shared interest in the fight against terrorism, and we are committed to working together in a number of areas to combat the terrorist threat. These include aviation security and the protection of tourist resorts. The UK armed forces have also provided their Egyptian counterparts with counter-IED and close protection training.</p><p>During President Sisi's visit to the UK in November 2015, the Foreign Secretary and Foreign Minister Shoukry signed a Memorandum of Understanding committing the Home Office and Egyptian Ministry of Interior to a regular high-level dialogue to increase cooperation across a wide range of areas, including counter-terrorism, illegal migration and organised crime.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 26/05/2016 13:15:15 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	553 label Biography information for Ann Clwyd