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421925

registered interest
date	16/10/2015
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	China: Human Rights
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 his Department has made on human rights in China.
tabling member constituency	South Down
tabling member printed	Ms Margaret Ritchie
uin	12176
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2015 answer text <p>We pay close attention to the human rights situation in China and outline a range of our concerns in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy.</p><p>Bilaterally, we are one of only a few countries to maintain an annual human rights dialogue with China: the most recent dialogue was in Beijing in April. Ministers also consistently raise human rights issues. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) raised the matter of detained lawyers during his visit to China in August. I raised concerns over a proposed draft non-government organisation law with Ambassador Liu Xiaoming in June.</p><p>We also make representations through international mechanisms. In a statement to the Human Rights Council on 21 September, the UK made clear that it remained concerned by reports of the detention of human rights lawyers since 9 July 2015, and urged the Chinese authorities to release these lawyers.</p><br /> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 21/10/2015 12:14:23 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

421928

registered interest
date	16/10/2015
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	Middle East: Peace Negotiations
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 the Israeli/Palestine peace process of Mahmoud Abbas's speech at the United Nations on 30 September 2015.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	12172
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2015 answer text <p>President Abbas' speech at the 2015 UN General Assembly underlines the urgent need for progress towards a two state solution. We urge Israel and the Palestinian Authority to work together to meet their obligations under the Oslo Accords. We also encourage Israel and the Palestinian Authority to continue with their existing security cooperation. I was encouraged to hear that President Abbas reiterated his commitment to this cooperation when he spoke, on 9 October, to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymead and Weybridge (Mr Hammond).</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 21/10/2015 15:45:21 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

421699

registered interest
date	15/10/2015
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	Iraq: Minority Groups
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 authorities in Iraq on the Yazidi community in that country.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Riverside
tabling member printed	Mrs Louise Ellman
uin	12167
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2015 answer text <p>Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers continue to raise the situation of minority communities in Iraq with the Iraqi authorities. The Government condemns in the strongest terms the atrocities committed by ISIL against all communities throughout the areas under its control. We are working closely with the Iraqi Government, the Kurdistan Regional Government and our international coalition partners to assist and protect civilians. The human rights situation in areas under ISIL control is gravely concerning, including for Yezidis, and Yezidi women in particular. We have received reports, including from Amnesty International, of the ordeal faced by these women and others abducted by ISIL, including rape, forced marriage, sexual abuse, forced conversion, and being sold as slaves. Working with the Department for International Development, we are already funding activities to protect vulnerable civilians, such as legal assistance and support groups for women. We are continuing to explore what further support we might be able to provide to vulnerable groups and internally displaced persons. We welcome the commitments that Prime Minister al-Abadi has made to inclusivity, protecting Iraqi citizens, addressing human rights abuses and holding those responsible to account.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 20/10/2015 16:22:28 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	484 label Biography information for Dame Louise Ellman

421705

registered interest
date	15/10/2015
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	Syria: Armed Conflict
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 progress towards achieving a political solution to the conflict in Syria.
tabling member constituency	South Down
tabling member printed	Ms Margaret Ritchie
uin	12064
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2015 answer text <p>The only way to end the conflict in Syria is through a negotiated settlement to create an inclusive government, which can protect its people from the tyranny of ISIL and other extremists. We support the efforts of UN Special Envoy de Mistura to facilitate this. Russian actions have complicated the situation in Syria, making a political transition less likely. It is clear that Russia is carrying out airstrikes against the moderate opposition, who must be part of a political process. We call on Russia to stop targeting moderate opposition groups and to use its influence with the regime to deliver genuine negotiations on a political transition.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 20/10/2015 16:23:49 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

421248

registered interest
date	14/10/2015
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	Syria: Armed Conflict
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the efficacy of Russian co-ordination of its armed action against the rebels and Daesh in Syria.
tabling member printed	Lord West of Spithead
uin	HL2619
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2015 answer text <p>Russian actions have complicated the situation in Syria. Over 85 per cent of Russian strikes have been carried out in areas where the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is not present. Several hundred civilians, including members of the moderate opposition, are reported to have been killed in Russian strikes. This makes clear that Russia’s priority is not defeating ISIL, but supporting Assad.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 21/10/2015 14:07:34 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	3834 label Biography information for Lord West of Spithead

421261

registered interest
date	14/10/2015
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	Rohingya
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made about the levels of sectarian attacks on Rohingya Muslims.
tabling member printed	Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead
uin	HL2632
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2015 answer text <p>British Government Ministers take every appropriate opportunity to raise the plight of the Rohingya community with their Burmese counterparts. Most recently, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), did so with the Burmese Foreign Minister in New York on 29 September. During his visit to Burma in July, Mr Swire travelled to Rakhine State to see the situation there at first hand, and raised the situation of the Rohingya at senior level both in Rakhine and with Burmese central government ministers.</p><p>Whilst there have not been any new incidents of major inter-communal violence towards the Rohingya Muslims, the situation remains tense and many root causes are unresolved. We are keeping the situation in Rakhine State under close review as the 8 November general elections approach. Within the last month, teams from our Embassy in Rangoon have visited both north and south Rakhine to assess the situation.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 21/10/2015 14:08:34 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	3895 label Biography information for Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead

421369

registered interest
date	14/10/2015
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	China: Religious Freedom
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he plans to express concern about persecution of religious groups in China with President Xi Jinping during his visit to the UK.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	11926
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2015 answer text <p>We raise the range of our human rights concerns directly with China. We do so during the annual UK-China Human Rights Dialogue. We also highlight them publicly in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy (<a href="http://www.hrdreport.fco.gov.uk" target="_blank">www.hrdreport.fco.gov.uk</a>).</p><p>Ministers regularly engage China on human rights. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) did so during the UK-China Strategic Dialogue in Beijing in August, as did the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr George Osborne) during his visit in September. Discussions during the State Visit will be broad, covering areas both where we agree and disagree.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 19/10/2015 16:00:55 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

421371

registered interest
date	14/10/2015
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 steps he is taking to monitor the use of weapons (a) manufactured in the UK or (b) sold by UK companies to the government of Saudi Arabia to ensure that such sales are compliant with international obligations.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
uin	11947
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2015 answer text <p>The Government remains confident that the UK operates one of the most thorough and robust export control and licensing systems in the world. All applications for strategic export control licences for military and dual-use goods are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Government’s Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, in a manner consistent with the UK’s international obligations</p><p>The Government is satisfied that extant licences for Saudi Arabia are compliant with the UK’s export licensing criteria. The Government of Saudi Arabia has provided repeated assurances to us that they are complying with international humanitarian law and we continue to engage with them on those assurances.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 19/10/2015 16:05:11 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

421372

registered interest
date	14/10/2015
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	Burma: Elections
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the government of Burma on the possible postponement of elections in that country.
tabling member constituency	Bethnal Green and Bow
tabling member printed	Rushanara Ali
uin	11981
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2015 answer text <p>None. Burma’s Union Election Commission consulted the main political parties on 13 October over the possibility of a postponement to the 8 November general election because of flooding, but decided against such a postponement shortly thereafter.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 19/10/2015 15:26:06 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4138 label Biography information for Rushanara Ali

421374

registered interest
date	14/10/2015
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 reports he has received of weapons (a) manufactured in the UK or (b) sold by companies based in the UK being used by the government of Saudi Arabia in the military conflict in Yemen.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
uin	11948
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2015 answer text <p>Munitions are supplied to the Saudi Air Force under pre-existing contractual arrangements. UK companies are providing precision guided Paveway weapons. The Royal Saudi Air Force is flying British built aircraft in the campaign over Yemen, but this does not represent a direct UK involvement in operations. The UK operates one of the most rigorous and transparent export control regimes in the world. All exports of military and dual-use goods are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. We are satisfied that extant licences for Saudi Arabia are compliant with the Consolidated Criteria.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 19/10/2015 16:03:59 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady