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1172922

registered interest
date	23/01/2020
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	Myanmar: Rohingya
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support he will provide for the enforcement of the International Court of Justice’s provisional measures indicated in the case Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (The Gambia v. Myanmar).
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Ms Lyn Brown
uin	7180
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2020 answer text <p>We have welcomed the International Court of Justice's decision on provisional measures, which was clear that Myanmar must do more to protect the Rohingya. We urge Myanmar to comply with the provisional measures in full. We are exploring with partners how we can best ensure that Myanmar implements the provisional measures, including through the United Nations Security Council. ​</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 30/01/2020 11:35:31 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1172926

registered interest
date	23/01/2020
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	Kashmir: Humanitarian Aid
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans the Government has to help support the people of Kashmir.
tabling member constituency	Luton North
tabling member printed	Sarah Owen
uin	7242
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2020 answer text <p>We are monitoring the situation in Kashmir carefully, and are in regular contact with the Governments of India and Pakistan. The Prime Minister has underlined the importance of resolving issues through dialogue to both of his counterparts. Most recently the Foreign Secretary discussed the situation in Kashmir with the Foreign Minister of Pakistan and Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon raised the issue with the Indian Minister of State for External and Parliamentary Affairs. Our longstanding position is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting political resolution on Kashmir, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 30/01/2020 10:17:07 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	4777 label Biography information for Sarah Owen

1172930

registered interest
date	23/01/2020
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	Kashmir: 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 assessment his Department has made of the human rights situation in Kashmir.
tabling member constituency	Luton North
tabling member printed	Sarah Owen
uin	7246
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2020 answer text <p>We recognise that there are human rights concerns in India-administered Kashmir and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Any allegation of human rights violations or abuses is deeply concerning and must be investigated thoroughly, promptly and transparently. We encourage all states to ensure domestic laws in line with international standards. We raise our concerns with the Governments of India and Pakistan.</p><p>​</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 30/01/2020 10:19:54 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	4777 label Biography information for Sarah Owen

1172932

registered interest
date	23/01/2020
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: 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, what discussions he has had with his Chinese counterpart on (a) the situation in Hong Kong and (b) recent UN reports on the treatment of Uighur minorities.
tabling member constituency	Luton North
tabling member printed	Sarah Owen
uin	7247
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2020 answer text <p>The Foreign Secretary has set out our concerns about the situation in Hong Kong directly to both the Chinese Foreign Minister, State Councillor Wang Yi and the Hong Kong Chief Executive, Carrie Lam. The Foreign Secretary made clear that meaningful political dialogue is the only way to resolve the situation. The Foreign Secretary also raised Hong Kong with the Chinese Ambassador in London on 19 November 2019. Senior officials have remained in regular contact with the authorities in Beijing and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. The leadership in China and Hong Kong is in no doubt about the strength of UK concern over the current situation, and our commitment to seeing the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Joint Declaration upheld.</p><p>We have particularly serious concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang including the extra-judicial detention of over a million Uyghur Muslims and other minorities in “political re-education camps”, systematic restrictions on Uyghur culture and the practice of Islam, and extensive and invasive surveillance targeting minorities. On 26 September during an Urgent Question on Hong Kong the Foreign Secretary set out the UK’s serious concerns about the credible reports of over a million Uyghur Muslims being held in so-called “re-education camps”. He stated in the House that the British Government will continue to ensure that these concerns are expressed directly with Chinese authorities. Most recently, the UK Ambassador to China raised our concerns with Vice Foreign Minister Qin Gang on 24 December 2019. The UK also regularly raises the human rights situation in Xinjiang at the UN Human Rights Council.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 30/01/2020 17:17:05 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	4777 label Biography information for Sarah Owen

1172940

registered interest
date	23/01/2020
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	Kashmir: 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 support his Department is providing to Kashmiris living in the UK who are concerned for the safety of family members caught up in the recent conflicts and human rights abuses in Kashmir.
tabling member constituency	Luton North
tabling member printed	Sarah Owen
uin	7255
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2020 answer text <p>We are monitoring the situation in Kashmir carefully and keep our travel advice under constant review. If anyone in the UK is concerned about family or friends in Kashmir who are British Nationals, they should contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office directly for advice. We should also stress that our consular services are very limited due to restrictions on communications in India-administered Kashmir. The safety and security of all people in India and India-administered Kashmir, including British nationals, is the responsibility of the Indian authorities.</p><p>​</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 30/01/2020 10:29:57 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	4777 label Biography information for Sarah Owen

1172947

registered interest
date	23/01/2020
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	Cyprus: British Nationals Abroad
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Cypriot counterpart on ensuring that UK nationals residing in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will still be able to readily cross the Green Line to (a) use facilities on the Greek Cypriot side of the island of Cyprus and (b) access Larnaca airport for travel after the UK leaves the EU on 31 January 2020.
tabling member constituency	Broxbourne
tabling member printed	Sir Charles Walker
uin	7153
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2020 answer text <p>​The Prime Minister has been consistently clear that safeguarding the rights of United Kingdom nationals living in the EU after Brexit is a priority. The Withdrawal Agreement has now received Royal Assent. Under the terms of this Agreement, United Kingdom nationals will be able to travel freely within the EU until the end of the transition period on 31 December. During this time there will be no change to the rules on travel to, from or within Cyprus for United Kingdom nationals, including motorists crossing the Green Line. On 16 January, I discussed arrangements beyond the end of 2020 with the Cypriot Minister of the Interior, building on discussions that the British High Commissioner in Cyprus has taken forward. On 24 January, the High Commissioner also wrote an open letter to the British community on the latest developments. We will keep United Kingdom nationals updated as we have more information.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 28/01/2020 12:04:44 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker

1173032

registered interest
date	23/01/2020
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	Nepal: Christianity
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 assessment he has made of the treatment of Christians in Nepal.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	7131
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2020 answer text <p>Freedom of religion and belief remains a human rights priority for our Embassy in Kathmandu. We remain concerned that legal provisions on conversion do not align with international human rights norms. We regularly lobby the Government of Nepal on this issue, and our Embassy in Kathmandu hosts a regular interfaith meeting to promote harmony and religious dialogue.</p><p>The persecution of Christians, and indeed individuals of all faiths or beliefs, remains of profound concern to us. The NGO Open Doors estimate that 260 million Christians experience high or extreme persecution around the world. The scale of this persecution prompted the former Foreign Secretary to ask the Bishop of Truro to examine how the British Government could better support persecuted Christians around the world. Bishop Philip published a hard-hitting report with 22 ambitious recommendations which we have accepted in full. Work is ongoing to implement the recommendations in a way that will bring real improvements in the lives of those persecuted because of their faith or belief. 10 have already been implemented, or are in the process of being implemented.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 30/01/2020 09:25:34 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1173033

registered interest
date	23/01/2020
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: 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, what steps he is taking to support the Government in Egypt in providing for the security and well-being of (a) Coptic Christians and (b) other religious minorities in that country.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	7132
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2020 answer text <p>We regularly raise with the Egyptian authorities the human rights of religious minorities, and make the case for them to be accorded the necessary protections under Egyptian law. We welcome President Sisi's consistent calls for peaceful coexistence and the Government of Egypt's expression of support for the rights of all minorities and for religious tolerance. The UK has always been clear that the rights of minorities, wherever they exist, should be protected in line with international standards. During my visit to Cairo last September, I met Pope Tawadros II, whose Coptic Orthodox Church plays such an important part in Egyptian society.</p><p>As part of our UK-funded projects and programmes in Egypt we are providing counter-terrorism assistance to the Egyptian authorities and counter-IED training for the Egyptian security forces. We are committed to supporting the Egyptian Government's fight against terrorist groups, including those who seek to target minority groups such as Coptic Christians.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 30/01/2020 12:08:10 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1173035

registered interest
date	23/01/2020
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	Diplomatic Service: 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, what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure the implementation of its revised toolkit on freedom of religion or belief by embassies.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	7134
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2020 answer text <p>​We have developed a workshop that helps our Posts to implement the toolkit on Freedom of Religion or Belief. The toolkit was developed with top legal and academic experts and is intended to support FCO human rights desk officers as they promote this human right in practice, and respond to violations of it. This workshop has been successfully trialled with colleagues at our Embassy in Bahrain. We are looking for further opportunities to run the workshop and other means of encouraging posts to make active use of the toolkit.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 30/01/2020 09:31:05 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1173056

registered interest
date	23/01/2020
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	Christianity: Oppression
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 his Department is taking to help support Christians at risk of religious persecution in countries around the world.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	7147
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2020 answer text <p>As I stated in my [Minister Wheeeler] answer of 21 January, the persecution of Christians, and indeed individuals of all faiths or beliefs, remains of profound concern to us. The NGO Open Doors estimate that 260 <em>[updated figure from latest report]</em> million Christians experience high or extreme persecution around the world. The scale of this persecution prompted the former Foreign Secretary to ask the Bishop of Truro to examine how the British Government could better support the plight of persecuted Christians around the world.</p><p>As you know Bishop Philip published a hard-hitting report with 22 ambitious recommendations which we have accepted in full. Only two of the 22 recommendations are Christian specific, with the others focussing on FoRB for all. Work is ongoing to implement the recommendations in a way that will bring real improvements in the lives of those persecuted because of their faith or belief. 10 recommendations have already been implemented, or are in the process of being implemented. The work on the Truro recommendations sits within our strong commitment to stand up for those persecuted on account of their religion or belief all over the globe. We have encouraged our diplomatic missions to consider what they can do in response to the Review, and to use it as a lever to engage their host governments where human rights violations and abuses relating to freedom of religion or belief are of concern.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 30/01/2020 10:04:26 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell