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177508

registered interest
date	03/02/2015
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	Cyprus
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 Turkish government on locating people missing as a result of violence in Cyprus in 1974.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	223112
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2015 answer text <p>We share the concerns of both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities over the missing persons following the events of 1974. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not had any recent discussions with the Turkish government about this, but we take very seriously the issue of missing persons in Cyprus. We supported UN Security Council Resolution 2197 renewing the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), which called upon all parties to provide more expeditious, full access to all areas. The UK also contributes to the work of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which supervises the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights judgement in Cyprus v Turkey of 2001 on missing persons. We strongly support the humanitarian work of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) in Cyprus, in which bi-communal teams undertake painstaking and sensitive work. So far, the remains of 568 individuals have been identified and returned to their families. We have supported the work of the CMP financially, donating US$220,133 bilaterally, while EU funding of the CMP, to which the UK contributes, totalled US$16,289,719 from 2006-14. In addition to this financial support, the UK facilitates the CMP by enabling it to work from a British-owned site in the Buffer Zone, thus easing its administration costs. The British High Commission in Nicosia remains in regular contact with the CMP to establish how the UK may further support its work.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 10/02/2015 15:27:48 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

177509

registered interest
date	03/02/2015
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what offers were made to the government of Burma of expert help with the investigation of the rape and murder of two ethnic Kachin teachers on 20 January 2015.
tabling member constituency	Hackney North and Stoke Newington
tabling member printed	Ms Diane Abbott
uin	223090
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2015 answer text <p>We have raised our concerns about the incident with the Burmese government, and have urged a rapid investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice. We will be closely monitoring the outcome of this investigation.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 09/02/2015 15:36:39 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	172 label Biography information for Ms Diane Abbott

177511

registered interest
date	03/02/2015
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	Nuclear Weapons
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 date and agenda are of the meeting in London on nuclear weapons of the Permanent Five Security Council members to be hosted by the Government; and if he will publish on his Department's website a list of all attendees at and the minutes of the meeting.
tabling member constituency	Newport West
tabling member printed	Paul Flynn
uin	223040
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2015 answer text <p>The London P5 Conference took place at Lancaster House, 4-5 February, and covered a wide range of issues relevant to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, encompassing disarmament, non-proliferation and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The Conference included outreach with a number of non-nuclear weapon states – Australia, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates – as well as civil society. P5 delegates also visited the Atomic Weapons Establishment; this was part of our efforts to enhance transparency, but appropriate measures were put in place to ensure that our national security interests were protected.</p><p>The P5 Heads of Delegation were as follows:</p><p>- China: Wang Qun, Director General, Department of Arms Control and Disarmament<br />- France: Hélène Duchêne, Director for Strategic Affairs<br />- Russia: Grigory Berdennikov, Ambassador-at-Large<br />- UK: Peter Jones, Director for Defence and International Security<br />- United States: Rose Gottemoeller, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security</p><p>The P5 issued a statement on conclusion of the Conference, which is available here: <del class="ministerial">[link to be inserted once live].</del> <ins class="ministerial">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-from-the-nuclear-weapon-states-at-the-london-p5-conference.</ins> This captures the key outcomes of the meeting.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 09/02/2015 16:12:19 question first ministerially corrected 26/03/2015 10:21:01 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood previous answer version 43546 answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	545 label Biography information for Paul Flynn

177160

registered interest
date	02/02/2015
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2015, Official Report, column 79, whether he met the Saudi Arabia Deputy Foreign Minister; and with whom he has discussed the case of Raif Badawi.
tabling member constituency	Paisley and Renfrewshire South
tabling member printed	Mr Douglas Alexander
uin	222907
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2015 answer text <p>Due to the late King’s ill health at the time, the <del class="ministerial">Deputy</del> <ins class="ministerial">Vice</ins> Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia did not attend the Counter ISIL meeting in London as had been planned. Instead, I raised the case of Raif Badawi with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to London, as the most senior member of the Saudi delegation, at the inaugural meeting of the Small Group of the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, on 22 January.</p> answering member constituency Runnymede and Weybridge answering member printed Mr Philip Hammond question first answered 05/02/2015 11:13:30 question first ministerially corrected 05/02/2015 13:43:29 answering member 105 label Biography information for Lord Hammond of Runnymede previous answer version 43055 answering member constituency Runnymede and Weybridge answering member printed Mr Philip Hammond answering member 105 label Biography information for Lord Hammond of Runnymede
tabling member	632 label Biography information for Mr Douglas Alexander

177161

registered interest
date	02/02/2015
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	Libya
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made on repairing desecrated headstones of British soldiers at Benghazi War Cemetery, Libya.
tabling member constituency	Pendle
tabling member printed	Andrew Stephenson
uin	222953
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2015 answer text <p>The Government was appalled by the damage to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery and the Benghazi Military Cemetary that occurred in February and June 2012. As soon as UK officials were made aware of the damage, they visited the cemeteries to inspect the damage, and raised the issue with the Libyan authorities in Benghazi and Tripoli. With support from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the site has since been restored to a standard befitting the sacrifice of those commemorated in Benghazi. There is now a patrol and guard outside the cemetery to protect this important site from any further attacks.</p><p>However, the authorities are unable to conduct investigations due to the current political and security situation. The attacks appear to have been carried out by extremist individuals, whose motives are unknown. Other religious sites in Libya have also been attacked since 2011, including Islamic sites. The UK is focused on supporting the efforts of Bernardino Leon, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General, to build a political settlement and establishing a National Unity Government. This will help stabilise the country and help the judicial system to function again.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood grouped question UIN 222954 question first answered 09/02/2015 16:13:13 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson

177162

registered interest
date	02/02/2015
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	Conflict Pool
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much his Department allocated to the Conflict Pool in (a) 2014-15 and (b) each of the five previous financial years.
tabling member constituency	Wakefield
tabling member printed	Mary Creagh
uin	222951
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2015 answer text <p>The Conflict Pool is funded from a Treasury settlement which is separate from and additional to departmental budgets and is administered jointly by MOD, DFID and FCO for conflict prevention and mitigation work. Details of Conflict Pool allocations are provided to Parliament annually in a Written Ministerial Statement. Links to the Statements for Financial Years 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2014/15 are given below:</p><p>https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/67639/conflict-pool-annual-report.pdf<br>http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100325/wmstext/100325m0003.htm#10032542000392<br>http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110405/wmstext/110405m0001.htm#11040558000008.htm <br>http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm121119/wmstext/121119m0001.htm#1211195000006.htm <br>http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm130613/wmstext/130613m0001.htm#13061331000006.htm <br>http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm140624/wmstext/140624m0001.htm</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 09/02/2015 16:06:26 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1579 label Biography information for Mary Creagh

177163

registered interest
date	02/02/2015
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	Libya
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 on progress made by the Libyan authorities on arresting and prosecuting people who desecrated the headstones of British soldiers at Benghazi War Cemetery in February 2012.
tabling member constituency	Pendle
tabling member printed	Andrew Stephenson
uin	222954
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2015 answer text <p>The Government was appalled by the damage to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery and the Benghazi Military Cemetary that occurred in February and June 2012. As soon as UK officials were made aware of the damage, they visited the cemeteries to inspect the damage, and raised the issue with the Libyan authorities in Benghazi and Tripoli. With support from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the site has since been restored to a standard befitting the sacrifice of those commemorated in Benghazi. There is now a patrol and guard outside the cemetery to protect this important site from any further attacks.</p><p>However, the authorities are unable to conduct investigations due to the current political and security situation. The attacks appear to have been carried out by extremist individuals, whose motives are unknown. Other religious sites in Libya have also been attacked since 2011, including Islamic sites. The UK is focused on supporting the efforts of Bernardino Leon, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General, to build a political settlement and establishing a National Unity Government. This will help stabilise the country and help the judicial system to function again.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood grouped question UIN 222953 question first answered 09/02/2015 16:13:13 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson

177164

registered interest
date	02/02/2015
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	British Council
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to note 19 on page 106 of the British Council's Annual Report, 2013-14, what the reasons were for the losses and special payments.
tabling member constituency	Nottingham East
tabling member printed	Chris Leslie
uin	222848
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2015 answer text <p>As stated in the British Council's Annual Report, during the year ended 31 March 2014, the British Council made no payments that fall within the category of special payments as defined in Managing Public Money.</p><p> </p><p>The losses referenced in the Annual Report fall into three major categories:</p><p>1) £1.9m worth of claims waived or abandoned. This included a write off of £1.7m worth of fees for work done in 2011-12. These fees were owed by education institutions in a country where the deteriorating political and security situation meant they are not likely to be recoverable in the foreseeable future. £0.4m of this was provided for in the year to March 2013 and only the balance was charged in the year ended March 2014. The debt was part of the Council’s full cost recovery work and no grant-in-aid funds were involved. Approval was sought from HMT and granted.</p><p> </p><p>2) £540k worth of fruitless payments. This included:</p><p>a) £402k (122 cases) of historic contract balances from 2007 to 2010 in relation to funds granted to beneficiaries under the Youth in Action agreement, which were deemed ineligible for reimbursements to the British Council by the European Union. These were provided for in the year to 31 March 2013.</p><p>b) £137k in relation to a final court judgement of damages due from a long running court case in the UAE about a failed premises project that concluded in January 2014.</p><p> </p><p>3) £170k worth of cash losses. This included net losses from frauds in Kenya and Senegal disclosed in the Governance Statement on page 54 of the Annual Report.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 05/02/2015 18:19:48 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	422 label Biography information for Mr Chris Leslie

177165

registered interest
date	02/02/2015
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	Tony Blair
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether any official visits from (a) Kazakhstan, (b) Azerbaijan, (c) Kuwait, (d) Abu Dhabi, (e) Albania and (f) Libya were arranged or accompanied by Tony Blair since Mr Blair left office.
tabling member constituency	North West Leicestershire
tabling member printed	Andrew Bridgen
uin	222869
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2015 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is not aware of Mr Blair’s involvement in any official visits from (a) Kazakhstan, (b) Azerbaijan, (c) Kuwait, (d) Abu Dhabi, (e) Albania or (f) Libya. That would be a matter solely for Mr Blair and the governments of those countries.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 09/02/2015 16:13:17 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	4133 label Biography information for Andrew Bridgen

177166

registered interest
date	02/02/2015
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	Tony Blair
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether any officials of his Department have been seconded to work directly for Tony Blair on (a) the Quartet and (b) other projects since Mr Blair left office.
tabling member constituency	North West Leicestershire
tabling member printed	Andrew Bridgen
uin	222870
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2015 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office seconded two full-time members of staff to the Office of the Quarter Representative from 2007 until 2013.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 09/02/2015 16:16:18 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4133 label Biography information for Andrew Bridgen