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101127

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
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	Iran
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what priority the Government gives to the human rights situation in Iran as a factor in the development of bilateral relations with that country and in the potential re-opening of embassies in Tehran and London; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	212111
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text We remain deeply concerned by the dire human rights situation in Iran. Iran is one of the UK Government's "Countries of Concern" on human rights and thus subject to enhanced monitoring and reporting on human rights developments. We hope that President Rouhani will act on the pledges he has made to implement social reforms and improve the rights of all citizens in Iran. But responsibility for human rights in Iran does not fall under the direct authority of the President. Genuine progress, while essential, will be difficult to achieve. Improving our bilateral relationship with Iran is in the interests of both countries. It does not mean we suddenly agree on everything; on the contrary, we will continue to have sharp disagreements with Iran, particularly over human rights. But a functioning relationship, including with embassies reopened, will better equip us to respond to those challenges. answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 30/10/2014 14:47:12 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

101128

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
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	Private Finance Initiative
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 private finance initiative projects his Department contracted for in each year from 1997 to 2010.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	212098
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has contracted only one private finance initiative (PFI) in the period in question. A PFI for the British Embassy in Berlin was commissioned in 2000 and is due to run until 2030. answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 03/11/2014 14:21:27 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

101129

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
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	Bahrain
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 the government of Bahrain on that government's recent decision to revoke the nationality of 31 Bahraini political activists.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	212125
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>We have raised with the Government of Bahrain the decision to withdraw citizenship from 31 individuals in 2012. We encourage the authorities to conduct full and transparent investigations into any of those accused of crimes. Any charges against these individuals should be based on strong, credible evidence that will stand up to scrutiny. We commend the steps taken by the Bahraini government to implement the recommendations set out in the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry. As outlined in our recent human rights case study on Bahrain, progress has been made in a number of areas but there is still more to be done.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 03/11/2014 14:32:45 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

101130

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
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	Colombia
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 about allegations of a reduction in protection afforded to (a) Senator Ivan Cepeda and (b) other opposition politicians and human rights and peace campaigners in Colombia.
tabling member constituency	Paisley and Renfrewshire North
tabling member printed	Jim Sheridan
uin	212049
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>I have recently become aware of allegations of a reduction in protection afforded to Ivan Cepeda and other individuals in Colombia. I have also heard that budget restrictions are causing concern. My department are looking into these cases and will raise further if appropriate.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 03/11/2014 13:20:41 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1464 label Biography information for Jim Sheridan

101131

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
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	Financial Services: Islam
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what meetings Ministers in his Department have had on UK Islamic finance initiatives since 15 July 2014.
tabling member constituency	Streatham
tabling member printed	Mr Chuka Umunna
uin	211992
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>My right hon. and noble Friend the former Minister of State (Baroness Warsi) met Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials to discuss UK Islamic Finance initiatives on 30 July. I wrote to all members of the Global Islamic Finance and Investment Group on 20 October, and to the Deputy Governor of the Bank of England on 29 September, to progress the agenda on our Islamic Finance initiatives. In addition, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, my hon Friend the Member for South Northamptonshire (Ms Leadsom), represented the UK at the World Islamic Economic Forum in Dubai between 27-29 October 2014.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 30/10/2014 16:11:19 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4128 label Biography information for Chuka Umunna

101132

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
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	Colombia
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 reports he has received of allegations of state-sponsored violence in Colombia.
tabling member constituency	Stoke-on-Trent South
tabling member printed	Robert Flello
uin	211978
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>We remain concerned by recent reports of violence in Colombia and the reported increase in threats against human rights defenders there, in particular those detailed in the “Somos Defensores” report published in August. I recently held a meeting with the hon. Gentleman and other parliamentary colleagues where I received further reports of violence in the country.</p><p>During my visit to Colombia in June, I set out our concerns about the reported rise in attacks against human rights defenders in my meetings with Colombia’s Deputy Foreign Ministers and the heads of the Colombian government’s major human rights agencies. I also met representatives from Colombian and international human rights organisations, including Oxfam and Christian Aid, to discuss the issue. The former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) also raised the issue of violence against trade unionists and human rights defenders, and cases of impunity for those responsible, with the Colombian government during his visit to Bogota in February.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 30/10/2014 16:05:29 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1569 label Biography information for Robert Flello

101133

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
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	Iran
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 timetable is for the reopening of (a) HM Embassy in Tehran and (b) the Iranian Embassy in London.
tabling member constituency	Lagan Valley
tabling member printed	Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson
uin	211981
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>We remain committed to reopening the British Embassy in Tehran once we have resolved some outstanding issues. We anticipate that the Iranian Government will wish to reopen its Embassy in London in parallel, in line with our step by step and reciprocal approach to improving bilateral relations.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 30/10/2014 14:35:07 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	650 label Biography information for Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

101134

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
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	Iran
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 reports he has received of an increase of religious persecution in Iran; and what recent representations on this issue he has made to the Iranian government.
tabling member constituency	Lagan Valley
tabling member printed	Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson
uin	211980
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>The UK welcomed President Rouhani’s comments in 2013 that all Iranians, including religious minorities, should “feel justice.” Unfortunately, there has been little noticeable change in the approach taken by Iran’s security and judicial authorities. Discrimination against individuals on the basis of their faith has remained discouragingly widespread.</p><p><br>The Iranian Constitution recognises only three religious faiths other than Islam: Judaism, Christianity and Zoroastrianiam. Christians nevertheless continue to face discrimination; Evangelical Christians, Iranian converts to Christianity and those involved in house churches have been particularly affected. Other minority religious groups have faced similar treatment, and the Baha’i faith – which is unrecognised in Iran - has been particularly discriminated against.</p><p><br>The UK has repeatedly called on the Iranian government to end all persecution of individuals on the basis of their faith, and to guarantee the human rights of all Iranians.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 30/10/2014 14:34:18 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	650 label Biography information for Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

101135

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
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	Colombia
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 meet President Santos of Colombia in London in November.
tabling member constituency	Stoke-on-Trent South
tabling member printed	Robert Flello
uin	211979
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>President Santos is visiting the UK in a private capacity. His agenda has not yet been confirmed.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 30/10/2014 16:08:22 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1569 label Biography information for Robert Flello

101136

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
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	Ukraine
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 took with his international counterparts to ensure that the recent parliamentary elections in Ukraine were free and fair; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	212016
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>The UK sent 71 observers to observe the parliamentary elections in Ukraine on 26 October as part of an Organisation for Security and Co-oporation in Europe delegation of 680 international observers. The Parliamentary Assembly for the Council of Europe also sent a delegation of 36 which was led by my Hon. Friend the Member for Christchurch (Mr Chope) and included my Hon. Friend the Member for North Thanet (Sir Roger Gale) and my Noble Friend the Lord Balfe. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), issued a statement on 24 October in which he commended all those working to ensure a free, fair and peaceful vote. The UK’s Permanent Representative to the UN also issued a statement which called on the elections to go ahead without external interference and pressed the Ukrainian authorities to take steps to ensure that as many Ukrainian citizens as possible could exercise their right to vote. On 27 October the Prime Minister, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), said he was proud that the UK had been able to support Ukraine in helping to make the elections free, fair and transparent and called upon Russia to respect the outcome as part of its commitment to the Minsk agreement.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 03/11/2014 14:20:19 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby