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1056717

registered interest
date	07/02/2019
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	Sri Lanka: Capital Punishment
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 discussions he has had with his Sri Lankan counterpart on the Government of Sri Lanka's decision to end its moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	218174
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2019 answer text <p>The British government calls on all countries – including Sri Lanka – to abolish the death penalty. Although the death penalty has not been carried out in Sri Lanka since 1976, capital punishment remains legal and the death sentence continues to be handed down for crimes including murder, drug trafficking and rape. There have been occasional calls for these sentences to be carried out but it has become established practice for them to be commuted to life imprisonment. i.e. de facto moratorium.</p><p>Sri Lanka has been a consistent supporter of UN General Assembly resolutions calling for a worldwide suspension of executions since the first such resolution was proposed in 2007. Our High Commission in Colombo joined the EU delegation in lobbying senior officials in the Sri Lankan Ministry of External Relations to maintain this position in the December 2018 UN vote, supporting a moratorium on the use of the death penalty. In January 2019, after further reporting of the intention to restart the death penalty, our High Commission in Colombo raised the issue with senior officials in the Sri Lankan government.</p><p>The Government of Sri Lanka is well aware of the UK and EU position on the death penalty and we hope the moratorium will be sustained.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 12/02/2019 13:03:37 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1056735

registered interest
date	07/02/2019
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	Afghanistan: 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 recent assessment his Department has made of progress towards a peaceful settlement in Afghanistan since recent talks in Moscow and Doha between different stakeholders from that country; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	218176
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2019 answer text <p>We welcome the progress made by the US Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, towards revitalising a peace process in Afghanistan. His wide-ranging engagement is important in supporting and facilitating an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political process.</p><p>We welcome regional initiatives designed to support this aim, if coordinated with the Afghan government. Recent talks in Moscow did not include representatives of that government.</p><p>The UK believes that only a political solution can achieve lasting stability in Afghanistan. The UK will continue to provide support to Ambassador Khalilzad and the Afghan government in their efforts.</p><p>The British Government continues to urge the Taliban to take advantage of the current opportunity for peace, and to begin a genuine intra-Afghan dialogue by engaging with the elected government of Afghanistan.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 12/02/2019 13:06:55 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1055783

registered interest
date	06/02/2019
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	Bangladesh: Elections
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 the findings of the Human Rights Watch December 2018 report Bangladesh Election Crackdown on Political Opponents and Critics and the Transparency International Bangladesh January 2019 Review of Election Process of 11th National Election, what steps the Government is taking to help tackle electoral fraud in Bangladesh.
tabling member constituency	Bolton North East
tabling member printed	Sir David Crausby
uin	217478
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2019 answer text <p>The Bangladesh general election on 30 December 2018 was subject to numerous allegations of irregularities and voter intimidation. I released a statement on 1 January deploring the violence that had taken place and expressing the UK's deep concern regarding the conduct of the election. I called for a full, credible and transparent resolution of all complaints related to the conduct of the elections and repeated this message to the Bangladesh High Commissioner when we met on 10 January.</p><p>I wrote to my counterpart the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, in January, to express UK concerns regarding the conduct of the election and on democratic trajectory in Bangladesh. The Foreign Secretary wrote to Foreign Minister Momen to deliver similar messages. The UK will continue to engage the Government of Bangladesh at all levels to address our concerns regarding democracy in Bangladesh.</p><p>Bangladesh remains a Human Rights Priority Country for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and freedom of expression is a key concern. I raised my concerns regarding freedom of expression with Bangladesh State Minister of Information Tarana Halim on 14 December 2018. The Foreign Secretary raised his freedom of expression concerns with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 24 September 2018 at UN General Assembly in New York.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 12/02/2019 13:23:06 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	437 label Biography information for Sir David Crausby

1055823

registered interest
date	06/02/2019
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	Russia: Jehovah's Witnesses
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 discussions he has had with his counterpart in Russia on the religious freedom of Jehovah's Witnesses in that country.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	217459
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2019 answer text <p>We remain deeply concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation in Russia, including the treatment of Jevovah's Witnesses and the recent case of Denis Christensen.</p><p>The Minister for Human Rights Lord Ahmad has previously issued a statement urging Russia to uphold its international human rights obligations to protect citizens who may be at risk of persecution. Our Ambassador to Moscow has raised concerns directly with the Russian Government.</p><p>We continue to prioritise the promotion and protection of human rights, and will continue to make our concerns clear in bilateral interactions at all levels, where appropriate. Lord Ahmad remains in close touch with Jehovah's Witnesses to discuss concerns.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 11/02/2019 16:59:22 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1055847

registered interest
date	06/02/2019
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	Foreign Relations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the Soft Power Strategy will be published.
tabling member constituency	Basildon and Billericay
tabling member printed	Mr John Baron
uin	217486
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2019 answer text <p>​No decision has been taken on a publication date for the soft power strategy, or whether the strategy will itself be a published document, though we anticipate public communication of initiatives arising from it.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 11/02/2019 17:30:58 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	1390 label Biography information for Mr John Baron

1056016

registered interest
date	06/02/2019
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	Eritrea: Ethiopia
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has provided diplomatic or operational support for the transfer of Badme from Ethiopian to Eritrean jurisdiction.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	217433
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2019 answer text <p>The Governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia have yet to announce how they plan to enact their declaration of peace of 9 July 2018, including the withdrawal of Ethiopian forces from Badme and options for the residents there. The UK continues to offer diplomatic support for the ongoing rapprochement between the two countries. We have not engaged in specific discussions on, nor provided direct support for, the town of Badme.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 11/02/2019 16:58:19 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1056017

registered interest
date	06/02/2019
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	Eritrea: Ethiopia
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department is providing support to residents of Badme who are transferring from Ethiopian to Eritrean nationality.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	217434
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2019 answer text <p>The Governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia have yet to announce how they plan to enact their declaration of peace of 9 July 2018, including the withdrawal of Ethiopian forces from Badme and options for the residents there. The UK continues to offer diplomatic support for the ongoing rapprochement between the two countries. We have not engaged in specific discussions on, nor provided direct support for, the town of Badme.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 11/02/2019 16:59:41 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1056020

registered interest
date	06/02/2019
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	Sri Lanka: 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 he has made of progress on Sri Lankan adherence to measures outlined in (a) Resolution 30/1 of the 30th Session of the UNHRC in 2015 and (b) Resolution 34/1 of the 34th Session of the UNHRC in 2017; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Northfield
tabling member printed	Richard Burden
uin	217451
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2019 answer text <p>The UK continues to encourage and support Sri Lanka to deliver the commitments it made to the UN Human Rights Council through Resolutions 30/1 and 34/1. We firmly believe that this is the best framework for establishing truth and to achieve justice and lasting reconciliation.</p><p>The UK welcomed the Annual Report of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on 21 March 2018, which assessed progress made by the Sri Lankan government in the implementation of UN Human Rights Council Resolutions 30/1 and 34/1. This found that the Government of Sri Lanka had taken some steps to address human rights concerns and to introduce more democratic and accountable government. These steps included the return of some military-held civilian land, the establishment of an Office of Missing Persons and the ratification of the Convention on Enforced Disappearances.</p><p>However, as I made clear to Foreign Minister Marapana on my visit to Colombo in October 2018, more needs to be done. During my visit, I encouraged greater progress, in particular on national accountability and truth-seeking mechanisms, and the development of new counter-terrorism legislation in line with international human rights standards. I was pleased to see that, following my visit, the Sri Lankan Parliament had passed a bill to establish an Office of Reparations. I look forward to seeing this implemented in the near future.</p><p>I continued to press for progress with Sri Lankan Speaker Karu Jayasuriya in January, as the Minister for the Commonwealth and the UN, Lord Ahmad, did with Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera,</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field grouped question UIN 217452 question first answered 12/02/2019 13:15:12 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	301 label Biography information for Richard Burden

1056021

registered interest
date	06/02/2019
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	Sri Lanka: Tamils
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 discussions he has had with his Sri Lankan counterpart on the human rights of the Tamil community in that country.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Northfield
tabling member printed	Richard Burden
uin	217452
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2019 answer text <p>The UK continues to encourage and support Sri Lanka to deliver the commitments it made to the UN Human Rights Council through Resolutions 30/1 and 34/1. We firmly believe that this is the best framework for establishing truth and to achieve justice and lasting reconciliation.</p><p>The UK welcomed the Annual Report of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on 21 March 2018, which assessed progress made by the Sri Lankan government in the implementation of UN Human Rights Council Resolutions 30/1 and 34/1. This found that the Government of Sri Lanka had taken some steps to address human rights concerns and to introduce more democratic and accountable government. These steps included the return of some military-held civilian land, the establishment of an Office of Missing Persons and the ratification of the Convention on Enforced Disappearances.</p><p>However, as I made clear to Foreign Minister Marapana on my visit to Colombo in October 2018, more needs to be done. During my visit, I encouraged greater progress, in particular on national accountability and truth-seeking mechanisms, and the development of new counter-terrorism legislation in line with international human rights standards. I was pleased to see that, following my visit, the Sri Lankan Parliament had passed a bill to establish an Office of Reparations. I look forward to seeing this implemented in the near future.</p><p>I continued to press for progress with Sri Lankan Speaker Karu Jayasuriya in January, as the Minister for the Commonwealth and the UN, Lord Ahmad, did with Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera,</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field grouped question UIN 217451 question first answered 12/02/2019 13:15:12 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	301 label Biography information for Richard Burden

1056029

registered interest
date	06/02/2019
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	North Korea: 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 he has made of the human rights situation in North Korea; and what representations he has made and to whom on that subject.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Northfield
tabling member printed	Richard Burden
uin	217454
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2019 answer text <p>The UK continues to have grave concerns over the human rights situation in North Korea. The Foreign Secretary made clear his strong concerns about freedoms in North Korea at the launch of the review into the Persecution of Christians across the Globe, on 30 January. The British Government raises its concerns over the human rights situation directly with the North Korean authorities and in multilateral fora including the UN Security Council, General Assembly and Human Rights Council. We urge North Korea to use its upcoming Universal Periodic Review in May as a moment to engage in meaningful dialogue on its human rights record.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 12/02/2019 13:20:33 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	301 label Biography information for Richard Burden