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49786

registered interest
date	06/05/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, who will represent the Government at the World Economic Forum on Africa in Abuja.
tabling member constituency	Camberwell and Peckham
tabling member printed	Ms Harriet Harman
uin	197777
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>No UK Minister was available to attend the World Economic Forum being held in Abuja on 7 – 9 May. We did propose to send senior officials, but the organisers of the World Economic Forum declined this request.</p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Mark Simmonds question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1393 label Biography information for Mark Simmonds
tabling member	150 label Biography information for Ms Harriet Harman

49999

registered interest
date	06/05/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which nation branding consultancies have been funded or part-funded by his Department to work in overseas states and territories in the last 10 years; and what fees have been paid to each of those consultancies in each year since 2004.
tabling member constituency	Angus
tabling member printed	Mr Mike Weir
uin	197984
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not directly funded any nation branding consultancies to work in overseas states and territories. Information on any part funded nation branded consultancies working in overseas states and territories is not held centrally and to collate this would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has, however, previously paid subscription fees for the years 2009-2012 to Anholt-GfK Roper Nation Brands Index, a US based market and consumer information organisation which provides an analytical ranking to help measure and manage national reputation. The subscription costs were: for 2012: £30,597.44; for 2011: £29,554.50; for 2010: £31,141.41 and for 2009: £33,960.81.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1384 label Biography information for Mike Weir

49998

registered interest
date	06/05/2014
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
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, its executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies have funded or made contribution towards funding relating to nation branding development in any overseas state or territories in the last 10 years.
tabling member constituency	Angus
tabling member printed	Mr Mike Weir
uin	197983
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not directly funded any nation branding development in any overseas states or territories, nor have its executive agencies or non departmental public bodies. The British Council does not directly fund nation branding but, through its work building trust for the UK internationally, through cultural and educational exchanges for example, it benefits both the UK's and partner states' national brands on a reciprocal basis. Information on any co-funded nation branding activities carried out overseas is not held centrally and to collate this would incur disproportionate cost. Activities funded or carried out by an Overseas Territory Government to promote its own Territory is a matter of devolved responsibility.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1384 label Biography information for Mike Weir

50149

registered interest
date	07/05/2014
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
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 provides to non-governmental organisations working in Vietnam to combat child trafficking and to help repatriated victims of trafficking.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	197996
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>We currently fund a range of projects in Vietnam targeted at raising awareness of and combating modern slavery and human trafficking through victim reintegration programmes. There is a focus on alternative job creation for victims, and potential victims of trafficking.</p><p>In particular, our British Ambassador opened Compassion House in June 2013, a UK funded shelter in Lao Cai on the Chinese border for girls who have been trafficked. It is operated by the local government authorities in conjunction with a local non-govermental organisations, Pacific Links Foundation to provide life skills and vocational training.</p><p>Our Embassy also funds the ‘Capacity Building Activities for Victims of Gender-Based Violence' project which provides support for women and children in Vietnam who have suffered from gender-based violence and the effects of human trafficking.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

50105

registered interest
date	07/05/2014
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
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 find the 230 Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram; and whether the UK will commit military aid to the search effort if required.
tabling member constituency	Tottenham
tabling member printed	Mr David Lammy
uin	198005
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>Since the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from Chibok in Borno State, Nigeria, we have been in regular contact with the Nigerian Government to offer our assistance. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), spoke to the Nigerian Foreign Minister on 18 April immediately after the abductions and offered the UK's assistance. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) spoke to the Nigerian President on 7 May. The Nigerian President accepted our offer of a team of experts led by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and including Ministry of Defence (MOD), Department for International Development (DFID) and Police representatives. The team arrived in Abuja on 9 May and will be talking to the Nigerians to offer advice on how the Nigerians can defeat Boko Haram and bring stability to the north of Nigeria. <br><br>It is too soon to comment on what specific assistance we will give. However, the team will provide expertise in counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, military mentoring and training, victim support and economic development. Human rights compliance is, and will remain, an essential element of any UK assistance in Nigeria.</p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Mark Simmonds question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1393 label Biography information for Mark Simmonds
tabling member	206 label Biography information for Mr David Lammy

49608

registered interest
date	02/05/2014
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
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 the Government has made to the government of Qatar about working conditions for those constructing FIFA World Cup 2022 stadiums.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne East
tabling member printed	Mr Nicholas Brown
uin	197641
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>I raised concerns about migrant workers' conditions with the Qatari authorities during my visit to Doha on 8-9 January. Our Ambassador and other officials have raised the issue on previous occasions and will continue to do so.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Hugh Robertson question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1415 label Biography information for Sir Hugh Robertson
tabling member	523 label Biography information for Mr Nicholas Brown

50005

registered interest
date	06/05/2014
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
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 Saudi Arabia concerning reports of the confinement of Saudi Arabian princesses in Jeddah.
tabling member constituency	Wrexham
tabling member printed	Ian Lucas
uin	197876
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text The UK has longstanding concerns about the restrictions on women's rights in Saudi Arabia. These concerns are clearly set out in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Annual Human Rights Report, most recently updated in April 2014. Ministers and officials often raise women's rights, including the guardianship system, with their Saudi Arabian counterparts, including at the UN and through EU representatives. answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Hugh Robertson grouped question UIN 197877 question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1415 label Biography information for Sir Hugh Robertson
tabling member	1470 label Biography information for Ian C. Lucas

50049

registered interest
date	07/05/2014
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
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 the involvement of the Somali group al Shabaab in attacks in Kenya.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	197990
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>Al Shabaab issued public threats against Kenya following its military intervention in Somalia in 2011. A number of terrorist attacks in Kenya since then have been attributed to Al Shabaab, including the September 2013 attack on the Westgate shopping centre in which 67 people were killed. We are aware of the media reports that Al Shabaab were behind the recent attacks in Kenya.</p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Mark Simmonds question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1393 label Biography information for Mark Simmonds
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

49382

registered interest
date	01/05/2014
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
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 Sri Lanka; what recent representations he has made to the government of Sri Lanka about the arrest and detention of human rights defenders; and what recent discussions he has had with his Sri Lankan counterpart about the use of that country's Prevention of Terrorism Act.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	197542
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>We continue to have serious concerns about respect for human rights in Sri Lanka, in particular continued intimidation and harassment of human rights defenders and activists. We have consistently made clear to the Sri Lankan government the importance of safeguarding freedom of expression and protecting human rights defenders, and continue to urge the Sri Lankan government to uphold their international human rights obligations and to ensure that civil society, human rights defenders and activists are allowed the space to act freely.</p><p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Human Rights Report for 2013 and the quarterly updates to the report, which are available online, includes Sri Lanka as a ‘Country of Concern' for human rights and outlines our assessment more fully.</p><p>I made clear to the Sri Lankan government following the arrest of Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen - who have now been released – that it is important that human rights defenders are not subject to intimidation and have a right to freedom of expression. We are also aware of the arrests of Mrs Jeyakumari Balendran and others in Sri Lanka. Officials at our High Commission in Colombo have raised concerns with the Sri Lankan government, in particular on the lack of clarity around the evidence against the suspects and the charges brought.</p><p>We have previously raised concerns with the Sri Lankan government about the length of time individuals can be detained without charge under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. On 27 March, the UN Human Rights Council agreed a resolution which calls on the Sri Lankan government to make progress on human rights issues and to implement Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) recommendations, which includes the re-evaluation of detention policies.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

49853

registered interest
date	06/05/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what economic links there are with Burma; and what the value of (a) exports to and (b) imports from Burma was in the last year for which figures are available.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	197957
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>Building a sustainable economy in Burma, including increased responsible international investment, is key to economic growth, alleviating poverty, improving livelihoods and improving stability. As set out in the ‘UK Activities in Burma' document published on 8 April alongside a Written Ministerial Statement, the Government is working to encourage and support Burma to remove barriers to becoming a stable, prosperous and democratic country with a sustainable economy that benefits all its people and created a positive climate for domestic, international and UK trade and investment.</p><p>We are active in several areas including:<br>- establishing a UK Trade and Investment office in Burma to provide practical support to British companies;<br>- establishing a UK Financial Services Task Force to support the development of sound financial structures and products;<br>- funding two specialist economists from the International Growth Centre to support the Myanmar Development Resource Institute in providing high quality advice to government;<br>- providing £1.1m to support Burma's application to the Extractives Industries Transparency Initiative which will help improve the transparency and accountability of the revenues from Burma's natural resources.<br>- supporting work to strengthen Burma's accountancy profession, to tackle financial crime and to increase local community involvement in investment decisions.</p><p>UK exports of goods to Burma in 2013 were worth £44m (a 243% year on year increase) and imports from Burma were worth £65m (a 44% year on year increase). The top UK exports were transport equipment and road vehicles whilst the top imports were clothing.</p><p>In 2012, the last year for which total goods and services figures are available, UK exports of goods and services to Burma were worth £20.8m and imports from Burma were worth £46m.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon