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759317

	registered interest
	date	11/09/2017
	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: 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 representations he has made to the Government of Burma on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' assessment of Burma's operations against Rohingya Muslims constituting a textbook example of ethnic cleansing.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
	tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	10010
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2017 answer text <p>Since the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights' statement on 11 September, our Ambassador has raised the situation in Rakhine with Burmese Ministers and has set out our concerns about the violence, the large scale displacement of civilians, and the need for improved humanitarian access. The Foreign Secretary had earlier spoken to State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on 7 September in similar terms and to underline the need for any allegations of human rights abuses to be investigated. Subsequently, at his press conference on 14 September, the Foreign Secretary described the situation in Rakhine as an “abomination”, and urged the displaced Rohingya to be allowed back and for the abuse of their human rights and killings to stop.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 18/09/2017 15:24:07 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field previous answer version 11904 answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

759713

	registered interest
	date	12/09/2017
	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: Arms Trade
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether military equipment sold by the UK to Myanmar may be used by that country's armed forces in operations involving conflict with citizens of that country.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	10061
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2017 answer text <p>In line with the EU Arms Embargo the UK does not sell Burma any equipment which might be used for internal repression. Our engagement with the Burmese military has been focused on educational training, designed to instil knowledge and awareness in the military of the requirement to observe human rights and the rule of international humanitarian law. However, the Prime Minister announced the Government's decision to suspend this engagement on 19 September, sending a clear message to the Burmese military that there must be an immediate end to the violence in Rakhine and full humanitarian access allowed.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 20/09/2017 16:45:58 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

759706

	registered interest
	date	12/09/2017
	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: 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 steps his Department is taking to support discussions with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the Commander in Chief of the Myanmar armed forces on ending the situation in Rakhine state.
	tabling member constituency	Burnley
	tabling member printed	Julie Cooper
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	10274
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2017 answer text <p>We have not had direct discussions with the Commander in Chief. The Foreign Secretary spoke with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on 7 September. He raised our concerns about the continuing violence, the need for any allegations of human rights abuses to be investigated and for humanitarian access to be granted to affected communities. We continue to raise our concerns with the Burmese authorities.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 20/09/2017 14:49:35 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4405 label Biography information for Julie Cooper

760086

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2017
	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: Christianity
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Chinese counterpart on the harassment and surveillance faced by the growing Chinese Protestant population in that country.
	tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
	tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	10352
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>​We remain concerned about restrictions on freedom of religion or belief in China and have raised this issue regularly, including at the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue which took place on 27-28 June 2017.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 09/10/2017 15:38:06 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

760095

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2017
	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	Far East: Military Exercises
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect on tensions in the region of military exercises in which the UK has (a) participated and (b) not participated as a result of nuclear tests by North Korea.
	tabling member constituency	Reigate
	tabling member printed	Crispin Blunt
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	10376
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/10/2017 answer text <p>We support South Korea and its allies' right to defend themselves in the face of escalating aggression from North Korea. We do not accept that there is any equivalence between the regular, defensive and legal military exercises held by South Korea and the United States, and the aggressive and illegal ballistic missile tests and nuclear testing being conducted by North Korea, which are the cause of the raised tensions on the Korean peninsula.</p><p>The UK is a sending state to the UN Command in Seoul. Alongside other nations, we routinely send military and civilian personnel to participate in two large scale military exercises conducted each year in South Korea.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 13/10/2017 12:27:16 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	104 label Biography information for Crispin Blunt

760087

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2017
	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: 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 assessment he has made of the state of freedom of religion or belief in Nepal.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	10378
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>The right to freedom of religion is enshrined in the Nepali Constitution of September 2015, however we are concerned that provisions around changing religion are open to interpretation. Freedom of religion or belief – particularly conversion - remains a sensitive issue. Our Embassy in Kathmandu monitors the human rights situation closely and has consistently encouraged the Government of Nepal and members of Nepal's parliament to ensure Nepal meets its international human rights obligations, this includes freedom of religion or belief, and we will continue to do so. I also raise these issues with the Nepalese Ambassador to London at a meeting on 9 October 2017.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 09/10/2017 15:35:15 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

760088

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2017
	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: Freedom of Expression
	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 Nepal on the state of freedom of expression in that country following the arrest of eight Christians in Charikot in June 2016.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	10379
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>Our Embassy in Kathmandu has consistently encouraged the Government of Nepal and members of Nepal’s parliament to ensure Nepal meets its international human rights obligations, including freedom of religion or belief. I raised these issues with the Nepalese Ambassador to London at a meeting on 9 October 2017.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 09/10/2017 15:24:38 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

760089

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2017
	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: United Nations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to encourage the Government of Nepal to extend standing invitations to UN Special Procedures, including the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	10380
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>​Our officials in Kathmandu have encouraged the Government of Nepal to implement the recommendations made by the UN Working Group on Universal Periodic Review: Nepal which includes extending an invitation to the UN special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief. We will continue to encourage the Government of Nepal to meet its international human rights obligations.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 09/10/2017 15:16:22 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

760090

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2017
	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: 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 assessment he has made of the effect of the Criminal Code Bill 2014, passed on 8 August 2017 by the Nepali Government, on freedom of religion or belief in Nepal.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	10381
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>Whilst the final legislation is not yet public the draft version of the Criminal code criminalised religious conversion and the hurting of religious sentiment, which could be interpreted in a way that would limit people’s rights to express their religion and, potentially, their right to choose their religion.</p><p>During drafting our officials in Nepal met with the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs to discuss the bill and raise the need for compliance with international human rights standards. This includes ensuring the protection of the right to change religion.</p><p>I have also raised this matter in my most recent meeting with the Nepalese Ambassador to London on 9 October 2017.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 09/10/2017 15:21:52 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

760091

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2017
	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: 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 assessment he has made of the effect of Article 26(3) of the Nepalese Constitution on freedom of religion or belief in Nepal.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	10382
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>The Constitution of Nepal, 2015 under article 26 (1) guarantees freedom of religion as a fundamental right. Sub-article 3 states that in exercise of the right conferred by this article, one cannot do, or cause to be done, any act which may be contrary to public health, decency and morality, breach public peace, convert another person from one religion to another or any other act or conduct that may jeopardize another’s religion. These subsequent provisions may be interpreted in a way that would limit people’s rights to express their religion and, potentially, their right to choose their religion.</p><p>Our Embassy in Kathmandu has consistently encouraged the Government of Nepal and members of Nepal’s parliament to ensure Nepal meets its international human rights obligations. This includes ensuring freedom of religion or belief. I raised these issues with the Nepalese Ambassador to London at a meeting on 9 October.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 09/10/2017 15:25:36 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon