Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member printed question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1124850

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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	Pakistan: Minority Groups
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the letter sent by 50 members of the European Parliament to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on 30 April warning that continued violation of the UN Treaty on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in respect of the treatment of Pakistan’s minorities may compel the EU Parliament to call on the European Commission to suspend all subsidies and trade preferences to Pakistan; and whether they are considering taking similar action.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL15525
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2019 answer text <p>​We are aware of the open letter to Pakistan's Prime Minister, Imran Khan, in which EU Parliamentarians express concerns about the persecution of minorities and highlight the link to the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+).</p><p>The British Government urges Pakistan to make human rights reforms in line with the relevant UN conventions, and to fully cooperate with the EU in the GSP+ process. I raised our concerns about Freedom of Religion or Belief and the protection of minority religious communities with Pakistan's Foreign Minister and Human Rights Minister during my visit to Pakistan in February 2019. At the UN Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan in November 2017, the UK pressed Pakistan to strengthen the protection of minorities and to explain the steps being taken to tackle the abuse of the blasphemy laws.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 17/05/2019 13:03:37 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1124851

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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: Minority Groups
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to assist Pakistani Ahmadi and Christian refugees, fleeing persecution in Pakistan and awaiting determination of their asylum cases in Sri Lanka, who are seeking refuge in police stations and elsewhere due to fear of targeted attacks on minorities.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL15526
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>The British Government has agreed with Sri Lankan counterparts the need for inclusivity and respect for human rights in their response to the Easter Sunday attacks and underlined the importance of Sri Lankans working together to reduce intercommunal tensions. Minister for Security and Economic Crime Ben Wallace visited Sri Lanka on 2-3 May and reiterated these points.</p><p>We have raised concerns with the Sri Lankan Government at reports of incidents of violence and intimidation against Muslims, refugees and asylum seekers since the Easter Sunday attacks. We have also raised concerns specifically about the situation in Negombo, where approximately 1,050 refugees were displaced from their ordinary places of residence and are now being temporarily housed.</p><p>The British High Commission in Colombo is in regular contact with the Sri Lankan Government, UN agencies and civil society organisations who are working towards a sustainable solution, including to identify secure relocation options to ensure protection of both refugees and asylum seekers.</p><p>The Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific and I have both met the Sri Lankan High Commissioner in recent weeks to raise concerns about refugees and minority rights in Sri Lanka. The Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific also addressed this issue in the House of Commons on 9 May.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 16/05/2019 14:37:24 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1124853

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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: Minority Groups
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of school textbooks in promoting a negative view of religious and ethnic minorities in Sri Lanka; what discussions they have had with the government of Sri Lanka and UN agencies about this; and what were the outcomes of any such discussions.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL15528
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>​The UK has not made such an assessment. The UK regularly discuses human rights, reconciliation and the importance of social inclusion with the government of Sri Lanka, including through encouraging the implementation of UNHRC resolution 30/1. The UK has supported civil society organisations that have engaged children and youth across the country through social media, youth exchange programmes and the arts in breaking racial stereotypes and creating better ethnic and religious understanding and relations between communities. The British Council has initiated research on school culture in Sri Lanka that will look at issues including equality, rights, attitudes and community engagement to foster social inclusion. Through its Active Citizens programme the British Council brings together youth from different communities to work together on projects that address issues at the community level.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 16/05/2019 14:38:59 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1124854

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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	Pakistan: Marriage
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they welcome the decision of the Pakistan Senate to pass a bill to amend the Child Marriage Restraint Bill 1929 to set the minimum marriage age at 18 years in Pakistan; and whether they will consider ways in which UK aid to Pakistan could be used to facilitate the effective enforcement of that legislation.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL15529
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK welcomes the decision by the Pakistan Senate to pass the Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill 2019.</p><p>The UK provided £282 million to Pakistan for the financial year 2018-19 under the AAWAZ I: Voice and Accountability Programme to promote the rights of children, youth and women. Of this, around £400,000 was spent on preventing forced and early marriages. The Department For International Development (DFID) is considering ways in which UK aid could be used to facilitate the effective implementation of the legislation once the Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill is passed by the National Assembly, working with government institutions and communities to help end child marriage. DFID has set aside funding for interventions in support of ending child marriage under its AAWAZ II programme.</p><p>We will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to take the steps necessary to comply in full with its human rights obligations to vulnerable groups, including women and girls, and to uphold the rule of law.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 21/05/2019 13:09:16 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1124855

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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	Asia Bibi
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 2 May (HL15272), what was the most recent response they received from the government of Pakistan about the right of Asia Bibi to join her family in Canada; and when they anticipate that this will take place.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL15530
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>The British Government welcomes reports that Asia Bibi has been able to travel freely out of Pakistan and is now able to make decisions about her future.</p><p>We also welcome the Pakistan Government’s commitment to the rule of law, following the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s decision in January to uphold her acquittal of blasphemy charges.</p><p>Our primary concern has always been Asia Bibi’s safety and security. Since Asia Bibi’s sentencing in 2010, we have been in close and extensive contact with a range of international partners to support a positive outcome for her.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 16/05/2019 14:40:59 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1123733

registered interest
date	29/04/2019
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: Refugees
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of China about the arrest and proposed repatriation of seven North Korean escapees, including a nine year-old girl; and whether they have reminded the government of China of its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and of the requirement to allow those escapees access to an officer from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL15371
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>We are aware of reports of seven North Koreans currently being detained in China. The British Government actively promotes the implementation of the 1951 UN Refugee Convention which asserts that a refugee should not be returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom. We continue to emphasise to China that people fleeing North Korea should be treated as legitimate asylum claimants and should not be returned. We have not raised these particular cases directly with the Chinese Government.</p><p>​</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 08/05/2019 15:21:11 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1123734

registered interest
date	29/04/2019
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: Refugees
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk of the North Korean refugees due to be repatriated from China to North Korea being sent to one of North Korea’s prison camps; how many people are estimated by the UN to be incarcerated in such camps; what is known about conditions inside them; and what is known about the fate of refugees who have previously been repatriated from China to North Korea.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL15372
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>Access to North Korea’s prison camps is tightly controlled, making it difficult to make an independent assessment of conditions there. However, reports, including defector testimonies, describe instances of torture, deliberate starvation and executions. The 2014 UN Commission of Enquiry report estimated there were between 80,000 and 120,000 political prisoners detained in four large political prison camps in North Korea. Despite claims by the North Korean authorities that forcibly repatriated refugees are well treated and reintegrated into society, reports suggest they are often mistreated.</p><p>The British Government will call on North Korea to address its widespread and systematic human rights abuses, including through judicial and prison reform, at the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review of DPRK on 9 May 2019. The British Embassy in Pyongyang routinely raises human rights concerns with DPRK officials.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 08/05/2019 15:11:36 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1122881

registered interest
date	24/04/2019
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	Asia Bibi
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the remarks of the Prime Minister of Pakistan on 10 April that Asia Bibi would be leaving Pakistan very soon but that there was a complication, what clarification they have sought from the government of Pakistan about (1) what is complicating her departure from Pakistan, and (2) measures to expedite her departure.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL15272
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2019 answer text <p>​As the Foreign Secretary stated in Parliament on 2 April, her case remains a high priority for the British Government. We continue to be in close, regular contact with international partners to ensure a positive outcome for Asia Bibi and her family.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 02/05/2019 15:25:51 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1122882

registered interest
date	24/04/2019
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	Mexico: Schools
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Mexico about ensuring that teachers and school administrators at all state schools are trained in freedom of religion and belief; and whether they will encourage that government to put in place mechanisms to (1) respond swiftly to cases of forced displacement on account of faith, and (2) take action to ensure that, during the period of their displacement, any children involved are not deprived of their right to an education.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL15273
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2019 answer text <p>​Officials in our Embassy in Mexico City have regular contact with the Government of Mexico on a range of human rights issues, including freedom of religion or belief; I discussed these matters with the former Mexican Ambassador to the UK in October 2018. In Mexico, we engage with civil society groups, including Christian Solidarity Worldwide, to help inform our understanding of the human rights situation on the ground. Mexico has close to universal access to basic education. We will continue to work with civil society to identify when rare exceptions do occur. We will also continue to engage regularly with the Mexican authorities at ministerial, official and state levels to discuss human rights, and other freedoms, and to support a broad human rights agenda in the country.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 07/05/2019 15:49:47 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1122898

registered interest
date	24/04/2019
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: Terrorism
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to (1) assist the government of Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday killings, (2) establish who funded and armed the perpetrators, and (3) provide support to bring those responsible to justice.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL15289
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2019 answer text <p>The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on the 23 April to offer her condolences on behalf of the UK and offer our assistance. We are discussing with the Sri Lankan authorities what form of support would be most helpful and effective. The Government of Sri Lanka have confirmed that a significant number of arrests have been made and counter-terrorism activities are ongoing. The Sri Lankan Prime Minister and President have both said publicly that there will be a thorough investigation. It is important to let that process follow its course. The UK and other international partners stand ready to support the Sri Lankan authorities.</p><p>The Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism command has dispatched a team of specialists to Sri Lanka. This team includes family liaison officers to support the families of British victims and assist with the repatriation of deceased British nationals. A recent Interpol programme led by UK experts to train 30 Sri Lankan forensic specialists and police officers in disaster victim identification, may also have been of additional support in the aftermath of the attacks.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 02/05/2019 15:27:36 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool