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49736

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, if he will make representations to the Chinese authorities regarding reports that Christian communities in and around the City of Wenzhou are fearful following attacks on churches and threats made against other Christians.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	197915
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>We have continuing concerns about restrictions on freedom of religion and belief in China. We are aware of particular cases such as the demolition of Sanjiang church in Wenzhou and of raids on churches and threats made to Christians.</p><p>We continue to raise our concerns publicly through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy and the quarterly updates to this. We also raise our concerns directly with Chinese officials. We next plan to do so during the forthcoming UK-China Human Rights Dialogue.</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	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

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

49793

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 discussions he has had with the government of Bangladesh on locating the British national Mujibur Rahman Mujib after his disappearance on 4 May 2014.
tabling member constituency	St Albans
tabling member printed	Mrs Anne Main
uin	197902
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>Our High Commission in Dhaka raised the case of missing British National Mr Mujibur Rahman Mujib with the government of Bangladesh on 7 May. We have urged the Bangladeshi authorities to do everything possible to locate Mr Mujib and his driver, to resolve the circumstances of their disappearance and to keep us informed of all developments in the case. Meanwhile, the British Government is providing consular support to Mr Mujib's family.</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	1568 label Biography information for Mrs Anne Main

49798

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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of the threat of a military campaign by Malian Jihadists in Chad; and of military action in Jebel Marra and Abyei in Sudan.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL6819
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p>We have not seen any reports of threatened military action by Malian fighters in Chad, Jebel Marra or Abyei. However, the UK is concerned about the vulnerability of fragile states across the region. For this reason, the UK supports efforts to increase regional co-operation on cross border threats such as those of the EU and UN. This approach is reflected for example in our integrated North and West Africa strategy.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

49800

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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made by the leading donor countries, including the United Kingdom, in South Sudan in promoting civil society, effective governance and accountability.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL6820
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2014 answer text <p>The current crisis in South Sudan has significantly set back the development of civil society and effective governance. As a member of a Troika (UK, US and Norway) we have worked closely with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) mediators to identify opportunities for civil society participation in the political process, and, in particular, the engagement of women, youth and faith group representatives. IGAD has proposed to both parties that representatives of civil society are present in the talks themselves, and assist in informing of the agenda.</p><p>We are clear that accountability for human rights violations and abuses will be an essential part of the peace process. We support the work of the African Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan and UNMISS (UN Mission in South Sudan) human rights team as first steps towards ensuring that perpetrators are held to account.</p><p>The promotion of civil society voices and effective governance will continue to be part of the UK's development programmes to support stabilisation and peace-building in South Sudan.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 13/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

49801

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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage the government of Pakistan to ensure a fair and just trial in the cases of Savan Masih, Shafqat Emmanuel and Shagufta Kausar, sentenced to death for blasphemy in Lahore in early April.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL6821
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2014 answer text <p>We remain concerned about these and other blasphemy cases particularly where the death penalty has been imposed. We regularly raise the issue of blasphemy laws, and their misuse against both Muslims and religious minorities, at the highest levels in Pakistan and press the government to ensure fair trials.<br>The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) raised our concerns regarding these laws and the need for reforms during the visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the end of April. We have consistently pressed the government of Pakistan on the issue of the death penalty and our principled opposition to it in all cases and we will continue to raise both these issues with the government of Pakistan.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 13/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

49817

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	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 Iran, and what other steps they have taken, following attacks on prisoners held at Evin prison.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
uin	HL6831
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2014 answer text <p>The UK was disturbed at reports of attacks on political prisoners in Evin prison on 17 April 2014. As we detailed in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Annual Human Rights report, released in April 2014, prison conditions in Iran remain a serious concern. The UK's non-resident Charge d'Affaires raised human rights with a range of Iranian government officials during his visit to Iran in March. The UK works closely with international human rights bodies and partners to encourage Iran to engage seriously on human rights issues.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 13/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans

49821

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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the question of human rights and freedom of religion and belief was amongst the range of international issues discussed by the Foreign Office's Political Director, Sir Simon Gass, when he met senior Iranian officials whilst visiting Iran in April.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Coventry
uin	HL6833
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2014 answer text <p>Human rights were not amongst the issues discussed by Sir Simon Gass on his visit to Iran in April: his interlocutors did not have responsibilities in this area. However, the UK's non-resident Chargé d'Affaires discussed human rights with a range of Iranian government officials during his visit to Iran on 12 March 2014. He raised the use of the death penalty, freedom of religion and the workings of the criminal justice system. Prior to that, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised Iran's human rights records with Iranian foreign minister Zarif at the UN General Assembly on 23 September 2013.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 13/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
tabling member	4266 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry

49824

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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the terms of Botswana's independence agreed by the United Kingdom in 1966, they will discuss with the government of Botswana its long-term plans for those Basarwa or Bushmen who wish to remain permanently in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
tabling member printed	Lord Pearson of Rannoch
uin	HL6835
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p>The Government regularly discusses with the Government of Botswana the situation of the San (also known as the Basarwa or Bushmen). We have consistently encouraged the Government of Botswana to seek an inclusive, sustainable and negotiated solution. We will continue to do so.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
tabling member	3153 label Biography information for Lord Pearson of Rannoch

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