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1203587

registered interest
date	15/06/2020
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	British Nationals Abroad: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what debt recovery agency his Department plans to refer debts relating to emergency repatriation loans to in the event that they have not been repaid within six months.
tabling member constituency	Edmonton
tabling member printed	Kate Osamor
uin	59528
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2020 answer text <p>British nationals who are overseas and wish to return to the UK, but cannot afford travel costs and have no other options for getting funds to return home, may apply for an emergency loan from the Government as a last resort.</p><p>Those eligible must sign an Undertaking to Repay (UTR) in which they agree to repay the loan within 6 months. Loan recipients are unable to renew their passport until they repay the loan in full. If loan recipients do not repay the loan or set up a repayment plan with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) within 6 months, their passport may be cancelled, and their details passed to Indesser, a cross Government debt management service. The FCO will always work with British nationals to agree flexible repayment plans tailored to individual circumstances. We will not cancel the passports of those actively seeking to repay their loan. All loans are interest free.</p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams question first answered 22/06/2020 14:11:26 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
tabling member	4515 label Biography information for Kate Osamor

1203605

registered interest
date	15/06/2020
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	Saudi Arabia: 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, if he will make public representations to the authorities in Saudi Arabia on the immediate and unconditional release of 13 women human rights defenders on trial for reportedly peaceful activism.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	59460
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2020 answer text <p>We remain concerned about the continued detention of women's rights activists in Saudi Arabia. The Foreign Secretary raised our concerns about the ongoing detention of political detainees, including women's rights defenders with Saudi Ministers during his visit this year to Riyadh in March. We regularly raise areas of concern with the Saudi authorities at all levels, through Ministers, our Ambassador and the Embassy in Riyadh. We consistently underline the importance of political freedoms globally. This includes respect for the right to peaceful protest, the rule of law, and freedom of speech, the press, and assembly. We continue to raise concerns about individual cases regularly and monitor the situation closely.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 23/06/2020 15:09:48 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1203606

registered interest
date	15/06/2020
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	Nigeria: 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 effect of Operation Safe Corridor in Nigeria on human rights standards in that country.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	59461
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2020 answer text <p>We are concerned by allegations of human rights abuses in Amnesty International's recent report, We Dried Our Tears. The British High Commissioner has raised the report's findings with the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, calling for a full investigation into the allegations and prosecution of any individuals found to have committed abuses in military detention facilities. The UK Government does not provide any support to the military detention facilities mentioned. The UK Government does not provide funding directly to the Government of Nigeria.</p><p>We are also concerned by criticisms in the report of Operation Safe Corridor. The programme is run by the Federal Government of Nigeria and is intended to provide defectors from Boko Haram with a voluntary way to disarm and reintegrate with society through de-radicalisation, psychosocial support and livelihood training. By providing a way to disengage from conflict, these programmes are an essential part of peacebuilding, but they must be fit for purpose and conducted in a way that fully respects human rights.</p><p>The UK, alongside the US and EU, provides funding to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to assist in the reintegration element of the Operation Safe Corridor. All UK Government programme spend is subject to regular monitoring and review. We are urgently following up points raised in the report with IOM, in particular in relation to the process for screening participants, the conditions in which they are detained and the timeline for rehabilitation. IOM have assured us that no children are currently enrolled. The UK's position on human rights is clear: they are universal and must apply equally to all people. The UK will continue to call on all parties to the conflict in North East Nigeria to respect human rights and abide by international humanitarian and human rights law.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 22/06/2020 15:44:22 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1203607

registered interest
date	15/06/2020
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	Prisoners: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help ensure the protection of human rights defenders imprisoned and at risk from covid-19.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	59462
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2020 answer text <p>The UK strongly supports human rights defenders worldwide to enable them to carry out their work safely and without fear. We regularly assess how we can enhance our ability to make a positive difference, including in the context of the increased risks posed by the Covid-19 outbreak.</p><p>On 4 June, the UK joined human rights Ambassadors from six other European nations to issue a statement highlighting the importance of ensuring a safe enabling environment for human rights defenders. The statement made clear that states have a responsibility to ensure that any emergency powers in place to combat Covid-19 are not used as tools to repress civil society, marginal groups or populations as a whole.</p><p>In July 2019, the UK set out its ongoing dedication to support and protect human right defenders in the document &quot;UK Support for Human Rights Defenders&quot;. The publication makes clear that our diplomatic network will work with and alongside Non Governmental Organisation representatives and human rights defenders to address the challenges they face. This includes human rights defenders who are detained, on trial or imprisoned.</p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams question first answered 23/06/2020 16:06:36 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1203623

registered interest
date	15/06/2020
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 and Commonwealth Office: Development Aid
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's share of the Official Development Assistance will decrease in the event of a decrease in GNI.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
uin	59555
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2020 answer text <p>The UK government made the commitment, underpinned by law, to spend 0.7% of its Gross National Income each year on Official Development Assistance (ODA). Since this commitment is linked to the size of the economy, the level of ODA spend will increase or decrease in line with GNI. Discussions are ongoing on where changes might occur. HM Treasury allocates ODA budgets to departments and is responsible for making changes to these.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 25/06/2020 08:40:32 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1203624

registered interest
date	15/06/2020
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 and Commonwealth Office: Development Aid
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 signing new funding agreements for projects funded by Official Development Assistance.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
uin	59556
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2020 answer text <p>The UK has a legal commitment to spend 0.7% of its Gross National Income (GNI) each year on Official Development Assistance (ODA). Since this commitment is linked to the size of the economy, the level of ODA spend will increase or decrease in line with GNI. The Government reviews the ODA funding it allocates to projects on a regular basis in order to ensure delivery of its commitment to spend 0.7% of GNI on ODA.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 25/06/2020 08:53:39 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1203719

registered interest
date	15/06/2020
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	Aviation: Coronavirus
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 his counterparts from (a) Australia, (b) EU member states and (c) New Zealand on the establishment of air bridges.
tabling member constituency	Blackpool North and Cleveleys
tabling member printed	Paul Maynard
uin	59406
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government is considering the concept of international travel corridors, including air bridges, and how they could be implemented in practice along with other measures<em>.</em> We want to open up as a country as soon as we responsibly and safely can, but we have to do it safely and responsibly. We are, of course, continuing to engage with all partners on all aspects of the global response to the Coronavirus pandemic.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 24/06/2020 08:15:31 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard

1203720

registered interest
date	15/06/2020
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	Aviation: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with which international counterparts he has held discussions on the establishment of air bridges.
tabling member constituency	Blackpool North and Cleveleys
tabling member printed	Paul Maynard
uin	59407
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2020 answer text <p>A list of countries and territories from which passengers arriving in England will no longer have to self-isolate for 14 days was published on 3 July. This follows the Government's first review of public health measures at the border, which were introduced in June 2020. The Government has always been clear that any decisions on border measures will be proportionate and science-led.</p><p>We are continuing to engage with all partners on all aspects of the global response to the Coronavirus pandemic.</p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams question first answered 08/07/2020 16:11:32 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
tabling member	3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard

1203773

registered interest
date	15/06/2020
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	Trade Agreements: Brazil
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 plans to take to ensure that the UK's trade facilitation programme with Brazil upholds internationally agreed climate commitments.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
uin	59569
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2020 answer text <p>The Prosperity Fund's Trade Facilitation Programme aims to support Brazil's integration into international markets in a sustainable and inclusive way. It will support a simplified and more stable business environment, which will contribute to increasing economic growth, inward investment and opportunities for international business, including for the UK. The UK Government's partnership with Brazil will reduce the economic and environmental costs of international trade, while strengthening Brazilian commitments and capacity to low carbon growth as part of our COP26 aims. The Trade Facilitation Programme's work to ensure climate and environmental standards will enable Brazil to build back better after the COVID-19 pandemic.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 24/06/2020 09:58:58 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1203774

registered interest
date	15/06/2020
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	UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Brazil
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 he is taking to ensure that the UK’s Prosperity Fund programme in Brazil upholds the rights of indigenous communities living in the Amazon.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
uin	59570
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2020 answer text <p>The Prosperity Fund programme in Brazil will support better public services, more sustainable energy and investment, and more efficient international trade. The programme is evolving to 'build back better' after the COVID-19 pandemic, including focusing on vulnerable groups and in the Amazon region, working on issues such as solar energy, primary health, and skills development. All Prosperity Fund programmes follow robust due diligence procedures, and take a 'do no harm' approach as a minimum standard. The UK is working with indigenous communities across Brazil, including in the Amazon region. The UK supports the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) Early Movers programme, which helps indigenous communities to develop sustainable income sources and strengthen food security: 19,593 families have benefitted so far. Through Partnerships for Forests, the UK also supports almost 2,000 indigenous people to strengthen livelihoods through sustainable forest management. The UK Government is committed to promoting and defending the human rights of all individuals, including indigenous peoples.</p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams question first answered 23/06/2020 16:08:58 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill