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63069

registered interest
date	20/06/2014
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
hansard heading	India
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on sexual assault of ethnic Chin women and children from Burma in New Delhi, India; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Walsall South
tabling member printed	Valerie Vaz
uin	201663
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2014 answer text <p>We are aware of such reports. We are committed to working with the new Indian government and international partners to address the problem of gender-based violence, human trafficking and child exploitation in India. Through the Department for International Development's (DFID) programmes, we support measures in India's 120 poorest districts to promote the empowerment and access to benefits and services of excluded and vulnerable groups. Through DFID, we also provide support to national and state authorities in India helping girls to complete basic education and further tackling violence against women and girls.</p><p>The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), invited the Indian government to attend the recent Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict and has already discussed the initiative with the new Indian Foreign Minister. The Indian High Commissioner to the UK attended the Summit.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 25/06/2014 16:18:00 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4076 label Biography information for Valerie Vaz

63070

registered interest
date	20/06/2014
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
hansard heading	Burma
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 an assessment of the accuracy of the report of 9 May 2014 by the James Martin Center for Non-proliferation Studies that a military factory in Pauk Township of the central Magwe Division, Burma, has some features that are consistent with a chemical plant.
tabling member constituency	Walsall South
tabling member printed	Valerie Vaz
uin	201667
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2014 answer text <p>The James Martin Centre report states that it is not possible to determine the nature of the facility in question. We are unable to make any further assessments at this stage. <br><br>We have made a concerted effort to encourage Burma to ratify their Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). I raised this most recently with Deputy Foreign Minister U That Kyaw on 12 June. We are working with the OPCW to offer practical support, and the UK National Authority to the CWC has offered to host a Burmese delegation later this year.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 25/06/2014 16:24:34 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4076 label Biography information for Valerie Vaz

63071

registered interest
date	20/06/2014
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
hansard heading	Sudan
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 steps he has taken to call for the release of Mariam Ibrahim and her son from prison in Sudan and for her death sentence to be revoked.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	201657
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2014 answer text We have repeatedly raised our concerns about this appalling case with the Government of Sudan. The Prime Minister, The Secretary of State for Development and I all issued statements calling for Meriam Ibrahim to be released immediately. We also raised our concerns directly with the Government of Sudan: I highlighted this case in a letter to Presidential Assistant Professor Ghandour; my DFID colleague Lynne Featherstone raised it with the Sudanese Foreign Minister; and our Ambassador in Khartoum has raised it on multiple occasions with other Ministers and senior officials. answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Mark Simmonds question first answered 25/06/2014 10:23:49 answering member 1393 label Biography information for Mark Simmonds
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

62907

registered interest
date	19/06/2014
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
hansard heading	Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much the Government has paid to the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus in each of the last four years; and what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of that committee.
tabling member constituency	Christchurch
tabling member printed	Mr Christopher Chope
uin	201573
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2014 answer text <p>In 2010 the Government made a bilateral contribution of US$4,037, and in 2013 the Government provided US$56,797. The Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) has used the UK's most recent contribution to buy a backup generator and DNA matching software. EU funding of the CMP, to which the UK contributes, totalled US$16,289,719 from 2006-2014. We did not provide any bilateral funds in 2011 or 2012.</p><p>In addition to this financial support, the Government supports the CMP by allowing it to work from a British-owned site in the Buffer Zone, thus easing their administration costs. The UK also indirectly supports the CMP through lobbying of parties who can facilitate the Committee's work. We hope that our political support and contributions through the EU will continue to help the CMP in their important work.</p><p>CMP funds are administered by the United Nations Development Programme according to international accounting standards with independent financial audits undertaken on an annual basis. We have made no specific assessment of the cost effectiveness of the CMP. We nonetheless recognise and welcome the painstaking, sensitive, and technically challenging work undertaken by the bicommunal teams of the CMP.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 24/06/2014 15:22:48 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	242 label Biography information for Sir Christopher Chope

62908

registered interest
date	19/06/2014
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
hansard heading	Central African Republic
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 UN-led peacekeeping force in the Central African Republic is prepared to protect civilians and is fully operational as soon as possible.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
tabling member printed	Anas Sarwar
uin	201456
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2014 answer text <p>We are working closely with partners to support UN planning for MINUSCA's deployment as mandated on 15 September, ready to assume immediate responsibility for the protection of civilians. We will continue to provide expertise and resources to ensure a well planned, phased approach that prioritises protection of civilians, and enables a smooth transition of responsibility for security from the African Union led mission, MISCA. We will also continue to support efforts to identify troops and equipment to contribute to MINUSCA's military component.</p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Mark Simmonds question first answered 24/06/2014 09:38:18 answering member 1393 label Biography information for Mark Simmonds
tabling member	3981 label Biography information for Anas Sarwar

62909

registered interest
date	19/06/2014
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
hansard heading	Central African Republic
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 will take to ensure that survivors of sexual violence in the Central African Republic have access to lifesaving services that respond to the specific needs of women and girls.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
tabling member printed	Anas Sarwar
uin	201466
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2014 answer text <p>The UK remains extremely concerned about the grave humanitarian and security situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) and is working closely with international partners and CAR's Transitional Government to bring stability to CAR and ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance.</p><p>We welcome the announcement made by the African Union at the 10-13 June Global Summit to Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict about the deployment of a team of experts to CAR to investigate sexual violence abuses. This will be funded by the UK and Japan.</p><p>The decision by Transitional President Samba-Panza to refer CAR to the International Criminal Court is a positive step towards tackling impunity and bringing charges against those most responsible for crimes, including sexual violence.</p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Mark Simmonds question first answered 24/06/2014 15:52:57 answering member 1393 label Biography information for Mark Simmonds
tabling member	3981 label Biography information for Anas Sarwar

62910

registered interest
date	19/06/2014
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
hansard heading	Burma
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 steps he has taken to help the Rohingya peoples in Burma; what recent discussions he has had with the Burmese government on this issue; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Watford
tabling member printed	Richard Harrington
uin	201487
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2014 answer text <p>The UK is giving £12m in aid to Rakhine State to support shelter, water sanitation and hygiene programmes, nutrition and protection activities, as well as non-food items for 115,000 people. We are also funding £4.5m towards livelihoods projects in Rakhine and support to the UN's coordination of the international humanitarian response.</p><p>We remain one of the most vocal and active members of the international community in supporting those calling for human rights and democracy in Burma. I was the first Western Minister to visit Rakhine State in December 2012. I raised concerns again with the Burmese government during my second visit to Burma in January this year, and I again saw Rohingya leaders to hear from them about the many issues they are facing.</p><p>The plight of the Rohingya was also at the top of the agenda during the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron's) meeting with President Thein Sein in London in July 2013. In March this year, I summoned the Burmese Ambassador and called on the Burmese government urgently to restore humanitarian access to all communities in need, and to ensure the security of humanitarian aid workers and all communities in Rakhine State. The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks), again raised our concerns in a call with his Burmese counterpart in April, and I most recently discussed the situation with the Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister on 12 June.</p><p>We will continue to urge the Burmese government to take swift and decisive action to protect the lives and rights of Rohingya and other minorities in Rakhine State, and to address the underlying causes of ethnic and religious discrimination and violence.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 24/06/2014 15:27:06 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4068 label Biography information for Lord Harrington of Watford

62911

registered interest
date	19/06/2014
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
hansard heading	Bangladesh
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 political situation in Bangladesh since the elections in that country.
tabling member constituency	Cambridge
tabling member printed	Dr Julian Huppert
uin	201432
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2014 answer text <p>Bangladesh's political parties must address political accountability and find a long-term solution to run participatory and non violent parliamentary elections. The Senior Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Warsi, last discussed this issue with the Bangladesh Foreign Minister on 12 June. Reports of intimidation, violence and interference in local elections must be addressed. We have urged the Election Commission to fully and transparently investigate. The British Government are also deeply concerned at reports of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. We have pressed the Bangladesh government to conduct impartial, credible and transparent investigations.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Hugh Robertson question first answered 24/06/2014 13:55:05 answering member 1415 label Biography information for Sir Hugh Robertson
tabling member	3931 label Biography information for Dr Julian Huppert

62912

registered interest
date	19/06/2014
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
hansard heading	Bangladesh
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 the Bangladeshi government holds free and fair elections in future.
tabling member constituency	Cambridge
tabling member printed	Dr Julian Huppert
uin	201433
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2014 answer text <p>The 10th Parliamentary elections in Bangladesh were held on 5 January in accordance with Bangladesh's Constitution. Voters in more than half the constituencies did not have the opportunity to express their will at the ballot box and that turnout in most other constituencies was low.</p><p>The British Government continues to encourage Bangladesh's political parties to support political dialogue to find a long term solution to running participatory and non-violent elections, and urge that parties address the matter of political accountability. All parties should build the willingness and capacity to hold future participatory elections without fear of intimidation or reprisals.</p><p>The British government has also called on the Election Commission to mount a full and transparent investigation into reports of violence, harassment and interference in the voting process in recent local elections and take appropriate action.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Hugh Robertson question first answered 24/06/2014 14:00:02 answering member 1415 label Biography information for Sir Hugh Robertson
tabling member	3931 label Biography information for Dr Julian Huppert

62913

registered interest
date	19/06/2014
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
hansard heading	Bangladesh
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 the safety of British Bangladeshis who visit or live in Bangladesh.
tabling member constituency	Cambridge
tabling member printed	Dr Julian Huppert
uin	201434
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2014 answer text <p>The FCO Travel Advice is designed to provide information that will help British nationals stay safe when they travel abroad. It is updated frequently with information and advice for those planning to travel abroad. Any threats to British Nationals are reflected in the advice we publish and this is reviewed and amended as necessary on a regular basis.</p><p>Campaigns under the Know Before You Go umbrella look at different issues, including for example “Living Abroad” – which launched in September 2013 and encouraged British nationals considering a move overseas to research and prepare properly before taking that step.</p><p>It is the responsibility of the local police in Bangladesh to ensure the safety of British nationals. Should British Nationals have concerns about their safety we can, with their permission, raise with the local authorities as appropriate.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Hugh Robertson question first answered 24/06/2014 14:13:59 answering member 1415 label Biography information for Sir Hugh Robertson
tabling member	3931 label Biography information for Dr Julian Huppert