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1177048

registered interest
date	07/02/2020
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	Jiang Rong and Wang Yi
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 discussions he has had with his Chinese counterpart on the arrests and detentions of (a) Pastor Wang Yi and (b) Mrs Jiang Rong.
tabling member constituency	Coventry North West
tabling member printed	Taiwo Owatemi
uin	13996
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2020 answer text <p>British diplomats met with Chinese officials in January 2019, to express concern about the pressures facing Christians in China, and directly raised Pastor Wang's case. Reports suggest Jiang Rong was released in June 2019, after six months imprisonment. We have not raised her case directly with the Chinese authorities. On 2 January, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad issued a statement expressing serious concerns about the recent sentencing of Pastor Wang Yi to nine years in prison following a secret trial and called on China to uphold the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by China's constitution and international law. The freedom to practice, change or share ones faith or belief without discrimination or violent opposition is a human right that all people should enjoy.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 12/02/2020 17:19:57 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	4779 label Biography information for Taiwo Owatemi

1177049

registered interest
date	07/02/2020
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	Myanmar: 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 recent representations he has made to the government in Myanmar on the authorities treatment of (a) Kachin Christians and (b) Rohingya Muslims in that country.
tabling member constituency	Coventry North West
tabling member printed	Taiwo Owatemi
uin	13997
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2020 answer text <p>The UK continues to make representations to the Government of Myanmar about the need to protect the Kachin, Rohingya and other minority groups in Myanmar. We agree with the UN Fact Finding Mission's report that the Myanmar Military is responsible for serious human rights violations in Rakhine and Kachin State.</p><p>In September 2019, Baroness Sugg raised the Rakhine Advisory Commission (RAC) recommendations with the Rakhine State Government. If properly implemented, the RAC recommendations would improve the lives of the Rohingya currently in Myanmar and create the conditions for the Rohingya in Bangladesh to return to Myanmar in a safe, dignified, voluntary and sustainable way. On 23 January, I encouraged the Government of Myanmar to abide by the International Court of Justice's provisional measures and implement the recommendations of the Independent Commission of Enquiry in order to protect the Rohingya and to bring the perpetrators of atrocities to justice. The British Ambassador to Myanmar reinforced these points with the Myanmar Minister for International Co-operation, Kyaw Tin.</p><p>We remain concerned by restrictions on Freedom of Religion or Belief in Myanmar. We have raised our concerns about destruction of places of worship and discriminatory provisions within citizenship laws. In July 2019, The British Ambassador to Myanmar raised the issue of religious persecution and expressed concern at reports of forced conversions (to Buddhism) with the Myanmar Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 12/02/2020 17:24:17 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	4779 label Biography information for Taiwo Owatemi

1177119

registered interest
date	07/02/2020
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	EU Countries: British Nationals Abroad
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remark by Lord Bethell on 16 January (HL Deb, col 839) that a country-by-country guide to UK citizens’ rights and associated obligations in each of the EU 27 countries is desirable, whether they intend to produce such a guide; and if so, when.
tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
uin	HL1444
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2020 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office maintains 'Living in Country Guides' for all EU Member States, EEA EFTA countries and Switzerland on GOV.UK. The guides cover approximately a dozen different areas including, the Withdrawal Agreement, residency, healthcare and pensions and benefits.</p><p>The guides are updated on a constant basis and users can sign up for an email alert for their relevant guide so that they are notified when new content is added.</p><p>Where Her Majesty's Government policy that affects British nationals is relevant, it features on the guides and is updated with input from the government department that owns the policy as necessary.</p><p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will continue to update these pages as more information becomes available from Member State governments about what actions British nationals need to take to confirm their status under the Withdrawal Agreement.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 21/02/2020 13:29:07 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

1177120

registered interest
date	07/02/2020
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	EU Countries: Reciprocal Arrangements
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government with which of the EU 27 member states they have negotiated a reciprocal agreement covering citizens rights; what each agreement covers; and what plans they have to pursue any more such agreements.
tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
uin	HL1445
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2020 answer text <p>The Withdrawal Agreement protects the rights of UK nationals living in the EU for as long as they remain resident in their host country. They will be able to live, work, study, access healthcare and collect their pensions in their Member State of residence as they do now.</p><p>The agreement sets out a transition period until 31 December 2020. During the transition period, EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU will be able to live, work and travel broadly as they do now.</p><p>We are pursuing a relationship with the EU which is based on friendly cooperation between sovereign equals, and centred on free trade. The details, including on the mobility of citizens, are a matter for future negotiation.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 21/02/2020 13:27:34 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

1176739

registered interest
date	06/02/2020
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	India: Nationality
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 for the implications of his policies of India’s recent Citizenship Amendment Act; and what representations he has made to his Indian counterpart on the human rights implications of that Act.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh East
tabling member printed	Tommy Sheppard
uin	13486
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2020 answer text <p>The British High Commission in New Delhi and our network of Deputy High Commissions across India are following reports on the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens, as well as the Government of India's response. We raise our concerns with the Government of India. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon discussed the CAA, and public response to the legislation, with India's Minister of State for External Affairs on 19 December 2019. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials also raised the issue with the High Commission of India in London on 14 January.</p><p>The UK has long regarded protest as a key part of democratic society. Democratic governments must have the power to enforce law and order when a protest crosses the line into illegality, though we encourage all states to ensure their domestic laws are enforced in line with international standards. Any allegation of human rights violations is deeply concerning and must be investigated thoroughly, promptly, and transparently.</p><p>India has a proud history of inclusive government and religious tolerance. After his re-election, Prime Minister Modi promised to continue this. We trust the Government of India will provide reassurances to its citizens who are expressing concern about the impact this legislation may have. We will continue to monitor the situation.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 11/02/2020 16:00:34 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	4453 label Biography information for Tommy Sheppard

1176752

registered interest
date	06/02/2020
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	Sovereignty
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) criteria and (b) guidance his Department uses to define the (i) characteristics, (ii) security and (iii) borders of a sovereign state.
tabling member constituency	Ealing North
tabling member printed	James Murray
uin	13562
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2020 answer text <p>The criteria for statehood were set out in a written answer to a PQ on 16 November 1989 by Sir Tim Sainsbury, then a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister, who provided that &quot;we consider a State should have, and seem likely to continue to have, a clearly defined territory with a population, a Government who are able of themselves to exercise effective control of that territory, and independence in their external relations&quot;. This is based on the criteria for statehood set out in the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States 1933, namely: (a) a permanent population; (b) a defined territory; (c) government; and (d) capacity to enter into relations with other states.</p><p>Recognition is a unilateral, political act and there is no legal obligation to recognise another entity as a state. Recognition is something that Her Majesty's Government can choose to grant at a time of her choosing, if at all.</p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams question first answered 26/02/2020 17:34:27 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
tabling member	4797 label Biography information for James Murray

1176753

registered interest
date	06/02/2020
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	Occupied Territories: Demolition
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 his Department has made of trends in the (a) number and (b) frequency of (i) demolitions of Palestinian homes and structures and (ii) forced displacement of Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
tabling member constituency	Ealing North
tabling member printed	James Murray
uin	13563
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/02/2020 answer text <p>As we made clear in our statement at the UN Security Council on 21 January, we are deeply concerned by the increase in demolitions of Palestinian property by the Israeli authorities. Demolitions and evictions of Palestinians from their homes cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; call into question Israel's commitment to a viable two-state solution; and, in all but the most exceptional of cases, are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv have repeatedly made clear to the Israeli authorities our serious concern at the increase in demolitions of Palestinian properties in Area C of the West Bank and in East Jerusalem, most recently on 17 December 2019. We will continue to call for Israel to abandon demolition plans entirely, and instead provide a clear, transparent route to construction for Palestinians in Area C.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 20/02/2020 15:39:44 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	4797 label Biography information for James Murray

1176775

registered interest
date	06/02/2020
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	Rendition
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 received from Police Scotland for him to hold discussions with his counterpart in the US Administration on the investigation into alleged use of Scottish Airports for rendition flights.
tabling member constituency	East Lothian
tabling member printed	Kenny MacAskill
uin	13568
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2020 answer text <p>As this is an ongoing Police Scotland investigation it is not appropriate to comment substantively.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 12/02/2020 16:53:02 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	4772 label Biography information for Kenny MacAskill

1176783

registered interest
date	06/02/2020
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	India: Nationality
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 has had discussions with representatives of the Indian Government on recent shootings related to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
tabling member constituency	Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
tabling member printed	Jonathan Edwards
uin	13507
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2020 answer text <p>The British High Commission in New Delhi and our network of Deputy High Commissions across India are following reports on the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens, as well as the Government of India's response. We raise our concerns with the Government of India. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon discussed the CAA, and public response to the legislation, with India's Minister of State for External Affairs on 19 December 2019. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials also raised the issue with the High Commission of India in London on 14 January.</p><p>The UK has long regarded protest as a key part of democratic society. Democratic governments must have the power to enforce law and order when a protest crosses the line into illegality, though we encourage all states to ensure their domestic laws are enforced in line with international standards. Any allegation of human rights violations is deeply concerning and must be investigated thoroughly, promptly, and transparently.</p><p>India has a proud history of inclusive government and religious tolerance. After his re-election, Prime Minister Modi promised to continue this. We trust the Government of India will provide reassurances to its citizens who are expressing concern about the impact this legislation may have. We will continue to monitor the situation.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 11/02/2020 15:57:34 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	3943 label Biography information for Jonathan Edwards

1176823

registered interest
date	06/02/2020
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	Anoosheh Ashoori
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 representations he has made to his Iranian counterpart on the jailed British national Anoosheh Ashoori.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham East
tabling member printed	Janet Daby
uin	13590
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/02/2020 answer text <p>The Foreign Secretary raised his concerns about dual national detentions with Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif on 6 January. The Prime Minister raised his concerns with Iranian President Rouhani on 9 January. The former Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Dr Murrison, raised dual-national cases with the Iranian ambassador on 13 January. We remain extremely concerned about the welfare of all British-Iranian dual nationals detained in Iran, including Mr Anoosheh Ashoori. We have made clear to Iran that we expect them to ensure he is treated humanely and in line with international standards. We are committed to ensuring that we do everything we can, including continuing to press the Iranian authorities for consular access.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 20/02/2020 15:37:49 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	4698 label Biography information for Janet Daby