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750537

registered interest
date	11/07/2017
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	Children: Social Services
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Saudi Arabia about the bombing of civilians in Yeman; and what response they received.
tabling member printed	Lord Hoyle
uin	HL669
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2017 answer text <p>We regularly raise the importance of compliance with International Humanitarian Law with the Saudi Arabian Government. Saudi Arabia has publicly stated that it is investigating reports of alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law through the Coalition’s Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT), and that lessons will be acted upon.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 25/07/2017 13:37:18 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	1000 label Biography information for Lord Hoyle

750560

registered interest
date	11/07/2017
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	Housing: Energy
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government, in the light of Brexit, what is their assessment of the need to maintain the double lock to protect the sovereignty of Gibraltar; and what measures they consider necessary to protect and enhance Gibraltar's trading relationship with the UK.
tabling member printed	Lord Patten
uin	HL692
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2017 answer text <p>Our position on Gibraltar's sovereignty is clear. It has not and will not change as a result of the UK's exit from the EU. We stand by our sovereignty assurances to Gibraltar never to enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another State against their wishes. Furthermore the UK has given an assurance that it will not enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content.</p><p>As the Foreign Secretary has said, we are &quot;absolutely bound to protect the economic interests of the people of Gibraltar&quot;. We are clear that Gibraltar is covered by our exit negotiations and we have committed to fully involve them as we prepare for the process of leaving the EU. We continue to work closely with the Government of Gibraltar to understand their needs and ensure their priorities are taken properly into account, including through the recent HMG-Gibraltar Exit Ministerial meeting (the JMC(GEN)) on 17 July.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 25/07/2017 13:38:47 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

750570

registered interest
date	11/07/2017
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	Asylum
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 27 June (HL 186), whether they intend to discuss the reported use of plastic bullets and the breaking up of the Gay Pride march in Istanbul with the government of Turkey.
tabling member printed	Lord Scriven
uin	HL702
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2017 answer text <p>We regularly discuss freedom of expression and assembly with the Turkish Government and have made clear our support to the LGBTI community in Turkey, including through our partnering of civil society organisations representing LGBTI issues. We will continue to highlight the importance of these issues in our bilateral contacts.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 25/07/2017 13:57:42 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4333 label Biography information for Lord Scriven

750574

registered interest
date	11/07/2017
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	Housing
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking in Iraq and Syria to discharge the responsibility set out by Mark Field MP, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on 4 July (HC Deb Col. 21WH) for "protecting and upholding the rights of Christian communities across the globe."
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Southwark
uin	HL706
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2017 answer text <p>In Syria we are providing a range of support, including to the moderate opposition, to help save lives, bolster civil society, counter extremism, promote human rights and accountability, and lay the foundations for a more peaceful future. To date, this amounts to over £120 million, with a further £30 million to bolster regional stability.</p><p>In Iraq we are promoting the right to freedom of religion or belief for all religious communities. We urge the Government of Iraq at senior levels to uphold the rights of all minorities. In addition, we support projects on community dialogue with civil society and faith groups. For example, through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Magna Carta Fund, we have contributed £163,000 to support a project across several countries in the Middle East, including Iraq, to promote legal and social protection for freedom of religion or belief. This project aims to prevent intolerance and violence towards religious communities by inspiring leaders in Iraqi society to defend freedom of religion or belief.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 25/07/2017 13:58:27 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4345 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Southwark

750575

registered interest
date	11/07/2017
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	Housing: Taxation
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Mark Field MP, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on 4 July (HC Deb. Cols 21–23WH) concerning the "special responsibility for protecting and upholding the rights of Christian communities across the globe" and the ring-fencing of humanitarian assisstance to help protect displaced minorities, whether they will institute a programme for the secure restoration of Christian communities and other minorities in Iraq.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Southwark
uin	HL707
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2017 answer text <p>Iraqi Christians have deep and ancient ties to the region. It is a tragedy that so many have been forced to flee their homes and been subjected to such appalling human rights abuses. We want to see Christians and other minorities continuing to live, worship and prosper in Iraq and across the Middle East.</p><p>To this end, we are providing £209.5 million in humanitarian aid to all those who have been affected by conflict in Iraq. The funding provides clean water, sanitation, essential medicines and other life-saving assistance. We are also providing over £15 million towards UN efforts to stabilise areas liberated from Daesh. In addition, through the UK's Conflict, Security and Stability Fund we are supporting community cohesion, encouraging reconciliation and promoting acceptance and tolerance between communities. We also continue to encourage political and religious leaders in Iraq to speak out publicly to condemn violence and we are working to build international consensus on upholding freedom of religion or belief.</p><p>UK funded aid is provided on the basis of need to ensure civilians are not discriminated against on the grounds of race, religion, or ethnicity.</p><p>Ultimately, the best way of safeguarding Christian and other minority communities in Iraq is to establish lasting peace. That means defeating Daesh and helping the Government of Iraq to deliver political reform and reconciliation.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 25/07/2017 13:59:32 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4345 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Southwark

750633

registered interest
date	11/07/2017
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	Iran: Prisoners
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 Iranian Government on the treatment of Pastor Victor Bet Tamraz, Amin Afshar Naderi and Hadi Asgari in prison in that country.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	4243
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/07/2017 answer text <p>The Government is aware of reports regarding Pastor Victor Bet Tamraz, Amin Afshar Naderi and Hadi Asgari. The Government notes the worrying trend of harassment of Christians in Iran and strongly condemns any mistreatment of religious minorities in the country. We regularly raise our concerns about the human rights situation in Iran both in London and Tehran. We call on Iran to cease harassment of religious minorities and fulfil its international and domestic obligations to allow freedom of religion to all Iranians.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 17/07/2017 16:31:19 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

750634

registered interest
date	11/07/2017
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	Eritrea: Christianity
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 UN on the cases of Eritrean Christians who are subject to alleged persecution and harassment in that country.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	4244
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/07/2017 answer text <p>We remain concerned about the human rights record of the Government of Eritrea. We have raised these concerns consistently, most recently during the interactive dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 16 June 2017. One of the issues highlighted was that of arbitrary detentions, including those detained on the basis of their religious belief. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also joined a recent campaign calling for the release of Patriarch Antonios after 10 years imprisonment in Eritrea.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 17/07/2017 15:08:39 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

750644

registered interest
date	11/07/2017
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	World War I: Anniversaries
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) steps the Government has taken and (b) funding has been committed to commemorating the role of African soldiers in the First World War.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	4381
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/07/2017 answer text <p>Throughout the Government’s First World War commemorations programme we have ensured that all those who contributed to the Allied cause have been remembered and their sacrifice honoured. Representatives from African countries have been invited to all major commemorations in which their forces were involved, the next such event being the 3<sup>rd</sup> Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) at the end of this month.</p><p>The first memorial to honour the men and women of Africa and the Caribbean who served during the First and Second World Wars was unveiled on 22 June in Brixton, a joint project by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), Lambeth Council, the Black Cultural Archive and the Nubian Jak Community Trust. DCLG also launched ‘The Unremembered’ project in February during the SS Mendi commemorations. This project, which is costing around £200,000 over two years, focuses on the role of Labour Corps in the First World War, including the South African Labour Corps. At least 200 community groups will be engaged in the project.</p><p>In respect of the commemoration of the 100<sup>th</sup>anniversary of the sinking of the SS Mendi, in which over 600 members of the South African Native Labour Corps lost their lives, the Government provided significant representational and logistical support, mainly through the Ministry of Defence, to South Africa for the events in Portsmouth, Southampton and at the wreck site off the Isle of Wight.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 17/07/2017 16:07:44 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

750673

registered interest
date	11/07/2017
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	Scholarships
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which scholarship programmes his Department funded, part-funded or otherwise supported in each of the last 10 years; what the purpose and remit was of each such programme; how many people benefitted from each such programme; and what the cost of each such programme was in each of the last 10 years.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	4250
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/07/2017 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has funded Chevening and Marshall Scholarship programmes throughout this period and has previously part-funded the Commonwealth Scholarship Programme which since 2009 has been primarily delivered by the Department for International Development (DfID). All three scholarship programmes are key instruments of UK soft power and support our foreign policy objectives.</p><p><strong>Marshall Scholarships</strong></p><p>The bilateral Marshall Scholarship Programme was established by an Act of Parliament in 1953 to thank the American people for the UK's share of Marshall Aid. It is a key element in the special relationship between the US and the UK. An Order-in-Council provides for up to 40 new Marshall Scholars each year, enabling talented postgraduate students from the US to study in the UK – mostly for 2 or 3 years.</p><p>Since the academic year of 2006/07 there have been <strong>401 Scholars</strong>. The total FCO Grant-in-Aid over the same period was <strong>£22,990,000</strong>. The annual figures are shown in Table A (Annex A).</p><p><br><strong>Chevening Scholarships</strong></p><p>The Chevening Scholarship Programme creates lasting, positive relationships with future leaders, influencers and decision-makers from 140 different countries around the world. Founded in 1983, Chevening is one of the largest international scholarship programmes in the world. In 2016/17 the programme welcomed 1,918 scholars to the UK to study for one year master's degrees on the course and at the university of their choice.</p><p>Since the academic year of 2006/07 there have been <strong>12,673 Scholars</strong>. The total FCO funding over the same period was <strong>£294,800,000</strong>. The annual figures are shown in Table B (Annex A).</p><p><strong>Commonwealth Scholarships (partly funded)</strong></p><p>The Commonwealth Scholarship Programme awards approximately 800 scholarships and fellowships, for postgraduate study and professional development, to Commonwealth citizens each year. The programme aims to contribute to the UK's international development objectives and wider interests overseas and promotes the principles of the Commonwealth.</p><p>The programme is currently funded by DfID and the Department for Education. The FCO funded awards until 2008. The annual figures for this period are shown in Table C (Annex A).</p><p><br><strong><em>To note</em></strong>: <em>the numbers of scholars in Table C represent the proportion of Commonwealth scholars funded by the FCO contribution. Between 2009-2012 the FCO contribution did not directly</em> <em>fund scholarship awards. </em></p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 19/07/2017 14:05:18 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field attachment 1 file name Annex A.docx title Annex A
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

750784

registered interest
date	11/07/2017
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	Taiwan: World Health Organization
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 World Health Organisation to enable Taiwan to regain observer status.
tabling member constituency	Ribble Valley
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Evans
uin	4281
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/07/2017 answer text <p>The British Government was disappointed that Taiwan was not permitted to observe the World Health Assembly this year. We will continue to make the UK position clear: we support Taiwanese participation in international organisations where there is precedent for involvement, where Taiwan can contribute to the global good, and where there is no pre-requisite of nationhood for participation. Given the global reach and often rapid spread of global health emergencies it is of particular importance that all relevant administrations be invited to engage in the World Health Assembly, to ensure that discussions on Global Health Security can benefit from their valuable experience and expertise.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 19/07/2017 13:32:34 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	474 label Biography information for Mr Nigel Evans