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99962

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
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	North Korea
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the level of imports to North Korea of luxury goods in 2013; what assessment they have made of the impact of such imports on the availability of food in that country, in the light of the World Food Programmes's analysis of the situation; and what assessment they have made about the number of goods which were imported from European states which are prohibited from selling luxury goods to North Korea under existing United Nations sanctions.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL2177
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) does not produce economic statistics, meaning the UK cannot make an accurate assessment on the level of imports of luxury goods. A recent report produced by the UN Panel of Experts, established under UN Security Council Resolutions imposing sanctions on the DPRK, notes ongoing investigations regarding potential violations of sanctions through the import of luxury goods, including some items originating from European states.</p><p>We are also aware of recent South Korean media reports which suggest that the DPRK imported luxury goods worth (US) $644m during 2013. However, given the lack of reliable data, it is difficult to assess the impact of the import of luxury goods on the provision of food for the general population. Should it be proven that the DPRK authorities chose to spend resources on luxury goods rather than feeding the population, this would not only be a deliberate breach of sanctions but would seriously call into question the regime’s economic prioritisation.</p><p>Despite generally good aggregate cereal harvests for the fourth consecutive year in 2014/15, 16 million people remain chronically food insecure and highly vulnerable to production shocks. The UN Food and Agricultural Organisation/World Food Programme Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission to the DPRK 2013, reported an estimated uncovered food deficit of 40,000 tonnes for that marketing year. The report stated that the food security situation remained similar to previous years with most households having borderline and poor food consumption.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 03/11/2014 14:56:24 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

99963

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
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	North Korea
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the statement by Mr Marzuki Darusman, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, that the United Kingdom should consider implementation of all recommendations made by the United Nations Commission of Inquiry in its report, including steps to increase the flow of free and impartial information into North Korea.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL2178
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>The UK welcomes the spotlight shone by the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report on horrific and systemic violations of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). We have urged the DPRK authorities to respond in detail to the contents of the report and to address the violations that it documents.</p><p>Although not all recommendations in the COI report apply directly to the UK, where possible we have taken steps to support implementation. For example, on the findings related to trafficking and forced repatriation, we have made clear to the Chinese government that we believe that people who have escaped from the DPRK are entitled to protection and should be allowed safe passage to resettlement in third countries.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 29/10/2014 15:37:08 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

99964

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
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	North Korea
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to ensure that the recommendations accepted by North Korea in the first cycle of the Universal Periodic Review have been implemented; and whether they will offer support to North Korea in its implementation of accepted recommendations from its second periodic review.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL2179
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>Following the adoption of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report on 19 September 2014, the UK issued a statement via our Mission in Geneva welcoming the DPRK’s engagement. We urged the DPRK to fulfil the commitment made to respond to the 185 recommendations which it agreed to examine, and to take concrete steps to implement all the UPR recommendations. We also noted with regret that 83 UPR recommendations did not enjoy the support of the DPRK, particularly those related to the findings of the UN Commission of Inquiry, co-operation with the Special Rapporteur, the treatment of political prisoners and closure of political prison camps.</p><p>We have made clear to the DPRK that the UK would be happy to provide technical assistance or advice to the DPRK on any aspect of its human rights performance, including for example information on the UK approach to our own UPR.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 29/10/2014 15:36:13 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

99965

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
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	Iraq
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of Amnesty International's report <i>Absolute Impunity: Militia Rule in Iraq</i> and its account of retaliatory attacks against IS by Shi’a militias in Baghdad, Samarra and Kirkuk.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL2180
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2014 answer text We have received reports from Amnesty International and others that Shia Militias have committed human rights abuses against Sunni Muslims in Iraq. The UK strongly condemns the persecution of communities on the basis of their religion, belief or ethnicity. We welcome the commitments made by Prime Minister al-Abadi to reorganising the Iraqi Security Forces, integrating volunteer civilian fighters and dissolving militia groups. He has stressed the importance of bringing arms under State supervision in order to prevent abuses by armed civilians. The UK fully supports the Iraqi government in this as well as its efforts to uphold the rule of law and bring those responsible for all violations and abuses of human rights to justice. answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 28/10/2014 16:41:06 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

99966

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
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	Iraq
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of Amnesty International’s reports of the discovery of unidentified bodies apparently subjected to executions and its allegations of human rights violations perpetrated by Iraqi government forces; and what discussions they have had with the new government of Iraq about entrenching fundamental human rights principles in law and practice and putting in place mechanisms to hold those responsible to account.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL2181
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2014 answer text The Government strongly condemns any and all abuses or violations of human rights. We have received reports from Amnesty International and others that Iraqi Security Forces have committed human rights violations in Iraq. Concerns also remain around unlawful detention, as well as deficiencies within the Iraqi justice system more generally. The newly formed Government of Iraq has committed to tackling these issues. We welcome the commitments made by Prime Minister al-Abadi to reorganising the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), integrating volunteer civilian fighters and dissolving militia groups, and his order on 13 September to ISF units fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) not to shell in civilian areas, with the aim of preventing civilian casualties. The UK fully supports the Iraqi government in this as well as its efforts to uphold the rule of law and bring those responsible for all violations and abuses of human rights to justice. At the Human Rights Council in September we co-sponsored a resolution which strongly condemns ISIL and also stresses the need for accountability. The resolution was passed by consensus and mandates the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to despatch an urgent mission to investigate and report on ISIL abuses. answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 04/11/2014 17:17:20 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

99967

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
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	Pakistan
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the authorities in Pakistan arising from the decision of the Lahore High Court to reject the appeal of Asia Bibi, and to order her execution, following charges of alleged blasphemy.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL2182
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>I am concerned to hear that a Pakistan court has upheld the imposition of the death penalty in the case of Asia Bibi. We support the EU’s recent statement of concern and hope that the verdict will be overturned on appeal. We regularly raise at the highest levels the misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan both against Muslims and against religious minorities. We have consistently pressed the Government of Pakistan on the issue of the death penalty and expressed our principled opposition in all cases. We will continue to raise these issues.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 03/11/2014 15:02:25 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

92763

registered interest
date	13/10/2014
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	Nigeria
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to halt the killing and displacement of people, and the destruction of churches, in the Nigerian states of Borno and Adamawa by Boko Haram; what is their assessment of the amount of territory which has been seized by Boko Haram; and what is their assessment of how many people have been killed or displaced and how many churches destroyed.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL1999
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2014 answer text <p>The Government is committed to working closely with Nigeria and the international community to tackle the threat posed by terrorist groups such as Boko Haram. At the London Ministerial meeting on 12 June, the former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend, the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), announced a substantial new package of UK military, intelligence and development support to Nigeria. This package is being delivered in Nigeria and includes tactical training and advice to Nigerian units deployed against Boko Haram. This year, the Department for International Development doubled investment in north east Nigeria conflict resolution programmes to help make communities safer.</p><p>We believe that more than 3,000 people have been killed by Boko Haram this year. The UN assesses that the violence in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states has displaced 1.5 million people. Boko Haram has targeted both Christian and Muslim communities and sites, including churches, but reliable information on how many is not available. The UK welcomes recent reports of gains by the Nigerian Armed Forces as they seek to push back Boko Haram in north east Nigeria.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 21/10/2014 14:47:26 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

92766

registered interest
date	13/10/2014
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	Iraq
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of a report by Human Rights Watch that Islamic State is detaining Yezidi men, women and children from Iraq in Iraq and Syria; and what they know about their situation.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL2002
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2014 answer text The self-styled Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) continues to commit atrocities against Muslims, Christians, Yezidis, Turkmen and other communities throughout the areas under its control. The British Government strongly condemns the persecution of communities on the basis of their religion, belief or ethnicity. We are working closely with the Iraqi government and our international coalition partners to assist and protect civilians wherever we can. We are aware of reports from Human Rights Watch and others that Yezidi men, women and children are being detained by ISIL along with people from other religious groups. We welcome the commitments that Prime Minister al-Abadi has made to inclusivity, to protecting Iraqi citizens, addressing human rights abuses and holding those responsible to account. answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 23/10/2014 15:56:43 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

92767

registered interest
date	13/10/2014
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	Iraq
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the report by Human Rights Watch that Islamic State has removed Yezidi boys and made them convert to Islam and is holding captive civilians from other religious and ethnic minorities, including Christians and Shia Shabaks and Turkmen.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL2003
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2014 answer text <p>The humanitarian reports from Iraq and elsewhere in the region are deeply concerning. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and associated armed groups continue to commit atrocities against Muslims, Christians, Yezidis, Turkmen and other communities throughout the areas under their control. We condemn any and all violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief.</p><p>We are working closely with our international coalition partners to assist and protect civilians. We have been at the forefront of the humanitarian response to the crisis in the region, delivering through a range of channels including air drops. We are also providing military equipment and training to support the Kurdistan Regional Government fighting against ISIL.</p><p>We continue to encourage the new Iraqi government to ensure the protection of all citizens, to promote human rights and reassert the rule of law.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 21/10/2014 14:44:54 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

91808

registered interest
date	26/09/2014
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	Cameroon
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 that Boko Haram has targeted Northern Cameroon and that there has been an increase in attacks by Boko Haram on towns and villages in Cameroon.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL1866
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/10/2014 answer text <p>Boko Haram concentrates its attacks in northern Nigeria but is regularly reported to operate in neighbouring countries, including Cameroon. We are aware of the growing evidence of Boko Haram having a presence in Cameroon, and discuss this regularly with the Government of Cameroon and other partners in the region, including at the 3 September meeting in Abuja of regional and international Foreign Ministers, which the Minister for Africa, my hon Friend, the Member for Rochford and Southend East (Mr Duddridge), attended.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 13/10/2014 13:41:13 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool