The Government has continued to press the Italian government to end the unacceptable discrimination against the Lettori (UK and foreign lecturers in Italy). The Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) and the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Mr Johnson) raised this issue with their Italian counterparts in July and September.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/343", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rutland and Melton"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Sir Alan Duncan"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2016-11-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2016-11-10T16:43:49.37Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2016-11-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Italy: Overseas Workers"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Italian government on resolving discrimination amongst the lettori.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4133", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Bridgen"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North West Leicestershire"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andrew Bridgen"} ], "uin" : "51789"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/628142", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/628142/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs does not plan to discuss the acceptance of donations for corporate sponsorship for official events with the British High Commissioner or British Ambassador in any of the named countries. We have clear guidance on corporate sponsorship for our overseas missions.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bournemouth East"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Tobias Ellwood"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2016-11-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2016-11-10T11:43:35.243Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2016-11-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Africa: Diplomatic Service"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 November 2016 to Question 50891, whether he plans to raise the acceptance of donations for corporate sponsorship for official events with the UK Ambassador or High Commissioner to (a) Namibia, (b) Malawi, (c) Ethiopia, (d) Uganda and (e) Tanzania.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4523", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Catherine West"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hornsey and Wood Green"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Catherine West"} ], "uin" : "51847"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/627343", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/627343/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
\u200bSomalia is in transition and partway through an electoral process due to culminate with the election of a new President by 30 November. It is vital that the process is transparent, credible and safe; and that commitments to make the process more inclusive, including increasing female representation, are fully respected. The 2016 process is a stepping stone to one person one vote elections scheduled for 2020. It builds on the 2012 process where only 135 elders voted; this year over 14,000 will vote, and the voting will take place beyond Mogadishu.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bournemouth East"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Tobias Ellwood"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2016-11-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2016-11-07T11:59:43.317Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2016-11-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Somalia: Elections"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of whether the ongoing election process in Somalia is free and fair; and if he will take steps to encourage the government of Somalia to increase the number of Somalian people able to vote in that election.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4124", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chi Onwurah"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle upon Tyne Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Chi Onwurah"} ], "uin" : "51742"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/627344", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/627344/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We are concerned by reports of large numbers of arrests in Ethiopia and by restrictions on communication and media usage. We are urging the Government of Ethiopia to respect human rights, and the safeguards around transparency provided for in the Constitution, as it implements the State of Emergency declared on 9 October. We have been clear that continued police repression, and refusal to allow peaceful protest and space for political discussion, will fuel unrest and instability.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bournemouth East"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Tobias Ellwood"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2016-11-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2016-11-07T12:02:48.273Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2016-11-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Ethiopia: Arrests and Press Freedom"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to address the recent arbitrary arrests and the media shut down in Ethiopia.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4124", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chi Onwurah"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle upon Tyne Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Chi Onwurah"} ], "uin" : "51743"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/627346", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/627346/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
President Kabila\u2019s explanation that the delay of Presidential elections is due to the lack of international financial support is incorrect. The primary reason why they are being delayed is the failure of President Kabila and his government to take the necessary steps to deliver elections on time, in accordance with the Democratic Republic of Congo\u2019s constitution and the obligations he has to the Congolese people.<\/p>
Independent experts have confirmed that Presidential elections in 2017 are possible. The EU stands ready to provide financial support for a transparent election process based on an inclusive political agreement and a clear timetable approved by stakeholders, provided that all the conditions set out in the Constitution and in UN Security Council Resolution 2277 are met. The UK has earmarked £11.4 million to support the electoral process, which will be disbursed under similar conditions. A number of other nations, including the US, have made similar pledges.<\/p>