The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has held meetings throughout the past year with a number of diplomatic missions about outstanding parking fines and other debts. The subject of a mission\u2019s outstanding debts is also raised with all incoming Heads of Mission.
In March and April this year FCO officials wrote to all diplomatic missions with unpaid parking fines over £500, and with unpaid London congestion charges over £100,000, to give them the opportunity to either pay the outstanding fines, or to dispute them with the creditors, before the publication of the details to Parliament. Subsequent payments of parking fines, including amounts waived by councils, totalled £214,154.
Details are reported annually to Parliament by way of Written Ministerial Statements (WMSs). The most recent WMSs were made on 16 July by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), which I repeated the same day in the House of Lords, (HLWS116 and HLWS119).<\/p>"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what discussions they have had with embassies and high commissions in the United Kingdom about the payment of parking and other traffic fines.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/222703", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/222703/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We welcome progress on human rights in El Salvador, as set out in its 2014 Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review. However, it is vital that this progress continues, in particular, in the areas of reproductive rights and universal access to justice.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-03-09T16:26:57.84Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-02-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "El Salvador"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what is their latest assessment of the human rights situation in El Salvador.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4153", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Kennedy of Southwark"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Kennedy of Southwark"} ], "uin" : "HL5044"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/222704", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/222704/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We share the view of the UN Human Rights Council that Argentina is not a human rights country of concern. We take note of recent assessments of Argentina\u2019s human rights record by Human Rights Watch (World Report 2015) and Amnesty International (2014/15 International Report), which acknowledge progress in some areas such as Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgende rights, but urge improvements in others, for example the rights of women and indigenous peoples. Human Rights Watch also reported ongoing concerns about threats to freedom of expression. We will follow developments in these areas closely<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-03-09T16:25:42.613Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-02-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Argentina"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what is their latest assessment of the human rights situation in Argentina.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4153", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Kennedy of Southwark"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Kennedy of Southwark"} ], "uin" : "HL5045"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/222705", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/222705/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We welcome the progress made by the Plurinational State of Bolivia in ratifying key international human rights treaties and recognise the continued emphasis given by the Government of Bolivia to addressing poverty, discrimination and inequality.<\/p>
However, as the Government of Bolivia publicly acknowledges, there remains a need to improve access to justice and citizen security. We are also concerned that laws enacted to address violence against women should be fully implemented.<\/p>
Our Embassy in La Paz is working with the government of Bolivia to help improve the human rights situation. The main focus of the Embassy\u2019s work has been on the introduction of community policing, prison reform and work to support the rights of minority groups such as those with disabilities, as well as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-03-09T16:25:33.357Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-02-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Bolivia"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what is their latest assessment of the human rights situation in Bolivia.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4153", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Kennedy of Southwark"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Kennedy of Southwark"} ], "uin" : "HL5046"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/222706", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/222706/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Haiti is a developing country facing many complex challenges. It is slowly recovering from decades of misrule, as well as recent natural disasters and outbreaks of disease. The human rights situation is mixed. Challenges remain, particularly in relation to access to justice, prison conditions, impunity, domestic violence, and children\u2019s rights.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-03-09T16:25:23.647Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-02-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Haiti"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what is their latest assessment of the human rights situation in Haiti.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4153", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Kennedy of Southwark"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Kennedy of Southwark"} ], "uin" : "HL5047"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/222707", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/222707/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
In Paraguay, basic human rights as well as political and civic liberties such as the freedom of expression and assembly are normally respected. Free and fair elections are being held. The law and constitution provides for freedom of speech and press, and the government respect these rights. Individuals have criticised the government publicly and privately, generally without reprisal or impediment. We are pleased that Paraguay has been elected as member of the UN Council of Human Rights for the period 2015-2017 and are working closely with them.<\/p>
<\/p>
However, despite good progress on a range of human rights issues, we would welcome improvements in a number of areas, including on: access to a fair trial; investigation of crimes; impunity; and a law against all forms of discrimination. We continue to raise a range of human rights issues with the Paraguayan government on a regular basis.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-03-09T16:25:14.81Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-02-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Paraguay"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what is their latest assessment of the human rights situation in Paraguay.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4153", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Kennedy of Southwark"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Kennedy of Southwark"} ], "uin" : "HL5048"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/222708", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/222708/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a country of concern in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office\u2019s Human Rights and Democracy Report 2013. We are reviewing its inclusion in the 2014 Report.<\/p>
We are concerned by continued human rights abuses by all parties to the conflict in the eastern DRC. Armed rebel groups commit summary executions and rapes, and are responsible for the forced recruitment of children. The Congolese army and police have also been accused of human rights violations, including killings, rapes and ill treatment of detainees. We believe that the best way to improve the human rights situation in the DRC is through continued work to stabilise the region, reduce conflict and ensure that there is no culture of impunity in the aftermath of conflict.<\/p>
We are working with the Government of the DRC to ensure that the rule of law is implemented fully and that there is no impunity for human rights abusers.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-03-09T16:24:58.63Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-02-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Democratic Republic of Congo"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what is their latest assessment of the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4153", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Kennedy of Southwark"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Kennedy of Southwark"} ], "uin" : "HL5049"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/179762", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/179762/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Burma remains a human rights Country of Concern for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and features in the FCO\u2019s annual Human Rights and Democracy report. A copy of the latest quarterly update to that report on Burma is attached, which highlights the humanitarian situation in Rakhine, continuing conflict and sexual violence in Kachin, political prisoners and restrictions on freedom of expression.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} , "attachment" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/179762/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "Burma HR Update Oct - Dec 2014.docx"} , "title" : "Burma - update on human rights situation"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-02-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-02-25T15:09:39.687Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-02-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Burma"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what is their latest assessment of the human rights situation in Burma.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4153", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Kennedy of Southwark"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Kennedy of Southwark"} ], "uin" : "HL5035"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/179764", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/179764/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK remains seriously concerned by the human rights situation in Sudan. Sudan is a human rights Country of Concern for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and features in the FCO\u2019s annual Human Rights and Democracy report. A copy of the FCO\u2019s latest quarterly assessment of the human rights situation in Sudan is attached, which highlights the ongoing conflicts, restrictions on freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression remain of particular concern.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} , "attachment" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/179764/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "Sudan HR Quarterly Update.docx"} , "title" : "Sudan - quarterly assessment of human rights"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-02-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-02-23T13:42:29.697Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-02-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sudan"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what is their latest assessment of the human rights situation in Sudan.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4153", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Kennedy of Southwark"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Kennedy of Southwark"} ], "uin" : "HL5037"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 9, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }