Information between 1st April 2024 - 11th April 2024
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Arab States: Motor Sports
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer) Wednesday 3rd April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government on which occasions in the past five years a UK ambassador to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia or Qatar has been a guest of the government, a government body or the F1 governing body, at F1 races. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) All FCDO Staff are expected to maintain the highest standards of propriety and regularity at all times in line with the Civil Service Code and Diplomatic Service Code. It is recognised across HMG that, for example, the exchange of gifts and hospitality have long been an important part of building relations, particularly overseas. The motorsport industry provides significant economic opportunities for the UK, generating over £10 billion in revenue each year, and UK Ambassadors to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have regularly attended F1 events as part of their official duties. Offers of gifts or hospitality to FCDO officials are recorded and regularly audited under our management assurance processes. |
The Gambia: Female Genital Mutilation
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer) Wednesday 3rd April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the issue of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the Gambia and what discussions they have had with the government of the Gambia in relation to proposed legislation repealing the law banning FGM. Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a form of violence and a human rights violation. The UK Government, alongside our international partners, continues to have frank and open conversations with The Gambian Government, including the President and other Ministers, about the Bill to repeal the ban on FGM. On 19 March, the Foreign Secretary issued a tweet reinforcing the UK Government's position that FGM is harmful and should be illegal, and the Minister for Development and Africa spoke to the President about the repercussions of any vote in favour of FGM once again being permitted in The Gambia. |
West Bank: Violence
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham) Wednesday 3rd April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of reports of alleged settler violence in the village of Um al-Khair in the southern West Bank. Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development) The UK continues to take a strong stance against settler violence. Extremist settlers, by targeting and attacking Palestinian civilians, are undermining security and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians. On 12 February, the Foreign Secretary announced new sanctions against four extremist Israeli settlers who have violently attacked Palestinians in the West Bank. These measures are part of wider UK efforts to support a more stable West Bank, which is vital for the peace and security of both Palestinians and Israelis. We continue to urge Israel to take stronger action to stop settler violence and hold the perpetrators accountable. We will consider additional actions, including further sanctions, as necessary. The UK continues to work with allies and partners, including across the region, to find a path towards a sustainable ceasefire and permanent peace. |
Sudan: Humanitarian Situation
Asked by: Earl of Sandwich (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary) Wednesday 3rd April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the humanitarian situation in the area of Sudan held by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement–North; and what support has the UK provided to alleviate the severe food security situation in that area, in particular given that half a million internally displaced persons have sought refuge there. Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) We have not made a specific assessment of needs in this area, but we understand humanitarian needs to be very high, as they are across the country. UK humanitarian funding in Sudan aims to reach the most vulnerable wherever they are in the country, but it is not targeted to specific geographic areas. We are providing £42.6 million in humanitarian aid to support people in Sudan in 2023-2024. UK ODA for Sudan (including humanitarian) will also increase to £89 million for the year ahead. Access constraints and insecurity are limiting the ability of partners to deliver in many areas, including the areas held by SPLM-North. We continue to work with the UN, other donors and trusted partners to improve and increase the delivery of aid across Sudan. |
Burundi: Human Rights
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer) Wednesday 3rd April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what capacity assistance they are providing to Burundi in support of efforts to ensure justice and accountability for past atrocities, including support for the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission and efforts to strengthen the rule of law. Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) The UK welcomes the Government of Burundi's stated commitment to strengthening the rule of law. Between 2019 and 2022, the UK's Peace Direct programme delivered £1 million of development assistance to Burundi targeted at building community resilience and strengthening social networks, to consolidate progress that Burundi has made towards reconciliation. We continue to call on the Government of Burundi to implement fully the recommendations made in last year's Universal Periodic Review. We will continue to monitor developments and advocate for improved transparency and accountability in Burundi through the British Embassy Office in Bujumbura and through our network of partners. |
Gaza: Israel
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Southwark (Bishops - Bishops) Wednesday 3rd April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which the government of Israel is depriving the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including by inhibiting of relief supplies. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) As an occupying power in Gaza, Israel has a responsibility to ensure aid is made available for civilians. We have set out the action that must be taken to allow more aid into Gaza, including: an immediate humanitarian pause and stop in fighting to get more aid in and the hostages out; increased capacity for aid distribution inside Gaza; increased access for aid through land routes and a fully open Ashdod Port; an expansion of the types of humanitarian assistance allowed into Gaza, such as shelter and items critical for infrastructure repair; and the provision of electricity, water and telecommunications. |
Hamas: Hostage Taking
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Southwark (Bishops - Bishops) Wednesday 3rd April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken, together with allies, to persuade those holding Israeli citizens hostage in Gaza to release them without delay. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) The UK Government has been working with partners across the region to secure the release of hostages. The Foreign Secretary met with hostage families on 18 March, reaffirming the UK's commitment to see the release of all hostages. We have been clear that the release of all hostages is one of the vital elements for a lasting peace. The Government continues to call for an immediate humanitarian pause to allow for the release of hostages. |
Gaza: Israel
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Southwark (Bishops - Bishops) Wednesday 3rd April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reported allegations by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East of widespread abuse of Gazans detained by Israel during the war with Hamas. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) We have expressed our grave concern about the shocking reports of ill-treatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli military detention. The UK Government is clear that administrative detention should only be used when it is justified in accordance with international law. Those under detention should either be charged or released. We ask Israel to secure improvements in its detention practices. |
Gaza: Humanitarian Aid
Asked by: Andrew Selous (Conservative - South West Bedfordshire) Thursday 4th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on opening up the port of Ashdod to aid supplies for Gaza. Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development) The British Government has repeatedly called on Israel to open fully Ashdod Port for aid delivery. |
Iran: Human Rights
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer) Wednesday 3rd April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government how many Iranian leaders they have sanctioned using Magnitsky-style sanctions since the death of Masha Amini in 2022; and how many sanctions they have imposed on those responsible for the suppression of the rights of women and girls in Iran. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) Mahsa Amini's death is a shocking reminder of the repression faced by women in Iran. Since October 2022, we have sanctioned 94 individuals or entities for human rights abuses under the Iran sanctions regime. This includes senior decision makers responsible for enforcing Iran's mandatory hijab law, the Minister for Culture and Islamic Guidance, the Mayor of Tehran and the Iranian Police spokesperson. Individuals in the Iranian judiciary and Tehran metro were also sanctioned for their involvement in imposing and enforcing the mandatory hijab law. We will continue to raise women and girls' rights issues at all appropriate opportunities with the Iranian Government. |
Republic of Ireland: Defence
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer) Wednesday 3rd April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Secretary of State for Defence or the Minister for Armed Forces attended the meeting between the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and Micheál Martin, the Republic of Ireland’s Minister for Defence, in London on 13 December 2023; and what defence-related matters were discussed. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) Neither the Secretary of State for Defence nor the Minister for Armed Forces attended the meeting in question. The Foreign Secretary and the Tánaiste discussed a wide range of foreign policy, defence and security matters, including international development, peacekeeping, the Israel-Gaza conflict, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the shared threat we face from malign state actors. |
Global Partnership for Education
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham) Tuesday 2nd April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent steps the Department has taken to support the work of the Global Partnership for Education. Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development) Ensuring access to quality education is an FCDO priority. The UK is a founding member and top bilateral donor to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). GPE estimates that its support will help partner countries get 40 million more girls into school and support 17 million more girls to read in low and lower-middle income countries by 2025. In 2021, the UK co-hosted the Global Education Summit, helping to raise a historic $4 billion in donor pledges for GPE, including the UK's pledge of £430 million to GPE over five years. So far, the UK has disbursed £60 million in line with the FCDO Spending Review allocation. |
North Korea: Sanctions
Asked by: Robert Buckland (Conservative - South Swindon) Tuesday 2nd April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he plans to impose sanctions on (a) officials and (b) entities of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for supplying weapons to Russia. Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) The UK strongly condemns the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) export and Russia's procurement of DPRK ballistic missiles and Russia's decision to use DPRK-supplied missiles in recent attacks against Ukraine, as fifty Foreign Ministers made clear in their 9 January joint statement. The transfer of these weapons increases the suffering of the Ukrainian people, supports Russia's war of aggression, and undermines the global non-proliferation regime. It also violates multiple UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) - which Russia itself voted for. On 22 February the UK designated a number of targets including Azia Shipping Company and Ibex Shipping INC, involved in the transfer of weapons from the DPRK to Russia. The UK will continue to work with our partners to hold the DPRK to account for supporting Russia's illegal war in Ukraine. We keep all evidence and potential designations under close review. It would not be appropriate to speculate about future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact. |
Gaza: Israel
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea) Tuesday 2nd April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make representations to his Israeli counterpart on immediately rehabilitating (a) horticulture, (b) livestock farming, (c) fishing and (d) other food production systems in Gaza. Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development) The international community will need to make a massive effort to deliver a reconstruction plan for Gaza. The UK is doing all it can to get as much food into Gaza as possible. We recently announced that more than 2,000 tonnes of UK-funded food aid are being distributed by the World Food Programme on the ground. This is our largest delivery of aid to Gaza in this crisis. This follows 750 tonnes of UK funded food aid arriving in Gaza in December, delivered through the World Food Programme, followed by a second delivery of 315 tonnes in January. Last month the UK and Jordan also air-dropped life-saving food and medicines directly to the Tal Al-Hawa hospital in northern Gaza. |
Argentina: Welsh Language
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer) Tuesday 2nd April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Argentina on greater support for the teaching of Welsh in the Chubut Province. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) The British Council has delivered the Welsh Language Project (WLP), which promotes and develops the Welsh language in the Chubut region of Patagonia, Argentina, since 1997. Each year, Language Development Officers from Wales spend a full academic year teaching in Patagonia. They develop the language in the Welsh-speaking communities through both formal teaching and informal social activities. His Majesty's Ambassador to Argentina and the British Council Director for Argentina last discussed the programme with the Government of Argentina in mid-March. |
Pakistan: Security
Asked by: Robert Buckland (Conservative - South Swindon) Tuesday 2nd April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what diplomatic support his Department is providing to the Pakistani Government to help deescalate tensions in North Waziristan. Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) Pakistan faces a range of challenges to its security and stability, including terrorism. We support efforts by the Governments of Pakistan and its neighbours to constructively build stability in the region, and UK assistance to Pakistan has focussed on protecting civilians, strengthening rule of law and developing civilian counter-terror institutions. |
Gaza: Humanitarian Aid
Asked by: Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle) Tuesday 2nd April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, pursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2023 to Question 403 on Gaza: Humanitarian Aid, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of aid supplies to the Gaza strip; and what recent steps he has taken to support (a) Islamic Relief, (b) the Egyptian Red Crescent and (c) other aid agencies to deliver aid. Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development) Palestinians are facing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis. We trebled our aid commitment this financial year and we are doing everything we can to get more aid in as quickly as possible by land, sea and air. We need a humanitarian pause now to allow humanitarian actors and Gazans to operate and move safely, and enable hostages to be released. We are also calling on Israel to increase access for aid through land routes and fully open Ashdod Port, scale up the Jordan corridor to the 500 trucks a week with a streamlined screening and delivery process, open a crossing in northern Gaza (Karni, Erez or a new crossing point), and increase screening capacity at Kerem Shalom and Nitzana to seven days a week and extended hours. In addition, we want to see an expansion of the types of aid allowed into Gaza and Israel authorise at least 200,000 litres of fuel per day, as well as the provision of electricity, water and telecommunications, to both the north and the south of Gaza. On 13 March the Foreign Secretary announced an additional £10 million to bring UK support to more than £100million this financial year. UK funding has supported the work of partners including the British Red Cross, UNICEF and Egyptian Red Crescent Society. On 20 March the Foreign Secretary also announced that more than 2,000 tonnes of UK-funded food aid will be distributed by the World Food Programme. This will be the largest UK aid delivery so far and will support 275,000 people. |
VIGINUM
Asked by: Robert Buckland (Conservative - South Swindon) Tuesday 2nd April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department is taking to improve cooperation with VIGINUM. Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe) The UK works closely with international partners to counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) by hostile actors, including bilaterally with France and its agencies. We regularly engage with Viginum at official working level and within the G7, including through the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism, which strengthens G7 coordination to identify and respond to foreign threats to democracies. We intend to build on cooperation with G7 members over the course of 2024 on countering FIMI and will therefore be looking to continue engaging France on information threats. |
Russia: Freezing of Assets
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East) Tuesday 2nd April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of EU proposals to send profits generated from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine. Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe) We continue to work closely with allies, including the EU Commission, to explore all lawful routes by which immobilised Russian sovereign assets can be used to support Ukraine. G7 Leaders reaffirmed this on 24 February, instructing relevant ministries to continue their work to that end and report back ahead of the G7 Summit in June. We will keep the House updated as this work develops. |
Alaa Abdel Fattah
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion) Thursday 4th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make representations to his Egyptian counterpart on including Alaa Abdel Fattah Alaa in this year’s Presidential pardon list. Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) Ministers and officials continue to raise Mr Alaa Abd El-Fattah's case at the highest levels with the Egyptian government. They have been consistently clear in calling for his release and continue to press for urgent consular access, utilising a variety of mechanisms, including through public and private engagement. The Foreign Secretary raised this case with Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry on 22 February. As Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon raised this case with Foreign Minister Shoukry on 28 March and with the Egyptian Ambassador on 20 February. Both Lord Ahmad and the Foreign Secretary discussed Mr El-Fattah with FM Shoukry and President Sisi in December 2023. The Prime Minister also spoke to President Sisi about Mr El-Fattah on 1 December 2023. |
Alaa Abdel Fattah
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion) Thursday 4th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department has taken recent steps to help secure the release of Alaa Abdel Fattah in Egypt. Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) Ministers and officials continue to raise Mr Alaa Abd El-Fattah's case at the highest levels with the Egyptian government. They have been consistently clear in calling for his release and continue to press for urgent consular access, utilising a variety of mechanisms, including through public and private engagement. The Foreign Secretary raised this case with Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry on 22 February. As Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon raised this case with Foreign Minister Shoukry on 28 March and with the Egyptian Ambassador on 20 February. Both Lord Ahmad and the Foreign Secretary discussed Mr El-Fattah with FM Shoukry and President Sisi in December 2023. The Prime Minister also spoke to President Sisi about Mr El-Fattah on 1 December 2023. |
Colombia: Overseas Investment
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer) Thursday 4th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to continue with the Colombia–UK Bilateral Investment Treaty after October 2024; and, if it is continued, what plans they have to increase protections for (1) human rights, and (2) the environment. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) I regularly raise human rights issues, as well as specific cases of concern with the Colombian Government. The UK-Colombia Bilateral Investment Treaty plays an important role in supporting the investment relationship between the UK and Colombia by protecting investors from arbitrary, discriminatory, and unfair treatment, as well as expropriation without adequate compensation. The UK is content with the standard of protection that it currently provides to investors of both the UK and Colombia. Colombia is a Human Rights Priority Country for the British Government and we actively engage with civil society through regular channels regarding our human rights concerns. |
Columbia: Trade Agreements
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer) Thursday 4th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the high number of Investor-State Dispute Settlement cases against Columbia; and the impact of these cases on (1) the implementation of the Columbian Peace Accord, (2) the UK's role as penholder at the UN Security Council, and (3) human rights and the environment in Columbia. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) I regularly raise human rights issues, as well as specific cases of concern with the Colombian Government. The UK Government cannot comment on legal disputes arising from Bilateral Investment Treaties where it is not a party to the dispute. Resolution of any such disputes is a matter for the Government of Colombia and the investors concerned. Colombia is a Human Rights Priority Country for the British Government and we actively engage with civil society through regular channels regarding our human rights concerns. |
Sudan: Armed Conflict
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer) Monday 8th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the civil war in Sudan and the humanitarian consequences for communities and individuals across that country. Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) The humanitarian situation in Sudan continues to deteriorate, with 24.8 million people in need of assistance. The conflict that started on 15 April 2023 has displaced more than 8 million people, including over 1.9 million who have fled Sudan to neighbouring countries. The recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) projection for Sudan reveals that intense conflict and organised violence, combined with continued economic decline, have driven approximately 17.7 million people into high levels of acute food insecurity. The UK is providing £42.6 million in humanitarian aid to Sudan in 2023-2024. We are also helping those fleeing to neighbouring countries, with £7.75 million to support existing and new Sudanese refugees as well as vulnerable returnees and host communities South Sudan and £15 million to Chad. |
Sudan: Armed Conflict
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer) Monday 8th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to liaise with the new US Special Envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, and to further develop a coordinated international response to help to bring an end to the conflict between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) The UK welcomes Tom Perriello's appointment as the US Special Envoy for Sudan. Minister Mitchell spoke to him on 12 March. They discussed international efforts to secure a ceasefire in Sudan. We will continue to work with the wider international community to press the warring parties to end the violence, secure urgently needed humanitarian access, ensure the protection of civilians and commit to a sustained and meaningful peace process. |
The Gambia: Female Genital Mutilation
Asked by: Lord Stevens of Birmingham (Crossbench - Life peer) Monday 8th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of the Gambia concerning new legislation which would decriminalise female genital mutilation. Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) The UK Government, alongside our international partners, continues to have frank and open conversations with The Gambian Government, including the President and other Ministers, about the Bill to repeal the ban on FGM. On 19 March, the Foreign Secretary issued a tweet reinforcing the UK Government's position that FGM is harmful and should be illegal, and the Minister for Development and Africa spoke to the President about the repercussions of any vote in favour of FGM once again being permitted in The Gambia. |
Smart Devices: China
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer) Thursday 4th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Coalition on Secure Technology, Chinese cellular (IoT) modules: Countering the threat, published in March, and its conclusions that Chinese-made cellular internet of things modules should be banned from UK critical national infrastructure. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) The security of the UK's critical national infrastructure is of utmost importance to the Government. We continue to monitor potential security threats, including the unique challenges posed by cellular internet-of-things (IoT) modules. The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) and The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) produce advice and guidance on the security implications of internet connected components, which the Government follows where appropriate. Existing legislation such as the Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 and Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act (PSTI) 2022 are designed to address the emerging security threats posed by IoT technologies. These include a range of measures that can be employed even in an evolving threat landscape. Any action is only taken after a rigorous assessment. The UK's approach to China is to enhance our national security protections, align with our partners, and to engage where it is in the UK's national interest. |
UNRWA: Finance
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Worcester (Bishops - Bishops) Thursday 4th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the humanitarian relief effort in Gaza and the West Bank of the decision to suspend aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) Our decision to pause future funding to UNRWA has no impact on the UK's contribution to the humanitarian response. We remain committed to getting humanitarian aid to people in Gaza who desperately need it, including through other UN agencies and British charities. We trebled our aid commitment this financial year and we are doing everything we can to get more aid in as quickly as possible by land, sea and air. UK funding has supported the work of partners including the British Red Cross, World Food Programme, UNICEF and Egyptian Red Crescent Society (ERCS) to deliver vital supplies. |
UNRWA: Finance
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Worcester (Bishops - Bishops) Thursday 4th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the livelihoods of Palestinian refugees in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon of the decision to suspend aid to the United Nations Refugee and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) The UK provided £35 million to UNRWA this financial year, including an uplift of £16 million for the Gaza humanitarian response, all of which was disbursed before the recent allegations came to light. No more British funding is due this financial year and we have paused any future funding of UNRWA.. Indeed, we are appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned. We want UNRWA to give detailed undertakings about changes in personnel, policy and precedents to ensure this can never happen again. We are working with allies to try to bring this situation to a rapid conclusion. I have discussed this with Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini on several occasions, most recently on 4 April. We are aware that the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services and Catherine Colonna have now provided their interim reports to the UN Secretary-General. |
Gaza: Food Supply
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Southwark (Bishops - Bishops) Thursday 4th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, IPC Global Initiative - Special Brief, published 19 March, that famine in Gaza is imminent; and what steps they are taking in response. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) Palestinians are facing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis. On 20 March, the Foreign Secretary announced the UK has funded WFP to provide 2000 tons of food aid, enough to feed 275,000 people in Gaza. On 25 March, the Royal Air Force airdropped 10 tonnes of food aid - including water, rice and baby food - directly to civilians in Gaza. We have trebled our aid commitment this financial year and we are doing everything we can to get more aid in as quickly as possible by land, sea and air. We continue to call for an immediate stop in fighting to get aid in and hostages out, then progress towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life. |
Gaza: Refugees
Asked by: Lord Swire (Conservative - Life peer) Thursday 4th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have had discussions with (1) the European Union, or (2) the government of Egypt, about receiving Palestinian refugees from Gaza. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) The Government firmly rejects any suggestion of the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza. The UK's position is clear: Gaza is Occupied Palestinian Territory and will and must be part of a future Palestinian state. We support a two-state solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people. This is the only viable option to ensure peace. |
Israel: Palestinians
Asked by: Lord Swire (Conservative - Life peer) Thursday 4th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel about the forcible expulsion of the Palestinian population from Gaza. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) The Government firmly rejects any suggestion of the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza. The UK's position is clear: Gaza is Occupied Palestinian Territory and will and must be part of a future Palestinian state. We support a two-state solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people. This is the only viable option to ensure peace. |
Gaza: Refugees
Asked by: Lord Swire (Conservative - Life peer) Thursday 4th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are aware of any plans of the government of Israel to rehome Palestinian refugees from Gaza in the Sinai. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) The Government firmly rejects any suggestion of the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza. The UK's position is clear: Gaza is Occupied Palestinian Territory and will and must be part of a future Palestinian state. We support a two-state solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people. This is the only viable option to ensure peace. |
UNRWA: Finance
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Southwark (Bishops - Bishops) Thursday 4th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to reinstate funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, and, if so, when. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) The UK provided £35 million to UNRWA this financial year, including an uplift of £16 million for the Gaza humanitarian response, all of which was disbursed before the recent allegations came to light. No more British funding is due this financial year and we have paused any future funding of UNRWA. I met with Commissioner-General Phillipe Lazzarini on 4 April to discuss the steps they are taking in response to the interim findings. We want UNRWA to give detailed undertakings about changes in personnel, policy and precedents to ensure this can never happen again. We are working with allies to try to bring this situation to a rapid conclusion - not least because UNRWA have a vital role to play in providing aid and services in Gaza. We are aware that the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services and Catherine Colonna have now provided their interim reports to the UN Secretary-General. Our decision to pause future funding to UNRWA has no impact on the UK's contribution to the humanitarian response. We remain committed to getting humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza who desperately need it, including through other UN agencies and British charities. |
Hamas: Hostage Taking
Asked by: Lord Touhig (Labour - Life peer) Thursday 4th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with international partners about securing Red Cross access to hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) The Government strongly supports and advocates for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) being given access to hostages. Ministers and senior officials have discussed this in multiple meetings with ICRC officials in the UK and overseas. In line with their mandate, the ICRC has called for the immediate release of all the hostages and for access to them whilst in captivity. So far, the ICRC has been denied access to the remaining hostages in Gaza. The ICRC has no means to compel conflict parties to provide it access and requires agreement from the respective parties to the conflict to visit hostages. The ICRC facilitated the release of 105 hostages as part of the deal agreed between Hamas and Israel in November 2023. The Government continues to call for a humanitarian pause to allow for the release of the remaining hostages. |
Gaza: Humanitarian Situation
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer) Monday 8th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report Famine Review Committee: Gaza Strip, March 2024, published on 18 March, what steps they are taking to prevent famine in Gaza. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) Palestinians are facing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis. On 20 March, the Foreign Secretary announced the UK has funded WFP to provide 2000 tons of food aid, enough to feed 275,000 people in Gaza. On 25 March, the Royal Air Force airdropped 10 tonnes of food aid - including water, rice and baby food - directly to civilians in Gaza. We have trebled our aid commitment this financial year and we are doing everything we can to get more aid in as quickly as possible by land, sea and air. We continue to call for an immediate pause to get aid in and hostages out, then progress towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life. |
Iraq: International Assistance
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer) Monday 8th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what mechanisms for oversight, checks and balances, and due diligence they have in place for funding to the government in Iraq; and whether the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office track where this funding is allocated by the government of Iraq. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) We do not currently provide any funding directly to the Government of Iraq, rather our programmes are delivered through implementing partners, including UN agencies, NGOs and private sector organisations. Thorough due diligence assessments of all funding is carried out to ensure that partners have procedures in place to manage the main risks of aid diversion from activities it funds, including specific controls to ensure that assistance goes direct to the intended beneficiaries. Programmes are monitored regularly in year and through annual and project completion reviews. Third Party Monitoring, incorporated into some programmes, strengthens assurance and supports learning and evidence. |
Democracy and Human Rights
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer) Monday 8th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to publish the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's strategy on Open Societies, Democracy and Human Rights. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) The FCDO acknowledges the commitment made in the International Development White Paper to publish an Open Societies and Human Rights Strategy. The Strategy is in draft, and it will be published in due course. |
Hamas
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Southwark (Bishops - Bishops) Monday 8th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to impede Hamas acquiring or retaining the resources to make war. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) As we have said, removing Hamas' capacity to launch attacks against Israel and Hamas no longer being in charge of Gaza are among the vital elements for a lasting peace. The UK has already imposed sanctions on key figures in Hamas' leadership, disrupting the terrorist group's financial networks which sustain their operation, including from Iran. A third tranche of sanctions was announced by FCDO in January. On 27 March the UK announced further sanctions on individuals linked to a Hamas-supporting media network. The UK continues to work closely with our partners to identify further opportunities to disrupt Hamas' financial networks, including cutting off access to funding being used to carry out atrocities. |
Sudan: Armed Conflict
Asked by: Earl of Sandwich (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary) Monday 8th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what explanation they have received from the Sudanese authorities for an air strike on a school in South Kordofan state on 14 March, which resulted in the deaths of 11 children and two teachers and multiple injuries. Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) Our senior diplomats have used meetings with senior decision-makers in the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and other groups to raise concerns about credible reports of human rights violations. The UK continues to urge the warring parties to agree to a ceasefire, engage in a meaningful peace process, and grant immediate humanitarian access. The UK is also funding open-source investigation experts to use satellite imagery and social media to verify and preserve information relating to attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure. It is essential that those responsible for human rights violations and abuses are held to account. |
Free Trade: Trade Agreements
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary) Monday 8th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Overseas Territories are permitted to negotiate their own free trade agreements with third countries. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) In international law the Overseas Territories (OTs) are not sovereign states in their own right and have no separate international legal personality. As such, they cannot enter into international agreements directly (including Free Trade Agreements), unless expressly authorised to do so by the UK Government under an entrustment. Agreements entered into by the UK may provide for their application to the OTs, or be extended to the OTs at a later date. |
Gaza and Sudan: Famine
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer) Monday 8th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what (1) funding, and (2) other assistance, they will provide along with international partners to prevent famine and starvation in (a) Gaza, and (b) Sudan. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) Palestinians are facing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis. On 20 March, the Foreign Secretary announced the UK has funded WFP to provide 2000 tons of food aid, enough to feed 275,000 people in Gaza. On 25 March, the Royal Air Force airdropped 10 tonnes of food aid - including water, rice and baby food - directly to civilians in Gaza. We continue to call for an immediate pause to get aid in and hostages out, then progress towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life. We have trebled our aid commitment this financial year and we are doing everything we can to get more aid in as quickly as possible by land, sea and air. With regard to Sudan, the UK has provided £42.6 million in humanitarian aid, including food security and nutrition assistance, to support people in Sudan in 2023-2024. UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the country will increase to £89 million for the year ahead. |
Iraq: International Assistance
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer) Monday 8th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what funding they are currently providing to the government of Iraq broken down in terms of (1) how much funding is provided, and (2) where this funding is directed once it reaches Iraq. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) The UK wants to see a more stable, peaceful and prosperous Iraq. Through both our bilateral and centrally managed programmes, we aim to counter threats, foster stability and development, while promoting UK interests and values. We do not currently provide any funding directly to the Government of Iraq, rather this is delivered through implementing partners, including UN agencies, NGOs and private sector organisations. All of our partners are subject to rigorous and robust checks to ensure that our funding reaches intended beneficiaries. |
Israel: Hamas
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer) Tuesday 9th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what further steps they will take, along with international partners, to secure a ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) The Government has long been calling for an immediate pause to get aid in and hostages out, then progress towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life. The UK welcomed the UN Security Council Resolution 2728 on 25 March, which reflects international consensus behind the UK's position. Vital elements for a lasting peace include:
The Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister have reiterated these messages in their contacts with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other senior Israeli political leaders, as well as leaders in Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia Lebanon, Egypt, and the UAE in recent weeks. |
Hong Kong: Sanctions
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer) Tuesday 9th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 20 March on Hong Kong security legislation, whether they are still actively considering targeted sanctions against Chinese officials; and if not, why. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) The FCDO has never ruled out sanctions designations on any individual or entity. Any document which says otherwise is inaccurate and does not correctly reflect government policy at the time or currently. It is not appropriate to speculate on future designations, as to do so could reduce their impact, but the FCDO continues to keep potential sanctions designations under close review. |
Israel: Palestinians
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer) Tuesday 9th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the level of support among Arab residents of Jerusalem for Israeli control of the city; and to what extent this is a consideration for their policy towards Israel and Palestine. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) We have not made a specific assessment of this. We support a two-state solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people. A political horizon which provides a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution is one of the vital elements for a lasting peace, with Jerusalem as shared capital of both Israel and Palestine. |
Gaza: Humanitarian Aid
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Worcester (Bishops - Bishops) Tuesday 9th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what barriers exist to the unfettered flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and what steps they are taking to remove those barriers. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) We have set out five steps that Israel needs to take, including:
The Foreign Secretary has appointed a Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Mark Bryson-Richardson. He is based in the region and is working intensively to address the blockages preventing more aid reaching Gaza. |
Ethiopia: Crimes against Humanity
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer) Wednesday 10th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what specific action they have taken to mitigate risk factors, and prevent atrocity crimes, in response to the conclusion of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia in October 2023 that “eight of the Common Risk Factors for atrocity crimes are present in Ethiopia and that there is evidence to suggest that certain indicators of majority of the Specific Risk Factors for atrocity crimes are also present”; and what steps they are taking to support continued international scrutiny and independent investigations into past and ongoing violations in Ethiopia. Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) The UK has repeatedly called for those responsible for atrocities in Ethiopia to be held to account. The UK was strongly supportive of the establishment of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE). The UK has deployed an expert to support the drafting of Ethiopia's national Transitional Justice Policy and we are working to promote a survivor-centred, gender-sensitive approach. We fund UNOHCHR to deploy international human rights monitors and build early warning networks of CSOs and human rights defenders. Through our Human Rights and Peacebuilding Programme, we are supporting the investigative capacity of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and facilitating dialogue between groups from across Ethiopia. We regularly convene with likemindeds to coordinate support and ensure accountability for atrocities and human rights violations and to ensure the effective, full implementation of the Tigray peace agreement and the Transitional Justice Policy once finalised. |
Tigray: Armed Conflict
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer) Wednesday 10th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of efforts since the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in November 2022 to achieve justice and accountability for conflict-related sexual violence in Tigray, and what support they are providing to those efforts. Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) The UK is committed to preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence in Ethiopia. We have consistently called for an end to the appalling gender-based violence committed across Ethiopia, including sexual violence, particularly during the Tigray conflict. We therefore welcome the recent agreement to implement a comprehensive national Transitional Justice policy aimed at accountability, redress for victims, reconciliation, and healing. The UK has called for the perpetrators to be held to account and the importance of a victim-centered, gender-sensitive approach. We will work with the Ethiopian Government and civil society in their efforts to hold perpetrators to account, including building the capacity of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission through the UK's Human Rights and Peacebuilding programme (HARP). |
Ethiopia: Armed Conflict
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer) Wednesday 10th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government how many members of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative Team of Experts have been deployed to Ethiopia since 2020; for what purposes; how long each deployment lasted; and what assessment they have made of the impact of its work. Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) The UK is committed to preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), including through the PSVI Team of Experts. Since its launch, the UK has deployed experts over 90 times globally to enhance UK and international efforts. From June to August 2021, an expert was deployed to Ethiopia to identify opportunities for scaling up the response to CRSV. We worked with partners to implement recommendations, including enhancing support for survivors, commissioning research into the dynamics of CRSV and deploying longer-term Gender expertise. From June to October 2022, another expert provided capacity-building training to civil society on CRSV. These deployments have provided the foundation for the UK's ongoing work on CRSV in country. |
Malawi: Droughts
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer) Wednesday 10th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports from UNICEF that the 2023–24 El Niño phenomenon has led to the president of Malawi declaring a state of disaster in 23 out of the 28 districts in the country. Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) We share UNICEF's assessment that the El Nino phenomenon has contributed to failed rains across Southern Africa, resulting in serious drought in both Zambia and Malawi, which in turn will have a serious impact on children and the most vulnerable. We welcome the swift actions of Presidents Hichilema (Zambia) and Chakwera (Malawi) in declaring a state of national disaster and emergency across Zambia and within 23 out of 28 districts in Malawi. In Zambia, the UK is committing to the rapid expansion of the Social Cash Transfer scheme to reduce food insecurity for an additional 6 million people and pivoting our existing nutrition programmes to expand access to treatment. We deployed a UK Humanitarian Stabilisation Operations Team to support the Government of Zambia's drought response coordination. In Malawi, the UK has contributed to the Government's investment into disaster risk financing instruments which will provide an immediate response when triggered. The Malawian Government is currently preparing its own El Nino Response Plan which will outline further international assistance requirements. The UK will continue to monitor the situation closely. |
Department Publications - Policy paper |
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Tuesday 2nd April 2024
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Source Page: UK-Thailand Strategic Partnership Roadmap Document: UK-Thailand Strategic Partnership Roadmap (webpage) |
Tuesday 9th April 2024
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Source Page: UK-Australia Humanitarian Partnership Arrangement Document: UK-Australia Humanitarian Partnership Arrangement (webpage) |
Select Committee Documents |
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Wednesday 10th April 2024
Report - Fifth Report - Creator remuneration Culture, Media and Sport Committee Found: CRE0001 ) Creator remuneration 12 creators secured gains to fixed residuals from streaming as well as foreign |
Tuesday 9th April 2024
Written Evidence - Liberty CJB0011 - Criminal Justice Bill 2023 Human Rights (Joint Committee) Found: also concerned about the impact these measures are likely to have on dissidents protesting outside foreign |
Tuesday 9th April 2024
Written Evidence - JUSTICE CJB0010 - Criminal Justice Bill 2023 Human Rights (Joint Committee) Found: expresses strong opposition to the provisions in the Bill regarding the transfer of prisoners to foreign |
Monday 8th April 2024
Correspondence - Letter to the Chair from Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, dated 21 March 2024 Communications and Digital Committee Found: a broad range of audience views and interests, including on issues such as international relations, foreign |
Thursday 4th April 2024
Correspondence - Letter to the Secretaries of State for Business and Trade and for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs relating to arms export controls, 04 April 2024 Business and Trade Committee Found: Letter to the Secretaries of State for Business and Trade and for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development |
Thursday 4th April 2024
Report - Third Report - FCDO and disability-inclusive development International Development Committee Found: Third Report - FCDO and disability-inclusive development HC 107 Report |
Thursday 4th April 2024
Report - Large Print - FCDO and disability-inclusive development International Development Committee Found: Large Print - FCDO and disability-inclusive development HC 107 Report |
Wednesday 27th March 2024
Oral Evidence - International Institute for Strategic Studies, University of St Andrews, and Policy Exchange Implications of the war in Ukraine for UK Defence - International Relations and Defence Committee Found: At the moment, I am an RA fellow advising the Foreign Office, but everything that I say here is in |
Tuesday 26th March 2024
Oral Evidence - Bates Wells LLP, and International Association of Privacy Professionals UK-EU data adequacy - European Affairs Committee Found: I was also a government EU specialist at the Foreign Office and subsequently at the Department for |
Tuesday 26th March 2024
Oral Evidence - Centre for Global Development, Bond, and British Foreign Policy Group International Development Committee Found: Centre for Global Development, Bond, and British Foreign Policy Group Oral Evidence |
Tuesday 26th March 2024
Oral Evidence - Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Defence, and Ministry of Defence Defence Committee Found: Last week, into the weekend, I was in Australia with the Foreign Secretary—we do a lot of two-plus-two |
Tuesday 26th March 2024
Oral Evidence - Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), FSD Africa, and FCDO (MOBILIST Programme) International Development Committee Found: Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), FSD Africa, and FCDO (MOBILIST Programme) Oral Evidence |
Tuesday 26th March 2024
Oral Evidence - Financial Reporting Council, Department for Business and Trade, and Department for Business and Trade Business and Trade Committee Found: We are second in Europe in terms of foreign direct investments. |
Tuesday 26th March 2024
Oral Evidence - Legal and General Group Plc, University of Sheffield, Fraud Advisory Panel, and The Investment Association Business and Trade Committee Found: of evidence over the last four months on this Committee about the investment rate in Britain and foreign |
Tuesday 26th March 2024
Oral Evidence - Home Office, Home Office, and Border Force Electronic border management systems - Justice and Home Affairs Committee Found: The Prime Minister, the Home Secretary, the Foreign Secretary and I have all been raising this issue |
Tuesday 26th March 2024
Oral Evidence - Mazars, BDO UK, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW), and Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland Business and Trade Committee Found: Q11 Chair: Could it help us improve foreign direct investment into the UK? |
Monday 25th March 2024
Oral Evidence - Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, and European Council on Foreign Affairs The UK’s economic security - National Security Strategy (Joint Committee) Found: Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, and European Council on Foreign Affairs Oral Evidence |
Monday 25th March 2024
Oral Evidence - King’s College London, and University of Sussex Business School The UK’s economic security - National Security Strategy (Joint Committee) Found: of Government, University of Oxford; Dr Tobias Gehrke, Senior Policy Fellow at European Council on Foreign |
Monday 25th March 2024
Oral Evidence - Eleanor Lyons Modern Slavery Act 2015 - Modern Slavery Act 2015 Committee Found: speaking to Ministers and officials across different government departments, whether it is Justice, the Foreign |
Written Answers |
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Art Works: Security
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer) Friday 5th April 2024 Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have issued guidance to public institutions and universities concerning security arrangements for the protection of historic portraits of past statesmen. Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) The vandalism against the portrait of A.J. Balfour at Trinity College, Cambridge, last month is rightly being investigated as a criminal act by Cambridgeshire Police. The shoddy sense of history by those who perpetrated and promoted it is also a reminder of the importance of historic portraits in improving our awareness and understanding of the past. The famous declaration made by Balfour as Foreign Secretary in November 1917 made clear that ‘nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country’. At the time Balfour issued it, the man who had painted his portrait three years earlier, Philip de László, was (despite having become a British citizen, with the former Prime Minister as one of his sponsors) interned, having been arrested on suspicion of treason on account of letters he had written to family members in Austria. As the historian Giles MacDonogh has noted, it appears ‘the fact that de László was born of Jewish parents had some bearing on the case’; his interrogation by Special Branch dwelt on his Jewish ancestry, and an unsympathetic biography included in the recommendation from MI5 to the Home Secretary that he be interned noted that de László was the ‘son of a Jew tailor’. In May 1919, his case was raised in a debate in Your Lordships’ House; the following month, it was brought before the Certificates of Naturalisation (Revocation) Committee, which took just fifteen minutes to throw it out and exonerate him. It is thanks to portraits like this that such fascinating insights into our past can be gleaned. I have spoken to the Vice-Master of Trinity College following the attack, and hope that this magnificent portrait can be swiftly repaired and shared with students and visitors to the college for many years to come. |
Chinook Helicopters
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne) Wednesday 3rd April 2024 Question to the Ministry of Defence: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Capability boost for UK's global military operations as contract confirmed for new Chinooks, published on 14 March 2024, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the foreign exchange rate on the value of the contract for new Chinook helicopters. Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) The Foreign Military Sales agreement with the US Government is denominated in US dollars in common with all such cases. The forecasted cost of the programme is based on the most up to date exchange rate predictions from Defence Economics. The risk of future foreign exchange exposure will be mitigated by the Department’s use of forward purchasing arrangements. |
Leasehold: Reform
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Goss Moor (Liberal Democrat - Life peer) Wednesday 3rd April 2024 Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the proposed removal of marriage value under proposed leasehold reforms on (1) property investors and (2) foreign investors. Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) An Impact Assessment for the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill was published on 11 December 2023 and is available on the Parliament website (attached) at: Leasehold and Freehold ReformBill publications - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament. This includes an estimate of the impact of removing marriage value on different groups and regions.
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Official Visits: Rwanda
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough) Wednesday 3rd April 2024 Question to the Home Office: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons he used a private charter flight for his visit to Rwanda in December 2023; and whether his Department made an assessment of the potential merits of using alternative forms of transport. Answered by Michael Tomlinson - Minister of State (Minister for Illegal Migration) All Government spend goes through thorough due diligence to ensure best value for money. Stopping the boats is one of our top priorities. The cost of the asylum system could reach up to £11 billion per year by 2026, so bold solutions like our partnership with Rwanda are required. Various elements, such as security and timing, will be taken into consideration when looking at Government travel, including use of the Government’s plane.
On the visit, the Home Secretary signed a joint treaty with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Dr Vincent Biruta, strengthening the UK and Rwanda’s Migration and Economic Development Partnership and directly addressing the concerns of the Supreme Court. |
Official Visits: Rwanda
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough) Wednesday 3rd April 2024 Question to the Home Office: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department takes to assess the (a) potential impact and (b) value for money of (i) his visit to Rwanda in December 2023 and (ii) other ministerial overseas visits. Answered by Michael Tomlinson - Minister of State (Minister for Illegal Migration) All Government spend goes through thorough due diligence to ensure best value for money. Stopping the boats is one of our top priorities. The cost of the asylum system could reach up to £11 billion per year by 2026, so bold solutions like our partnership with Rwanda are required. Various elements, such as security and timing, will be taken into consideration when looking at Government travel, including use of the Government’s plane.
On the visit, the Home Secretary signed a joint treaty with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Dr Vincent Biruta, strengthening the UK and Rwanda’s Migration and Economic Development Partnership and directly addressing the concerns of the Supreme Court. |
Chinook Helicopters
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne) Tuesday 2nd April 2024 Question to the Ministry of Defence: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Capability boost for UK's global military operations as contract confirmed for new Chinooks, published on 14 March 2024, if he will publish a breakdown of the estimated £151 million of extra investment to the economy. Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) This is commercially sensitive due to ongoing negotiations within the US Government's Foreign Military Sales arrangements. |
Parliamentary Research |
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The UK and the US$100 billion climate finance goal - CBP-9999
Apr. 09 2024 Found: changes in UK accounting in 2023/24 “mean that it can no longer be ‘first among equals’”. 52 Using Foreign |
Bill Documents |
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Apr. 10 2024
HL Bill 57(f) Amendment for Report Victims and Prisoners Bill 2022-23 Amendment Paper Found: organisations— (a) the police, (b) the Crown Prosecution Service, (c) probation services, (d) the Foreign |
Department Publications - Guidance |
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Thursday 11th April 2024
Home Office Source Page: Extremism and radicalisation Document: Extremism and radicalisation (webpage) Found: reflect the roll out of Home Office teams and individual responsibilities; the addition of Time Served Foreign |
Thursday 11th April 2024
Home Office Source Page: Extremism and radicalisation Document: Extremism and radicalisation (PDF) Found: Instead, referrals will be sent directly to DSST for processing. 7 Time Served Foreign National |
Wednesday 3rd April 2024
Department for Business and Trade Source Page: Register your interest in UK government-to-government opportunities Document: privacy notice for government to government agreements (webpage) Found: Why we need your dataThe data you provide will be processed by His Majesty’s Government (HMG) and Foreign |
Department Publications - Transparency |
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Monday 8th April 2024
Department of Health and Social Care Source Page: DHSC: spending over £500, January 2024 Document: (webpage) Found: 01/2024 2,574.92 TWITTER DEV PLATFORM 15/01/2024 2,100.00 SANKEY HEALTH LIMITED 24/01/2024 1,650.00 FCDO |
Tuesday 2nd April 2024
Ministry of Defence Source Page: UK defence in numbers 2023 Document: UK defence in numbers 2023 (PDF) Found: FMS – Foreign Military Sales with US OCCAR – Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operationNETMA – NATO |
Department Publications - Policy paper |
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Monday 8th April 2024
Ministry of Justice Source Page: Wymott Prison: Action Plan Document: inspection report for Wymott Prison (PDF) Found: • 53 foreign national prisoners were held. |
Department Publications - Research |
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Thursday 4th April 2024
HM Treasury Source Page: UK official holdings of international reserves: March 2024 Document: UK official holdings of international reserves: March 2024 (PDF) Found: 6 In this presentation, gross reserves in part 1 and assets in part 2 exclude market valuation of foreign |
Thursday 4th April 2024
HM Treasury Source Page: UK official holdings of international reserves: March 2024 Document: UK official holdings of international reserves: March 2024 (webpage) Found: These consist of gold, foreign currency assets and International Monetary Fund assets. |
Department Publications - Statistics |
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Thursday 4th April 2024
Ministry of Defence Source Page: Training and exercise deaths in the UK Armed Forces: 2024 Document: (ODS) Found: 51 4 33 14 Injuries to unspecified part of trunk, limb or body region (T08-T14) 10 2 7 1 Effects of foreign |
Thursday 4th April 2024
Ministry of Defence Source Page: Training and exercise deaths in the UK Armed Forces: 2024 Document: (Excel) Found: (T00-T07)5143314Injuries to unspecified part of trunk, limb or body region (T08-T14)10271Effects of foreign |
Wednesday 3rd April 2024
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero Source Page: Operational safety review, Heysham 2 nuclear power station 2023: report and government response Document: OSART report on Heysham 2 nuclear power plant, 2023 (PDF) Found: ends on three temporary test instruments lines on Turbine 7 were observed, not protected against foreign |
Non-Departmental Publications - Statistics |
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Apr. 11 2024
Air Accidents Investigation Branch Source Page: Air accident monthly bulletin April 2024 Document: AAIB Bulletin 4/2024 (PDF) Statistics Found: No foreign objects, including bird remains, not associated with the aircraft, or the building it struck |
Non-Departmental Publications - Transparency |
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Apr. 10 2024
Low Pay Commission Source Page: Indicative counts of employee jobs in low-paying occupations Document: (Excel) Transparency Found: needs education teaching professionalsOther occupationOther occupation462317Teachers of English as a foreign |
Apr. 09 2024
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency Source Page: MHRA FOI performance data Document: (Excel) Transparency Found: Are these products issued in the UK under any form of defence contract of foreign government restrictions |
Apr. 05 2024
FCDO Services Source Page: FCDO Services: workforce management information on ethnicity 2023 to 2024 quarter 4 Document: FCDO Services: workforce management information on ethnicity 2023 to 2024 quarter 4 (webpage) Transparency Found: FCDO Services: workforce management information on ethnicity 2023 to 2024 quarter 4 |
Apr. 05 2024
FCDO Services Source Page: FCDO Services: workforce management information on ethnicity 2023 to 2024 quarter 4 Document: (webpage) Transparency Found: FCDO Services: workforce management information on ethnicity 2023 to 2024 quarter 4 |
Apr. 05 2024
FCDO Services Source Page: FCDO Services: workforce management information on disability 2023 to 2024 quarter 4 Document: FCDO Services: workforce management information on disability 2023 to 2024 quarter 4 (webpage) Transparency Found: FCDO Services: workforce management information on disability 2023 to 2024 quarter 4 |
Apr. 05 2024
FCDO Services Source Page: FCDO Services: workforce management information on disability 2023 to 2024 quarter 4 Document: (webpage) Transparency Found: FCDO Services: workforce management information on disability 2023 to 2024 quarter 4 |
Apr. 05 2024
FCDO Services Source Page: FCDO Services: workforce management information on gender 2023 to 2024 quarter 4 Document: FCDO Services: workforce management information on gender 2023 to 2024 quarter 4 (webpage) Transparency Found: FCDO Services: workforce management information on gender 2023 to 2024 quarter 4 |
Apr. 05 2024
FCDO Services Source Page: FCDO Services: workforce management information on gender 2023 to 2024 quarter 4 Document: (webpage) Transparency Found: FCDO Services: workforce management information on gender 2023 to 2024 quarter 4 |
Apr. 05 2024
FCDO Services Source Page: FCDO Services spending over £500, February 2024 Document: FCDO Services spending over £500, February 2024 (webpage) Transparency Found: FCDO Services spending over £500, February 2024 |
Apr. 05 2024
FCDO Services Source Page: FCDO Services spending over £500, February 2024 Document: (webpage) Transparency Found: FCDO Services spending over £500, February 2024 |
Apr. 03 2024
Commission for Countering Extremism Source Page: Commission for Countering Extremism end of year report 2023 to 2024 Document: Commission for Countering Extremism end of year report 2023 to 2024 (PDF) Transparency Found: and Communities •Department for Education •Department of Health and Social Care •Ministry of Justice •Foreign |
Non-Departmental Publications - Policy paper |
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Apr. 08 2024
HM Prison and Probation Service Source Page: Wymott Prison: Action Plan Document: inspection report for Wymott Prison (PDF) Policy paper Found: • 53 foreign national prisoners were held. |
Scottish Select Committee Publications |
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Thursday 28th March 2024
Correspondence - Letter from the Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise, 28 March 2024 Children (Care and Justice) Bill Education, Children and Young People Committee Found: relation to sexual crime which prevent victims from being identified, but bereaved families have spoken to foreign |
Scottish Cross Party Group Publications |
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Minute of the meeting held on 5 March 2024 draft
(PDF) Source Page: Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on International Development Found: They delved into the concept of femi nist foreign policies, tracing back to Sweden's introduction of |
Scottish Government Publications |
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Thursday 4th April 2024
Energy and Climate Change Directorate Source Page: First Minister and Net Zero Secretary attendance at Cop28 in the United Arab Emirates: FOI release Document: FOI 202400401966 - Information Released - Document (PDF) Found: Who • HE Dr Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister for Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economy, UAE. |
Wednesday 3rd April 2024
Lifelong Learning and Skills Directorate Source Page: Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills meeting with Edinburgh University Principal: FOI release Document: FOI 202400394068 - Information Released - Annex A (PDF) Found: networks are a matter for them and their governing bodies, however we are concerned by any suggestions of foreign |