Asked by: Danny Chambers (Liberal Democrat - Winchester)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking to support the sovereignty of NATO allies.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is steadfast in its commitment to NATO. For over 75 years, NATO has kept us safe, prosperous and united.
Last week, the Foreign Secretary visited the Arctic Circle, where she emphasised that Arctic security is a critical transatlantic partnership issue for the security of the UK and NATO, and that we will tackle this emerging threat as an alliance.
We are committed to upholding the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of borders.
Europeans continue to take greater responsibility for their own security, including through historic increases in defence spending.
Asked by: Sonia Kumar (Labour - Dudley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking to help protect children in Iran from actions taken by the Iranian authorities.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The killing and brutal repression of peaceful protesters in Iran is horrific. Iranians must be able to exercise their right to peaceful protest without fear of reprisal.
The Iranian government must immediately end the violence, uphold fundamental rights and freedoms, and ensure British nationals are safe. The Foreign Secretary made this very clear when she spoke with the Iranian Foreign Minister on 12 January, and I did likewise when we summoned the Iranian Ambassador the following day.
We are working closely with our partners to ensure the Iranian regime is held accountable for its violent repression and systematic human rights abuses against its own people.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the political situation in Georgia.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Democracy in Georgia is under threat, and we are working closely with our European allies to respond to that concern.
Last October, I reiterated my concerns to Georgian Foreign Minister Botchorishvili over democratic backsliding, opposition arrests and attacks on allied Ambassadors.
We urge Georgia’s leadership to reverse repressive legislation, release political prisoners, and return the country to a democratic path.
Asked by: John Whitby (Labour - Derbyshire Dales)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps her Department is taking to help prevent the detention of children from Gaza and the West Bank by the Israeli military.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are deeply concerned about the detention of Palestinian children by the Israeli military and about allegations of abuse against those children, including sexual violence.
The UK calls for all such reports to be fully investigated. The arrest and detention of children must follow due process, in line with international juvenile justice standards.
We also call on all parties to the conflict to grant the International Committee of the Red Cross immediate and unfettered access.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the UK's level of participation in global disability rights and inclusion activities.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has been a long-standing supporter of disability rights around the world, and our global programmes are supporting disability inclusion in health, education and employment, as well as access to innovative assistive technology.
As well as building disability inclusion into the work we are doing across all Foreign Office priorities, the UK is co-chairing the Global Action on Disability Network, which will strengthen international coordination on disability rights and accelerate progress.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the need for humanitarian aid in Syria.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The humanitarian situation in Syria remains dire, with over 16.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and 90% of the population in poverty.
The UK is delivering up to £104 million of life-saving aid this year, and supporting longer-term recovery through education, health and livelihoods programmes.
We are also responding to emergencies, including providing humanitarian and medical supplies to those displaced by the recent violence in northern Aleppo.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking to hold Iran to account for the repression of protesters.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The killing and brutal repression of peaceful protesters in Iran is horrific. Iranians must be able to exercise their right to peaceful protest without fear of reprisal.
The Iranian government must immediately end the violence, uphold fundamental rights and freedoms, and ensure British nationals are safe. The Foreign Secretary made this very clear when she spoke with the Iranian Foreign Minister on 12 January, and I did likewise when we summoned the Iranian Ambassador the following day.
We are working closely with our partners to ensure the Iranian regime is held accountable for its violent repression and systematic human rights abuses against its own people.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the steps Israel is taking to establish the E1 settlement in the occupied West Bank.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Tackling illegal settlement expansion and settler violence are vital to protecting a two-state solution.
Israel must stop settlement expansion and crack down on settler violence, which has reached record levels.
Alongside 26 international partners, we have condemned the E1 settlement plan and we condemn the recent steps to further that plan. We urge Israel to listen to the weight of international opinion on this issue, rather than lessen the prospects for long-term peace.
Asked by: Shockat Adam (Independent - Leicester South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with the government of Israel on its approval of the E1 settlement plan in occupied East Jerusalem.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Tackling illegal settlement expansion and settler violence are vital to protecting a two-state solution.
Israel must stop settlement expansion and crack down on settler violence, which has reached record levels.
Alongside 26 international partners, we have condemned the E1 settlement plan and we condemn the recent steps to further that plan. We urge Israel to listen to the weight of international opinion on this issue, rather than lessen the prospects for long-term peace.
Asked by: Mark Sewards (Labour - Leeds South West and Morley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the Falkland Islands on the potential impact of trade tariffs on its economy.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are proud of the bond that the United Kingdom shares with the Falkland Islands as part of one Great British family, and we deeply value the relationship between our governments.
I was pleased to speak with the new Assembly within a week of their election, and my officials have been engaging with the new representatives on their priorities, one of which is obviously trade.
It is a matter of fact that the Brexit deal reached by the party opposite excluded the Overseas Territories, and we recognise the challenges EU trade tariffs pose for the Falkland Islands economy. But we are working with the Department for Business and Trade to promote Falklands trade in the UK and other markets.