Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to determine the number and identity of people who were dismissed from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office as a result of the ban on homosexuality for serving officers in the Diplomatic Service; and whether they will apologise to those who were dismissed on these grounds.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) officials have continued looking into this and I am eager to bring this to a resolution further to the apology for the ban from Sir Philip Barton (then Permanent Under-Secretary) in 2021. We continue to learn the lessons of the MOD's Etherton Review but it has become apparent how different the circumstances of the ban were, therefore requiring a different response. The FCDO are currently looking at the best way to address this, engaging with Cabinet Office and other relevant Government departments to find the best solution. Specifically, the new Permanent Under-Secretary is engaged on this issue and we are talking to officials and Ministers across Government to find the most appropriate solution.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the endorsement of the presidents of Somalia, Egypt and Eritrea, on 10 October, of the deployment of Egyptian troops to Somalia, (2) the threat that such a deployment would pose to Ethiopia’s dam on the Blue Nile, and (3) the concomitant risk of conflict between Egyptian and Ethiopian troops.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK, alongside partners, continues to urge all stakeholders and regional actors to avoid escalation and any action that threatens stability in the wider Horn of Africa. We hear downstream nations' concerns about the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), and we continue to urge all parties to reach a mutually acceptable agreement through negotiation and dialogue. To further address the rising tensions in the Horn of Africa, we have tabled a debate on 29th October in the House of Lords.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions the UK–German Cultural Commission has had regarding youth mobility and school trips since its reinstatement in 2023.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK successfully hosted the UK-Germany Cultural Commission on 7 May. The Minister for Europe co-chaired the event at Lancaster House with German Foreign Office Minister of State Katja Keul, where - together with a range of UK and German cultural organisations - they celebrated the strong links between the two countries. They also discussed a range of topics, including mobility between the UK and Germany, and opportunities for young people.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to engage in dialogue through the UK–German Cultural Commission to facilitate youth mobility and school trips between the UK and Germany.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK successfully hosted the UK-Germany Cultural Commission on 7 May. The Minister for Europe co-chaired the event at Lancaster House with German Foreign Office Minister of State Katja Keul, where - together with a range of UK and German cultural organisations - they celebrated the strong links between the two countries. They also discussed a range of topics, including mobility between the UK and Germany, and opportunities for young people.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many staff within (1) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and (2) the Security Services, were either (a) dismissed, or (b) forced to resign, as a result of bans on homosexuality among serving officers between 1967 and 2000.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office do not hold this information centrally and it could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why neither Which? nor any other specific and independent consumer voice has been included in the membership of the Domestic Advisory Group established under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The membership of the Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) consists of a range of stakeholders and consumer organisations are an important element. They are currently represented through Citizens Advice.
The Government welcomes views on the implementation of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement through a variety of channels including the regular engagement with departments.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that the UK Representation to the EU can function effectively without a resident head of the organisation.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
All three senior officials mentioned live and work in Brussels and as such the Representation has a resident head.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
Her Majesty's Government whether the UK Permanent Representative to the EU has relocated full-time to Brussels; and, if not, whether this was the expectation when he was appointed.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
All three senior officials mentioned live and work in Brussels and as such the Representation has a resident head.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
Her Majesty's Government whether the Deputy Permanent Representative and Director General of the UK–EU Partnership have relocated to Brussels.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
All three senior officials mentioned live and work in Brussels and as such the Representation has a resident head.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 24 February 2014 (HL5333) concerning the enforced extraction of a two per cent tax on the Eritrean community in the United Kingdom by the Eritrean Embassy, and in the light of the report made against the Eritrean Embassy on 3 March by members of the Eritrean community at the West End Central Police Station that the tax was still being extracted, what action they intend to take to take to ensure that no such tax is extracted by illicit or coercive means.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We are aware of the report made to the Metropolitan Police on 3 March. A decision on any further action is a matter for the police. The collection of taxes by governments from their citizens overseas is not illegal in international or UK law. However, UN Security Council resolution 2023 makes clear that Eritrea must not collect such taxes “using extortion, threats of violence, fraud and other illicit means”. Where those required to pay such taxes to Eritrea allege they have been subject to actions that are in breach of the resolution, we advise them to report the matter to the police, who are the appropriate authorities to investigate such allegations in the UK.