Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the operation and outcomes of statutory close seasons for hares in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and whether they intend to align the level of protection for hares in England with those in other parts of the United Kingdom.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive have indeed already introduced close seasons for their populations of hare. Whilst the UK Government has made no formal assessment of these measures, we will consider lessons from the experience in Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, wildlife management is a devolved activity and the precise nature of any changes in England will be considered on their own merit.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress has been made towards the introduction of a statutory close season for hares in England; whether they have identified a legislative vehicle for that purpose; and when they intend to bring forward that legislation.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
A statutory close season for hares is consistent with Natural England's advice on wildlife management that controlling species in their peak breeding season should be avoided unless genuinely essential and unavoidable. Defra Ministers support the ambition to introduce a close season for hares in England.
However, the Government needs a suitable primary legislative vehicle in place to deliver this change. While I cannot therefore offer a timeframe for bringing this legislative change forward, Defra will do its utmost to identify suitable opportunities to enable the Government to introduce a close season for hares in England.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to introducing interim measures to protect hares during their breeding season pending the introduction of a statutory close season.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We have not considered any interim legislative measures to protect hares during their breeding season pending the introduction of a statutory close season. However, it is reasonable to assume that changes to hare coursing legislation, brought in under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, along with improved police tactics, intelligence and information sharing as well as the use of community protection notices (CPN) and criminal behaviour orders (CBO), has had an effect in terms of reducing levels of hare coursing in recent years, both within the hares’ breeding season and outside it. We are also committed to delivering our legally-binding biodiversity targets on species abundance, species extinction and habitat creation and restoration. This is helping to drive forward action to improve habitat such as open grassland which brown hares rely on to flourish.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of the Foreign Secretary’s letter to the International Development Committee regarding arms exports to Israel dated 1 September, what steps they are taking in accordance with the United Kingdom’s obligations under Article I of the Genocide Convention to prevent genocide where there is a serious risk.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the noble Baroness to the responses I gave on this matter in the house on 18th September.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard the United National Security Council Resolution 2736 on 13 June 2024 calling for an end to the siege of El Fasher, and the statement by the Foreign Secretary on 13 August condemning the atrocities by the Rapid Support Forces, what steps they are taking (1) to ensure the safe delivery of food and medical supplies to civilians, (2) to press for accountability for sexual and gender-based violence identified by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan, and (3) to strengthen the Sudan sanctions regime, including measures to curb the supply of arms, drones and mercenaries.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The crimes committed in Sudan demand accountability. This is why, as a member of the Human Rights Council Core Group for Sudan, the UK led the establishment of the UN Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) in October 2023. We are currently working with partners to secure an extension to its mandate in October. The FFM is essential if the facts concerning alleged violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law are to be thoroughly investigated. This year, the UK is also supporting the deployment of a specialist sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) investigator to the FMM. This contribution ensures expert input on SGBV to strengthen accountability for conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in Sudan. Beyond the UN, the UK strongly supports the International Criminal Court's ongoing investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, including SGBV and CRSV.
As UN Security Council (UNSC) penholder on Sudan we have negotiated products calling for all member states to abide by their obligations under the Darfur arms embargo, first imposed in July 2004. This month, we worked closely with the US and UNSC members to renew the UNSC arms embargo regime. The UK proposed language to strengthen the regime, expressing concern about conflict related sexual violence (CRSV). This was incorporated into the text, and the resolution was subsequently adopted by consensus. As a permanent member of the UNSC, the UK also supported the imposition of UN sanctions on two Rapid Support Forces (RSF) generals for their crimes against civilians in Darfur in November 2024. In addition, there is a longstanding UK arms embargo in place for the whole of Sudan. Since the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, the UK has also frozen the assets of nine commercial entities linked to the warring parties. Although we do not speculate on future sanctions designations as it would undermine their effectiveness, our sanctions policy is continually under review.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have raised the issue of abuses committed against women from minority communities in Syria with the United National Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict; and if so, what action has followed.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We work closely with the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and have a longstanding partnership with her office. Officials have discussed conflict-related sexual violence around the world including Syria. With UK funding, both UN Action and the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict plan to undertake work in Syria to explore opportunities to improve services for survivors of conflict related sexual violence, including psychosocial and legal support.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of violence committed against women from minority communities in Syria, including Alawite, Christian, Druze, Kurdish, and Turkmen groups, given the UK’s commitments under UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We have consistently advocated for an inclusive political transition and underlined the importance of protecting the rights of all Syrians, including women, and an improved response to sectarian violence. The Foreign Secretary raised these issues with the Syrian Government during his recent visit to Damascus and offered UK support. Syria remains a focus country in the UK's 5th National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, guiding our efforts in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1325. UK funding supports Syrian women's rights organisations to promote gender equality, strengthen women's roles in peacebuilding, and increase their participation in political and public life. Thirteen years on from the launch of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative, the UK is proud of its leadership on this issue and continues to fund programmes in Syria which document human rights violations and support the trial and convictions of perpetrators of these crimes.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Syria regarding the protection of women from ethnic and religious minority communities; and how these efforts reflect the UK’s obligations under the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We have consistently advocated for an inclusive political transition and underlined the importance of protecting the rights of all Syrians, including women, and an improved response to sectarian violence. The Foreign Secretary raised these issues with the Syrian Government during his recent visit to Damascus and offered UK support. Syria remains a focus country in the UK's 5th National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, guiding our efforts in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1325. UK funding supports Syrian women's rights organisations to promote gender equality, strengthen women's roles in peacebuilding, and increase their participation in political and public life. Thirteen years on from the launch of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative, the UK is proud of its leadership on this issue and continues to fund programmes in Syria which document human rights violations and support the trial and convictions of perpetrators of these crimes.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are supporting the documentation and investigation of crimes of sexual and gender-based violence committed against minority women in Syria, and what support they are providing to local or international organisations working with survivors of sexual violence from Syria's minority communities as part of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK supports documentation and investigation of sexual and gender-based violence against women in Syria through the Integrated Security Fund, funding evidence collection and prosecution efforts. We co-fund Syria-specific best practice guidance and, through the Global Survivors Fund, have provided physiotherapy, psychosocial and financial support to hundreds of Syrian survivors living in Turkey since 2022.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that women in Syria, including those from minority groups, are included in peacebuilding and transitional justice processes, in line with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We have consistently advocated for an inclusive political transition and underlined the importance of protecting the rights of all Syrians, including women, and an improved response to sectarian violence. The Foreign Secretary raised these issues with the Syrian Government during his recent visit to Damascus and offered UK support. Syria remains a focus country in the UK's 5th National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, guiding our efforts in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1325. UK funding supports Syrian women's rights organisations to promote gender equality, strengthen women's roles in peacebuilding, and increase their participation in political and public life. Thirteen years on from the launch of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative, the UK is proud of its leadership on this issue and continues to fund programmes in Syria which document human rights violations and support the trial and convictions of perpetrators of these crimes.