Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions, if any, they have had with the government of Malta about the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Our High Commissioner has met the Maltese Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister to discuss the case and to offer UK support to the police investigation.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the call by the President of France for the creation of a concrete mechanism to enforce international law regarding the protection of journalists.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to the protection of journalists, who are facing increasing risks in the course of their work, including intimidation, harassment and violence. Working closely with our international partners, we will consider all possible options for increasing the protection of journalists, and tackling impunity for those that threaten their safety. This includes the suggestion to appoint a Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for the protection of journalists.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prepare for the 2018 UN High Level Conference on Disarmament.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government firmly believes that the best way to achieve a world without nuclear weapons is through gradual multilateral disarmament negotiated using a step by step approach and within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. We will consider our approach to the 2018 UN High Level Conference closer to the time.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
Her Majesty's Government what meetings they have had in the last two years under the P5 Process with the five nuclear weapons states recognised under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK hosted the Conference of P5 Nuclear Weapon States in London in 2015, and the US hosted the Conference in Washington in September 2016. There has been ongoing dialogue between conferences.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the long-term aims of the multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations to be held in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 71/258, in the light of the aims of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Government has discussed nuclear disarmament issues, including UN General Assembly Resolution 71/258, with numerous States over the last six months. Those discussions have taken place with Embassies in London, through UK Embassies overseas, in international organisations and directly between capitals. The UK Government will not attend the substantive negotiations, which started on 27 March. We do not believe these negotiations will lead to effective progress on global nuclear disarmament. The best way to achieve this goal is through gradual multilateral disarmament negotiated using a step-by-step approach and within existing international frameworks.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the UK will send a representative or an observer to attend the negotiations to be held in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 71/258, <i>Taking forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations</i>.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Government has discussed nuclear disarmament issues, including UN General Assembly Resolution 71/258, with numerous States over the last six months. Those discussions have taken place with Embassies in London, through UK Embassies overseas, in international organisations and directly between capitals. The UK Government will not attend the substantive negotiations, which started on 27 March. We do not believe these negotiations will lead to effective progress on global nuclear disarmament. The best way to achieve this goal is through gradual multilateral disarmament negotiated using a step-by-step approach and within existing international frameworks.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government with which ambassadors to the UK they have held meetings in the last six months to discuss UN General Assembly Resolution 71/258, <i>Taking forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations</i>.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Government has discussed nuclear disarmament issues, including UN General Assembly Resolution 71/258, with numerous States over the last six months. Those discussions have taken place with Embassies in London, through UK Embassies overseas, in international organisations and directly between capitals. The UK Government will not attend the substantive negotiations, which started on 27 March. We do not believe these negotiations will lead to effective progress on global nuclear disarmament. The best way to achieve this goal is through gradual multilateral disarmament negotiated using a step-by-step approach and within existing international frameworks.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what conclusions they drew following their attendance at the 2014 Vienna conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review sets out the Government's approach towards our independent nuclear deterrent. As a responsible nuclear weapons state we are committed to the long-term goal of a world without nuclear weapons and will work with our international partners to tackle proliferation and to make progress on nuclear disarmament.