Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Twycross on 22 July (HL Deb col 136–40), what consideration they are giving to the legal opinion by Tom Cross KC on 16 July that the Secretary of State is required to undertake a fuller investigation of the proposed acquisition of the Telegraph Media Group by Redbird Capital, having particular regard to evidence of the latter's links to China; and whether they will issue a response to that opinion.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Secretary of State takes her quasi-judicial responsibilities under the Enterprise Act 2002 very seriously. She will take all relevant information available into consideration when determining whether any of the public interest tests or conditions for foreign state influence are met in any proposed purchase of the Telegraph Media Group. DCMS will keep Parliament updated on decisions relating to the transaction.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to issue, under Schedule 6B of the Enterprise Act 2002, a foreign state intervention notice in relation to the sale of the Telegraph Media Group to RedBird Capital Partners.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Secretary of State takes her quasi-judicial responsibilities under the Enterprise Act 2002 very seriously. She will take all relevant information available into consideration when determining whether any of the public interest tests or conditions for foreign state influence are met in any proposed purchase of the Telegraph Media Group. DCMS will keep Parliament updated on decisions relating to the transaction.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reported honour killing in Balochistan; and how UK aid to Pakistan seeks to strengthen protections for those at risk of extra-judicial murders or subjected to violence due to their minority status, ethnic origins or religion or belief.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government condemns honour-based violence, including the reported case in Balochistan. Through UK Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), we are supporting progress on human rights in Pakistan through dialogue, technical assistance, and targeted programming. The UK-funded Aawaz II programme convenes influential community leaders and minority representatives to change social behaviours and promote interfaith harmony. At the community level, Aawaz II has reached over 24 million people with information and awareness about rights and government services.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the interim Syrian authorities on preventing human rights violations, protecting all Syrians, and immediately ending all forms of sectarian violence.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
During the Foreign Secretary's recent visit to Damascus he underlined the importance of an inclusive political transition and protecting the rights of all Syrians, and offered UK support in achieving this. Further to the outbreak of violence in southern Syria, he spoke to Syria's Foreign Minister, on 18 July, to express our concerns about the latest escalation and the need for a full investigation into these crimes. We continue to press the Syrian Government on the importance of improving their response to sectarian violence, protecting the rights of all Syrians, and holding all those responsible to account.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of Israel's involvement in the sectarian violence and clashes between Druze and other groups in Suwayda; and what efforts they are undertaking to prevent the fragmentation and territorial annexation of parts of Syria by Israel.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are deeply concerned by the recent violence between different groups in southern Syria. We have been working closely with international partners to press for de-escalation and for all sides to engage in dialogue. We continue to call on Israel to respect Syria's territorial integrity, and uphold their obligations to peace, stability and security under international law. As the Foreign Secretary made clear during his call with Israel's Foreign Minister on 21 July, Israel's attacks in Damascus risk destabilising Syria. We reiterate that respect for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity is crucial for both Syrian security and that of its neighbours. The only path to a better future for Syria is through an inclusive, representative and non-sectarian political process, that respects the rights of all Syrians, regardless of ethnic or religious background.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the government of Israel is seeking to execute the Yinon Plan in Syria; and what steps they are taking to prevent the break up of Syria into Alawite, Kurdish, Sunni and Druze zones.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are deeply concerned by the recent violence between different groups in southern Syria. We have been working closely with international partners to press for de-escalation and for all sides to engage in dialogue. We continue to call on Israel to respect Syria's territorial integrity, and uphold their obligations to peace, stability and security under international law. As the Foreign Secretary made clear during his call with Israel's Foreign Minister on 21 July, Israel's attacks in Damascus risk destabilising Syria. We reiterate that respect for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity is crucial for both Syrian security and that of its neighbours. The only path to a better future for Syria is through an inclusive, representative and non-sectarian political process, that respects the rights of all Syrians, regardless of ethnic or religious background.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect the rights and safety of (1) Armenian, and (2) Arab Orthodox Christian, communities in Syria; what discussions they have had with interim Syrian authorities about the protection of Syria's Christian minorities; and what guarantees, if any, they received from the Syrian authorities in those discussions.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are deeply concerned about sectarian tensions and violence in Syria. We have consistently advocated for an inclusive, representative and non-sectarian political transition and underlined the importance of protecting the rights of all Syrians, both publicly and as part of our engagement with the Syrian Government. We are pressing the Syrian Government on the need to improve their response to sectarian violence and hold those responsible to account. The Foreign Secretary raised these issues during his recent visit to Damascus, and during his call with Syria's Foreign Minister on 18 July. We will continue to judge the Syrian Government by its actions, not its words.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent violent sectarian conflict between ethnic groups in Syria, and what assessment they have made of the threat to Christian minorities in Syria as a result of further sectarian violence and destabilisation.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are deeply concerned about sectarian tensions and violence in Syria. We have consistently advocated for an inclusive, representative and non-sectarian political transition and underlined the importance of protecting the rights of all Syrians, both publicly and as part of our engagement with the Syrian Government. We are pressing the Syrian Government on the need to improve their response to sectarian violence and hold those responsible to account. The Foreign Secretary raised these issues during his recent visit to Damascus, and during his call with Syria's Foreign Minister on 18 July. We will continue to judge the Syrian Government by its actions, not its words.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what pressure they have placed upon the Syrian transitional authorities to work seriously and transparently to ensure a comprehensive and unbiased Syrian transitional process.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have consistently advocated for an inclusive political transition and underlined the importance of protecting the rights of all Syrians. The Foreign Secretary discussed this with President al Sharaa and Foreign Minister al Shaibani when he visited Damascus on 5 July. We welcome President al Sharaa's commitment to hold free and fair elections, and the announcement of the Supreme Electoral Committee for the People's Assembly Elections. This is an important step in building legitimate legislative and electoral processes. It is vital now that the political transition proceeds in a genuinely inclusive way, is representative, and respects the rights of all Syrians. We continue to press the Syrian Government on these issues. We will judge the Syrian Government by its actions not its words.