Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their assessment of recent efforts to secure guarantees from Sudan’s warring parties to ensure critical humanitarian supply routes are (1) open and (2) free from bureaucratic impediments or taxation.
Answered by Lord Benyon
The UK continues to press the warring parties to facilitate unhindered, crossline and cross-border humanitarian access. On 27 February, the UK called for the UN Security Council to convene for a closed consultation in response to the Sudanese Armed Forces' (SAF) decision to withdraw permission for the movement of humanitarian personnel and supplies into Sudan from Chad via the Adré crossing. On 20 March, we made a UK intervention at the Security Council highlighting the OCHA White Note's clear warning that obstruction of humanitarian access by the SAF and Rapid Support Forces is resulting in people in Sudan starving. On 8 March, the UK led the Security Council to adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire for Ramadan and for urgent humanitarian access.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government why a replacement FCDO special envoy to Sudan has not yet been appointed and when they expect to appoint one.
Answered by Lord Benyon
The Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea spends a significant amount of time on efforts to secure peace in Sudan, working closely with other envoys covering Sudan. Our Ambassador to Khartoum - now based in Addis Ababa - also continues to engage with key international partners to press for peace, as do other British Ambassadors in the region.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the UK Address to the UN Security Council on 19 April, what is their assessment of the international community's efforts to end the war in Sudan and bring to justice those responsible for atrocity crimes.
Answered by Lord Benyon
The UK continues to work with a wide range of countries and bodies, including Gulf and African partners, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the African Union and the UN, to achieve a ceasefire, and a sustained and meaningful peace process that leads to the resumption of civilian rule in Sudan. The UK uses its position as penholder on Sudan at the UN Security Council (UNSC) to increase pressure on the warring parties. The UK remains committed to ensuring that those responsible for atrocities in Sudan are held to accounts. In October, the Human Rights Council adopted the UK-led 'Sudan Core Group' resolution to establish an independent and international Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) to ensure the credible allegations of human rights violations and abuses by all sides, including the horrific atrocities being committed in Darfur, will be investigated impartially. We continue to support the essential work of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Sudan (OHCHR) and the International Criminal Court in investigating and documenting reports of atrocities.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to review the status and privileges granted to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London in the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996 provides the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office with certain privileges and immunities in line with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations for the purposes of furthering economic and trade interests. We currently have no plans to replace this legislation.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps, beyond expressions of support, they have taken to help to establish an international tribunal that would try those in Russia responsible for serious crimes under international humanitarian law, and what obstacles they have identified in doing so.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK is committed to holding Russia to account for its actions in Ukraine. We are actively engaging in the Core Group established by Ukraine to explore options for a Special Tribunal on the Crime of Aggression, including on the form any tribunal might take. We support exploring the creation of an internationalised tribunal, rooted in Ukraine's jurisdiction but with international elements. The creation of a special tribunal requires both establishing a sound legal basis and securing broad international support.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their assessment of modern-day slavery in (1) the United Arab Emirates, (2) Saudi Arabia, (3) Kuwait, (4) Oman, (5) Qatar, and (6) Jordan, particularly in relation to the kafala system.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The 'kafala' system (sponsorship) has been the source of many allegations of human rights abuses in the Gulf states and Middle East. We have seen some progress in recent years to address these issues. Qatar introduced legislation protecting labour rights particularly for migrant workers in 2020. Saudi Arabia introduced a Domestic Workers Regulation that will be enacted from September 2024. Jordan and Kuwait signed the 'Prime Ministers Call for Action to end forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking in 2017', whilst Oman joined the Arab Charter on Human Rights in 2022. We remain committed to supporting efforts to implement these changes and improve labour rights in the Gulf States and Middle East.
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 Minister for Asia’s recent visit to Hong Kong and what they believe it achieved.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
In line with the Government's "protect, align, and engage" approach to China, as set out in the Integrated Review Refresh, the Minister for the Indo-Pacific raised a number of issues important to the UK national interest with Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui during her visit to Hong Kong in April. This included the prosecution of British national Jimmy Lai, the enactment of further national security legislation (Article 23), and concerns over transnational repression against BN(O)s in the UK. Issues of mutual and global interest were also discussed, alongside areas of disagreement or concern.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations the Minister for Indo-Pacific made during her recent meetings with Hong Kong officials regarding (1) Jimmy Lai’s trial, (2) political prisoners, and (3) Article 23 of the National Security Law; and what response she received to these representations.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
On 24 April, the Minister for the Indo-Pacific met with Hong Kong Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui during her six-day visit to China and Hong Kong. The Minister raised the deterioration of rights and freedom in the city precipitated by the 2020 National Security Law, and the recent passage of legislation under Article 23. Minister Trevelyan also raised the case of Jimmy Lai during the meeting. We will continue to raise areas of disagreement or concern in Hong Kong with the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 25 April (HL Deb cols 628GC–630GC), whether they plan to use some of the increased aid to Pakistan to help train the staff of ‘Misaq Centres’ in police stations in areas with a sizeable percentage of minority communities.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We continue to make representations to the Government of Pakistan and use UK programme funding to protect and promote the rights of minorities in Pakistan. Our £46.7 million Aawaz II programme (2015-27) works to improve social cohesion at the grassroots level and provides technical assistance to the government for systemic reforms. For example, the programme works with minority religious communities to connect vulnerable citizens with state services. We will continue to use UK aid to support Pakistan's long-term development, focusing on improving human capital (health, education, gender equality), governance and human rights and climate resilience.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 25 April (HL Deb cols 628GC–630GC), whether development funding for Pakistan will be used for the training of teachers in religious tolerance or to develop materials and skills aimed at promoting a positive image of religious harmony and coexistence in schools.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We continue to make representations to the Government of Pakistan and use UK programme funding to protect and promote Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in schools. We have supported initiatives to review the National Curriculum of Pakistan, providing technical assistance to create a more inclusive curriculum and textbooks. We have also commissioned studies to identify minorities' needs in education. Meanwhile, our Girls and Out of School Action for Learning programme is improving education outcomes for marginalised children from the most vulnerable sections of society, including religious minorities. We will continue to use UK aid to support Pakistan's long-term development, focusing on improving human capital (health, education, gender equality), governance and human rights and climate resilience.