Asked by: Lord Birt (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park on 13 March (HL5891), whether they have assessed the effectiveness of the global humanitarian response following the recent earthquake in Turkey.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government's priority was to provide life-saving support to those in need in Turkey and Syria. The Government is committed to learning from its own experience and that of others as part of its constant review of global humanitarian responses. The Government looks forward to hearing the needs assessment of the UN, World Bank and other partners at the 20 March International Donors' Conference.
Asked by: Lord Birt (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 6 March (HL5638), what steps they plan to take, if any, to support the implementation of recommendations related to policing at future UEFA Champions League Finals in the independent review of the 2022 UEFA Champions League Final, chaired by Dr Tiago Brandão Rodrigues, particularly (1) Recommendation 7, and (2) Recommendation 8; and whether they intend to ask the government of France to seek from the French police (a) a response to these recommendations, and (b) an apology to Liverpool FC fans for the treatment they received.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
HMG has been clear that the events at last year's Champions League Final were unacceptable. We welcome the French Government's apologies to fans and acknowledgement that mistakes were made. While it is for the French authorities to implement the recommendations made in subsequent reviews, we continually engage with them on major event security, including lessons from the management of the Champions League Final.
Asked by: Lord Birt (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to discuss with the United Nations the effectiveness of global contingency planning for major natural disasters.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK Government engages regularly with UN agencies on contingency planning for major natural disasters. This includes developing and using early warning tools to predict disasters, approaching early and anticipatory action to help countries prepare for and mitigate the impact of natural disasters and ensuring the speed and effectiveness of humanitarian response when disasters occur. The UK is one of the largest providers of core support to the UN humanitarian agencies, including the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which allows flexibility to plan ahead of disasters and ensure that systems and capabilities required for rapid response are in place.
Asked by: Lord Birt (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of France regarding the conclusions of the independent review of the 2022 UEFA Champions League Final, chaired by Dr Tiago Brandão Rodrigues; and whether they intend to ask that government to seek from the French police (1) a response, and (2) an apology to Liverpool FC fans for the treatment they received.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
HMG has been clear that the events at the Champions League Final were unacceptable. The former Foreign Secretary raised the issue with the French Foreign Minister on 1 June 2022, as did the Sports Minister with his counterpart on 7 June. This continues to be discussed by officials. The French Government has apologised and acknowledged that mistakes were made. Security at major events will also be discussed at the upcoming UK-France Summit.
Asked by: Lord Birt (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether all UK football fans, regardless of their sexuality, can safely attend the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
During a visit to Doha on 4-5 July, the Minister for the Middle East, Rt Hon. Amanda Milling MP, raised this with local organisers. They reiterated their public commitment that "everybody is welcome" to the tournament, including LGBT+ visitors. We will continue to encourage the equal treatment of all fans and respect for individual rights so that anyone, of any background, can go and enjoy themselves.
Asked by: Lord Birt (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have assessed the cost of the restoration of war-damaged housing, buildings and infrastructure in Ukraine; and whether they consider that seized Russian assets could form part of a programme of reparations to rebuild Ukraine.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
HMG is exploring what options there may be to use sanctioned assets, including real estate. The Secretary of State for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, has committed to exploring an option that would allow the use of homes and properties of sanctioned individuals for as long as they are sanctioned, for humanitarian and other purposes.
Asked by: Lord Birt (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to assist in international efforts to gather evidence of Russian war crimes in Ukraine, and to identify those responsible, including (1) individual perpetrators, and (2) those in command.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK led efforts to refer the situation in Ukraine to the International Criminal Court (ICC). On 4 March, the Metropolitan Police's War Crimes Team announced it was gathering evidence in relation to alleged war crimes in Ukraine in support of the ICC investigation. The Government has also made clear that we are willing to provide the necessary technical assistance to support successful convictions.
It is for the ICC Prosecutor to independently determine who should be prosecuted for war crimes committed in Ukraine, including those that ordered them, in accordance with his mandate under the Rome Statute.
Asked by: Lord Birt (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to help alleviate the risk of a winter famine in Afghanistan.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Prime Minister has announced that the Government will increase our overall assistance for Afghanistan to £286 million this financial year. On 31 October he announced the allocation of £50 million of that money for humanitarian purposes to those who need it most. We are working closely with the World Food Programme to ensure that food insecure adults and children receive the support they need.
Asked by: Lord Birt (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the percentage of the world’s adult population which have received one or more vaccinations against the COVID-19 virus by the end of May.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The data on global COVID-19 vaccine delivery is rapidly evolving as new vaccines are approved and distributed, and varies based on national reporting practices. As of 9 June 2021, the World Health Organization estimates that 2.09 billion vaccine doses have been administered worldwide. More data on worldwide vaccination can be found at https://covid19.who.int/.
The UK is committed to rapid, equitable access to safe and effective vaccines. We are among the largest donors to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC), having committed £548 million, which through match-funding leveraged $1 billion from other donors in 2020. This support to COVAX has been critical in supporting its supply of COVID-19 vaccines to over 125 countries and economies. COVAX aims to provide COVID-19 vaccine doses to at least 30% of the adult population in low and middle-income countries by the end of 2021.
Asked by: Lord Birt (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what approaches they have made to the government of the United Arab Emirates about the situation of Princess Latifa Al Maktoum.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are aware of the allegations surrounding Princess Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum. We are aware that the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has asked the UAE Mission in Geneva for further information and proof of life. We will continue to follow developments closely.