Asked by: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council about nuclear disarmament.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK works with the other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (or P5) to uphold the global security framework, and, in their character as Nuclear Weapon States recognised by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), on nuclear disarmament. In 2009, the UK initiated the so-called 'P5 Process' of dialogue between the five on issues related to the NPT. In February 2020 the UK hosted the ninth Conference of this process in London, where the five Nuclear Weapons States considered progress on the three pillars of the NPT - disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy - and preparations for the next NPT Review Conference. During its coordination of the P5 process in 2019/20, the UK has prioritised P5 collective work on increasing confidence and transparency, as well as building our mutual understanding of strategic risk reduction concepts and our respective nuclear doctrines. In addition, with the other Nuclear Weapon States, the UK fully participates in the Conference of Disarmament and other international meetings, including the US-led 'Creating an Environment for Nuclear Disarmament' initiative, to progress our collective commitment to eventual nuclear disarmament.
Asked by: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about its recent proposed annexation of territory in the West Bank.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We made clear our deep concerns about reports that the new Israeli Government coalition has reached an agreement which may pave the way for annexation of parts of the West Bank at the UN Security Council remote meeting on the Middle East Peace Process on 23 April. The UK position is clear: any unilateral moves towards annexation of parts of the West Bank by Israel would be damaging to efforts to restart peace negotiations and contrary to international law. The Prime Minister reiterated our opposition to the unilateral annexation of territory during a call with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on 6 February.
Asked by: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to raise the recent proposal of the government of Israel to annex territory in the West Bank at the next meeting of the UN Security Council.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We made clear our deep concerns about reports that the new Israeli Government coalition has reached an agreement which may pave the way for annexation of parts of the West Bank at the UN Security Council remote meeting on the Middle East Peace Process on 23 April. The UK position is clear: any unilateral moves towards annexation of parts of the West Bank by Israel would be damaging to efforts to restart peace negotiations and contrary to international law.
Asked by: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the governments of (1) Israel, and (2) the United States, in relation to proposals by the US that the Golan Heights should be annexed by Israel.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have been clear to both our Israeli and US counterparts that the UK views the Golan Heights as territory occupied by Israel. The UK did not recognise Israel's annexation in 1981 and we have no plans to change our position. On 26 March 2019, following the US Presidential Proclamation recognising that the Golan Heights are part of the State of Israel, we reiterated our firm position on this matter at a meeting of the UN Security Council. Annexation of territory by force is prohibited under international law. Any declaration of a unilateral border change goes against the foundation of the rules-based international order and the UN Charter.
Asked by: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to maintain the 2015 multilateral nuclear agreement with Iran.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is committed to preserving the Iran nuclear deal (JCPoA) as the best way of preventing a nuclear-armed Iran. We are deeply concerned by Iran’s steps to reduce compliance with the deal and are working with remaining parties to address this. We are also working hard to deliver the sanctions relief envisaged under the terms of the JCPoA as part of our efforts to encourage Iran to return to full compliance with the deal.
Asked by: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the governments of the United States and China about the impact on the world economy of their current trade dispute.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is concerned by the impacts of the current trade dispute between the governments of the US and China, and is clear that nobody benefits from trade wars. We continue to raise our concerns about the trade dispute with both parties, and to work closely with them on our bilateral trade and investment relationships.
Asked by: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of India about the Presidential Order on 5 August which made Article 370 of the Constitution of India inoperative.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are following the serious situation in Kashmir closely. Events in Kashmir can have regional and international implications and we urge calm and caution from all. We are in regular contact with the Government of India. The Prime Minister has spoken with Prime Minister Modi of India on this issue. He stressed that Her Majesty's Government's position on Kashmir remains unchanged and underlined the importance of dialogue. In addition, the Foreign Secretary spoke with his Indian counterpart, Dr Jaishankar, on 7 August. He expressed concerns about the situation in Kashmir and called for calm. I have also spoken with the Indian High Commissioner regarding the situation.
Asked by: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy on the possible readmission of Russia to the G7.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The United Kingdom is very clear that Russia cannot return to the G7 while it continues its destabilising activity in Ukraine, as well as wider malign activity, including in Salisbury last year, and in Syria. The United Kingdom strongly defended this position at the G7 Summit last month. This is not the moment to relax pressure on Russia.
Asked by: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government on how many occasions since the President of the United States announced his intention to impose sanctions on UK companies doing business in Iran the matter has been raised at face to face meetings with officials including the United States Ambassador in London.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
UK ministers and officials have consistently and repeatedly raised with the US this Government's support for UK companies to continue to trade with Iran. This supports our policy of maintaining the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which is important for our national security, and a central part of our Iran policy. British Embassy officials in Washington and officials in London have had weekly discussions with the US on this issue, and a delegation of senior officials visited Washington in September for discussions on Iran.
Asked by: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what oral and written representations (1) the Foreign Secretary, and (2) the Defence Secretary, have made to their opposite numbers in the government of the United States in relation to the intention of the President of the United States to impose sanctions on UK companies doing business in Iran.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Ministers and officials across Government have consistently raised with the US this Government's support for UK companies to continue to trade with Iran, including through regular engagement by the Foreign Secretary and the Chancellor. This supports our policy of maintaining the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which is important for our national security, and a central part of our Iran policy. The Defence Secretary regularly discusses Iran with his US counterpart, and the Foreign Secretary raised US sanctions with Secretary Pompeo at the UN General Assembly and in a phone call on 11 September.