Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government which Schengen Area countries currently allow British citizens to use e-Gates; which additional countries are expected to do so before the introduction of the Entry/Exit System (EES) later this year; and whether passport stamping will still be required in all cases for British citizens before the full implementation of the EES.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
We have secured confirmation that there will be no legal barriers to eGates use for UK nationals travelling to and from EU Member States after the introduction of the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES). But the Prime Minister has been clear that there should be no reason why European countries cannot go further and faster on this now. We are now working with individual Member States to make that happen as soon as possible. Until EES is fully implemented all third-country passports will still require a stamp on entry/exit to the Schengen Area. But where eGates are used, the process is likely to be swifter and more straightforward as, in most circumstances, border guards will not need to carry out further passport checks. UK nationals' access to eGates in the Schengen Area is a decision for each individual country.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of putting the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association on a statutory footing.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The CPA (Commonwealth Parliamentary Association) is a valued partner of the FCDO and we greatly appreciate the important work being done by the organisation and its regional branches across the Commonwealth.
The FCDO is delighted to support the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Bill which would enable the Government to treat these organisations in a manner comparable to that of an international organisation of which the UK is a member.
The Bill was read a second time on 19 January and will now progress to Committee stage.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (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 Israel regarding reports of the forced displacement of Palestinian families in Silwan.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK regularly raises the issue of forced evictions from their homes with the Government of Israel. The Fourth Geneva Convention, which applies to all occupied territories, prohibits demolitions or forced evictions absent military necessity. The UK is clear that in all but the most exceptional of circumstances, evictions are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. The practice causes unnecessary suffering to Palestinians and is harmful to efforts to promote peace. We monitor the situation in Silwan closely, and officials regularly visited and attend related court hearings. We continue to urge Israel to cease such actions.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 15 May (HL7391), what assessment they have made of the conclusion of the New South Wales’ Coroner that the Balibo five were shot or deliberately stabbed; and what action, if any, they intend to take in response to this verdict.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Following the findings of the Coroner’s verdict in 2007 we were in contact with both the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the families involved throughout the AFP’s investigation. We respect the AFP’s 2014 decision not to pursue the case following their conclusion that there was insufficient evidence to prove an offence. We are monitoring the ongoing Administrative Appeals Tribunal in Australia.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the confirmation by Paul Symon, the Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in Sydney on 27 April, that Australia possesses intelligence records on Portuguese Timor for the period 1974–80, what recent representations they have made to the government of Australia to obtain further information about the deaths of the Balibo Five, including British citizens Brian Peters and Malcolm Rennie; and what was the outcome of any such representations.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Government has made no recent representations to the Australian Government seeking information related to the deaths of the Balibo Five. The Administrative Appeals Tribunal is ongoing.