Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alistair Burt and Alex Norris

Tuesday 15th May 2018 Commons Chamber

[Alistair Burt]

No, I do not believe that that can possibly be the case. If the right hon. Lady would write with the specific detail of an allegation, I will look at it, but I do not believe that it is the case.

[Alex Norris (Nottingham North) (Lab/Co-op)]

18. That specific detail is available in the report by the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy and Reprieve that was referenced earlier. It says that British-funded institutions and trained-by-Britain organisations have indeed covered up this sort of behaviour. Can we have an assurance from the Dispatch Box that that report is being looked at and that a formal response will come to Members?

[Alistair Burt]

Yes, I will. As I indicated earlier, the purpose of our engagement with Bahrain is to deal sometimes with difficult practices that have been there in the past in order to change them and improve them, but I think a specific allegation of British involvement and cover-up would not be right.

Counter-Daesh Update

Debate between Alistair Burt and Alex Norris

Thursday 29th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Alex Norris (Nottingham North) (Lab/Co-op)]

The Secretary of State mentions the suffering of the Syrian people; does she agree with the constituents who came to see me at my surgery last Friday that that suffering has been compounded by the British Government’s shameful timidity regarding Turkish aggression in northern Syria?

[The Minister for the Middle East (Alistair Burt)]

Perhaps the vote in 2013 had something to do with it.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alistair Burt and Alex Norris

Tuesday 27th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Alex Norris (Nottingham North) (Lab/Co-op)]

Last month, Impactt’s audit of the Qatari supreme committee, which is responsible for the World cup, highlighted significant positive progress in areas relating to workers’ rights. What efforts will the British Government make to support further progress and promote its spreading to neighbouring states?

[Alistair Burt]

I happened to see the Qatari organiser of the World cup just a couple of days ago. They gave an impressive presentation on what they had sought to do to improve not just workers’ rights but workers’ welfare, not just now but looking forward to the final construction phase. Concerns have been well expressed, but my sense is that the Qatari system understands that very well and is working hard to produce a good and safe World cup.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alistair Burt and Alex Norris

Tuesday 11th July 2017 Commons Chamber

[Alistair Burt]

I thank the hon. Lady for her warm welcome. I much enjoy being back in this role, no matter what is thrown at me as part of it. The Foreign Secretary strongly condemned the proposals that were announced for the west bank recently. I like to think he has confidence in his Minister for the Middle East—as he has confidence in his full ministerial team—to answer appropriate questions, although I have never known him to be shy of answering a question when necessary.

[Alex Norris (Nottingham North) (Lab/Co-op)]

10. What steps the Government are taking to support the implementation of the Paris agreement on climate change.