Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Colombian counterpart on tackling violence against media professionals in that country.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Colombia is a UK Human Rights Priority Country and UK ministers and senior officials regularly discuss security issues with the Colombian Government. Most recently, I [Minister Rutley] met with the Colombian Foreign Minister at the UN Security Council on 11 January to discuss tackling the root causes of violence in Colombia. The UK has provided longstanding support through our Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) programme to support at risk-Human Rights Defenders and social leaders, including journalists. We will continue to work closely with organisations such as the Foundation for Freedom of the Press (FLIP) and UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) in support of human rights and media freedom.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Colombian government’s implementation of the 2016 peace agreement’s first chapter on comprehensive rural reform.
Answered by Vicky Ford
Comprehensive rural reform is an important commitment in the 2016 Peace Agreement, and considerable progress has been made on this during the first five years of implementation. As emphasised by our Permanent Representative to the UN at the UN Security Council on 14 July, we look to the Colombian Government to accelerate this progress and further advance rural development to support the transformation of conflict-affected regions and their communities.
To date, we have spent over £69 million through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) to support the implementation of the Peace Agreement in Colombia and improve stability and security. Our funding is supporting the Colombian Government's rural development and reintegration programmes, transitional justice mechanisms, and strengthening the security and participation of communities in conflict-affected areas.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties on (a) the rights of British nationals resident in France and (b) residency rights of British nationals living in the EU following the UK's departure from the EU.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties was concluded at Vienna on 23 May 1969. The UK ratified the Convention on 25 June 1971 and remains a Party to the Convention today. The Convention is broad in scope and codifies the rules relating to international laws on treaties between states. The Convention does not provide for the rights, related to residence or otherwise, of British nationals living in the EU.
The Withdrawal Agreement established the terms of the UK's withdrawal from the EU, in accordance with Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. The Withdrawal Agreement entered into force on 31 January 2020 and protects citizens' rights. It means over five million EU citizens in the UK and over one million UK nationals in the EU can continue to live, work, study and access benefits and services, such as healthcare, broadly as they did before the UK left the EU.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Colombian counterparts on ensuring the full investigation into the numerous reports of eye injuries caused by projectiles fired by police during recent protests in that country.
Answered by Wendy Morton
UK ministers and senior officials regularly raise human rights issues, as well as specific cases of concern, with the Colombian Government, and in multilateral fora. We are clear that we support the right of all Colombians to protest peacefully, and that the right to peaceful assembly and association must be guaranteed.
Colombia is a UK 'Human Rights Priority Country,' and we have raised our concerns with the relevant state actors in Colombia since protests began. Most recently, I spoke with acting Foreign Minister Adriana Mejía on 14 May to express my concerns, and welcome Colombia's commitment to transparent investigations into allegations of abuse. We look to the Colombian authorities to investigate fully any reports on excessive use of force against protestors, and take appropriate action against those responsible. Security services must be held accountable for their actions, and any complaints thoroughly investigated.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment has made of the implications for diplomatic relations with Greenland of products of Greenlandic origin no longer being eligible for tariff-free access for import to the UK.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The UK-Greenland bilateral relationship is important and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office continues to work across Whitehall and with Greenlandic counterparts to ensure it continues to flourish and supports our mutual interests. The UK-Greenland Trade relationship is a key part of that and one on which businesses in the seafood industry in both countries depend. We welcome continued engagement with Greenland and are considering options to ensure a prosperous trading relationship in the future.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that tackling violence against women and girls remains a priority for his Department.
Answered by Wendy Morton
Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a core part of this Government's mission and we remain steadfast in our commitment to this agenda. This work is more important than ever, as COVID-19 has intensified the shadow pandemic of gender-based violence (GBV).
We are scaling up our investments in VAWG, including through the launch early next year of a new £67.5 million seven-year programme to scale up effective interventions to prevent VAWG. We are also making the biggest single investment worldwide to date by any international donor to end FGM (£50 million). Next year the UK will take up Presidency of the G7 and we are co-leading the global Generation Equality Action Coalition on GBV. We are using these opportunities to rally the international community to do more to end VAWG.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has to develop the Falkland Islands’ future relationship with the EU.
Answered by Wendy Morton
We are in regular contact with the political leaders of the Falkland Islands to discuss the Islands' international interests, and to identify how best the UK Government can represent these with the EU and elsewhere.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Spanish counterparts on the jailing of Catalan politicians.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Government has been clear that the situation in Catalonia is a matter for Spain. The United Kingdom supports the rule of law. Questions related to the issue of Catalan independence should be resolved within the proper constitutional and legal channels. Political leaders, like anyone else, have a duty to abide by the law. I outlined this position to the Spanish Ambassador and in Parliament on 15 October.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) Austria, (b) Belgium, (c) Bulgaria, (d) Croatia, (e) Cyprus, (f) the Czech Republic, (g) Denmark, (h) Estonia, (i) Finland, (j) France, (k) Germany, (l) Greece, (m) Hungary, (n) Ireland, (o) Italy, (p) Latvia, (q) Lithuania, (r) Luxembourg, (s) Malta, (t) Netherlands, (u) Poland, (v) Portugal, (w) Romania, (x) Slovakia, (y) Slovenia and (z) Sweden on the jailing of Catalan politicians.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Government has been clear on the issue of Catalonia. This is a matter for Spain. The United Kingdom continues to support the upholding of the Spanish Constitution and the rule of law. The conviction of the separatist leaders in Catalonia is a matter for the Spanish courts. The Foreign Secretary has had no discussions on this with his counterparts in the countries cited.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, on the jailing of Catalan politicians.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Government has been clear on the issue of Catalonia. The United Kingdom continues to support the upholding of the Spanish Constitution and the rule of law. The conviction of the separatist leaders in Catalonia is a matter for the Spanish courts. The Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with the President of the European Council on this matter.