Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the report by the British Palestinian Committee entitled British Military Collaboration with Israel, published on 28 January 2025.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
We will consider the report and continue to act in line with our obligations to International Law.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan last visited the Middle East.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I have conducted several visits to the region since my appointment in July 2024, most recently a visit to Ankara on 2-4 March for a UK-Turkey ministerial dialogue focused on the current situation in Syria.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the UK joining the Hague Group.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has no current plans to join the Hague Group. The UK is fully committed to international law and respects the independence of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions the Prime Minister has had with his Israeli counterpart on adhering to international law in the Occupied West Bank.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This Government is clear that International Humanitarian Law (IHL) must be upheld, and civilians protected, and the Government continues to press Israeli counterparts on issues of international law compliance. Stability in the West Bank is crucial to ensure the fragile ceasefire in Gaza can last.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether UK surveillance drones have been flown from Jordan over (a) Gaza and (b) the West Bank in Occupied Palestine.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are unable to comment on the detail of intelligence matters, for operational security reasons.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterparts on the right to return by Palestinians who have left Gaza since 7 October 2023.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
There must be no forced displacement of Palestinians, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza strip. Palestinian civilians, including those evacuated from northern Gaza, must be permitted to return to their communities and rebuild. Our position is clear - we want to see a negotiated two-state solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people, with a sovereign Palestinian state, which includes the West Bank and Gaza, alongside a safe and secure Israel.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with international partners to support (a) individuals and (b) communities facing religious persecution in China.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The environment for freedom of religion or belief in China is restrictive, which includes the persecution of Uyghur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners, and Christians. This Government stands firm on human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief. We raise our concerns at the highest levels: the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor have all raised human rights recently with their counterparts.
More broadly, this Government champions freedom of religion or belief for all abroad. We work to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, with reference to the Answer of 17 May 2024 to Question 26173 on Civil Partnerships: Scotland, whether he will permit the Scottish Government to legislate accordingly.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
I can confirm the UK Government’s in-principle agreement to proceed with a Scotland Act Order Civil Partnerships, and will write to the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary on this matter.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the legal case in Argentina implicating former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Vélez for human rights violations; and whether he plans to make representations to his Argentinian counterpart on the (a) protection of (i) lawyers and (ii) victims involved in and (b) eventual outcome of the case.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It is not appropriate to comment on an ongoing legal case. The UK remains committed to upholding human rights and international law, including through its international engagement.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
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 consult survivors of human rights violations on his Department's human rights strategy.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 10 December 2024, the Foreign Secretary and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Lord Collins, set out their five priorities for promoting and protecting human rights, rule of law and democratic governance. The UK recognises that meaningful engagement with survivors of human rights violations improves the effectiveness of our policies and programmes. We are committed to empowering and engaging survivors, including people with lived experience of modern slavery and business-related human rights abuses for the National Baseline Assessment on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. We also engage survivors of conflict-related sexual violence through the Survivor Advisory Group for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict.