Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when officials in his Department last had contacted with their Egyptian counterparts on the case of Alaa Abd el-Fattah.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office officials regularly speak with likeminded partners on how to enhance international cooperation and end the practice of arbitrary arrest, detention or sentencing. The Government is committed to securing Mr El-Fattah's release and we continue to raise his case at the highest levels of the Egyptian government. The Prime Minister raised the case in a letter to President Sisi on 4 May. The National Security Adviser also raised Mr-El Fattah's case with the Egyptian Foreign Minister Abdelatty on 27 April and the Foreign Secretary raised with Foreign Minister Abdelatty on 9 April.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
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 international allies on the case of Alaa Abd el-Fattah.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office officials regularly speak with likeminded partners on how to enhance international cooperation and end the practice of arbitrary arrest, detention or sentencing. The Government is committed to securing Mr El-Fattah's release and we continue to raise his case at the highest levels of the Egyptian government. The Prime Minister raised the case in a letter to President Sisi on 4 May. The National Security Adviser also raised Mr-El Fattah's case with the Egyptian Foreign Minister Abdelatty on 27 April and the Foreign Secretary raised with Foreign Minister Abdelatty on 9 April.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 17 March 2025 to Question 36633 and 29 April 2025 to Question 45904 on China: Audit, for what reason the timeline for concluding the China audit has changed from spring 2025 to being in due course.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Audit will improve the UK's ability to understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities China poses. It will help inform the government setting out a long-term, consistent approach to our relationship with China. The timing of the audit remains determined by the need for widespread consultation both within and beyond government. Work being done by the Audit team is already proving valuable in developing policies and planning engagement.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the merits of placing China on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
No decision has been made in relation to specifying China on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme. As the Security Minister confirmed in Parliament on 1 April, countries are considered separately, and decisions are made based on a robust evidence base. It would not be appropriate to speculate on which countries may or may not be specified in the future, but any changes will be announced in Parliament in the usual way.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications of the US Government's policies on deportation flights to El Salvador for his Department's advice to UK travellers to the US.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
US immigration is a matter for the US Government, in accordance with international law. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office keeps our travel advice under regular review to ensure it provides accurate information to British nationals.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has sought advice from the Intelligence Agencies on the potential threat to the integrity of UK democracy from (a) Russia, (b) Iran, (c) China and (d) other hostile states.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It is the longstanding policy of successive UK Governments that we do not comment on operational intelligence or security matters. The UK Government is committed to defending the integrity of the UK's democracy from all state threats, including through the Defending Democracy Taskforce (DDTF). This cross-government Taskforce brings together Ministers, along with representatives from the intelligence community and law enforcement, to coordinate the Government's work to protect our democracy and call out threats, including from Russia, China, and Iran; as the Minister whose portfolio includes national security, I represent the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) at the Taskforce. For example, in December 2023 and March 2024, the Government publicly attributed and sanctioned groups affiliated with Russia and China respectively for interfering in the UK's democracy. The FCDO will continue to work with the DDTF and with the intelligence community to protect the UK's democratic integrity.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of US Government policy on universities on British students studying in the US.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
US domestic policy is a matter for the US Government. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides travel advice to inform British nationals so they can make decisions about travelling abroad. We constantly review our travel advice for each country or territory to ensure it includes up-to-date information and advice on the most relevant issues for British people visiting or living there. We stand ready to provide consular support to British nationals abroad 24/7.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
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 the Chancellor of the Exchequer on seizing the interest that has accrued on Roman Abramovich’s assets associated with the sale of Chelsea Football Club.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In a statement announcing the sale of Chelsea FC, Roman Abramovich stated the proceeds would be used to establish a foundation for the benefit of all the victims of the war in Ukraine. The Government is determined to see the proceeds reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine as quickly as possible, and we are exploring all options to bring that about.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department held discussions with the EU Commission on the development of the ReArm Europe plan; and whether his Department is taking steps with the EU Commission to establish a means through which the UK can (a) contribute to and (b) be supported through this plan.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We strongly welcome the ambitions of the ReArm programme and believe it is in the interest of European defence to create a structure that allows member states to partner with the UK. Officials and Ministers frequently engage EU counterparts, including High Representative Kaja Kallas, who met with the Defence and Foreign Secretaries in London last month, the first visit by an EU High Representative since the UK left the EU. During which they discussed the need for EU defence financing and wider defence industrial initiatives to be inclusive of third countries like the UK and we will continue to do so.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Oral Statement of 17 March 2025 on G7, Official Report, column 41 and 46, what steps he is taking to ensure that the UK is fulfilling its obligations under international humanitarian law.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As soon as the Foreign Secretary took office, he ordered a review into Israel's compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which concluded that there was a clear risk that UK export items might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations IHL. I also receive legal advice as appropriate on the UK's obligations. The IHL assessments continue and we are closely monitoring developments in Gaza and will keep this position under review. The UK has raised compliance with IHL with Israel at the most senior levels and has discussed it with G7 partners.
We have suspended relevant export licences to Israel for use in military operations in the Gaza conflict. We have continued to review export licences for items to Israel and assess that there are no extant licences for items that might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of IHL. This is subject to the specific measures set out before Parliament excluding exports to the global F-35 programme from the scope of the suspension.
Our longstanding position is that it is for the courts to determine whether or not a crime has been committed.