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 representations he made to his Egyptian counterpart to allow access to Alaa Abdel El-Fattah on 23 January 2025.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK remains committed to securing Alaa Abd El-Fattah's release so he can be reunited with his family. We continue to prioritise Mr El-Fattah's case in our engagement with the Egyptian government. The Foreign Secretary has repeatedly raised this case with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, including most recently on 23 January in Cairo. The National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, also raised this case with the Foreign Minister on 2 January during his visit to Cairo. The Foreign Secretary met Mrs Laila Soueif on 27 November 2024, and the Minister for the Middle East spoke with Mrs Laila Soueif on 24 December 2024 by telephone. FCDO officials remain in regular contact with the family to check on their welfare.
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, if he will take steps to introduce a right to consular assistance in cases of human rights violations.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is committed to strengthening consular services, including introducing a right to consular assistance in cases of human rights violations. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development is considering a package of measures to achieve this, which we will announce in due course.
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 had discussions with the US Ambassador on comments about Ministers by members of the incoming US Administration.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We thank US Ambassador Jane Hartley for her years of service to furthering the UK-US relationship before her departure from the UK. The Foreign Secretary last met with the Ambassador on 5 December. They discussed a range of issues relating to the UK-US relationship.
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 contribution in response to the question from the hon. Member for Bicester and Woodstock on 26 November 2024, Official Report, column 631, what the value is of fines that have been (a) levied and (b) paid following a breach of sanctions in relation to oil exports from Russia since 5 February 2023.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is committed to strengthening sanctions enforcement. I launched a cross-Government review to ensure we have the right powers, approach, capacity and resourcing on sanctions enforcement. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation is the UK's competent authority responsible for the implementation of the UK's ban on the maritime transportation of Russian oil and oil products and associated services. The Department for Business and Trade implemented the UK ban of Russian oil and oil products and HMRC are responsible for its enforcement. No fines have been issued for violations of either measure. The Foreign Secretary recently announced a new wave of sanctions to choke Russian oil revenues: [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-imposes-new-wave-of-sanctions-choking-russian-oil-revenues-with-foreign-secretary-arriving-in-italy-for-g7]
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 response of 26 November 2024, Official Report column 631, what the terms of reference are for the review of the enforcement of sanctions; who is conducting it; when it was commissioned; when it will report; and whether he plans to publish the results.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I launched a cross-Government review of sanctions enforcement at the first Small Ministerial Group in October. The review is examining whether we have the right powers, approach, capacity and resourcing on policy, implementation and enforcement, with an urgent focus on strengthening the latter. It is being led by the FCDO in collaboration with key sanctions Departments. We will update Parliament as the review progresses.
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 he plans to publish the Human Rights and Democracy Report 2023.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This Government is firmly committed to the protection and promotion of human rights around the world, and to reporting publicly on its actions. The FCDO's 2023 Annual Human Rights and Democracy report has been delayed due to the change of Government.
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 he plans to publish the audit of the UK's partnership with China as a bilateral and global actor.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The audit will examine the UK's interests with respect to China. This will improve our ability to understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities China poses. The audit is due to conclude in early 2025 and we will update Parliament once the audit has concluded.