Asked by: Charlie Maynard (Liberal Democrat - Witney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what resources he plans to provide to the UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The appointment of David Smith MP as UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) is a clear signal of the value placed by the UK on championing FoRB for all around the world.
The Envoy David works closely with Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Ministers in promoting FoRB and regularly meets with Lord Collins as the Minister for Human Rights on the issue. I met with the Envoy on 6 May to discuss his work. He is supported in his work by the FCDO FoRB team and other officials across the organisation.
Asked by: Charlie Maynard (Liberal Democrat - Witney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has considered how his Department can ensure aid is distributed in a way which does not discriminate against Christians in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In 2024, the UK committed £139 million in humanitarian aid to Yemen and will maintain its humanitarian commitment this financial year. The UK's humanitarian priorities (food security, livelihoods, health, protection and women and girls) are delivered through two programmes: Women and Children, and Food Security Safety Nets. In line with humanitarian principles and the humanitarian imperative, the UK's aid programmes are delivered proportionately across the whole of Yemen.
The UK supports the revised UN Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for 2025, which prioritises lifesaving activities in the worst affected areas to ensure aid is directed to the most vulnerable people. We emphasise the importance of unrestricted access for humanitarian aid workers in Yemen, including at the UN Security Council sessions, and that critical aid must reach all those in Yemen who need it most.
Asked by: Charlie Maynard (Liberal Democrat - Witney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has considered how his Department can ensure aid is distributed in a way which does not discriminate against religious minorities.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is strongly committed to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all. Our programme funding is one of the several ways in which we work to champion the right to FoRB.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) works to ensure that Official Development Assistance (ODA) is allocated to those who are most vulnerable and most in need of this assistance irrespective of race, religion, or ethnicity. This includes religious minorities, who are assessed by our partners when determining those most in need of protection and assistance.
Asked by: Charlie Maynard (Liberal Democrat - Witney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what date his last discussion with representatives of the Indian Government took place on the detention of Jagtar Singh Johal.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government remains absolutely committed to pushing the Government of India for a faster resolution to Jagtar Singh Johal's case. The Foreign Secretary continues to raise concerns with the Government of India, most recently with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on 25 November. The Prime Minister also raised Mr Johal's case with Prime Minister Modi on 18 November and I raised Mr Johal's case on 19 November with the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs.