Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will take steps to reassess the UK-India Infrastructure Technical Co-Operation Facility in light of the farmers protests in India.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The UK-India Infrastructure Technical Co-Operation Facility is a programme which has focused on infrastructure for transportation, telecommunication, water supply and sanitation, urban infrastructure and emerging areas like renewable energy. There have been no projects relating to agriculture or agri-infrastructure under this programme. We recognise the interest in the Indian government's agricultural reform programme, and we respect India's democratic process, which includes the ability to debate and peacefully protest.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will take steps to reassess the Conceptual Framework on Agriculture in light of the farmers protests in India.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The British High Commission in New Delhi monitors developments in India, including recent reforms in agricultural law. We work with our partners in India to build capacity and share expertise to promote prosperity. Through the FCDO's Conceptual Framework on Agriculture, we support small-scale farmers to grow sustainably by improving market access and finance. We recognise the interest in the Indian government's agricultural reform programme, and we respect India's democratic process, which includes the ability to debate and peacefully protest.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
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 Secretary of State for International Trade on prohibiting the sale of weapons including water cannons, tear gas and batons which could be used against peaceful protestors in India.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The Foreign Secretary has not discussed this issue with the International Trade Secretary. HM Government takes its export responsibilities seriously and will continue to assess all export licences in accordance with the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. For items that require an export licence, the criteria provide a thorough risk assessment framework and require us to consider the possible impact of providing equipment and its capabilities. HM Government will not grant an export licence if to do so would be inconsistent with the criteria.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
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 Prime Minister on condemning the state violence against the farmers protestors in India.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The Foreign Secretary has not discussed this issue with the Prime Minister. We recognise the interest in the Indian government's agricultural reform program, and we respect India's democratic process, which includes the ability to debate and peacefully protest.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he last had discussions with his (a) Saudi counterpart and (b) European counterparts on the cases of (i) Prince Turki Bin Abdullah, (ii) Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef and (iii) other political detainees and women’s rights activists denied fair trials.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The Foreign Secretary raised a number of human rights issues including the detention of women's rights defenders, during his visit to Saudi Arabia in March 2020. FCDO Ministers and senior officials also regularly raise human rights with the Saudi authorities. We continue to monitor the cases of Women's rights defenders; and Prince Turki bin Abdullah and Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef. We have consistently pressed for due process and raised concerns about the use of solitary confinement, lack of family contact and allegations of torture, and were pleased to see Loujain Al Hathloul reunited with her family on 10 February.
The UK regularly engages international partners on human rights. For example, in September, the UK, alongside international partners, signed a statement at the UN Human Rights Council expressing concern over the use of arbitrary detention and calling for the release of all political detainees. In November, the UK Ambassador for Human Rights and six European counterparts released a joint statement reiterating our call for the release of all political detainees.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
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 US counterpart on encouraging Saudi Arabia to (a) release and lift restrictions on Loujain Alhathloul and other women's rights activists and (b) release Prince Turki Bin Abdullah and other political detainees.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The Foreign Secretary raised a number of human rights issues including the detention of women's rights defenders, during his visit to Saudi Arabia in March 2020. FCDO Ministers and senior officials also regularly raise human rights with the Saudi authorities. We continue to monitor the cases of Women's rights defenders; and Prince Turki bin Abdullah and Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef. We have consistently pressed for due process and raised concerns about the use of solitary confinement, lack of family contact and allegations of torture, and were pleased to see Loujain Al Hathloul reunited with her family on 10 February.
The UK regularly engages international partners on human rights. For example, in September, the UK, alongside international partners, signed a statement at the UN Human Rights Council expressing concern over the use of arbitrary detention and calling for the release of all political detainees. In November, the UK Ambassador for Human Rights and six European counterparts released a joint statement reiterating our call for the release of all political detainees.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
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 contribute to international efforts to help (a) tackle starvation and (2) prevent famine in Yemen.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We are playing a leading role in combating hunger in Yemen by committing £214 million this financial year (2020/21), of which £200m has already been disbursed. Our funding is providing support to at least 500,000 vulnerable people each month to help them buy food and household essentials, enrolling 25,000 children on malnutrition programmes and providing 1 million people with improved water supply and basic sanitation across Yemen.
We have shown extensive leadership by hosting an event at the UN in December, which sounded the alarm on the increased risk of famine and called on donors to disburse funding. Ministers and officials will continue to engage closely with the UN and other donors, including the new US administration, to ensure life-saving humanitarian aid reaches the millions of Yemenis in need.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Saudi Arabian and United Arab Emirates counterparts on their role in the peace process on Yemen.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK continues to fully support UN Special Envoy Martin Griffith's efforts to secure a political settlement to the conflict in Yemen. We regularly engage with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and all our partners across the Gulf regarding the situation in Yemen and in support of UN peace efforts. Most recently I spoke with Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister al-Jubeir and Emirati Deputy Foreign Minister Gargash on 13 January to discuss the latest developments.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it his policy to condemn Saudi Arabia for its role in the humanitarian situation in Yemen.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK continues to fully support UN Special Envoy Martin Griffith's efforts to secure a political settlement to the conflict in Yemen. We regularly engage with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and all our partners across the Gulf regarding the situation in Yemen and in support of UN peace efforts. Most recently I spoke with Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister al-Jubeir and Emirati Deputy Foreign Minister Gargash on 13 January to discuss the latest developments.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the value is of arms exports licenses for weapons sold to Saudi Arabia (a) over the last 12 months and (b) since 2014.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
HM Government publishes Official Statistics (on a quarterly and annual basis) on export licences granted, refused and revoked to all destinations on GOV.UK containing detailed information including the overall value, type (e.g. Military, Other) and a summary of the items covered by these licences. This information is available at www.gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data, and the most recent publication was on 13th October 2020, covering the period 1st April - 30th June 2020.