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Written Question
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Shell
Friday 15th March 2024

Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, pursuant to the Answer of 28 February 2024 to Question 15307 on Shell: Nigeria, if he will publish the (a) dates (b) attendee lists, (c) minutes and (d) any other relevant details of his Department's meetings with Shell on action to address the risks of pollution from oil production in the Niger Delta.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The UK continues to encourage a coordinated effort between the Nigerian Government, oil and gas companies, and communities to bring an end to all forms of oil contamination in Nigeria. In the most recent meeting, which took place in January, the British High Commissioner met representatives from Shell where he discussed the future of environmental clean-up in the Niger Delta. We do not routinely publish details of meetings with external stakeholders.


Written Question
Shell: Nigeria
Wednesday 28th February 2024

Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK National Action Plan on implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: progress update, published in May 2020, whether he has had recent discussions with Shell on (a) tackling legacy oil pollution in the Niger Delta and (b) its adherence to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in Nigeria.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The UK Government has consistently supported the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and is clear that we expect UK businesses to comply with all applicable laws; identify and prevent human rights risks; and behave in line with the UNGPs. The UK Government regularly discusses with Shell the importance of action to address the risks of pollution from oil production in the Niger Delta. We continue to support initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of oil and gas production in Nigeria, including encouraging the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project to meet the needs of the communities affected by pollution.


Written Question
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh: Humanitarian Situation
Monday 20th November 2023

Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment his Department has made of the level of humanitarian need in (a) Nagorno-Karabakh and (b) Armenia since September 2023.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

The UK remains concerned for the welfare of those in Nagorno-Karabakh affected by limited access to supplies following September's military action in the region. We welcome Azerbaijan's decision to grant UN access into Nagorno-Karabakh and encourage them to continue supporting international efforts to address humanitarian need. We also welcome Armenian and international assistance provided to the 100,000 or more people displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh into Armenia. The UK is providing £1 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to provide life-saving medication, healthcare and other essential support. We are liaising with the UN, ICRC and others to further assess humanitarian need in the region.


Written Question
Armenia: Genocide
Monday 13th November 2023

Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with officials in his Department on the potential merits of the Government formally recognising the 1915 massacre of Armenian people by the Ottomon Empire as a genocide.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

The events of 1915-1916 were a tragic episode in the history of the Armenian people and must never be forgotten. The UK Government condemned the massacres at the time and our position has not changed. Any judgement as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent national or international court, rather than for governments or non-judicial bodies. We will, as ever, encourage the governments of Armenia and Turkey to look to the future and build stronger relations between their countries.


Written Question
Oman: Visits Abroad
Thursday 29th April 2021

Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department approved then Minister of State for Europe and Americas Sir Alan Duncan's attendance at the Sultan's Privy Council in Oman on (a) 7-8 January 2017, (b) 6-7 January 2018 and (c) 5-6 January 2019.

Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) did not approve Sir Alan Duncan's attendance. These visits were carried out in a private capacity.


Written Question
Coronavirus: Vaccination
Tuesday 20th April 2021

Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the draft World Health Assembly 74 resolution entitled Strengthening Local Production of Medicines and Other Health Technologies to Improve Access, what the Government's policy is on supporting an increase in covid-19 vaccine manufacturing capacity in developing countries; and what assessment the Government has made of the potential contribution that an increase in covid-19 vaccine manufacturing capacity in developing countries might make to tackling the covid-19 pandemic.

Answered by Wendy Morton

The UK is supportive of the World Health Assembly 74 Resolution on Strengthening Local Production of Medicines and Other Health Technologies to Improve Access. We are engaging in ongoing negotiations with 194 other member states to reach consensus, and it is not appropriate to comment on UK positions during this time.

The UK is supporting efforts to increase vaccine manufacturing capacity. We have facilitated engagement by industry and the research community to discuss the evolving WHO proposals for the COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP). During our G7 presidency, we will continue this work with stakeholders and the WHO as it establishes the governance structures and refines the operating model for C-TAP. The UK is also providing technical assistance to catalyse private sector and development finance investment to in manufacturing capacity, particularly in Africa. We are working with the key international partners involved in vaccine manufacture and procurement. These include the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, the WHO and UNICEF for production of COVID-19 vaccines for the current pandemic.


Written Question
Medical Treatments: Developing Countries
Tuesday 20th April 2021

Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what reason the Government is recommending the deletion of text relating to generic competition in operative paragraph 2(8) of the draft World Health Assembly 74 resolution entitled Strengthening Local Production of Medicines and Other Health Technologies to Improve Access.

Answered by Wendy Morton

The UK is supportive of the World Health Assembly 74 Resolution on Strengthening Local Production of Medicines and Other Health Technologies to Improve Access. We are engaging in ongoing negotiations with 194 other member states to reach consensus, and it is not appropriate to comment on UK positions during this time.

The UK is supporting efforts to increase vaccine manufacturing capacity. We have facilitated engagement by industry and the research community to discuss the evolving WHO proposals for the COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP). During our G7 presidency, we will continue this work with stakeholders and the WHO as it establishes the governance structures and refines the operating model for C-TAP. The UK is also providing technical assistance to catalyse private sector and development finance investment to in manufacturing capacity, particularly in Africa. We are working with the key international partners involved in vaccine manufacture and procurement. These include the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, the WHO and UNICEF for production of COVID-19 vaccines for the current pandemic.


Written Question
Medical Treatments: Developing Countries
Tuesday 20th April 2021

Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government supports referencing the role of the COVID-19 Technology Access Pool in the draft World Health Assembly 74 resolution entitled Strengthening Local Production of Medicines and Other Health Technologies to Improve Access.

Answered by Wendy Morton

The UK is supportive of the World Health Assembly 74 Resolution on Strengthening Local Production of Medicines and Other Health Technologies to Improve Access. We are engaging in ongoing negotiations with 194 other member states to reach consensus, and it is not appropriate to comment on UK positions during this time.

The UK is supporting efforts to increase vaccine manufacturing capacity. We have facilitated engagement by industry and the research community to discuss the evolving WHO proposals for the COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP). During our G7 presidency, we will continue this work with stakeholders and the WHO as it establishes the governance structures and refines the operating model for C-TAP. The UK is also providing technical assistance to catalyse private sector and development finance investment to in manufacturing capacity, particularly in Africa. We are working with the key international partners involved in vaccine manufacture and procurement. These include the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, the WHO and UNICEF for production of COVID-19 vaccines for the current pandemic.


Written Question
Medical Treatments: Developing Countries
Tuesday 20th April 2021

Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the potential effect of draft World Health Assembly 74 resolution on Strengthening Local Production of Medicines and Other Health Technologies to Improve Access on expanding (a) production of and (b) access to essential medicines and vaccines.

Answered by Wendy Morton

The UK is supportive of the World Health Assembly 74 Resolution on Strengthening Local Production of Medicines and Other Health Technologies to Improve Access. We are engaging in ongoing negotiations with 194 other member states to reach consensus, and it is not appropriate to comment on UK positions during this time.

The UK is supporting efforts to increase vaccine manufacturing capacity. We have facilitated engagement by industry and the research community to discuss the evolving WHO proposals for the COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP). During our G7 presidency, we will continue this work with stakeholders and the WHO as it establishes the governance structures and refines the operating model for C-TAP. The UK is also providing technical assistance to catalyse private sector and development finance investment to in manufacturing capacity, particularly in Africa. We are working with the key international partners involved in vaccine manufacture and procurement. These include the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, the WHO and UNICEF for production of COVID-19 vaccines for the current pandemic.


Written Question
Coronavirus: Disease Control
Friday 26th February 2021

Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what further plans he has to consult on the WHO COVID-19 Technology Access Pool with (a) the pharmaceutical industry, (b) research institutions and (c) G7 members.

Answered by Wendy Morton

Since the World Health Organisation (WHO) provided initial details on the COVID-19 technology access pool (C-TAP) in October 2020, the UK has, and will continue to engage with all interested parties. We are in ongoing discussions with the WHO as it refines both governance structures and the operating model for C-TAP, and will seek clarity on questions being posed by stakeholders.