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 plans to respond to recent alleged reports of violence against ethnic Armenians by Azerbaijan.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are not aware of any recent reports of alleged violence against ethnic Armenians by Azerbaijan. However, we are clear that peaceful negotiation is the only route to a lasting resolution of the longstanding conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and we stand ready to support them to achieve this. I conveyed this sentiment in calls with the foreign ministers of both Armenia (on 11 October) and Azerbaijan (on 31 October).
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 the Government's policy is on (a) the right of return and (b) civil rights protections for ethnic Armenians displayed from the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government has encouraged the Azerbaijani authorities to provide clarity on the rights and security of ethnic Armenians displaced by conflict who wish to return to the region. We commend the efforts of the Armenian government, which has supported those displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh to enable them to have a future in Armenia itself.
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 has issued recent guidance to businesses operating in internationally-disputed territories.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Overseas Business Risk service provides information on various risks in overseas markets. UK government staff in country produce these guides with specific information provided per country. These can be found on: Overseas Business Risk - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
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 steps his Department is taking to help protect human rights defenders in Azerbaijan ahead of COP29.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Along with our international partners, the UK continues to urge Azerbaijan to improve human rights protections for all its citizens; Azerbaijan's hosting of COP29 in November provides the country with an opportunity to demonstrate meaningful action in this regard. We remain concerned at the increased number of detentions of independent journalists, human rights defenders and civil society representatives over the last year. We are clear that freedom of expression is the foundation of an open, pluralistic society, and must be respected. British Embassy Baku regularly raises our concerns with the Azerbaijani authorities at senior levels, including ahead of COP29.
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 steps his Department is taking to help promote stability in Bangladesh.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has a long-standing commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights. The Interim Government in Bangladesh has the UK Government's full support as it works to provide stability and promote human rights in Bangladesh. We encourage the work of the United Nations as it conducts an impartial and independent fact-finding mission to identify human rights violations. The UK Government is providing up to £27 million from March 2023 to February 2028 under the Bangladesh Collaborative, Accountable and Peaceful Politics programme for protecting civic and political space, fostering collaboration, reducing corruption and mitigating tensions that lead to violence.
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 steps he is taking to help uphold human rights in Bangladesh.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has a long-standing commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights. The Interim Government in Bangladesh has the UK Government's full support as it works to provide stability and promote human rights in Bangladesh. We encourage the work of the United Nations as it conducts an impartial and independent fact-finding mission to identify human rights violations. The UK Government is providing up to £27 million from March 2023 to February 2028 under the Bangladesh Collaborative, Accountable and Peaceful Politics programme for protecting civic and political space, fostering collaboration, reducing corruption and mitigating tensions that lead to violence.
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 policy on arms transfers to Israel will use the principle of atrocity prevention.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary's advice on arms sales follows the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, (SELC) including an assessment of commitment to IHL Compliance (SELC 2c) using a methodology that the Court of Appeal has accepted in judicial reviews. It draws on open-source evidence, intelligence, accounts of diplomatic and ministerial engagements, and correspondence with Israel.
That review process is underway. It is complex and requires careful consideration. The Government will make public its decision as soon as that process is complete.
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 is using the same system for (a) collating and (b) reviewing evidence on Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law during the conflict in Gaza as was used by the previous Government.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As the Foreign Secretary has made clear, he is not able to look back on advice made available to previous Government Ministers. That review process is underway. It is complex and requires careful consideration. The Foreign Secretary has committed to being transparent when making decisions on International Humanitarian Law assessments.
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, if he will publish legal advice obtained under the previous Government on its decision to challenge the International Criminal Court's jurisdiction on Israeli military action in Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As the Foreign Secretary has made clear, he is not able to look back on advice made available to previous Government Ministers. As was announced on 26 July, the Government will not be submitting observations to the ICC, in line with its position that this is a matter for the Court to decide on.
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 plans to take steps to support the Caribbean Community's Ten Point Plan for Reparatory Justice.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK greatly values our strong and longstanding relationship with the Caribbean and CARICOM. We most recently showed our solidarity through support to the regional response to Hurricane Beryl. The Minister for Latin America and the Caribbean, Baroness Chapman of Darlington, looks forward to deep engagement with the leaders and peoples of these countries and to full and frank discussions with them on all issues of concern. Our government will prioritise supporting the resilience and prosperity of vulnerable islands. We are making a real difference to the lives of people today - including in the Caribbean - where we are investing in infrastructure, security, and prosperity, and helping build resilience to natural disasters and climate change.