Asked by: Diane Abbott (Labour - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the United Nations Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, published on 10 October 2024.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have considered the report. The Government has been clear since day one that International Humanitarian Law (IHL) must be upheld, and civilians protected. The UK supports Israel’s right to self-defence, but it must do this in accordance with international humanitarian law. The death and destruction in Gaza is intolerable. Too many civilians have been killed and we need to prevent further bloodshed now. What is urgently needed is an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the upholding of international law, protection of civilians including a rapid increase in aid getting into Gaza, and a pathway to a two-state solution.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Labour - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations she has made to the government of Iran on (a) Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, (b) Anoosheh Ashoori and (c) the other British nationals detained in Iran.
Answered by Amanda Milling
The Foreign Secretary most recently discussed the cases of British dual nationals with the Iranian Foreign Minister on 8 November. The Minister for the Middle East and North Africa raised these cases with the Deputy Foreign Minister on 11 November. Our Ambassador in Tehran regularly raises their cases.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Labour - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's expenditure on the Bloodhound Supersonic Car project in South Africa on reducing poverty in that country.
Answered by James Duddridge
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has incurred no expenditure on the development of the Bloodhound Supersonic Car.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Labour - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2016 to Question 22275, what assessment his Department made of the risk that items might be used in the commission of a serious violation of international humanitarian law as defined in the Export Control Act 2002 and the EU Common position when making the decision to grant licences for the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The UK Government takes its arms export responsibilities very seriously and operates one of the most robust arms export control regimes in the world. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, taking account of all relevant factors at the time of the application including International Humanitarian Law. The Government is satisfied that extant licences for Saudi Arabia are compliant with the UK’s export licensing criteria.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Labour - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the government of Burma regarding implementation of the Declaration on Preventing Sexual Violence in the last six months; and at what levels these discussions took place.
Answered by Lord Swire
The then-Minister of State for the Home Office, Lynne Featherstone, visited Burma in January, in her role as UK Champion for Tackling Violence Against Women. She raised this issue with senior members of the Burmese government, including Ministers of the President’s Office, U Soe Thane and U Aung Min, and also with Deputy Foreign Minister U Thant Kyaw.
In our efforts to promote UNSCR 1325 (on Women, Peace and Security) in Burma, in addition to high-level lobbying, the UK has encouraged women’s full participation in the peace process, supported the drafting of forthcoming legislation on violence against women, and funded work to increase women’s participation in the electoral process. We have supported access to justice for the survivors of sexual violence. As one of the largest humanitarian donors to Kachin and Rakhine states, we have funded the coordination of activities to prevent violence against women.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Labour - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what offers were made to the government of Burma of expert help with the investigation of the rape and murder of two ethnic Kachin teachers on 20 January 2015.
Answered by Lord Swire
We have raised our concerns about the incident with the Burmese government, and have urged a rapid investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice. We will be closely monitoring the outcome of this investigation.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Labour - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 6 November 2014, Official Report, column 1034, on re-opening the British embassy in Tehran, what recent progress he has made on consular and embassy arrangements in Iran.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
As I set out in the House on 6 November 2014, the Government remains committed to reopening the British Embassy in Tehran once we have resolved the outstanding steps required to bring the Embassy back to a functional level and concluded arrangements for re-establishing a visa service in Tehran. We are in ongoing discussion with the Iranian government to identify solutions on both issues.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Labour - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Nigerian government on reports of homophobic vigilantism in Kebbi State.
Answered by James Duddridge
We are concerned by the recent reports of homophobic vigilantism in Kebbi State, Nigeria. Our High Commission in Abuja is seeking further information from contacts on the ground. The UK opposes any form of discrimination or persecution on the grounds of sexual orientation and any form of legislation that criminalises people on the basis of their sexuality.Asked by: Diane Abbott (Labour - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has held with his Ugandan counterpart on renewed attempts by lawmakers to fast track anti-LGBT legislation through the Ugandan parliament; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by James Duddridge
We welcomed the decision of the Ugandan Constitutional Court in August to annul the Anti-Homosexuality Act and we oppose attempts to reintroduce it. We will continue to raise our concerns with all levels of the Ugandan Government, including with the President, about any legislation that could lead to persecution and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Labour - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has met representatives of the Women's League of Burma to discuss rape and sexual violence in that country.
Answered by Lord Swire
The Women’s League of Burma (WLB) was one of several civil society and religious organisations invited by the Government to attend the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in June. I met representatives of many of these organisations at a roundtable during the Summit to hear their views and concerns first-hand, but unfortunately no WLB representatives were able to attend. They were, however, able to meet officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and attend much of the Global Summit. Officials in London and Rangoon remain in contact with the WLB, along with other non-governmental organisations working to address the issue of sexual violence in Burma.