Asked by: Gareth Bacon (Conservative - Orpington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will provide a list of (a) professional staff networks and (b) social clubs operating within his Department; and if he will provide the (i) budgets and (ii) FTE staff time allocated to each group within each of the last three years.
Answered by Vicky Ford
a) List of FCDO Staff Networks
In the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), we have 12 Staff Networks who play a vital role in advocating for change; providing challenge and inspiration; providing support for colleagues and promoting diversity and inclusion. They are not considered in the same way as technical cadres, neither do they operate as such. Our Staff Networks include:
1. Young People and Early Professional Network
2. FCDO Carers Network
3. Disability Inclusion and Awareness Network
4. Flexible Working Network
5. FCDO Women Network
6. International Staff Network
7. FCDO FLAG Network (LGBTQ+)
8. Mental Health and Wellbeing Network
9. Parents Support Network
10. Race and Ethnicity Network
11. Religion and Belief Network
12. Social Mobility Network
(i) Budgets allocated to each group within each of the last three years
FY 2021/22
The FCDO Inclusion Unit has set aside a ring-fenced budget (£15,000) to support the work of staff networks.
FY 2020/21 - this information is not held as it pre-dates the FCDO merger.
FY 2019/20 - this information is not available as it pre-dates the FCDO merger.
(ii) FTE staff allocated to each group within
FCDO staff networks are voluntarily organised communities and those who serve as Chairs, do so on a voluntary basis.
b) List of Social Clubs
This information is not held.
(i) Budgets allocated to each group within each of the last three year;
This information is not held.
(ii) FTE staff time allocated to each group within each of the last three years.
This information is not held.
Asked by: Gareth Bacon (Conservative - Orpington)
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 his counterparts in the permanent members of the UN Security Council on reports that Iran has started uranium enrichment up to 20 per cent.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
Iran's commencement of uranium enrichment up to 20% at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant has no credible civil justification and carries significant proliferation-related risks. We have been clear that if Iran is serious about preserving the deal it must return to compliance. The E3 made a statement on the 6 January making clear that this latest step is in clear violation of Iran's commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA). We continue to explore options to engage closely with the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council to address Iran's non-compliance.
Asked by: Gareth Bacon (Conservative - Orpington)
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 implications for his policies of the US Middle East Partnership for Peace Act.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK remains committed to making progress towards a two-state solution. We welcome all efforts towards peace. We also support the growth of civil society in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and efforts to improve the Palestinian economy. We will continue to monitor the International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace, as it progresses through the US legislative system.
Asked by: Gareth Bacon (Conservative - Orpington)
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 international counterparts on the potential merits of increasing investment to support peacebuilding efforts between Israelis and Palestinians.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The United Kingdom remains a strong supporter of all efforts to promote peace. We believe that peace is best achieved through negotiations between the parties, but international action can also play a role in supporting progress. We remain in close contact with our international partners on ways to promote a just and lasting resolution that ends the occupation and delivers peace for both Israelis and Palestinians, which is long overdue. The UK continues to be a leading donor in the region, with UK aid helping to improve the lives of Palestinians and in support of the UK's commitment to maintain the viability of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Asked by: Gareth Bacon (Conservative - Orpington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 July 2020 to Question 71913, what progress has been made in discussions with international partners to address the expiry of the UN conventional arms embargo on Iran in October 2020.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We have serious concerns regarding the implications for regional security of the scheduled expiry of the UN conventional arms embargo. We are considering all options both inside and outside of the UN Security Council (UNSC). We continue to be guided by the need to uphold the authority and integrity of the UNSC and to advance regional security and stability.
Asked by: Gareth Bacon (Conservative - Orpington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what mechanisms are in place to prevent Iran from increasing arms exports to terrorist groups after the expiration of the UN conventional arms embargo in October 2020.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We have repeatedly set out concerns about Iranian destabilising behaviour in the region, including proliferation to non-state actors. As set out in the E3 Foreign Ministers statement of 19 June, we are working with partners, including UN Security Council Members, to address the planned expiry of the UN conventional arms embargo.
It is also important to note that other UN sanctions (UNSCRs 1540, 2216 and 1701), which prohibit the proliferation of weapons to the Houthis and Lebanese Hizballah, will remain in place after the arms embargo expires. The EU arms embargo and UN ballistic missile restrictions on Iran will also remain in place until 2023. The UK encourages all states to implement national export control best practice in support of these regimes.
Asked by: Gareth Bacon (Conservative - Orpington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to promote good governance in Iraq.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK continues to promote good governance in Iraq through both political engagement and programmatic support. I discussed the current situation in Iraq with the Iraqi Ambassador to London on 16 March and with Foreign Minister Hakim on 1 April. As part of the UK's wide-ranging support to Iraq, we have contributed £16 million to a World Bank Trust Fund for technical assistance to both the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government to deliver economic reforms.
Asked by: Gareth Bacon (Conservative - Orpington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions has he had with coalition allies on preventing ISIS from resurging.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We continue to work closely with our allies in the Global Coalition to prevent Daesh from resurging, in particular in Syria and Iraq. Senior officials from the Coalition members discussed this in a meeting on 16 April. Among other occasions, I raised the importance of the continued fight against Daesh in my conversations with Iraq's Ambassador to the UK on 16 March, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hakim on 1 April and the US Envoy for Syria Ambassador Jeffrey on 16 April.