Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made representations to President Kais Saied of Tunisia on his decisions to (a) dissolve the Tunisian Assembly of Representatives and (b) put MPs on trial for participating in a virtual meeting of parliament.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK has expressed its views regarding the political situation in Tunisia, bilaterally and through statements on behalf of G7 Ambassadors. We engage regularly with representatives of the government in the country, most recently on 7 April when the British Ambassador to Tunisia met Foreign Minister Jerandi, and on 1 March when she called on Prime Minister Najla Bouden. The Minister for North Africa, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, also raised these issues during a meeting with the Tunisian Ambassador to London on 4 April.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make representations to the Taliban leadership on allowing all girls to return to school immediately.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The Government has made clear its condemnation of the Taliban's decision not to re-open girls' secondary schools, including through statements from the G7+, female Foreign Ministers and the UN Security Council. Women in Afghanistan, and Afghan women in the UK diaspora, demand that girls' right to education be upheld, and we stand with them. As the Prime Minister has said several times, we are working to hold the Taliban to account to ensure that they live up to the promises they have made. With our international partners, we continue to press the Taliban to reverse this decision.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what her planned timetable is for the establishment of the TCA UK Domestic Advisory Group and Civil Society Forum.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The Civil Society obligations in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement moved to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). FCDO ministers are currently finalising the UK Domestic Advisory Group membership list and the first meeting is expected shortly.
The Government is in discussions with the European Commission to set the date for the Civil Society Forum which will take place after the first meeting of the Domestic Advisory Group. The UK delegation to the Civil Society Forum will be announced once the guidelines which underpin the forum are agreed by the TCA Partnership Council.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to assist BBC Media Action staff in Afghanistan.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We continue to work, including with international partners, to relocate British nationals and eligible Afghans through third countries. We also provide as much information as we can through our Travel Advice. We have supported over 3,700 individuals to leave Afghanistan since the end of Operation PITTING. This includes BBC Media Action staff. Safe passage continues to be a priority in our engagement on Afghanistan, including with Taliban representatives.