Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take in the case of Ryan Cornelius that differ from those taken by the previous administration.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government continues to raise Mr Ryan Cornelius' detention and welfare privately with the UAE authorities at appropriate opportunities. We continue to support his family's clemency applications, including through ministerial letters and I have raised their case with my Ministerial counterpart. The newly appointed Special Envoy for Complex Consular Detentions will review a small number of the most complex and intractable detention cases to determine where his engagement may add value and what different steps can be taken. The Envoy for Complex Consular Detentions has been briefed on the case. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will continue to provide consular assistance to Mr Cornelius and his family and remain in close contact regarding any developments.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister plans to raise the detention of Ryan Cornelius directly with the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government continues to raise Mr Ryan Cornelius' detention and welfare privately with the UAE authorities at appropriate opportunities. We continue to support his family's clemency applications, including through ministerial letters and I have raised their case with my Ministerial counterpart. The newly appointed Special Envoy for Complex Consular Detentions will review a small number of the most complex and intractable detention cases to determine where his engagement may add value and what different steps can be taken. The Envoy for Complex Consular Detentions has been briefed on the case. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will continue to provide consular assistance to Mr Cornelius and his family and remain in close contact regarding any developments.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publicly call on the Government of the United Arab Emirates to release Ryan Cornelius immediately.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government continues to raise Mr Ryan Cornelius' detention and welfare privately with the UAE authorities at appropriate opportunities. We continue to support his family's clemency applications, including through ministerial letters and I have raised their case with my Ministerial counterpart. The newly appointed Special Envoy for Complex Consular Detentions will review a small number of the most complex and intractable detention cases to determine where his engagement may add value and what different steps can be taken. The Envoy for Complex Consular Detentions has been briefed on the case. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will continue to provide consular assistance to Mr Cornelius and his family and remain in close contact regarding any developments.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if the Special Envoy for Complex Detention Cases will demand the release of Ryan Cornelius.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government continues to raise Mr Ryan Cornelius' detention and welfare privately with the UAE authorities at appropriate opportunities. We continue to support his family's clemency applications, including through ministerial letters and I have raised their case with my Ministerial counterpart. The newly appointed Special Envoy for Complex Consular Detentions will review a small number of the most complex and intractable detention cases to determine where his engagement may add value and what different steps can be taken. The Envoy for Complex Consular Detentions has been briefed on the case. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will continue to provide consular assistance to Mr Cornelius and his family and remain in close contact regarding any developments.

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 adequacy of treatment of Buddhists and other religious minorities in North Korea; what assessment he has made of the level of restrictions on Buddhist worship and religious practice in that country; and what steps he is taking to help uphold freedom of religion and belief in North Korea.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK remains deeply concerned by reports of ongoing, widespread and systematic human rights violations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), including severe restrictions on freedom of religion or belief. Reports indicate that individuals practicing religion can face surveillance, imprisonment or other serious penalties.

Promoting and protecting freedom of religion or belief for all is a UK priority. We regularly raise concerns about the lack of freedom of religion or belief with DPRK officials and in multilateral fora, including the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly. We continue to call on the DPRK to address its appalling human rights record and to comply with its international human rights obligations.