Asked by: John McNally (Scottish National Party - Falkirk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will ask the Minister for Europe and North America to review correspondence from the hon. Member of Falkirk dated 1 March 2022 regarding an 88 year old man who seeks to be reunited with his partner in Canada.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
I [Minister Cleverly] responded to the referenced correspondence from the hon. Member of Falkirk dated 1 March 2022 on 14 April 2022.
Asked by: John McNally (Scottish National Party - Falkirk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to correspondence from the hon. Member for Falkirk on 14 July 2021, ref RHB 3027965, if he will take diplomatic steps to support the case of British national Archibald Robertson seeking a travel allowance from the Canadian High Commission.
Answered by Wendy Morton
We continue to discuss border issues with the Canadian government, and appreciate the personal impact this has on many people. As I am sure you will understand, Canadian border restrictions, and any associated exemptions, including temporary passes, are a matter for Canadian authorities alone.
On 7 September, the Canadian government eased restrictions, allowing double-vaccinated travellers to enter for non-essential reasons. Enquires related to travel exemptions and timelines on Mr Roberston's application can be sent to the Canadian High Commission in London at LDNImmigration@international.gc.ca.
Asked by: John McNally (Scottish National Party - Falkirk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that his Department responds to the letter to the Minister for South Asia and the Commonwealth from the hon. Member for Falkirk of 17 May 2021, regarding a constituent, Nabila Khan, who is stranded in Pakistan.
Answered by Nigel Adams
A response was sent on 25 May 2021, and an additional copy has been sent to the Member's office.
Asked by: John McNally (Scottish National Party - Falkirk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to secure a global treaty to protect the high seas by 2020.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The FCO leads, with close cooperation from DEFRA, on the negotiations to develop an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ process). The first meeting of the UN Inter-governmental conference to develop the new international instrument started, on 4 September 2018 and the UK is represented by FCO and DEFRA officials. The Government fully supports the United Nations BBNJ process to develop an ambitious agreement which we would like to see concluded in 2020.
Asked by: John McNally (Scottish National Party - Falkirk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to secure international support for a marine protected area in the Weddell Sea.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The UK is a leading advocate for marine protection across the Southern Ocean, having secured agreement for the first Marine Protected Area (MPA) within the international Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). The UK is a co-proponent for MPA proposals in the Weddell Sea and in East Antarctica, both of which will be presented to the next CCAMLR meeting in October for adoption. There are ongoing international consultations underway at official and technical level to aid adoption. The final proposal will be submitted to CCAMLR this week, we will then work with other EU Members to consider the most appropriate level of lobbying.
Asked by: John McNally (Scottish National Party - Falkirk)
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 his international counterparts on marine conservation in the Antarctic.
Answered by Alan Duncan
Ocean protection issues have been a key point of discussion among Ministers at recent G7 and G20 meetings, as the UK continues to be a global leader in marine conservation. Within the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), the UK is working proactively to establish a network of Marine Protected Areas around Antarctica. At its next meeting in October, CCAMLR will consider the UK co-sponsored proposals for establishing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the East Antarctic and Weddell Sea. International consultations on these proposals are underway at official and technical levels.
Asked by: John McNally (Scottish National Party - Falkirk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent progress he has made on securing international support for marine protection in the Antarctic.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The UK is a global leader on Antarctic marine protection issues, including within the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). At its next meeting in October, CCAMLR will consider the UK co-sponsored proposals for establishing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the East Antarctic and Weddell Sea. International consultations are underway at official and technical levels. The final proposal will be submitted to CCAMLR this week, we will then work with other EU Members to consider the most appropriate level of lobbying.
Asked by: John McNally (Scottish National Party - Falkirk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the government of Bangladesh on the murder of Faisal Arefin Dipon.
Answered by Lord Swire
The British Government has been unequivocal in its condemnation of the murder of Faisal Arefin Dipon and in calling for the Bangladesh government to protect those who face threats to their lives because of the views they have expressed. My noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Anelay of St Johns, our High Commissioner in Dhaka and myself have all expressed our shock at the appalling murder and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice and free speech protected.
Asked by: John McNally (Scottish National Party - Falkirk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation for religious minorities in Burma.
Answered by Lord Swire
Burma remains a country of concern in our annual Human Rights report. We, therefore, produce biannual updates on the human rights situation, the latest can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/burma-in-year-update-july-2015/burma-in-year-update-july-2015.
We have been concerned by the increase in religious intolerance in Burma and the treatment of minority groups, particularly religious miniorities. This has been evidenced starkly in the four discriminatory race and religion laws as well as in the appalling treatment of the Rohingya community in Rakhine State, their disenfranchisement from the 8 November elections, and the rise of Buddhist nationalism, hate speech and anti-Muslim violence. We have raised our concerns about this in detail with the Burmese authorities, both bilaterally, in company with our partners in the EU and in international fora like the UN. We will continue to raise this important issue facing Burma with any incoming government.
Asked by: John McNally (Scottish National Party - Falkirk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the government of Bangladesh on the murder of Faisal Arefin Dipon.
Answered by Lord Swire
The British Government has been unequivocal in its condemnation of the murder of Faisal Arefin Dipon and in calling for the Bangladesh government to protect those who face threats to their lives because of the views they have expressed. My noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Anelay of St Johns, our High Commissioner in Dhaka and myself have all expressed our shock at the appalling murder and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice and free speech protected.