Asked by: Jonathan Djanogly (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the activity of Iran-backed terror groups in the West Bank.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We discuss all aspects of the current conflict with the Government of Israel.
The Foreign Secretary has also raised Iran's long-term support for proscribed groups directly with the Iranian Foreign Minister on 17 January and the UK's new sanctions regime designed to target Iran and its proxies' hostile activity came into force on 14 December. Iran must use its influence to curb attacks and deescalate regional tensions.
Asked by: Jonathan Djanogly (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of Hamas's engagement with discussions on a potential humanitarian pause in the conflict in Gaza.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We will not provide a running commentary on negotiations, but the UK is using all diplomatic channels to support the international effort being facilitated through Egypt, Qatar and the US.
Asked by: Jonathan Djanogly (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent discussions he has had with his Middle Eastern counterparts on the threat to regional security and stability posed by Hamas.
Answered by David Rutley
Since Hamas' abhorrent terrorist attacks on 7 October, the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, and the Minister of State for the Middle East have spoken to counterparts from more than 20 countries as part of extensive diplomatic efforts to prevent regional escalation and to sustain the prospect of peace and stability in the Middle East. On 22 November the Foreign Secretary hosted Islamic and Arab leaders in London to discuss the Israel/Gaza conflict and on 24 November, the Foreign Secretary travelled to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to engage with leaders from the Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel. Ministers also continue to focus on opposing any attempts by malign actors to cause further escalation in the region.
Asked by: Jonathan Djanogly (Conservative - Huntingdon)
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 reports that Hezbollah is storing weapons in civilian areas in Beirut.
Answered by James Cleverly
We have long been concerned by Hizballah's stockpiling of weapons within Lebanon, in contravention of relevant UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs). We regularly raise this at the UN Security Council, and we call on the Lebanese authorities to abide by provisions of the relevant UNSCRs. Hizballah's destabilising influence threatens regional stability and endangers Lebanon and its people.
Asked by: Jonathan Djanogly (Conservative - Huntingdon)
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 threat posed to Israel by cross-border tunnels dug by Hamas.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
We remain deeply concerned by Hamas's attempts to re-arm and rebuild militant infrastructure, including the tunnel network, in Gaza. Such actions undermine efforts to improve the situation in Gaza and harm the prospects for peace. During my visit to Israel at the end of May, I witnessed first-hand the impact of Hamas tunnels and rockets on the Israeli communities close to Gaza.
Asked by: Jonathan Djanogly (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he plans to publish the annual report required under section 32 of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) intends to lay the annual report required under section 32 of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 ("the Sanctions Act") soon. Section 32 requires that the report be laid before Parliament "as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each reporting period." The current reporting period, also referred to as "the first reporting period" in the Sanctions Act, is from 23 May 2018 to 22 May 2019. As such, the FCO is required to lay the report as soon as reasonably practicable after 22 May.
Asked by: Jonathan Djanogly (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many individuals are subject to the annual report required under section 32 of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018; and what the nationality is of such individual.
Answered by Alan Duncan
During the reporting period from 23 May 2018 to 22 May 2019, the government laid 17 regulations under section 1 of the Sanctions Act, including seven regulations with a stated human rights purpose. The government prioritised preparation for sanctions implementation in case of a no deal exit. Specifically, the government prioritised making the necessary secondary legislation to carry over existing EU sanctions into UK law by exit day. In doing so, the government's objective was to ensure that, should the UK have left the European Union without a deal by that date, there would have been no gap in implementing the sanctions regimes which are currently in place in the UK by reason of EU law.
As the UK has not exited the EU, no designations under the 17 regulations laid during the reporting period have been necessary, as listings under EU sanctions regimes still apply by virtue of EU law. As such, no individuals have been sanctioned under the Sanctions Act.
Asked by: Jonathan Djanogly (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he plans to hold discussions with his EU counterparts on the potential inclusion of companies and significant people who are involved in the construction of the bridge from Russia to Ukraine on the Russia sanctions list.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The UK continues to strongly condemn Russia's ongoing violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The EU has agreed a robust sanctions package against Russia, including specific measures targeting those responsible for infrastructure projects linking Crimea to Russia.