Asked by: Judith Cummins (Labour - Bradford South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps to help support forcibly displaced Sudanese citizens with family members already in the UK.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Since 25 April, the UK has supported the departure of 2,450 people, including British nationals, dependants, and other eligible nationals out of Sudan. The UK Government continues to provide limited consular assistance to British nationals still in Sudan and to those who have left by alternative means to neighbouring countries.
Asked by: Judith Cummins (Labour - Bradford South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of the organiser of the annual June Fourth Vigil, Hong Kong Alliance, being accused as foreign agents by the HKSAR government under the national security law.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest, which are protected in both the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law, are fundamental to Hong Kong's way of life.
We continue to make clear to mainland Chinese and Hong Kong authorities our strong opposition to the National Security Law. It is clear that this legislation is being used to curtail freedoms, punish dissent and shrink the space for opposition, free press and civil society.
As a co-signatory to the Sino-British Joint Declaration, we will continue to stand up for the people of Hong Kong, to call out the violation of their rights and freedoms, and to hold China to its international obligations.
Asked by: Judith Cummins (Labour - Bradford South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of reports that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government breached its obligations under The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as it arrested participants of vigils in memory of the Tiananmen Square massacre.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to Hong Kong's way of life, and guaranteed in both the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. As a co-signatory to the Joint Declaration, we will continue to stand up for the people of Hong Kong, to call out the violations of their rights and freedoms, and to urge China to uphold the rights set out in the Joint Declaration and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including freedoms of speech, the press and assembly.
Asked by: Judith Cummins (Labour - Bradford South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many British citizens does she estimate still remain in Afghanistan.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The FCDO does not routinely ask British nationals to register with a British Embassy or High Commission overseas. Recognising the circumstances in Afghanistan, British nationals still in Afghanistan were asked to register their continued presence to allow the FCDO to maintain contact after the evacuation phase ended. British nationals continue to receive updates from the FCDO on the situation in Afghanistan.
Asked by: Judith Cummins (Labour - Bradford South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many British citizens and their dependents have been returned to the UK from Afghanistan since international forces left on 29 August 2021.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
Between 15-28 August over 8,300 British nationals and dependents were evacuated from Afghanistan. Since the end of Operation Pitting, the FCDO has assisted over 700 British nationals and their dependents back to the UK. This includes helping 210 British nationals and their dependents leave Afghanistan through Qatari Government charter flights. We continue to work to support British nationals and their eligible dependants to leave Afghanistan if that is their wish.
Asked by: Judith Cummins (Labour - Bradford South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans are in place to improve the assistance provided to British citizens and their dependents to leave Afghanistan.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
Providing assistance to those individuals eligible for HMG support remains a top priority and we will continue to work to take advantage of all opportunities to help those eligible to come to the UK. We have created a new Joint Afghanistan Casework Unit (JACU), staffed by officials from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office, Home Office and Ministry of Defence, which is taking forward the UK's commitment to resettle individuals and those family members confirmed to be eligible. We continue to facilitate the departure of British nationals and eligible family members on flights organised by the Qatari government, and we are working closely with international partners on further possible flight options. Our Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) will welcome up to 5,000 vulnerable Afghans to the UK in its first year, with up to a total of 20,000 over the coming years.
Asked by: Judith Cummins (Labour - Bradford South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many British citizens are seeking assistance to return back to the UK from Afghanistan as of 30 November 2021.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The FCDO does not routinely ask British nationals to register with a British Embassy or High Commission overseas. Recognising the circumstances in Afghanistan, British nationals still in Afghanistan were asked to register their continued presence to allow the FCDO to maintain contact after the evacuation phase ended. British nationals continue to receive updates from the FCDO on the situation in Afghanistan.
Asked by: Judith Cummins (Labour - Bradford South)
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 ending demolitions of Palestinian homes in the West Bank.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
In all but the most exceptional of circumstances demolitions are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. The UK regularly raises the issue of demolitions with the Government of Israel, most recently on 12 July. The Foreign Secretary did so during his visit to the region on 26 May.
Asked by: Judith Cummins (Labour - Bradford South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
What recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We continue to monitor the humanitarian situation in Gaza, exacerbated by recent escalation of violence between Hamas and Israel, including significant damage and destruction of civilian infrastructure including homes, schools, hospitals, and clinics.
We are in close contact with UN agencies and key partners on the ground to assess the situation and will monitor closely.
I announced funding of £3.2 million to UNRWA’s emergency flash appeal on 20 May. This will address the immediate humanitarian needs of vulnerable Palestinians living in Gaza.
Humanitarian access remains critical. We continue to urge Israel to ensure access into and out of Gaza, including for essential health services.
Asked by: Judith Cummins (Labour - Bradford South)
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 Bangladeshi counterpart on the suspension of plans to repatriate Rohingya refugees in the context of the military coup in Myanmar.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The UK remains clear that any Rohingya returns to Rakhine state must be voluntary, safe, dignified, and in line with UNHCR principles. At present, conditions in Myanmar preclude this possibility. The situation in Rakhine State is unpredictable following the military coup and we are monitoring the situation closely, including for the increased risk of atrocities. Until conditions improve, we will continue to support the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and the surrounding host communities.
The Minister of State for South Asia, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, most recently raised these issues with Bangladesh State Minister Shahriah Alam on 18th February 2021.