Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to help support persecuted Christians across the world.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
On 23 November the FCDO marked Red Wednesday by lighting up our UK buildings in solidarity with Christians around the world who are persecuted for their beliefs. The Government is committed to promoting and defending the right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for everyone, everywhere. This includes ensuring that progress made in implementing the Bishop of Truro's recommendations for an enhanced response to the plight of persecuted Christians, and people persecuted for holding other religions, beliefs, or no religious belief, is embedded and that FoRB is central to our wider human rights work.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if the Government will classify Russia as a terrorist state.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK does not have a power to proscribe a country as a "State Sponsor" of Terrorism. The UK and our allies condemn the Russian government's unprovoked and premeditated invasion of Ukraine. We have considerable powers to sanction the Russian Government, which we have used with our allies for significant effect. We have implemented the strongest set of economic sanctions ever to debilitate Russia's economy and degrade funding for Putin's war.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has held recent discussions with his counterparts on the possibility of relocating the British Embassy in Israel from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
There are no plans to move the UK embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv. Israel is a close friend and key strategic partner, built on decades of cooperation. We will continue to strengthen our relationship with Israel through our Embassy in Tel Aviv.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department will include religious representatives in the review of moving the British Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
There are no plans to move the UK embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv. Israel is a close friend and key strategic partner, built on decades of cooperation. We will continue to strengthen our relationship with Israel through our Embassy in Tel Aviv.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what reason not all Russian banks have had sanctions imposed upon them in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK has sanctioned 20 Russian banks, with global assets of around £940 billion. Systemically important Russian banks have either been designated for an asset freeze, or have had their assets frozen through designations against individuals who own or control those institutions. This accounts for over 80% of the Russian banking sector.
We have already blocked access to £275 billion of the Russian Central Bank's foreign currency reserves which makes up 60% of Putin's 'war chest' of foreign reserves. We will continue to pressure Putin's regime, including through further sanctions designations along with the humanitarian, economic and military support we are providing to Ukraine.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to provide relief support to help alleviate the hunger crisis in East Africa.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
In financial year 2022/23 the UK intends to provide approximately £156 million in humanitarian aid across East Africa. Our support is providing millions of people with essential services and supplies including food, water and healthcare.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues to help ensure that the (a) UK population and (b) international community does not become desensitised to the war in Ukraine.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Ministers and officials are working intensively with our allies and through multilateral fora to show how Russia's aggression undermines the UN Charter and impacts the global economy, with serious implications for world's poorest. We are supporting Ukrainian and international efforts to investigate war crimes, to ensure that those responsible are held to account.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with his international counterparts to address alleged crimes against humanity in Sednaya prison in Syria.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
We are appalled by the human rights situation in Syria, especially Sednaya. We are committed to highlighting this issue. Since 2012 we have contributed over £14 million in support to gather evidence and assist victims of human rights abuses and violations. The UK is the penholder for the Syria Human Rights Council Resolution, which was adopted in September. We also use our position at the UN Security Council to draw international attention to the ongoing human rights violations in Syria, including within prisons. At the Security Council this month, we will call for the release of detainees and condemn these violations.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when her Department's review of future contributions to the Global Fund on tackling AIDS, TB and Malaria will be complete.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK is proud to be the Global Fund's third largest donor historically, investing over £4.4 billion since 2002. At the seventh replenishment pledging conference the UK committed to remain a strong supporter of the Global Fund. We plan to announce our pledge in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will discuss with his Iranian counterpart the steps needed to raise the protection of the freedom of religion or belief of the Baha'i people.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
Promoting the right to freedom of religion or belief for all is one of the UK's longstanding human rights priorities. We have previously expressed our deep concern at reports of expropriation and repossession of land owned by Baha'i communities in Ivel. The Baha'i community in Iran continue to be systematically discriminated against, harassed, and targeted.
On 5 August 2022 the FCDO Minister responsible for Human Rights and Freedom of Religion and Belief, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, said: "The persecution of religious minorities cannot be tolerated in 2022". We strongly condemn the increasing detention of members of the Baha'i community in Iran, as well as reports of forced closures of their businesses and land seizures. The persecution of religious minorities is a serious violation of international human rights law. We are working closely with our international partners to hold Iran to account and continue to raise human rights concerns regularly with the Iranian government.