Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he raised human rights issues with the Sudanese Foreign Minister, Ibrahim Ghandour, at his recent meeting.
Answered by Rory Stewart
Sudan remains a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights Priority Country and improving human rights is a key objective in our engagement with the Government of Sudan. During his meeting with Sudanese Foreign Minister Ghandour on 12 December, the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns on human rights, as well as highlighting the political and economic reforms the Government of Sudan needs to undertake. In a separate meeting, I also highlighted the need for Sudan to make improvements on human rights and expressed the UK's desire to maintain dialogue on human rights issues with the Government of Sudan.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent progress has been made in finding the British-trained Barrister Mir Ahmed Bin Quasem, following his disappearance in Bangladesh In 2016.
Answered by Mark Field
I am aware of the case of Mir Ahmed Bin Quasem. It is alleged that Mr Quasem was abducted from his home in Bangladesh in August 2016, and that he remains missing. As Mr Quasem is not a British National we have not raised his specific case with the Bangladesh authorities. Ministers regularly raise our concerns about enforced disappearances and attacks on political freedoms with the Government of Bangladesh.
I did so just recently with the High Commissioner for Bangladesh and Foreign Secretary Haque on 2 November
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies on Sudan of the as a result of the meeting of the UK-Sudan Trade and Investment Forum, held in London on 12 December 2017.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The policies of the British Government on Sudan have not changed as a result of the UK-Sudan Trade and Investment Forum. As part of our phased increase in direct engagement with the Government of Sudan, we continue to consider opportunities to promote trade with Sudan. Trade can help open up closed off political and economic systems, and thereby help to improve the human rights situation. Sudan remains a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights Priority Country and improving human rights is a key objective in our engagement with Sudan. The UK-Sudan Trade and Investment Forum was a private event, organised and funded by Developing Markets Associates, in cooperation with the Sudanese Embassy in London.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent estimate has made of the number of British citizens living in Zimbabwe.
Answered by Rory Stewart
We estimate there are approximately 20,000 British citizens living in Zimbabwe, many of whom are long-term residents.
We ask all British nationals to regularly check travel advice.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether observer status will be provided for countries which have expressed an interest in joining the Commonwealth during the Commonwealth Summit in London in April 2018.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The only category of Commonwealth membership is that of full membership, which is only open to sovereign states. Any decision to create a new membership status would need to be agreed by consensus of Commonwealth Heads of Government. In 2007 the Heads of Government endorsed the recommendation of the Commonwealth committee on membership not to establish any other membership status.
The UK welcomes applications to join the Commonwealth where countries can demonstrate the necessary requirements and dedication to the Commonwealth's core values, particularly in relation to human rights, good governance and the rule of law. Countries wishing to join the Commonwealth should express their interest to the Commonwealth Secretariat. Decisions on membership are made by consensus of all Commonwealth member states.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether observer status will be provided for British Overseas Territories during the Commonwealth Summit in London in April 2018.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The UK is committed to strengthening the links between the Commonwealth. The only category of Commonwealth membership is that of sovereign states. The UK will discuss the policy priorities for the Heads of Government Meeting with the Overseas Territories ahead of next April and represent them at the summit.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent progress has been made in securing the release of Andy Tsege.
Answered by Rory Stewart
We continue to offer consular support to Mr Tsege and his family. We previously secured Mr Tsege’s transfer from solitary confinement to a federal prison and access to a lawyer. Officials have visited Mr Tsege 18 times, most recently on 12 October, when they were able to check on his welfare, discuss his legal access and pass on messages from his family.
In addition, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary raised Mr Tsege’s case with Ethiopia’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in May. The Minister for Africa met with Mr Tsege's family on 24 October, and also raised the case during his visit to Ethiopia in August. Our Ambassador takes every opportunity to raise Mr Tsege’s case at the highest levels with the Ethiopian Government.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department is providing to the women of Boda, Central African Republic, and their mission for an end to violence between Christians and Muslims in that region.
Answered by Rory Stewart
We remain deeply concerned by the violence in the Central African Republic. The fact that the unrest has spread to locations and communities, such as Boda, which were previously relatively untouched is particularly troubling. In our position as a member of the UN Security Council we are committed to ensuring that the United Nations peacekeeping mission (MINUSCA) has the tools to provide effective protection for civilians, specifically the most vulnerable, such as women and children.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
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 address the accelerating deforestation of the Ivory Coast due to the illegal growth of cocoa crops.
Answered by Rory Stewart
We are very much engaged in supporting efforts to end deforestation, including through the Department for International Development (DFID) funded Cocoa and Forests Initiative, which was launched in London in March. Under this initiative, the cocoa and chocolate industries have committed publicly to end deforestation associated with cocoa production in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. DFID has provided support for consultations on Joint Frameworks for Action on Cocoa and Deforestation with government, farmers and civil society in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, to ensure the industry commitment is implemented.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department plans to give to ensure that the Kenyan elections due to be held on 17 October 2017 are conducted in a free, fair and democratic manner.
Answered by Rory Stewart
We are committed to supporting the electoral process in Kenya to help ensure free, fair, peaceful and credible elections. The UK has provided non-partisan technical assistance, working with international partners to support election management, legal reforms and efforts to resolve disputes and reduce violence.