Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the security implications arising from the reported leak of telegrams from the British Embassy in Ankara, whether they will conduct a review of security vetting of Foreign and Commonwealth office staff.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) regularly reviews its policy on security clearance and did this most recently in October 2015. Our policy is to vet our UK-based staff to ‘Developed Vetting’, the highest level of security clearance, which provides a high level of security assurance. We are satisfied that this is appropriate. Locally Engaged staff are vetted to the level required by their job and the Post.Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made, at EU level or otherwise, about the cases of Can Dündar and Erdem Gül who were detained by the Turkish authorities on 26 November.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We continue to monitor these specific cases and regularly underline the importance of freedom of expression and all fundamental freedoms as part of our broader dialogue with the Turkish government. Our Ambassador in Ankara highlighted his concerns about the number of journalists detained in Turkey, including Mr Dündar and Mr Gül, in his public blog released on International Human Rights day. We welcomed the EU Commission’s Annual Progress Report on Turkey, released on 10 November, which highlighted the need for further reforms from Turkey in these areas. Freedom of expression must be respected and all media outlets must be allowed to report freely without intimidation.
Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the decision of the Russian Prosecutor General's office, following a request by members of the Russian Parliament, to examine whether the Soviet Union acted legally when it recognised the Baltic states' independence in 1991.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We are aware of the request made by two members of the Russian Parliament that this matter be examined, and understand that the Russian Prosecutor-General's office is obliged to do so. We do not assess that there will be any practical consequences of this process; the independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania is clearly established. The UK never recognised the annexation of the Baltic States by the Soviet Union.