Qatar: Football World Cup 2022

Lord Bassam of Brighton Excerpts

Tuesday 30th November 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con)]

My noble friend is right to raise the importance of constructive engagement. The UK has a strong history of promoting our values globally. We believe that the best approach is to engage with Governments and work with international partners and civil society organisations to promote and defend those universal freedoms. The relationship between the UK and countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the wider MENA region is historic and enduring. But we should also recognise that this is a region with distinct cultures and differing political systems.

[Lord Bassam of Brighton (Lab)]

My Lords, like the noble Lord, Lord Addington, I have received the letter from the chargé d’affaires of the embassy of Qatar yesterday, claiming that Qatar

“leads the region on advancing labour rights protection”

and has made it clear that

“labour law and human rights violations will not be tolerated”.

Does the Minister recognise that assessment as accurate, given the continued high level of construction-related injuries, with over 300 last year, and fatalities, with over 50 last year? Does he agree with the statement from the chargé d'affaires that Qatar’s

“track record on media freedoms speaks for itself”?

What further action do the Government believe is necessary to improve human rights and end construction-related fatalities and injuries in Qatar state?

[Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con)]

I think that question was answered earlier, but I take the noble Lord’s point. On media freedom, we continue to engage, as I also said earlier, regarding the number of fatalities. There is some disagreement and difficulty with data collection and precise numbers, but on all those matters, we continue to engage.