"I thank the noble Lord and I am sure, by the way, that we will have dedicated Ministers in this House. The Government are committed to that, but do not be disappointed when I get up to speak for the FCDO. As the noble Lord well knows, the United Kingdom’s …..." Lord Collins of Highbury - View Speech
"As I think I said in my initial Answer, we are monitoring the situation very carefully and we strongly support individuals’ rights of freedom of assembly and expression and peaceful political protest. We have consistently emphasised that any human rights violations should be fully investigated in line with international human …..." Lord Collins of Highbury - View Speech
"My Lords, the United Kingdom monitors developments in Pakistan-administered Kashmir closely. We are concerned by reports of unrest, loss of life and injuries. We support freedom of assembly and expression and encourage peaceful dialogue. We understand that restrictions on communications have been especially concerning for British nationals and members of …..." Lord Collins of Highbury - View Speech
"The noble Lord knows from previous Answers to these Questions that we have been consistent about reports of violence. We express our condolences to families who have lost loved ones, but any allegations of mistreatment by the police and armed forces should be investigated thoroughly and transparently by the relevant …..." Lord Collins of Highbury - View Speech
"We welcome the recent reports that dialogue is ongoing between the affected parties to find a resolution. It is good news. I reassure the noble Lord that, during Minister Falconer’s visit to Islamabad in June, he discussed the situation with his Pakistani counterparts, including Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi; and that …..." Lord Collins of Highbury - View Speech
"First, I confess I take a whole-government approach: I am not in the FCDO at the moment but have some responsibility for government policy. I reassure the noble Lord that, in my new responsibilities at the Home Office, I will take his concerns seriously. We need to be clear about …..." Lord Collins of Highbury - View Speech
"I reassure the noble Baroness that we regularly raise human rights concerns with the Government of Pakistan at the highest levels. Promoting human rights is a core part of the United Kingdom’s diplomatic engagement and programmes in Pakistan. We regularly raise our concerns with its Government at a senior level—I …..." Lord Collins of Highbury - View Speech
"I hear the noble Baroness, but the first priority of the FCDO is the safety of British nationals, which we ensure through regular consultation with our missions. Our advice is based on that principle, and our travel advice is reviewed regularly. Sometimes it is amended and it can be nuanced …..." Lord Collins of Highbury - View Speech
"I thank the noble Lords for their questions. I am acutely aware that there is a consensus across this House. There are no bipartisan divides here. The previous Government were committed to the principle of this legislation, and I welcomed it at the time. So, irrespective of what the noble …..." Lord Collins of Highbury - View Speech
"I had hoped that the noble Baroness would have listened to my response to the Front Benches. To be clear, we have identified gaps in existing law where we cannot prosecute offences properly. The legislation on domestic abuse and coercive control, for example, is designed for someone who has a …..." Lord Collins of Highbury - View Speech