Asked by: Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether discussions between Ministers or officials of his Department and the Northern Ireland Executive on budgetary challenges facing that Executive during 2015 included the escalated spending exposure under the Northern Ireland non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme.
Answered by James Brokenshire
Ministers and officials of the Northern Ireland Office engage regularly with the Executive to discuss matters of mutual interest. However, I am not aware of any specific discussions on the costs of the Northern Ireland renewable heating scheme during the period in question.
Asked by: Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of Sudan on the arrest of the human rights defender Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and his driver Adam El-Sheikh Mukhtar on 7 December 2016.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Whilst we have not yet raised this case specifically with the government of Sudan, we have expressed our support for the African Commission on Human and People's Rights' call for the release of Dr Mudawi made on 17 December.
We regularly make representations to the government of Sudan on arbitrary arrests and detentions of human rights defenders. Most recently, together with our Troika (US and Norway), EU and other international partners we released a statement on 7 December condemning the increase in political detentions and newspapers' censorship.
Asked by: Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union on continued freedom of movement for EU nationals who contribute to dementia medical research in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
We hugely value the contribution of EU and international staff. The UK will maintain its status as a global centre for research and innovation, including for medical research. There will be no immediate changes in circumstances for EU citizens working or studying in the UK.
My Rt Hon Friend the Prime Minister has been clear that during negotiations we want to protect the status of EU nationals already living here, and the only circumstances in which that would not be possible is if British citizens’ rights in European member states were not protected in return.
Asked by: Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has received on the death sentence of Mohammed Ramadan in Bahrain.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and our Embassy in Bahrain continute to closely monitor Mohammed Ramadan's case. We also continue to encourage the Government of Bahrain to deliver on its international and domestic human rights commitments. We have raised concerns both in public and in private, by having frank discussions including at the most senior levels. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) was very clear during her recent visit that we want to see Gulf states embed international norms and see through essential reforms.Asked by: Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will take steps in the negotiations on the UK leaving the EU to maintain labour mobility for EU nationals who contribute to dementia research after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
As a government we recognise the contribution that our world-class research base makes to our economy and wellbeing. We will always welcome those with the skills, the drive and the expertise to make a positive contribution. If we are to win in the global marketplace, we must win the global battle for talent.
We place huge value on maintaining the UK’s unique arrangements with Ireland and the friendly, cooperative relationship we have built of recent years. The open border for people and businesses has served us well and no-one wants to see a return to the borders of the past. There is a very strong commitment from the Irish Government, the Northern Ireland Executive as well as ourselves to see that this does not happen.
Asked by: Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if the Government will support free movement for EU nationals who contribute to dementia research in the UK when the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
As a government we recognise the contribution that our world-class research base makes to our economy and wellbeing. We will always welcome those with the skills, the drive and the expertise to make a positive contribution. If we are to win in the global marketplace, we must win the global battle for talent.
We place huge value on maintaining the UK’s unique arrangements with Ireland and the friendly, cooperative relationship we have built of recent years. The open border for people and businesses has served us well and no-one wants to see a return to the borders of the past. There is a very strong commitment from the Irish Government, the Northern Ireland Executive as well as ourselves to see that this does not happen.
Asked by: Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Sudanese counterpart on the trial of members and affiliates of the Centre for Training and Human Development.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We continue to raise our concerns about the trial of members of the human rights NGO TRACKs directly with the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of our ongoing human rights dialogue, most recently during the visit of the Sudanese Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs on 10 October. I also made our wider human rights concerns clear to the Sudanese delegation during the same visit.
In coordination with our international partners we have ensured that there is a diplomatic presence at each stage of the trial of the members and affiliates of the Centre for Training and Human Development. Officials from our Embassy last attended on 30 August, and US officials attended the most recent hearing on 22 November.
Asked by: Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
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 fairness of the trial relating to members and affiliates of the Centre for Training and Human Development in Sudan.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We continue to raise our concerns about the trial of members of the human rights NGO TRACKs directly with the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of our ongoing human rights dialogue, most recently during the visit of the Sudanese Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs on 10 October. I also made our wider human rights concerns clear to the Sudanese delegation during the same visit.
In coordination with our international partners we have ensured that there is a diplomatic presence at each stage of the trial of the members and affiliates of the Centre for Training and Human Development. Officials from our Embassy last attended on 30 August, and US officials attended the most recent hearing on 22 November.
Asked by: Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Sudanese counterpart on the six-month detention of Khalafalla Al-Afif Mukhtar, Midhat Afif Al-Deen Hamdan and Mustafa Adam on charges relating to their work and affiliation with the Centre for Training and Human Development.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We continue to raise our concerns about the trial of members of the human rights NGO TRACKs directly with the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of our ongoing human rights dialogue, most recently during the visit of the Sudanese Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs on 10 October. I also made our wider human rights concerns clear to the Sudanese delegation during the same visit.
In coordination with our international partners we have ensured that there is a diplomatic presence at each stage of the trial of the members and affiliates of the Centre for Training and Human Development. Officials from our Embassy last attended on 30 August, and US officials attended the most recent hearing on 22 November.
Asked by: Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he has received reports on forced closure of Baha'i shops and businesses in Iran and associated economic repression by the Iranian authorities; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The UK regularly raises human rights concerns with the Iranian government including the continued persecution of religious minorities and treatment of the Baha'i community. We are aware of the enforced closures of Baha'i businesses by the Iranian authorities. We call on Iran to cease harassment of all religious minorities and to fulfil its international and domestic obligations to allow freedom of religion to all Iranians.