Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he had discussions with (a) the Iraqi Prime Minister and (b) his Iraqi counterpart on Elizabeth Tsurkov on 14 January 2025.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK remains concerned over the kidnapping of Israeli-Russian dual national Elizabeth Tsurkov. The Government of Iraq's investigation into her kidnapping is ongoing, and we await the findings. Recent reports that Prime Minister al-Sudani is making great efforts to secure Elizabeth Tsurkov's release are encouraging. Those suspected of criminal responsibility of her kidnapping should be brought to justice in fair trials. The Government has not had any discussion with the Government of Iraq regarding the kidnapping.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it his policy to (a) establish and (b) support negotiations for a ceasefire in (i) the West Bank and (ii) East Jerusalem.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Stability in the West Bank and East Jerusalem is crucial to ensure that the fragile ceasefire in Gaza can last. The UK will continue to work with Israel, the Palestinian Authority, the US, and regional partners to build consensus for a post-conflict Gaza governance and security framework that supports conditions for a permanent and sustainable peace.
The ceasefire marks the first step in ensuring long-term peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians, and the wider region, bringing much-needed stability. Our attention must turn to how we secure a permanently better future for the Israeli and Palestinian people - grounded in a two-state solution that will guarantee security and stability for Israel, alongside a sovereign and viable Palestinian state.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it her policy to seize UK-based assets of Bashar al-Assad and redirect the funds to Syrian civil society.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
After decades of atrocities committed by the Assad regime, we stand with the people of Syria.
UK-based assets of the Assad regime remain frozen. As with all our sanctions, we keep our approach under review. We do not comment on future designations as to do so lessens their potential impact.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the level of risk to the safety of health workers in Gaza; and what steps he is taking to help protect those workers.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We welcome the agreement to end the fighting in Gaza. It is the first step in ensuring long-term peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians and the wider region, bringing much-needed stability, but we have always been clear that an immediate ceasefire is just the first step towards a lasting solution to this crisis. Gazan civilians must be protected, and able to access effective healthcare. The UK has consistently raised concerns about the impact of this conflict on Gaza's healthcare system and medical staff, including reiterating the requirement for all parties to comply with International Humanitarian Law. Israel must allow medical staff to carry out their work unimpeded, and to travel around Gaza as needed. On 27 December I made clear to Israel's government that the situation in northern Gaza cannot continue and raised our serious concern about repeated strikes on Kamal Adwan hospital, and the safety of civilians and medical workers there. In recent weeks, I have raised the need to ensure healthcare facilities in North Gaza are protected, and to enable World Health Organization and International Committee of the Red Cross access, with both the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister and Israel's Ambassador to the UK.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government plans to raise case of Alaa Abd el-Fattah at the upcoming Universal Periodic Review session for Egypt at the United Nations.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government remains committed to securing the release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah. We continue to raise Mr El-Fattah's case at the highest levels with the Egyptian Government.
The FCDO will use the upcoming Universal Periodic Review session on Egypt in January to raise issues relating to human rights.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with international allies on efforts to help secure the release of Alaa Abd el-Fattah in Egypt.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government remains committed to securing the release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah. We continue to raise Mr El-Fattah's case at the highest levels of the Egyptian Government.
FCDO officials speak regularly with likeminded partners on how to enhance international cooperation and end the practice of arbitrary arrest, detention or sentencing.
The Prime Minister wrote to President Sisi to raise Mr El-Fattah's case on 26 December. The Foreign Secretary also raised the case with Egyptian Foreign Minister Abdelatty most recently on 20 December 2024. The National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell raised this with the Foreign Minister on 2 January 2025.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the imprisonment of (a) Yasin Malik and (b) other political prisoners under the Public Safety Act in India.
Answered by Catherine West
HM Government has made no specific assessments related to the case of Yasmin Malik or others detained in India under the Public Safety Act. It is not for the UK to comment on an independent judicial process in another country. However, we encourage all states to ensure that their domestic laws adhere to international standards for free and fair trials and that the treatment of detainees respects international obligations.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of providing a list of LGBTQ+ friendly travel destinations in travel guidance to British citizens.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds
FCDO travel advice provides information to help British nationals, including those who are LGBT+, make informed decisions about their foreign travel.
No travel is completely safe. We try to make objective judgements and we will advise against travel when we judge that the level of risk is unacceptably high.
We recognise, however, that LGBT+ people can face particular risks and challenges due to the stigma, discrimination and even violence that they can experience around the world. This is why the FCDO, in addition to country-specific advice, has worked with LGBT+ people and organisations to develop specific gov.uk guidance for LGBT+ people travelling abroad: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender-foreign-travel-advice.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the election results in Georgia on the safety of LGBTQ+ people in that country.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have not yet assessed the specific impact of the 27 October Georgian parliamentary elections on the safety of LGBT+ people. However, it is clear that the direction of the Georgian Dream party risks undermining freedom of expression and assembly and further discriminating against and stigmatising Georgia's LGBT+ community, including through the introduction of the Law on Family Values. We work closely with our partners to advance equality, including through the Equal Rights Coalition and the European LGBTI Focal Points Network. On 9 October, I raised my concerns over recent legislative changes, including these laws, with Georgian Foreign Minister Darchiashvili.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of reports that Israeli settlers plan to cross into Gaza and create outposts.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Settlements are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace and threaten the physical viability of a two-state solution. The Government will challenge those who undermine the prospects of a two-state solution or use hateful rhetoric. We will look at all options to take tougher action.
Settlement expansion in the West Bank has reached record levels in the past year and has been accompanied by an increase in settler violence. During the Foreign Secretary's visit to Israel and the OPTs on 14-15 July, he met with Palestinians displaced in the West Bank and was horrified to hear of acts of violence carried out by settlers. The Foreign Secretary made the UK's position clear to those communities and to the Israeli government.