Asked by: Neil Carmichael (Conservative - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has (a) received and (b) made to the Egyptian government on investigations in Egypt into non-governmental organisations and their funding which form part of Case No. 173 (2011).
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We have received representations from both Parliamentarians and non-governmental organisations in relation to this case.
We are deeply concerned by growing restrictions on civil society in Egypt, including asset freezes and travel bans against human rights defenders and NGOs. I have frequently raised this with the Egyptian Ambassador and issued a statement on 22 March. Officials regularly raise our concerns with representatives of the Egyptian Government in both Cairo and London, most recently in May.
Asked by: Neil Carmichael (Conservative - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2015 to Question 221023, what discussions (a) he and (b) officials in his Department have had with the new government of Sri Lanka.
Answered by Lord Swire
At the end of January I visited Sri Lanka where I met President Sirisena, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, Foreign Minister Samaraweera, and a number of Deputy Ministers of the newly elected government. I was delighted to welcome Foreign Minister Samaraweera’s to the UK in February, which was followed by the visit of President Sirisena and Foreign Minister Samaraweera in March. During this visit the President had an audience with Her Majesty The Queen and met the Prime Minister, my right Hon. Friend the Member for Whitney (Mr Cameron), and the Secretary of State for Defence, my right Hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Mr Fallon). Foreign Minister Samaraweera also met the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) and Minister of State for the Department for International Development, my right Hon. Friend the Member for New Forest West (Mr Swayne), as well as myself.
Meetings focussed on the new Sri Lankan government’s plans to build lasting reconciliation across Sri Lanka, and encouraging Sri Lanka to deliver on its commitments to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. In particular, the Prime Minister welcomed the early commitments announced by President Sirisena to lead a more democratic and accountable government but was clear that, meaningful engagement with the ongoing UN process ahead of its report in September is central to the UK’s continued support for Sri Lanka.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials in London and at the British High Commission in Colombo remain in regular and close contact with the new Sri Lankan government.
Asked by: Neil Carmichael (Conservative - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information his Department holds on which nations have (a) successfully incorporated and (b) are in the process of incorporating relevant measures of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty into domestic law.
Answered by James Duddridge
37 countries have ratified the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty and its first five annexes. This comprises all 29 Consultative Parties, i.e. those with voting rights at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, and eight non-Consultative Parties. In addition, twelve Consultative Parties have ratified Annex VI of the Environmental Protocol on liability arising from an environmental emergency. A further three Consultative Parties have notified of their progress towards ratification of Annex VI. Annex VI will come into force when ratified by all 28 Consultative Parties that were entitled to attend the twenty-eighth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting.
Asked by: Neil Carmichael (Conservative - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assurances he has had from the US administration about the (a) treatment of remaining prisoners at Guantánamo Bay and (b) efforts to seek the release of Shaker Aamer.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
With the exception of those relating to Shaker Aamer, the British Government receives no specific assurances from the US administration about the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, as no British nationals remain among them. However, whilst Shaker Aamer is not a British national, his connections to the UK mean that he remains a high priority for the British Government. We continue to seek assurances regarding Mr Aamer’s health and welfare through our engagement with the US authorities, and we continue to make clear to the US that we want him released and returned to the UK as a matter of urgency.