Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure that oil from Russia refined in other countries (a) does not evade sanctions and (b) is used to support Russian forces during the war in Ukraine.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The action taken by the UK and partners to limit Russian energy revenues is having a significant impact, with Russia forced to shoulder a 24% reduction in oil and gas revenues in 2023 compared to 2022. We took robust action against Russia's 'shadow fleet' alongside allies at the European Political Community, and we are exploring further options to strengthen our sanctions, including in the energy sector.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of China's new judicial guidelines imposing criminal punishments on so-called Taiwanese separatists on British citizens.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We consider the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. New judicial guidelines are part of a series of assertive Chinese measures towards Taiwan in recent months.
Advice to British nationals travelling to China is set out in our travel advice, which includes risks around arrests and detention. Travel Advice is continually kept under review.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what assessment he has made of the (a) role and (b) impact of (i) the Wagner Group and (ii) other Russian funded mercenary forces in Africa.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK regularly assesses, alongside our international partners, the Kremlin's malign use of Wagner and other proxy Private Military Security Companies. Wherever these mercenaries operate, there are reports of human rights abuses; they are destructive for communities, exacerbate existing conflicts and exploit natural resources. We sanctioned Wagner Group in its entirety in 2022, several persons associated with Wagner's actions in Africa in 2023, and sanctions remain an option going forward. We are supporting African partners to respond and strengthen their resilience to Russian malign activity, including through humanitarian, development and stabilisation programmes, and strategic security and defence relationships.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he has made representations to his counterpart in the United Arab Emirates on that country's role (a) with the Rapid Support Forces and (b) in Sudan.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
In our engagement with all international partners, we emphasise the importance of refraining from actions that prolong the conflict. To this end, we welcome reported plans to restart talks in Jeddah in the coming weeks, with the involvement of the UAE alongside Egypt and African representation. The UK continues to work with a range of partners to end hostilities, allow safe unhindered humanitarian access, and protect civilians.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of rescinding diplomatic immunity from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in the UK.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996 provides the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office with certain privileges and immunities in line with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations for the purposes of furthering economic and trade interests. We currently have no plans to replace this legislation.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what steps he has taken to tackle the People’s Republic of China’s security and intelligence network operating in the UK in response to the arrest of three alleged spies.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
On Tuesday 14 May, on instruction from the Foreign Secretary, the Chinese Ambassador was summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The FCDO was unequivocal in setting out that the recent pattern of behaviour directed by China against the UK including cyberattacks, reports of espionage links and the issuing of bounties is not acceptable. The summons followed Monday's announcement that three people have been charged with offences under the National Security Act as part of an investigation led by officers from the Met Police's Counter Terrorism Command. The foreign intelligence service to which the charges relate is that of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. As the investigation remains ongoing, we will not comment further in relation to this case.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what steps his Department is taking to ensure compliance with sanctions against Russia by (a) JCB and (b) other companies.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
Non-compliance with UK sanctions is a serious offence that can result in prosecution. Departments and agencies from across His Majesty's Government are working together to support business compliance through the provision of detailed published guidance for exporters and financial institutions, including on circumvention red flags. We have been clear to UK business that they need to satisfy themselves that their goods will not end up in Russia in breach of sanctions, and must undertake robust due diligence. His Majesty's Revenue & Customs leads on the enforcement of trade sanctions at the border.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the Government's policy on deporting migrants to Rwanda; and whether any international counterparts have raised concerns about that policy.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
FCDO Ministers and officials engage regularly with other governments and international organisations on a range of issues, including illegal migration. The recent passing of the Safety of Rwanda Act is an important step forward in the UK's innovative efforts to tackle illegal migration. As such, the policy has received widespread international attention. A number of other countries are also exploring similar models of relocating migrants to safe third countries to process their asylum claims. As the UK courts have confirmed, this approach is compliant with the UK's obligations under international law.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether his Department (a) logs and (b) registers potential concerns raised by (i) other governments and (ii) international bodies on UK responsibilities toward (A) refugees and (B) asylum seekers.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We engage regularly with other governments and international organisations on matters relating to refugees and asylum seekers. The FCDO ensures that any potential concerns are actioned via effective and well-established channels.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether his Department is taking steps through the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict initiative to help support Ukrainian officials to investigate alleged acts of sexual violence by Russian forces since 2022.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
The UK is working with Ukrainian authorities to hold those responsible for gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence, in Ukraine to account. The UK has committed up to £6.2 million to enhance Ukraine's domestic capacity for war crimes investigations and to help embed international guidelines and best practice into the work of Ukrainian prosecutors and investigators, including on survivor-centred approaches. This assistance has been largely delivered through projects via the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group for Ukraine, established with the US and EU, and deployments of UK experts, including the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) Team of Experts.