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Written Question
Sudan: British Nationals Abroad
Wednesday 28th February 2024

Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department is taking steps to help support British citizens in Sudan to return to the UK in the context of the recent telecoms blackout.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

Due to the security situation the British Embassy in Sudan has temporarily closed. The consular support we can provide is severely limited as we have no in-person presence. However we continue to provide tailored remote consular assistance to British nationals still in Sudan, communicating through our telephone consular helpline, Travel Advice updates and consular teams. British nationals who require assistance can call us 24/7. We call on Sudan's warring parties to restore vital communications and internet services.


Written Question
Sudan: Food Aid
Monday 26th February 2024

Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department is taking steps to provide additional aid to alleviate the potential famine in Sudan.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The conflict is having a devastating impact on Sudanese populations, with 17.7 million people (37 percent of the population) now thought to be experiencing acute food insecurity, with the high risk of further deterioration. The UK is providing more than £38 million in humanitarian funding in 2023-24, including £12.2 million to UNICEF for lifesaving nutrition activities. In 2024/2025, the UK bilateral Official Development Assistance to Sudan will double to £89 million.


Written Question
Afghanistan: Politics and Government
Tuesday 13th February 2024

Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will publish the latest Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability assessment for Afghanistan; and if he will place a copy in the House Commons Library.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government last formally revised its Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability (JACS) for Afghanistan in 2019. We continue to carefully monitor the situation in Afghanistan with new reports and assessments commissioned by the UK and our partners on an on-going basis.

Due to the highly sensitive conflict context in Afghanistan, the latest JACS is not a public document. Other analysis is available, including the annual report issued by the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) that covers threats to conflict and stability worldwide. Further reports and assessments of a specific nature are released on a case-by-case basis.


Written Question
Afghanistan: Politics and Government
Tuesday 13th February 2024

Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, when the latest Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability assessment was reviewed for Afghanistan.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government last formally revised its Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability (JACS) for Afghanistan in 2019. We continue to carefully monitor the situation in Afghanistan with new reports and assessments commissioned by the UK and our partners on an on-going basis.

Due to the highly sensitive conflict context in Afghanistan, the latest JACS is not a public document. Other analysis is available, including the annual report issued by the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) that covers threats to conflict and stability worldwide. Further reports and assessments of a specific nature are released on a case-by-case basis.


Written Question
India: G20
Monday 5th June 2023

Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made representations to the Government of India on the potential impact of security arrangements associated with the G20 tourism meeting in May 2023 on people in Kashmir.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The G20 Third Tourism Working Group Meeting in Srinagar was attended by a delegation of UK officials based in India. This decision was in line with the high priority the UK places on the G20 as a forum to address pressing global challenges. Prior to attending, safety and security considerations were among factors that were taken into account.

The UK Government's position is clear that any allegation of human rights abuse is deeply concerning and should be investigated thoroughly, promptly, and transparently. Our long-standing position is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting political resolution to the situation in Kashmir, considering the wishes of the Kashmiri people.


Written Question
India: Human Rights
Monday 5th June 2023

Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if officials in his Department will make representations to their Indian counterparts on human rights and self determination in Kashmir at the tourism meeting of the G20 in Srinagar.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The G20 Third Tourism Working Group Meeting in Srinagar was attended by a delegation of UK officials based in India. This decision was in line with the high priority the UK places on the G20 as a forum to address pressing global challenges. Prior to attending, safety and security considerations were among factors that were taken into account.

The UK Government's position is clear that any allegation of human rights abuse is deeply concerning and should be investigated thoroughly, promptly, and transparently. Our long-standing position is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting political resolution to the situation in Kashmir, considering the wishes of the Kashmiri people.


Written Question
International Cooperation: Disputed Territories
Thursday 1st June 2023

Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his Department's policy is on Government attendance at international summits hosted in disputed territories.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The FCDO does not have a fixed policy on whether to attend international meetings in disputed territories. Attendance is assessed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with UK interests.


Written Question
Afghanistan: Hazara
Thursday 1st June 2023

Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support his Department is providing to Hazaras in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

FCDO officials regularly press the Taliban to protect religious and ethnic minorities, including Shia Muslims and Hazara communities. We are working with international partners to ensure credible monitoring. In October, we co-sponsored a Human Rights Council resolution to extend the UN Special Rapporteur's mandate. His recent report included an assessment of the violence and threats against religious minorities and the situation for Hazara communities. In December, the Minister for South Asia, Lord [Tariq] Ahmad of Wimbledon, met representatives from Hazara community groups.


Written Question
Bangladesh: Rohingya
Wednesday 31st May 2023

Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh following Cyclone Mocha.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I was saddened to see the impact of Cyclone Mocha in Bangladesh. We continue to meet ongoing needs in the aftermath of the cyclone. The UK recently announced an additional £2.3 million in humanitarian support for the Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh.

This new funding will support the rebuilding of shelters destroyed by Cyclone Mocha and by the large fire in March this year. It will also provide healthcare, site management support, and strengthen safeguarding systems for Rohingya refugees and host communities.

The UK is the second largest donor to the crisis, providing £352 million since 2017. We will continue to support the Government of Bangladesh and the Rohingya people until they can return home in a safe, voluntary and dignified way.


Written Question
Israel: Palestinian Islamic Jihad
Wednesday 24th May 2023

Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure a ceasefire between Israel and Islamic Jihad lasts.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We continue to closely monitor the security situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). The Foreign Secretary said in his 14 May statement that the UK welcomes the announcement of this Egyptian-brokered ceasefire and will support efforts to promote dialogue and create a pathway towards sustainable peace. The UK has proscribed Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) as a terrorist entity since March 2001 and as such does not engage with members of its organisation. PIJ and other terrorist groups must cease all actions that are violent or provocative, or that put civilian lives at risk. The Foreign Secretary wrote to Israeli Foreign Minister Cohen on 10 May to reiterate the UK's support for Israel's right to self-defence and to encourage the facilitation of humanitarian access to Gaza.