Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle the flow of undocumented migrants through Belgian ports.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The Government is working closely with Belgian colleagues to prevent illegal migrants travelling, and to undermine the business model driving organised illegal immigration. Joint investigations and operational cooperation have seen a number of successes in disrupting organised crime groups. We are also working to tackle people smuggling through the People Smuggling Amplification Plan. We are cooperating with Belgian, French and Dutch law enforcement agencies to share information and build capacity as part of those efforts.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the Myanmar Government on the persecution of the Rohingya in the past month.
Answered by Mark Field
The UK's Permanent Representative to the United Nations made representations on the treatment of the Rohingya to senior members of Burma's Government during the UN Security Council's visit to Burma of 30 April to 1 May.
The British Ambassador to Burma met Commander in Chief of Burma's military on 3 May and urged him to accept an inquiry with international involvement into the human rights violations carried out against the Rohingya of Rakhine State.
The Ambassador met Burma's Minister for Social Welfare on 3 May and restated the UK's readiness to support the implementation of the Rakhine Advisory Commission's report, which includes recommendations that would address the persecution of the Rohingya in Rakhine State.
The Ambassador met Burma's National Security Advisor on 4 May and encouraged Burma's Government to take steps to improve the living conditions and opportunities of the Rohingya currently resident in Internally Displaced Person camps near Sittwe, Rakhine State. He also encouraged provision of educational opportunities to ethnic Rakhine and Rohingya students on an equal basis.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Algerian Government on the forced closure of Christian churches in that country.
Answered by Alistair Burt
We are concerned about the recent church closures in Algeria. Our Ambassador in Algeria has been in touch with the Protestant Church of Algeria, who have raised the closures with the Algerian Ministry of Interior. Our Ambassador will also raise with the Algerian authorities. The Algerian Constitution provides for freedom of conscience and religion. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon discussed the importance of freedom of religion and belief with the Algerian Minister for Religious Affairs in October 2017.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if will make representations to the UN on the murder of Jan Kuciak in Slovakia.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The UK condemns the murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kusnirova; we have offered our condolences. We have offered assistance to the Slovak authorities in their investigation if required. The Slovak government have not asked the UK to make representations to the UN on Kuciak's murder. It would be unusual for the UK to make representations to the UN on the murder of a non-British national not on UK soil, especially if the government in question has not requested it.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the Government of the United Arab Emirates on the persecution of Christians in that country.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Human rights, including the protection of freedom of religion or belief, is a UK foreign policy priority. As part of our bilateral relationship with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), we discuss human rights at both ministerial and official levels. We note the positive steps the UAE has made in this area, including the establishment of the Ministry of Tolerance in 2016, with the objective of supporting religious tolerance and diversity. Promoting dialogue between different faiths was a key theme of the visit of HRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to the UAE in 2016. This included a reception hosted at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque involving a discussion with leaders of the Christian faith in the UAE.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage free and fair elections in Commonwealth nations.
Answered by Alistair Burt
We are committed to upholding the principles of the Commonwealth Charter, including the inalienable right of individuals to participate in free and fair elections. Our High Commissions regularly engage with a range of political actors and institutions across the Commonwealth in support of those principles.
We also support the work of the Commonwealth Secretariat in this field: both its co-ordination of Commonwealth Election Observer Groups and the technical assistance it provides to improve electoral systems, practice and legislation in Commonwealth member states. In addition, the UK works closely with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association to promote stronger parliamentary democracy in the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London in April will discuss the protection and promotion of democracy. The UK will also join the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, which acts as the custodian of the values and principles set out in the Commonwealth Charter
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the treatment of Christians in Egypt.
Answered by Alistair Burt
We are concerned about terrorist attacks in Egypt that have targeted the Coptic community and at reports of sectarian violence. Combating sectarian violence is a shared strategic objective for the Egyptian and British Governments and we welcome President Sisi's calls for peaceful coexistence between communities. The Government of Egypt has stated its commitment to protecting the rights of minorities and of the need for religious tolerance, and the Egyptian constitution contains protection for Freedom of Religious Belief. It is important that these rights are respected.