Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent discussions he has had with his Indian counterpart on the protection of freedom of religion or belief in that country.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government is committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all and promoting respect and tolerance between different religious and non-religious communities. We have a broad and deep partnership with the Government of India and we discuss all elements of our relationship, including human rights and FoRB. FoRB was among issues discussed by Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for South Asia, with the Government of India during his visit to India in February 2024.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had recent discussions with his counterparts in China on the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We remain deeply concerned about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and others on the grounds of their religion or belief in China. The environment for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) across China is restrictive, which includes the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. The British government works with international organisations and networks to promote and protect the freedom of religion or belief for all where it is threatened, including through the UN, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe, and the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance. The Foreign Secretary set out his concerns about human rights violations in China during his introductory call with China's Foreign Minister on 5 December 2023.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether an Indian Research and Analysis Wing agent was expelled from London in 2023.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It is longstanding government policy not to comment on intelligence matters.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether an Indian Police Service officer was expelled from London in 2023.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It is longstanding government policy not to comment on intelligence matters.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had recent discussions with his Pakistani counterpart on (a) the principle of non-refoulement and (b) its other obligations under international human rights law in the context of the treatment of Afghan refugees.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government is working with the UN Refugee Agency and other international organisations to monitor the return of Afghans from Pakistan, including the humanitarian and human rights implications. We regularly raise human rights at the highest levels with the Government of Pakistan. The Foreign Secretary met with Pakistan's Caretaker Foreign Minister on 30 November 2023 and received assurances towards the safety of Afghans who are eligible for UK resettlement under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) schemes. Since September, we have committed £18.5 million to the International Organisation for Migration in Afghanistan to support undocumented returnees.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what humanitarian assistance his Department is providing to people displaced by violence in Manipur.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Our diplomatic network in India closely follows reports of violence in the state of Manipur. The UK Government has a broad and deep partnership with the Government of India, and we discuss all elements of our relationship, including any humanitarian assistance. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for South Asia, raised the current situation in Manipur with the Indian Government during his visit to India in May.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
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 his Indian counterpart on the recent violence in Manipur.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Our diplomatic network in India closely follows reports of violence in the state of Manipur. The UK Government has a broad and deep partnership with the Government of India, and we discuss all elements of our relationship. Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for South Asia, raised the current situation in Manipur with the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs during his visit to India in May. The British High Commissioner to India and our Deputy High Commissioner for East and Northeast India, over the last year, visited relevant communities including at Christian and Hindu places of worship.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what documents he plans to make available for people to respond to as part of the consultation on the International Development White Paper.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
It is vital that the International Development White Paper is produced in partnership with a wide range of people and organisations, as progress on international development itself can only be achieved through collaboration. We are consulting a wide range of partners, including: civil society in the UK and internationally, the private sector, academia, partner governments, multilateral and international organisations, and local communities and citizens. The FCDO launched a Call for Evidence on 28 July, inviting submissions of evidence to develop the White Paper. Anyone can respond to the Call for Evidence, closing on 16 September.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how the International Development White Paper will relate to the 2022 International Development Strategy.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The International Development White Paper will set out the UK's approach to international development up to 2030. It will build on, not replace, the 2022 International Development Strategy and the development objectives set out in the Integrated Review Refresh. The White Paper will develop an ambitious and strategic agenda that looks to galvanise global action, seed innovation and broker new partnerships and solutions to achieve global progress.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has to consult on the International Development White Paper.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
It is vital that the International Development White Paper is produced in partnership with a wide range of people and organisations, as progress on international development itself can only be achieved through collaboration. We are consulting a wide range of partners, including: civil society in the UK and internationally, the private sector, academia, partner governments, multilateral and international organisations, and local communities and citizens. The FCDO launched a Call for Evidence on 28 July, inviting submissions of evidence to develop the White Paper. Anyone can respond to the Call for Evidence, closing on 16 September.