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Written Question
El Salvador: Abortion
Wednesday 20th March 2024

Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what discussion he has had with his El Salvadorean counterpart on implementation of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights judgment on Manuela v El Salvador on access to safe abortion.

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

As outlined in the Women and Girls Strategy, the UK supports women's comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights globally, including access to safe abortion. We continue to recommend in multilateral settings that El Salvador should review laws criminalising the use of abortion, ensure access to sexual and reproductive health services and support for all women and girls, and guarantee women are not criminally prosecuted for suffering a miscarriage.


Written Question
El Salvador: Politics and Government
Wednesday 20th March 2024

Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what discussions he has had with his El Salvadorean counterpart on the 30-day state of emergency in that country; and what reports he has received on the potential impact of the state of emergency on (a) women and girls (i) in rural areas and (ii) generally and (b) other vulnerable groups.

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

Since the state of emergency was declared in March 2022, UK officials have continued to encourage the authorities in El Salvador to uphold international human rights standards and constitutional protections in respect of all groups, including women and girls. I [Minister Rutley] have discussed the security situation in El Salvador with counterparts including the Vice President and the Foreign Minister and have underlined the importance of a balance between the reduction of violent crime and the continued protection of human rights. Officials continue to engage with civil society to assess the wider impact of the state of emergency.


Written Question
Gaza: Journalism
Wednesday 13th March 2024

Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent steps he has taken to ensure the protection of journalists in Gaza.

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

We recognise the valuable role of journalists operating on the ground in Gaza, providing important coverage of the conflict in incredibly challenging circumstances. On 5 December, the UK supported a joint statement of the Media Freedom Coalition expressing concern over the repercussions for the safety of journalists and access to information due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. We continue to call on all parties to the conflict to comply with international law and protect civilians, including guaranteeing the protection of journalists and media workers.

There must be a reduction in civilian casualties and Israel must take greater care to limit its operations to military targets. These are points that the Prime Minister has consistently made and reinforced with Prime Minster Netanyahu when they spoke on 15 February.


Written Question
Palestinians: Humanitarian Aid
Wednesday 24th January 2024

Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps he is taking to help ensure that adequate aid is being allowed into Palestine.

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

The UK has trebled its aid commitment for this financial year and is working closely with partners in international agencies and in the region to get aid to where it is desperately needed.

We played a leading role in securing the passage of Security Council resolution 2720, which set out the urgent demand for expanded humanitarian access, and supported the United Nations World Food Programme to deliver a new humanitarian land corridor from Jordan into Gaza, with 750 metric tons of life-saving food aid arriving in the first delivery. The Foreign Secretary continues to discuss and press for the action that needs to be taken to increase aid to Gaza in his regular calls with his Israeli, Egyptian, Jordanian, Lebanese, US and Palestinian Authority counterparts. The Foreign Secretary's Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Mark Bryson-Richardson, is based in the region and working intensively to address the blockages preventing more aid reaching Gaza.


Written Question
Gaza: Hospitals
Wednesday 24th January 2024

Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps he is taking to help protect (a) hospitals, (b) medical staff and (c) civilians in Gaza.

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

Israel has a right to defend itself against Hamas, but it must comply with International Humanitarian Law; including the protection of hospitals, civilians, and medical staff. We want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes. The UK trebled our aid commitment this financial year and is doing everything it can do to get more aid in and open more crossings.


Written Question
Israel: Administration of Justice
Wednesday 18th October 2023

Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with the Government of Israel on the protests against that Government's proposed judicial reforms.

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

The Prime Minister made clear the importance of upholding the shared democratic values that underpin our relationship, including in relation to the proposed judicial reforms in Israel during his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 24 March in London. The Foreign Secretary also raised judicial reform and the importance of seeking consensus on this sensitive issue with Mr Netanyahu and the Israeli Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, during his visit to Israel on 11-13 September. The UK enjoys a deep and historic relationship with Israel and we continue to urge all parties to ensure that a robust system of checks and balances, and the independence of Israel's judiciary, are preserved.


Written Question
Japan: Educational Exchanges
Monday 11th September 2023

Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Hiroshima Accord signed by the British and Japanese Prime Ministers on 18 May 2023, what progress he has made on revitalising people-to-people exchanges between the UK and Japan through (a) those in education through study abroad, (b) the youth mobility scheme and (c) other areas.

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

On 21 June the Foreign Secretary met Yoshimasa Hayashi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. The Foreign Secretary and Minister Hayashi confirmed our joint desire to continue strengthening UK-Japan bilateral relations, building on the landmark Hiroshima Accord signed by our respective Prime Ministers on 18 May. People-to-people exchanges between the UK and Japan, including in education and youth mobility schemes, are a key part of the Accord agenda. Consultations with the Japanese government in this regard are ongoing.


Written Question
Morocco: Overseas Students
Monday 11th September 2023

Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the joint declaration of the Fourth session of the Moroccan-UK Strategic Dialogue and second session of the Association Council of the UK-Morocco Association Agreement, signed on 9 May 2023 by the Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and the United Nations and the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Co-operation and Moroccan Expatriates, what progress he has made on capitalising on the growing enthusiasm and interest in studying in the UK and the promotion of the English language among Moroccan youth.

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

The UK and Morocco cooperate closely on education. This includes work to increase English language proficiency among middle school students. The number of British Accredited Schools and international schools adopting a British curriculum has grown significantly over the last two years. The UK and Morocco work closely through the Higher Education Commission. The fifth meeting took place in May, co-chaired by the Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, and Abdellatif Miraoui, Moroccan Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, and at which a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to increase English language assessments in Moroccan public universities.


Written Question
Educational Exchanges: Croatia
Monday 11th September 2023

Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the joint declaration signed by the Foreign Secretary and the Croatian Minister of Foreign & European Affairs on 28 April 2023, what steps his Department has taken to support (a) educational and (b) cultural exchanges between the UK and Croatia.

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

As close neighbours and allies, the UK and Croatia enjoy strong people to people links. On 28 April, the Foreign Secretary signed a Joint Declaration with Croatian Foreign Minister Radman that aspires to deepen these ties and we are continuing to explore opportunities to strengthen cultural and educational exchanges with our Croatian counterparts. We collaborate closely on education, including through research and joint qualifications in partnership with UK and Croatian universities. The British Council also continues to support cultural and educational exchanges between the UK and Croatia. I [Minister Docherty] will be visiting Croatia in September and will review progress made on the joint declaration in discussion with my counterpart.


Written Question
Educational Exchanges: Denmark
Monday 11th September 2023

Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Joint statement on foreign, security, defence, development and bilateral cooperation between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Kingdom of Denmark, signed by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs on 20 June 2023, what progress he has made on enhancing (a) youth mobility and (b) cultural exchange between the UK and Denmark.

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

As close neighbours and allies, the UK and Denmark enjoy strong people to people links. On 20 June, the Foreign Secretary signed a Joint Statement with Danish Foreign Minister Rasmussen that will deepen these ties and we are continuing to explore opportunities to strengthen mobility and cultural exchange with our Danish counterparts.

The UK remains open to negotiating Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) arrangements with international partners, including EU Member States. Given these are bilateral agreements, further details of additional YMS agreements will be announced as and when they are concluded.