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.
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.
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 Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Co-operation between the Prime Minister and the President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic, signed on 27 April 2023, what progress he has made on enhancing (a) youth mobility and (b) cultural exchange between the UK and Italy.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
As close allies, the UK and Italy enjoy strong people to people links. On 27 April, Prime Minister Sunak and Prime Minister Meloni signed a Memorandum of Understanding that aspires to deepen these ties and we are continuing to explore opportunities to strengthen mobility and cultural exchange with our Italian counterparts. The British Embassy in Rome works closely with the British Council in Italy to promote bilateral cultural exchange, for example through programmes with a focus on disability in the arts and a cultural workshop at the annual Pontignano forum on 14-16 September.
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, what recent representations he has made to his counterparts in Iran on Abbas Deris.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Whilst we welcome recent reports that Iran's high court has suspended Mr Deris' execution while it reviews his appeal, we are aware this could be reversed. Since October 2022, the UK has imposed more than 80 new sanctions in response to human rights violations by Iran, including those involved in unfair trials and the imposition of the death penalty. We raise Iran's use of the death penalty regularly in London and through our Ambassador in Tehran. On 5 July we initiated a joint-statement against the death penalty in Iran, co-signed by 54 countries. On the same day, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon also issued a statement reiterating calls for a moratorium on executions.
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, what assessment the Government has made of the implications for its policies of the Summit for a new global financing pact, held in Paris from 22 to 23 June 2023.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
I [Minister Mitchell], represented the PM at the Paris Summit. The Summit generated additional political momentum on issues relating to International Financial System reform, giving developing countries a visible platform to put across their priorities. In response to such priorities, the UK held a prominent side-event which launched a call to action on 'Climate Resilient Debt Clauses' (CRDC). CRDCs can enable developing countries to pause repayments on loans if disasters strike. This builds on UK Export Finance (UKEF) becoming the first export credit agency in the world to introduce CRDCs into its loan agreements which was announced at COP27 in 2022. The side-event at Paris included starting a tally of commitments from other countries and Multilateral Development Banks which continues to grow and was a prominent outcome of the Summit.
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, what steps his Department is taking to support the Affordability of Food and Finance programme in Yemen.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Food insecurity and malnutrition levels in Yemen remain severe in 2023: 17 million people currently experience acute food insecurity. With 90% of Yemen's food being imported, exchange rate volatility is a leading factor driving famine risk. Consequently, the FCDO's Affordability of Food & Finance in Yemen (AFFY) programme targets short-term economic stabilisation and conflict-related drivers of food insecurity.
In the longer-term, AFFY aims to support prospects for peace and recovery by laying the groundwork for large-scale recovery and reconstruction funding that would follow a peace settlement. The AFFY programme will spend up to £17 million over 3 years. AFFY sits within our wider portfolio of programmes targeting food insecurity and humanitarian need.
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, what steps his Department is taking to facilitate the release of Vladimir Kara-Murza.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
We condemn the politically motivated sentencing of Vladimir Kara-Murza, and continue to call for his release. On the day of Mr Kara-Murza's sentencing, we summoned the Russian Ambassador to the FCDO and pressed him on Mr Kara-Murza's release and respect of his fundamental human rights. We have maintained pressure on Russia, sanctioning 5 individuals relating to Mr Kara-Murza's detention and treatment in April. We will continue to raise Mr. Kara-Murza's case with the Russian authorities both in London and Moscow, and call for his release in multilateral fora, as the Foreign Secretary did before the UN Human Rights Council in February.
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, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help mitigate the impact of increases in interest rates on the debt repayments of developing countries.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The impact of changes in interest rates for developing countries' debt will depend on the terms of that debt, and any new debt they take on.
Those with the highest risk of debt distress receive grants from the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs).
The Government is pressing for all creditors to offer loans with Climate Resilient Debt Clauses, which pause repayments if there is a natural disaster. UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the first export credit agency to offer these.
The Government will continue to work with its international partners in the Paris Club and the G20 to urgently address debt vulnerabilities in developing countries.
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, what recent steps he has taken to help tackle the persecution of and violence against (a) Christians and (b) other minorities in Nigeria.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Insecurity is undermining freedom of religion or belief for all communities in Nigeria. I [Andrew Mitchell] raised the effects of rising insecurity on communities with Nigerian President-elect Tinubu, in December 2022. At a federal level, we have provided technical assistance for the establishment of the Peace and Inclusive Security Initiative of the Nigeria Governors' Forum, which helps tackle intercommunal violence. The UK is also funding peacebuilding projects in several Nigerian states which support community reconciliation by training peace ambassadors and faith leaders. Helping Nigeria tackle violence against civilians will remain a focus of the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership. The UK Government will continue to encourage the Nigerian Government to assist affected communities and implement long-term solutions.
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 his Department has taken steps to allocate Official Development Assistance to meet the objectives of the Prosperity Fund.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The FCDO Prosperity Fund is closed so does not apply to our Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations.