Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make it her policy to support a general licence for humanitarian activities inside Ukraine to ensure that money donated to the people of Ukraine is able to reach those who need it.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
Sanctions are carefully targeted so as not to impede the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The UK seeks to minimise any unintended consequences of sanctions, including through use of licensing provisions or exceptions where appropriate. HMG has regular engagement with NGOs and banks through the Tri-Sector Group and is committed to ensuring the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if the Sanctions Unit will support a general licence for humanitarian activities in Ukraine in order that charities are able spend the money donated to them by the British public.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
Sanctions are carefully targeted so as not to impede the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The UK seeks to minimise any unintended consequences of sanctions, including through use of licensing provisions or exceptions where appropriate. HMG has regular engagement with NGOs and banks through the Tri-Sector Group and is committed to ensuring the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with representatives of the insurance industry in the UK on the activities of that industry that fund the Myanmar military.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The UK Government is clear that UK businesses must fully comply with relevant sanctions and not enter relationships that benefit the military. Businesses should consult the Department for International Trade's Overseas Business Risk Guidance for further information (Overseas Business Risk: Myanmar (Burma) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)).
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of the fire at the Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
We are deeply saddened by the recent fire in the Rohingya refugee camp 16 in Cox's Bazar, which has affected approximately 2,000 people and damaged shelters, water and sanitation facilities, and learning centres. Lord Ahmad, the Minister for South Asia, tweeted his condolences to those impacted by the fire on 10 January. We are providing immediate support to the UN to replenish destroyed stoves and cooking gas, and to rehabilitate camp infrastructure. We stand ready to provide further humanitarian assistance once the UN concludes the needs assessment.