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Written Question
Afghanistan: Repatriation
Monday 20th December 2021

Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of UK nationals evacuated by her Department from Afghanistan during Operation Pitting.

Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) does not routinely ask British nationals to register with a British Embassy or High Commission overseas. Recognising the circumstances in Afghanistan, British nationals still in Afghanistan were asked to register their continued presence to allow the FCDO to maintain contact after the evacuation phase ended. British nationals continue to receive updates from the FCDO on the situation in Afghanistan.

Between 15-28 August over 8,300 British nationals and dependents were evacuated from Afghanistan. Since the end of Operation Pitting, the FCDO has assisted nearly 500 British nationals and their dependents back to the UK. This includes helping 218 British nationals and their dependents leave Afghanistan through Qatari Government charter flights. We continue to work to support British nationals and their eligible dependants to leave Afghanistan if that is their wish.


Written Question
Afghanistan: British Nationals Abroad
Monday 20th December 2021

Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent estimate the Government has made of the number of UK Nationals currently residing in Afghanistan.

Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) does not routinely ask British nationals to register with a British Embassy or High Commission overseas. Recognising the circumstances in Afghanistan, British nationals still in Afghanistan were asked to register their continued presence to allow the FCDO to maintain contact after the evacuation phase ended. British nationals continue to receive updates from the FCDO on the situation in Afghanistan.

Between 15-28 August over 8,300 British nationals and dependents were evacuated from Afghanistan. Since the end of Operation Pitting, the FCDO has assisted nearly 500 British nationals and their dependents back to the UK. This includes helping 218 British nationals and their dependents leave Afghanistan through Qatari Government charter flights. We continue to work to support British nationals and their eligible dependants to leave Afghanistan if that is their wish.


Written Question
Afghanistan: Repatriation
Monday 20th December 2021

Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate the Government has made of the number of UK Nationals that applied for evacuation from Afghanistan during (a) August and (b) September 2021.

Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) does not routinely ask British nationals to register with a British Embassy or High Commission overseas. Recognising the circumstances in Afghanistan, British nationals still in Afghanistan were asked to register their continued presence to allow the FCDO to maintain contact after the evacuation phase ended. British nationals continue to receive updates from the FCDO on the situation in Afghanistan.

Between 15-28 August over 8,300 British nationals and dependents were evacuated from Afghanistan. Since the end of Operation Pitting, the FCDO has assisted nearly 500 British nationals and their dependents back to the UK. This includes helping 218 British nationals and their dependents leave Afghanistan through Qatari Government charter flights. We continue to work to support British nationals and their eligible dependants to leave Afghanistan if that is their wish.


Written Question
Xinjiang: Human Rights
Monday 20th December 2021

Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of the naming of alleged perpetrators of gross human rights abuses named in the Xinjiang Papers released at the Uyghur Tribunal, including Chen Quanguo, Zhu Hailun and Zhu Changje.

Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Government notes the findings of the Uyghur Tribunal, and welcomes its contribution to building international awareness and understanding of the human rights violations occurring in Xinjiang. The Tribunal's work adds to the growing body of evidence about the deeply disturbing situation that Uyghurs and other minorities are facing. The UK Government has consistently led international efforts to hold China to account for its human rights violations in Xinjiang, including by using our Global Human Rights sanctions regime to impose asset bans and travel freezes on Chinese actors responsible for enforcing China's repressive policies. We will continue to work closely with our international partners to hold the Chinese authorities to account, including at the UN.
Written Question
Xinjiang: Uighurs
Thursday 16th December 2021

Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to evidence in the Xinjiang Papers submitted to the Uyghur Tribunal, what assessment she has been made of the accuracy of reports that Chinese official Chen Quanguo and his deputies Zhu Hailun and Zhu Changjie played a direct role in commissioning the network of mass internment camps in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The evidence submitted to the Uyghur Tribunal adds to the growing body of evidence about the situation that Uyghurs and other minorities are facing in Xinjiang. The UK government has consistently led international efforts to hold China to account for its human rights violations in Xinjiang, including by using our Global Human Rights sanctions regime to impose asset bans and travel freezes on Chinese actors responsible for enforcing China's repressive policies. We will continue to work closely with our international partners in holding China to account for the egregious human rights situation in Xinjiang.


Written Question
China: Uighurs
Wednesday 17th March 2021

Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Canadian counterpart on the vote in the Canadian Parliament to deem the actions of China on the Uighur population as genocide.

Answered by Nigel Adams

The Government remains gravely concerned about the human rights situation in Xinjiang. The UK plays a leading role in holding China to account for its human rights violations in the region, working closely with international partners, including Canada. We regularly discuss our concerns and related questions of policy with Canada, most recently in a call on 4 March 2021 between the Foreign Secretary and Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau. It is the long-standing policy of the British Government that any judgment as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent court.


Written Question
China: Uighurs
Wednesday 17th March 2021

Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect on UK security co-operation with Canada of the decision of the Canadian Parliament to deem the actions of China on the Uighur population as genocide.

Answered by Nigel Adams

We have taken note of the motion passed by the Canadian House of Commons relating to Xinjiang, though this has no impact on our security cooperation with Canada. The UK continues to play a leading role in holding China to account for its gross human rights abuses in Xinjiang, working closely with international partners including Canada. It is the long-standing policy of the British Government that any judgment as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent court, rather than for Governments or non-judicial bodies.


Written Question
China: Uighurs
Wednesday 17th March 2021

Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the decision of the Canadian Parliament to deem the actions of China on the Uighur population as genocide.

Answered by Nigel Adams

We have taken note of the motion passed by the Canadian House of Commons relating to Xinjiang. The UK continues to play a leading role in holding China to account for its gross human rights abuses in Xinjiang, working closely with international partners including Canada. It is the long-standing policy of the British Government that any judgment as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent court, rather than for Governments or non-judicial bodies.


Written Question
China: Turkey
Monday 18th January 2021

Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made representations to Turkish officials on the treatment of Uighur Muslims in China and the implications of the Treaty of Extradition between Turkey and China.

Answered by Nigel Adams

Her Majesty's Government diplomatic engagement and Overseas Development Assistance programmes support Turkey's ongoing efforts to assist its migrants and refugees in a way that respects their welfare and human rights. On 13 January, we raised the Turkey-China Treaty of Extradition with the Turkish authorities and received assurances that safeguards were in place for those affected.


Written Question
China: Uighurs
Monday 18th January 2021

Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to make representations to international bodies on the effect of Chinese extradition treaties with other nations on Uighur Muslims who have fled persecution from China.

Answered by Nigel Adams

We have repeatedly called on countries to respect the obligation of not forcing persons to return to a country where there are substantial grounds for believing that the person would be in danger of fundamental rights violations, and will continue to do so. The UK will continue to take a global leadership role in standing up for the rights of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.