Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
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 dissemination of AI-generated misinformation in the lead-up to the regional elections in Kurdistan; and what steps his Department is taking to support free and fair elections in that region.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The upcoming elections in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) are essential for democratic legitimacy and for the people of the KRI to express their voice.
The British Consulate General in Erbil has supported roundtables and workshops with the Kurdistan Regional Government, parties, candidates and civil society, which have focused on preventing online harassment of women candidates, including through AI-generated fakes and misinformation.
Consulate General staff engaged with all parties in advance of the election campaign. We continue to encourage political parties and media in the KRI to act responsibly to ensure free, fair and inclusive elections on 20 October.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, if he will publish the schedule of requirements for the contract reference tender_403850/1325809.
Answered by David Rutley
Yes. The technical specification for contract reference tender_403850/1325809 can be found in the copy of the awarded contract which is attached to the contract award notice [https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/fe9e999f-c28f-493e-bae6-ad3ee3c49871?origin=SearchResults&p=1] on Contracts Finder.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help all people in northern Sri Lanka to have access to clean drinking water; and if he will make representations to his Sri Lankan counterpart on an independent investigation of the area around the Chunnakam power plant complex.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
The UK Government is aware of the challenges Sri Lanka faces around water management and quality, and the unique challenges faced by communities in the Northern Province. A number of public bodies in Sri Lanka, including the national water supply and drainage board, have conducted tests into the water quality. The Chunnakam Power plant has offered compensation to those affected by water pollution. The UK Government supports the International Water Management Institute, an international water management research organisation, solutions to increasing water scarcity in Puttalam and Kilinochchi. Officials from the British High Commission Colombo regularly visit the Northern Province, meet with a range of stakeholders, and hear their experiences and concerns.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with women-led organisations in Afghanistan on those groups' involvement in addressing the Taliban government's ban on female aid workers in that country.
Answered by Leo Docherty
The ban on Afghan women working for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) represents a further violation of the rights and freedoms of Afghan women. FCDO officials and ministers regularly engage with women-led organisations in Afghanistan, including local and international NGOs and UN Women. On 19 January the Minister of State for South Asia chaired a meeting with Afghan women including representatives from women-led organisations based in Afghanistan, which discussed the impact of the ban and how best to respond. The Prime Minister's Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan chairs regular meetings with NGO partners based in Afghanistan, most recently on 25 January.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the UK Government is taking to support Afghan civil society in delivering (a) humanitarian and (b) development assistance to vulnerable women and girls in that country.
Answered by Leo Docherty
Since April 2021, the Government has disbursed £514 million in aid for Afghanistan. We contribute to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund which includes a $20 million programme of support to Afghan civil society. The Government has committed to at least 50 per cent of our aid in Afghanistan reaching women and girls. We fund programmes that target women and girls, aimed at tackling gender-based violence and providing health and sexual reproductive health services. We continue to press the Taliban to reverse their ban on female aid workers as Afghan women are critical in providing life-saving support to women and girls.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
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 with NGOs to support programmes in Afghanistan affected by the Taliban government's ban on female aid workers in that country.
Answered by Leo Docherty
The ban on Afghan women working for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) represents a further violation of the rights and freedoms of Afghan women. The Government is working with the UN, NGOs and other donor governments to understand the impact of the ban, pursue a coordinated response and ensure that life-saving humanitarian assistance continues where possible. Where NGO partners have had to suspend activity, either partially or fully, the UK is continuing to cover staff salaries and other critical associated operational costs. The Government continues to press the Taliban to reverse their decision.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the sanctions imposed by the US on General Shavendra Silva of the Sri Lankan army.
Answered by Amanda Milling
We regularly engage with the US and other partners on issues relating to Sri Lanka. The UK government keeps all evidence and potential designations under the UK Global Human Rights sanctions regime under close review, guided by the objectives of the sanctions regime. We would not normally speculate about future sanctions targets, as to do so could reduce their impact.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what advice his Department has provided to businesses based in London on ensuring that their businesses do not support the abuse of human rights in Hong Kong under the provisions of the National Security Law imposed on that formerly autonomous city by the Chinese Communist Party.
Answered by Nigel Adams
We are in close contact with a wide range of businesses with interests in Hong Kong, but it is for businesses themselves to make their own judgement calls. We would always advise businesses to conduct appropriate due diligence to satisfy themselves that their activities do not support, or risk being seen to be supporting, any human rights violations or abuses.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has held discussions with representatives of (a) HSBC and (b) Standard Chartered since their statements on their support for China’s national security legislation for Hong Kong.
Answered by Nigel Adams
We are in close contact with a wide range of businesses in Hong Kong, but it is for businesses themselves to make their own judgement calls.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support he plans to provide to the independent tribunal on China's alleged genocide against Muslim Uighur population established by Sir Geoffrey Nice QC.
Answered by Nigel Adams
We have serious concerns about gross violations of human rights occurring in Xinjiang and welcome any work that is rigorous, balanced and raises awareness of the situation faced by Uyghurs and other minorities in China. We are aware of this initiative by Sir Geoffrey Nice QC, and will study any resulting report carefully.