Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
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 his counterpart in the United Arab Emirates on the arbitrary detention of Ryan Cornelius.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
FCDO Ministers and officials regularly raise consular matters with the UAE authorities, most recently on 7 February 2023 during a visit to the UAE by the FCDO's Consular Director. Mr Cornelius' case was discussed during this visit and also raised by the then Minister for Asia and the Middle East, Amanda Milling, with UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Gargash on 6 July 2022. Consular staff are in regular contact with Mr Cornelius and his family, to provide him with ongoing support.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2022 to Question 18940 on Hong Kong: Foreign Nationals, what the statutory regulations are which require employers to carry out Certificates of No Criminal Convictions checks in specified roles in the health and education sectors.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The statutory regulations that require employers to carry out Certificates of No Criminal Convictions for Hong Kong British Nationals Overseas (BNOs) in the Health sector can be found under the NHS Employers criminal records check standards and in the Education sector under 'Keeping children safe in education' guidance. Both are available online. Further comment on the specifics of these regulations should be directed to the respective departments of Health and Education.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
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 support Hong Kong nationals in the UK who are required by potential employers to provide a Certificate of No Criminal Conviction but are unable to obtain that document from the Hong Kong police due to fears for their safety or that of their family and friends in that country.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
There are statutory requirements for employers in the UK to carry out Certificates of No Criminal Convictions (CNCC) checks in specified roles in the health and education sectors. The updated guidance on CNCCs can be found on https://www.gov.uk/guidance/notarial-and-documentary-services-guide-for-hong-kong-and-macao. Individuals can apply for a CNCC online and do not need to return to Hong Kong or specify their terms of residence in the UK.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
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 potential merits of the Government recognising Somaliland as a sovereign state.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK - in line with the rest of the international community - does not recognise Somaliland as an independent state. Our policy remains that it is for Somaliland and the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) to come to an agreement about their future relationship and for neighbours in the region and the African Union to take the lead in recognising any new arrangements. We continue to support and encourage dialogue between the FGS and Somaliland Government.
The UK nevertheless maintains a permanent diplomatic presence in Hargeisa and enjoys a strong relationship with Somaliland authorities, political parties, civil society and diaspora in the UK. UK assistance in Somaliland is also significant, supporting security, enhancing stability and promoting economic, human and social development.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions officials in her Department have had with their Chinese counterparts on the wellbeing of tennis player Peng Shuai.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
On 20 November, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office called on the Chinese authorities to assure the safety of Peng Shuai. We have also raised the matter with the Chinese authorities, and continue to follow the case closely.
Everyone should be allowed to speak out without fear of repercussions. All reports of sexual assault, anywhere in the world, should be investigated.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
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 standard and adequacy of covid-19 quarantine arrangements for UK citizens on arrival in specific countries when publishing travel guidance on those countries.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Travel Advice provides information to help British nationals make informed decisions about foreign travel and remains under constant review to ensure it reflects our latest assessment of risks to British nationals. The border entry requirements in overseas destinations are the responsibility of host governments. FCDO Travel Advice pages have an entry requirements section that reflects the current rules at each destination. We encourage British nationals to monitor our travel advice when planning their trip.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what process she is establishing for evacuating from Afghanistan people who have Family Reunion Visas to join relatives with leave to remain in the UK.
Answered by Nigel Adams
We stand by our commitment to help all remaining British nationals, and those Afghans eligible to come to the UK to travel by whatever routes are available. We are clear that the Taliban must ensure safe passage for these people out of Afghanistan and any engagement with them will emphasise this first and foremost. We have been in frequent contact with neighbouring countries and Rapid Deployment Teams (RDT) have been sent to Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to reinforce our Embassy staff to process arrivals from Afghanistan. An RDT also deployed to Doha to help those in transit via Qatar. The Home Office are currently working to develop the eligibility criteria for the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), which will be announced in due course.Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the reduction in the overall aid budget, what steps he is taking to help ensure that organisations in the UK that are funded by Government to provide development assistance overseas are able to plan their work for the next three years.
Answered by Nigel Adams
We know that aid organisations, like many others, are facing challenges as a result of the pandemic. We will work together with these organisations to work through the implications for them and their work of the temporary reduction to Overseas Development Assistance (ODA). FCDO's planned budget allocations for Financial Year 2021/22 will be published in our Annual Report later this year. FCDO cannot publish multi-year budgets at present as the government has not yet concluded a multi-year Spending Review.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has plans to negotiate a six month tourist visa for travellers from the UK to the EU.
Answered by Wendy Morton
During negotiations with the EU, the Government discussed arrangements for British Citizens travelling to the Schengen Area. Regrettably, the EU consistently maintained that British Citizens will be treated as third-country nationals under the Schengen Borders Code from 1 January 2021. This means that British Citizens are able to travel visa-free for short stays for up to 90 days in a rolling 180-day period. This is the standard length of stay that EU offers to nationals of eligible third countries that offer visa-free travel for EU citizens, in line with existing EU legislation.
British Citizens planning to stay longer will need permission from the relevant Member State(s). This may require applying for a visa and/or permit. Information about travel to Europe is available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/visit-europe-1-january-2021
The UK's Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU notes that both the UK and EU currently provide for visa-free travel for short-term visits for each other's nationals in accordance with their respective laws. The detail of those arrangements is set by domestic law, reflecting the UK's position as a non-Member State. Negotiations with the EU have concluded and the Government is focused on the smooth, robust and effective implementation of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The Government does not typically enter into bilateral agreements on visa-free travel.
The ending of the free movement of persons between the UK and the EU is a consequence of the UK's exit from the EU. The Government made clear that free movement of persons would end once the UK ceased to be a Member State of the EU, and left the EU single market. This fulfilled the Government's commitment to the British public to take back control of our borders and introduce a single, global immigration system.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what provision is being made for UK citizens who are residing overseas and in priority categories for covid-19 vaccination.
Answered by Nigel Adams
We are closely following other countries' plans to roll out vaccines. We are providing information through Travel Advice pages and 'Living In' guides on gov.uk to inform British Nationals of healthcare options available to them and how they can receive a vaccine locally. The UK is playing a leading international role to ensure global access to vaccines. For example we are contributing the equivalent of £330m a year, totalling £1.65bn, for the next five years to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance that provides equitable access to safe and effective vaccines for 190 economies.