Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether the Government will ensure that at least 30% of the future International Climate Finance commitment will be allocated to supporting nature’s recovery.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We are delivering on our current International Climate Finance commitment of £11.6 billion over five years from 2021/22 to 2025/26, including at least £3 billion to be spent on development solutions that protect and restore nature. The recently published Development White Paper includes a commitment to work globally to improve the quantity, quality and accessibility of climate and nature finance. Our own future funding commitments beyond 2025/26 will be agreed through the spending review process.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
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 restore access to immunisation services around the world.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically impacted global health and immunisation. The UK Government is committed to supporting efforts to get routine immunisation back on track and has committed £1.65 billion to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance from 2021-2025 to support their mission to immunise 300 million children and save up to 8 million lives from vaccine preventable diseases over this period.
Alongside our Gavi investment, we are committed to working with countries and with the wider international community to focus efforts on building stronger primary health systems for the future as a core part of restoring immunisation services around the world.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Israeli counterparts on the violent incursions at the Al Aqsa mosque.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is a strong supporter of freedom of religion or belief and calls for places of worship to be respected. We value Jordan's important role as custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem and we condemn the Israeli police violence at the Al Aqsa Mosque. When Israeli security forces conduct operations, they must ensure they are proportionate and in accordance with international law. The Foreign Secretary has emphasised these points to his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen during his recent visit to London and since the incident at Al Aqsa.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
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 his international counterparts to (a) ensure the welfare of Bahraini opposition leader Hasan Mushaima and (b) prevent human rights abuses in Bahrain.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
Officials and ministers have regular discussions with senior Bahraini counterparts on human rights, including most recently during Minister Milling's visit to Bahrain from 2-3 July. We continue to follow and discuss the case of Hassan Mushaima and others with the Bahraini Government as well as with the independent oversight bodies. We continue to encourage those with concerns to raise them directly with the appropriate Bahraini oversight body.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to secure the release of Jagtar Singh Johal.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK Government takes all allegations of human rights violations very seriously, and we regularly raise Mr Johal's case directly with the Government of India at official and Ministerial level. The Prime Minister raised Mr Johal's case with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 22 April as part of a wide-ranging discussion. The Foreign Secretary last raised Mr Johal's case with the Indian Minister of External Affairs, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, on 31 March 2022. Consular staff have attended a number of hearings in Mr Johal's case in an observer capacity, and did so on 2, 3, 4, 7, and 9 June. This Government will continue to look to raise our concerns about Mr Johal's case at all appropriate opportunities.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
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 possibility of Iran being engaged in espionage and terrorism in the UK through its embassy and diplomats.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
It is the longstanding policy of successive British Governments not to comment on intelligence matters.
The UK has over 200 sanctions designations in place against Iran including in relation to human rights, nuclear proliferation and terrorism. This includes against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in its entirety. The UK is committed to working with the international community to ensure Iran abides by international laws and norms and is held to account for its destabilising activity in the region.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what impact assessment his Department has undertaken on the proposed reductions in official development assistance for programmes in Syria; and if he will publish that assessment.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The FCDO is in the process of a rigorous internal prioritisation process in response to the announcement on the reduction in Official Development Assistance spend. We are still working through what this means for individual programmes and no decisions have yet been made.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic or political pressure the Government is putting on the Syrian regime to reduce the atrocities committed in that country.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK remains steadfast in our pursuit for accountability for atrocities committed in Syria. We co-sponsored the UN General Assembly resolution which established the UN International Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM), and we have contributed £1.2 million to support the mechanism so far.
We have supported the Commission for International Justice and Accountability to collect evidence and build cases for prosecution of perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity. These efforts have played a critical role in achieving the first conviction of a former member of Daesh, and the first court ruling worldwide over state-sponsored torture by the Assad regime in Koblenz, convicting Eyad al-Gharib for complicity in crimes against humanity in Syria.
We have contributed over £13 million since 2012 in support of Syrian and international efforts to gather evidence and assist victims of human rights abuses and violations. The UK drafts the UN Human Rights Council resolution on Syria, which was adopted in March, at the 46th Human Rights Council session. On 15 March, the UK announced six new sanctions; sending a clear message to the Assad regime: the UK will not stand by whilst the Regime and its backers continue to commit heinous crimes against the Syrian people.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
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 ensure that the people responsible for atrocities in Syria are held to account.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK remains steadfast in our pursuit for accountability for atrocities committed in Syria. We co-sponsored the UN General Assembly resolution which established the UN International Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM), and we have contributed £1.2 million to support the mechanism so far.
We have supported the Commission for International Justice and Accountability to collect evidence and build cases for prosecution of perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity. These efforts have played a critical role in achieving the first conviction of a former member of Daesh, and the first court ruling worldwide over state-sponsored torture by the Assad regime in Koblenz, convicting Eyad al-Gharib for complicity in crimes against humanity in Syria.
We have contributed over £13 million since 2012 in support of Syrian and international efforts to gather evidence and assist victims of human rights abuses and violations. The UK drafts the UN Human Rights Council resolution on Syria, which was adopted in March, at the 46th Human Rights Council session. On 15 March, the UK announced six new sanctions; sending a clear message to the Assad regime: the UK will not stand by whilst the Regime and its backers continue to commit heinous crimes against the Syrian people.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the political and security situation in Syria.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
Ten years of conflict has exacted a heavy toll on Syria and continues to have a destabilising impact on the region. Humanitarian access must be maintained through the renewal of UNSCR 2533, which provides vital cross-border aid access from Turkey into Syria, later this year.
We welcome that the ceasefires in the North East and North West are broadly holding, but are concerned by reports of Russian and regime airstrikes in the North West. Where the ceasefires are under pressure, we urge all parties to increase their efforts to adhere to them. There also remains a continued threat from Daesh and we will work the Global Coalition to counter further violent extremism.
We believe UNSCR 2254 offers a clear path out of the conflict. We must hold the regime accountable for its crimes, and we remain committed to alleviating the terrible cost of this war on Syrians.