Oral Answers to Questions

Tom Blenkinsop Excerpts

Tuesday 21st January 2014 Commons Chamber

[Hugh Robertson]

We have a regular programme of contacts with the Bahrain Government that cover a considerable number of areas across our bilateral relationship. That is an issue that we discuss with them regularly and it will most certainly be part of the Crown Prince’s new political dialogue. I very much hope that some progress will be made.

[Tom Blenkinsop (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) (Lab)]

5. What recent discussions he has had with his Russian counterpart on LGBT rights in that country.

[The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr William Hague)]

I discussed the issue with Foreign Minister Lavrov at the UN General Assembly in September. The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport raised concerns about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights with Deputy Prime Minister Golodets in December and the Prime Minister made clear the strength of feeling about the new law to President Putin in September.

[Tom Blenkinsop]

Will the Foreign Secretary commend and applaud the message of equality and diversity implicit in President Obama’s decision to include two gay athletes in the USA’s official delegation to the winter Olympics in Sochi?

[Mr Hague]

Yes, I absolutely commend that. The United Kingdom will continue to make our views very clear about this issue, in Russia too, with Russian leaders, and worldwide. I hope there will be better reflection in Russia over time on this issue.