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Written Question
Hamas: Sexual Offences
Tuesday 19th December 2023

Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that allegations of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas are investigated.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The reports of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas against Israeli women and girls and other civilians are horrifying. We unequivocally condemn sexual violence in Israel and wherever it occurs in the world. Conflict-related sexual violence is an abuse of human rights and when perpetrated in the context of an armed conflict, can constitute a violation of international humanitarian law such as a war crime. We call for these reports to be fully investigated to ensure justice for victims.

The UK is committed to strengthening the global response to conflict-related sexual violence. Our Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) strategy, launched in 2022, sets out the work we are leading globally to prevent Conflict-Related Sexual Violence and strengthen justice for all survivors.


Written Question
Refugees: Diplomatic Service
Tuesday 12th September 2023

Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what consular protection his Department provides to refugees with UK asylum status who travel abroad; and whether he has plans to extend that protection.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

HMG provides consular assistance to British nationals travelling or living abroad. We may also help Commonwealth nationals in non-Commonwealth countries where they do not have any diplomatic or consular representation. We cannot help other nationalities, even if they live in the UK or have close connections to the UK. Home Office travel documents contain information making it clear that HMG cannot provide consular or diplomatic assistance to the bearer outside the UK. Our consular offer is set out on gov.uk.


Written Question
Developing Countries: Health Services
Monday 11th September 2023

Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development, whether he plans to take steps to raise the provision of basic healthcare for elderly people at the UN high-level meeting on Universal Health Coverage this month.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The UK is committed to championing universal health coverage (UHC). In the 2019 Political Declaration on UHC, United Nations Member States committed to promote healthy and active ageing and to respond to the needs of ageing populations. We are working with other Member States to retain and build on that commitment at the 2023 UN High-Level Meeting. We continue to work with country partners and global organisations such as the World Health Organization on integrated and equitable approaches to strengthening health systems and achieving universal health coverage that meets the needs of people of all ages.


Written Question
Sri Lanka: Water Supply
Monday 11th September 2023

Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to help the Sri Lankan authorities manage the potential impact of the Chunnakam power plant complex on the local water supply.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government is aware of the challenges Sri Lanka faces around water management and quality, and the unique challenges faced by communities in Northern Sri Lanka.  A number of public bodies in Sri Lanka, including the national water supply and drainage board, have conducted tests and compensation has been offered to those affected by water pollution caused by the Chunnakam Power plant. Officials from the British High Commission Colombo regularly visit the Northern province and meet with a wide range of stakeholders raising the issue with local government where appropriate. We will continue to engage with the authorities in support of clean water provision.


Written Question
Tropical Diseases
Wednesday 10th May 2023

Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to help tackle female genital schistosomiasis in countries where those diseases are endemic; and whether his Department plans to increase aid funding for prevention programmes for neglected tropical diseases.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The UK Government is supporting research and development into schistosomiasis through funding for the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) which is actively developing new drugs for the disease with the aim to counter the risk of resistance and to treat female genital schistosomiasis. Since January 2021, the FCDO has invested over £42 million into delivering services to prevent and treat Neglected Tropical Diseases, as well as strengthening health systems so they can provide these essential services. We had previously supported research into female genital schistosomiasis through support to the Coalition for Operational Research on Neglected Tropical Diseases (COR-NTD) and this had led to the development of new competencies for the training of health professionals on the disease.


Written Question
Sudan: Repatriation
Tuesday 9th May 2023

Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of evacuating (a) non-British nationals with relevant entry clearance from Sudan and (b) non-British nationals with family reunion visas.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

Our priority has always been the safe evacuation of British Nationals and their eligible dependents. As such, we have been taking necessary action to ensure they were evacuated before considering other groups that could be eligible. The evacuation criteria was expanded on 29 April to include eligible non-British nationals in Sudan who are working as clinicians within the NHS, and their dependants who have leave to enter the UK. Latest figures show that we have helped to evacuate 1,207 non-British nationals. Border Force officials working alongside FCDO on the ground were empowered to make decisions on individual family cases as appropriate.


Written Question
Turkey: Minority Groups
Wednesday 3rd May 2023

Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)

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 representatives of the Turkish Government on the treatment of minorities in that country.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

We strongly support all minority groups in Turkey and encourage the Turkish authorities to safeguard their welfare and respect their human rights, in line with provisions in the Turkish constitution that protect the rights of all minorities. With our partners, we continue to call on Turkey to act in line with the conventions of the Council of Europe and broader democratic norms, as well as making progress on domestic judicial reforms. We keep these issues under regular review.


Written Question
Russia: Political Prisoners
Wednesday 3rd May 2023

Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)

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 help political prisoners held by the Russian Government.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

We continue to attend the trials of human rights defenders and opposition voices in Russia, most recently the court hearings regarding dual British-Russian national Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was sentenced to 25 years on 17 April. His Majesty's Ambassador Moscow has reiterated calls for consular access with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and we will continue to press for medical treatment and his release. We have also sanctioned those responsible for the mistreatment of political prisoners. We are taking a leading role in multilateral fora such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Council of Europe and the UN Human Rights Council to raise the issue of political prisoners' plight.


Written Question
Sudan: International Assistance
Friday 28th April 2023

Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)

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 support people in Sudan.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

For people in Sudan, the UK's top humanitarian priority is to secure operational security guarantees and workable humanitarian access. We are coordinating with the international humanitarian system (including International Non-governmental organisations, UN agencies, Civil Society Organisations) to support the UN to be able to scale-up delivery within Sudan so they can move quickly to respond when the access situation improves.


Written Question
Myanmar: Democracy
Monday 17th April 2023

Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)

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 support Myanmar’s transition to democracy.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK stands in solidarity with those calling for a return to democracy in Myanmar. On 6 February 2023 the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, James Cleverly, met the National Unity Government's (NUG) "Minister for Foreign Affairs", Zin Mar Aung, to highlight the UK's support for all those working peacefully for an inclusive and democratic Myanmar.

On 21 December 2022 the UN Security Council passed the first ever resolution on the situation in Myanmar, led by the UK. The resolution stressed the need to uphold democratic institutions and processes in accordance with the will of the people. We will continue to use our role as penholder to keep Myanmar on the UN Security Council's agenda.