Found: AND INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (STATUS) BILL Revised Memorandum from the Foreign
Found: of provisions in this Act on the ownership of UK broadcasters, including their ownership by a foreign
Found: ) receiving instruction or training which cannot reasonably be provided in a prison in the foreign
Apr. 30 2024
Source Page: Minister for Europe to underline UK support for Moldova amid growing Russian aggressionFound: Nusrat Ghani to meet with Moldovan Foreign Minister, Mihai Popșoi, in London.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he has made representations to his counterpart in Nicaragua on protecting (a) human rights and (b) religious freedoms (i) since the conviction of Bishop Rolando Álvarez and (ii) in the context of the treatment of Christians and Jews by President Daniel Ortega's regime.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We share widespread international concern about the suppression of human rights in Nicaragua. The UK has been increasingly vocal against the rising repression of the right to freedom of religion or belief for all, including Christian and Jews. Most recently, on 18 April, we released a statement marking the sixth anniversary of the brutally repressed protests in Nicaragua, highlighting continued UK concern at the ongoing situation. On 29 February, the UK also made a statement in response to the latest report by the UN Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua, in which we urged President Ortega to respect fully the human rights of all its citizens. In my [Minister Rutley's] tweet on 16 January, I welcomed the release of Bishop Álvarez and 18 other clergy from their unjust detention but condemned their expulsion from Nicaragua and the continued detention of other political and religious figures.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, with reference to page 14 of the UK Science and Technology Framework, updated on 9 February 2024, whether his Department has developed (a) an outline and (b) a full business case for a UK Technology Centre of Expertise to support developing countries to transform their economies.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
As part of the International Technology Strategy, the Technology Centre of Expertise will provide support to lower and middle income countries to navigate the complex set of challenges presented by technological advancement. The business case has been developed and the inception phase is underway. Four pilot projects have been selected in Africa and Asia. The FCDO is in the final stages of procurement for an implementing partner for the initial phase which will include design of the programme, review of the pilot projects and mapping of the UK technology expertise ecosystem before the full programme launches in 2025.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what criteria he uses to assess the human rights compliance of foreign military units before they are eligible to receive military aid; and how frequently those assessments are reviewed.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
All proposals to gift controlled military equipment and dual-use equipment are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, in the same way as commercial export licence applications and with the same degree of rigour. Assessments are conducted at the time a proposal is submitted and may be reviewed for subsequent proposals.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) manages the assessment process and seeks advice on gifting proposals from advisers in the MOD and the FCDO, with the latter being responsible for assessment of human rights compliance under Criterion Two of the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what recent discussions he has had with his allied counterparts on how to tackle the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The Foreign Secretary discussed getting aid into Gaza with G7 counterparts on 19 April and at the World Economic Forum in Riyadh on 29 April.
In addition, the passing of UN Security Council Resolution 2728 on 25 March reflected international consensus behind the UK's position that we need an immediate pause in the fighting to get aid into Gaza and get hostages out, then progress towards a permanent, sustainable ceasefire.
The Government has reiterated these points in recent engagements with counterparts and partners. The Foreign Secretary also made these points during his 17 April visit to Israel, where he met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Israel Katz.