Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
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 welfare of Khurram Parvez, the Kashmiri human rights activist, who was arrested by the National Investigation Agency in Srinagar Indian-administered Kashmir and who is currently reported to be imprisoned in New Delhi; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
We are aware of the reports regarding the detention of Khurram Parvez and continue to follow his case closely. We are clear on the importance of rights being respected and continue to call for all remaining restrictions imposed in Kashmir since the constitutional changes in August 2019 to be lifted as soon as possible, and for political detainees to be released.
Asked by: Gill Furniss (Labour - Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough)
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 scale of the current use of pellet guns by Indian security forces in Kashmir; and what discussions she has had with her Indian counterpart on the use of those weapons.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
We have previously expressed concern at reports of use of pellet guns by Indian security forces. The UN Secretary General also expressed concern in a June report and called on India to end the use of shotgun pellets against children. Ministers and senior officials have raised our concerns with the Indian Government and we call on all states to take preventive measures to protect children.
Asked by: Gill Furniss (Labour - Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough)
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 scale of human rights violations in Kashmir; and what assessment she has made of the accuracy of the 2020 Human Rights and Democracy Report with respect to Kashmir.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
We recognise that there are human rights concerns in both India-administered-Kashmir and Pakistan-administered-Kashmir. We encourage all states to ensure domestic laws are in line with international standards. Any allegation of human rights violations or abuse is deeply concerning and must be investigated thoroughly and transparently. We have raised our concerns with the Governments of India and Pakistan.
Asked by: Gill Furniss (Labour - Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Indian counterpart on press freedom in Kashmir.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Freedom of expression and of the media are essential qualities of any functioning democracy. We are concerned by reports of some ongoing detentions of journalists and call for these to be lifted as soon as possible. We also work closely with the Indian media, including by funding an annual South Asia Journalism Fellowship Programme under our flagship Chevening brand. Last year, we funded 17 fellows, including seven from India.
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
What recent assessment she has made of the human rights situation in Kashmir.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
We recognise there are human rights concerns in both India-administered-Kashmir and Pakistan-administered-Kashmir and have raised these concerns with both governments. The continued use of some temporary restrictions is worrying: we are clear on the importance of rights being respected. The UK welcomes reports that some detainees have been released and calls for all remaining political detainees to be released. The UK condemns recent killings of civilians in Kashmir.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester, Gorton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the (a) implications for his policies of the Indian Government's recent lockdown on Kashmir after the death of activist, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and (b) human rights situation in Kashmir.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The restrictions that were imposed following Mr Geelani's death have reportedly been lifted. We are monitoring the situation in Kashmir. We recognise that there are human rights concerns in both India-administered-Kashmir and Pakistan-administered-Kashmir. We encourage all states to ensure that domestic laws are in line with international standards and that any allegation of human rights abuse is investigated thoroughly, promptly, transparently and independently.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester, Gorton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of reports of the use of pellet guns on Kashmiri children; and if he will make representations to his Indian counterpart in response to those reports.
Answered by Nigel Adams
We are concerned by reports of pellet gun use and in particular reports that children have been injured by pellet guns. We have raised concerns with the Indian Government. We call on all states to take preventive measures to protect children.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the (a) Indian Government, (b) Pakistani Government, and (c) the Government of Jammu and Kashmir on the potential merits of holding a referendum on self-determination for the people of Kashmir.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The UK government continues to discuss the situation in Kashmir with both the Governments of India and Pakistan, and with our contacts in Kashmir, through our diplomatic networks in both countries. The UK's longstanding position is that it is for India and Pakistan to identify a lasting resolution to the situation in Kashmir, one that takes into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) political and (b) human rights situation in Kashmir.
Answered by Nigel Adams
It is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting political resolution on Kashmir, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. We recognise that there are human rights concerns in both India-administered and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. We encourage all states to ensure domestic laws are in line with international standards. Any allegation of human rights violation or abuse is deeply concerning and must be investigated thoroughly, promptly and transparently. We are in regular contact with the governments of India and Pakistan, with whom we discuss Kashmir.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what five African countries have the largest total value of trade with the UK.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
Professor Sir Ian Diamond | National Statistician
The Baroness Kennedy of Cradley
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
26 April 2021
Dear Lady Kennedy,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking what five African countries have the largest total value of trade with the UK (HL15101).
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes monthly ‘All countries statistics’[1]. Services data for 2021 Q1 are not currently available at a geographical level but will be published in August 2021. Tables 1 and 2 provide details of UK Trade in Goods imports and exports for the top five African countries. Please note that data are in current prices and, as such, include the effect of inflation.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond
Table 1: Trade in Goods imports, top five African countries, seasonally adjusted, £ million
| Imports February 2021 |
South Africa | 714 |
Morocco | 93 |
Egypt | 92 |
Kenya | 37 |
Ivory Coast | 35 |
Source: ONS
Table 2: Trade in Goods exports, top five African countries, seasonally adjusted, £ million
| Exports February 2021 |
Egypt | 156 |
South Africa | 122 |
Nigeria | 81 |
Ghana | 40 |
Morocco | 39 |
Source: ONS
[1]https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/nationalaccounts/balanceofpayments/datasets/uktradeallcountriesseasonallyadjusted