Asked by: Antony Higginbotham (Conservative - Burnley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help ensure that (a) Hezbollah and (b) other groups sponsored by Iran in Syria do not escalate conflict with Israel during its war with Hamas.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is clear that Hamas is fully responsible for these appalling acts of terror in Israel. We are also clear that Iran poses an unacceptable threat to Israel. We have long condemned Iran's destabilising activity throughout the region, including its political, financial, and military support to several militant and proscribed groups, including Hamas, Hizballah and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Such activity compromises the region's security, its ability to prosper and further escalates tensions. In his meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister on 3 November, the former Foreign Secretary made clear that Iran must use its influence with groups in the region to prevent escalation, and that Iran bore responsibility for the actions of groups they had supported over many years. We continue to work closely with our partners to hold Iran to account, and we currently have over 350 sanctions in place against the Iranian regime. We expect to see total international condemnation of the atrocities committed by Hamas. The UK Government will continue to stand with Israel as it faces pressing challenges to its security. We have deployed UK military assets to the region to carry out surveillance and act as a deterrent. On 14 November, the Foreign Secretary also announced targeted sanctions, coordinated with the US, against Hamas leadership (four Hamas leaders and two financiers) to disrupt Hamas operations in Gaza and wherever their leaders base themselves.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, while UN Resolution 2664 provides crucial sanctions exemptions for humanitarian work, what steps they are taking to ensure that there are (1) legislative models, and (2) regulatory policies, in place so that case-by-case assessments can be made to protect humanitarian and aid work in jurisdictions that are sanctioned.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK was pleased to support UN Security Council Resolution 2664, which was implemented in UK domestic law in February, and we will continue to work to mitigate any unintended negative humanitarian impacts of sanctions.
The UK does not target food or medicines and UN and UK sanctions provide for a range of humanitarian exceptions and licensing grounds. The licensing bodies prioritise humanitarian licence applications to ensure case-by-case assessments of humanitarian activities can be made at pace and the UK also uses General Licences to respond to humanitarian crises, for example following the recent earthquakes in Syria.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of designating (a) all private military organisations fighting on behalf of the Russian government in Ukraine and (b) their financial backers as terrorist organisations.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
Whilst the Government keeps the list of proscribed organisations under review, we do not routinely comment on whether an organisation is or is not under consideration for proscription.
The Government remains concerned about Russia's use of private military companies such as the Wagner Group. We take the provision of mercenaries and other military support to parties in conflicts such as Libya, Syria, Ukraine and elsewhere very seriously. We continue to work closely with our international partners to counter Russian malign activity and respond to actions that undermine the rules based international system.
Both individuals and entities can be designated under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018. Our package of sanctions in support of Ukraine targets those aiding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the owner and financier of Wagner Group, Wagner Group (as an entity), and several senior members of Wagner Group are subject to UK sanctions, both for their involvement in the Libyan civil war which contravened the United Nations arms embargo established by UNSC Resolution 1970 (2011); and for being engaged in actions or policies that destabilise Ukraine, or threaten its territorial integrity, sovereignty, or independence. Figures released by the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation in November 2022 reveal that over £18 billion of Russian assets have been frozen since the most recent invasion of Ukraine.
Asked by: Bob Seely (Conservative - Isle of Wight)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to designate the Wagner Group as a terrorist organisation.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
Whilst the Government keeps the list of proscribed organisations under review, we do not routinely comment on whether an organisation is or is not under consideration for proscription.
The Government remains concerned about Russia's use of private military companies such as the Wagner Group. We take the provision of mercenaries and other military support to parties in conflicts such as Libya, Syria, Ukraine and elsewhere very seriously. We continue to work closely with our international partners to counter Russian malign activity and respond to actions that undermine the rules based international system.
Our package of sanctions in support of Ukraine targets those aiding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This includes the Wagner Group and on 24 March 2022 the UK designated Wagner Group under our autonomous sanctions regime.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration has been given to broadening the general licence granted in relation to the Syria sanctions (1) beyond the current six-month timeframe, and (2) to cover all humanitarian assistance necessary, in order to address new and existing needs in Syria.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In February the UK Government published two General Licences to facilitate earthquake relief efforts in Syria and Turkey. These built on an existing humanitarian exception for UK-funded persons by simplifying licensing for those conducting earthquake relief efforts. The UK will continue to monitor the situation in Syria through regular engagement with Non-Governmental Organisations and financial institutions and is committed to minimising any unintended consequences of sanctions, including through using our humanitarian licensing grounds where appropriate.
Asked by: Bob Seely (Conservative - Isle of Wight)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she is taking steps to classify the Wagner group as a proscribed terrorist organisation.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
Whilst the Government keeps the list of proscribed organisations under review, we do not routinely comment on whether an organisation is or is not under consideration for proscription.
The Government remains concerned about Russia's use of private military companies such as the Wagner Group. We take the provision of mercenaries and other military support to parties in conflicts such as Libya, Syria, Ukraine and elsewhere very seriously. We continue to work closely with our international partners to counter Russian malign activity and respond to actions that undermine the rules based international system.
Our package of sanctions in support of Ukraine targets those aiding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This includes the Wagner Group and on 24 March 2022 the UK designated Wagner Group under our autonomous sanctions regime.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has made with Cabinet colleagues of the threat posed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to (a) the UK, (b) the UK's interests in the Middle East and (c) Iranians critical of the Iranian regime who are living in the UK.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
We do not routinely comment on operational or intelligence matters, however the UK will always stand up to threats from foreign nations.
As I announced in my statement to the House on the 20 February, HMG have responded to 15 credible threats to kidnap or even kill UK-based individuals by the Iranian regime. We continually assess potential threats in the UK, and will continue to take the protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK very seriously.
The UK Government has been clear about its continued concerns over destabilising activity of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the UK and overseas. This includes IRGC political, financial and military support to a number of militant and proscribed groups in the region, including Hizballah in Lebanon and Syria, militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen. The UK already sanctions the IRGC in its entirety and on the 20 March, 7 further individuals were sanctioned.
In concert with partners, the Home Office is leading work on countering Iranian-state threats, making use of the full breadth and expertise of the government and our extraordinary and courageous police, security, and intelligence agencies.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has made of the threat posed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to (a) the UK and its interests in the Middle East and (b) Iranians critical of the regime in the UK.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
We do not routinely comment on operational or intelligence matters, however the UK will always stand up to threats from foreign nations.
As I announced in my statement to the House on the 20 February, HMG have responded to 15 credible threats to kidnap or even kill UK-based individuals by the Iranian regime. We continually assess potential threats in the UK, and will continue to take the protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK very seriously.
The UK Government has been clear about its continued concerns over destabilising activity of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the UK and overseas. This includes IRGC political, financial and military support to a number of militant and proscribed groups in the region, including Hizballah in Lebanon and Syria, militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen. The UK already sanctions the IRGC in its entirety and on the 20 March, 7 further individuals were sanctioned.
In concert with partners, the Home Office is leading work on countering Iranian-state threats, making use of the full breadth and expertise of the government and our extraordinary and courageous police, security, and intelligence agencies.
Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the humanitarian situation in Syria; and what consideration they have given to lifting the general economic sanctions imposed on that country.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Underlying humanitarian conditions in Syria are a product of Assad's violent campaign against the Syrian people. Even before the 6 February earthquake, the UN assessed that 15.3 million Syrians required humanitarian assistance. The UK has committed £3.8 billion in humanitarian aid to Syria since 2012. Since the earthquake, we have pledged £43.3 million. The UK will not lift sanctions targeting the regime until they change behaviour and engage in the UN political process. UK sanctions do not target humanitarian aid, food, or medical supplies. On 15 February, we issued two General Licences, which build on existing humanitarian provisions, to further facilitate relief efforts in Syria following the earthquake.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 help promote peace in Syria.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I Refer the Hon. Member to my answer of 10 February to question 138074 from the Hon. Member for Rother Valley.
The UK uses its UN Security Council role to advance the UN-facilitated political process in line with UNSCR 2254. We support the work of UN Special Envoy to this effect, and are working with him to develop his 'step for step' approach to making progress. The Assad regime and its backers remain intransigent; we urge them to engage in good faith.
Lasting peace requires accountability. We pursue this through sanctions; raising awareness of crimes committed in Syria; and support for evidence-gathering, including through the UN Commission of Inquiry; the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Syria; and UK programme partners.