(3 days, 10 hours ago)
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Lord Callanan (Con)
My Lords, the original Question in the other place from Jeremy Corbyn MP was fundamentally misguided. The people of Cuba have long suffered from economic stagnation and political repression, and the Cuban state has a long history of abusing its own people’s political, civil and human rights. While the US sanctions have clearly had an effect, that context must not be forgotten when we are discussing the humanitarian situation in Cuba today. Can the Minister say what discussions the Government have had with US counterparts since the beginning of the embargo? What assessment has his department made of the news that a sanctioned Russian oil tanker arrived in Havana on 30 March this year? Can he confirm whether or not the Attorney-General has given advice to the Government on the legality of the US embargo?
The Deputy Leader of the House of Lords (Lord Collins of Highbury) (Lab)
I thank the noble Lord for his series of questions but, as he is well aware, successive United Kingdom Governments have opposed the United States’ embargo on Cuba and have done so consistently over many occasions for almost 30 years, certainly at the United Nations. We will continue that. Our position has been very clear that engagement and involvement are a way that we can deliver very clear messages about human rights. We have strongly made those points to both Cuba and the United States and we work with allies to pursue that position. In relation to reports of third-country involvement in Russia’s illegal war, we will continue to take appropriate action, together with our international partners, to deter those responsible.
Lord Bruce of Bennachie (LD)
My Lords, Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has said about the blockade:
“Such severe sanctions packages that target entire sectors of an economy and produce broad, indiscriminate, and harsh effects on populations are incompatible with basic principles of international human rights law”.
We all know that poverty and hardship have been embedded by political repression in Cuba, but aid is now being provided by Canada and Europe for a humanitarian crisis created mostly by the US. The current blockade is making a long-term difficult situation for the people of Cuba potentially disastrous. What are the UK Government doing to engage with the United States Government to find ways to liberalise Cuba, to the benefit of its people, and not just see it as a resource to be plundered by US corporates?
Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab)
I hear what the noble Lord says, but what the United Kingdom Government have been doing is engaging with both the United States and Cuba. We welcome the dialogue taking place between those countries. Certainly, we are incredibly concerned about the current humanitarian situation. Our first concern is obviously also with United Kingdom citizens who may be involved, but our priority is to ensure, working through United Nations agencies, that humanitarian aid is delivered to the people of Cuba—who, as the noble Lord points out, have suffered tremendously, and that needs to be addressed.
Lord Alton of Liverpool (CB)
My Lords, in that one-party state which systematically suppresses dissent, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, which routinely uses sham trials and which imposes arbitrary detention in harsh prison conditions, targeting journalists, labour activists and pro-democracy activists, can the Minister explore ways in which we can provide practical support and encouragement to groups such as Cuba’s Ladies in White, composed of women relatives of political dissidents and recipient of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought? Can he also say when we last raised with the Cuban authorities the denial of access to the International Committee of the Red Cross to Cuba’s horrific prisons?
Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab)
On the latter point, my honourable friend the Minister in the other place, Chris Elmore, has been in touch with the Cuban authorities. He has also spoken to the Cuban ambassador about these issues. We have been clear in our long-standing bilateral relationship, which has provided the opportunity for frank and constructive dialogue and allows us to continuously raise these human rights issues. The noble Lord is absolutely right, but we continue to press for the release of political prisoners by directly engaging, as I say, with the ambassador. We welcome also the release last year of prisoners under a Vatican-mediated agreement, so we are absolutely clear that these things must be properly raised with the Cuban authorities.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
My Lords, the Minister will be aware that in 2023, the previous Government signed the PDCA, which was a political agreement that looked at humanitarian areas and covered human rights. What is the status of that agreement? My understanding is that it is yet to be ratified. In that light, are we also engaging with the direct discussions taking place between the US and leaders of the opposition within Cuba?
Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab)
As I said in answer to previous questions, we are engaged with the United States and with Cuba. We are encouraging the dialogue taking place between the US and the Cuban Government. In relation to the PDCA, ratification of the agreement was delayed to give the Government an opportunity to consider the position, particularly in relation to the global situation that we find ourselves in. What we have considered is that now is not the right time to enter into a new agreement and undertake new areas of our work. I think our priority is to address the immediate concerns, particularly in relation to the points that the noble Lord, Lord Alton, raised, but also the humanitarian situation to ensure that we can support those United Nations agencies that are getting aid in for the people who need it most.
Lord Boyd of Duncansby (CB)
My Lords, President Trump has on a number of occasions suggested or hinted at the use of military force in Cuba. The present Administration of the United States do not have a good record of compliance with international law. In their discussions with the United States Administration, will this Government make it absolutely clear that they expect the United States to abide by international law in all its dealings with Cuba?
Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab)
I suspect that the noble and learned Lord knows the answer to that question. We are members of the United Nations Security Council. We are absolutely committed to international law and urge all members of the Security Council and the United Nations to follow suit.
Baroness Meyer (Con)
My Lords, the United States has offered $100 million in aid to be administered by the Catholic Church, which the Cuban Government have not accepted, as they insist that all aid must go through their own institution. Given that the Cuban regime has provided support to the Russian war effort, what steps will this Government take to ensure that any aid we provide is not diverted to the Cuban authorities but goes directly to the Cuban people, who have, as we know, suffered economic hardship and denial of freedom under a one-party communist regime?
Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab)
I repeat what I have said before. We continue to provide support, primarily through the multilateral system, including organisations such as the World Food Programme and UNICEF. In addition, we are among the major contributors to the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund. That is what we have been doing. Bodies such as the World Food Programme and UNICEF have established systems for monitoring distribution and ensuring accountability, which reduces the risk of diversion.