Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the finding in the United Nations document Moving Forward, Whilst Looking Back: Reflections on the Effective Implementation of the Genocide Convention, published in 2024, that the signatories of the Genocide Convention failed to look beyond geopolitical factors with regard to the protection needs of the Isaaq people; and what steps they will take to work with international partners to prevent similar failings in future.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has made note of the findings of the United Nations document Moving Forward, Whilst Looking Back: Reflections on the Effective Implementation of the Genocide Convention. As a party to the Convention, the UK is fully committed to the prevention and punishment of genocide under the Convention. To fulfil its duty to prevent under the Genocide Convention, the Government adopts a consolidated, whole-of-government effort, using our diplomatic, development, defence and law enforcement capabilities, to help find pathways to global peace and stability. Where we see immediate risks of atrocities, we take diplomatic steps to highlight our concerns: bilaterally with the countries concerned and with regional neighbours, and multilaterally through international organisations.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will summon the Israeli Ambassador to explain ask why (a) Israeli armed forces seized the British-flagged ship Madleen and (b) arrested British citizens on board that ship.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Minister for the Middle East summoned the Israeli Ambassador on 20 May to make clear that the UK stands firmly against Israel's resumption of military action in Gaza, its wholly inadequate plan for aid delivery and to demand that a full and unhindered resumption in the flow of aid into Gaza takes place immediately.
We are aware of the interception of the Madleen and the arrest of its passengers by Israeli Naval Forces. We understand that this happened without serious incident or injury to any passenger. There were no British Nationals aboard.
We pressed the Israeli authorities to ensure that any action they took would resolve the situation safely, with restraint, and in line with International Law. We will continue to urge that any Israeli actions following the interception of the vessel and arrest of its passengers must be in line with International Law.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by Chris Mburu Past Human Rights Abuses in Somalia: Report of a Preliminary Study Conducted for the United Nations, published in 2002; and what assessment they have made of its recommendations following the Isaaq genocide.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is aware of the findings of the report 'Past Human Rights Abuses in Somalia: Report of a Preliminary Study Conducted for the United Nations', by Chris Mburu, published in 2002. The UK is committed to improving respect for human rights in Somalia, including Somaliland, which is crucial to building a more secure, democratic and prosperous Somalia. It is the long-standing policy of the British Government that any judgement as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent national or international court, rather than for governments or non-judicial bodies.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent the flow of aviation fuel to the Myanmar military, following the airstrike on a school in Sagaing region on 12 May.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The recent airstrike on a school in Sagaing was devastating. On 13 May, the Minister for the Indo-Pacific called for all parties, particularly the Myanmar military, to refrain from airstrikes, safeguard civilians, and protect civilian infrastructure. In October 2024, the UK issued its 19th round of sanctions, targeting companies involved in the procurement of aviation fuel and equipment to the Myanmar armed forces. The UK remains committed to targeted sanctions, which directly impact the military without harming the wider population.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of international activists and artists in raising awareness of human rights abuses in Myanmar, and what steps they are taking to support such individuals in their advocacy work and ensure that bureaucratic barriers do not prevent their contribution to cultural and political life in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK supports the role of international activism and art as powerful expressions to raise awareness of human rights abuses in Myanmar. We condemn all human rights atrocities committed in Myanmar, notably by the military regime. In April, we co-sponsored the UN Human Rights Council resolution on Myanmar calling for the Myanmar military to fully respect and protect the human rights of all persons in Myanmar, including Rohingya and other persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities. We will continue to support the role of activists and artists, in our shared commitment to shining a light on the grave human rights atrocities taking place in Myanmar.
Asked by: Baroness Cass (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 20 May (HL7302), what steps they are taking in their role as penholder on Myanmar at the UN Security Council to propose a new resolution further to Resolution 2669 to address any violations by the government of Myanmar.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
As I highlighted on 20 April, the UK are concerned by reports of continued violations by the military on civilians of Myanmar. The UK consistently uses its role as penholder at the UN Security Council (UNSC) to maintain a spotlight on Myanmar. On April 4, we led a joint UNSC press statement, reaffirming the importance of "the timely and effective delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to all those in need, without disruption or discrimination". This statement marked the first unified UNSC message since UNSC Resolution 2669. On 30 April, we convened a UNSC meeting to address human rights violations by the Myanmar military and the impact of the March earthquake. In 2024, we convened six UNSC meetings on Myanmar. The UK will continue to shine a spotlight on Myanmar, including through our leadership role at the UN Security Council.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support freedom of expression in Myanmar in the context of the Myanmar military’s restrictions on independent media.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
We are concerned by the recent UN High Commissioner for Human Rights report, which stated since the coup in February 2021 that 15 media outlets have been shut down and 193 media workers arrested, of whom at least 57 remain in detention. The UK continues to support organisations, such as Myanmar Witness, to collect independent, verifiable data, foster collaboration with independent media outlets and counter the military's mis and disinformation. This work continues to increase attention on human rights abuses across the country. We also continue to call for the release of all those arbitrarily detained in Myanmar, including those who worked in the media.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much they contributed to the BBC World Service in each of the past two years; and what percentage of that organisation's cost they contributed in each of the past two years.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
In Financial Year 2023/2024, the government contribution to the World Service was £104.4 million. The Licence Fee contribution was £265 million, so we provided 28.3 per cent of the budget. In 2024-2025, the government provided £104.4 million of the budget, and in 2025-2026 we will provide £137 million - an uplift of over 31 per cent. The BBC will not publish the final Licence Fee contribution and total World Service budget for 2024/2025 until the summer, so we cannot provide the percentage calculation.
Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 20 May (HL7156), whether they plan to send a representative to the Turkish Cypriot Cultural Festival as part of their engagement with the Turkish Cypriot community.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Government does not currently have plans to send a representative to the specific event referenced in PQ HL7889. However, we continue to engage members of the Cypriot diaspora and welcome the strong contribution that the diaspora has and continues to make to UK culture and communities.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that the Chinese ambassador to Mauritius expects Mauritius to join China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
It is for Mauritius to comment on its national approach and foreign policy. The UK will take a consistent and pragmatic approach to China's role in Africa - we will cooperate where we can, compete where we have different interests, and challenge where we must.