Questioner: Baroness Northover (LDEM - Life peer)
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the reported targeting of 292 Palestinian structures in the West Bank and subsequent displacement of 450 people by the Israeli authorities in the first quarter of 2021, and (2) the implications of this for UK policy in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territories; and what representations they have made to the government of Israel on this matter.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. The Minister will write directly to the Member with a response shortly.Questioner: Baroness Cox (CB - Life peer)
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the formation of Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG); and what plans they have to ensure that the NUG receives recognition and support among UN member states.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. The Minister will write directly to the Member with a response shortly.
Questioner: Baroness Goudie (LAB - Life peer)
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the right to freedom of religion or belief in China, in particular the freedom of Uighurs Muslims.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. The Minister will write directly to the Member with a response shortly.Questioner: Marquess of Lothian (CON - Life peer)
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much Official Development Assistance (ODA) to (1) the Democratic Republic of the Congo, (2) Lebanon, (3) Libya, (4) Nigeria, (5) Syria, and (6) Somalia, will be reduced as a result of the plan to reduce the commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of gross national income (GNI) on ODA to 0.5 per cent.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. The Minister will write directly to the Member with a response shortly.Questioner: Baroness Sheehan (LDEM - Life peer)
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect the United Nations Relief and Works Agency from any loss of funding resulting from donors being accused of antisemitism for supporting that organisation.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. The Minister will write directly to the Member with a response shortly.Questioner: Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LDEM - Life peer)
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what contribution each of the Overseas Territories makes to the UK Exchequer in return for the UK Government (1) ensuring their security, and (2) representing their interests abroad.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. The Minister will write directly to the Member with a response shortly.Questioner: Baroness Sheehan (LDEM - Life peer)
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the violence in Jerusalem on 22 April, reportedly caused by far-right Israeli groups.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. The Minister will write directly to the Member with a response shortly.Questioner: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (GRN - Life peer)
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the attack by Eritrean troops in Adwa in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. The Minister will write directly to the Member with a response shortly.Questioner: Lord Alton of Liverpool (CB - Life peer)
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reported attack by militias from Fulani backgrounds on a Baptist church in Chikun, Nigeria on 25 April; what representations have they made to the government of Nigeria regarding attacks on places of worship; and what projects do they currently support in Nigeria that aim to assist places of worship introduce safety measures to protect worshipers from possible attacks.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. The Minister will write directly to the Member with a response shortly.Questioner: Lord Alton of Liverpool (CB - Life peer)
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of attacks by militias from Fulani backgrounds on places of worship in (1) the Middle Belt, and (2) northern states, of Nigeria; and how this compares to the (a) number, and (b) impact, of attacks by Boko Haram on places of worship in Nigeria.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. The Minister will write directly to the Member with a response shortly.Questioner: Lord Alton of Liverpool (CB - Life peer)
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of the use of rape and sexual violence against women in Tigray in regard to indicator 7.9 of the UN Framework for Analysis of Atrocity Crimes.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. The Minister will write directly to the Member with a response shortly.Questioner: Lord Alton of Liverpool (CB - Life peer)
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of the use of rape and sexual violence against women in Tigray; and what representations have they made to the government of Ethiopia regarding these reports.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. The Minister will write directly to the Member with a response shortly.Questioner: Lord Naseby (CON - Life peer)
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the information contained in despatches written by UK defence attachés must be independently verified before submission; if so, whether it is standard practice to ensure that such attachés are briefed to that effect; and if so, what record, if any, they hold of Lieutenant Colonel Gash, being so briefed.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Reports from UK Military attachés and diplomats take a wide variety of forms. Some report events which they have directly observed; some report the views or assertions of others; some focus on judgements or provide analysis. There is no blanket requirement for information to be independently verified before submission, which in many situations will not be possible. The context of reporting will inform the weight that is attached to it. Reports from our defence attachés, together with many other sources, contribute to the UK government's overall understanding of events overseas.
Questioner: Baroness Whitaker (LAB - Life peer)
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to secure the future of the military base on Diego Garcia by negotiating a settlement of the sovereignty dispute with the government of Mauritius.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
There are no current plans for negotiations with the Government of Mauritius on the future of BIOT. We remain open to dialogue with Mauritius on matters of shared interest, including BIOT and its Marine Protected Area (MPA).
Questioner: Lord Alton of Liverpool (CB - Life peer)
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much funding they have allocated to the Great Britain China Centre over the last 30 years; how that organisation relates to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; what assessment they have made of its contribution to diplomatic relations with the government of China; and what steps they take to ensure that human rights and other ethical considerations are taken into account when developing business links with China.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The Great Britain China Centre (GBCC) is an arms-length body of the FCDO which currently receives £500K per annum in funding. The Statistics on International Development (SID) provides an overview of official UK spend, dating back to 2009. The 2019 data was published on GOV.UK on 24 September and can be viewed through the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistics-on-international-development-final-uk-aid-spend-2019). The GBCC supports UK objectives in China, including facilitating dialogues on issues of shared importance, and delivering projects on rule of law and judicial cooperation. The 2019 triennial tailored review of the GBCC concluded that it plays a key role in developing relationships and promoting understanding between the UK and China and has a disproportionate impact on UK-China relations relative to the funding it receives. The GBCC's mandate does not include developing business links with China.