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Written Question
Myanmar: Rohingya
Wednesday 3rd January 2024

Asked by: Baroness Goudie (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 11 December, whether they plan to call a meeting at the UN Security Council to discuss Myanmar’s non-implementation of the provisional measures set out by the International Court of Justice to protect the Rohingya in The Gambia v Myanmar.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We are aware of concerns that Myanmar is not meeting its obligations, under a Provisional Measures Order of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to protect the Rohingya. We are clear that Myanmar must comply with the Order. In November, we jointly filed a declaration of intervention at the ICJ in The Gambia's case alleging Myanmar has perpetrated genocide against the Rohingya, in order to set out our interpretation of the relevant provisions of the Genocide Convention before the Court. We will continue to use our UN Security Council leadership role to maintain a spotlight on Myanmar, including the Rohingya.


Written Question
Russia: Sanctions
Monday 11th December 2023

Asked by: Baroness Goudie (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking with respect to the effective enforcement of sanctions against Russian entities and individuals.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is committed to ensuring that our sanctions are robustly enforced and potential breaches are investigated and appropriate action taken. Departments from across HMG including HMT (through the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI)), HMRC, Home Office, and NCA, are working together, and with UK companies, to promote compliance and ensure that sanctions are enforced.

Since 2022, HMRC has imposed fines in excess of £1.3 million to five UK companies relating to the unlicensed trade of goods in breach of the Russia sanctions regime. In August, OFSI also published an enforcement notice against Wise Payments Limited (Wise), a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulated company, for breaching Russia sanctions by making funds available to a company owned or controlled by a designated person.

The Government announced a new Economic Deterrence Initiative in the 2023 Integrated Review Refresh. With funding of up to £50 million over two years, the initiative is maximising the impact of our trade, transport and financial sanctions, including by improving our sanctions implementation and enforcement.


Written Question
Myanmar: Rohingya
Monday 11th December 2023

Asked by: Baroness Goudie (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the Myanmar military is implementing the provisional measures set out by the International Court of Justice in The Gambia v. Myanmar case, in which they recently filed their declaration of intervention.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is aware of concerns that Myanmar is not meeting its obligations, under a Provisional Measures Order of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to protect the Rohingya. We are clear that Myanmar must comply with the Provisional Measures Order. On 15 November, the UK jointly filed a declaration of intervention at the ICJ in The Gambia's case alleging Myanmar has perpetrated genocide against the Rohingya, in order to set out our interpretation of the relevant provisions of the Genocide Convention before the Court. We reiterate that there must be accountability for the atrocities committed in Myanmar against the Rohingya.


Written Question
Ukraine: NATO Enlargement
Monday 11th December 2023

Asked by: Baroness Goudie (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is their current position in relation to Ukraine joining NATO.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

At the 2023 Vilnius Summit, the UK and Allies made clear that Ukraine's future is in NATO. The UK is committed to supporting Ukraine on its path towards future membership, including through NATO's Comprehensive Assistance Package, to which we have contributed £82 million.


Written Question
Human Rights: Business
Thursday 23rd November 2023

Asked by: Baroness Goudie (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of (1) calling for stronger provisions on legal liability and clear redress for victims, and (2) ensuring references to the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, in a United Nations binding treaty on business and human rights.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government is committed to supporting the UN Guiding Principles on business and human rights and in response produced a National Action Plan. The UK attended the 9th Session of the Open-Ended Intergovernmental Working Group on Transnational Corporations, which discussed the merits of introducing a new instrument or framework that could elaborate on business human rights responsibilities. The UK statement, which is available on the Working Group website, outlined suggestions on provisions of the draft instrument text, including the definition of victims. We seek flexibility in the construction of the instrument and in the negotiations process and will continue to engage in future Working Group Sessions.


Written Question
Human Rights: Business
Thursday 23rd November 2023

Asked by: Baroness Goudie (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government to report on their participation in the negotiations on a United Nations binding treaty on business and human rights during the ninth session of the open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government is committed to supporting the UN Guiding Principles on business and human rights and in response produced a National Action Plan. The UK attended the 9th Session of the Open-Ended Intergovernmental Working Group on Transnational Corporations, which discussed the merits of introducing a new instrument or framework that could elaborate on business human rights responsibilities. The UK statement, which is available on the Working Group website, outlined suggestions on provisions of the draft instrument text, including the definition of victims. We seek flexibility in the construction of the instrument and in the negotiations process and will continue to engage in future Working Group Sessions.


Written Question
Sudan: Sexual Offences
Friday 9th December 2022

Asked by: Baroness Goudie (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had at the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative regarding sexual violence in (1) Sudan, and (2) South Sudan.

Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

The UK Government are working in both Sudan and South Sudan to address Conflict Related Sexual Violence (CRSV). The Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) International Conference was an important opportunity to raise awareness and work together on these issues. The Government of South Sudan was represented at the conference, endorsed the CRSV Political Declaration and made a national commitment to prevent CRSV in South Sudan. South Sudan's Defence Minister and several civil society actors participated in panels on CRSV prevention, reparations and peacebuilding. The Prime Minister's Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict met the South Sudanese Ministerial delegation to press for urgent action to address CRSV in South Sudan.


Written Question
Sudan: Humanitarian Aid
Tuesday 15th November 2022

Asked by: Baroness Goudie (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what humanitarian support they have provided to combat violence against women and girls in Sudan.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK continues to call for sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls in Sudan to end. We have raised our concerns at human rights violations in international fora such as the UN Human Rights Council and Security Council, and directly with the Sudanese authorities. The UK has also provided significant support to the Sudanese led-movement to end female genital mutilation (FGM). Working with UN partners at the community level in Sudan, the UK has helped to change behaviours towards FGM by facilitating community dialogue, working with religious leaders and providing training for medical professionals.


Written Question
Tigray: Armed Conflict
Tuesday 11th October 2022

Asked by: Baroness Goudie (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with international partners regarding the involvement of Eritrean Defence Forces in the renewed conflict in Tigray.

Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

The breakdown of the truce between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian Government and the renewed involvement of Eritrea is catastrophic for Ethiopia. The UK encourages international efforts to de-escalate conflict, stressing the need for a political solution, humanitarian access and accountability.

On 22 September, in a meeting with Ethiopia's Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister for Development raised the impact of renewed conflict on the humanitarian crisis in northern Ethiopia and reiterated calls for a truce, restoration of humanitarian access to Tigray and for Eritrean forces to leave. Following this, the Minister for Africa tweeted about the escalation of fighting and the involvement of Eritrean forces, again calling on them to leave Tigray. Our Embassies in Addis Ababa and Asmara continue to engage with parties to the conflict to deliver these messages.


Written Question
Tigray: Armed Conflict
Tuesday 11th October 2022

Asked by: Baroness Goudie (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure the withdrawal of Eritrean forces from Tigray, given the renewed fighting in that region.

Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

The breakdown of the truce between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian Government and the renewed involvement of Eritrea is catastrophic for Ethiopia. The UK encourages international efforts to de-escalate conflict, stressing the need for a political solution, humanitarian access and accountability.

On 22 September, in a meeting with Ethiopia's Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister for Development raised the impact of renewed conflict on the humanitarian crisis in northern Ethiopia and reiterated calls for a truce, restoration of humanitarian access to Tigray and for Eritrean forces to leave. Following this, the Minister for Africa tweeted about the escalation of fighting and the involvement of Eritrean forces, again calling on them to leave Tigray. Our Embassies in Addis Ababa and Asmara continue to engage with parties to the conflict to deliver these messages.