Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the role of the Syrian Civil Defence group, commonly referred to as The White Helmets, in the Syrian conflict.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Syria Civil Defence (SCD), also known as the White Helmets, play an invaluable role in rescuing people from the devastation caused by Syrian regime and Russian air strikes. Over 3100 volunteer women and men, deliver community-based services to approximately seven million Syrian civilians living in opposition-controlled areas. To date they have saved over 95,000 lives and conducted extensive mine risk awareness campaigns to help civilians protect themselves from unexploded ordnance. Additionally, SCD provides other important services, including fire fighting, light infrastructure repair and first responder medical care. So far 91 SCD volunteers have been killed and hundreds more injured while carrying out their work. The White Helmets’ have attracted positive international recognition, which is the key reason why the Syrian regime and Russia are trying to discredit them through a concerted disinformation campaign.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the value of the White Helmets in humanitarian work in the Syrian conflict.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Syria Civil Defence (SCD), also known as the White Helmets, plays an invaluable role in rescuing people from the devastation caused by Syrian and Russian air and missile strikes. The 107 SCD teams, of over 3100 volunteer women and men, deliver community-based services to approximately four million Syrian civilians living in opposition-controlled areas. To date they have saved over 85,000 lives and conducted extensive mine risk awareness campaigns to help civilians protect themselves from unexploded ordnance. 167 SCD volunteers have been killed and another 480 seriously injured while carrying out their life-saving work.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much financial assistance was provided by the UK to the White Helmets in (1) 2015–16, and (2) the current year to date.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Syria Civil Defence is funded by a group of Western nations, including the UK. We have provided almost £30 million since we first began work with SCD in 2013, including contributions of around £11 million in 2015-16 and around £11 million in 2016-17. HMG will contribute a further £8.2 million in 2017-18. The United States, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark also provide funding to SCD.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the activities of the White Helmets in Syria are observed and analysed; and by whom.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Her Majesty's Government monitors the work of the Syria Civil Defence (SCD) through frequent contact with our implementing partner and receives regular reporting including specific incident reports, weekly reports, and quarterly project reports. The activities of SCD are also monitored and evaluated by our implementing partner; through independent audits; and through third party monitoring. These reports and continuing monitoring contribute to HMG's work to ensure due diligence, evaluation and accountability for project delivery.
HMG is not aware of reported attacks on civilians by the White Helmets. While all allegations of human rights abuses are treated seriously, HMG notes that the Syrian regime and Russia sought to discredit Syria Civil Defence through a concerted disinformation campaign. HMG remains steadfast in our support to the 3100 women and men of Syria Civil Defence who continue to risk their lives to save lives and make their communities more resilient.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what reports they have received on the activities of the White Helmets in Syria; what are the sources of such reports; and what action was taken as a result.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Her Majesty's Government (HMG) monitors the work of the Syria Civil Defence (SCD) through frequent contact with our implementing partner. We receive regular reporting, including specific incident reports, weekly reports, and quarterly project reports. The activities of SCD are also monitored and evaluated by our implementing partner; through independent audits; and through third party monitoring. These reports and continuing monitoring contribute to HMG's work to ensure due diligence, evaluation and accountability for project delivery.
HMG is not aware of reported attacks on civilians by the White Helmets. While all allegations of human rights abuses are treated seriously, HMG notes that the Syrian regime and Russia have sought to discredit Syria Civil Defence through a concerted disinformation campaign. HMG remains steadfast in our support to the 3100 women and men of Syria Civil Defence who continue to risk their lives to save others.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reported attacks on civilians in Syria by the White Helmets.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Her Majesty's Government (HMG) is not aware of reported attacks on civilians by the White Helmets. While all allegations of human rights abuses are treated seriously, HMG notes that the Syrian regime and Russia sought to discredit Syria Civil Defence (SCD) through a concerted disinformation campaign. HMG remains steadfast in our support to the 3100 women and men of Syria Civil Defence who continue to risk their lives to save lives and make their communities more resilient.
HMG monitors the work of SCD through frequent contact with our implementing partner and receives regular reporting including specific incident reports, weekly reports, and quarterly project reports. The activities of SCD are also monitored and evaluated by our implementing partner; through independent audits; and through third party monitoring. These reports and continuing monitoring contribute to HMG's work to ensure due diligence, evaluation and accountability for project delivery.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions have taken place with the government of the US since the inauguration of President Trump.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
There has been extensive engagement with the US Government since the inauguration of President Trump. Engagement includes the Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), meeting President Trump in Washington on 27 January. They last spoke on 14 February. The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson), met US Secretary of State Tillerson in Bonn on 16 February. The Minister of State, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Sir Alan Duncan), met the Secretary of State for Homeland Security in Munich on 17 February.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the indication of a change of policy by the government of the US on the Two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We welcome President Trump's interest in working for a peace deal that meets the requirements of both parties. The UK's view remains that the two state solution is the best option to achieve this.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have had discussions with the government of the US on relations between the government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), and President Trump discussed a range of foreign policy issues during their meeting on 27 January.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance was offered to Alexandra Wilson during her detention and on her release.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Consular staff offered Ms Wilson and her family consular assistance on a regular basis in line with our Consular charter: Support for British Nationals Abroad.
Consular staff at our Embassy in Beijing were informed on 31 October by Ms Wilson's friends of her arrest. Consular staff called the Chinese police and Dou Ge Zhuang Detention Centre on the 31 October and 1 November but the Chinese authorities would not provide any information on the detention.
After many phone calls consular officers were permitted a 30 minute visit on Monday 3 November. At this time it was confirmed that Ms Wilson was being held for working on an incorrect visa. In line with Chinese law the Chinese police (PSB) stated that it was likely that Ms Wilson would be held for an undetermined period of time and then deported. On 5 November consular staff phoned the PSB who stated that there was no clear release date as yet. Consular officers from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London were in daily contact with Ms Wilson’s mother.
On 6 November a Note Verbale was sent to the Chinese authorities expressing concerns over Ms Wilson's health issues and on 7 November our political team wrote to the Chinese Embassy in London highlighting Miss Wilson’s case.
Follow up phone calls were made on 10, 13, 14 and 17 November from consular officers to the PSB regarding a release date. On the 17 November the PSB confirmed that Ms Wilson would be deported on 19 November.
Consular officers in London followed up on 23 November to check with Ms Wilson that she arrived safely back in the UK.