Asked by: Lord Hussain (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 31 October (HL2396), whether the issue of investigations into human rights abuses in Indian-administered Kashmir was raised during the Prime Minister's recent visit to India.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) and Prime Minister Modi discussed a variety of issues on her recent visit to India, including Kashmir. The UK's long-standing position, held by successive Governments, is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting resolution to the situation, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. It is not for the UK to prescribe a solution or to act as a mediator.
Asked by: Lord Hussain (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of India concerning violence in Indian-administered Kashmir and the continued curfew order in place in cities and towns.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We remain concerned by reports of violence and offer our condolences to the victims and their families. The UK abides by its commitments under international law and expects all countries to comply with their international legal obligations. Our High Commission in Delhi is monitoring the situation closely and we have updated our travel advice. As the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Hon. Friend the Member for Reading West (Alok Sharma) said in the House of Commons on 18 October, the UK's long-standing position, held by successive Governments, is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting resolution to the situation, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. It is not for the UK to prescribe a solution or act as mediator.Asked by: Lord Hussain (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the government of India's recent refusal to allow access to representatives of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to investigate possible human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir, what representations they are making to the government of India to enable those investigations to be undertaken.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We are aware of reports of human rights abuses in Indian-administered Kashmir. Any allegation of human rights abuse in any country is a matter of concern and should be investigated thoroughly, promptly and transparently.
Asked by: Lord Hussain (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Myanmar about abolishing ethnic and religious classifications for identification cards.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have a number of concerns about how identity cards and citizenship are obtained in Burma and the role of religion and ethnicity. Of particular concern are how these apply to the Muslim Rohingya community in Rakhine State, the requirement for Rohingya to identify as ‘Bengali’ to apply for citizenship, and the cancellation, on 31 March 2015, of all ‘White Card’ identity documents – the only form of identification held by many Rohingya.
We have repeatedly made our views known to the Burmese authorities on both questions. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), pressed the Burmese authorities on the issue of identity cards and a pathway to citizenship for the Rohingya during his visit to Burma in July.
Asked by: Lord Hussain (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Myanmar about revising its citizenship laws, which place restrictions on non-indigenous residents who have lived in Myanmar for a long period of time from becoming full citizens.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have a number of concerns about Burma’s 1982 Citizenship Law, and particularly how it deals with the Rohingya community. The British Government has consistently called for a sustainable solution to the issue of Rohingya citizenship which meets international standards. Most recently, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right. hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), raised this at senior level with the Burmese authorities, both with the central government and in Rakhine State, during his visit to Burma in July.
Asked by: Lord Hussain (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many individuals were extradited to the United Kingdom in each of the last two years; and for each year what were the nationalities of those individuals.
Answered by Lord Bates
The information is set out in the tables attached. Extradition to and from EU Member States is governed by the European Arrest Warrant (EAW). This is operated by the National Crime Agency, who have provided the separate figures for EAWs. Extradition to and from other territories is dealt with by the Home Office.
The figures apply to England, Wales and Northern Ireland only. Scotland deals with its own extradition cases.
Asked by: Lord Hussain (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many individuals were extradited from the United Kingdom in each of the last two years; and for each year what were the nationalities of those individuals.
Answered by Lord Bates
The information is set out in the tables attached. Extradition to and from EU Member States is governed by the European Arrest Warrant (EAW). This is operated by the National Crime Agency, who have provided the separate figures for EAWs. Extradition to and from other territories is dealt with by the Home Office.
The figures apply to England, Wales and Northern Ireland only. Scotland deals with its own extradition cases.