Asked by: Lord Wharton of Yarm (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister has taken financial support or benefits in kind from anyone associated with Bangladesh’s Awami League party since July 2024.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the Noble Lord to the Register of Members' Financial Interests.
Asked by: Lord Wharton of Yarm (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government why the Prime Minister did not meet the interim leader of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, on his recent visit to the United Kingdom.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The travel plans of Chief Adviser Professor Yunus are a matter for the Government of Bangladesh.
Asked by: Lord Wharton of Yarm (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to help the government of Bangladesh to extradite individuals in the United Kingdom who are accused of corruption in Bangladesh.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
All extradition requests received by the UK are subject to an independent legal process, with clear safeguards and protections set out in the Extradition Act 2003. The UK Government does not intervene in any of these judicial decisions.
Asked by: Lord Wharton of Yarm (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether any approach has been made to them by Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, regarding a request to settle in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office does not comment on individual cases.
Asked by: Lord Wharton of Yarm (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they support calls for a federal Syrian constitution in order to protect minority communities in that country.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK fully supports a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition process leading to an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government. We welcome provisions within the Constitutional Declaration on freedom of expression, freedom of belief and women's rights. Further consultation of key groups across Syria is essential as the constitutional drafting process takes place.
Asked by: Lord Wharton of Yarm (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what meetings they have held with the new government of Syria and what steps they have taken to raise human rights concerns.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK engages regularly with the Syrian government to support them in taking steps that will deliver a more stable, free and prosperous future for the Syrian people. We have been clear that we expect those appointed to the new Syrian government to demonstrate a commitment to the protection of human rights. We will continue to judge them by their actions.
The Minister for the Middle East raised the importance of an inclusive political transition and the need to protect all civilians with the Syrian Foreign Minister al-Shaibani most recently when they met in Brussels on 17 March.
Asked by: Lord Wharton of Yarm (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the treatment of minorities under the new government of Syria.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We welcome the announcement on the formation of a new Syrian government and the provisions in the Constitutional Declaration on freedom of expression and freedom of belief. We expect those appointed to demonstrate a commitment to protect the rights of all Syrians. We will continue to encourage inclusive governance and will work with the Syrian government to this end.
Asked by: Lord Wharton of Yarm (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to imposing sanctions and other measures against those found to be party to the persecution of minority groups in the new government of Syria.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We do not comment on future designations as to do so lessens their potential impact. We keep our sanctions regime under close review and we will continue to judge the Syrian government by their actions.
Asked by: Lord Wharton of Yarm (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many staff in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are based in Damascus.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
There are currently no Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) staff permanently based in Damascus. However, FCDO staff, including our UK Special Representative for Syria, undertake visits to Damascus.
Asked by: Lord Wharton of Yarm (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to enhance academic partnerships between UK universities and higher education institutions in Northern Cyprus.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The UK supports all Cypriot students, including those in the North, to access UK higher education networks and institutes. In line with the rest of the international community with the sole exception of Turkey, the UK does not recognise the self-declared ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ as an independent state. Several UN Security Council Resolutions limit links between UK and the north of Cyprus.