Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the recent missile tests in North Korea.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
We are disappointed that North Korea has conducted multiple short-range ballistic missile tests in recent weeks. These are a violation of UN Security Council Resolutions. The British Government has repeatedly expressed its concern at North Korea’s breaches of international law and has ensured UN Security Council consideration of the matter, most recently on Tuesday 27 August. We urge North Korea to cease these tests and re-engage in talks with the United States. Until the dismantlement of North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes, UN sanctions must remain and be fully enforced. It is our firm belief that complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation is the path to a peaceful and more prosperous future for the North Korean people.
Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the Venezuelan’s Government’s withdrawal from negotiations with the opposition.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
We have maintained regular discussions with key actors on Venezuela following British recognition of Juan Guaido as interim Venezuelan President. Through our Ambassador and internationally, we are working closely with like-minded partners to achieve a peaceful resolution to the current crisis and a return to democracy and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid.
We hope that this, along with sanctions regimes imposed by the EU, the US and Canada, will encourage Nicolas Maduro to re-enter Norwegian-brokered negotiations with the Opposition in good faith.
Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Sudan.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The agreement in principle between the Transitional Military Council and the Forces of Freedom and Change, which sets out the plan for the transition to civilian led government in Sudan, is a historic opportunity for the people of Sudan to secure freedom from repression, instability and economic hardship. The UK commends the role of the African Union (AU) and Ethiopia in their efforts to support the mediation that has helped to deliver this agreement. We look forward to it being formally signed. On 5 July the Foreign Secretary welcomed the agreement. This was reiterated by the UK at the UN Human Rights Council on 9 July.
There is a challenging path ahead. Sudan has faced decades of autocratic rule and peaceful protesters have been killed whilst demonstrating for change. Sudan needs to see swift implementation of the agreement, broad-based reform and economic adjustment, and will require sustained international support.
Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Russian counterpart on (a) the arrest of Ivan Golunov and (b) the Russian Government's response to the subsequent protests.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The UK welcomes the dropping of charges against Russian investigative journalist Ivan Golunov. The Foreign Secretary and I publicly voiced our deep concern following Mr Golunov's arrest. We hope his release is indicative of a movement towards greater press freedom in Russia. However, we are concerned that over 500 people were detained in subsequent protests. We call on Russia to respect freedom of speech and expression, and will continue to defend media freedom. We prioritise the promotion and protection of human rights, and will make our concerns clear in bilateral interactions at all levels, where appropriate.
Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the recent election in Kazakhstan.
Answered by Alan Duncan
We refer to the report by the OSCE that the Presidential election in Kazakhstan on 9 June showed a lack of regard for fundamental freedoms, including the detention of peaceful protestors and widespread voting irregularities. The UK urges the Government of Kazakhstan to learn from the OSCE's conclusions, and to implement improvements to the electoral process.
Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the recent protests in Hong Kong.
Answered by Mark Field
The recent protests demonstrate the strength of feeling among the people of Hong Kong about proposed changes to Hong Kong's extradition laws, and the importance they attach to the preservation of the rights and freedoms and high degree of autonomy guaranteed in the Sino-British Joint Declaration and Hong Kong's Basic Law.
The protests have been largely peaceful, although the violence that occurred on 12 June is a cause for serious concern. All allegations of inappropriate use of force by the Hong Kong police should of course be fully investigated by the Hong Kong SAR Government.
Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for human rights in Hong Kong of the proposed new Chinese extradition law that would allow criminal suspects in Hong Kong to be sent for trial in mainland China.
Answered by Mark Field
In a statement to the House on 13 June, I set out in detail our assessment of the implications for human rights of the proposed changes to its extradition legislation and the recent protests in Hong Kong. This included our belief that, if enacted, the proposals could pose a risk to the rights and freedoms and high degree of autonomy guaranteed by the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
We welcome the Chief Executive's statement on 18 June that she would not proceed with the second reading of the Bill if the fears and anxieties of the people of Hong Kong were not addressed.
Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the accuracy of reports of Hezbollah’s presence in Venezuela in support of President Maduro.
Answered by Alan Duncan
We are aware of media reports but cannot confirm the accuracy of reports of Hezbollah presence in Venezuela in support of Mr Maduro.
Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government can take to (a) provide support to and (b) if necessary re-house the animals in Rafah Zoo, Gaza.
Answered by Alistair Burt
We have not had any discussions on the specific issue, as the UK retains a no contact policy with Hamas in its entirety. We remain very concerned about the humanitarian and economic situation in Gaza and regularly raise our concerns about Gaza with the Israeli authorities, urging them to work together with the Palestinian Authority and Egypt to see long-term improvements.