Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent discussions he has had on the forthcoming Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Kampala with the Secretary General of the Commonwealth.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Kampala took place over 15-20 January and was attended by the Commonwealth Secretary General. Many issues of significance to the Commonwealth were tabled at this forum, such as the need for urgent action to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and human rights. The UK is working with the countries in this important grouping, as well as with the Commonwealth Secretariat, to make progress on these and other issues.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what estimate he has made of the number of missiles that have been provided to the Houthis by the Islamic Republic of Iran since 2014.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In 2022 and 2023 the Royal Navy interdicted Iranian missiles and components which were being smuggled from Iran to the Houthis in violation of UN Security Council Resolutions. These weapons were similar to the weapons the Houthis have recently used to disrupt shipping in the Red Sea. Iran has been supplying the Houthis with intelligence and continues to supply them with weapons; on 17 January the Foreign Secretary made clear to the Iranian Foreign Minister that this must stop. A new Iran sanctions regime was launched in December which includes trade restrictions on UAVs and components.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, on how many occasions the Secretary of State has met their counterparts in the Gulf to discuss Yemen in each year since 2020.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to Yemen's long-term stability and has been working closely with international partners, including with Gulf States, to bring stability to Yemen. The Foreign Secretary has had many conversations about Yemen since 2020 with his Gulf counterparts. Most recently those conversations have included unacceptable Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, and our continued support to the Yemen peace process.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps he plans to take to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Together with the MOD, the FCDO is committed to highlighting the UK's key role in D-Day, and our enduring role in defence and security on the European continent and beyond. The commemoration of D-Day 80 and associated national events to mark this anniversary are being led by the Ministry of Defence. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will be supporting the co-ordination of any international elements to UK national commemorative events.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Qatari financial support to the Houthis on their ability to launch the recent attacks on UK and NATO naval vessels.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Qatar is an important friend to the UK; our bilateral relationship is deep-rooted and includes wide ranging cooperation across many areas including regional security. The UK works closely with Qatar on issues of regional security. We have regular Ministerial engagement with Qatar on a range of issues, with the Foreign Secretary and Minister for Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, meeting their counterparts in December.
Prior to our self-defensive strike on Houthi targets, we had been engaging extensively with regional partners to deter Houthi threats and to ensure freedom of navigation and safe passage in the Red Sea. It is in all our interests to work together to de-escalate tensions in the region.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the impact of Saudi Arabia's omission from Operation Prosperity Guardian on the UK's relation with that country.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Maritime security features in our discussions with all of our Gulf partners, including Saudi Arabia, which plays a central role in the region, and with which the UK has a strategic relationship. The Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary have been in regular contact with their Saudi counterparts in recent weeks, and explained why the UK joined with other allies in Operation Prosperity Guardian, in response to sustained Houthi attacks on international shipping. The United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia both have a shared interest in supporting the UN-led peace process in Yemen and working towards a sustainable long term political settlement in Yemen.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what his Department’s plans are for promoting the celebration of Commonwealth Day 2024 across the United Kingdom.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Commonwealth Day on 11 March will be marked by the traditional Commonwealth Day Service, organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society in cooperation with HMG, in Westminster Abbey. The event, which will be broadcast live on the BBC, is attended by Members of the Royal Family, Government Ministers, Commonwealth High Commissioners, civil society, and young people from around the country. Local authorities across the UK, as well as our diplomatic missions overseas, will be encouraged to host events and fly the Commonwealth flag to celebrate the Commonwealth's 75th anniversary and underline the UK's ongoing commitment to this family of nations.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of (a) the Ethiopia-Somaliland memorandum of understanding, signed on 1 January 2024, and (b) Ethiopia’s formal recognition of the Republic of Somaliland as an independent nation.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The FCDO has noted that the Memorandum of Understanding suggests that Ethiopia may recognise Somaliland's independence in return for the lease of territory. The UK's position remains that the settlement of Somaliland's status is an issue for Somalia and Somaliland to resolve through dialogue. We are engaging with all parties to call for dialogue to prevent any escalation that might affect regional stability and our peace, humanitarian and development work throughout the region.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he plans to visit Somaliland in the next 12 months.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
There are no current plans for Foreign Office Ministers to visit Somaliland. The UK is one of very few Western countries with a permanent diplomatic presence in Somaliland, and through our office there we engage closely with the Somaliland authorities on a range of issues.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, pursuant to the Answer of 6 December 2023 to Question 4652 on Embassies: Flags, if he will make it his policy to require UK (a) embassies and (b) consulates to illuminate the Union Flag at night.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Flags at our Missions overseas are normally flown during opening hours. Where flags are flown overnight, Heads of Mission have discretion on whether they are illuminated taking into account local circumstances, which may prevent them from doing so.