Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to UN Resolution 46/1, what steps he is taking to protect human rights in Sri Lanka.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The UK Government, alongside our partners in the Core Group on Sri Lanka, has led international efforts over many years to promote accountability, reconciliation and human rights in Sri Lanka, including at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). On 23 March the UNHRC adopted a new UK-led resolution, 46/1. This resolution provides a continued framework for international engagement on human rights in Sri Lanka, and highlights serious concerns about the situation, including those detailed in the report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). It calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to make progress on accountability and human rights, and stresses the importance of a comprehensive accountability process for all violations and abuses committed in Sri Lanka.
The Minister of State for South Asia, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, has raised the importance of accountability, justice and reconciliation on several occasions with the Sri Lankan High Commissioner and the former Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, Dinesh Gunawardena, most recently during calls on 10 May and 17 June respectively. We continue to engage with the government of Sri Lanka on these important issues.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the treatment of Pastor Yang Hua of Living Stone Church by Chinese authorities.
Answered by Nigel Adams
We are concerned by reports that Pastor Yang Hua of Living Stone Church was recently attacked by Chinese officials. We remain deeply concerned about the persecution of Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners and others on the grounds of their religion or belief in China. The freedom to practise, change or share ones faith or belief without discrimination or violent opposition is a human right that all people should enjoy. We believe that societies which aim to guarantee freedom of religion or belief are more stable, prosperous and more resilient against violent extremism. We will continue to raise our concerns around freedom of religion or belief with the Chinese authorities.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Chinese Government on the state of the human right to freedom of religion or belief in China.
Answered by Nigel Adams
We are deeply concerned about restrictions on freedom of religion or belief in China, including the persecution of Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, and Falun Gong practitioners. The Foreign Secretary has personally raised our serious concerns with his Chinese counterpart, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on a number of occasions, most recently on 27 May. The Foreign Secretary also expressed the UK's deep concern at the treatment of Uyghur Muslims and other religious and ethnic minorities at the UN Human Rights Council on 22 February.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2020 to Question 11408, on what date the Government plans to publish the Programme Summary of the Gulf Strategy Fund; and whether a copy of that document will be placed in the Library.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We will publish a Programme Summary for the Gulf Strategy Fund for 2020/21 in March 2021 through the Cabinet Office's designated cross-Whitehall Transparency window, along with summaries for the other FCDO International Programme Fund programmes. This is in line with the timetable for publication of programme documents for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office using the Cabinet Office Transparency gridslot. The document will be publicly available on .gov.uk.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of Official Development Assistance spending was allocated to nutrition in (a) 2018, (b) 2019 and (c) 2020; and what proportion will be allocated to nutrition in 2021.
Answered by Wendy Morton
In 2018 and 2019, the UK spent 1.2% of ODA on basic nutrition programmes.
The 2020 provisional ODA spend is due to be published in early April 2021.
The FCDO is undertaking a rigorous internal prioritisation process in response to the spending review announcement. We will update on the implications of this for 2021 nutrition spend in due course.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what funding commitment his Department plans to make at the 2021 Nutrition for Growth Summit.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is working closely with the Government of Japan to make sure the 2021 Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit supports meaningful action by governments, donors, businesses, the UN and civil society.
The FCDO is undertaking a rigorous internal prioritisation process in response to the spending review announcement. We will update on the implications of this for any new commitment to nutrition in due course.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 pandemic on levels of wasting, stunting and other effects of undernutrition in children.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on child malnutrition is not yet fully understood due to a lack of data and disruptions to data collection activities. However, a recent modelling study estimated that, by the end of 2022, the pandemic could result in an additional 9.3 million wasted and 2.6 million stunted children. It is also estimated that there will be an additional 2.1 million cases of maternal anaemia cases.
The FCDO continues to monitor the impacts of the pandemic on nutrition and we are working with UNICEF and other partners to strengthen data collection.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Nigerian counterpart on recent terrorist violence in the north east of Nigeria.
Answered by James Duddridge
Terrorist groups, including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa, continue to cause immense suffering to local communities in North East Nigeria. I [the Minister for Africa] have condemned recent attacks, including the attack on civilians in Koshobe on 28 November. We are committed to helping Nigeria tackle the threat posed by these terrorist groups. We are providing a comprehensive package of humanitarian and stabilisation assistance to Nigeria to help tackle the threat and support affected communities.
In November 2020, Nick Dyer, the UK's Special Envoy on Famine Prevention and Humanitarian Affairs, met representatives of the Nigerian Government in Abuja and North East Nigeria to discuss the conflict and push for action on deteriorating food insecurity in the North East. In December 2020, the UK Deputy National Security Advisor discussed security in Nigeria, including terrorism, with the President's Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari. The British High Commissioner in Abuja also regularly raises the conflict at senior levels within the Nigerian Government.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect on human rights of recent violence in Kaduna State in Nigeria; and what diplomatic steps he is taking to tackle the conflict in that region.
Answered by James Duddridge
GROUPED WITH PQ 136037.
The UK Government condemns all incidents of violence in Kaduna State, including the recently reported abduction of civilians on the Birnin Gwari to Kaduna road. Such incidents constitute human rights abuses and impact on individual's rights to life, liberty and security. Our High Commissioner and her team visited Kaduna State in December 2020 to engage with the state government and police, civil society, faith and community leaders and communities affected by violence. The UK Government maintains a network of regional offices in Nigeria, including in Kaduna State. This network monitors human rights issues. We will continue to make clear to the Nigerian authorities at the highest levels the importance of protecting human rights for all.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of recent abductions in the Birnin Gwari area of Kaduna state on human rights in that region.
Answered by James Duddridge
GROUPED WITH PQ 136037.
The UK Government condemns all incidents of violence in Kaduna State, including the recently reported abduction of civilians on the Birnin Gwari to Kaduna road. Such incidents constitute human rights abuses and impact on individual's rights to life, liberty and security. Our High Commissioner and her team visited Kaduna State in December 2020 to engage with the state government and police, civil society, faith and community leaders and communities affected by violence. The UK Government maintains a network of regional offices in Nigeria, including in Kaduna State. This network monitors human rights issues. We will continue to make clear to the Nigerian authorities at the highest levels the importance of protecting human rights for all.