Asked by: Baroness Brown of Silvertown (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Defending Democracy Taskforce has taken evidence from BBC Persian journalists as part of its review into the UK's approach to transnational repression; and whether it has had recent discussions with the BBC World Service on that review.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat
This Government is committed to tackling the issue of transnational repression. Any threats made by a foreign state against individuals in the UK, including journalists, will be thoroughly investigated.
The Defending Democracy Taskforce's review into the UK's approach to transnational repression is intended to ensure the UK has a robust and joined up response across government and law enforcement to this threat to our democracy.
The Taskforce has engaged a range of partners during the review, including other government departments, relevant agencies and law enforcement, and external stakeholders.
I intend to update the House on the review in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Brown of Silvertown (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the capital funding provided to Barts Health NHS Trust for fire safety works at (a) Newham Hospital Gateway Surgical Centre, (b) other areas of Newham Hospital and (c) other facilities within that Trust.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
The Department does not actively assess local infrastructure projects such as fire safety works; this falls under the responsibility of individual trusts. The Department provides operational capital to address these needs, allowing National Health Service providers to prioritise works at the local level.
As such, North East London Integrated Care Board, of which Barts Health NHS Trust is a partner member, was allocated £83 million in operational capital in 2023/24, which can be used for capital projects, including fire safety works. Previously, the trust received £4.6 million in 2020/21 from national programmes to fund works relating to fire safety.
Asked by: Baroness Brown of Silvertown (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had recent discussions with the UN on the potential merits of taking further steps to help protect (a) members of expert panels mandated by the Security Council and (b) other UN (i) investigators and (ii) researchers from reprisals for their work.
Answered by Leo Docherty
The UK Mission to the UN regularly engages with the UN regarding personnel issues, including the general safety and wellbeing of its staff. This engagement includes frequent contact with Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on safeguarding procedures against reprisals for those who cooperate with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the UN more broadly. Concerning individual cases, the UK Mission to the UN has held recent discussions with the Security Council Affairs Division regarding the safety of Panel of Expert members.
Asked by: Baroness Brown of Silvertown (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what further steps he plans to take with international partners to support accountability for alleged violations of international humanitarian law and crimes against humanity detailed in the final report of the Panel of Experts as considered by the Committee established pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1591 on 15 January 2024.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
The UK continues to take a leading role in supporting processes for justice and accountability in Sudan. On 11 October 2023, the UN Human Rights Council adopted the UK-led 'Sudan Core Group' resolution to establish an independent and international Fact-Finding Mission. This will support future accountability efforts in Sudan. The UK is also funding open-source investigation experts to use satellite and social media to verify and preserve information relating to attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Asked by: Baroness Brown of Silvertown (Labour - Life peer)
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 Houthi attacks in the Red Sea on (a) humanitarian supply deliveries and (b) sea-borne trade through Port Sudan.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
The Houthis' unacceptable and illegal actions, which threaten freedom of navigation, are disrupting sea-borne trade through Port Sudan. Existing blockages to the delivery of humanitarian assistance including bureaucratic barriers, looting of supplies and attacks on aid convoys must stop. We continue to call on both sides of the conflict in Sudan to abide by their responsibilities under International Law, protect civilians and to grant immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access, so that aid can reach those who need it.
Asked by: Baroness Brown of Silvertown (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent discussions he has had with the government of Ethiopia on (a) peace and security and (b) food security in the Tigray region.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
Conflict, drought, and economic challenges are exacerbating humanitarian crises across Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. His Majesty's Ambassador to Ethiopia frequently discusses these issues with interlocutors in the Government of Ethiopia, including how best the UK can support peace and security. The UK is scaling up our response to escalating humanitarian needs across Ethiopia, with an expansion of our nutrition, health, water and sanitation, and protection support across the country, including in Tigray, through UN, NGO and Red Cross partners.
Asked by: Baroness Brown of Silvertown (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he is taking steps to assess the adequacy of UK sanctions in relation to the evidence of proxy companies detailed in the final report of the Panel of Experts, as considered by the Committee established pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1591 on 15 January 2024.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
The sanctions which I announced in my Written Ministerial Statement of 12 July 2023 were designed to stop financing of the brutal conflict in Sudan. We are looking carefully at the contents of the Panel of Experts' report, subject to its final publication. Although we do not speculate on future designations, our sanctions policy is continually under review.
Asked by: Baroness Brown of Silvertown (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps he is taking to work with partners to address violations of the UN sanctions regime on Darfur detailed in the final report of the Panel of Experts as considered by the Committee established pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1591 on 15 January 2024.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
The UK welcomes and agrees with the Panel of Experts' recommendations. We look forward to the publication of its final report. The UK expects all countries to comply with existing UN sanctions and continues to work closely with partners in the UN Security Council to enforce these.
Asked by: Baroness Brown of Silvertown (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been paid in compensation in relation to allegations against members of the British Army Training Unit Kenya relating to (a) sexual abuse or violence and (b) other matters between 2000 and 2024.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
Between 2000 and 2024 no compensation has been paid relating to allegations against members of the British Army Training Unit Kenya in connection with sexual abuse or violence. There is one open claim that is currently under investigation. A total of £5.253 million compensation has been paid in the same period in relation to other matters.
Asked by: Baroness Brown of Silvertown (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent discussions he has had with the government of Burundi on (a) internal and regional security and (b) human rights for (i) the LGBT+ community and (ii) other minority groups.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
We welcome the Government of Burundi's stated commitment to improving the human rights situation and the recent steps taken which demonstrate progress in this regard. However, President Ndayishimiye's recent comments on the LGBT+ community risk undermining this positive trajectory. In 2022 and 2023 the UK co-sponsored the UN Human Rights Council's Resolutions on Burundi, which urged the full implementation of the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur and the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi in their reports. The UK Government welcomes greater engagement with Burundi on political and social inclusion as Burundi's political trajectory continues to improve.