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Written Question
Hong Kong: Demonstrations
Wednesday 23rd October 2019

Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)

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 Hong Kong counterparts on the use of excessive police force against protesters.

Answered by Heather Wheeler

We remain seriously concerned by the situation in Hong Kong and recent violent clashes between protesters and the police. It is essential that protests are conducted peacefully and within the law, and that the response of the authorities is proportionate. On 9 August, the Foreign Secretary spoke at length to the Hong Kong Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, about the police response to recent protests, and the UK Consul-General in Hong Kong is in regular contact with the authorities, including on this issue. We have made clear our view that there must be a robust, credible and independent investigation into events in Hong Kong. An inquiry is an important step in healing divisions and rebuilding trust that will support the process of dialogue and resolution.


Written Question
Bahrain: Embassies
Thursday 3rd October 2019

Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)

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 Bahraini counterpart on reports of violence at the Bahraini Embassy in the UK on 26 July 2019.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Following the illegal entry of an individual onto the premises of the Bahrain Embassy on 26 July, I spoke to Dr Sheikh Abduallah, Bahraini Undersecretary for International Affairs on 27 July, to reiterate that the British Government takes the safety and security of foreign diplomats and the status of Embassies and High Commissions in the UK extremely seriously.


Written Question
Ukraine: Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Monday 9th September 2019

Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK citizens are part of Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe patrol groups operating within 15 miles of the contact line in Eastern Ukraine; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Christopher Pincher

There are currently 62 British citizens seconded to the Organisation for Cooperation and Security in Europe's (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine. We are unable to provide information regarding the location of British citizens employed by the OSCE in Ukraine and their experience of kinetic events. Detailed information relating to these issues is owned by the OSCE and not the Government, and it would therefore be inappropriate for the Government to publish it. General information and reporting relating to kinetic, ceasefire and humanitarian incidents in eastern Ukraine is publicly available on the OSCE website (https://www.osce.org/special-monitoring-mission-to-ukraine).


Written Question
Ukraine: Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Monday 9th September 2019

Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK citizens are employed in Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe patrol groups operating in Eastern Ukraine where their areas of responsibility have experienced kinetic incidents including (a) ceasefire incidents and (b) humanitarian issues; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Christopher Pincher

There are currently 62 British citizens seconded to the Organisation for Cooperation and Security in Europe's (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine. We are unable to provide information regarding the location of British citizens employed by the OSCE in Ukraine and their experience of kinetic events. Detailed information relating to these issues is owned by the OSCE and not the Government, and it would therefore be inappropriate for the Government to publish it. General information and reporting relating to kinetic, ceasefire and humanitarian incidents in eastern Ukraine is publicly available on the OSCE website (https://www.osce.org/special-monitoring-mission-to-ukraine).


Written Question
Ukraine: Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Monday 9th September 2019

Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK citizens are members of Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe patrol groups operating in non-government controlled areas of Eastern Ukraine; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Christopher Pincher

There are currently 62 British citizens seconded to the Organisation for Cooperation and Security in Europe's (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine. We are unable to provide information regarding the location of British citizens employed by the OSCE in Ukraine and their experience of kinetic events. Detailed information relating to these issues is owned by the OSCE and not the Government, and it would therefore be inappropriate for the Government to publish it. General information and reporting relating to kinetic, ceasefire and humanitarian incidents in eastern Ukraine is publicly available on the OSCE website (https://www.osce.org/special-monitoring-mission-to-ukraine).


Written Question
Sino-British Joint Declaration
Thursday 5th September 2019

Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department have taken to ensure the UK’s obligations under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong are being fulfilled; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Heather Wheeler

We believe that meaningful political dialogue, taken forward by Hong Kong under its high degree of autonomy, is the best way to resolve the current impasse. It is important that the basic freedoms enshrined in the Sino-British Joint Declaration are maintained

The Sino-British Joint Declaration is a legally binding treaty, registered with the UN, that remains in force. The UK, as a co-signatory, has an obligation to monitor its implementation closely, and we are committed to doing so.

The Prime Minister discussed developments in Hong Kong with other leaders at the recent G7 Summit, and the Foreign Secretary has recently spoken with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam.


Written Question
Yemen: Peace Negotiations
Monday 8th July 2019

Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to work with UN Security Council members to ensure that the Stockholm agreement is implemented in Yemen.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

We have welcomed UN verification that Houthi forces have begun their withdrawal from the ports of Hodeidah, Saleef and Ras Issa. This was the first such withdrawal by the Houthis since the conflict began in 2014.

The UK encourages both parties to continue to constructively engage with the Special Envoy Martin Griffiths and General Lollesgaard. We will continue discussions with partners on how the UN Security Council can support the UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths on the political process and improving the humanitarian situation, central to which is the implementation of agreements reached during the Stockholm talks.


Written Question
Syria: Armed Conflict
Thursday 27th June 2019

Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with international partners on the merits of creating and upholding no-fly zones over Idlib, Syria.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

We are deeply concerned by the civilian deaths caused by airstrikes by the Syrian regime and Russia in Idlib, however we do not consider imposition of a no-fly zone over Idlib to be a realistic option. We have urgently called on the regime and Russia to end their current offensive in Idlib and to respect the ceasefire agreed last year.


Written Question
Syria: Armed Conflict
Wednesday 26th June 2019

Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Russian and Syrian counterparts on (a) halting military offensives in Syria’s Idlib province and (b) respecting the ceasefire.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

​The UK has already made clear to Russia and the Syrian regime the need to halt their offensive in Idlib and to respect the ceasefire agreed last September at Sochi. We have said this publicly and at the UN Security Council, including at the emergency session on 18 June, as well as in direct representations to the Russian government. The UK does not maintain diplomatic engagement with the Syrian regime.


Written Question
North Macedonia: NATO
Wednesday 15th May 2019

Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he plans to lay before Parliament the Accession Protocol relating to Northern Macedonia's membership of NATO; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Alan Duncan

We look forward to welcoming North Macedonia as the 30th member of NATO. My Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament on 26 February outlined the process of the entering into force of the Prespa Agreement and North Macedonia's NATO Accession. In line with that, UK ratification for North Macedonia's accession to NATO is progressing and we plan to lay the Accession Protocol before Parliament in the coming weeks.