Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which Minister in his Department leads on discussions at EU level on the wellbeing of Syrian refugees who have entered mainland Europe.
Answered by Alan Duncan
As the Minister for Immigration at the Home Office, my Hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Mr Goodwill) said in his written response to you on 30 January [61657], the primary responsibility for refugees outside the UK rests with the host country within which they are residing. I am the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Minister of State with responsibility for Europe. The migration crisis is regularly raised in European discussions, such as the European Council attended by the Prime Minister, and Foreign Affairs Council, attended by the Foreign Secretary.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he plans to make representations to the US President on the UK's policy on torture.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
I refer the honourable gentleman to the statement made on the issue by the Prime Minister, my Rt Hon Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), at Prime Minister's Questions on 25 January: our position on torture is clear. We do not sanction torture and do not get involved in it, and that will continue to be our position. The UK stands firmly against the use of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. We do not participate in, solicit, encourage or condone such practices for any purpose. The UK has been - and is - at the forefront of international efforts to develop a global system of torture prevention and calls on all states to follow our example by ratifying and implementing the UN's Protocol to the Convention Against Torture.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to provide assistance to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Ministers and officials have repeatedly made representations on all consular cases involving British nationals in Iran, including Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's, at all levels, with the Iranian Government. I personally raised these cases when I met the Iranian Ambassador on 7 December and our Ambassador in Iran will continue to raise these cases with the Iranian Government at every available opportunity in Tehran.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to encourage the EU to put in place further sanctions against Russia.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The EU's economic sanctions against Russia have been renewed until July 2017 in order to maintain pressure on Russia to fully implement the Minsk Agreements. The UK Government remains clear that we must also maintain pressure on Russia over its actions in Syria, including the possibility of sanctions. The UK will continue work with our allies to maintain EU resolve on sanctions.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations the UK Government has made to the government of Pakistan on (a) the treatment of Ahmadiyya Muslims in that country and (b) the reported raid on the offices of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Rabwah on 5 December 2016 by that country's Counter Terrorism Department.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
I am aware of the raid on the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Rabwah on 5 December. The Government strongly condemns the persecution of all minorities, including the targeting of people based on their beliefs. Our concerns are reflected in the latest update to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office annual human rights report.
The Government regularly raises our concerns about the protection of minority communities, including religious minorities, with the Pakistani Government at a senior level. During his visit to Pakistan in November, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Mr Johnson), raised religious tolerance and the importance of safeguarding the rights of all Pakistan's citizens. The Government continues to urge Pakistan to honour in practice its human rights obligations, including those related to religious minorities, and to uphold the rule of law.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of Israel on the demolition of the Bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
I raised with the Israeli Ambassador the concerns expressed in the House of Commons about plans to demolish the Bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran in the Negev on 23 November. I also issued a public statement on the matter calling on the Israeli authorities and the Bedouin community to work together to find a solution that meets the needs and respects the rights of the people affected.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if his Department will make representations to the Ethiopian government on facilitating phone calls between Andargachew Tsege and his family in the UK.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
As part of our ongoing consular support to Mr Tsege, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has made representations to the Ethiopian Government requesting that he be given access to a telephone.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will respond to the recent concerns that Mr Andy Tsege's life may be in danger; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Ambassador visited Mr Tsege on 11 November and heard from him directly about recent events where she was reassured of his welfare. We have informed his family of our visit and passed on messages. We remain in close contact with them and will continue to support them.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2016 to Question 50165, if he will raise with the Israeli government the issue of access to essential medical treatment for people living in Palestinian territories.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Access to essential medical treatment is an important issue, and our officials at the British Embassy in Tel Aviv will seek appropriate opportunities to raise this.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has raised with his Israeli counterpart access to essential medical treatment for people living in Palestinian territories.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
While we have not raised this specific issue, we have regularly lobbied the Israeli authorities on the issue of movement and access.