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Written Question
Israel: Palestinians
Friday 5th March 2021

Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)

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 the Government of Israel on (a) the case of Issa Amro and (b) upholding Palestinians' right to undertake take non-violent protest in support of Palestinian human rights and statehood.

Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary

Officials from our Consulate-General in Jerusalem attended Mr Amro's court hearing on 6 January. We continue to urge the Israeli Government to fully respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of human rights defenders and organisations. We have also raised concerns with the Palestinian Authority about the narrowing of space for civil society to operate in the West Bank.


Written Question
Sri Lanka: Human Rights
Monday 30th November 2020

Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the UK's Mission in Geneva is taking to prepare for a new UN Human Rights Council resolution on Sri Lanka.

Answered by Nigel Adams

The UK has long supported efforts to promote peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, including in our role as penholder on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. We firmly believe that UNHRC resolution 30/1, and its successor resolutions 34/1 and 40/1, remain the best framework for establishing truth and achieving justice and lasting reconciliation following the conflict in Sri Lanka. The UK's Mission in Geneva made this clear in statements delivered on behalf of the Core Group on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC in February, June and September.

The Minister of State for South Asia and Minister for Human Rights, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, has also raised these concerns on several occasions with the Sri Lankan High Commissioner and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, most recently during calls on 4 and 5 November respectively. We will continue to engage with the Government of Sri Lanka to underline the importance we attach to this issue. Ahead of the March 2021 session of the UNHRC, we will also continue to work with our international partners and with the HRC on how best to take forward this longstanding priority for the UK.


Written Question
Sri Lanka: Human Rights
Tuesday 24th November 2020

Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

What discussions he has had with his Sri Lankan counterpart on human rights in that country.

Answered by Nigel Adams

The UK Government takes the human rights situation in Sri Lanka very seriously.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for South Asia, raised a number of human rights concerns, including harassment of civil society and militarisation of civilian functions, when he spoke with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Gunawardena on 5 November.

We have urged Sri Lanka to address concerns in our statements to the UN Human Rights Council in February, June and September.

The UK will continue to highlight our concerns to the Government of Sri Lanka, and we will support human rights through our programme work including resettlement of victims of conflict and improving responses to sexual and gender based violence.


Written Question
Ecuador: Coronavirus
Tuesday 21st April 2020

Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) provide advice to and (b) repatriate UK citizens from Ecuador as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.

Answered by Wendy Morton

Following the change to date for answer of this PQ, I submitted a response by email on 26 March, with the following response. The Table Office have agreed this approach.

Our Embassy in Quito is regularly updating their travel advice, and publishing information on flights on their social media channels to ensure UK citizens are aware of all options. The Embassy have also set up a register for those wishing to return to the UK, which has been shared through email, and amplified via social media. Information includes a video from our Ambassador, requesting telephone numbers to enable the Embassy to contact British nationals swiftly when flight opportunities arise. Details are being passed on to airlines to enable further commercial flights next week.


Written Question
Sri Lanka: Human Rights
Wednesday 4th March 2020

Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Sri Lankan counterpart on that country's decision to withdraw from its commitments under the UN Human Rights Council resolution 30/1 and 34/1; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Nigel Adams

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for the Commonwealth and South Asia met the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on 25 February in Geneva to express the UK's serious concern about his country's announcement that it no longer supports the UN Human Rights Council resolution on Sri Lanka, and to urge him to reconsider. On 27 February the UK made clear our continued support for the resolution and its principles of reconciliation, accountability and justice for victims of conflict in a statement delivered at the UN Human Rights Council by the Core Group on Sri Lanka.


Written Question
Sri Lanka: Human Rights
Tuesday 8th October 2019

Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the progress made by the Government of Sri Lanka on the implementation of UN Human Rights Council resolutions on that country.

Answered by Heather Wheeler

We continually assess the progress made by the Government of Sri Lanka on the implementation of UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolutions 30/1, 34/1 and 40/1. In March when the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights issued its latest Annual Report, we agreed that progress had been made. We welcomed the restoration of important democratic checks and balances, improvements in freedom of expression and assembly, the return of some military-held civilian land, the establishment of an Office of Missing Persons and the ratification of the Convention on Enforced Disappearances.

However, we want to see further and faster progress. We continue to urge the Government to establish the full range of transitional justice mechanisms envisaged in the UNHRC resolutions, to deliver meaningful devolution through constitutional reform, replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act with human rights compliant legislation, and return all remaining military-held private land. During his recent visit to Sri Lanka on 2-3 October, Lord Ahmad encouraged the Government of Sri Lanka to deliver fully on its commitments made to the UNHRC and to develop a comprehensive and time-bound implementation strategy.


Written Question
Jerusalem: Demolition
Tuesday 3rd September 2019

Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made representations to his Israeli counterpart on the demolition of Palestinian buildings in the Sur Baher neighbourhood in East Jerusalem; and if he will make a statement.

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

On 23 July, the UK alongside France, Germany and Spain, issued a statement condemning the demolition by Israel of Palestinian buildings in the district of Wadi al Hummus. On the same day, our Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) reiterated our concern at the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Middle East. In this specific case, the demolitions were particularly egregious as a number of the buildings were located in Areas A and B, under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority according to the Oslo Agreements. They set a dangerous precedent that directly jeopardises the two-state solution, which is why I raised our deep concern to the Israeli Ambassador to the UK on 24 July.


Written Question
China: Religious Freedom
Monday 8th July 2019

Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government has made to the Government of the People's Republic of China on the treatment of (a) Christian and (b) Muslim minority communities in that country.

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

We remain deeply concerned about the persecution of Christians, Muslims 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.

Accordingly, at the 40th UN Human Rights Council in March 2019, during his opening address on 25 February, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad raised concerns about restrictions on freedom of religion and belief in China including on Muslims in Xinjiang and Christians across China. We also co-sponsored a side event on “Protecting the fundamental freedoms in Xinjiang” in March 2019, which helped to raise awareness of the situation among the international community. Lord Ahmad also set out the Government’s position when answering an Oral Question in the House of Lords on 4 April 2019. Further, we raised our concerns on freedom of religion and belief during China’s Universal Periodic Review in November 2018.

Ministers and senior officials frequently raise human rights issues bilaterally with their Chinese counterparts. The Foreign Secretary highlighted our concerns on Xinjiang with Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his most recent visit to China in July 2018. Our Embassy in Beijing regularly raises the treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang and concerns about the pressures facing Christians directly with Chinese officials.


Written Question
Israel: Bedouin
Monday 18th February 2019

Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Israeli authorities on the humanitarian implications of the proposed demolition of Khan al-Ahmar.

Answered by Alistair Burt

​The UK is deeply concerned by the humanitarian implications of the proposed demolition of Khan al-Ahmar. We have frequently raised our concerns with the Israeli authorities at senior levels, including with the Israeli Prime Minister and Israeli Attorney General, urging them not to go ahead with their plan to demolish the village. Officials from our Consulate General in Jerusalem continue to visit Khan al-Ahmar, most recently on 18 December. The same day, our Permanent Representative to the UN made clear during a UN Security Council debate on the situation in the Middle East that "we welcome the temporary postponement of plans to demolish the Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar but we remain gravely concerned about the fate of this community". The United Nations has said this demolition could amount to forcible transfer in violation of International Humanitarian Law. As I have said before in this Chamber, the Israeli Government is not obligated to demolish Khan al-Ahmar. It has the power to change its mind and we urge it to do so.


Written Question
Israel: Bedouin
Monday 18th February 2019

Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Israeli authorities on the proposed demolition of Khan al-Ahmar.

Answered by Alistair Burt

We have raised concerns with the Israeli authorities at senior levels, including with the Israeli Prime Minister and Israeli Attorney General, urging them not to go ahead with their plan to demolish the village. Officials from our Consulate General in Jerusalem continue to visit Khan al-Ahmar, most recently on 18 December.