Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
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 ensure that the EU Trust Fund for the Central African Republic supports reconciliation and peacebuilding activities.
Answered by David Lidington
The UK is supportive of the EU Trust Fund for the Central African Republic and its support for peacebuilding and reconciliation activities. The UK's bilateral funding to the Central African Republic is currently focussed on meeting urgent humanitarian needs.
Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps the Government has taken to fulfil its Responsibility to Protect in the Central African Republic.
Answered by David Lidington
The security and humanitarian situation remains grave in the Central African Republic and continues to have a severe impact on the civilian population and their human rights. The UK government underlined our concerns about this in our statement to the UN’s Human Rights Council in July. The UK co-funded the African Union’s 2014 deployment of experts to the Central African Republic to support victims of sexual violence. The deployment facilitated the rehabilitation of three health facilities, provided protection and assistance to victims of sexual violence and established a national network of government and community stakeholders, in the prevention and response to sexual violence. The UK welcomes efforts by the government of the Central African Republic and the UN to set up a Special Criminal Court to address war crimes and crimes against humanity committed since 2012. The UK welcomes the positive outcome of the Bangui Forum in particular the agreement signed between the armed groups, UN and transitional government to release all children from the ranks of the armed groups. It is important that these children are offered assistance and helped to reintegrate into society. The signing of an agreement on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration is an important step but it is critical for the agreement to be applied and for international forces to enforce the commitments made by the signatories of this agreement.Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
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 build sustainable peace in the Central African Republic.
Answered by David Lidington
The UK’s focus in the Central African Republic is on working with the international community to improve security throughout the country. We will support the Transitional Authorities to prepare for elections, and assist with justice, governance and state administration, so institutions can start delivering basic services to the people of the Central African Republic.
The UK co-sponsored a UN Security Council Resolution authorising the deployment of a UN Peacekeeping Operation, MINUSCA, which launched in September 2014. The operation is focussing on restoring stability, preventing human rights abuses, and promoting reconciliation. The UK has also supported the EU Military Advisory Mission to the Central African Republic which launched in March 2015. The operation is focussing on providing the government of the Central African Republic with expert advice, with a view to reforming the military to make it into a professional army, democratically accountable and representative of the entire nation.
Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support the Government is providing to the Saudi Arabian coalition operations in Yemen; and in what circumstances that support would be withdrawn.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We are not participating directly in Saudi Arabian led military operations in Yemen, but we are providing technical support, precision-guided weapons and exchanging information with the Saudi Arabian armed forces through pre-existing arrangements. In addition to the personnel who continue to provide support for equipment supplied, we have a small number of liaison personnel in Saudi Arabia and coalition air and maritime headquarters. This includes personnel in the Maritime Coalition Coordination Centre in the region supporting the delivery of humanitarian aid into Yemen.
Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of the conflict in Yemen with Al-Qaeda on (a) global security and (b) security in the Arabian Peninsula; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We remain extremely concerned about the situation in Yemen and the risk that terrorists groups may exploit the ongoing instability. The recent death of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's leader and Al Qaeda Core’s Deputy, Nasir al Wuhayshi, was a servere blow to Al Qaeda but it has not reduced the threat it poses. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula continues to threaten the UK and Western interests in Yemen, and poses a global security risk. We are committed to supporting the Yemeni government in establishing a stable and secure Yemen and we continue to work with regional and international partners to tackle the threat posed by AQAP.
Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
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 counterparts in other EU member states on policy responses by the EU to the recent report by the World Bank to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee which concluded that Gaza is on the verge of collapse.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
EU Foreign Ministers regularly discuss the situation in Gaza; they did so most recently at the Foreign Affairs Council on 22 June 2015.
Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Israeli government on attempts to transfer Bedouin families from the South Hebron Hills to near Jericho.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
On 28 May, we raised our serious concerns about the potential forcible transfer of the Bedouin in E1 and other parts of Area C and the Israeli Supreme Court’s ruling approving the demolition of the West Bank village Susiya with senior officials from the Israeli National Security Council. On 8 June, envoys from all 28 European Union Member States including the British Consul General to Jerusalem visited the Bedouin community at Susiya. The delegation’s visit was to emphasise their continuing support for the community and their opposition to demolitions in general.
Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for (a) UK and (b) EU policy of the recent report by the World Bank to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee which concluded that Gaza is on the verge of collapse.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
While the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not made an assessment of the recent report by the World Bank to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, the UK and the EU are extremely concerned about the situation in Gaza. We continue to urge the parties to prioritise progress towards a durable solution for Gaza. To assist with Gaza's reconstruction, the UK pledged £20m to help kick start the recovery and help get the Gazan people back on their feet at the Gaza reconstruction conference on in October 2014. We have already disbursed 75% of our pledge. This is in addition to our earlier provision of £19.1 million in UK aid in response to last summer's crisis. We call on all donors to fulfil their financial pledges to aid the reconstruction efforts in Gaza without delay.
Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken (a) unilaterally and (b) with EU colleagues to help to lift the blockade of Gaza and allow unrestricted access for humanitarian aid and reconstruction.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Government, both bilaterally and with the EU, continues to urge the parties to prioritise progress towards a durable solution for Gaza, and to take the necessary steps to ensure Gaza’s reconstruction and economic recovery. I raised the issue with the Israeli National Security Adviser on 3 June. There is an urgent need for agreement to address the terrible situation in Gaza and the drivers of conflict. We welcome the recent positive steps that Israel has taken to ease some restrictions. However, we want to see Israel go much further.
Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last discussed (a) Gaza and (b) Israeli settlements with his colleagues in the EU; and what the outcome of those discussions was on each such topic.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Foreign Affairs Council met on 18 May. The Middle East Peace Process was one of the subjects on the agenda and both Gaza and settlements were discussed. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) argued that improving the situation in Gaza, as well as action to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution, needed to be the immediate focus of the EU’s attention.