Asked by: Bim Afolami (Conservative - Hitchin and Harpenden)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
What plans he has to ensure that the UK and other donors contribute funding to the Global Partnership for Education replenishment in 2021.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The UK helped found the GPE and we have been its largest donor, having contributed $1.6 billion since 2002. Since its creation, the GPE has contributed to the largest expansion of primary and lower secondary schooling in history.
Global education will be a key focus of the UK’s G7 Presidency and we call on all donors to step up with ambitious pledges to help the GPE secure its target of up to $5 billion. No decision has been taken yet on the UK’s next contribution to GPE, and details will follow in due course.
Asked by: Bim Afolami (Conservative - Hitchin and Harpenden)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans the Government has to [demonstrate global leadership] at the (a) UN General Assembly Leader’s Biodiversity Summit, (b) over the next year and (c) during the UK's presidency of COP26.
Answered by James Duddridge
The UK is committed to tackling climate change, which is why we bid to host COP26 in Glasgow in partnership with Italy. Through diplomatic effort, in both bilateral and multilateral fora, and working with governments, businesses, and civil societies, we are calling for all countries to bring forward long-term climate strategies and are leading the world's response to tackle climate change. As the first country to legislate to end our contribution to global warming, the UK is leading by example as a global force for good. We have also committed to doubling the UK's International Climate Finance funding to at least £11.6 billion between 2021/22 and 2025/26. Humanity faces the twin threats of climate change and biodiversity loss. These are two sides of the same coin; it is impossible to solve one without fixing the other. The conventions on biological diversity (COP15) and climate (COP26) provide excellent opportunities to take effective action on climate change and biodiversity loss and deliver a step change on both of these global crises.
We will support the adoption of ambitious and practical targets on nature at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity Summit (COP15) in China next year, strengthened by coherent implementation mechanisms that will deliver a new global biodiversity framework that is commensurate with the scale of the challenge. Nature is also a top priority for our upcoming Presidency of COP26 next year and we are pushing for tangible and ambitious commitments from partner governments to champion nature and nature-based solutions. Given this, and the multi-faceted benefits of nature-based solutions, we are working with the Chinese Government, who are hosting COP15, to press for mutually reinforcing outcomes at the two Conferences. In addition, we will continue leading global ambition on conserving endangered species, following our hosting of the international Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in 2018.
Asked by: Bim Afolami (Conservative - Hitchin and Harpenden)
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 level of religious freedom in Mauritania; and what steps the Government is taking to promote and protect the right to freedom of religion or belief in that country.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The Mauritanian Constitution establishes that Islam is the religion of its citizens and the State. The UK Government has raised the importance of Freedom of Religion or Belief with the Mauritanian Government on a number of occasions, and is committed to working with international partners to protect this freedom. Our Ambassador raised the issue of human rights in Mauritania with the Mauritanian Foreign Minister on 17 January.
Asked by: Bim Afolami (Conservative - Hitchin and Harpenden)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the Government of India in the case of the UK citizen Jagtar Singh Johal; what reports his Department has received on the treatment of that person; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Mark Field
Consular staff in India were made aware of allegations of mistreatment through Mr Johal's legal representation. Our priority is to inquire about these specific allegations with Mr Johal in private. We take all allegations of torture of mistreatment extremely seriously and we will press for action appropriate to the situation, with the consent of the individual, avoiding any action that may put the individual concerned at risk. The Foreign Secretary raised the case with the Indian Minister of External Affairs on 23 November and Consular officials continue to reiterate our request for a private meeting with Mr Johal with the Indian Government. I have personally raised this with the Indian High Commissioner.