Asked by: Carol Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with his Indian counterpart to ensure that the (a) human rights and (b) property rights of the residents of Haldwani are being respected.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
The British High Commission in New Delhi continues to monitor the situation in Haldwani, while recognising that this is a matter for India.
We engage India on a range of human rights matters, working with Union and State Governments, and with Civil Society, to build capacity and share expertise to promote human rights for all. Where we have any issues, we raise them directly with the Government of India, including at Ministerial level.
Asked by: Carol Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential steps that can be taken in order to ensure that people who are not subject to the sanctions on Russia are not unduly impacted because of a similarity in name to sanctioned individuals.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
The UK Government publishes the UK Sanctions List, which provides details of those designated under regulations made under the Sanctions Act. The list also details which sanctions measures apply to these persons and in the case of UK designations, provides a statement of reasons for the designation. HM Treasury's Office for Financial Sanctions Implementation provides a consolidated list of persons and organisations under financial sanctions, including those under the Sanctions Act and other UK legislation. Both lists include additional identifying details, where this information is available, to assist with the identification of a Designated Person. This includes date of birth, nationalities, addresses, and any name variations or aliases.
Asked by: Carol Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to provide (a) increased levels of funding and (b) emergency medical aid to Sri Lanka.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK Government funds programmes to support the needs and development priorities of the Sri Lankan people. The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) will provide £11.3 million over the next three years to work on post-conflict peacebuilding, promoting reconciliation and inclusive democratic institutions. This will fund landmine clearance, sustainable resettlement of those displaced by the conflict, and provide support to civil society.
The UK also contributes to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) Operation in Sri Lanka. The DREF is supporting the Sri Lanka Red Cross with an allocation of approximately $700,000 USD in response to the shortages and civil unrest. The World Bank, of which the UK is a major donor, has announced over $400 million USD of assistance to provide economic and health sector support.
We welcome the start in-depth discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on reforms needed to bring the economy back to a sustainable path. We will work closely with fellow Paris Club members and multilateral organisations on solutions to Sri Lanka's debt crisis.
Asked by: Carol Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We are closely monitoring the situation in Sri Lanka particularly as it relates to food insecurity and medical shortages and will be working to support the UN and its agencies in their coordinated response. This response will be based on the UN's recent joint Humanitarian Needs and Priorities (HNP) Plan, launched on 9 June, that called for $47.2 million USD to provide life-saving assistance to 1.7 million people who are most at risk and need immediate support.
The UK Government recognises the difficult economic situation and welcomes the start of in-depth discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on reforms needed to bring the economy back to a sustainable path. The World Bank has announced over US$400 million in assistance to provide economic as well as health sector support, with the UK being a major donor to the UN and World Bank.
Asked by: Carol Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
What recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of discrimination faced by Palestinians in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Answered by Amanda Milling
We are concerned about increased tensions in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and are monitoring the situation closely. We are committed to achieving a negotiated two-state solution, which envisions both Israel and a viable Palestinian State, living side by side in peace and security and mutual recognition. We have a regular dialogue on human rights with the Government of Israel to encourage them to abide by obligations under international law and to do all it can to uphold the values of equality for all.
Asked by: Carol Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress her Department is making through discussions with the US Administration on the lifting of the current travel ban applying to UK nationals travelling to that country.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 10 June the Prime Minister and President Biden announced the formation of a UK-US travel taskforce with the purpose of sharing expertise and providing recommendations to leaders on the return of safe and sustainable international travel. The Government is aware of the significant impact this is having on many British Nationals and are engaging extensively with the US to try and find a resolution.