Asked by: Chris Bryant (Labour - Rhondda and Ogmore)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, which human rights issues Ministers raised with their Saudi counterparts during the Great Futures conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 14 and 15 May 2024.
Answered by David Rutley
UK ministers regularly raise human rights concerns with the Saudi authorities where appropriate. We will continue to raise human rights with the Saudi authorities through diplomatic channels, including via Ministers and the British Embassy in Riyadh.
Asked by: Chris Bryant (Labour - Rhondda and Ogmore)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many bottles of (a) red wine (b) white wine and (c) spirits and brandies from the Government wine cellar were consumed in each of the last two years.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
The Bi-Annual Report on the Government Hospitality Wine Cellar for 2020-2022, will include a full breakdown of the number of bottles of red wine, white wine, spirits and brandies from the Government wine cellar that were consumed in each of the last two years and their value. The report will be published before the Christmas recess and copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House when the Written Ministerial Statement has been released.
Asked by: Chris Bryant (Labour - Rhondda and Ogmore)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what is the value of the (a) wine and (b) spirits and brandies from the Government Wine Cellar consumed in each of the last two years.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
The Bi-Annual Report on the Government Hospitality Wine Cellar for 2020-2022, will include a full breakdown of the number of bottles of red wine, white wine, spirits and brandies from the Government wine cellar that were consumed in each of the last two years and their value. The report will be published before the Christmas recess and copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House when the Written Ministerial Statement has been released.
Asked by: Chris Bryant (Labour - Rhondda and Ogmore)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to publish the bi-annual report on the Government Wine Cellar for 2020-22.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
The Bi-Annual Report on the Government Hospitality Wine Cellar for 2020-2022, will include a full breakdown of the number of bottles of red wine, white wine, spirits and brandies from the Government wine cellar that were consumed in each of the last two years and their value. The report will be published before the Christmas recess and copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House when the Written Ministerial Statement has been released.
Asked by: Chris Bryant (Labour - Rhondda and Ogmore)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which of the Prime Minister's (a) Trade and (b) Special Envoys have been provided with (i) office space and (ii) residential accommodation since December 2019.
Answered by David Rutley
The Prime Minister's Trade Envoys are a network of appointed parliamentarians, drawn from both Houses and across the political spectrum. Special Envoys are officials of the Government.
Both the Prime Minister's Trade and Special Envoys are based in the UK and travel if needed. They are not allocated residential accommodation, either in the UK or overseas. The Trade Envoys are not provided with offices in the UK. FCDO Special Envoys have access to two shared offices in the FCDO in King Charles Street. They can book these on the occasions they wish to use them.
Asked by: Chris Bryant (Labour - Rhondda and Ogmore)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) the US Administration and (b) EU counterparts on the imposition of sanctions on (i) Ali Ghanaatkar, (ii) Ali Rezvani and (iii) Amened Sadat Zahbipour for their role in Iran’s state hostage-taking; and if he will impose sanctions on those individuals.
Answered by David Rutley
The UK will never accept our nationals being used as political leverage. Working with our international partners, including the USA and European Union, we continue to press Iran to end this abhorrent practice. In December 2022, the UK sanctioned ten officials connected to Iran's judicial and prison systems. This includes six individuals linked to the Revolutionary Courts which have been responsible for egregious sentences on British nationals. In January, we sanctioned Iran's Prosecutor General and deputy Prosecutor General, two of the most powerful figures in Iran's judiciary and responsible for the trial process and sentencing. The UK sanctions over 300 Iranian individuals and entities, including in relation to human rights violations, counter-proliferation, regional activity and terrorism. This includes 60 new human rights designations since October 2022. We do not speculate on future designations as doing so could reduce their impact.
Asked by: Chris Bryant (Labour - Rhondda and Ogmore)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will impose targeted sanctions on those responsible for Iran’s state hostage-taking.
Answered by David Rutley
The UK will never accept our nationals being used as political leverage. Working with our international partners, including the USA and European Union, we continue to press Iran to end this abhorrent practice. In December 2022, the UK sanctioned ten officials connected to Iran's judicial and prison systems. This includes six individuals linked to the Revolutionary Courts which have been responsible for egregious sentences on British nationals. In January, we sanctioned Iran's Prosecutor General and deputy Prosecutor General, two of the most powerful figures in Iran's judiciary and responsible for the trial process and sentencing. The UK sanctions over 300 Iranian individuals and entities, including in relation to human rights violations, counter-proliferation, regional activity and terrorism. This includes 60 new human rights designations since October 2022. We do not speculate on future designations as doing so could reduce their impact.