Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 September 2018 to Question 172062 on Syria: chemical weapons, what the evidential basis is for his statement that the Director General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons reported that they had been prevented from deploying to Douma by Russia and Syria.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The Director General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) reported in detail on 16 April and again on 18 April to the Executive Council meeting of the OPCW about the attempted deployment of the Fact Finding Mission to Douma. The UK is a member of the Executive Council and was represented at both meetings. The OPCW Director General's relevant statements to the Executive Council are available on the website of the OPCW.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 October 2018 to Question 176249 on Joe Robinson, for what reason the British Government has not made a public demand for the (a) release or (b) extradition of Joe Robinson; and whether it is the policy of the Government to ensure the timely return to the UK of Joe Robinson.
Answered by Alan Duncan
We have raised Mr Robinson’s case at the highest levels and will continue to do all we can to support Mr Robinson and his family. We approach each consular case in a way that we judge is most likely to best support the needs of the individual. However, we cannot interfere in another country’s independent judicial process, just as we would not expect them to interfere in ours. The UK can only seek extradition of any individual when they are wanted for a crime in the UK, and a prosecuting authority decides to make a request.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations has he made to the Turkish Government on the repatriation of the body of British national Anna Campbell from that country.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The British Embassy in Ankara has engaged with the Turkish authorities about returning Anna Campbell's body to her family and with the International Red Cross. Due to the situation on the ground it is extremely difficult to confirm the whereabouts of any British nationals in Syria. We continue to stress to Turkey the importance of ensuring that the UN and non-governmental organisation partners are able to operate in areas under Turkish control. We stand ready to engage further with the authorities should the situation change.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby 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 representatives of the Turkish Government on the imprisonment of the British national Joe Robinson.
Answered by Alan Duncan
We are doing all we can to support Mr Robinson. I have raised his case with my counterpart, and also raised it with the Turkish Foreign Minister when I visited last year. Mr Robinson has also had consular support since his arrest. Consular staff visited Mr Robinson while he was in detention to check on his welfare and arranged prison visits for his mother. We have continued to offer Mr Robinson consular support since his conditional release in November.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the Prime Minister's statement of 16 April 2018 on Syria, Official Report columns 39-44, what the evidential basis is for the assertion that Russia and Syria delayed the access of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to Douma.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) notified Syria on 10 April of its intention to deploy its Fact-Finding Mission to Douma. The team arrived in Damascus on 14 April, following an invitation from Syria which was supported by Russia, but their deployment to Douma was delayed for a week until 21 April. The Director General of the OPCW reported that they had been prevented from deploying to Douma by Russia and Syria, who cited security concerns. Russia instead offered to bring witnesses to Damascus, but the OPCW rightly insisted on access to Douma itself, which was later granted.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government was aware that Barzeh had been found by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to be clear of chemical weapons six months before missile strikes were initiated against that location on 14 April 2018.
Answered by Alan Duncan
Laboratory facilities at Barzeh form part of Syria's Scientific Studies and Research Centre (SSRC), and were inspected by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in November 2017. The UK assesses that the SSRC, including the Barzeh facility, was a centre for the research and development of Syria's chemical and biological programme. The OPCW has stated that Syria's Declaration of its SSRC under the Chemical Weapons Convention remained incomplete, and continues to report that gaps, inconsistencies and discrepancies remain in Syria's account of its declaration under the Convention. The targets of missile strikes on 14 April were selected on the basis of rigorous intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to degrade the Syrian regime's chemical weapons capability and deter further chemical weapons use by the regime.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
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 merits of the US Administration continuing its role as an honest broker in the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
Answered by Alistair Burt
We welcome and share President Trump’s desire to bring an end to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. We agree on the importance of the US bringing forward detailed proposals for a viable peace agreement that addresses the legitimate concerns of both parties. We continue to believe the best way to achieve this is through substantive peace talks between the parties leading to a two-state solution with Jerusalem as a shared capital.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether UK missions in Israel and Palestine purchase goods produced in illegal settlements.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Neither our Embassy in Tel Aviv nor our Consulate-General in Jerusalem purchase goods from Israeli settlements. The UK’s position on settlements is clear. They are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace, and threaten the physical viability of a two-state solution.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Israeli counterpart on ensuring an independent element in the inquiry into the recent deaths at the Gaza border.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The UK has called directly on Israel to carry out a transparent inquiry into the Israeli Defence Forces’ conduct at the border fence and to demonstrate how this will achieve a sufficient level of independence. We have made clear that this investigation should include international members and that the findings of such an investigation should be made public. The Prime Minster stressed the need for Israel to carry out a transparent, independent inquiry into recent protests in Gaza when she met Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in London on 6 June.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he plans to take to encourage the Israeli Government to freeze the building of illegal settlements in the West Bank.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The Foreign Secretary issued a statement on 1 June calling on Israel to reconsider its plans to construct over 3,000 settlement units in the West Bank. I raised our concerns about new settlement announcements with the Israeli authorities during my visit to Israel on 30-31 May.