Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of necessities and support being provided to UK nationals and their families who have been evacuated from Afghanistan through third party countries.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The former Foreign Secretary's visit to Pakistan and Qatar and Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon's visit to Tajikistan focussed on regional diplomacy and secured cooperation to support Britons and their immediate families. Four Rapid Deployment Teams have been deployed to countries neighbouring Afghanistan and to Qatar to ensure safe onward passage to the UK. We are providing consular assistance and are working, in collaboration with the Home Office, to support the return to the UK of British nationals from Afghanistan in neighbouring countries and elsewhere through assistance on border movement, travel documentation and transport.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure that Afghan nationals are provided with a safe passage to the UK, via third countries if necessary.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
We are focused on ensuring safe passage for anyone remaining in Afghanistan who are eligible to come to the UK and wishes to leave. The former Foreign Secretary visited Qatar and Pakistan from 1-3 September to discuss safe passage via third countries. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon also visited Uzbekistan and Tajikistan from 1-3 September. We have been clear to our partners in the region that we have the capacity to process British cases, whether they are nationals or ARAP-eligible cases, and that if they permit eligible vulnerable groups across the border that we will take them directly back to the UK.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he has taken with his counterparts of countries neighbouring Afghanistan to establish a plan to ensure the safety of Afghans seeking refuge.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The former Foreign Secretary visited Qatar and Pakistan from 1-3 September. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon visited Uzbekistan and Tajikistan from 1-3 September. The former Foreign Secretary had a telephone conversation with the Foreign Minister of Pakistan on 15 and 27 August, the Tajik Foreign Minister on 2 September, and the Uzbek Foreign Minister on 6 September. Lord Ahmad has additionally called the Deputy Foreign Minister of Tajikistan on 23 and 25 August and the Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan on 25 August and the Deputy Foreign Minister on 8 September. Discussions focused on securing safe passage for those fleeing Afghanistan and advancing the government's international priorities. On 3 September, the FCDO announced £30 million in additional humanitarian funding to assist the regional response to the surge in refugees.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many families were split at Kabul airport during the Government’s evacuation of UK nationals and Afghan civilians from Afghanistan in August 2021.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Our Armed Forces, FCDO, Home Office, and MoD civilian staff worked tirelessly to bring over 15,000 people to safety in the UK over the two weeks of Operation Pitting. Our priority has been to keep families together wherever possible.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
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 the Secretary of State for International Trade on the export of (a) Paraquat and (b) other pesticides that are banned in the UK to India.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The Foreign Secretary has not discussed this with the International Trade Secretary. The export of paraquat is regulated under the Great Britain Prior Informed Consent (PIC) regulatory regime for the export and import of certain hazardous chemicals. Companies intending to export any of these chemicals from Great Britain must notify the importing country via the exporter's Designated National Authority. For Great Britain the Designated National Authority is The Health and Safety Executive.
Paraquat additionally requires the explicit consent of the importing country before export can take place. India allows the import of Paraquat and the exchange of information that PIC provides allows all countries to make informed decisions on the import of those chemicals and on how to handle and use them safely.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will take steps to reassess the UK-India Infrastructure Technical Co-Operation Facility in light of the farmers protests in India.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The UK-India Infrastructure Technical Co-Operation Facility is a programme which has focused on infrastructure for transportation, telecommunication, water supply and sanitation, urban infrastructure and emerging areas like renewable energy. There have been no projects relating to agriculture or agri-infrastructure under this programme. We recognise the interest in the Indian government's agricultural reform programme, and we respect India's democratic process, which includes the ability to debate and peacefully protest.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will take steps to reassess the Conceptual Framework on Agriculture in light of the farmers protests in India.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The British High Commission in New Delhi monitors developments in India, including recent reforms in agricultural law. We work with our partners in India to build capacity and share expertise to promote prosperity. Through the FCDO's Conceptual Framework on Agriculture, we support small-scale farmers to grow sustainably by improving market access and finance. We recognise the interest in the Indian government's agricultural reform programme, and we respect India's democratic process, which includes the ability to debate and peacefully protest.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
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 the Secretary of State for International Trade on prohibiting the sale of weapons including water cannons, tear gas and batons which could be used against peaceful protestors in India.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The Foreign Secretary has not discussed this issue with the International Trade Secretary. HM Government takes its export responsibilities seriously and will continue to assess all export licences in accordance with the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. For items that require an export licence, the criteria provide a thorough risk assessment framework and require us to consider the possible impact of providing equipment and its capabilities. HM Government will not grant an export licence if to do so would be inconsistent with the criteria.