Asked by: David Anderson (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will raise with the Prime Minister of India during his forthcoming visit the welfare of elephants being trained to work in the tourism industry in that country.
Answered by Lord Swire
We are aware of reports that elephants in use in the tourist industry in India have been captured as calves and then beaten and mistreated. This practice is illegal in India. UK officials have had discussions on this issue with Save The Asian Elephant (STAE).
The UK is committed to conserving Asian elephants and recognises the growing threats to their populations, including from the cross-border, illegal trade in live animals to feed the demand by the tourist and entertainment industries. The UK has been working internationally through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in discussion with elephant range states, including India, to increase protection for Asian elephants. We secured agreement in 2014 for elephant range states to put in place measures to prevent illegal trade in live elephants.
We are very much looking forward to Indian Prime Minister Modi’s visit, which gives us an opportunity to discuss a range of issues. We will continue to work together with the Indian authorities, as well as STAE and other non-governmental organisation, on protecting elephants.
Asked by: David Anderson (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will raise with the Prime Minister of India during his forthcoming visit the welfare of elephants being trained to work in the tourism industry in that country; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Swire
We are very much looking forward to Indian Prime Minister Modi’s visit, which gives us an opportunity to discuss a range of issues. We will continue to work together with the Indian authorities, as well as STAE and other non-governmental organisations, on protecting elephants.
Asked by: David Anderson (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent reports he has received on oppression of the Amahara people in Ethiopia.
Answered by Grant Shapps
We have not received any recent reports with regards to possible oppression of the Amhara people in Ethiopia. The UK Government takes seriously all allegations of human rights abuses. Whenever credible allegations of human rights infringements are brought to our attention we raise them with the relevant authorities.
Asked by: David Anderson (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will work with Amnesty International to make representations to the Indian government to prevent the punishment of the Kumari sisters.
Answered by Lord Swire
The UK has demonstrated its strong commitment to tackling violence against women and girls around the world. We are aware of the serious concerns around violence against women and girls in India and are committed to working with the Indian government and international partners on this. We understand that this particular case is being investigated by the local Indian police.
Asked by: David Anderson (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Egyptian government to reconsider the death sentence imposed on former President Morsi.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
I raised our concerns over the sentencing to death of former President Morsi with the Egyptian Ambassador in London on 17 May. I also issued a statement on 17 May, setting out the Government's deep concern at the sentencing to death of former President Morsi and over 100 others.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have also discussed this case with representatives of the Egyptian government.
We have been clear that the Egyptian authorities must apply the rule of law consistently in line with international standards, and protect the political and legal rights of all Egyptians as the basis for the country’s future stability. It is the long-standing policy of the Government to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. We note that there are further stages in the legal process, and will continue to follow this case closely.
Asked by: David Anderson (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the German government urging it to make appropriate financial contributions to British victims of thalidomide.
Answered by David Lidington
This Government remains a strong supporter of Thalidomide survivors. Her Majesty's Government is supporting the Thalidomide Trust’s National Advisory Council in their efforts to engage the German government in order to seek compensation for British Survivors of Thalidomide. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is currently working with the National Advisory Council in its efforts to secure a meeting with the relevant German authorities.
The British Ambassador to Berlin has raised the National Advisory Council’s campaign with the German Families Minister, Manuela Schwesig.
In addition, the Minister for Life Sciences at the Department of Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Norfolk (Mr Freeman), raised the issue of Thalidomide with the German government when visiting Berlin on 23 February.
Asked by: David Anderson (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reasons the Kurdistan regional government did not participate in the London conference of the International Coalition against ISIS in January 2015; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We recognise and deeply appreciate the significant role of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Kurdish forces in combating ISIL (the self-styled Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) and the sacrifices made by the Kurdish people. Iraq was represented at the Counter-ISIL Coalition Small Group meeting on 22 January by Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi and Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari. We look forward to seeing the KRG as part of a Government of Iraq delegation at any future meetings.
Asked by: David Anderson (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department is offering to Nigeria to tackle Boko Haram.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The UK is working with international partners, including the US and France, to support Nigeria and its neighbours, in their fight against Boko Haram. The UK is providing a substantial package of UK military, intelligence and development support and expertise to Nigeria, including tactical training and capacity building support to the Nigerian armed forces. We are also working with the United Nations, European Union and the International Committee of the Red Cross to support the large number of people displaced by the conflict. Ministerial meetings in Paris, London and Abuja last year brought together international and regional partners to help Nigeria and its neighbours implement measures to tackle Boko Haram. The Right Hon Stephen O’Brien MP (Special Rep for the Sahel) attended the follow-up meeting on security in Nigeria on 20 January in Niamey, Niger where further discussion took place on improving regional cooperation to tackle the Boko Haram threat.Asked by: David Anderson (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the finding by UNHCR that there were 40 killings of human rights defenders in Colombia in the first nine months of 2014, what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in that country.
Answered by Lord Swire
We are aware of the report by Amnesty International which informs that the UNHCHR has confirmed the murder of at least 40 human rights defenders (HRDs) between January and September 2014. ABColombia’s 2014 report stated that 78 human rights defenders were assassinated in 2013, which suggests a decrease this year, though there are reports that threats against HRDs have increased in the same period. However, we await more comprehensive reports including data covering the whole of 2014.
The UK Government publishes updates on the human rights situation in Colombia every quarter. The most recent report can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/colombia-country-of-concern/colombia-country-of-concern.
Asked by: David Anderson (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to encourage democratic change in Bahrain; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
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