Asked by: David Crausby (Labour - Bolton North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Bangladeshi counterpart on the imprisonment of opposition leader Khaleda Zia.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
We continue to stress to the Government of Bangladesh, both in public and in private, the importance of respect for human rights and the rule of law. We expect those in detention, including Khaleda Zia, to be treated in accordance with Bangladesh's international commitments on human rights. We regularly engage with the Government of Bangladesh on the treatment of those in detention and on the integrity and independence of the judicial process.
The Foreign Secretary wrote to Bangladesh Foreign Minister, AK Abdul Momen, this year to express our concerns about the general election in December 2018 and to encourage the Government of Bangladesh to maintain dialogue with opposition parties and civil society. The Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific reiterated these concerns and the importance of respect for human rights when he met the Prime Minister and ministers during his visit to Bangladesh in April 2019.
Asked by: David Crausby (Labour - Bolton North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made representations to his counterpart in Zambia on the proposed cull of hippos by trophy hunters on the Luangwa river.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
We are aware of the proposal for a cull of hippos on the Luangwa River in Zambia. Our High Commissioner has raised the matter with the Zambian Government. The importance of protecting wildlife was discussed with the Minister of Tourism and Arts at the October 2018 Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London. Our High Commissioner also discussed conservation issues with President Lungu in November 2018.
Asked by: David Crausby (Labour - Bolton North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the findings of the Human Rights Watch December 2018 report Bangladesh Election Crackdown on Political Opponents and Critics and the Transparency International Bangladesh January 2019 Review of Election Process of 11th National Election, what steps the Government is taking to help tackle electoral fraud in Bangladesh.
Answered by Mark Field
The Bangladesh general election on 30 December 2018 was subject to numerous allegations of irregularities and voter intimidation. I released a statement on 1 January deploring the violence that had taken place and expressing the UK's deep concern regarding the conduct of the election. I called for a full, credible and transparent resolution of all complaints related to the conduct of the elections and repeated this message to the Bangladesh High Commissioner when we met on 10 January.
I wrote to my counterpart the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, in January, to express UK concerns regarding the conduct of the election and on democratic trajectory in Bangladesh. The Foreign Secretary wrote to Foreign Minister Momen to deliver similar messages. The UK will continue to engage the Government of Bangladesh at all levels to address our concerns regarding democracy in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh remains a Human Rights Priority Country for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and freedom of expression is a key concern. I raised my concerns regarding freedom of expression with Bangladesh State Minister of Information Tarana Halim on 14 December 2018. The Foreign Secretary raised his freedom of expression concerns with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 24 September 2018 at UN General Assembly in New York.
Asked by: David Crausby (Labour - Bolton North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 May 2018 to Question 142766 on Bangladesh: Elections, whether he has received a request from the Bangladeshi Government to scrutinise that country's forthcoming elections; and what assessment he has made of the potential implications for the safety of such monitors of scrutinising those elections.
Answered by Mark Field
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not received a request from the Government of Bangladesh to scrutinise the forthcoming general election. As previously answered, the UK does support election monitoring through a Department for International Development project that funds domestic observers to monitor the political environment around the election, including observation of sub-national elections. This project will also provide local observers to monitor conduct on the day of the general election.
No specific assessment of the environment for potential UK based election monitors has been made. Domestic observers are experienced and have mitigation measures and systems in place to manage their own safety, something that is paramount for the HMG. So far they have conducted their activities with little hindrance, but DFID and partners continue to monitor the situation.
In addition, I have been clear with Government of Bangladesh and opposition parties that elections in Bangladesh must be free, fair and pluralistic, this includes ensuring that conditions for voting are safe. I delivered these messages to Government of Bangladesh interlocutors including Foreign Minister Ali, during my visit to Bangladesh from 29 June to 1 July.
Asked by: David Crausby (Labour - Bolton North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Bangladesh Government to ensure the fair and equal treatment of political parties in that country's forthcoming elections.
Answered by Mark Field
The Foreign Secretary met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Ali during his visit to Bangladesh from 9 to 10 February. In both meetings he stressed the importance of free, fair elections and affording political space to the opposition. I did the same when I met Foreign Minister Ali on 19 April in the margins of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018. The UK has consistently called on the Government of Bangladesh and opposition parties to engage in an effective dialogue to lay the groundwork for a free, fair and participatory general election. High Commission officials based in Dhaka regularly convey these messages to the Government of Bangladesh and opposition parties alike.
Asked by: David Crausby (Labour - Bolton North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made representations to his Bangladeshi counterpart on the imprisonment of the leader of the main opposition party in that country.
Answered by Mark Field
While it would not be appropriate for the UK to interfere in the judicial processes of another country, I remain concerned by the imprisonment of Khaleda Zia, the main opposition leader in Bangladesh. It impedes an effective dialogue between the main parties and could increase the risk of violence around the election and have a negative impact on participation. The Foreign Secretary met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Ali during his visit to Bangladesh from 9 to 10 February. He stressed the importance of free and fair elections and affording political space to the opposition. I did the same when I met Foreign Minister Ali on 19 April in the margins of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018.
Asked by: David Crausby (Labour - Bolton North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the assessment he has made of the potential effect of discussions at the April 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London on the forthcoming elections in Bangladesh.
Answered by Mark Field
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting was an excellent opportunity for Commonwealth countries to reaffirm their commitment to shared values including human rights, democracy, and freedom of expression. Bangladesh played an active and important role in the meeting. It also afforded the opportunity for bilateral meetings to take place, and I stressed the importance of free, fair and pluralistic elections when I met Foreign Minister Ali on 19 April.
Asked by: David Crausby (Labour - Bolton North East)
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 ensure that there is election monitoring (a) in the run-up to and (b) during the forthcoming general election in Bangladesh.
Answered by Mark Field
The UK is supporting election monitoring in the run up to the general election in Bangladesh through a Department for International Development project that funds domestic observers to monitor the political environment around the election, including observation of Sub-national elections. The project will also provide local observers to monitor conduct on election day. We have not yet received a request from the Government of Bangladesh to deploy UK election monitors during the general election. Should such an invitation be received, we would consider whether it is appropriate and safe to deploy UK officials. We will continue to engage with the Government of Bangladesh, the Election Commission, and political parties on the need for robust democratic mechanisms and the proper application of election law during the general election.
Asked by: David Crausby (Labour - Bolton North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage a ban on (a) animal testing for cosmetics and (b) the sale of animal-tested cosmetics.
Answered by Mark Field
Although the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is not responsible for policy on animal testing for cosmetics, or the sale of animal tested cosmetics, the FCO has supported the Home Office through diplomatic engagement via our overseas network on this subject.
For example, since 2013, the Home Office and the FCO/BEIS Science and Innovation Network in Beijing has continued to support China to bring an end to unnecessary cosmetics testing on animals, advising on a science-based approach for alternative testing.
Asked by: David Crausby (Labour - Bolton North East)
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 effect of delays on the border from British Gibraltar territory into Spain on vehicles crossing that border.
Answered by David Lidington
The delays imposed by the Spanish authorities at the border with Gibraltar continue to have a significant impact, resulting in significant changes in behaviour at the border: visitor arrivals in Gibraltar are down and vehicle traffic has fallen. The Government is concerned about the impact that border delays are having on businesses in both Spain and Gibraltar.
Since the beginning of the disruption last summer, the Government has raised this issue regularly with the European Commission. We recently sent detailed information on the delays, supplied by Her Majesty's Government of Gibraltar, to the Director General for Home Affairs, together with an update on the steps taken by Her Majesty's Government of Gibraltar to address the recommendations made to them by the Commission. Ministers have also been in direct contact with the Commission, including the Commissioner for Home Affairs. In our conversations we stressed the need for the Commission to make follow-up visits to monitor the continuing delays. We continue to request that the Commission urge Spain to act on their recommendations and return border checks to reasonable and proportionate levels.