Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the evidential basis was for the downgrading of the impact of persecution of Christians in the Middle East between the the Bishop of Truro’s Independent Review for the Foreign Secretary of FCO Support for Persecuted Christians and (a) Interim and (b) Final Report.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
This is an independent Review. As the Foreign Secretary has stated, the findings of the report make for harrowing reading and we are concerned about the situation for all Christians, including those in the Middle East. The report states that further evidence will be published and will be available incrementally from 15 July on the Review's website.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps he has taken with the Nigerian Government to help prevent the alleged funding of supply of weapons to terrorist groups by the oil industry in that country.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
We are not aware of any evidence to corroborate the cited allegations against oil companies in Nigeria. Militants, pirates and criminals are active across the Niger Delta and their access to weapons is of real concern. The British Government regularly discusses insecurity in the Delta with a range of State and Federal government bodies, who share our concern. We also remain committed to supporting Nigeria in dealing with the threats posed by terrorist groups in the North East of Nigeria.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information his Department holds on the use of Tazir laws to facilitate punishment against members of the Baha’i community in Iran; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
We remain aware of the continued reports of harassment and mistreatment of members of the Baha'i faith in Iran, including the increase in arrests in 2018. The British Government supports the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran's assessment that discrimination against the Baha'i community in Iran is legally sanctioned by a lack of constitutional recognition and the absence of other legal protections for adherents of this faith. We regularly call upon Iran to cease harassment of all religious minorities and to fulfil its international and domestic obligations to protect freedom of religion or belief.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
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 the Nigerian Government on progress towards cleaning up oil pollution in the Niger Delta.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
We are concerned that work on the Ogoniland clean-up has not started, but note that the contracts for clean-up have been awarded. In our regular engagement with all levels of Federal and State Government in Nigeria, and with executive bodies, we have encouraged the clean-up of Ogoniland to start in line with the 2011 United Nations Environmental Programme report. The British Government will continue to encourage the process to be transparent and open, and engage all partners to play their part in the clean-up of all areas affected by oil pollution.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
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 level of oil exports from (a) Sudan and (b) South Sudan in the last two years; how much oil has been produced by each of those countries in the last two years; and how much revenue each Government has received in respect of oil production.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
The published data on oil exports and revenue in both Sudan and South Sudan is difficult to verify. In Sudan the Central Bank publishes data on the total value of crude oil exports, US$ 321.5 million in 2017 and US$ 440.4 million in 2018, but we cannot guarantee its accuracy. There is no officially published data on South Sudan but the International Monetary Fund (IMF) collects data from different sources (including Government), and has reported exports of 42.0 and 43.5 million barrels in 2016/17 and 2017/18 respectively, raising revenues of US$ 910 million and US$ 1,072 million. The IMF estimates that out of its oil revenues the South Sudanese Government made oil-related payments to Sudan of US$ 480 million and US$ 781 million in 2016/17 and 2017/18 respectively, as a consequence of the 2012 agreement between Sudan and South Sudan. We welcome the Government of South Sudan’s commitment to expedite the process to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Index in the revised peace agreement.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
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 counterparts in (a) Saudi Arabia and (b) the United Arab Emirates on ceasing funding the current regime in the Sudan.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
Sudan is facing a profound economic crisis alongside its political upheaval. That economic crisis is having a variety of consequences, including humanitarian. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are among those who have provided economic assistance. We are engaged with them – at ministerial and official level – as we are with other partners, on how the international community can best support economic reform and political progress in Sudan.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
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 Moroccan counterpart on independence for Western Sahara.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
The Government regards the final status of Western Sahara as undetermined, and supports UN-led efforts to reach a lasting and mutually acceptable political solution that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. As a member of the UN Security Council, the UK regularly discusses Western Sahara with Morocco and others, most recently during the renewal of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)’s mandate in April. We continue to convey to Morocco the importance we attach to reaching a lasting and mutually acceptable political solution.