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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
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
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
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
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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
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.
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 steps he is taking to help ensure that MINURSO systematically monitor human rights violations in the occupied territories of the Western Sahara and that those reports are given directly to the UN Security Council.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The UK has consistently supported references to human rights in the UN Security Council resolutions setting the mandate for the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)'s activities. In particular, we have supported language encouraging the parties to continue their efforts to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in Western Sahara and the Tindouf refugee camps.
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 plans to make to his Sudanese counterpart on the restoration of access to the internet in that country.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The Foreign Secretary's statement on 6 June called for internet and full media freedom to be restored to avoid escalation. I have also called for the blocking of the internet in Sudan to stop.
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 advice his Department has provided to UK embassy staff in Khartoum on attending street demonstrations.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
On 5 June the decision was taken to withdraw non-essential British Embassy staff and dependents from Sudan. All British Embassy staff remaining are advised to avoid all protests and street demonstrations. This is in line with the Foreign and Commonwealth office Travel Advice for UK citizens, that advise against 'all but essential travel' to Khartoum and all other remaining areas of Sudan due to developments in the security and political situation, in addition to long-standing existing advice against travel to certain areas of the country.
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 estimate he has made of the death toll from violence in Khartoum; and what steps he is taking to negotiate a ceasefire between the Transitional Military Council and the Forces for Freedom and Change.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The UK continues to engage with a range of opposition, members of the protest movement as well as the Transitional Military Council (TMC) and with those leading the negotiations. The UK, alongside Troika partners Norway and the US, has called for all sides to engage in an inclusive dialogue that leads to a swift, orderly and peaceful transition to civilian rule. On 29 May our Ambassador delivered this message to Yassir Arman of Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) and encouraged all armed movements to return to Sudan and take part in the talks. We have condemned the way that the opposition leaders have since been treated by the TMC since they returned.
On 4 June in a joint Troika statement, we condemned the recent violent attacks by Sudanese security forces against peaceful protestors in Sudan which left many civilians dead or injured. The death toll has been reported with over 100 people killed that includes 19 children. We also expressed serious concern over TMC's announcement that it would cease negotiations and called for an agreed transfer of power to a civilian-led government. British Embassy Officials in Khartoum have engaged with all elements of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), encouraging them to be inclusive in their approach and seek a realistic compromise. The TMC have promised the release of political prisoners and employees who observed the strike. Talks between the TMC and FFC have resumed via the mediators.
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, whether he has plans to make representations to the Sudanese authorities on allowing Yassir Arman to return to Sudan from his exile in South Sudan.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The British Government condemns the arrest and detention of Yasir Arman by the Sudanese security forces. We are aware that Yasir Arman has been deported to South Sudan. We call for his immediate release and for the legitimate demands of Sudanese people to be respected. Violence must not be used, including against opponents. Sudanese people should not be faced with the threat of arbitrary detention or deportation. We consistently made clear to the former Government of Sudan our expectation that all detainees should be treated in accordance with international standards; we continue to call upon the Sudanese authorities to do so.
On 6 June, I summoned the Sudanese Ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to express the grave concerns of the United Kingdom at the use of violence against civilians by the Sudanese authorities. Our Embassy in Khartoum calls on members of the Transitional Military Council both in public and directly the steps that needed to be taken to improve the situation in Sudan, including the release of all political detainees. We also engage regularly with civil society groups on the issue of detainee treatment.