Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the reduction in UK aid spending on the (a) development of water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries and (b) spread of antimicrobial resistance in those countries between 2020 and 2021.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Despite reductions in UK aid spending, FCDO continues to support the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector through bilateral and multilateral channels. To maximise our impact, the nature of our support is changing from direct delivery to helping governments strengthen the core systems used to deliver sustainable, resilient and inclusive WASH services at scale. Stronger systems increase access to WASH in health facilities, promoting better hygiene and reducing the risks of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Additionally, FCDO supports a wide range of activities to control AMR, including drug resistance surveys, surveillance systems, supporting infection prevention and control programmes, funding innovations and promoting good antibiotic stewardship practices.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has recently had with his counterpart in Rwanda on M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and what steps he is taking to work with his international counterparts to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK, alongside international partners, continues to raise the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo with the Government of Rwanda at the highest levels. On January 10, I [Minister Mitchell] discussed with the Rwandan Foreign Minister the importance of meeting commitments made under the Nairobi and Luanda political processes. It is vital that all parties work together to secure real de-escalation on the ground and an enduring political solution. The UK has committed funding support to the Nairobi political process to this end.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Brazilian counterpart on the attack on the Brazilian Congress in January 2023.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK was quick to condemn the attacks on Brazil's Congress, Presidential Palace and Supreme Court on 8 January. I [Minister Rutley] joined the Prime Minister and our Ambassador to Brazil in confirming the UK's full support for President Lula and the Government of Brazil and reiterated this when I met with Brazilian Foreign Minister, Mauro Vieira, on 17 February. We discussed the attacks and agreed on the importance of protecting democracy. The UK has a deep and longstanding relationship with Brazil based on shared commitments to human rights, democracy and the rule of law and we look forward to working with President Lula and his government to further strengthen our relationship.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to work with his international counterparts to support work towards a lasting peace in Yemen.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are clear that a political settlement is the only way to bring long-term stability to Yemen and to address the worsening humanitarian crisis. There is no military solution to the conflict. We encourage all parties to continue engaging with UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg to find a peaceful solution. We use our role as penholder on Yemen at the UN Security Council, alongside our international partners, to help move the Yemen peace process forward. On February 15, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon met Mohammed al-Jabr, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Yemen and there are further ministerial engagements being held in the coming days and weeks.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Chunnakam power plant complex on the water supply in northern Sri Lanka; and whether he has taken recent steps with his international counterparts to help (a) support the health of citizens affected by water contamination, (b) improve accessibility to clean water for citizens in Sri Lanka and (c) tackle the environmental impact of the water pollution.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has raised the issue of water contamination caused by the Chunnakam Power plant with the Government of Sri Lanka on numerous occasions. A number of public bodies in Sri Lanka have conducted tests and compensation has been offered to those affected. The then Minister responsible for Sri Lanka, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, raised this issue with the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK in December 2020. Lord Ahmad also made pollution and environment protection a key theme of his visit to Sri Lanka in January 2022, following the X-Press Pearl container ship disaster response.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to work with the international community to address the impact of Hurricane Ian on (a) housing, (b) access to drinking water, (c) access to electricity, (d) health institutions, (e) educational institutions and (f) crops and agriculture in Cuba.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Following the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian in September 2022, the United Nations' Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocated $7.8 million of funding to provide life-saving support to Cuba. The UK was one of the largest donors to CERF in 2022, contributing £52 million. The CERF response in Cuba is helping more than 500 thousand people in the areas of food security, health, water and sanitation, shelter and education.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to work with the Mexican Government and international community to reduce the murders of land and environmental rights defenders in Mexico.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In June this year, the FCDO's Media Freedom Coordinator participated in a consultation panel organised by UNESCO and the Mexican Government to establish a new National Prevention and Protection System for human rights defenders, which includes land and environmental defenders and journalists. We continue to engage regularly with Mexican authorities at ministerial, official, and state level to discuss a range of human rights issues in Mexico, including the murders of land and environmental rights defenders. A bilateral UK-Mexico human rights dialogue has also been agreed which will be used to discuss these and other issues.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to work with the international community to address reports of the persecution of the Baha’i community by the Iranian state.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Baha'i community in Iran is systematically persecuted by the Iranian regime. Reports indicate the regime redoubled repression, with expropriation, repossession of land, destruction of homes, and increasing detention of Baha'is. Minister for the Middle East and Human Rights, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, stated on 5 August that Iran's persecution of religious minorities was a serious human rights violation and could not be tolerated by the UK.
The former Minister for Africa reiterated our commitment to holding Iran to account at the Westminster Hall debate of 11 October. The UK raised the Baha'i at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Third Committee on 26 October and pressed for the inclusion of the Baha'i in the UNGA Resolution which passed on 16 November. We continue to raise human rights with the regime at all appropriate opportunities, both directly and in multilateral fora.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to work with the international community and the Azerbaijani and Armenian Governments to bring about a sustainable peace settlement which addresses the underlying causes of the conflict between those nations.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK Government continues to engage with the Governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan, and with international partners, to support negotiations to secure a sustainable and peaceful settlement to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The UK Government has been clear that the outstanding matters between the parties, including those that are drivers of conflict, can only be settled by peaceful negotiation. I [Minister for Europe] reinforced this position with the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers on 15 and 17 September respectively. UK officials in Baku, Yerevan and across our network of diplomatic missions also continue to encourage progress towards a negotiated settlement.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with representatives of the (a) State Administrative Council or (b) Armed Forces in Myanmar on the position of the former British Ambassador, Vicky Bowman.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
During Ms Bowman's detention, officials at the British Embassy in Yangon were in contact with the local authorities to maintain consular access and to check on her welfare. We welcome her and others' release from jail in Myanmar on 17 November. All those unjustly imprisoned in Myanmar should be released.