Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with the International Committee of the Red Cross on supporting UK businesses abroad who might be considered legitimate targets in conflict zones.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
UK Private Military Security Companies (PMSCs) are subject to extensive regulation and oversight through a mix of legal and voluntary mechanisms, including the requirement to ensure compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL). The UK also works closely with the Security in Complex Environments Group (SCEG), which represents the interests of its PMSC members, and works to raise standards across the sector.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has a strictly humanitarian mandate, in line with the Geneva Conventions, to provide humanitarian assistance, protect lives, and uphold IHL worldwide. It does not have any role supporting the business activities of PMSCs.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with UK companies on understanding the law of armed combat.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
UK Private Military Security Companies (PMSCs) are subject to extensive regulation and oversight through a mix of legal and voluntary mechanisms, including the requirement to ensure compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL). The UK also works closely with the Security in Complex Environments Group (SCEG), which represents the interests of its PMSC members, and works to raise standards across the sector.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has a strictly humanitarian mandate, in line with the Geneva Conventions, to provide humanitarian assistance, protect lives, and uphold IHL worldwide. It does not have any role supporting the business activities of PMSCs.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his US counterparts on the possibility of a US Customs pre-clearance at Edinburgh Airport.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
A decision to explore US pre-clearance is primarily a commercial decision for airport operators. An outline commercial agreement between the airport operator and US authorities would be required before any formal discussions between the UK and US government could take place.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he last discussed the possibility of a US Customs pre-clearance at Edinburgh Airport with US counterparts.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
A decision to explore US pre-clearance is primarily a commercial decision for airport operators. An outline commercial agreement between the airport operator and US authorities would be required before any formal discussions between the UK and US government could take place.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the economic impact of US Customs pre-clearance at Edinburgh Airport.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary has not had any discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on this topic. A decision to explore US pre-clearance is primarily a commercial decision for airport operators.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Turkish counterpart on (a) political unrest and (b) the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As a close friend and ally of Turkey, the Government is closely monitoring the situation following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu and protests. Ekrem Imamoğlu is subject to an ongoing domestic Turkish legal process. The UK expects Turkey to uphold its international commitments and the rule of law, including through ensuring a swift and transparent judicial process. The Government has been engaging with the Turkish Government and the Foreign Secretary spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on 29 March and raised our expectation that Turkey upholds its international commitments and the rule of law, and that it protects the fundamental rights to free speech, peaceful assembly, and media freedom. I have also raised these matters with counterparts. The UK is a staunch supporter of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across the world and will always support these fundamental rights.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Turkish counterpart on the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As a close friend and ally of Turkey, the Government is closely monitoring the situation following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu and protests. Ekrem Imamoğlu is subject to an ongoing domestic Turkish legal process. The UK expects Turkey to uphold its international commitments and the rule of law, including through ensuring a swift and transparent judicial process. The Government has been engaging with the Turkish Government and the Foreign Secretary spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on 29 March and raised our expectation that Turkey upholds its international commitments and the rule of law, and that it protects the fundamental rights to free speech, peaceful assembly, and media freedom. I have also raised these matters with counterparts. The UK is a staunch supporter of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across the world and will always support these fundamental rights.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has conducted investigations into the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As a close friend and ally of Turkey, the Government is closely monitoring the situation following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu and protests. Ekrem Imamoğlu is subject to an ongoing domestic Turkish legal process. The UK expects Turkey to uphold its international commitments and the rule of law, including through ensuring a swift and transparent judicial process. The Government has been engaging with the Turkish Government and the Foreign Secretary spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on 29 March and raised our expectation that Turkey upholds its international commitments and the rule of law, and that it protects the fundamental rights to free speech, peaceful assembly, and media freedom. I have also raised these matters with counterparts. The UK is a staunch supporter of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across the world and will always support these fundamental rights.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he last met the Turkish ambassador to the UK; and what he discussed.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As a close friend and ally of Turkey, the Government is closely monitoring the situation following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu and protests. Ekrem Imamoğlu is subject to an ongoing domestic Turkish legal process. The UK expects Turkey to uphold its international commitments and the rule of law, including through ensuring a swift and transparent judicial process. The Government has been engaging with the Turkish Government and the Foreign Secretary spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on 29 March and raised our expectation that Turkey upholds its international commitments and the rule of law, and that it protects the fundamental rights to free speech, peaceful assembly, and media freedom. I have also raised these matters with counterparts. The UK is a staunch supporter of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across the world and will always support these fundamental rights.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the management of the forthcoming Turkish elections.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As a close friend and ally of Turkey the Government is closely monitoring the situation. Recent arrests are subject to ongoing domestic Turkish legal process. The UK expects Turkey to uphold its international commitments and the rule of law, including swift and transparent judicial processes. We regularly engage with the Turkish government and there has been Ministerial contact with counterparts in recent days to raise these issues. The UK supports democracy, human rights and the rule of law across the world and will always support the fundamental rights to freedom of speech, peaceful assembly and peaceful protest. The next elections in Turkey are due to take place by May 2028.