Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the compliance of her Department's staff working from home with the Working Time Regulations 1998.
Answered by Vicky Ford
FCDO continues to apply the policies that were in place prior to the pandemic in regard to working time. Staff have contracted hours which do not exceed the limit specified in the Working Time Regulations 1998. Staff working from home are required to work their contracted hours as if they were attending a workplace. The policy includes provision for 'time off in lieu' to be authorised for any ad-hoc instances where staff have been required to work over their contracted hours for business reasons. Each employee's contracted hours are recorded on FCDO's payroll systems and ensuring staff work their contracted hours, and are not routinely working beyond this, is part of the role of the line manager.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make representations to the (a) government of Morocco and (b) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change on Morocco’s inclusion of projects in occupied Western Sahara in relation to that country's National Determined Contribution.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
The UK Government worked closely with Morocco to raise global climate ambition ahead of this year's COP26. Morocco hosted COP22 and are considered one of Africa's leaders on climate change, especially on renewables. The UK supports the World Bank's work with Morocco on coal reduction, through the Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme (ESMAP). The UK has no plans to raise the territorial application of Morocco's National Determined Contribution.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will raise with her Moroccan counterpart the matter of Morocco requiring MINURSO to use Moroccan vehicle number plates in occupied Western Sahara in contravention of the status of mission agreement.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
We are closely monitoring the situation in Western Sahara. We have regular discussions with the parties and remain in close contact with MINURSO. The UK fully supports the UN's efforts to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will ask the Moroccan Ambassador to explain the use of combat or surveillance drones over the Berm dividing Western Sahara.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
According to the UN, Morocco maintains a significant security presence in Western Sahara, primarily in fortified positions along a berm running the entire length of the territory. The UK regularly discusses the situation in Western Sahara with the parties. We continue to urge the parties to avoid further escalation, return to a ceasefire and re-engage with the UN-led political process.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to prioritise the safe evacuation from Afghanistan of journalists who (a) are employed by the BBC as of 26 October 2021 and (b) were formerly employed by the BBC, who are at risk as a result of their professional associations.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
It remains a top priority to help those British nationals and those Afghans eligible to come to the UK, to leave Afghanistan, including journalists. Since the end of the military evacuation, the Government has facilitated the departure of both Afghan and British nationals from Afghanistan. Although travel within Afghanistan remains dangerous, and many border crossings have been closed during this period, we have also helped both British nationals and eligible Afghans when they have crossed into third countries, from where our diplomatic missions have been able to support their onward travel to the UK. We will continue to work to take advantage of all opportunities to help those eligible to come to the UK to leave Afghanistan.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 1 March 2021 to Question 158016 on Western Sahara; Politics and Government, when he last held discussions on the continuing hostilities with his (a) Moroccan and (b) Saharawi counterparts; and if he will publish the response to those discussions.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
The UK regularly discusses the situation in Western Sahara with the parties. We continue to urge the parties to avoid further escalation, return to the ceasefire agreement, and re-engage with the UN-led political process.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 April to Question 181240 on Western Sahara: Morocco, what recent discussions he has had with the Moroccan Government on the (a) human rights and (b) prison conditions of Saharawi political prisoners.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Support for human rights is a priority around the world, and we regularly discuss human rights issues and prison conditions with Morocco.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of Article (a) 18 and (b) 19 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on passenger ferry services operated between Dover and Calais.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have made no such assessment of cross channel passenger ferry services.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) allows a coastal State to claim a territorial sea of up to 12 nautical miles.
UNCLOS Part II, Section 3 sets out the rules on "Innocent passage in the Territorial Sea". Articles 18 and 19 define the "Meaning of passage" and "Meaning of innocent passage". In the territorial sea, all ships enjoy the right of innocent passage (defined in the Convention as passage, which is not prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal State).
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to the UN Security Council to insist on unfettered media and humanitarian NGO access to the occupied territory of Western Sahara.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
The UK regards the status of Western Sahara as undetermined. The UK strongly supported UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2548 on 30 October 2020, which renewed the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for 12 months. In doing so, we continue to stress the importance of improving the human rights situation in Western Sahara and the Tindouf camps, and encourage the parties to work with the international community to develop and implement independent and credible measures to ensure full respect for human rights, bearing in mind their relevant obligations under international law.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to the UN Security Council to give MINURSO the legal mandate to monitor and report on human rights in the territories controlled by both the Kingdom of Morocco and the Frente polisario and report the findings directly to the UN Security Council.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Human rights is a UK priority. We have consistently supported language in the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions which encourages the parties to continue their efforts to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in Western Sahara.