Asked by: Ian Mearns (Labour - Gateshead)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 December 2020 to Question 124724 on Saudi Arabia: Newcastle United Football Club, if he will publish the correspondence between his Department and the English Premier League referred to in that answer.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We are not able to disclose detailed correspondence between the UK Government and the English Premier League. This would contravene the General Data Protection Regulation relating to third party data. FCDO officials were clear with the Premier League that any prospective takeover of Newcastle United Football Club was a matter for the two parties concerned.
Asked by: Ian Mearns (Labour - Gateshead)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) he and (b) representatives of his Department (i) held meetings and (ii) exchanged correspondence with representatives of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between 1 January 2020 and 31 October 2020 on the proposed takeover of Newcastle United football club by a consortium including the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The Foreign Secretary did not discuss the bid, nor exchange correspondence, with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on this issue. The proposed takeover was discussed in meetings between FCDO officials and representatives of the Saudi Arabian Government. I have also discussed the issue with representatives of the Saudi Arabian Government. FCDO officials were clear, in their communication with the English Premier League, that any prospective takeover of Newcastle United Football Club was a matter for the two parties concerned.
Asked by: Ian Mearns (Labour - Gateshead)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) he and (b) representatives of his Department (i) held meetings and (ii) exchanged correspondence with representatives of the English Premier League between 1 January 2020 and 31 October 2020 on the proposed takeover of Newcastle United by a consortium including the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The Foreign Secretary did not discuss, nor exchange correspondence, with the English Premier League on this issue. FCDO officials exchanged correspondence and held meetings with the Premier League following a request by the latter. FCDO officials were clear, in their communication with the English Premier League, that any prospective takeover of Newcastle United Football Club was a matter for the two parties concerned.
Asked by: Ian Mearns (Labour - Gateshead)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) he and (b) representatives of his Department issued advice to the English Premier League on the proposed takeover of Newcastle United football club by a consortium including the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The Foreign Secretary did not discuss, nor exchange correspondence, with the English Premier League on this issue. FCDO officials were clear, in their communication with the English Premier League, that any prospective takeover of Newcastle United Football Club was a matter for the two parties concerned.
Asked by: Ian Mearns (Labour - Gateshead)
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 the Iranian authorities on the arrested Iranian diplomat Assadolah Assadi in Belgium.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We are aware of the trial of four Iranians in Belgium in relation to the 2018 plot against a conference in Paris. We are deeply concerned by reports that an Iranian diplomat is one of those standing trial in connection with the incident. While the legal process is ongoing, however, it would be inappropriate to comment further and we have not made specific representations to the Iranian Government. The UK strongly condemns the targeting of civilians and welcomes steps taken to hold those responsible to account. We continue to work closely with our European partners on security and counter-terrorism issues. We are not aware at this stage of a link to the UK.
Asked by: Ian Mearns (Labour - Gateshead)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to paragraph 1.17 of the UK National Strategy for Maritime Security, published in May 2014, how many meetings there have been of the ministerial working group on maritime security.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
As Chairman, I write to the members of the Ministerial Working Group on maritime security biannually with operational and policy updates, the most recent of these was on 19 November. The Ministerial Working Group intends to meet in 2016 to discuss the implications of the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review.