Asked by: Jim Fitzpatrick (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
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 political situation in Bangladesh.
Answered by Lord Swire
The Government is deeply concerned about the escalating violence and disruption in Bangladesh, which affects the daily lives of its citizens. All political parties must urge restraint, an end to violence and respect for the rule of law. We have called on Bangladesh’s political parties to work together through dialogue to find a long-term solution that breaks the cycle of violence and disruption.
The British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, along with other EU Ambassadors, met Bangladesh Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali on 14 January to express collective concerns at the ongoing violence in Bangladesh, in particular the shooting of former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Reaz Rahman and an attack on a bus in Rangpur which killed four people, including a child. They asked that the Bangladesh government investigate these crimes promptly and in accordance with the law. Our High Commissioner echoed these concerns in his statement on 14 January. I also raised these issues with the Bangladesh Minster for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs in our meeting on Tuesday 20 January.
Asked by: Jim Fitzpatrick (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the budget for the Conflict Pool was in each of the last four years.
Answered by Lord Swire
Details of Conflict Pool allocations for the past four years were laid before Parliament annually in a Written Ministerial Statement. Links to the Statements for the relevant Financial Years are as follows
2011/12
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110405/wmstext/110405m0001.htm
2012/13
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm121119/wmstext/121119m0001.htm
2013/14
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm130613/wmstext/130613m0001.htm
2014/15
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm140624/wmstext/140624m0001.htm
Asked by: Jim Fitzpatrick (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy for the Cabinet Office to publish annual reports and accounts for spending in the Conflict Pool.
Answered by Lord Swire
The Conflict Pool will cease to operate in its current form in March 2015. The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) will begin operating in April 2015, bringing together a number of new and current Government resources, including the former Conflict Pool. The Government will ensure full reporting to Parliament on the CSSF. Details of this will be confirmed in due course.
Asked by: Jim Fitzpatrick (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when his Department plans to publish the latest review of the Conflict Pool.
Answered by Lord Swire
I refer the Member for Poplar and Limehouse to the reply which my Rt Hon Friend, the Member for New Forest West (Desmond Swayne MP), Minister of State, Department for International Development, gave the Member for Wirral South on 16 October (UIN 210197).
Asked by: Jim Fitzpatrick (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
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 effect on the UK's relationship with Bangladesh of the activities in the UK of Tareque Rahman, Vice Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Answered by Hugh Robertson
The UK enjoys a broad and wide ranging relationship with Bangladesh which is built on engagement with the government of Bangladesh and Bangladesh political parties, business and cultural exchanges between our people. We work on a range of bilateral and global issues that include Bangladesh's recent endorsement of the Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict. We are not aware of any activities by Mr Rahman that have had an impact on our bilateral relationship.