Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last made representations to his Indian counterpart on the human rights of the people of (a) Jammu and (b) Kashmir.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
We recognise that there are human rights concerns in both India-administered Kashmir and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. We encourage all states to ensure domestic laws are in line with international standards. Any allegation of human rights abuse is deeply concerning and must be investigated thoroughly, promptly, transparently and independently.
We are monitoring the situation in Kashmir closely and in regular contact with the Governments of India and of Pakistan. The Prime Minister has spoken to Prime Minister Modi about the situation. The Foreign Secretary raised his concerns about the situation with the Indian Minister for External Affairs, Dr Jaishankar. The Minister for the Commonwealth, UN and South Asia discussed the situation in Kashmir with the Indian Minister of Minority Affairs during his visit to New Delhi this month; and engages regularly with the Indian High Commissioner. Senior officials remain in frequent contact with the Indian Government and regularly raise our concerns.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last made representations to his Indian counterpart on the continuing detention of Jagtar Singh Johal.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
We regularly make representations on Mr Johal's case to the Government of India. The Foreign Secretary raised Mr Johal's case on 1 August 2019 with the Indian Foreign Minister. On 23 October, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Minister for South Asia, raised Mr Johal's case with the Indian High Commissioner to the UK. The Minister also met with Mr Johal's family and constituency MP on 24 October.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations his Department has made to the Indian Government on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
We are following the situation in Kashmir closely and are in regular contact with the Governments of India and Pakistan. The Prime Minister has spoken to Prime Minister Modi about the situation and the Foreign Secretary raised his concerns with his Indian counterpart Dr Jaishankar. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon has also spoken on a number of occasions with both the Indian High Commissioner and Pakistan High Commission about the situation. Events in Kashmir can have regional and international implications and we continue to urge calm and caution from all.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department taking to protect the freedom of atheists around the world.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief as a universal human right which should be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere. This includes the right to have no religious conviction or belief. The UK regularly raises our concerns, including, where appropriate the treatment of atheists, with governments across the world. We do this at a Ministerial level and through our diplomatic network. We also use the Human Rights Council to draw attention to the treatment of religious and non-religious minorities, and the UK funds and supports projects that promote respect for all people of different faiths and none.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Nicaraguan counterpart on reports of harassment of the Catholic Church in that country.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The United Kingdom is aware of reports of harassment of the Catholic Church in Nicaragua, and has been very clear with the Nicaraguan Government that they must take responsibility for ending the current violence and protecting human rights.
We continue to follow developments closely, including through contacts with EU and US partners and local stakeholders in the country. We will continue to raise our concerns with the Nicaraguan Government at every opportunity.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the relationship between Hezbollah and the Islamic Resistance Support Organisation.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
We do not comment on intelligence matters.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the shortage of food and medicine in Venezuela.
Answered by Alan Duncan
We regularly discuss the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela at meetings with international partners including during the visits to the UK by the Colombian President Duque and US Secretary of State Pompeo. The UK is providing £14.5 million of humanitarian assistance to respond to the crisis.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has taken steps to install the Official Representative of interim President Juan Guaidó in the Venezuelan embassy in London; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Alan Duncan
We have welcomed Vanessa Neumann as the Official Representative of Juan Guaido in the UK. Although the UK has recognised Juan Guaido as constitutional interim President of Venezuela, we continue to engage with the institutions of the state, including the accredited Venezuelan Ambassador in London, at official level on routine business.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his international partners on migrant boats capsizing off the coast of Venezuela.
Answered by Alan Duncan
While we regularly discuss with partners the huge impact of migrants fleeing the Venezuelan crisis, we have had no recent discussions with international partners on migrant boats capsizing off the coast of Venezuela
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the economic crisis in Venezuela on the (a) political and (b) economic situation in that country.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The Venezuelan economy is in a desperate state. The IMF is forecasting inflation in Venezuela to reach 10 million per cent for 2019 and the Venezuelan Central Bank has reported a drop of over 55 per cent in GDP since 2013. This is a man-made disaster caused by the Maduro regime's economic mismanagement. It has resulted in a political, economic and humanitarian crisis forcing more than 4 million Venezuelans to leave.