Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure safe access to food in conflict zones.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
The UK supports populations living in conflict zones with a range of assistance to ensure safe access to food, including cash assistance. Last year we provided £156 million in humanitarian assistance across East Africa, including food assistance. The UK champions UN Security Council Resolution 2417 on conflict and hunger which enables reporting and early warnings to the Security Council when parties to conflict are blocking access and destroying assets like crops.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help tackle (a) food shortages, (b) droughts and (c) crop disease in countries experiencing immediate adverse effects of climate change.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
The UK recognises that the current impacts of climate change are likely to increase in frequency and severity. Investment in mitigation and adaptation will help reduce these impacts. More needs to be done at global, regional and local levels to help countries and local communities. Between 2016 and 2020 the UK spent £2.4 billion in areas relevant to addressing losses and damages. At COP27 the UK announced it will triple funding for adaptation programmes from £500 million in 2019 to £1.5 billion in 2025.
Our new food security and nutrition campaign announced in the Integrated Review Refresh will see us focus on leading solutions to break the cycle of famine and prevent future food crises.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of reports that children from Tibet are being forced into Chinese educational centres.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
We are aware of reports of human rights violations in Tibet including Tibetan parents being coerced and intimidated into sending their children to boarding schools. We continue to raise the situation in Tibet with the Chinese authorities. We also coordinate with partners to draw international attention to the human rights situation in Tibet. In June 2022, a UK led lobbying effort helped to secure the support of 46 other countries for a joint statement at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) which highlighted the situation in Tibet, and called on the Chinese authorities to abide by their human rights obligations. In March, we raised the issue of boarding schools in our Item 4 statement at the UN HRC. We will continue to press China to cease human rights violations.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help protect healthcare infrastructure in conflict zones.
Answered by Leo Docherty
The UK condemns attacks on healthcare and is highly committed to protecting healthcare infrastructure in situations of armed conflict. International Humanitarian Law provides for the protection of the wounded and sick, medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities. The UK champions International Humanitarian Law and calls on states and non-state actors engaged in armed conflict to respect it. In 2016, with UK co-sponsorship, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted UNSCR 2286 strongly condemning attacks and threats against medical facilities and medical personnel. The Resolution recommended that better data is collected on attacks on healthcare, resulting in UK funding for a research project at the University of Manchester to assess the impact of attacks on healthcare facilities and staff in conflict contexts.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to increase access to clean water globally.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
Improving access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) is a FCDO global health priority, forming a core part of the UK's approach to ending the preventable deaths of mothers, babies and children. Since 2015, the UK government supported over 60 million people to gain access to clean water and/or sanitation. Our support to Sanitation and Water for All reinforces water sector leadership, accountability and collaboration in over 70 countries. Through engagement in the G7, the G20, UN summits and the WASH in Healthcare Facilities Taskforce we ensure WASH is included in efforts to prevent future pandemics and to reduce anti-microbial resistance.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to support international partners facing instability following democratic elections.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
Promoting democracy and defending democratic freedoms are fundamental to the UK's international policy. Our Arm's Length Body, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), provides electoral integrity support to countries around the world. WFD has led post-electoral reform work in Somaliland and Zambia and continues to develop practical electoral reform tools for partners to enhance electoral integrity. In Fragile and Conflict Affected States the UK's work targets the drivers of crises. Political transitions can be destabilising and, based on detailed analysis, where risks are high we draw on cross government capabilities to help reduce tension.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will take steps to require companies to adopt a more compassionate corporate social responsibility for their operations overseas.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
The UK has consistently supported the UN Guiding Principles (UNGPs) on business and human rights, an international framework which encourage businesses to voluntarily conduct due diligence approaches to respecting human rights.
The Government is clear that it expects all UK businesses to respect human rights throughout their operations, in line with the UNGPs and use responsible business conduct guided by international frameworks and domestic legislation. We will continue to work with our international partners and UK & multinational businesses to seek positive change in responsible business conduct. By doing so, this will expand global prosperity and further UK values and influence.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has to progress a comprehensive final Cyprus Settlement.
Answered by Leo Docherty
The UK remains committed to supporting the UN efforts to reach a Cyprus settlement. The UK actively engages with all parties on this. The Foreign Secretary met Cypriot Foreign Minister Kasoulides on 15 November and stressed our commitment to work towards a just and lasting solution to the Cyprus settlement process. We support the UN led process and advocate a solution in line with UN parameters based on the model of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it his policy to advocate for the expulsion of Russia from the United Nations.
Answered by Leo Docherty
The UK has led efforts across the United Nations (UN) and the wider multilateral system to protest and call out Russia's actions in Ukraine. Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a clear violation of the UN Charter. We used our Presidency of the UN Security Council (UNSC) in April to highlight and condemn Russia's atrocities, rebut its disinformation, maintain international pressure on Russia and give a platform to Ukrainian voices. The suspension or expulsion of a Member State from the UN requires a decision by the General Assembly, upon the recommendation of the UNSC. Should the threshold of nine 'yes' votes from the UNSC's 15 members be cleared, Russia and China would veto such a recommendation.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to take further steps to (a) condemn and (b) sanction Iranian regime officials.
Answered by David Rutley
The UK is committed to challenging the Iranian regime's violent response to recent protests. On 14 November, the UK sanctioned 24 individuals for violations of human rights in the repression of protests. This was on top of the sanctions of 10 October against the so-called 'morality police' and seven security officials. The UK is also working with international partners to hold Iran to account for its violent response to the protests. This includes through the full range of multilateral fora, including the Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council, the UN Security Council, G7 and the UN General Assembly Third Committee.