Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make it her policy to impose secondary sanctions on Chinese firms who are believed to have violated sanctions on Russia by providing military equipment or other support.
Answered by Vicky Ford
In lockstep with our allies, we have introduced the largest and most severe economic sanctions that Russia has ever faced, to help cripple Putin's war machine. We have now sanctioned over 1000 individuals and over 100 entities since Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
HMG takes reports or allegations of breaches or evasion of sanctions very seriously. The FCDO works closely with the relevant cross government enforcement bodies to ensure the robust implementation of sanctions.
The UK continues to engage with China at all levels in Beijing, London and at the UN to make it clear that the world is watching what China chooses to say and do - whether their actions contribute to peace and stability, or it chooses to fuel aggression.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if the Government will (a) impose an asset freeze against the Central Bank of Russia, (b) take steps to confiscate frozen assets and (c) issue a licence from the Treasury's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation to enable the release of confiscated assets in order to support Ukraine in rectifying the damage to that country caused by the Russian invasion.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We do not speculate on future sanctions. In conjunction with our partners, we have already blocked access to £275 billion of the Russian Central Bank's foreign currency reserves. We are considering all options on assets that have been seized and whether they can contribute towards to the reconstruction of Ukraine. Where assets are subject to an asset freeze, their release may be permitted through a licence from the Office for Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI). OFSI can only issue licences where there are specific and relevant licensing grounds enabling them to do so, and where the conditions in those grounds have been met in the relevant sanctions regulations. OFSI also has powers to issue general licences under such conditions as HM Treasury deems appropriate.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with the Ethiopian Government on the release of the final air accident report for Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, which crashed on the 10th March, 2019.
Answered by Vicky Ford
Our thoughts remain with the victims and their families of this tragic accident, and I appreciate the distress caused by the ongoing delays. Officials at the British Embassy in Addis Ababa have been in contact with the Ethiopian Ministry of Transport and Air Accident Investigation Department to discuss and lobby for the release of the final air accident report, and will continue to do so. During our last contact we were informed that, whilst no date has yet been set for the report's release, it is currently being finalised and that it will be released as soon as possible. In line with their international obligations, the Ministry of Transport issued an interim statement ahead of the 3rd anniversary.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of cuts to Overseas Development Assistance on the budget of the National Crime Agency's International Corruption Unit.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
A thorough assessment was carried out in both financial years 2020/21 and 2021/22, of the potential impact of ODA budget reduction on the National Crime Agency's International Corruption Unit (ICU), and before any budget decision was made. Because of the importance of the ICU's work, FCDO decided to prioritise the ICU budget as far as possible, when deciding where to make required cuts to ODA.
In 2020/21, the annual ICU budget was increased from £4.7m to £5.7million. In 2021/22, the budget was reduced by approximately 10% to £5.02 million. This was based on an assessment that the ICU would be able to manage this cut through not expanding into new areas, whilst preserving existing work and staffing. This remains above the pre-pandemic 2019/20 ODA budget of £4.7 million. The impact of the small budget reduction is regularly monitored by the Department.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
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 Government of Croatia on halting the extradition to Monaco of UK whistleblower, Jonathan Taylor, in the context of concerns expressed by international human rights and whistleblowing experts that that extradition is an abuse of process and in breach of Mr Taylor’s human rights.
Answered by Wendy Morton
I spoke to the Monegasque Foreign Minister and the Croatian Secretary of State for European Affairs on 13 November 2020 and sought assurances that both authorities would treat Mr Taylor fairly and give full consideration to the whistle-blowing activities Mr Taylor has reported. Both Croatia and Monaco have provided those assurances. On 12 and 13 April, our Ambassador in Croatia spoke to the Croatian authorities to reiterate the importance of fair treatment. I have continued to raise Mr Taylor's case with the Croatian Secretary of State for European Affairs, so that they are aware of our concerns, most recently during my visit to Zagreb on 8 June. Consular officials in Croatia are in regular contact with Mr Taylor. Mr Taylor's welfare and fair treatment is our priority.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
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 Croatian justice minister, Ivan Malenica, on halting the extradition of the UK whistleblower, Jonathan Taylor to Monaco.
Answered by Wendy Morton
It is for Croatia to determine whether Mr Taylor should be extradited to Monaco, and for Monaco to investigate allegations of attempted extortion. In accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, we are compelled both to exercise our consular functions in foreign States in accordance with local laws and regulations and to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of foreign States.
On 12 and 13 April, our Ambassador in Croatia spoke to the Croatian authorities to understand the latest timelines for court action and to reiterate the importance of fair treatment.
I have raised Mr Taylor's case with the Croatian Secretary of State for European Affairs, multiple times, most recently during my visit to Zagreb on 8 June.
Consular officials are in regular contact with the Croatian courts to ensure that we understand the process being followed.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the UK whistleblower Jonathan Taylor's (a) application to appeal the extradition ruling being refused by the Supreme Court in Croatia and (b) detention of more than ten months in Croatia, whether he has had discussions with his Monegasque counterparts on alternative ways of proceeding regarding Mr Taylor's situation.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The UK has raised Mr Taylor's case. I spoke to the Monegasque Foreign Minister and the Croatian Secretary of State for European Affairs on 13 November and sought assurances that both authorities would treat Mr Taylor fairly and give full consideration to the whistle-blowing activities Mr Taylor has reported. Monaco provided direct assurances to Croatia in January. On 12 and 13 April, our Ambassador in Croatia spoke to the Croatian authorities to understand the latest timelines for court action and to reiterate the importance of fair treatment.
On 22 April, I spoke again to the Croatian State Secretary for European Affairs and reiterated the assurances made in November.
Consular officials are in regular contact with the Croatian courts to ensure that we understand the process being followed.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
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 Croatian authorities on the case of Mr Jonathan Taylor who has been detained in that country since his arrest for alleged bribery or corruption.
Answered by Wendy Morton
We are providing ongoing support to Mr Taylor. Consular staff are in regular contact with him and continue to seek updates on his case from the Croatian courts. As set out in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, we cannot interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, or bypass their laws, just as we would not accept similar interference here. As part of our consular assistance to British nationals overseas we can raise concerns about individuals on diplomatic channels. I spoke to the Monegasque Foreign Secretary and the Croatian State Secretary for European Affairs on 13 November 2020 and sought assurances that both authorities would treat Mr Taylor fairly. On 22 April, I spoke again to the Croatian State Secretary for European Affairs who reiterated those assurances and noted the significant level of ministerial and parliamentary interest in Mr Taylor's case.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
What diplomatic steps he is taking to secure the release of whistleblower Jonathan Taylor from detention in Croatia.
Answered by Wendy Morton
We are providing ongoing support to Mr Taylor. Consular staff are in regular contact with him and continue to seek updates on his case from the Croatian courts.
Our priority is Mr Taylor’s welfare and fair treatment, including the assurances of fair treatment which we have received from the Croatian and Monegasque authorities.
The FCDO cannot interfere to secure Mr Taylor’s release. In accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, we must exercise our consular functions in foreign States in accordance with local laws and regulations and refrain from interfering in their internal affairs, which includes their judicial processes.
In December 2020 the British Ambassador in Zagreb met Mr Taylor to discuss his concerns and explain how the FCDO could assist him. The Acting Deputy Head of Mission spoke to Mr Taylor on 10 March, and the Ambassador spoke to him again on 16 April. The FCDO’s Consular Director spoke to Mrs Taylor on 14 April.
The FCDO can, and does, raise concerns about individuals with other countries. I spoke to the Monegasque Foreign Secretary and the Croatian Secretary of State for European Affairs on 13 November 2020 and sought assurances that both authorities would treat Mr Taylor fairly.
I specifically asked for Mr Taylor to be treated in accordance with Croatia’s obligations as a State Party to the Council of Europe Criminal Law Convention on Corruption.
Monaco has provided assurances directly to Croatia since I raised Mr Taylor’s case.
On 12 and 13 April, our Ambassador spoke to the Croatian authorities to understand the latest timelines for court action and to reiterate the importance of fair treatment.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has received on extradition proceedings against whistleblower Jonathan Taylor in the Croatian courts.
Answered by Wendy Morton
On 3 September, the Croatian First Instance court issued its decision to extradite Mr Taylor to Monaco. On 5 January, FCDO consular officials were informed that the Croatian court have received a guarantee from authorities in Monaco that Mr Taylor's trial will be fair, and his human rights will not be violated. Our embassy in Zagreb is closely following developments in the proceedings against Mr Taylor, and consular officials are regularly in contact with Mr Taylor himself to offer any support we can. The ambassador in Zagreb met with Mr Taylor just before Christmas.