Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has conducted a review of Saudi Arabia's human rights record ahead of the Crown Prince’s planned visit to the UK.
Answered by David Rutley
Saudi Arabia remains an FCDO Human Rights Priority Country. Our latest published assessment of human rights in Saudi Arabia can be found in the 2022 FCDO Human Rights and Democracy Report. Our relationship with Saudi Arabia enables us to engage candidly on human rights. The Minister for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, regularly discusses human rights with the Saudi authorities, including the Saudi Vice Foreign Minister and Saudi Ambassador in London. Lord Ahmad, senior HMG officials, and non-governmental figures and organisations engaged in constructive dialogue with the Saudi Human Rights Commission during their first official visit to the UK on 26-29 September. We will continue to discuss human rights with the Saudi authorities through a range of Ministerial and official channels.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to discuss Saudi Arabia's human rights (a) record and (b) ongoing situation with the Crown Prince during his planned visit to the UK.
Answered by David Rutley
Saudi Arabia remains an FCDO Human Rights Priority Country. Our latest published assessment of human rights in Saudi Arabia can be found in the 2022 FCDO Human Rights and Democracy Report. Our relationship with Saudi Arabia enables us to engage candidly on human rights. The Minister for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, regularly discusses human rights with the Saudi authorities, including the Saudi Vice Foreign Minister and Saudi Ambassador in London. Lord Ahmad, senior HMG officials, and non-governmental figures and organisations engaged in constructive dialogue with the Saudi Human Rights Commission during their first official visit to the UK on 26-29 September. We will continue to discuss human rights with the Saudi authorities through a range of Ministerial and official channels.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is reviewing (a) commercial relations with and (b) UK imports of oil from Azerbaijan in the context of border violations and military manoeuvres in the Lachin Corridor.
Answered by Leo Docherty
The UK recognises Azerbaijan's role as a reliable energy partner that plays an important role in the global energy landscape. However, energy is only part of our overall relationship with Azerbaijan, and it is those broad ties which enable us to have wide-reaching conversations with senior representatives of the Azerbaijani Government on a range of themes, including the unfolding situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Pakistani counterpart on allegations of violent human rights violations committed by security forces in Pakistan.
Answered by Leo Docherty
The UK Government raises issues about human rights violations at a senior level with the Government of Pakistan, urging them to ensure they act in line with international human rights law, including ensuring everyone's right to a fair trial. In a letter to caretaker Foreign Minister Jilani on 21 August, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, impressed the need for Pakistan's citizens to be able to exercise their democratic rights and participate in peaceful, inclusive, credible elections. We continue to monitor the situation. On 6 September Lord Ahmad condemned attacks against religious minorities in his meeting with the Pakistani High Commissioner.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent reports he has received on the arrest of the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan; and whether he has made recent representations to his counterpart in Pakistan on the arrest.
Answered by Leo Docherty
The UK has a longstanding and close relationship with Pakistan. The arrest, detention and sentencing of the former Prime Minister is an internal matter for Pakistan. We continue to monitor the situation closely and engage regularly across the political spectrum. In a letter to caretaker Foreign Minister Jilani on 21 August, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon impressed the need for Pakistan's citizens to be able to exercise their democratic rights and participate in peaceful, inclusive, credible elections.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer on 27 April 2023 to Question 182319, what the outcomes of the meetings were with Moroccan officials.
Answered by David Rutley
The UK remains committed to providing support where possible to the British investors who lost their investments in the Atlantic Paradise Golf & Beach Resort (APGBR) project. Although strictly a legal matter for the Moroccan courts, His Majesty's Ambassador to Morocco regularly raises the issue of compensation with senior Moroccan interlocutors. On 7 July he met the Wali of Tangier and the President of the Commercial Court of Tangier to specifically discuss APGBR. These meetings were constructive but not conclusive. We will continue to urge the Moroccan authorities to find a speedy resolution to this dispute.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support his Department is providing to British citizens who lost investments in Paradise Golf and Beach Resort.
Answered by David Rutley
The UK remains committed to providing support where possible to the British investors who lost their investments in the Atlantic Paradise Golf & Beach Resort (APGBR) project. Although strictly a legal matter for the Moroccan courts, His Majesty's Ambassador to Morocco regularly raises the issue of compensation with senior Moroccan interlocutors. On 7 July he met the Wali of Tangier and the President of the Commercial Court of Tangier to specifically discuss APGBR. These meetings were constructive but not conclusive. We will continue to urge the Moroccan authorities to find a speedy resolution to this dispute.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the total sum of lost investments made by British citizens in the Paradise Golf and Beach Resort.
Answered by David Rutley
The UK remains committed to providing support where possible to the British investors who lost their investments in the Atlantic Paradise Golf & Beach Resort (APGBR) project. Although strictly a legal matter for the Moroccan courts, His Majesty's Ambassador to Morocco regularly raises the issue of compensation with senior Moroccan interlocutors. On 7 July he met the Wali of Tangier and the President of the Commercial Court of Tangier to specifically discuss APGBR. These meetings were constructive but not conclusive. We will continue to urge the Moroccan authorities to find a speedy resolution to this dispute.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the number of British citizens that have lost investments in the Paradise Golf and Beach Resort.
Answered by David Rutley
The UK remains committed to providing support where possible to the British investors who lost their investments in the Atlantic Paradise Golf & Beach Resort (APGBR) project. Although strictly a legal matter for the Moroccan courts, His Majesty's Ambassador to Morocco regularly raises the issue of compensation with senior Moroccan interlocutors. On 7 July he met the Wali of Tangier and the President of the Commercial Court of Tangier to specifically discuss APGBR. These meetings were constructive but not conclusive. We will continue to urge the Moroccan authorities to find a speedy resolution to this dispute.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he last met with representatives of the Moroccan Government.
Answered by David Rutley
The UK remains committed to providing support where possible to the British investors who lost their investments in the Atlantic Paradise Golf & Beach Resort (APGBR) project. Although strictly a legal matter for the Moroccan courts, His Majesty's Ambassador to Morocco regularly raises the issue of compensation with senior Moroccan interlocutors. On 7 July he met the Wali of Tangier and the President of the Commercial Court of Tangier to specifically discuss APGBR. These meetings were constructive but not conclusive. We will continue to urge the Moroccan authorities to find a speedy resolution to this dispute.