Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
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 the safety of UK nationals in Iceland.
Answered by Leo Docherty
The FCDO's Iceland travel advice reflects the current events in Grindavík and the seismic activity across the Reykjanes Peninsula. Events are not currently impacting the rest of Iceland. The British Embassy in Iceland is working closely with local authorities. We are not aware of any affected UK Nationals at present. UK nationals in the affected areas should sign up for travel advice alerts and contact the British Embassy if they require help. Our travel advice remains under constant review to ensure it reflects our latest assessment of risks to British nationals.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department provided advice to the Prime Minister on the Economic Activities of Public Bodies Bill.
Answered by David Rutley
Yes. FCDO officials have been involved throughout the development of the bill and have provided advice to all relevant departments, including No 10. The bill will implement a manifesto commitment and ensure that the UK speaks with one voice internationally and the taxpayer only has to pay for foreign policy once. Public bodies should not be pursuing their own foreign policy agenda.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the draft resolution on Human Fraternity which the UK plans to co-table with the United Arab Emirates at the United Nations Security Council complies with established practice on terminology regarding violent extremism.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
The UK co-penned the landmark UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution with the UAE on 'Tolerance and International Peace and Security'. The resolution addresses discrimination and incitement, including that faced by members of marginalised groups, in conflict settings. We have worked carefully to ensure that all uses of "extremism" are appropriately caveated; by describing acts of extremism that contribute to conflict, or requiring that actions to address that extremism be compliant with international law. This resolution highlights the risks of incitement, hate speech and extremism in causing and exacerbating conflict - a context in which the UNSC has previously used the term "extremism" or "extremist".
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many children with British citizenship are currently in Sudan.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
Since 25 April, the UK has supported the departure of 2,450 people, including British nationals, dependants, and other eligible nationals out of Sudan. The UK Government continues to provide limited consular assistance to British nationals still in Sudan, communicating through our telephone consular helpline and Travel Advice updates. We do not have verified data on those British nationals (including children) remaining in Sudan. British nationals who require assistance can call us 24/7.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 May 2023 to Question 183547 on Sudan: British Nationals Abroad, what the total number of people was on each aircraft leaving Port Sudan in the evacuation of Sudan, including service personnel.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Between 25 April and 3 May, the UK supported the departure of 1,243 British Nationals (BNs) - and 1,207 other nationals - from Sudan. 30 UK military flights from Sudan to Cyprus carried out this evacuation. 263 people were evacuated from Port Sudan to Cyprus and 2,187 people were evacuated from Wadi Saeedna to Cyprus. 2,097 British Nationals and their dependants made the onward journey to the UK. We do not comment on details of service personnel deployed which are an operational matter.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many seats were available on each evacuation flight from Port Sudan organised by the UK Government; and how many seats on each flight were occupied by (a) British citizens, (b) dependents of British citizens who are not themselves British citizens and (c) doctors, nurses and other clinical NHS employees or contractors.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
As of 12.00 3 May, 154 people have been evacuated from Port Sudan to Cyprus. This includes a) 94 British citizens and b) 23 non-British dependents.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether there was a cost to the public purse relating to the FCDO cartoons published on his official Twitter account on the event of his visit to Japan for the G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting.
Answered by David Rutley
The FCDO cartoon that was published on the Foreign Secretary's official Twitter account on 16 April was created by the FCDO digital team with no external cost to the public.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of whether the 2010 arrest and 2012 detention of Victoire Ingabire in Rwanda was arbitrary.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
We are aware of the case of Victoire Ingabire and note issues around due process in her arrest and detention. The British High Commission in Kigali regularly raises issues of political space and human rights with Rwandan Government. Most recently, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon discussed these issues with Minister of State Manasseh during his visit to Kigali in October.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to engage with the Minister of National Security in Israel.
Answered by David Rutley
The FCDO has no plans to engage with the Israeli Minister of National Security.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with (a) his Turkish counterpart and (b) the United Nations to help ensure humanitarian access to people affected by the earthquake.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
The Prime Minister spoke to President Erdogan on 7 February, noting the humanitarian situation over the border in north west Syria, where Turkey plays an important coordinating role. The Foreign Secretary has also engaged with his Turkish counterpart on maximising the efficiency of aid deliveries across the Syrian border.
Minister Mitchell spoke to Martin Griffiths (Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the United Nations) on 16 February and Lord Ahmad spoke to Muhannad Hadi (UN Regional Humanitarian Coordinator) on 8 February to discuss the importance of securing sufficient access from Turkey into north west Syria and we welcomed the UN-brokered agreement to open additional border crossings into north west Syria.
Minister Mitchell also visited Turkey on 19 February to see the response first-hand and met with UN agencies, the Disasters Emergency Committee, Care International and the White Helmets. On Friday 24 February, I spoke to Ibrahim Kalin (spokesperson and chief adviser to the Turkish President) about the earthquakes and UK support.