Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth Sutton and Devonport)
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 monitor the application of the Geneva Conventions to British nationals captured by Russian forces in Ukraine since 24 February 2022.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
British nationals captured by Russian forces or proxies and detained in eastern Ukraine must be treated in accordance with International Humanitarian Law, including the Geneva Conventions. This applies to those who were fighting as part of the Ukraine Armed Forces and therefore considered as prisoners of war, and civilians who are protected persons under International Humanitarian Law. The Government is clear that responsibility for the treatment of any foreign nationals detained in separatist-controlled areas of Ukraine lies with Russia, and we will hold them to account.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate she has made of how many British nationals will join the conflict in Ukraine in the next three months to fight for (a) Russia and (b) Ukraine.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
The Government does not currently have an estimate of British Nationals fighting in Ukraine, but we are working with the Government of Ukraine to understand how many British Nationals have joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces. We do not have an estimate of the British Nationals fighting in the Russian military, or with Russian-aligned forces. The FCDO is advising people to follow our travel advice, which is not to travel to Ukraine. Those currently in Ukraine are advised to leave as soon as they can.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent estimate she has made of the number of British nationals fighting in Ukraine for (a) the Ukrainian military, (b) the Russian military, (c) the Wagner Group and (d) other pro-Russian paramilitary organisations.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
The Government does not currently have an estimate of British Nationals fighting in Ukraine, but we are working with the Government of Ukraine to understand how many British Nationals have joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces. We do not have an estimate of British Nationals fighting in the Russian military, or with Russian-aligned forces.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate she has made of the total number of British nationals captured by Russian forces while fighting in Ukraine since 24 February 2022.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
The FCDO is aware of 5 British nationals detained by Russian backed forces in Ukraine. We hold Russia responsible for the safety, wellbeing and timely release of these individuals.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle the Polio outbreak in Ukraine; and what assessment she has made of the risk of outbreaks of that disease in neighbouring countries.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
The UK is a strong supporter of the global efforts to eradicate polio. Over the last 25 years we have contributed £1.37 billion in funding to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), we have provided technical guidance and we have used our influence to ensure polio eradication remains a major focus of the world's governments. The UK's funding to GPEI is unearmarked, which allows them to respond rapidly to situations such as that currently ongoing in Ukraine.
We are monitoring the polio situation in Ukraine carefully and engaging closely with GPEI to ensure that their response considers the risks to neighbouring countries. Currently GPEI are deploying surge staff to the region and have reached out to neighbouring countries to encourage and support the rapid identification and response to cases, through for example, strengthened surveillance, updating the preparedness plans and improving immunization coverage at subnational levels in local and refugee populations.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to tackle the particular vulnerabilities of girls displaced by the conflict in Ukraine.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
We are committed to supporting Ukrainian women and girls, recognising the critical contribution women are making on the frontline and in communities affected by the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The UK has pledged £220 million of humanitarian assistance to save lives and to protect vulnerable people, including women and girls, inside Ukraine and in neighbouring countries as they are forced to flee to safety.
We continue to support Ukraine with a £40 million suite of programming, including through the Good Governance Fund and Conflict, Stability and Security Fund programmes - that includes ongoing support to women's social, political and economic participation across the country. This includes the UK's support of the establishment of 16 shelters, 5 crisis rooms and 10 centres for Gender Based Violence survivors.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support organisations providing urgent medical supplies and child health services in Ukraine.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
The UK has now committed £395 million in aid to the current crisis. This includes £220 million of humanitarian assistance which will be used to save lives and protect vulnerable people inside Ukraine and in neighbouring countries. It will also be used to support refugees, including children, fleeing Ukraine, through the provision of logistics, advice and analysis of needs on the ground. £25 million has been given to the Disasters Emergency Committee, the largest UK aid match ever, which will help aid agencies respond to the deteriorating humanitarian situation by providing access to basic necessities and medical supplies. To date, we have contributed £3.5 million to provide medical supplies to Ukraine. Nine flights with supplies have been sent containing over 700,000 UK medical items. UK Government humanitarian experts have also deployed to the region to support those fleeing the violence. As of 15 March, 2.97 million people are known to have fled Ukraine to neighbouring countries, according to UNHCR [link: https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine].
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the need for humanitarian support for displaced children in (a) Ukraine and (b) neighbouring countries.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
The UK has now committed £395 million in aid to the current crisis. This includes £220 million of humanitarian assistance which will be used to save lives and protect vulnerable people inside Ukraine and in neighbouring countries. It will also be used to support refugees, including children, fleeing Ukraine, through the provision of logistics, advice and analysis of needs on the ground. £25 million has been given to the Disasters Emergency Committee, the largest UK aid match ever, which will help aid agencies respond to the deteriorating humanitarian situation by providing access to basic necessities and medical supplies. To date, we have contributed £3.5 million to provide medical supplies to Ukraine. Nine flights with supplies have been sent containing over 700,000 UK medical items. UK Government humanitarian experts have also deployed to the region to support those fleeing the violence. As of 15 March, 2.97 million people are known to have fled Ukraine to neighbouring countries, according to UNHCR [link: https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine].