Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish the number of reported incidents of sonic induced illnesses suffered by UK diplomatic staff serving overseas for the period from 1 September 2017 to 30 September 2020.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The FCDO is not aware of such a phenomenon affecting any of its staff worldwide.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
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 include conflict prevention as part of his Department's contribution to the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
When the Prime Minister launched the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, he was clear that it will set out the way in which the UK will be a problem-solving and burden-sharing nation. Our aim continues to be for an ambitious and bold Integrated Review that is guided by the UK's foreign policy, national security and development objectives.
We fully expect the Integrated Review, together with a Comprehensive Spending Review, to propose fresh ideas to shape the objectives and systems of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, reflecting a drive towards a more effective and more joined-up foreign policy.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what travel will be classed as essential under the terms of his Department's covid-19 Exceptional Travel Advisory Notice.
Answered by Nigel Adams
Since 17 March, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has advised against all but essential travel globally due to the unprecedented international border closures and other restrictions currently in place in response to the global pandemic.
Whether travel is essential or not is a personal decision. Travellers may have urgent family or business commitments to attend to. Circumstances differ from person to person. Only individuals can make an informed decision based on the risks.
Current Her Majesty's Government guidance also states that members of the public should not stay overnight away from their own home, except for in a limited set of circumstances, such as for work purposes.
We are monitoring the international situation very closely and keeping all our travel advice under constant review to ensure it reflects the latest situation on the ground and our assessment of risk to British people.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the equity of process of recent elections in Benin.
Answered by James Duddridge
The UK Government notes the outcome of local elections in Benin on 17 May. Participation was low and only one opposition party took part, despite the provisional ruling of the African Court of Human and People's Rights that the Government of Benin should take steps to avoid the exclusion of opposition parties. These concerns stand in contrast to the fact that Benin was one of the first nations in West Africa to deliver free and fair elections, in the 1990s. Elections are the responsibility of the Government of Benin, all political parties and the Beninese people. The UK remains committed to peaceful, free and credible elections, in line with international law, the importance of maintaining political space and an inclusive democratic process.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Government of China on that Government's introduction of new national security laws in Hong Kong.
Answered by Nigel Adams
We are deeply concerned by China's plan to impose national security legislation on Hong Kong. The Foreign Secretary has made two joint statements with international partners, and made a clear statement to Parliament on 2 June. Senior Officials have raised our concerns directly with the acting Chief Executive in Hong Kong, the Chinese Ambassador in London and the Chinese authorities in Beijing. The Chinese Government is well aware of our serious concern, and we will continue to raise this issue at senior levels with the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking in response to the recent increase in violence and killings in South Sudan's Jonglei state.
Answered by James Duddridge
The UK Government is concerned by recent increases in intercommunal violence in South Sudan's Jonglei state, which has seen hundreds killed and injured and shocking reports of sexual violence. On 21 May I raised my concern publicly at the death of three humanitarian workers caught up in the violence in Jonglei, and urged the Government of South Sudan to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice. Our UK Ambassador in Juba has been following up with government and community leaders to urge restraint, and encourage provision of security and participation in peace dialogues. The UK is also providing funding for peacebuilding programmes in South Sudan to seek to address the underlying drivers of conflict.
The violence in Jonglei and other parts of South Sudan underlines that, despite the 2018 Peace Agreement and reductions in overall political conflict, many South Sudanese continue to live with terrible violence. South Sudan's best chance of a more stable and prosperous future remains the full implementation of the Peace Agreement. The UK, through our Embassy in Juba, the UK Special Envoy, and with our international partners, continues to press for progress. Most recently the UK Ambassador in Juba met South Sudan's Foreign Minister on 25 May to stress our concerns and urge progress. The UK also recently supported the renewal of the UN Arms Embargo on South Sudan to 31 May 2021, which will help to stem the flow of weapons while the conflict remains.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what date the Political, Free Trade and Partnership Agreement between the UK and Ukraine will be signed.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The text of the Political, Free Trade and Strategic Partnership Agreement between the UK and Ukraine is close to being finalised. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will then discuss with the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs arrangements to initial and sign the agreement, taking into account the restrictions imposed by COVID-19.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support the Government has provided to the Falkland Islands to tackle the covid-19 pandemic.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The UK Government is firmly committed to supporting the Falkland Islands and all of the Overseas Territories in dealing with Covid-19. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence and the Department for International Development are leading a cross-Whitehall effort to provide bespoke support to the Territories. For the Falkland Islands specifically, the UK has procured and transported medical supplies, ventilators and oxygen generation facilities, as well as the necessary equipment to develop an on-island testing capability. This has been supported by facilitating access to UK medical expertise through Public Health England. To support the Falkland civilian population and the British military base on the islands, a military clinical team of six personnel has also been sent to the main hospital on the islands.
I am in regular contact with the political leaders of the Falkland Islands to understand the impact the virus is having on both public health and the economy, to ensure they are receiving support from the UK where needed.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish the amount of funding allocated by his Department to UK human rights organisations and what the (a) subject and (b) campaign category for each of those allocations.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The FCO allocated £17.66m to its human rights, democracy and the rules based international system programme work in financial year 2019-2020. Projects included efforts to combat modern slavery; defending the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief; supporting the right of human rights defenders to carry out their work; promoting the development and strengthening of democracy; opposing the death penalty and the use of torture; gender equality; and defending the right to freedom of the media and freedom of expression. Programme funding allocations for financial year 2020-2021 are yet to be confirmed.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he plans to update his covid-19 Exceptional Travel Advisory Notice for France.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is advising British people against all non-essential travel worldwide due to the unprecedented international border closures and other restrictions currently in place in response to the global pandemic.
We are monitoring the international situation very closely and keeping all our travel advice under constant review to ensure it reflects the latest situation on the ground and our assessment of risk to British people.