Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to visit the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal in the next 12 months.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK and Nepal share a long and deep history. Diplomatic relations were established in 1816, and the UK was the first country to formalise diplomatic ties with Nepal. I (Minister Trevelyan) , visited Nepal in March, where I marked 100 years since the signing of the Treaty of Friendship. The Foreign Secretary's travel plans over the next year are still being decided, but Nepal remains a uniquely close and valued partner in the Indo Pacific region. The UK will continue to commemorate this, especially in the centenary anniversary year of the Treaty of Friendship.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support the Government is providing to (a) Tanzania and (b) other nations affected by the Marburg virus.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK's £340 million of core funding (2020-2024) to the World Health Organization (WHO) helps address UK global priorities, including building resilient health systems around the world, especially in the poorest countries, and helping us prevent and prepare for pandemics.
In Tanzania, the UK is also providing £100,000 through WHO-Tanzania, while the British High Commission chairs the Health Development Partners group that is coordinating donor support for the outbreak response. UK funding is earmarked to help the Tanzanian Ministry of Health enhance surveillance and outbreak investigation, and active case searches in communities and health facilities. Other types of support are also made available. For example, through the WHO's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team deployed a Spanish-speaking epidemiologist to assist with an outbreak of the Marburg virus in Equatorial Guinea in February 2023.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many and what proportion of UK diplomats posted outside of the UK are (a) male and (b) female.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The FCDO's ambition is to be a truly inclusive organisation that reflects the diversity of the population we serve and we are proud to have almost closed the gender gap in overseas posts. 48 percent of FCDO staff currently posted overseas are women and 52 percent are men. We endeavour to close the gap with greater numbers of women joining the Senior Civil Service. Understanding any remaining barriers to progression for women and improving the representation of women in senior roles is a focus for FCDO this year.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which UK Government (a) agencies and (b) other bodies are (i) operating in Nepal and (ii) working with the Nepalese government.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Collaboration with UK Government Agencies and other bodies is an important part of our relationship in Nepal. There are various agencies and other bodies working in Nepal or with the Government of Nepal. Those working in the country include the British Council, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, and BBC World Service. In addition there are organisations that are not based in Nepal but are engaged in work with Nepal. Those include the Chevening Scholarship Programme and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority. There are a number of other agencies who work with the Government of Nepal on an ad hoc basis.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much the Government has committed to spend to support victims of the Kahramanmaras earthquake.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK has now committed more than £43 million in aid funding to address humanitarian needs in Turkey and Syria. This is funding additional emergency relief, including tents and blankets and the ongoing deployment of UK medical expertise through the joint FCDO-MoD Field Hospital in Turkoglu. The UK committed £5 million to the DEC Joint Appeal for Turkey and Syria, which has raised over £93 million. On 9 February, the UK announced that it has committed an additional £4.3million from the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, to aid the White Helmets major search-and-rescue operations in Syria. To date the UK has delivered over 400 tonnes of relief items to both Turkey and Syria.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which Government (a) agencies and (b) other bodies were (i) operating in Cuba and (b) otherwise working with the Cuban government as of 23 January 2023.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As of 23 January 2023, the UK is represented in Cuba by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office through our Embassy in Havana. UK Visas and Immigration (the division of the Home Office responsible for the United Kingdom's visa system) also operates from the Embassy. The British Council (the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities) has been working in Cuba since 1998 and celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2023.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which Government agencies and bodies (a) were operating in and (b) worked with the Republic of Zimbabwe as of 23 January 2023.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Our Embassy to Harare represents the full range of UK Government interests in Zimbabwe. The Embassy currently houses staff from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Department for International Trade (DIT), Home Office (HO) and Ministry of Defence (MOD).
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
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 impact of Chinese policy on minorities on Tibetan (a) language and (b) culture.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We closely monitor the human rights situation in Tibet, including reports of the erosion of Tibetan language and culture. We continue to urge China to respect all fundamental rights across the People's Republic of China, including in Tibet, in line with both its own constitution and the international frameworks to which it is a party. In June 2022, a concerted UK lobbying effort helped to secure the support of a record 47 countries for a statement at the Human Rights Council that urged China to comply with its obligations with regard to the protection of human rights, including in Tibet. We also continue to press the Chinese authorities to respect religious and cultural freedoms and allow unrestricted access to Tibet for international journalists, NGOs and diplomats.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to make representations to the Moroccan Government on freedom of expression for people calling for independence in Western Sahara.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide, including in Western Sahara and the Tindouf refugee camps, as we regularly make clear to the parties. We have consistently supported language in relevant UN Security Council Resolutions that encourages the parties to continue their efforts to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in Western Sahara, including the freedoms of expression and association. Senior HMG officials raised the importance of media freedoms with the Moroccan Government at a Human Rights Dialogue between the two nations on 1 December 2022.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to reports that retired Petroleum Industry Workers Union (USO) trade unionist Nicodemus Luna Mosquera was murdered along with his nephew Edinson Noviteño Luna in Colombia on 26 November 2022, whether his Department plans to provide support to the USO trade union in that country.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Colombia is an FCDO Human Rights Priority Country, and supporting efforts to improve stability and security in Colombia, including for trade unionists, remains an important priority. At the UN Security Council on 11 January, I [Minister Rutley] raised attacks on human rights defenders and social activists and our commitment to supporting efforts to address the root causes of violence in Colombia. Through our Conflict, Stability, and Security Fund (CSSF) programme, which has provided £74 million in support of Peace Agreement implementation, security, and stability in Colombia since 2015, we will continue to support programmes that help Human Rights Defenders and other groups affected by violence.