Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Pakistani counterpart to help ensure that no Afghans in refugee camps in that country eligible for (a) the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, (b) the Afghan Citizen Resettlement Scheme and (c) other UK schemes, are deported back to Afghanistan.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
We are not aware of any eligible individuals under either the ARAP (Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy) or ACRS (Afghan Citizen Resettlement Scheme) Pathway 3 schemes in refugee camps in Pakistan. Other schemes are for the Home Office to answer. We are monitoring the situation closely and the British High Commission is in frequent contact with the Pakistani authorities to try and ensure that no ARAP or ACRS Pathway 3 eligible individuals are deported while they await relocation to the UK and are seeking assurances to this effect.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to help ensure the safety of Afghan Chevening scholars after the conclusion of their studies in the UK.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Our Chevening scheme for Afghanistan requires that applicants have resident status in a third country and that they are able to leave the UK at the end of their studies.
The FCDO can provide letters of consent to scholars in the UK who have completed their studies and whose visas in other countries have expired, allowing them to apply for another UK visa, exempting them from the normal requirement to leave the UK on completion of study, given the situation in Afghanistan.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
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 political parties in Sierra Leone on resolving the disputed presidential election.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK has engaged stakeholders including the government, opposition, election bodies and the international community, in the run up, during and after the elections. We have given consistent messaging on good governance, the rule of law and the importance of an inclusive democracy that works for all. The Foreign Secretary raised these issues during his visit to Sierra Leone in March and in a telephone call with President Bio on 7 August. It remains vital that Sierra Leone's political leaders engage with efforts to support the democratic process. We remain committed to supporting the aspirations of the Sierra Leonean people.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to UN Security Council Resolution 2231, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of maintaining sanctions on Iran beyond the expiry date on 18 October 2023.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 14 September the UK announced, alongside our French and German partners, that we would maintain UN and UK/EU sanctions on individuals and entities involved in Iran's nuclear programme, as well as UK/EU trade embargoes on arms, missiles and nuclear goods and technology, beyond 18 October 2023. This action is a proportionate and legitimate response to Iran's consistent non-compliance with its Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) commitments since 2019. It sends a clear message to Iran that it will be held to account for its nuclear advances, which have no civilian justification.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
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 security situation in Sierra Leone following the recent election.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
It was inspiring to see Sierra Leoneans vote last month and the security situation has been largely calm following the announcement of results. As a friend of Sierra Leone, the UK noted irregularities in the electoral process, in particular the tabulation of votes. On 28 June, the British High Commission coordinated a press statement with international partners raising this and calling for people to refrain from violence and exercise restraint. It remains important political leaders and the judiciary allow issues to be addressed fairly.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure Afghan Chevening scholars are not forced to leave the UK to go to third countries where they either have (a) no visa or (b) a temporary visa.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Chevening awards were offered to Afghans resident in third countries for 2022-23.
The FCDO will provide a letter of consent to current scholars whose visas in other countries have expired or will expire, allowing them to apply for another UK visa, exempting them from the normal requirement to leave the UK on completion of study, given the situation in Afghanistan.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps ensure that Afghan Chevening scholars are not forced to live in refugee camps in other countries after their UK visas expire.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Chevening awards were offered to Afghans resident in third countries for 2022-23.
The FCDO will provide a letter of consent to current scholars whose visas in other countries have expired or will expire, allowing them to apply for another UK visa, exempting them from the normal requirement to leave the UK on completion of study, given the situation in Afghanistan.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the criteria for granting indefinite leave to remain to the Afghan Chevening scholar cohort have changed since 2022.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Chevening awards were offered to Afghans resident in third countries for 2022-23.
The FCDO will provide a letter of consent to current scholars whose visas in other countries have expired or will expire, allowing them to apply for another UK visa, exempting them from the normal requirement to leave the UK on completion of study, given the situation in Afghanistan.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) fairness and (b) ease of access to (i) polling and (ii) political information in Sierra Leone; and what reports he has received on those issues from UK election observers.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Violence has no place in a democracy and the UK condemns the use of violence by any party to elections. The outcome of the June 2023 elections in Sierra Leone was for the Sierra Leonean people to decide. The UK commends the dedication Sierra Leoneans displayed in exercising their right to vote. Our High Commission and the Foreign Secretary have consistently called for transparency and clarity from the Government of Sierra Leone, election management bodies and opposition parties. The UK has also funded a voter education programme to increase communities' engagement with, and understanding of, the electoral process. The High Commission deployed observers across the country during polling and tallying of results and, along with other partners, we note logistical problems hampered voting on election day in certain areas. We share the concerns of observation missions about the lack of transparency in the tabulation process. We remain committed to supporting democracy and the aspirations of the Sierra Leonean people. We are urging everyone to exercise restraint, respect the rule of law, and engage in peaceful dialogue to resolve disputes.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made representations to the authorities in Sierra Leone on verification of the results of the presidential election in that country.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Violence has no place in a democracy and the UK condemns the use of violence by any party to elections. The outcome of the June 2023 elections in Sierra Leone was for the Sierra Leonean people to decide. The UK commends the dedication Sierra Leoneans displayed in exercising their right to vote. Our High Commission and the Foreign Secretary have consistently called for transparency and clarity from the Government of Sierra Leone, election management bodies and opposition parties. The UK has also funded a voter education programme to increase communities' engagement with, and understanding of, the electoral process. The High Commission deployed observers across the country during polling and tallying of results and, along with other partners, we note logistical problems hampered voting on election day in certain areas. We share the concerns of observation missions about the lack of transparency in the tabulation process. We remain committed to supporting democracy and the aspirations of the Sierra Leonean people. We are urging everyone to exercise restraint, respect the rule of law, and engage in peaceful dialogue to resolve disputes.