Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in what ways the Balance of Competences review on the EU has informed the Government's negotiating position on EU reform.
Answered by David Lidington
I refer the right hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne East to the answer I gave on 17 June 2015 to PQ1804. The Review received over 2300 evidence contributions from a wide range of groups and individuals and has been commended by the House of Lords. Much of this evidence supports the Government’s EU reform agenda.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his objectives are for negotiations with representatives of the EU and EU member state governments on EU reform.
Answered by David Lidington
The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), has already been clear about areas where he wants to see reform. These include: reforming welfare; increasing economic competitiveness to create jobs and growth; protecting Britain's interests outside the euro; and dealing with the idea of Ever Closer Union – which may be right for others but is not right for Britain.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what key issues relating to EU reform the Government has identified from the Balance of Competences review.
Answered by David Lidington
The review reinforces the case for EU reform. This includes a broader and deeper Single Market, greater competitiveness and flexibility, better (and less) regulation and more transparent and accountable institutions and processes.Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what advice his Department provides to British citizens travelling to (a) Italy, (b) the EU and (c) other countries on obtaining legal expenses insurance to cover such trips.
Answered by James Duddridge
FCO travel advice on the GOV.UK website covers 225 countries and territories, including Italy and all other EU countries. It includes advice to take out comprehensive travel insurance. This message is also central to the FCO’s ‘Know Before You Go’ travel safety campaign, which works alongside key partners like the Association of British Travel Agents and the Association of British Insurers. As part of this activity we point travellers towards a specific travel insurance page on the GOV.UK website, which explains that legal expenses cover will help those taking it out to pursue compensation or damages following personal injury while abroad, and that this cover is very important in countries without a legal aid system. Legal expenses cover is included in many but not all travel insurance products. On 1 December, I attended an FCO event held to promote our current 'Know Before You Go' campaign activity and to collaborate with key partners on future campaign plans.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's policy is on (a) the transportation of detainees held by another state through UK territory, including UK colonies and dependent territories, other than pursuant to a lawful extradition proceeding, (b) attendance of UK agents at interrogations of detainees by or on behalf of a foreign state and (c) supplying questions for use in interrogating detainees held by foreign states.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We expect any State wishing to transport detainees via UK territory, including our Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, to seek permission to do so. The Government will grant that permission only if satisfied that such transportation would be in accordance with UK law and our international obligations. Detained persons should remain within the protection of the law at all times.
Government policy on the principles governing the detention and interviewing of detainees overseas, and on the passing and receipt of intelligence relating to detainees, is set out in the Consolidated Guidance published in July 2010. The Consolidated Guidance is consistent with UK domestic law and international law obligations, and requires an assessment of the standards to which the detainee may have been/or may be subject.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the UK applies any form of status to detainees held outside the UK which place the detainee outside the scope of (a) the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, (b) the Geneva Conventions and (c) the European Convention on Human Rights.
Answered by David Lidington
Under international law (both customary international law and treaties such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Geneva Conventions and the European Convention on Human Rights) states have obligations in relation to the human rights of detainees. States have a duty to ensure respect for applicable obligations in respect of detainees. The United Kingdom takes its duty in this regard seriously and we expect other States to do so too.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many times activity has been authorised under section 7 of the Intelligence Services Act 1994 in each year since 2010.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
It is the long-standing policy of successive governments not to comment on matters of intelligence. However, the Intelligence Services Commissioner’s annual reports provide details of his oversight of Section 7 ISA authorisations. The most recent report was published in June 2014.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which organisations collect subscriptions through the employers' payroll service in his Department and its agencies.
Answered by Hugh Robertson
The following organisations collect subscriptions through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office payroll service:
Friends Life Service
British Health Care Association Services Ltd
The Benenden Healthcare Society
The Charity For Civil Servants
Civil Service Club
Civil Service Healthcare Society Ltd
Civil Service Sports Council
The Hospital Saturday Fund
Engage Mutual Assurance
Simplyhealth
Public and Commercial Service Union
Post Office Insurance Society Assurance Ltd
Prospect Union
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the government of Indonesia on human rights in West Papua.
Answered by Lord Swire
In January 2014, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) raised the situation in Papua and West Papua with the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Marty Natalegewa who made clear the determination of the Indonesian government to improve the human rights situation there.
Most recently, in June 2014, our Ambassador to Jakarta raised Papua with Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Legal, Political and Security Affairs, who reconfirmed his government's intention to increase autonomy for the region. Our Embassy staff also visit the provinces regularly, discussing our concerns with government officials, civil society leaders and human rights defenders. We remain concerned about reports of violence and human rights abuses, including limitations on free speech and limitations on access to the region by international non-governmental organisations, foreign journalists and diplomats.