Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential constitutional implications of the UK Government not providing assent to the Bermuda Cannabis Licensing Bill 2022.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Bermuda's constitution provides for the Governor to reserve assent of legislation which do not appear to be compatible with international obligations. The Foreign Secretary carefully considered the Bermuda Cannabis Licensing Bill 2022 and concluded that it is contrary to the UK's and Bermuda's obligations under the UN Conventions, which prohibit the legalisation of cannabis for recreational use. The UK is responsible for the Overseas Territories' compliance with international law, and assent was not therefore given. Prior to the legislation being presented for assent, UK officials offered and continue to make themselves available to the Government of Bermuda to discuss the policy and how the UK can support Bermuda.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps (a) she and (b) her Department is taking to raise the UN Human Rights Office's assessment of human rights concerns in Xinjiang, China with the Chinese Government.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights provides new evidence of the appalling extent of China's efforts to silence and repress Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. It includes harrowing evidence, including first-hand accounts from victims, that shames China in the eyes of the international community.
The UK has already led international efforts to pressure China to change its behaviour. We have imposed sanctions, led joint statements at the UN, taken action to tackle forced labour in supply chains, funded research to expose China's actions, and consistently raised our concerns at the highest levels in Beijing.
Following the report's publication, we have raised our deep concerns about its findings with the Chinese Embassy in London as well as senior officials in Beijing. We are now considering appropriate next steps with our international partners.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what further diplomatic steps she is planning to take with the Chinese Government in relation to the UN Human Rights Office's assessment of human rights concerns in Xinjiang, China.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights provides new evidence of the appalling extent of China's efforts to silence and repress Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. It includes harrowing evidence, including first-hand accounts from victims, that shames China in the eyes of the international community.
The UK has already led international efforts to pressure China to change its behaviour. We have imposed sanctions, led joint statements at the UN, taken action to tackle forced labour in supply chains, funded research to expose China's actions, and consistently raised our concerns at the highest levels in Beijing.
Following the report's publication, we have raised our deep concerns about its findings with the Chinese Embassy in London as well as senior officials in Beijing. We are now considering appropriate next steps with our international partners.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government plans to provide further aid to Somalia for the purposes of helping to prevent a potential famine in that country.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
East Africa is facing a serious humanitarian crisis and the UK will continue to do everything we can to help people who are in desperate need. This financial year, the UK will provide approximately £156 million to respond to the Humanitarian crisis in East Africa, and this is on top of the £46 million of humanitarian support that the UK contributed to Somalia last financial year. These funds are delivering lifesaving assistance to those most in need now through NGOs and the UN.
The UK is also engaging with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the Drought Envoy to provide strong leadership on the drought, raise the profile of the crisis internationally and remove impediments to humanitarian assistance. The UK continues to lever its leadership role in Somalia to lobby for more funds from the international community and non-traditional donors for the urgent response that is required now and for the funding that will be necessary for longer-term resilience.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Chilean counterpart on Chile's national plebiscite on a new constitution.
Answered by Vicky Ford
I [Minister Ford] wrote to the Chilean Foreign Minister following the national referendum on a proposed new constitution. The referendum was an excellent example of a peaceful democratic exercise and the UK applauds Chile on its respect for the democratic process and its institutional systems.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she is taking steps to help prevent the risk of violent conflict between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Answered by Vicky Ford
In recent weeks we have raised the unacceptable increase in violence, hate speech and increased movement of armed groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with the Governments of DRC, Uganda and Rwanda, as well as the leadership of the UN Peacekeeping Mission, MONUSCO. The Prime Minister discussed these issues with Rwandan President Kagame during CHOGM. Minister Ford recently spoke with the Rwandan Foreign Minister on 16 June and the DRC Minister for Planning on 24 June to re-iterate the need for all sides to continue to work together to deliver de-escalation on the ground and an end to hate speech. We welcome the meeting of regional Heads of State in Nairobi and the recent agreement reached by President Kagame and President Tshisekedi in Angola. It is vital that all parties now to implement the Roadm ap to secure a real de-escalation on the ground in Eastern DRC. We will continue to closely monitor the situation.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
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 Ukraine for dismantling and countering the effect of Russian disinformation bot facilities.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office works closely with the Government of Ukraine to counter Russian disinformation, and co-ordinates activity with the Counter Disinformation Unit, led by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and the Government Information Cell.
The FCDO's Counter Disinformation and Media Development Programme has developed a number of projects involved in identifying disinformation. These projects continue to be successful in exposing Russia-linked information operations and disinformation methodologies. Where appropriate, information is shared with international partners including the Government of Ukraine.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
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 reasons for which Scots is not afforded protection under Part III of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
Answered by Vicky Ford
No such approach has been received from the UK Government, this issue is a devolved matter.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had recent discussions China on withdrawing that country's (a) current and (b) future economic support for Russia.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The Foreign Secretary spoke with her Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi, on Friday 25 February. In the call, the Foreign Secretary underlined that the UK expects China to stand up for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and urged China to uphold its commitment to the UN Charter. The world is watching to see whether China's actions contribute to peace and stability, or to fuelling aggression.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she plans to take to support UK-based businesses with operations in Ukraine that are affected by the Russian invasion of that country.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
UK businesses which trade with Ukraine can access help and support by using the Department for International Trade's Export Support Service (ESS).