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 has she made of the potential merits of removing Russia from the SWIFT international banking system.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The Foreign Secretary announced the largest and most severe package of economic sanctions for Russia.
The UK and others have committed to removing selected Russian banks from SWIFT and alongside the US and EU the UK is targeting Central Bank of the Russian Federation (CBR) to prevent it from using its international reserves to undermine the impact of our sanctions.
On 1 March, new legislation will be laid in parliament on financial measures including sovereign debt, clearing and securities measures and trade measures including export controls on dual use high-tech products.
The financial measures will prevent Russian banks from clearing payments in sterling and will apply to Russia's largest bank - Sberbank. They will also prevent the Russian state from raising debt in the UK and will isolate all Russian companies - of which there are over three million - from access to UK capital markets.
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 recent assessment has she made of the (a) security and (b) political stability in West Africa following recent coups d'etat in that region.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK Government routinely monitors and assesses security and political dynamics across West Africa. We are concerned by the deteriorating situation across the Sahel, and the tangible impact this has on security across the West Africa region. We have joined the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union and international partners to condemn recent coups, including in Burkina Faso this month, in Guinea in September 2021, and in Mali in May 2021. We support regional mediation efforts and call for the return to democratic, civilian and constitutional rule without delay.
In a call with President Brou on 19 November 2021 I was able to set out the UK's continued support for ECOWAS' efforts. It is vital that across the region all parties engage in peaceful dialogue to ease tensions, prevent any further violence, respect human rights, and uphold democratic principles including the rule of law. We continue to work with our international partners to address the implications of these coups and to monitor each situation closely.
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 security and political stability of Burkina Faso following the recent coup in that country.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK is deeply concerned about the deteriorating security and political situation in Burkina Faso. As I [Minister Ford] set out in my statement on 25 January 2022, the UK condemns the coup d'etat by military forces in Burkina Faso, and calls for the immediate, safe and unconditional release of all members of the civilian government who have been detained, including the President of Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. It is vital that all parties remain calm and respect human rights, and for Burkina Faso to return to democratic civilian and constitutional rule without delay. We are monitoring the political and security situation closely, and working with partners to encourage a swift, peaceful and constructive resolution to events. Dialogue between all parties is required to tackle insecurity across Burkina Faso, and respond to the needs of the Burkinabe people.
Through our deployment to the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali (MINUSMA), our deployment of Chinook helicopters to the French counter-terrorism mission Barkhane, and our programmatic support for stabilisation and conflict resolution, the UK is working to build long-term peace and stability in the Sahel. We also provide humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable in the region, including in Burkina Faso.
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 her Department is taking to monitor the political and military situations in Transnistria with regards to a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Our Embassy in Chisinau closely monitors political and military developments in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova, including through regular dialogue with the Government of Moldova, the OSCE Mission to Moldova, and international partners. Members of the Embassy regularly visit the Transnistrian region in order to assess the situation at first hand and to discuss developments with a variety of contacts there, including the de facto leadership.
We have repeatedly made clear that any Russian incursion into Ukraine would be met with strength, including massive economic consequences through coordinated sanctions by allies and partners targeting Russian financial transactions, assets, and individuals.
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 recent assessment her Department has made of the impact of any potential Russian invasion of Ukraine on security and political stability in the Balkan region.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
We are observing a concerning pattern of Russian behaviour that threatens the rules-based international system and aims to hamper the Euro-Atlantic integration of the countries of the Western Balkans and elsewhere. As set out in the Integrated Review, the UK takes the threat from the Russian State extremely seriously and we will continue to call out Russian aggression. The Prime Minister has appointed Sir Stuart Peach as Special Envoy to the Western Balkans. He has long experience in the region, as former UK Chief of the Defence Staff and Chair of NATO's military committee. Sir Stuart is undertaking extensive travel across the region and working closely with international partners to promote regional stability, security and reconciliation. In addition, we are using our diplomatic heft, and our Conflict, Stability and Security Fund programmes to strengthen regional stability, increase resilience against hostile state activity and cyber-attacks.
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 her Department will investigate the potential use of British components in the construction of drones used in aerial attacks on civilians in Tigray.
Answered by Vicky Ford
There are no extant Standard Individual or Open Individual Export Licences for controlled items for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) components for Ethiopia directly or indirectly. The Government takes its strategic export control responsibilities very seriously. We examine every application on a case-by-case basis against strict criteria. Risks around human rights violations are a key part of our assessment. The Government will not grant a licence for items where we determine there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate internal repression, or where we determine there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law. We can and do respond quickly and flexibly to changing or fluid international situations. All licences are kept under careful and continual review as standard.
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 recent discussions the Government has had with the (a) African Union peace envoy and (b) US peace envoy on the conflict between the Ethiopian Government and Tigray.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We are extremely concerned by the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia and the implications it has for the country as a whole. The UK is working to bring an end to the violence. I discussed Ethiopia on my visit to Kenya 17 to 18 January and met Prime Minister Abiy in Addis Ababa on 20 January when we discussed the conflict. Whilst in Addis, I also met new US envoy Satterfield. I have called on all parties to urgently agree a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid through. I have continued to emphasise the need for a ceasefire through calls with my African counterparts, including from Kenya and the African Union (AU). We have spoken with a variety of international partners about the situation in Ethiopia, and have urged them to support a ceasefire and support the efforts of AU High Representative Obasanjo to bring an end to the violence. I have also spoken to HR Obasanjo. The British Ambassador in Addis Ababa remains in touch with HR Obasanjo.
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 her Department is taking to support the UN Human Rights Council inquiry into atrocities in Ethiopia.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We are extremely concerned by reports of widespread human rights violations and abuses in Ethiopia committed by all sides to the conflict. All those responsible for human rights violations and abuses should be held to account.
The Foreign Secretary, as Chair of the G7 Foreign and Development Minister's meeting, made a statement on 12 December 2021 that called for an additional independent investigation on human rights violations as recommended by the Joint Investigation report from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission. The UK supported the Human Rights Council resolution of 17 December 2021 that mandates an independent and transparent mechanism for investigation and redress of human rights violations. The UK will continue to support the UN in the need for independent, transparent and impartial investigations and will work to ensure that those responsible for these atrocities are held to account.
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 her Department is taking towards the normalisation of relations between the Ethiopian Government and Tigray.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We are extremely concerned by the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia and the implications it has for the country as a whole. On my recent visit to Ethiopia, I met Prime Minister Abiy on 20 January and discussed the UK's concern over conflict in the north but hope for lasting peace in Ethiopia. I also met Ethiopian State Minister Redwan and reiterated my message for peace.
The UK is working to bring an end to the violence. I have called on all parties to urgently agree a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid through. I have continued to emphasise the need for a ceasefire through calls with my African counterparts, including from Kenya and the African Union (AU). We have spoken with a variety of international partners about the situation in Ethiopia, and have urged them to support a ceasefire and support the efforts of AU High Representative Obasanjo to bring an end to the violence.
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 she will take steps to empower Counter Terrorism Command SO15 to investigate suspects of crimes against humanity under the International Criminal Court Act 2001 who are neither British residents nor nationals.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The United Kingdom is committed to upholding international law and holding those who commit the most serious crimes accountable for their actions. Under the International Criminal Court Act , crimes against humanity are an offence against the law of England and Wales if committed in England or Wales or outside the United Kingdom by a United Kingdom national or resident or a person subject to UK service jurisdiction. The jurisdiction of the courts in the UK to try crimes is premised on a presumption of territoriality, unless there is express statutory provision to the contrary. It is UK Government policy that the United Kingdom should not provide a safe haven for war criminals or those who commit other serious violations of international law. The UK is committed to helping other countries to prosecute offences that take place within their territory or within their jurisdiction.