Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
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 the Indian Government on restoring 4G internet access in Jammu and Kashmir.
Answered by Nigel Adams
We continue to raise our concerns about restrictions and the use of detentions in India-administered Kashmir with the Indian Government. The Foreign Secretary discussed the situation with his counterpart, the External Affairs Minister, Dr Jaishankar, during his visit to New Delhi last month. The Minister of State responsible for South Asia and Human Rights, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, raised our concerns about the situation in Kashmir with the Indian Foreign Secretary on 3 November. We call for all remaining restrictions - including on full 4G internet access - to be lifted as soon as possible and welcome information from the Indian Government that all individuals detained under so called "preventative measures" since the constitutional changes of 2019 have now been released. The UK will continue to encourage all States to ensure that their domestic laws and practices are in line with international standards. We continue to monitor the situation in Kashmir closely.
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
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 the Indian Government on the (a) welfare and (b) release of Kashmiris in custody under the Public Safety Act.
Answered by Nigel Adams
We continue to raise our concerns about restrictions and the use of detentions in India-administered Kashmir with the Indian Government. The Foreign Secretary discussed the situation with his counterpart, the External Affairs Minister, Dr Jaishankar, during his visit to New Delhi last month. The Minister of State responsible for South Asia and Human Rights, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, raised our concerns about the situation in Kashmir with the Indian Foreign Secretary on 3 November. We call for all remaining restrictions - including on full 4G internet access - to be lifted as soon as possible and welcome information from the Indian Government that all individuals detained under so called "preventative measures" since the constitutional changes of 2019 have now been released. The UK will continue to encourage all States to ensure that their domestic laws and practices are in line with international standards. We continue to monitor the situation in Kashmir closely.
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the UN Security Council to hold a meeting to call for India to comply with international law on the Kashmir dispute.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The longstanding position of the UK is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting political resolution on Kashmir, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. We encourage both sides to engage in dialogue and find lasting, diplomatic solutions to maintain regional stability.
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the EU on ensuring that the lobster industry in Tristan da Cunha is not affected by EU tariffs at the end of the transition period.
Answered by Wendy Morton
In negotiations with the EU, the UK Government is acting on behalf of all the territories for whose international relations it is responsible, to seek outcomes that support their security and their economies. The Government fully understands the interests of Tristan da Cunha, including in regard to its lobster industry.
We welcome the substantive input we have received from the Tristan da Cunha Government throughout these negotiations.
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations officials in his Department have made to their Chinese counterparts about the treatment of Africans in (a) Guangdong province and (b) the rest of that country.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The British Ambassador raised incidents of xenophobia and racism in China with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 17 April, and officials have also raised the issue with the Chinese Embassy in London. The British Government has updated travel advice to highlight potential discrimination against foreigners in China, particularly black and ethnic minority groups.
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) his Indian counterpart Government and (b) the Indian High Commission on the recent anti-Muslim violence in Delhi; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The British High Commission in New Delhi and our network of Deputy High Commissions across India are closely monitoring violence and protests in Delhi and in other regions.
We engage India on the full range of human rights matters, and we raise our concerns with the Government of India where we have them. Most recently, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for South Asia and the Commonwealth, discussed the impact of recent judicial and legislative measures on minorities with a senior member of India's Ministry of External Affairs on 25 February.
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the Indian Government and the Indian High Commission on the arrest of (a) Mehbooba Mufti and (b) Omar Abdullah under the Public Safety Act that allows for detention for two years without trial; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nigel Adams
It would not be appropriate to comment on these specific cases. We are monitoring the situation in Kashmir closely. We are concerned by reports of ongoing detentions and call for these to be lifted as soon as possible. We have raised our concerns with the Government of India. Most recently, the Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth (Lord Ahmad), discussed the situation in Kashmir and our concerns, including political detentions, with a senior representative from the Ministry of External Affairs on 25 February.
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Australian, Canadian and New Zealand counterparts on a closer relationship with UK after the UK leaves the EU on 31 January 2020.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
The UK was pleased to host Commonwealth partners, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, at the sixth Commonwealth Trade Ministers’ Meeting in London last October. The meeting reaffirmed our shared commitment to deepening trade and investment ties across the Commonwealth and increased cooperation ahead of the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in June 2020.
Australia and New Zealand are close, historic partners. We will continue to deepen ties, including on tackling global challenges, strengthening people to people links and by working for even closer economic relationship through our plans for Free Trade Agreements following our exit from the EU. The relationship with Canada is invaluable to the UK. Our shared history and values make us natural partners
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Indian counterpart on the decision of the Government of India on 5 August 2019 to repeal Articles 370 and 35a of the Indian Constitution.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
We are in regular contact with the Indian Government regarding the situation in Kashmir. Following the revocation of Articles 370 and 35a, the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns with his counterpart, Dr Jaishankar. Most recently,Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon discussed the situation in Kashmir with the Indian Minister of State for External and Parliamentary Affairs and, separately, the Indian High Commissioner to the UK. We welcome reports that some restrictions have been relaxed, and that some of those previously detained have been released. However, we remain concerned at the ongoing detentions and continued restrictions in some areas and call for these to be lifted as soon as possible. We also welcome India’s commitment to economic and social development in India-administered Kashmir, and have asked the Indian Government for more detail on how their plans will be realised.