Asked by: Peter Bottomley (Conservative - Worthing West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, when he last reviewed the legal status of the conflict in Western Sahara.
Answered by David Rutley
The Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon receives reports on the Western Sahara. Officials regularly meet and consult with international partners to discuss the issue of Western Sahara, including those from the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), the UN, NGOs, Civil Society Organisations, and the broader international community.
Asked by: Peter Bottomley (Conservative - Worthing West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, if he will raise in the UN Security Council reports of restrictions to freedom of (a) expression and (b) association in the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara.
Answered by David Rutley
The UK Government is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide, including in Morocco and Western Sahara, and we raise human rights issues with the Moroccan Government accordingly. We also engage on these issues at the UN and have consistently supported language in the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions which encourages the parties to continue their efforts to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in Western Sahara.
Asked by: Peter Bottomley (Conservative - Worthing West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether Morocco is listed by the UN as the Administering Power of Western Sahara.
Answered by David Rutley
Morocco is not listed as the administering Power of Western Sahara on the United Nations' list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.
Asked by: Peter Bottomley (Conservative - Worthing West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had discussions with the High Commissioner for Pakistan on the recent attack of Pakastani national on 26 November 2023 in England.
Answered by Leo Docherty
The UK Government engages with the High Commission of Pakistan on a wide range of issues. This includes ensuring the safety of Pakistani nationals in the UK. It would not be appropriate to comment further while active police enquiries into the incident are underway.
Asked by: Peter Bottomley (Conservative - Worthing West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the number of prisoners in Bahrain on death row; whether his Bahraini counterpart has responded to British representations about Mohamed Ramadhan and Husain Moosa; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for taking Bahrain off the list of human rights priority countries.
Answered by David Rutley
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office continues to follow and discuss both the use of the death penalty and the cases referenced with the Government of Bahrain, as well as with Bahrain's oversight bodies. The UK's position on the use of the death penalty is longstanding and clear; we oppose its use in all circumstances and countries. The decision to remove Bahrain from the Human Rights Priority Country list reflects consistent and systemic progress in a range of human rights areas over a number of years, some of which have been directly supported by the UK. The UK remains committed to supporting reforms in Bahrain and encouraging the government to meet its human rights commitments.
Asked by: Peter Bottomley (Conservative - Worthing West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes to the Indian visa application process on UK visitors to that country; what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the present visa system; if he will make an estimate of the number of prospective tourists that would be affected; and if he has had recent discussions with his Indian counterpart on these changes.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
This is an internal matter for the Government of India (GoI). We respect the Indian Government's right to set its migration and citizenship policies, just as we expect the Indian authorities to respect UK Government policy. We regularly raise the matter of our exclusion from the list of countries eligible for e-visas with the GoI. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary raised this with the Indian External Affairs Minister during his visit to India on 29 October. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon also raised it with the Indian High Commissioner on 25 October. British nationals can continue to use the GoI's regular/paper visa application services for all visa categories. We will update India Travel Advice with the latest information if there are any changes in India's visa rules.
Asked by: Peter Bottomley (Conservative - Worthing West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the response to the Urgent Question on 9 July 2020, Official Report, columns 1115-26, if she will uphold the commitment made by the former Minister for Middle East and North Africa to call for Mohammed Ramadhan and Hussain Moosa’s death sentences handed down by Bahrain’s Court of Cassation to be set aside.
Answered by Gillian Keegan
Ministers and officials continue to reiterate the UK's opposition to use of the death penalty, in all circumstances, with the Bahraini Government. During a visit to Bahrain in July the former Minister Amanda Milling met with senior members of the Bahraini government and discussed human rights issues, including the death penalty where she restated the UK position.
Asked by: Peter Bottomley (Conservative - Worthing West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reduction he expects in the Cayman Islands government budget and on the Cayman Islands government provision of funds this year and next to the Cayman Turtle Farm; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Mark Simmonds
The Cayman Islands Government and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office signed in November 2011 the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility. This sets out the agreed principles for credible and sustainable financial management, including limits for public borrowing. The Cayman Islands Government is responsible for decisions on taxation and public spending, including deciding on the allocation of the resources to the turtle farm.
Asked by: Peter Bottomley (Conservative - Worthing West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether hehas received the World Society for the Protection of Animals' recent report The Cayman Turtle Farm: A Continued Case for Change.
Answered by Mark Simmonds
I have received a copy of the report and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is analysing it in detail. However, it is the delegated responsibility of the Cayman Islands Government to manage its natural resources effectively and appropriately and for them to consider how best to respond to the report.