Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to prevent Iran’s further non-compliance with the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We have been engaged in intensive discussions in Vienna with other Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) participants and the US, which are aimed at returning the US to the JCPoA, bringing Iran back into full compliance with its commitments and restoring the benefits of the deal for all. We began those negotiations in Vienna on 6 April 2021. We negotiated in good faith for six rounds of talks over 10 weeks until Iran paused talks on 20 June. Iran urgently needs to return to negotiations. We stand ready to return to Vienna as soon as possible for a swift conclusion of the deal on the table.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the (a) outcome was and (b) implications for bilateral relations is of his recent visit to the Kurdistan Region in Iraq; and if he will make a statement .
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The Foreign Secretary's visit to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) was the first visit by a Cabinet Minister since 2017. He spoke to President Barzani about the Iraq elections in October, regional security and the threat from militia groups, security sector reform, our continued support to Iraq and the KRI in the fight against Daesh, and the importance of freedom of expression.
The UK supports a strong and successful Kurdistan Region of Iraq within a thriving Iraq. The UK looks forward to continued close engagement with the Kurdistan Regional Government as a critical, valued and longstanding partner in the region with the aim of progressing security cooperation, increasing our business links, and supporting sustainable economic reform that delivers for all Iraqis.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will allow the CIA to release material that (a) refers to MI6 involvement in operations in (i) the Ukraine, (ii) Belarus, (iii) Germany and (iv) the Baltic States between 1945 and 1953 and (b) material that references Stanislaw Chrzanowski.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
It is the longstanding policy of successive British Governments that we do not comment on intelligence matters.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make available to Parliament (a) all files on MI6 operations in (i) the Ukraine, (ii) Belarus, (iii) Germany and (iv) the Baltic States between 1945 and 1953 and (b) those referencing Stanislaw Chrzanowski.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
It is the longstanding policy of successive British Governments that we do not comment on intelligence matters
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what files held by his Department on MI6 operations in (a) the Ukraine, (b) Belarus, (c) Germany and (d) the Baltic States between 1945 and 1953 have been (i) lost and (ii) destroyed; and whether any of those files referenced Stanislaw Chrzanowski.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
It is the longstanding policy of successive British Governments that we do not comment on intelligence matters.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds in its archives on MI6 operations that (a) took place in (i) the Ukraine, (ii) Belarus, (iii) Germany and (iv) the Baltic States between 1945 and 1953 and (b) reference Stanislaw Chrzanowski.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
It is the longstanding policy of successive British Governments that we do not comment on intelligence matters.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the long-term effect on (a) UK foreign policy and (b) bilateral relations with the Kurdistan Region of the 1991 decision to initiate a safe haven and no-fly zone over the Kurdistan Region.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
UNSCR 688, and the subsequent initiation of no-fly zones over the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) represented a historic moment for Iraqi Kurds, and for the UK-KRI partnership. The no-fly zones provided a crucial security umbrella to protect the Kurdish people, and to promote stability in the region.
In the years since, we have further strengthened our relationship with the KRI. Many of their interests and values align with our own: a belief in diversity, tolerance, and publicly stated commitment to preventing extremism are some examples. The UK will continue to play its part in supporting the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to build a more peaceful, more prosperous future.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2021 to Question 140775 on Iran: Nuclear Fuels, what the timetable is for action to tackle Iran’s non-compliance with the JCPoA.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We have made our position clear to Iran in recent E3 statements, at the Joint Commission and at the JCPoA ministerial meeting on 21 December, that implementation of the new nuclear law is jeopardising our efforts to preserve the JCPoA and risks compromising the important opportunity for a return to diplomacy with the new US Administration. We remain in close contact with the other remaining JCPoA participants to assess how to best address Iran's non-compliance within the framework of the JCPoA.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 January 2021 to Question 140776, how many Palestinian children received copies of UNRWA’s self-learning material; and what steps UNRWA is taking to retrieve that material and counter harmful educational messages.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We contacted UNRWA directly regarding this issue. UNRWA informed us that they had identified the material in question through its own regular monitoring and took swift action to correct the issue. The Agency also conducted a review to address any education materials in breach of its policies. UNRWA has reported that these materials are no longer circulated and are not used in current lessons. The issue was rectified by November 2020.
We continue to monitor the situation to ensure self-learning materials remain in line with UN values.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the permanent members of the UN Security Council on reports that Iran is advancing research on uranium metal production.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
Iran has no credible civilian use for uranium metal, which could provide knowledge gains applicable to a weapons programme. We strongly urge Iran to halt this activity, and return to compliance with its JCPoA commitments without delay. We continue to engage closely with the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council to address Iran's non-compliance.