Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has received reports on the loss of life as a result of the recent mine landslide in Tanzania; and whether his Department is taking steps to support the Government of Tanzania with its response to the landslide.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
On 15 January the British High Commissioner expressed condolences on behalf of the UK following the tragic loss of 22 lives at the Ng'alita mine. The UK has not been asked to provide support on this occasion but has previously supported relief efforts in similar situations through the multi-donor pooled Start Network. UK contributions to the Start Network have assisted Tanzania in addressing challenges caused by flooding, with relief in the areas of sanitation and hygiene, child protection, mental health and psychosocial support, and the provision of health and food items.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department is taking steps to provide humanitarian in response to recent flooding in Congo-Brazzaville.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK is concerned about the higher than average rainfall and subsequent flooding and landslides along the Congo River Basin, which has had an impact on infrastructure particularly schools, health centres and farmland and created an increased risk of water-born illnesses and malaria. We are saddened by the loss of life and devastation caused by floods and landslides in the region, including in Congo-Brazzaville. The UK is currently working with counterparts to identify how we may best support their response - with a particular focus on reducing the spread of water borne diseases.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department has taken to help tackle anti-Christian violence in Nigeria in the Christmas 2023 period.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Rising insecurity has undermined freedom of religion or belief in Nigeria and affected all faith and non-faith communities, including Christians. It is crucial that the fundamental driving factors are addressed. The British High Commissioner raised the recent attacks in Plateau with the Nigerian National Security Adviser, and the UK works closely with the respective authorities to raise and address these issues through multiple forums. The UK Government's 'Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria' (SPRiNG) programme will help tackle the interlinked root causes of intercommunal conflict, including security, justice, and natural resource management challenges.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department has had discussions with its Nicaraguan counterparts on the arrests of Catholic priests.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The arbitrary detention of political leaders and of members of the Catholic Church by the Nicaragua authorities is of deep concern to the UK. These arrests represent an unacceptable degradation of Nicaraguans' civil, political, and other human rights. As I tweeted on 16 January, the UK welcomes the release of Bishop Álvarez and other clergy from unjust detention but condemns their expulsion from Nicaragua. We will continue to call in both bilateral and multilateral settings, for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Nicaragua, including remaining members of the Catholic Church.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps he is taking to help promote the freedom of religion or belief in Nicaragua.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We share widespread international concern about the suppression of human rights in Nicaragua, including the right to freedom of religion or belief. In June 2023, in her capacity as Chair of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance, the Prime Minister's Special Envoy, Fiona Bruce MP, issued an international statement condemning the continued persecution of the Catholic Church by the Nicaraguan Government. In my tweet on 16 January, I also condemned the detention of Catholic priests by the Nicaraguan Government. We continue to work with international partners to put pressure on the Ortega regime to re-establish democratic and other essential freedoms in Nicaragua.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what systems his Department uses to (a) monitor and (b) evaluate (i) the potential impact of the Government’s funding on minorities and (ii) whether funding is being used effectively and equitably in Pakistan.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
We prioritise our aid to achieve maximum impact for the people of Pakistan, ensuring that any assistance we provide is inclusive and reaches those most at risk of being left behind, including religious and other minority groups. Aid is targeted using pre-defined criteria and in consultation with representatives of the most marginalised groups. All our programmes are subject to robust monitoring and evaluation processes.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport 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 his counterparts in Manipur, India on (a) human rights and (b) the right to freedom of religion or belief in the last month.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government is committed to defending human rights and promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). We have a broad and deep partnership with the Government of India and we discuss all elements of our relationship, including human rights and FoRB. During his visit in May, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for South Asia, discussed FoRB with the Government of India, leaders of faith groups and others, and raised the situation in Manipur with the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department has taken steps to help Pakistan create a commission for managing matters relating to Afghan refugees in that country.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK Government continues to monitor the return of Afghans from Pakistan, including the humanitarian and human rights implications. We are working closely with Pakistan, the United Nations and other international partners to support vulnerable undocumented people returning to Afghanistan. Pakistan has a long history of welcoming vulnerable refugees and we urge them to respect the human rights of all Afghans in Pakistan. Since September, we have committed £18.5 million to the International Organisation for Migration in Afghanistan to support those returning from Pakistan and Iran.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of reports that eight priests previously under house arrest have been transferred to El Chipote prison in Nicaragua, in the context of human rights.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Reports of harassment and arbitrary detention, including against the church and its representatives, represent an unacceptable degradation of Nicaraguans' civil, political, and other human rights. Acts by the Ortega Government to restrict these rights, including the arrest of clergy, confiscation of Church property and the rescinding of legal permits and operating licences for Church affiliated institutions are of deep concern. We continue to call for the immediate and unconditional release of affected clergy and all others wrongly deprived of their freedom in Nicaragua.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, when he last met the Leadership of the East African Community.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
I have not met with the Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC). However, UK officials based in the region met with the EAC Secretary General in August and with his deputy in September. We engage frequently and at a senior level with the member states of the EAC.
I meet regularly with EAC member state leaders including at the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi in September. We will use next year's UK-Africa Investment Summit to strengthen our partnerships with African countries, including EAC members, to drive mutual growth and prosperity.