Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Israel counterparts on (a) the demolitions of homes and infrastructure on the West Bank, (b) use of excessive force and potential attacks on healthcare personnel and facilities, (c) settlement expansion and (d) restrictions on freedom of movement for residents of the West Bank.
Answered by David Rutley
The UK Government strongly condemns all forms of violence towards healthcare workers, who should be able to go about their work without obstruction. The UK's position on settlements is clear. They are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace and threaten the physical viability of a two-state solution. Demolitions and evictions of Palestinians from their homes cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians. We urge Israel to halt its settlement expansion.
The UK has consistently urged the government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to de-escalate the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The Foreign Secretary made this point to Israeli Foreign Minister Cohen when he met with him in person on 21 March. The Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon also frequently engages with Israelis and Palestinians on these issues.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with (a) his counterparts in India and (b) international partners on (i) the protection of civil liberties and (ii) human rights in India.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
The UK Government has a broad and deep partnership with the Government of India and we discuss all elements of our relationship. We remain committed to championing democracy and human rights around the world. Where we have issues, we raise them directly with the Government of India, including at Ministerial level. The Minister for South Asia, Lord [Tariq] Ahmad of Wimbledon, regularly speaks to the High Commissioner of India. Human rights and civil liberties forms part of that dialogue. Our networks across India regularly meet civil society groups and run projects promoting human rights.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for its polices of reports of the Chinese government’s forced residential school system in Tibet; if he will takes steps to raise that issue at the G7 Summit on 19 to 21 May 2023; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
We are aware of reports that Tibetan parents are being coerced into sending their children to boarding schools in Tibet with no access to traditional Tibetan learning. In March 2023 we raised the issue of boarding schools in our Item 4 statement at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), and in June 2022 a UK-led lobbying effort helped to secure the support of 46 other countries for a joint statement at the HRC which highlighted the situation in Tibet. On 18 April 2023 a G7 Foreign Ministers Communiqué noted that all G7 countries continue to raise concerns with China on human rights violations, including on Tibet. We will continue to work with international partners and press China to cease human rights violations.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the recommendations of the International Development Select Committee in its report entitled Debt relief in low-income countries, HC 146, published on 10 March 2023, if he will hold discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on bringing forward legislative proposals to help ensure private lenders support lower-income countries in crisis by cancelling debt.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
The Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer work closely together on international issues, such as pressing for progress on sovereign debt treatment at the recent International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank Spring Meetings.
The UK, alongside the G20 and Paris Club, expect private creditors to participate in debt restructurings on terms at least as favourably as bilateral (i.e. country) creditors.
The Government is focused on delivering a market-based (contractual) approach to private sector participation, for example recently developing Majority Voting Provisions for private loans.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his (a) Indian counterpart and (b) other international counterparts on alleged (i) internet and mobile suspensions, (ii) arbitrary arrests and (iii) other human rights abuses and the suspension of civil liberties in India.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
The UK Government has a broad and deep partnership with the Government of India and we discuss all elements of our relationship. We remain committed to championing democracy and human rights around the world. Where we have issues, we raise them directly with the Government of India, including at Ministerial level. The Minister for South Asia, Lord [Tariq] Ahmad of Wimbledon, regularly speaks to the High Commissioner of India. Human rights and civil liberties forms part of that dialogue. Our networks across India regularly meet civil society groups and run projects promoting human rights.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which consultations published by their Department are awaiting a response; and when each of those responses (a) were initially planned to and (b) will be published.
Answered by David Rutley
Policy teams across the FCDO consult regularly during the policy development and implementation cycle.
Information is available on gov.uk on all open and closed consultations published by the FCDO including the closing date for open consultations and, where available, the Government's response.
The Cabinet Office has published best practice 'consultation principles' for Government departments.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish the (a) number and (b) destinations of all domestic flights taken by officials in his Department in each of the last 5 years.
Answered by David Rutley
FCDO's domestic flight numbers are published annually within the FCDO Annual Report and Accounts - FCDO's 2021-22 Annual Report and Accounts from page 86. More detailed data regarding the destinations of all domestic flights taken by officials over the past five years is not published.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1095304/FCDO_Annual_Report_2021_2022_Accessible_290722.pdf
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has plans to (a) withdraw or (b) reduce the Government-funded investments in Azerbaijan.
Answered by Leo Docherty
The FCDO has no knowledge of any Government-funded investments in Azerbaijan.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the number of staff who have been subject to (a) sexual harassment and (b) bullying in his Department in each year since 2018.
Answered by David Rutley
The Cabinet Office publishes results from the Civil Service People Survey on GOV.UK on behalf of all participating organisations in the survey. The findings include the proportion of staff responding to the survey who indicated to have been bullied and or harassed at work in the past 12 months (b) and, among those, whether they have been subject to sexual harassment (a). This would include sexual comments or jokes, unwelcome sexual advances, touching or assault.
The figures from the 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 Civil Service People Surveys can be found at:
2021 results: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-people-survey-2021-results
2020 results: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-people-survey-2020-results
2019 results: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-people-survey-2019-results
2018 results: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-people-survey-2018-results
The Civil Service has a zero tolerance approach to bullying, harassment and discrimination. Those found to be bullying, and/or harassing and/or discriminating against employees or customers can face disciplinary procedures including charges of gross misconduct leading to dismissal. Bullying, harassment and discrimination are in direct conflict with the Civil Service values of honesty, objectivity, impartiality and integrity. It is important that all employees feel respected and treated fairly within the workplace. Departments have their own HR policies and processes for reporting and resolving cases of bullying, harassment and discrimination.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether any complaints of bullying were made by civil servants in his Department regarding the former Secretary of State between 24 July 2019 and 15 September 2021.
Answered by David Rutley
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 29 November to Question 88787.