Asked by: Susan Murray (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dunbartonshire)
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 international counterparts on the case of Iranian singer Amir Tataloo.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We continue to engage in dialogue with international partners regarding the human rights situation in Iran. We have repeatedly called on Iran to establish a moratorium on the death penalty in multilateral fora, including at the UN Third Committee and Human Rights Council. The UK is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. We were integral to the delivery of a new Iran human rights resolution, adopted by the Human Rights Council on 3 April, which renewed the mandates of the Special Rapporteur and Fact-Finding Mission. These mandates are essential for shedding light on Iran's abhorrent use of the death penalty and wider human rights violations.
Asked by: Susan Murray (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dunbartonshire)
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 his counterpart in Israel on its requirement for NGOs operating in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories to (a) re-register by September 2025 and (b) submit personal details of their employees.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is deeply concerned about the potential impact of these new measures on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We have raised with the Government of Israel our concerns about a variety of measures that risk constraining the operating environment for NGOs doing vital work. The UK supports NGOs in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on a range of issues, including those providing humanitarian assistance and promoting and defending human rights.
Asked by: Susan Murray (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dunbartonshire)
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 potential impact of Israel’s NGO re-registration requirements on British nationals working for NGOs in (a) Israel and (b) the occupied Palestinian territories.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is deeply concerned about the potential impact of these new measures on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We have raised with the Government of Israel our concerns about a variety of measures that risk constraining the operating environment for NGOs doing vital work. The UK supports NGOs in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on a range of issues, including those providing humanitarian assistance and promoting and defending human rights.
Asked by: Susan Murray (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dunbartonshire)
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 (a) his international counterparts and (b) multilateral organisations on Israel’s NGO registration policy.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is deeply concerned about the potential impact of these new measures on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We have raised with the Government of Israel our concerns about a variety of measures that risk constraining the operating environment for NGOs doing vital work. The UK supports NGOs in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on a range of issues, including those providing humanitarian assistance and promoting and defending human rights.
Asked by: Susan Murray (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dunbartonshire)
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 potential impact of Israel’s NGO registration policy on the delivery of UK-funded aid programmes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is deeply concerned about the potential impact of these new measures on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We have raised with the Government of Israel our concerns about a variety of measures that risk constraining the operating environment for NGOs doing vital work. The UK supports NGOs in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on a range of issues, including those providing humanitarian assistance and promoting and defending human rights.
Asked by: Susan Murray (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dunbartonshire)
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 Indian counterpart on the release of Jagtar Singh Johal.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government is committed to pushing the Government of India for faster progress to resolve Jagtar Singh Johal's case. The Foreign Secretary has raised Mr Johal's case with his Indian counterpart on several occasions, most recently on 5 March. The Prime Minister also raised Mr Johal's case with the Indian External Affairs Minister on 4 March, during his visit to the UK.
Asked by: Susan Murray (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the Fire Brigades Union on the fire engine donated to Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK continues to call on Israel to increase humanitarian and commercial access into the Occupied Palestinian Territories by ensuring all aid crossings are fully operational, including the port of Ashdod. The Foreign Secretary recently spoke to Israeli Officials and raised the urgent need for a rapid increase in aid for those most in need. FCDO officials have raised the matter of this donation directly with the Israeli authorities and are working with colleagues in the Scottish Government to resolve the matter.