Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with parties to the conflict in Yemen on steps to ensure that there is accountability for civilian casualties in that country.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Following the start of military action by Coalition-backed forces to take Hodeidah port back from Houthi militia, the previous Foreign Secretary made a statement on 13 June in which he called on all parties to respect International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and prioritise the protection of civilians. We regularly raise the importance of compliance with IHL with the Saudi-led Coalition at all levels. When allegations of Coalition IHL violations are made, we insist that they are investigated and that any lessons are acted upon. The Coalition Joint Incidents Assessment Team has since announced the findings of a total of 65 investigations, with the most recent being released on 6 June.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to promote a permanent cessation of hostilities in Hodeidah city in Yemen.
Answered by Alistair Burt
We continue to support UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, in his efforts to negotiate a political settlement and we encourage the partners to engage with his proposals. We are in regular contact with the Coalition about the need to ensure that any military operations in and around Hodeidah are conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law, including on the protection of civilians, and do not disrupt commercial and humanitarian flows through the port.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help bring about a peaceful resolution to the recent unrest in Ethiopia.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The British Government is concerned by recent clashes along the internal border between Somali Regional State and Oromia, especially where this has led to loss of life, displacement, or delayed the delivery of humanitarian assistance in response to drought. In recent bilateral dialogues with the Ethiopian Government, we have reinforced the need for all actors to resolve grievances peacefully rather than through violence, and for all security forces to exercise restraint. We continue to monitor the situation closely.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the Joint Press Statement from the Permanent Representatives to the UN of the US, France and UK on 7 July 2017, what steps the Government is taking to reduce the global stockpile of nuclear weapons.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The Government continues to work to deliver the Strategic Defence and Security Review commitment to reduce our stockpile of nuclear weapons to no more than 180 warheads by the mid 2020s. Progress on global nuclear disarmament also requires building the mutual trust between states, addressing the security concerns that continue to make nuclear deterrence necessary and putting into place the key international architecture to help build the conditions for further disarmament. The Government continues to work with partners across the international community to press for key steps towards multilateral nuclear disarmament, including the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and successful negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty in the Conference on Disarmament. We also continue to play a leading role in disarmament verification.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will review the decision not to sign the Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty 2017.
Answered by Alan Duncan
We have no plan to review our decision.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to secure the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Radcliffe from prison and the return of her daughter to the UK.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), has raised our strong concerns for Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe with Iranian President Rouhani several times, most recently on 24 May. The Foreign Secretary has also raised our concerns. I will continue to remind the Iranian authorities of these concerns, as I did in a phone call with the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister on 21 June. We remain ready to facilitate Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's daughter's return to the UK if requested.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the press release issued by the Minister for the Middle East of 3 November 2016, what further steps he plans to take in respect of the approval by the Israeli government of permits for constructing new homes in the illegal settlement of Gilo, East Jerusalem.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We strongly condemn Israeli settlement advancement, including recent plans for new settlements deep in the West Bank, and moves to retroactively approve unauthorised settlement outposts. These proposed actions call into question the commitment of the Israeli government to the two-state solution. We continue to raise our grave concerns about Israeli settlements with the Israeli Government. I raised our concerns about settlements with Israeli Defence Minister Lieberman during our meeting in London on 7 September 2016. The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Mr Johnson), also raised our concerns over new settlements with Prime Minister Netanyahu when he met him in Jerusalem on 30 September. I issued a further statement on 16 November expressing our deep concern about the land regulation bill in the Israeli Knesset proposing to ‘legalise’ settlement outposts across the West Bank. Such outposts are currently illegal under both Israeli domestic law and international humanitarian law and should be removed entirely.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the remit is of the NATO operation in the Aegean Sea relating to the refugee crisis.
Answered by David Lidington
I refer the Hon. Member to answers the Secretary of State for Defence, my right Hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Mr Fallon), gave to the House on 7 March (Official Record, Cols 23-37). The purpose of this NATO operation is to provide monitoring, surveillance, and reconnaissance (MSR) of the Aegean migration routes to better enable Turkish and Greek coastguards and Frontex (the EU’s border management agency) to intercept the migrant boats and disrupt the business model of illegal migration. It is worth noting that the formal mandate of NATO’s activity is neither interdiction nor search and rescue, but if UK vessels encounter migrants in distress at sea, they will be rescued in accordance with international obligations and arrangements made for them to be returned to land.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the compatibility with international law of NATO ships operating in the Aegean Sea returning migrants to Turkey.
Answered by David Lidington
The purpose of this NATO activity is to provide monitoring, surveillance, and reconnaissance (MSR) of the Aegean migration routes to cue Turkish and Greek coastguards and Frontex (the EU’s border management agency) to intercept the migrant boats and disrupt the business model of illegal migration
If UK vessels encounter migrants in distress at sea, they will be rescued in accordance with international obligations and arrangements made for them to be returned to land. The choice of destination will be guided by international law and consideration for the safety of the migrants
The UK will act at all times in accordance with its obligations under domestic and international law. Turkey has agreed that rescued migrants who have travelled from Turkey can be returned to Turkey. We are co-ordinating our approach with our NATO Allies as well as with Frontex.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to tackle the conflict in Central African Republic.
Answered by James Duddridge
The UK’s focus in the Central African Republic is on working with the international community to improve security throughout the country. We support the Transitional Authorities in their preparation for elections, and assist with justice, governance and state administration. The UK co-sponsored a UN Security Council Resolution authorising the deployment of a UN Peacekeeping Operation, MINUSCA, which launched in September 2014. The operation is focussing on restoring stability, preventing human rights abuses, and promoting reconciliation. The UK has also supported the EU Military Advisory Mission to the Central African Republic which launched in March 2015. The mission provides the government of the Central African Republic with expert advice on security sector reform. In addition, the UK co-funded the African Union’s 2014 deployment of experts to the Central African Republic to support victims of sexual violence.