Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with the Sri Lankan government on groundwater contamination in Chunnakam.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Earlier this year, the former Minister for the Indo-Pacific launched the citizen science project for 'Improving Groundwater Management in the Jaffna Peninsula' where she met local community representatives and International Water Management Institute (IWMI) researchers to discuss efforts to improve groundwater management. This is a component of the UK's Climate Action for a Resilient Asia (CARA) programme which funds a groundwater monitoring project in Jaffna, delivered by the IWMI.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether the Government will ensure that at least 30% of the future International Climate Finance commitment will be allocated to supporting nature’s recovery.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
We are delivering on our current International Climate Finance commitment of £11.6 billion over five years from 2021/22 to 2025/26, including at least £3 billion to be spent on development solutions that protect and restore nature. The recently published Development White Paper includes a commitment to work globally to improve the quantity, quality and accessibility of climate and nature finance. Our own future funding commitments beyond 2025/26 will be agreed through the spending review process.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to restore access to immunisation services around the world.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically impacted global health and immunisation. The UK Government is committed to supporting efforts to get routine immunisation back on track and has committed £1.65 billion to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance from 2021-2025 to support their mission to immunise 300 million children and save up to 8 million lives from vaccine preventable diseases over this period.
Alongside our Gavi investment, we are committed to working with countries and with the wider international community to focus efforts on building stronger primary health systems for the future as a core part of restoring immunisation services around the world.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
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 his Israeli counterparts on the violent incursions at the Al Aqsa mosque.
Answered by David Rutley
The UK is a strong supporter of freedom of religion or belief and calls for places of worship to be respected. We value Jordan's important role as custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem and we condemn the Israeli police violence at the Al Aqsa Mosque. When Israeli security forces conduct operations, they must ensure they are proportionate and in accordance with international law. The Foreign Secretary has emphasised these points to his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen during his recent visit to London and since the incident at Al Aqsa.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with his international counterparts to (a) ensure the welfare of Bahraini opposition leader Hasan Mushaima and (b) prevent human rights abuses in Bahrain.
Answered by Gillian Keegan
Officials and ministers have regular discussions with senior Bahraini counterparts on human rights, including most recently during Minister Milling's visit to Bahrain from 2-3 July. We continue to follow and discuss the case of Hassan Mushaima and others with the Bahraini Government as well as with the independent oversight bodies. We continue to encourage those with concerns to raise them directly with the appropriate Bahraini oversight body.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to secure the release of Jagtar Singh Johal.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK Government takes all allegations of human rights violations very seriously, and we regularly raise Mr Johal's case directly with the Government of India at official and Ministerial level. The Prime Minister raised Mr Johal's case with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 22 April as part of a wide-ranging discussion. The Foreign Secretary last raised Mr Johal's case with the Indian Minister of External Affairs, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, on 31 March 2022. Consular staff have attended a number of hearings in Mr Johal's case in an observer capacity, and did so on 2, 3, 4, 7, and 9 June. This Government will continue to look to raise our concerns about Mr Johal's case at all appropriate opportunities.