Asked by: Tom Elliott (Ulster Unionist Party - Fermanagh and South Tyrone)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether international arrest warrants exist for Saif Gaddafi for (a) war crimes, (b) crimes against humanity, (c) money laundering and (d) other related offences.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The warrant for the arrest of Saif al-Islam Qadhafi, Colonel Qadhafi's son, was issued by the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on 27 June 2011 on two counts of crimes against humanity: murder and persecution, allegedly committed in 2011 in Libya. On 10 December 2014 the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court confirmed that the case of Saif al-Islam Qadhafi was still admissible before the ICC, despite his detention in Zintan. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011) requires Libya to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Court and to provide any necessary assistance to the ICC and the ICC Prosecutor.
Asked by: Tom Elliott (Ulster Unionist Party - Fermanagh and South Tyrone)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports his Department has received on whether Saif Gaddafi remains in custody in Libya; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We understand that Saif al-Islam Qadhafi, Colonel Qadhafi's son, remains detained in Zintan, outside of the control of the Libyan government authorities. The UK supports the call from the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the Libyan authorities to do everything possible to ensure transfer to the ICC of Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi, and to consult with the Court to address any problems that might impede his transfer to The Hague.
Asked by: Tom Elliott (Ulster Unionist Party - Fermanagh and South Tyrone)
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 progress made in implementing the one country, two systems policy in Hong Kong and the level of co-operation among political parties in Hong Kong on that policy.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
The six-monthly report to the House from the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson), published on 24 February, sets out the Government's latest assessment on developments in Hong Kong. The report makes clear the Government's view that the 'One Country, Two Systems' framework established by the Sino-British Joint Declaration continues to function well in the vast majority of areas. The report also highlights those areas where challenges have arisen or on which we have had concerns.
The six-monthly report can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/six-monthly-report-on-hong-kong-july-to-december-2016
Asked by: Tom Elliott (Ulster Unionist Party - Fermanagh and South Tyrone)
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 stability of the official Government in Libya; and what recent progress he has made on developing Government relations with Government leaders in Libya.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Despite the signing of the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) in December 2015, the political and security situation in Libya remains fragile. A number of players continue to obstruct full implementation of the LPA. The UK remains committed to the LPA and is supportive of current efforts to amend it in order to secure support from those Libyans who have hitherto opposed it. An inclusive government which brings together Libyans from across the country is the best way to restore unity, rebuild the economy and tackle the threats posed by Daesh and illegal migration. The Government of National Accord (GNA) has made some progress, such as agreeing emergency budget measures with the Central Bank and completing operations against Daesh in Sirte. The UK and US co-hosted a meeting on Libya in London on 31 October 2016, where the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Mr Johnson), met with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Serraj. Whilst our Embassy has yet to reopen, our Ambassador to Libya is now making regular visits to Libya to engage the GNA and political leaders from across the country.
Asked by: Tom Elliott (Ulster Unionist Party - Fermanagh and South Tyrone)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he plans to open negotiations with the Libyan Government on that country's frozen assets and provision for UK victims of Libyan-sponsored terrorism.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Government has no plans to amend the UN Security Council Resolution governing the freezing of Libyan assets in the UK. There is no legal basis upon which the UK could seize frozen assets or withhold Libyan assets once the relevant Libyan entities are delisted and the assets unfrozen. Once these assets are released they belong to the people of Libya and by law have to be returned for their benefit.
We have however made clear to the Libyan authorities that resolution of legacy issues remains a priority for us. I raised the issue of compensation in my meetings with Prime Minister Serraj and Deputy Prime Minister Maiteq during the London Ministerial on 31 October 2016. We will continue to encourage the Libyan authorities to engage with UK victims, and their legal representatives, seeking redress, including those seeking compensation.
The Government position remains that it is not able to negotiate with the Libyan government on individual compensation claims, as these are not government-to-government claims. These are private matters best pursued directly with the Libyan authorities. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides facilitation support to victims, their representatives and campaign groups, where it has been requested and is appropriate.
Asked by: Tom Elliott (Ulster Unionist Party - Fermanagh and South Tyrone)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the cohesiveness and unity of purpose of the various groups within the Syrian opposition.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The High Negotiations Committee (HNC) brings together the broadest range of Syrian opposition groups so far, including representatives of armed groups on the ground, with the purpose of negotiating a peaceful transition in Syria. In September the HNC set out a detailed vision for this political transition, to end the conflict. We welcomed the moderate, inclusive and pragmatic nature of this initiative and consider it a valuable contribution to the political process. The HNC includes a wide range of groupings of different political perspectives as well as regional, ethnic and confessional backgrounds. Their coming together to set out a shared vision for transition was a significant moment.
Since September the opposition has come under further pressure in Syria, not least because of the brutal offensive by the regime and its backers against east Aleppo, where up to 275,000 people have been cut off from all aid supplies for four months, and against other besieged areas. The UK continues to believe that the only long-term resolution to the Syrian conflict is a sustainable political settlement based on transition away from the rule of Bashar al-Asad. The moderate opposition have shown that they are ready and prepared to discuss this. The regime and its backers must now end their destructive military approach and return to the negotiating table.
Asked by: Tom Elliott (Ulster Unionist Party - Fermanagh and South Tyrone)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on the build-up of Russian forces on Russia's southern and western frontiers.
Answered by Alan Duncan
Acting in concert with NATO and EU partners, the UK is taking action through the Enhanced Forward Presence (helping to provide security for all three Baltic states), regular communications activities and continued dialogue.
Asked by: Tom Elliott (Ulster Unionist Party - Fermanagh and South Tyrone)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government has made to the UN Security Council to ensure genocide committed by Daesh is brought to the attention of the International Criminal Court.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor set out some of the complicated issues involved in the ICC investigating Daesh in her press statement of 8 April 2015. We continue to discuss with international partners, including those on the UN Security Council all legal possibilities for investigating Daesh. On 21 July, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson), announced that the United Kingdom will work with our international partners to drive a global campaign to hold Daesh to account for its crimes.
Asked by: Tom Elliott (Ulster Unionist Party - Fermanagh and South Tyrone)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what guidance his Department has issued for holidaymakers to advise them to take out appropriate winter sports insurance cover.
Answered by James Duddridge
For details of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s communications work on travel insurance in general I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave on 12 January 2016 to Parliamentary Question 21029.
An important part of this work is underlining to British nationals intending to travel overseas the need to take out insurance that is right for their trip, including for any winter or extreme sports activities. We produce specific guidance for travellers on winter sports holidays and we are currently running a ‘Know Before You Go’ campaign focusing on this issue, working in partnership with the Association of British Travel Agents and British four-time Winter Olympic skier Chemmy Alcott. The headline message of the campaign is for those taking a winter sports holiday to take out appropriate travel insurance. More information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/winter-sports-stay-safe-on-the-slopes and https://www.gov.uk/government/news/winter-sports-a-third-left-on-thin-ice-without-appropriate-insurance.
Asked by: Tom Elliott (Ulster Unionist Party - Fermanagh and South Tyrone)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to increase public awareness of the need for holidaymakers to take out travel insurance.
Answered by James Duddridge
I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave on 12 January 2016 to Parliamentary Question 21029. Encouraging the take-up of adequate travel insurance through our ‘Know Before You Go’ communications campaign which will remain a priority in 2016.