Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps he is taking to encourage Organ on Politics, Defence and Security of the South African Development Community to support a political settlement in Zimbabwe.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK is committed to maintaining a constructive dialogue with the Government of Zimbabwe to support governance and economic reforms. The Minister for Development and Africa released a statement on 31 August echoing the concerns expressed by various International Election Observation Mission Reports that Zimbabwe's elections fell short of regional and international standards. The Minister met with President Mnangagwa both before and after the elections, most recently at COP28. As part of these engagements, the Minister has expressed the UK's desire to see reforms implemented and greater space for civil society organisations to operate. We are in regular ministerial level discussions with our Southern African Development Community (SADC) counterparts on Zimbabwe and engage with partners across a wide range of multilateral fora.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps he is taking in the UN Security Council to (a) encourage international support for a political settlement in Zimbabwe and (b) help ensure civil society organisations can participate effectively in steps towards a settlement.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK is committed to maintaining a constructive dialogue with the Government of Zimbabwe to support governance and economic reforms. The Minister for Development and Africa released a statement on 31 August echoing the concerns expressed by various International Election Observation Mission Reports that Zimbabwe's elections fell short of regional and international standards. The Minister met with President Mnangagwa both before and after the elections, most recently at COP28. As part of these engagements, the Minister has expressed the UK's desire to see reforms implemented and greater space for civil society organisations to operate. We are in regular ministerial level discussions with our Southern African Development Community (SADC) counterparts on Zimbabwe and engage with partners across a wide range of multilateral fora.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department is taking to (a) engage with the Zimbabwean authorities on a political settlement, (b) share lessons learnt from other peace processes and (c) support civil society engagement.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK is committed to maintaining a constructive dialogue with the Government of Zimbabwe to support governance and economic reforms. The Minister for Development and Africa released a statement on 31 August echoing the concerns expressed by various International Election Observation Mission Reports that Zimbabwe's elections fell short of regional and international standards. The Minister met with President Mnangagwa both before and after the elections, most recently at COP28. As part of these engagements, the Minister has expressed the UK's desire to see reforms implemented and greater space for civil society organisations to operate. We are in regular ministerial level discussions with our Southern African Development Community (SADC) counterparts on Zimbabwe and engage with partners across a wide range of multilateral fora.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether there have been any civil society dialogue meetings with Colombia under the UK-Andean countries trade agreement.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Officials met with Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, within the framework of the first UK-Andean Civil Society Dialogue on Trade and Sustainable Development on 18 July 2023. The event was open to the public and attended by representatives from each partner’s civil society, including the domestic advisory groups established under the UK-Andean Countries Trade Agreement. This was a helpful step in the implementation of the Trade and Sustainable Development commitments.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department's aims, purpose and forward plans are for the Overseas Domestic Worker Advisory Group; on what date that group last met; and when the group's next scheduled meeting is.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Government engages with a wide range of stakeholders on policy development concerning immigration routes, including Overseas Domestic Worker visas, and will continue to do so in future. The last meeting of the Overseas Domestic Worker Advisory Group was on 19 October 2022 and the date of the next such meeting is to be determined.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, which civil society organisations she is consulting in the civil society dialogue meetings with Colombia under the UK-Andean countries trade agreement.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Civil Society Dialogue between the UK and Colombia, Ecuador and Peru – held on 18 July 2023 - was attended by representatives from the domestic advisory groups of the parties and open to the public. The UK’s Trade and Sustainable Development Domestic Advisory Group consists of 12 member organisations, representing a broad range of labour and environmental stakeholders including businesses, trade unions and academia.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to his (a) Pakistani and (b) Indian counterparts about reports of involvement by their officials in repression in the UK.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK Government takes the protection of individuals' rights, freedoms and safety very seriously. We are clear that all diplomatic missions must respect UK sovereignty and law, and that we will respond appropriately to any attempts by foreign governments to coerce, intimidate or harm individuals within the UK. We will continue to work through the inter-governmental Defending Democracy Taskforce to protect democratic processes, institutions, and society from threats of foreign interference.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
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 implications for his policies of allegations of involvement of the Pakistani (a) intelligence services and (b) military in (i) enforced disappearances and (ii) secret detention in that country.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
We engage regularly with the Government of Pakistan to advance key priorities and interests, including on human rights and the rule of law. The Foreign Secretary raised the current human rights situation in Pakistan with Prime Minister Kakar on 25 September. The UK strongly condemns any instances of enforced disappearances and urges Pakistan to investigate any allegations and prosecute those responsible. We continue to encourage progress towards the criminalisation of enforced disappearance in Pakistan. Where there are allegations of human rights violations, we expect these to be fully investigated in line with international human rights law.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the of the implications for his policies of the political situation in Pakistan.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK has a longstanding and close relationship with Pakistan. We continue to monitor the political situation closely. On 25 September, the Foreign Secretary discussed the need to uphold democratic principles with Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar. Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for South Asia, spoke with caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Jilani on 12 September, to emphasise the importance of peaceful democratic processes and human rights. In a letter to caretaker Foreign Minister Jilani on 21 August, Lord Ahmad emphasised the need for Pakistan's citizens to be able to exercise their democratic rights and participate in peaceful, inclusive, credible elections.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Pakistani counterpart on forced disappearances in that country.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
We engage regularly with the Government of Pakistan to advance key priorities and interests, including on human rights and the rule of law. The Foreign Secretary raised the current human rights situation in Pakistan with Prime Minister Kakar on 25 September. The UK strongly condemns any instances of enforced disappearances and urges Pakistan to investigate any allegations and prosecute those responsible. We continue to encourage progress towards the criminalisation of enforced disappearance in Pakistan. Where there are allegations of human rights violations, we expect these to be fully investigated in line with international human rights law.