Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the effect of the decision by the US Administration to cut funding to Palestinian university programmes in the West Bank and Gaza on the provision of those programmes; and whether the Government plans to provide additional support or scholarships to Palestinian students in response to that cut in funding.
Answered by Alistair Burt
We are aware of the decision by the US Administration to cut funding to Palestinian university programmes. The UK is already making a significant contribution to higher education in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Our support to the Ministry of Education and Higher Education helps 25,000 young Palestinians to receive an education, and we support a number of Palestinian students every year to study at masters level in the UK through the Chevening scholarship programme.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
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 situation in Sudan since demonstrations began on 19 December 2018; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
The UK is concerned by the Government of Sudan's violent response to recent protests, including the use of lethal force and arbitrary detentions, and the targeting of medical facilities. On 8 January, alongside Troika (UK, USA, Norway) partners and Canada, we released a statement urging the Sudanese Government to respect the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, to ensure those responsible for the deaths of protestors are held to account, and calling for the immediate release of those held in detention without charge or trial. We continue to monitor the situation and raise our concerns at the highest levels. During a meeting with the Sudanese Foreign Minister on 22 January I conveyed the UK concern about the Sudan Government response to protests and emphasised the importance of rule of law and human rights.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to discuss the human rights situation in Tibet with his Chinese counterpart as part of China's universal periodic review at the UN Human Rights Council on 6 November.
Answered by Mark Field
We pay close attention to the human rights situation across China, including in Tibet. We are currently considering our advance questions and statement (including recommendations) for China’s Universal Periodic Review session on 6 November, and will be raising a range of our priority concerns. The UK engages consistently and comprehensively in the Universal Periodic Review process. We have spoken at every session and on every country since the process began, and are committed to its improvement.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with (a) his Sri Lankan counterpart and (b) the UK Permanent Representative at the UN on the implementation on UNHRC Resolution 34/1.
Answered by Mark Field
During my visit to Colombo in early October 2018, I raised with Foreign Minister Marapana and other Ministers the importance of the Sri Lankan government implementing in full its commitments under UN Human Rights Council Resolution 34/1 and 30/1. I encouraged accelerated progress towards fulfilling these commitments, in particular on national accountability and truth-seeking mechanisms, and the development of new counter-terrorism legislation in line with international human rights standards. I was pleased to see that following my visit the Sri Lankan parliament has passed a bill to establish an Office of Reparations. I look forward to seeing this implemented in the near future.
We are in regular contact with the UK Permanent Representative at the UN Human Rights Council, where Sri Lanka remains a priority. Lord Ahmad spoke at the September opening of the Human Rights Council in Geneva encouraging further implementation of Sri Lanka's commitments within the areas of devolution through constitutional reform, truth-seeking and accountability.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department holds information on the socio-economic background of people appointed to senior positions in his Department in the last five years.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The Civil Service is currently looking at the best way to start implementing the measures published earlier in June across Government Departments, to better understand the background of people appointed in senior positions.
The Government is committed to social mobility, and we are committed to creating an organisation in which everybody can thrive.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo on President Kabila remaining in office after the expiration of his constitutional term.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
The British Government has repeatedly called for President Kabila to honour both the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Constitution and the 31 December agreement and conduct a peaceful transfer of power in DRC via credible elections. The then Minister for Africa, Rory Stewart MP, made these points directly to President Kabila when he visited Kinshasa in November 2017. Our Embassy in Kinshasa regularly presses the DRC authorities to ensure they enable the Congolese people are able to meet their democratic aspirations by electing a new President. The UK, alongside regional and international partners, will continue to press the DRC authorities to adhere to their electoral commitments.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the recent arrest of Ahed Tamimi, if the Government will seek the establishment of an urgent independent investigation into allegations of ill-treatment of young people in Israel's military detention system.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Israel’s treatment of Palestinian minors in military detention remains a human rights priority for this Government. While we do not have plans to establish an investigation, we have repeatedly and publicly called on Israel to fulfil its international legal obligations. Israel should implement the protections and due process that children are entitled to under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Israel is a State Party. We continue to closely follow the case of Ahed Tamimi and, while it is ultimately a matter for the Israeli authorities, we have raised our concerns with the Israeli Ambassador to the UK and the Israeli Ministry of Justice.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
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 ensure that the Sri Lankan Government observes UN Human Rights Council Resolution 30/1 on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka.
Answered by Mark Field
The UK is closely monitoring delivery of the commitments made by the Government of Sri Lanka under UN Human Rights Council Resolution 34/1 (which rolls over commitments under 30/1), in collaboration with the UN, international partners, Government of Sri Lanka and civil society.
During my visit to Colombo and Jaffna in October 2017 I discussed the importance of the Sri Lankan government meeting its obligations. Among these were establishing transitional justice mechanisms, including a credible accountability process for those most responsible for violations and abuses during Sri Lanka's civil war and the return of military held civilian land, particularly in the predominantly Tamil north and east.
The UK continues to support the Government of Sri Lanka in its efforts to promote reconciliation and human rights. And we anticipate making further representations on the publication this march of the UN Interim Report on the implementation of Resolution 34/1. The UK is also providing Sri Lanka with £6.6 million of Conflict, Stability and Security Fund funding over three years, to include support for police reform and training, reconciliation and peace building, and demining in the north of the country.