Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
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 implications for his Department's policies of the demonstrations in Mexico relating to the resourcing of he National Electoral Institute.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Democracy and freedom are at the heart of the UK's values and FCDO global policy. They contribute to long-term prosperity and security; and democratic societies are the strongest supporters of an open and resilient international order. This policy has not been impacted by recent demonstrations in Mexico. Support for democratic principles in Mexico is a continuing priority for our Embassy, which regularly engages with the Mexican Government to underline the importance of strong institutions and free and fair elections.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, in which countries does her Department employ staff based in UK (a) embassies (b) consulates.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
As of 31 January 2023, this department employed UK-based staff in UK embassies in the following countries:
Algeria, Azerbaijan, Chile, China, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, Mexico, Morocco, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Myanmar.
UK-based staff in UK consulates in the following countries:
Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United States, Vietnam.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government which countries the UK has visa free travel arrangements with for British citizens.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
FCDO, who have responsibility for this information, have said that the information this question is requesting can be found in public domain https://visaguide.world/visa-free-countries/uk-passport/
We have included the list for ease:
Albania
American Samoa
Andorra
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Bermuda
Bolivia
Caribbean Netherlands
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Bulgaria
Canada
Cabo Verde
Cayman Islands
Chile
Colombia
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Curaçao
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
French West Indies
Georgia
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guam
Guatemala
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Kazakhstan
Kiribati
Kosovo
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Lesotho
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Malaysia
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Namibia
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niue
North Macedonia
Northern Mariana Islands
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestine
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Réunion
Romania
San Marino
São Tomé and Príncipe
Senegal
Serbia
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Gambia
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turks and Caicos Islands
Türkiye
United States Virgin Islands
Ukraine
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Zambia
Eswatin
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances on disappearances in Mexico.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are closely monitoring the number of disappeared people in Mexico since records began, which is now over 110,000, according to official figures. The UN Committee for Enforced Disappearances visited Mexico in November 2021. We have engaged regularly with the UN Human Rights Office in Mexico following the Committee's visit on the topic of disappearances and regularly raise the topic with the Mexican Government. We welcome the Mexican Interior and Foreign Ministries' commitment to address areas highlighted in the UN Committee's report published following their visit.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Mexican Government on the disappearance of people in that country.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Our sympathies are with family of Claudia Uruchurtu who disappeared in Mexico on 26th March 2021. Our Ambassador and Embassy to Mexico City have been in regular contact with her family and have raised her disappearance and the related legal process with senior representatives of the Federal Government as well as with the outgoing and incoming governments of the State of Oaxaca. In December, after sentencing, I [Minister Rutley] spoke with Minister Moreno Toscano, the Under-Secretary of External Relations. We discussed the human rights situation in Mexico, including the worryingly high levels of disappearances and Claudia Uruchurtu's particular case. We continue to lobby at high levels and have pressed on the importance of due legal process being followed in future proceedings.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Mexican Government on the case of Claudia Uruchurtu following sentencing.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Our sympathies are with family of Claudia Uruchurtu who disappeared in Mexico on 26th March 2021. Our Ambassador and Embassy to Mexico City have been in regular contact with her family and have raised her disappearance and the related legal process with senior representatives of the Federal Government as well as with the outgoing and incoming governments of the State of Oaxaca. In December, after sentencing, I [Minister Rutley] spoke with Minister Moreno Toscano, the Under-Secretary of External Relations. We discussed the human rights situation in Mexico, including the worryingly high levels of disappearances and Claudia Uruchurtu's particular case. We continue to lobby at high levels and have pressed on the importance of due legal process being followed in future proceedings.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
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 (a) his Department's policies and (b) anti-crime and security in the region of the appointment of (i) General Luis Rodríguez Bucio and (ii) General David Córdova Campos to senior positions in the Mexican government on 16 January 2023.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are clear that reducing crime and improving security in Mexico is important. The British Embassy in Mexico City regularly engages with Mexican authorities and civil society on this, including monitoring violence trends in the country and offering assistance in the field of rule of law. We will continue to engage with the Mexican Government, including any newly appointed ministers, to address security concerns and combat crime in Mexico.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
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 of reports that drug cartels in Mexico have suffered losses of 96 billion Mexican pesos in the last four years as a result of drugs seizures by Mexican authorities.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Reports of large drug seizures in Mexico over recent years are good news for Mexico and for global counter-narcotics. Nevertheless, the ongoing drug trade and the violence and insecurity stemming from this and other criminal activity remain a huge problem in Mexico. Officials in the British Embassy in Mexico City as well as Ministers in London regularly engage on this issue with the Mexican authorities and with civil society, including monitoring violence trends in the country and offering assistance in the field of rule of law. Most recently, in December I [Minister Rutley] discussed this with Undersecretary Toscano of the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 December 2022 to Question 108123 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution, which country the former Foreign Secretary was visiting or returning from when using the VIP services purchased at Heathrow Airport on 24 March 2022; and on what dates those services were used.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The former Foreign Secretary used Heathrow services on Saturday 25th September 2021 when returning from Mexico. The invoice for the use of the facilities was paid on 24 March 2022.
VIP services are booked to provide swift and secure airport arrival and departure arrangements. We are committed to using public money responsibly and receive a reduced rate for these services.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which countries have given consent for the import of paraquat from the UK.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Health and Safety Executive’s data on exports under the Great Britain Prior Informed Consent Regulation, collected annually since 2020, shows that the following countries have given consent to the import of paraquat from Great Britain: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, European Union, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Singapore, South Africa and the United States.