Asked by: Lord Hannan of Kingsclere (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) President Saied of Tunisia's roadmap for reform, and (2) whether that roadmap provides an adequate route for restoring full democracy in the country.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK closely monitors the political situation in Tunisia and will continue to do so as the new constitution is published on 30 June and the referendum takes place, scheduled for 25 July. The UK stands ready to play a constructive role as Tunisia addresses significant political and economic challenges. We also regularly emphasise the importance of accountability and inclusive political participation in the democratic process, most recently during my visit, in June.
Asked by: Jerome Mayhew (Conservative - Broadland)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has made representations to the Tunisian Government on the prosecution of members of the Tunisian Parliament which may carry the death penalty.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK is monitoring legal cases being brought against politicians from the parliament and previous governments, including allegations of irregularities in the 2019 elections. We regularly raise respect for human rights and due legal process with the Tunisian Government.
Asked by: Jerome Mayhew (Conservative - Broadland)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the (a) political, (b) economic and (c) social situation in Tunisia; what steps her Department is taking in response to the political roadmap of President Saied; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK closely monitors the economic and political situation in Tunisia and will continue to do so as the new constitution is published on 30 June and the referendum takes place, scheduled for 25 July. The UK stands ready to play a constructive role as Tunisia addresses significant political and economic challenges. We also regularly emphasise the importance of accountability and inclusive political participation in the democratic process, most recently during the visit of Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, Minister of State for North Africa, in June.
Asked by: Jerome Mayhew (Conservative - Broadland)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed new Tunisian Constitution on democratic accountability in Tunisia, in the context of the low rates of participation of potential voters in the preceding online consultation.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK closely monitors the economic and political situation in Tunisia and will continue to do so as the new constitution is published on 30 June and the referendum takes place, scheduled for 25 July. The UK stands ready to play a constructive role as Tunisia addresses significant political and economic challenges. We also regularly emphasise the importance of accountability and inclusive political participation in the democratic process, most recently during the visit of Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, Minister of State for North Africa, in June.
Asked by: Duncan Baker (Conservative - North Norfolk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the implications for its policies of the Tunisian Government's conduct in respect of civil society organisations.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
During his visit to Tunisia in June, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, Minister of State for North Africa, met with civil society representatives. In his official meetings, including with President Saied, Lord Ahmad reiterated the UK's belief in the importance of civil society, strengthening human rights, and including all voices in building resilient and successful democracies.
Asked by: Duncan Baker (Conservative - North Norfolk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make it her policy not to sign Memorandums of Understanding with the Tunisian Government in the context of President Saied's recent dissolving of Parliament.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK closely monitors the economic and political situation in Tunisia and will continue to do so as the new constitution is published on 30 June and the referendum takes place, scheduled for 25 July. The UK stands ready to play a constructive role as Tunisia addresses significant political and economic challenges. The UK believes that increasing cooperation and unlocking opportunities is beneficial both for the UK and Tunisia. Sustainable energy, education, private sector trade and investment and other areas are important for mutual prosperity and the creation of jobs. We also regularly emphasise the importance of accountability and inclusive political participation in the democratic process, most recently during the visit of Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, Minister of State for North Africa, in June.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of his Department's personnel are deployed around the world; and in which locations those people are stationed.
Answered by James Heappey
The following table details the number of personnel deployed overseas on operations and their location. The numbers change depending on operational requirements, but are accurate at the time of answering the hon. Member's question.
Location | Number of UK military deployed | Number of civilians deployed | Total number of military and civilians deployed |
Egypt | 2 | 0 | 2 |
HMS Montrose | 180 | 2 | 182 |
HMS Penzance | 41 | 0 | 41 |
HMS Chiddingfold | 45 | 0 | 45 |
RFACardigan Bay | 0 | 0 | 0 |
HMS Middleton | 45 | 0 | 45 |
HMS Bangor | 36 | 0 | 36 |
HMS Trent | 61 | 0 | 61 |
HMS Spey | 46 | 0 | 46 |
HMS Tamar | 75 | 0 | 75 |
AbuDhabi (British Embassy) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Bahrain | 188 | 2 | 190 |
Cyprus | 214 | 6 | 220 |
Oman | 18 | 0 | 18 |
Qatar | 132 | 0 | 132 |
UAE | 110 | 0 | 110 |
USA | 23 | 1 | 24 |
Baghdad(British Embassy) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Iraq | 189 | 3 | 192 |
Jordan | 12 | 0 | 12 |
Kuwait | 51 | 3 | 54 |
TelAviv(British Embassy) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Saudi Arabia | 24 | 0 |
|
Azerbaijan | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Pakistan(British High Commission) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Pakistan | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Gibraltar | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Mali | 464 | 5 | 469 |
Democratic Republic of Congo | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Kenya | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Somalia | 69 | 0 | 69 |
Djibouti | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Tunisia(British Embassy) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Chad | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Nigeria | 27 | 0 | 27 |
South Sudan | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Estonia | 1,372 | 14 | 1,386 |
Germany | 81 | 2 | 83 |
Latvia | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Lithuania | 89 | 0 | 89 |
Poland | 414 | 3 | 417 |
Bosnia | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Kosovo | 41 | 0 | 41 |
Ukraine | 97 | 0 | 97 |
Romania | 197 | 1 | 198 |
Bulgaria | 2 | 0 | 2 |
North Macedonia | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Slovakia | 43 | 0 | 43 |
Finland | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Sweden | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Japan | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Indonesia | 8 | 0 | 8 |
Kuala Lumpur | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Lebanon (British Embassy) | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Ghana | 25 | 0 | 25 |
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the protests against President Kais Saied on 15 May, what assessment they have made of the political situation in Tunisia; and what discussions they have with the President on his commitment to democracy in that country.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is concerned by President Saied's decision to dissolve Parliament and the possibility of politicians from the previous government facing criminal charges. Tunisia faces many economic and political challenges that can only be addressed through democratic engagement, transparency, the protection of human rights, and free speech. The UK has closely monitored the political situation since the changes brought in by President Saied on 25 July 2021, and we will continue to do so. Her Majesty's Ambassador to Tunis met with President Kais Saied to present her credentials in January 2022. The Ambassador welcomed the moves toward public consultation and accountability to the Tunisian people in the President's political roadmap, and shared her hope that Tunisians would achieve their aspirations for jobs, freedoms and dignity.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many employees of her Department have been based in each African nation, in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
Department for International Trade (DIT) had 86 staff based in Africa in 2018, 84 staff in 2019, 102 staff in 2020, 123 staff in 2021 and 122 staff in 2022. The breakdown by each African nation is presented in the table below.
| DIT Overseas Staff | ||||
African Country | 31 March 2018 | 31 March 2019 | 31 March 2020 | 31 March 2021 | 31 March 2022 |
Algeria | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less |
Angola | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less |
Cameroon | 0 | 0 | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less |
Cote d'Ivoire | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less |
Egypt | 10 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 |
Ethiopia | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 6 | 6 |
Ghana | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 6 | 7 |
Guinea | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 or less | 0 |
Kenya | 5 or less | 5 or less | 7 | 13 | 11 |
Libya | 0 | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less |
Mauritania | 0 | 0 | 5 or less | 5 or less | 0 |
Mauritius | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less |
Morocco | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 9 |
Mozambique | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less |
Nigeria | 16 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 12 |
Rwanda | 0 | 0 | 5 or less | 5 or less | 0 |
Senegal | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less |
South Africa | 19 | 22 | 27 | 32 | 31 |
Sudan | 0 | 0 | 5 or less | 0 | 5 or less |
Tanzania | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less |
Tunisia | 6 | 8 | 7 | 5 or less | 5 or less |
Uganda | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less |
Zambia | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less |
Zimbabwe | 0 | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less | 5 or less |
Grand total | 86 | 84 | 102 | 123 | 122 |
These figures are as of 31 March each year and include both UK based overseas staff (Civil Servants) and country based overseas staff who work on Department for International Trade objectives but are not Civil Servants.
These figures do not include UK Export Finance staff, Trade Remedies Authority Staff, those on Loan from other government departments who remain on their home departments payroll, contractors, military staff, people on secondment from other organisations, those who are on loan or secondment out of DIT, or on unpaid special leave or career break.
Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Tunisia on the recent dissolution of the Tunisian parliament and the charging of 121 members with terrorism offences.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.