Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
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 his Afghan counterpart on the suicide bombing which killed 19 predominantly Sikh and Hindu people in that country.
Answered by Mark Field
The British Government condemned the 1 July attack on a group of Sikhs and Hindus in Jalalabad. On Twitter I described it as "a despicable attack on Afghanistan's historic Sikh and Hindu community". As part of NATO's Resolute Support Mission, the UK supports the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces in its efforts to improve security for all communities in Afghanistan. NATO's Resolute Support Mission is also assisting the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces with security planning for the upcoming elections.
The British Government regularly raises human rights issues with the Government of Afghanistan, including the need to protect the rights of all ethnic and religious groups in line with the constitution.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
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 his Afghan counterpart on (a) relations between majority and minority communities and (b) the safety of Sikhs and Hindus in that country.
Answered by Mark Field
The British Government condemned the 1 July attack on a group of Sikhs and Hindus in Jalalabad. On Twitter I described it as "a despicable attack on Afghanistan's historic Sikh and Hindu community". As part of NATO's Resolute Support Mission, the UK supports the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces in its efforts to improve security for all communities in Afghanistan. NATO's Resolute Support Mission is also assisting the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces with security planning for the upcoming elections.
The British Government regularly raises human rights issues with the Government of Afghanistan, including the need to protect the rights of all ethnic and religious groups in line with the constitution.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
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 Afghan counterpart on ensuring the safety of Sikhs in that country.
Answered by Mark Field
The British Government condemned the 1 July attack on a group of Sikhs and Hindus in Jalalabad. On Twitter I described it as "a despicable attack on Afghanistan's historic Sikh and Hindu community". As part of NATO's Resolute Support Mission, the UK supports the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces in its efforts to improve security for all communities in Afghanistan. NATO's Resolute Support Mission is also assisting the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces with security planning for the upcoming elections.
The British Government regularly raises human rights issues with the Government of Afghanistan, including the need to protect the rights of all ethnic and religious groups in line with the constitution.
Asked by: Lord Ahmed (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of India about the treatment of Sikh activists.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The British High Commission in New Delhi and Deputy High Commissions across India, including the Deputy High Commission in Chandigarh which covers the Punjab, maintain a continuous assessment of the human rights situation in India and engage regularly with the Indian National Commission for Minorities. FCO officials also regularly meet senior faith leaders (including Sikhs) and the British Government funds a number of projects in India to help promote minority rights and combat discrimination.
During his visit to the UK in November 2015, Prime Minister Modi assured the UK that his government remained committed to protecting diversity and fundamental freedoms.
Asked by: Eddie Hughes (Conservative - Walsall North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will initiate an independent inquiry into the role of the British Government in circumstances surrounding the killing of Sikhs in India in 1984.
Answered by Mark Field
I am aware of the concerns raised by the Sikh Federation UK in their report released on 1 November. I appreciate that the tragic events of 1984 are still the source of great pain to many in the Sikh community. The Cabinet Secretary's 2014 investigation into the UK military role in Operation Blue Star concluded that UK military advice and assistance was advisory, ended several months before the operation and had limited impact on the tragic events that followed. I am satisfied that the 2014 review dealt conclusively with this issue.
Asked by: Colleen Fletcher (Labour - Coventry North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions (a) he and (b) Ministers of his Department have had with representatives from the UK's Sikh community on the UK's military role in the 1984 raid on the Golden Temple in Amritsar; and if he will commission a public inquiry into UK involvement in that event.
Answered by Mark Field
I appreciate that tragic events of 1984 are still the source of great, and lasting pain to many in the Sikh community. FCO officials met representatives of the Sikh community in October 2016. The then Minister for Asia, my Rt Hon Friend the Member for Reading West (Mr Sharma) discussed the issue with the Rt Hon Member for Warley (Mr Spellar) and other honourable members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for British Sikhs on 11 January 2017.
The Cabinet Secretary's 2014 investigation into the UK military role in Operation Blue Star concluded that UK assistance was advisory, ended several months before the operation and had limited impact on the tragic events that followed. I am satisfied that the Cabinet Secretary's investigation dealt conclusively with this issue. I do not believe that there is any need to commission a public inquiry.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what commemorations her Department (a) has held and (b) plans to hold to mark the centenary of First World War and the participation of Muslim soldiers from the Indian subcontinent who fought alongside British and French troops on the Western Front.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
Our First World War Centenary programme reflects the contribution of all combatant nations. The first events on 4th August 2014 had a clear Commonwealth focus and we continue to invite representatives from participant nations to all our events such as those held this year, on 1 July, to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme. This will continue next year when we commemorate the centenary of Passchendaele – The Third Battle of Ypres.
In addition we gave considerable support to events held on 10 March 2015 at the National Memorial Arboretum and Imperial War Museum Manchester to mark the centenary of the Indian Army’s involvement at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle. This brought together British Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs to honour their contribution.
Also in March 2015, 45 Victoria Cross commemorative paving stones were laid in the National Memorial Arboretum to commemorate individuals born overseas, several of the men served in the British Indian Army.
Together with partners Government has also funded the restoration of the Memorial Garden at Horsell Common in Woking. This provides a focal point to bring the Muslim and wider community together to commemorate the First World War.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to prevent discrimination against the UK's Sikh community, in the light of the UK Sikh Survey 2016 which revealed that almost one fifth of Sikhs encountered discrimination in a public place in the last year.
Answered by Lord Nash
Discrimination against someone because of their race or religion is abhorrent and has no place in modern society.
We are rightly proud that British anti-discrimination law is among the strongest in the world. The Equality Act 2010 provides legal protection against both direct and indirect discrimination because of a range of protected characteristics, including a person’s race and their religious beliefs. Domestic case-law has determined that Sikhs are protected as both a racial and a religious group.
Anyone who feels that they have been unlawfully discriminated against should contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service. That is a free, Government-sponsored helpline that advises and assists individuals on issues relating to equality and human rights, across England, Scotland and Wales.
Asked by: Rob Marris (Labour - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2016 to Question 50931, which UK Sikh organisations his Department invited to the Roundtable to engage with representatives from the Sikh community hosted by Lord Bourne on 12 September 2016.
Answered by Marcus Jones - Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
On 12 September, Lord Bourne hosted an informal roundtable with a number of Sikh groups and organisations. Those organisations invited were: The Network of Sikh Organisations; Sikh Council UK; Sikh Federation UK; Sikh Network UK; British Sikh Consultative Forum; City Sikhs; Sri Guru Singh Sabha (Southall Gurdwara); and the Nehemiah Foundation (interfaith).
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
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 his Indian counterpart on the treatment of Sikhs campaigning for human rights in that country; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Swire
The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) discussed religious tolerance in India with Prime Minister Modi on 12 November 2015. Mr Modi reassured the British Government that he remained committed to diversity and fundamental freedoms. Mr Modi was clear in his commitment to and respect for India’s core values of tolerance and fundamental rights, as well as reaffirming the importance of social harmony and inclusive development. Mr Modi met a delegation of Sikh leaders during his visit to the UK in November 2015 and discussed a range of issues effecting the Sikh community in India. His visit, including his address at Wembley, highlighted the contribution that Sikh and other religious minority communities make to India, and to UK-India relations. I also discussed religious tolerance with the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh on 5 November.