Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, on the jailing of Catalan politicians.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Government has been clear on the issue of Catalonia. The United Kingdom continues to support the upholding of the Spanish Constitution and the rule of law. The conviction of the separatist leaders in Catalonia is a matter for the Spanish courts. The Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with the President of the European Council on this matter.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
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 constitutional crisis in Catalonia; and what representations he has made and to whom on that subject.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The Government has been clear that the situation in Catalonia is a matter for Spain. The UK strongly supports the rule of law and remains clear that questions related to the issue of Catalan independence should be resolved within the proper constitutional and legal channels. The Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and I, in our interactions with Spanish counterparts, have made this position clear.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
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 Spanish counterpart on prisoners who were members of the Catalan Parliament that on hunger strike.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The British Government has been clear that the situation in Catalonia is a matter for Spain. The British Government has not had discussions with Spain regarding the separatist prisoners on hunger strike.
Asked by: Jim Cunningham (Labour - Coventry South)
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 the President of the Government of Catalonia.
Answered by Alan Duncan
I have had no discussions with Joaquim Torra, the President of the regional Government of Catalonia. The situation in Catalonia is a matter for Spain and the position of the British Government on Catalonia is well known: we want to see the rule of law respected, the Spanish constitution upheld and Spanish unity maintained.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Spanish counterpart on an independence referendum for Catalonia.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The issue of Catalan independence is a matter for Spain.
Asked by: Jim Cunningham (Labour - Coventry South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last met his Spanish counterpart; and what issues were discussed at that meeting.
Answered by Alan Duncan
I met my Spanish counterpart, Spain’s Secretary of State for European Affairs Jorge Toledo, on 4 November. We discussed developments in Catalonia and I underlined my support for upholding the rule of law and respecting the Spanish constitution. We also discussed Venezuela, and the UK’s departure from the EU.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the European Commission concerning allegations of police violence against supporters of the Catalan independence referendum.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have made no formal representations to the European Commission about this subject.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Spanish counterpart on the violence that occurred during the Catalan independence referendum; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The Prime Minister discussed the situation in Catalonia with the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on 17 October and expressed the UK's support for the rule of law and respect for the Spanish constitution. This followed a meeting between myself and the Spanish Ambassador Carlos Bastarreche on 11 October, after which I released a public statement.
Asked by: Hugh Gaffney (Labour - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken in response to the recent violence in Catalonia.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The Prime Minister discussed the situation in Catalonia with the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, on 17 October and expressed the UK’s support for the rule of law and respect for the Spanish constitution. This followed a meeting between the Spanish Ambassador, Carlos Bastarreche, and I on 11 October, after which I released a public statement.
Asked by: Hugh Gaffney (Labour - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support has been provided to British nationals affected by recent events in Catalonia.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has updated its travel advice to inform British nationals of the recent demonstrations and strikes in Catalonia. We keep our travel advice under constant review. We stand ready to provide consular assistance to any British people caught up in these events, although we have so far received no requests to do so.