Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she has taken to raise the case of Kakwenza Rukirabashaija with the Government of Uganda.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We are concerned that the Ugandan novelist, Kakwenza Rukirabashija, following a series of tweets, was detained at his home on 28 December 2021 and then held without charge for 14 days at an unknown facility. Using legislation, such as the Computer Misuse Act, to stifle freedom of expression is very worrying. We welcome the decisions of the Chief Magistrate's Court and the High Court in relation to Rukirabashija's release and habeas corpus. We note, however, that Rukirabashija was subsequently charged and placed on remand.
We urge the Government of Uganda to ensure that the rule of law is upheld as a vital component of democracy. Rukirabashija must be afforded all of his rights under the Constitution of Uganda, including access to legal representation. I (Minister for Africa) expressed the importance of upholding human rights with the President of Uganda during my visit to Uganda on 19 January 2022. Our High Commission in Kampala issued a tweet on 7 January publicly stating our concern over Rukirabashija's continued detention. The High Commission has also set out our concerns over his detention with the Government of Uganda, Uganda's human rights institutions and the security services. We have urged all to ensure that Uganda honours its constitutional commitments and international human rights law.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the arrest of Kakwenza Rukirabashija in Uganda; what steps her Department is taking to secure his release; and what recent representations her Department has made on the conditions in which Kakwenza Rukirabashaija is detained in Uganda and the legality of his detention in Ugandan law.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We are concerned that the Ugandan novelist, Kakwenza Rukirabashija, following a series of tweets, was detained at his home on 28 December 2021 and then held without charge for 14 days at an unknown facility. Using legislation, such as the Computer Misuse Act, to stifle freedom of expression is very worrying. We welcome the decisions of the Chief Magistrate's Court and the High Court in relation to Rukirabashija's release and habeas corpus. We note, however, that Rukirabashija was subsequently charged and placed on remand.
We urge the Government of Uganda to ensure that the rule of law is upheld as a vital component of democracy. Rukirabashija must be afforded all of his rights under the Constitution of Uganda, including access to legal representation. Our High Commission in Kampala issued a tweet on 7 January publicly stating our concern over Rukirabashija's continued detention. The High Commission has also set out our concerns over his detention with the Government of Uganda, Uganda's human rights institutions and the security services. We have urged all to ensure that Uganda honours its constitutional commitments and international human rights law.
Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Ambassador of Nicaragua on (1) the reported flaws in the election of 7 November in that country, and (2) the conditions in which political prisoners are held.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The Nicaraguan presidential election of 7 November was neither free nor fair. The authorities prevented the Nicaraguan people from making a democratic choice, using their powers to detain and threaten candidates. The arrests violated the guarantees in the Nicaraguan Constitution, and the UK calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all opposition leaders, and other political prisoners in Nicaragua, and for the full restoration of all their civil and political rights. We have raised our concerns with the Nicaraguan Government in London, and in Managua, and at multilateral fora. We have published a series of statements highlighting the UK's deep concern about the deterioration of political and human rights in Nicaragua and the subversion of democratic processes. We will continue to work closely with our partners to promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Nicaragua.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Government has plans to commence a stand-alone Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
We remain committed to looking at the broader aspects of the constitution and the relationship between Government, Parliament and the courts, as pledged in the Government’s Manifesto.
Given the broad nature of these areas, we are taking the work forward via a range of workstreams rather than a single Commission to ensure all policy development is given the utmost consideration.
For example, following the Independent Review of Administrative law and a Government consultation, the Judicial Review and Courts Bill delivers on our manifesto commitment to improve judicial review processes.
The Government also established the Independent Human Rights Act Review in December 2020 to examine the framework of the HRA, how it is operating in practice and whether any change is required. We have published the Panel’s report today and carefully considered its conclusions as part of a wider reform programme.
Today the Justice Secretary launched a consultation to seek views on the government’s proposals to reform the Human Rights Act. This will ensure the domestic human rights framework meets the needs of the society it serves and commands public confidence.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll and Bute)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to reports that medical negligence may have contributed to the death of 35 year old Bahraini prisoner, Hasan Abdulnabi Mansoor, on 25 July 2021, and representations from Amnesty International and the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy for an independent impartial investigation into his death, what assessment the Government has made of the implications for its policies of the reports of the death of Hasan Abdulnabi Mansoor.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We are aware of reports regarding the death of Hasan Abdulnabi Mansoor. The Government of Bahrain has been clear in its public statements that access to medical care for those in detention is guaranteed by the constitution of Bahrain. We encourage those with concerns about treatment in detention to report them to the appropriate human rights oversight body and we continue to urge the oversight bodies to carry out swift and thorough investigations into any claims made.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent steps he has taken to uphold and protect the independence of the judiciary.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Lord Chancellor is committed to his statutory duty under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 to defend judicial independence. An independent judiciary is one of the cornerstones of the United Kingdom’s constitution and vital to the proper functioning of our democracy based on the rule of law. Judges must be free to make their judicial decisions without being subject to interference by Parliament or the executive.
The Lord Chancellor is consistently clear on the importance of an independent judiciary both privately and publicly including when answering questions about the importance of parliamentarians respecting judicial independence to the House of Commons Justice Committee in December 2020; and in his recent speeches at Queen Mary University in March 2021 and at the Lord Mayor’s Dinner for HM Judges in July 2021.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the quality of citizenship education for secondary age pupils; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding that education to older pupils to increase participation in democracy when individuals reach voting age.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Citizenship education has been part of the National Curriculum at Key Stages 3 and 4 since 2002. The subject aims to prepare pupils to play a full and active part in society and covers topics such as parliamentary democracy, the key elements of the constitution of the United Kingdom, the power of Government and how citizens and Parliament hold it to account. Pupils are also taught about the different electoral systems used in and beyond the United Kingdom and how citizens can take part in democratic processes, including by voting, to influence decisions.
As part of the personal development judgment within school inspections, Ofsted is required to consider pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Inspection of personal development includes areas such as democracy and preparing pupils for life in modern Britain, which are important elements of citizenship. This approach enables important aspects of citizenship to be considered in a proportionate and integrated way.
The Department does not provide a national curriculum beyond Key Stage 4. Further education (FE) colleges have the flexibility to offer aspects of citizenship education if it is in the best interest of their students.
As part of 16-19 study programmes, FE colleges can offer a qualification regulated by Ofqual, with a small number of citizenship qualifications at level 2 and below being eligible to receive public funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency.
Also, as part of 16-19 study programmes, students are expected to take part in meaningful non-qualification activities that develop their character, broader skills, attitudes, and confidence.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether officials in his Department have had discussions with their counterparts in the Spanish government on the potential effect on democracy in Spain of the claim by the Spanish Court of Auditors for €5.4 million from Catalan government officials for the work that they have done abroad.
Answered by Wendy Morton
UK Government ministers and officials discuss a range of issues with their Spanish counterparts. Our Consulate General in Barcelona maintains contact with regional authorities there on matters such as trade, investment and tourism. UK Government officials regularly meet with representatives of the Catalan government to discuss matters of mutual interest that are within their competence as an autonomous community of Spain. We have been clear on the issue of Catalonia. The UK continues to support the upholding of the Spanish Constitution and the rule of law. This issue is a matter for Spain and the Spanish courts.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether officials in his Department have had discussions with their counterparts in the Catalonian government on the potential effect on democracy in Spain of the claim by the Spanish Court of Auditors for €5.4 million from Catalan government officials for the work that they have done abroad.
Answered by Wendy Morton
UK Government ministers and officials discuss a range of issues with their Spanish counterparts. Our Consulate General in Barcelona maintains contact with regional authorities there on matters such as trade, investment and tourism. UK Government officials regularly meet with representatives of the Catalan government to discuss matters of mutual interest that are within their competence as an autonomous community of Spain. We have been clear on the issue of Catalonia. The UK continues to support the upholding of the Spanish Constitution and the rule of law. This issue is a matter for Spain and the Spanish courts.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
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 recent levels of discrimination against the Alevi community in Turkey; and whether he has raised that discrimination with his Turkish counterpart.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The UK has long encouraged Turkey to work towards the full protection of fundamental rights, particularly in the areas of freedom of expression and of religion or belief, including those of minority communities such as the Alevis. We are aware of concerns voiced by the Alevi community.
We encourage the Turkish authorities to safeguard their welfare and respect their human rights, in line with provisions in the Turkish constitution that protect the rights of religious minorities. We will continue to engage the Turkish Government on these issues and to urge respect for these freedoms which are essential to the long-term health of Turkish democracy. I raised human rights with my Turkish counterpart on 28 June during my visit to Turkey.