Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reported deliberate denial of (1) food, and (2) medicines, to the people of Tigray; and what steps they are taking to ensure that those responsible are prosecuted.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
On her visit to Ethiopia in January 2022, Vicky Ford MP (FCDO Minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean) met the Ethiopian Minister for Health who committed to increasing the number of humanitarian flights reaching Tigray. Since that meeting, there has been marked increase in humanitarian flights principally carrying medical aid. Almost 20 metric tons of aid reached Mekelle by air during the period 7 - 11 March, for example. In February over a ten day period the International Committee of the Red Cross flew ten cargo flights into Mekelle carrying medical supplies. We welcome efforts to improve air access but highlight that this method of transport is prohibitively expensive and is not able to meet the level of needs in Tigray. We call on all parties to the conflict to urgently facilitate overland aid delivery.
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 discussions she has had with her counterparts in Latin America on the legalisation of same-sex marriage in their respective country.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK is a champion for the human rights of LGBT+ people. Ministers and our overseas missions work closely with partners to champion LGBT+ equality and inclusion, adopting new laws and policies that better protect LGBT+ people from violence and discrimination.
In December 2021, the UK celebrated adoption of same-sex marriage legislation in Chile - the eighth country in Latin America to support equal marriage. We look forward to welcoming representatives from Latin America to the Safe To Be Me conference on LGBT+ equality in June.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how the Government will ensure the $500m finance for tackling deforestation, announced by the Government at COP26, reaches and benefits farming communities in cocoa and banana growing regions in West Africa, Latin America and beyond.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK works with small farmers to improve livelihoods and prevent deforestation through Partnerships for Forests (P4F) (£120 million, 2015-23). The programme operates in Southeast Asia, East Africa, West Africa and Latin America. Across all of these regions, the programme supports partnerships between companies, farmers and communities, piloting new approaches to growing crops like palm oil, cocoa, coffee and soya, while improving livelihoods and protecting and restoring forests.
For example, in West Africa, UK funds support the implementation of agreements between the global cocoa industry and the Ghanaian and Ivoirian governments to eliminate deforestation and promote climate smart approaches to growing cocoa. Through this, farmers receive support to improve practices and eliminate deforestation from the cocoa supply chain. At COP26, the UK announced a £500 million, ten-year second phase of support to Partnerships for Forests, building on the experience of the first phase of the programme. Work is now underway to put this new funding commitment into place.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made, if any, to the government of Nigeria regarding the student abducted from Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna state in July 2021.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK Government condemns all attacks on schools; abductions of children are abhorrent and must stop. We continue to raise attacks on schools with the Government of Nigeria, and the Government of Nigeria has provided assurances that it is making every effort to secure the release of all those still held captive.
The UK is working with Nigeria through our security and defence partnership to help build capacity to respond to kidnaps. We have provided mentoring and capacity-building support to Nigerian Police Force units to improve their anti-kidnap capacity, to help reduce harm to victims, and to hold those responsible to account. During her recent visit to Nigeria, the Minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean raised rising insecurity and its impact on the Nigerian people in meetings with the Vice President and Foreign Minister, and reiterated the UK's commitment to work with Nigeria to address violence, protect human rights, and promote dialogue and respect between different ethnic and religious communities. The Minister hosted a roundtable on conflict and intercommunal violence in Northern Nigeria, which included officials from the Kaduna State Peace Commission, and the discussion covered topics including rising insecurity and kidnaps in Nigeria.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many UK troops are deployed in Mali; what plans they have to reconsider the (1) deployment of the UK Task Group in Mali, and (2) UK forces contributing through the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mal; and what assessment they have made of the threat posed by extremists in (a) Mali, and (b) across the Sahel, in particular the Islamic State of the Greater Sahel.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Of the c.14,500 personnel that make up the UN Peacekeeping mission in Mali (MINUSMA), the UK deploys 300 troops. Separately, we also deploy four Chinook helicopters with around 100 troops providing logistical support to the French counter-terrorism Operation Barkhane. We have been part of Operation BARKHANE since July 2018. As the French mission in Mali concludes, so will the UK's contribution to it. We are reviewing our deployment to the UN Peacekeeping mission MINUSMA. The Minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean has expressed concern about the increasing restrictions on UN Peacekeeping and international forces in Mali, and has urged all partners to continue working together to protect and support a better future for the Malian people.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their most recent assessment of the integrity of elections in Nigeria; and what discussions they have held, if any, with the President of Nigeria about the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2022.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK remains committed to supporting the democratic process in Nigeria, and we continue to stress the importance of free and fair elections ahead of the 2023 presidential race. We warmly welcome the signing of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law on 25 February. We assess that this will help contribute to free, credible and peaceful elections in Nigeria.
The UK continues to work with civil society and the Independent National Electoral Commission to strengthen the integrity of elections in Nigeria. On 21 February the Minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Vicky Ford MP, met with officials from the Nigerian Independent National Electoral Commission to discuss the vital role a strong and independent electoral commission will play in delivering credible and transparent 2023 elections. Minister Ford also raised elections with the Vice President during her visit, and expressed the UK Government's wish to see a strong legal framework in place well ahead of elections.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by the Irigwe Development Association that 24,000 voters from 16 communities in Plateau state, Nigeria, may not be able to vote in upcoming elections in the Bassa Local Government Area after being displaced by violence.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK Government remains concerned by insecurity across Nigeria. The Minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean met with officials at the Independent National Electoral Commission, where she discussed the importance of free, fair and safe electoral process in Nigeria, including for the 2023 elections. The Minister also met with religious leaders and officials from the Plateau State peace-building agency, to discuss a range of issues, including social inclusion and the important of good governance and democracy. The Minister has asked officials to follow-up on the situation in the Bassa local government area.
We continue to raise insecurity and human rights in Nigeria with the Nigerian Government. Earlier this month, at the inaugural dialogue of the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership, the Minister for Africa held productive discussions with the Nigerian National Security Adviser on Nigeria's security situation. The Minister also raised rising insecurity and its impact on the Nigerian people during her recent visit with the Vice-President, Foreign Minister and several State Governors. Through our Security and Defence Partnership with Nigeria, the UK and Nigeria are working together to respond to shared threats, and to support Nigeria to tackle a range of security challenges.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the security situation in southern Kaduna, Nigeria, following the reported abductions of at least 26 people in three separate attacks between 14 and 15 February.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK Government is concerned about rising insecurity across Nigeria and we condemn all incidents of intercommunal violence, including in the Middle Belt. This violence has a devastating impact on both Christian and Muslim communities. While religious identity is a factor in some incidents of intercommunal violence, we assess that the root causes of violence in the Middle Belt frequently relate to resource competition and criminality, as well as historical and ongoing inter-communal grievances. Officials at our High Commission in Abuja met officials from the Niger State Government on 23 February to discuss a range of security matters, including the attacks in Shiroro.
We regularly raise insecurity and human rights in Nigeria with the Nigerian Government. The Minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean raised rising insecurity and its impact on the Nigerian people with the Vice President, Foreign Minister and several State Governors during her recent visit to Nigeria. She also met faith leaders, civil society and international organisations working in states affected by violence. Earlier this month, at the inaugural dialogue of the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership, the Minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean also held productive discussions with the Nigerian National Security Adviser on the complexity of Nigeria's security situation. At the dialogue, the UK and Nigeria agreed on areas of future cooperation to respond to shared threats, and on our support to Nigeria to tackle a range of security challenges. We continue to make clear to the Nigerian authorities at the highest levels the importance of protecting civilians, including ethnic and religious minorities, and human rights for all.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the security situation in Nigeria following the attack on the Galkogo community in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State on 21 February.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK Government is concerned about rising insecurity across Nigeria and we condemn all incidents of intercommunal violence, including in the Middle Belt. This violence has a devastating impact on both Christian and Muslim communities. While religious identity is a factor in some incidents of intercommunal violence, we assess that the root causes of violence in the Middle Belt frequently relate to resource competition and criminality, as well as historical and ongoing inter-communal grievances. Officials at our High Commission in Abuja met officials from the Niger State Government on 23 February to discuss a range of security matters, including the attacks in Shiroro.
We regularly raise insecurity and human rights in Nigeria with the Nigerian Government. The Minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean raised rising insecurity and its impact on the Nigerian people with the Vice President, Foreign Minister and several State Governors during her recent visit to Nigeria. She also met faith leaders, civil society and international organisations working in states affected by violence. Earlier this month, at the inaugural dialogue of the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership, the Minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean also held productive discussions with the Nigerian National Security Adviser on the complexity of Nigeria's security situation. At the dialogue, the UK and Nigeria agreed on areas of future cooperation to respond to shared threats, and on our support to Nigeria to tackle a range of security challenges. We continue to make clear to the Nigerian authorities at the highest levels the importance of protecting civilians, including ethnic and religious minorities, and human rights for all.
Asked by: Baroness Hooper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why relations with Latin America is not listed on the printed list of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office ministerial responsibilities; and why relations with Latin America is not the responsibility of a Minister of State.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Latin America is an important partner for the UK's global ambitions, with many countries aligned with our values, and we maintain a strong diplomatic relationship with countries around the region. The latest list of Ministerial responsibilities was published in November 2021, and lists Wendy Morton MP as FCDO Parliamentary Undersecretary of State (Minister for Europe and the Americas). Responsibilities included the Americas, the Caribbean, and Small Island Developing States. In December 2021, Minister Ford took over responsibility for Latin America. The current page on www.Gov.uk/government/ministers lists this as FCDO Parliamentary Undersecretary of State (Minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean). I am already engaging with Ambassadors from the region, and plan to visit next month.