Asked by: Chris Heaton-Harris (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what notification he has received on whether there are (a) constitutional requirements and (b) potential legal proceedings in other EU member states related to the Decision of the Heads of State or Government, meeting within the European Council, on 18 and 19 February 2016.
Answered by David Lidington
It is for the relevant national authorities in other Member States to determine their constitutional requirements and potential legal proceedings.
The Decision of the Heads of State or Government, meeting within the European Council, on 18 and 19 February 2016 was agreed to by all Member States and is now a legally binding document that has been registered with the United Nations as an international treaty.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the legal status of Scottish, Northern Irish and Bank of England banknotes is within the Overseas Territory of Gibraltar; and what the official policy of the Government of Gibraltar is on the use of Scottish and Northern Irish banknotes within that Territory.
Answered by David Lidington
Finance and related issues are the constitutional competence of Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar. It is therefore for them to determine both the legal status and the policy on the use of the Scottish, Northern Irish and Bank of England banknotes within their territory.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) encourage stability in Libya and (b) allow compensation to be paid to victims of terrorist acts sponsored by the Ghadaffi regime.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The UK Government, working closely with our international partners, continues to support the people of Libya and the efforts of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Libya, Bernardino Leon, to resolve the political crisis. Since 2011, the UK has also funded much practical support to Libya. The current focus is on contributing to UN political settlement efforts through the UK Special Envoy to the Libyan Political Transition, Jonathan Powell. The UK is also providing expert advice to the Constitutional Drafting Assembly; helping to enhance the quality and coverage of media reporting of events in Libya; providing support in the areas of border controls and humanitarian demining; and helping Libyan institutions to effectively manage their public finances. While we do not intend to negotiate a compensation settlement with the Libyan authorities, once stability returns and our Embassy re-opens, we will again encourage the Libyans to engage with UK victims seeking redress, including those seeking compensation and their legal representatives. The Prime Minister is committed to doing this and in May 2014 asked the National Security Advisor to lead cross-government efforts to engage the Libyans on reconciliation initiatives. The Government will also continue to promote broad and lasting reconciliation between Libya and affected UK communities.Asked by: Jeffrey M Donaldson (Independent - Lagan Valley)
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 EU counterparts about future relations with Ukraine.
Answered by David Lidington
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 17 November where EU Foreign Ministers reiterated their support for the Minsk Protocol and Minsk Memorandum and urged all parties to implement them swiftly. They once again underlined the Russian Federation's responsibility in this context. The EU welcomed the holding of parliamentary elections in Ukraine on 26 October and looked forward to the urgent formation of a new government. They called for an intensification of much needed political and economic reforms in Ukraine, including constitutional reform, decentralisation, reform of the judiciary, law enforcement, fight against corruption and ensuring the rights of persons belonging to national minorities. The EU underlined that a renewed inclusive, country-wide national dialogue on reforms will be important to consolidate Ukraine's unity and internal cohesion and called on all sides to work towards early local elections in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, in accordance with Ukrainian law, as foreseen in the Minsk Protocol, as the only legal and legitimate means of renewing the democratic mandate of the local authorities.
The EU considers the holding of "presidential and parliamentary elections" in Donetsk and Luhansk "People’s Republics" on 2 November as illegal and illegitimate and will not recognise them. The Foreign Affairs Council called on the European External Action Service and the European Commission to present a proposal for a decision by the end of November on additional listings targeting separatists.
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 recent reports he has received on the political situation in Egypt.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
I receive reports from a variety of sources, including our Embassy in Cairo which engages with a cross-section of Egyptian society. I visited Cairo in August and October this year and discussed the political situation with Government Ministers, political leaders, human rights defenders and civil society. Since January 2014, Egypt has held a constitutional referendum; elected a new President, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi; and is reportedly preparing for parliamentary elections before the end of the year.
We believe that a genuinely open political process, in which all political groups are able to participate, will lead to long-term political stability in Egypt. We look to President Al Sisi to take steps to implement the rights contained in Egypt’s constitution; in particular, ensuring freedom of expression and association as well as ensuring that human and legal rights are fully upheld.
Asked by: Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat - Leeds North West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of progress with democratic reform in Egypt.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Since January 2014, Egypt has held a constitutional referendum; elected a new President, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi; and is preparing for parliamentary elections. We look to President Al Sisi to take steps to implement the rights contained in Egypt’s constitution by opening up political space, in particular ensuring freedom of expression and association as well as ensuring that human and legal rights are fully upheld. I raised these issues with the Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for Europe during my visit to Cairo on 25 August.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the timetable is for the Montserrat Conservation and Environmental Management Bill.
Answered by Mark Simmonds
The elected Government of Montserrat has devolved constitutional responsibility for conservation and environmental management. The UK Government is supporting the strengthening of the legal and institutional framework for environment management through our support for the Montserrat Strategic Growth Plan. We understand that the Montserrat Conservation and Environmental Management Bill is due to have its third and final reading in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, 22 July.
Asked by: Edward Leigh (Conservative - Gainsborough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has received advice on the legality of the removal from power of President Yanukovich, pursuant to Article 111 of the Constitution of Ukraine.
Answered by David Lidington
The Government is not in a position to comment on the legal system in Ukraine. On 21 February, agreement was reached between the then opposition leaders and the then President, Viktor Yanukovych to resolve the political crisis afflicting Ukraine by: signing a new law within 48 hours to reinstate the 2004 Constitution; holding pre-term presidential elections in 2014; and conducting a comprehensive constitutional reform. However, later that day Yanukovych fled Kyiv, abandoning his office as Head of State and was therefore not in a position to fulfill the obligation he undertook to sign the law reinstating the 2004 constitution.
As the Ukrainian Government had already been dissolved by Yanukovych, Parliament was the only legitimate state body remaining. In view of Yanukovych's action to effectively remove himself from office, Parliament approved a bill to remove Yanukovych from power, appoint an acting president and, in line with the constitution, to hold presidential elections within 90 days. The bill was approved by an overwhelming majority, including by representatives of Yanukovych's Party of the Regions which remains the largest faction in the Rada.