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, with reference to the statement by the President of Tunisia on 21 February on immigration, whether he plans to hold discussions with his counterparts in Tunisia on the potential impact of that statement on (a) commitments under the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination and (b) rates of hate crimes and racial discrimination against citizens of other African states in Tunisia.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The statement by President Kais Saied on 21 February led to an alarming and rapid increase in instances of racially motivated discrimination and violence in Tunisia, primarily towards migrants of Sub-Saharan African origin, but also other Black people, including Tunisians. We have followed these developments closely and updated our Travel Advice. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tunis announced new measures on 5 March to extend residency rights for people from African countries, improve the safety and security of migrants, including more flexible regulations towards irregular migrants. The UK underlines the importance of equality, human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined in the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to President Kais Saied of Tunisia concerning the continuing wave of arrests and detentions of prominent political opponents and other critics of his government, including Noureddine Bhiri.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Officials and Ministers have regular discussions with the Tunisian authorities to reiterate the UK's belief in the importance of civil society, strengthening human rights and including all voices in building resilient and successful democracies. I [Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon] raised the latest arrests with the Tunisian Chargé d'Affaires on 23 February, emphasising the importance of space for legitimate political opposition, civil society and independent media. His Majesty's Ambassador to Tunisia also raised UK concerns regarding the arrests with Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar on 23 February.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government which countries the UK has visa free travel arrangements with for British citizens.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
FCDO, who have responsibility for this information, have said that the information this question is requesting can be found in public domain https://visaguide.world/visa-free-countries/uk-passport/
We have included the list for ease:
Albania
American Samoa
Andorra
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Bermuda
Bolivia
Caribbean Netherlands
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Bulgaria
Canada
Cabo Verde
Cayman Islands
Chile
Colombia
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Curaçao
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
French West Indies
Georgia
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guam
Guatemala
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Kazakhstan
Kiribati
Kosovo
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Lesotho
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Malaysia
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Namibia
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niue
North Macedonia
Northern Mariana Islands
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestine
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Réunion
Romania
San Marino
São Tomé and Príncipe
Senegal
Serbia
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Gambia
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turks and Caicos Islands
Türkiye
United States Virgin Islands
Ukraine
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Zambia
Eswatin
Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will make representations to the government of Tunisia on (1) preserving the independence and constitutional authority of the Independent High Authority for Elections, and (2) seeking to ensure that the Independent High Authority for Elections leader, Sami Ben Slama, is allowed full defence in respect of the charges pending against him.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is aware of the changes to the Independent High Authority for Elections. The UK believes that checks and balances are needed in all political systems, as core components of a functioning, transparent democracy. This is something that we have regularly raised with the Tunisian Government since 25 July 2021.
The UK is aware of the legal case being brought against Sami Ben Sala. We regularly raise respect for human rights and due legal process with the Tunisian Government. All legitimate political actors should be able to operate, and the judiciary must carry out its work independently and transparently. We regularly raise human rights with the Tunisian authorities, and will continue to do so.
Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will make representations to the government of Tunisia for independent observers to be admitted to the forthcoming elections in that country.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Tunisian authorities permitted international observers in the first round of legislative elections on 17 December. In the second round of legislative elections on 29 January, international observers will also be permitted.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for its policies of the legislative elections held in Tunisia on 17 December 2022.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK believes that democratic institutions and accountable governments are the foundations on which open, stable and prosperous societies thrive. Following the second round of elections, it will be important for the Tunisian authorities and the new parliament, when it is established, to work together in an inclusive way to reassure Tunisians that key economic challenges are being addressed.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for his policies of the proposed International Monetary Fund loan package for Tunisia.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have been clear about the importance of socio-economic stability in order to provide for the Tunisian people. The UK is closely following the proposed loan programme of the International Monetary Fund and was disappointed to learn that the IMF board meeting to discuss the loan program for Tunisia was postponed. We encourage the resumption of talks and urge the Tunisian government to take forward the difficult but necessary reforms to stabilise the economic situation and bring socio-economic stability to Tunisia. We stand ready to support the swift implementation of the steps necessary to strengthen Tunisia's economic and financial situation.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policy of the political and economic situation in Tunisia.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK closely monitors the economic and political situation in Tunisia. We have made our views clear, calling for continued public commitment to and respect for all Tunisians' civil, political, social and economic rights and to the rule of law. Given the scale of the socio-economic and fiscal challenges, we encourage the Tunisian government to implement urgent reform steps and deliver on the demands of the Tunisian people. The UK stands ready to play a constructive role.
Asked by: Lord Lilley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many nurses joined the Nursing and Midwife Council Register from countries graded by the World Health Organisation as having fewer nurses than the global median in the most recent year for which figures are available
Answered by Lord Kamall
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the independent regulator of nurses, midwives, and nursing associates in the United Kingdom. The following table shows the number of nurses, midwives, and nursing associates joining the NMC’s register from each country with fewer nursing and midwifery personnel per 10,000 people than the global median in the year ending 31 March 2022.
Bahrain 4
Bangladesh 1
Barbados 18
Belize 17
Cameroon 17
China 6
Colombia 3
Egypt 13
Eswatini 9
Ethiopia 1
Gambia 12
India 9,769
Iran 19
Iraq 1
Jamaica 115
Jordan 12
Kenya 461
Lebanon 20
Lesotho 18
Malawi 7
Malaysia 20
Namibia 11
Nepal 210
Niger 1
Nigeria 3,010
Pakistan 112
Saint Lucia 13
Sri Lanka 14
Tanzania 1
Tunisia 1
Turkey 2
Uganda 30
Zambia 57
Zimbabwe 913
Notes:
1. The World Health Organization publishes a measure of the number of nurses per 10,000 population. The median for their measure, unweighted by countries population is 35.07 nursing and midwifery personnel per 10,000 population.
2. Countries below the median level of nursing and midwifery personnel per 10,000 population where there were no joiners to the NMC register are excluded.
Asked by: Lord Hannan of Kingsclere (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Tunisia about its recent crackdown on dissent, including (1) the trial of civilians before military courts, (2) the use of the death penalty, and (3) the prosecution of opposition MPs.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We regularly raise human rights with the Tunisian authorities, and will continue to do so. We are aware of reports of the trial of civilians before military courts. We are monitoring legal cases being brought against politicians from the parliament and previous governments, including allegations of irregularities in the 2019 elections. We also engage regularly with government leaders in the country, most recently on 8 June when I [Lord Ahmad] met with President Kais Saied.