Ministers from the FCO were answering questions in the Commons.
Subjects covered included... Cameroon Girls’ Education
Commonwealth: Diplomatic Relations Iran Nuclear Deal
Bahrain: Death Penalty Israel-Palestine Peace Process
Palestinian Refugees and Displacement of Palestinians
Russia: Diplomatic Relations Syria...Request free trial
Ministers from the FCO were answering questions in the Commons.
Subjects covered included...
To see any of these in greater detail, click on the link or see
below.
Cameroon
-
(Newport East)
(Lab)
1. What recent discussions he has had with his Cameroonian
counterpart on the level of violence in that country.
[905281]
-
The Minister for Africa (Harriett Baldwin)
I visited Cameroon in February and met the Cameroonian
Prime Minister, and the Foreign Secretary met him at the
Commonwealth meetings in London in April. In all our
discussions with Cameroonian Ministers, we have stressed
the importance of inclusive dialogue and not resorting to
violence.
-
A constituent of mine from Cameroon who sought asylum here
has been highlighting the ongoing violence and the
brutality committed by the Government in Anglophone
regions, and the acute refugee crisis that that has caused.
I know that the Department has been raising these issues,
but what more can Ministers do to help to get a meaningful
process going to address the issues and end the violence?
-
I am delighted that the hon. Lady has managed to get this
important issue on the Order Paper and up for discussion in
the House of Commons, because it is a serious situation.
There is violence from all sides in Cameroon and we are
extremely concerned about the situation. We are encouraging
not only the Government there but all Cameroonians to
participate in a process of inclusive dialogue. It is an
election year and the election must take place without
people resorting to violence.
Girls’ Education
-
(Clacton) (Con)
2. What steps his Department is taking to support the
delivery of girls’ education throughout the world. [905282]
-
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
(Boris Johnson)
If every girl in the world had 12 years of quality
education, this world would be infinitely safer, vastly
more prosperous and better, which is why education for
girls is at the heart of Government policy.
-
I thank the Secretary of State for his answer, but I am
concerned that, according to UNESCO estimates, 130 million
girls between the ages of 6 and 17 are out of school and 15
million girls of primary school age, half of them in
sub-Saharan Africa, will never enter a classroom. Will my
right hon. Friend reassure me that tackling this issue will
continue to be a top priority for global Britain?
-
My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and the statistics are
truly horrifying. There are countries around the world,
including in sub-Saharan Africa, where female illiteracy is
running at 60%, 70% or sometimes 80%, which is why the UK
is in the lead in campaigning at the UN, the G7 and the G20
for focus on this issue. That is also why the Prime
Minister announced a further £212 million for girls’
education at the recent Commonwealth summit.
-
Mr Speaker
As he is the father of lots of daughters, I call Mr
.
-
Mr (Huddersfield)
(Lab/Co-op)
Is the Foreign Secretary aware that, in many parts of the
developing world, educational institutions and orphanages
are not quite what they seem? Children are taken into them
and trafficked, instead of getting an education. Will he
look into that?
-
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising that
problem, which is of course well known to the Prime
Minister, who has campaigned on human trafficking and
modern slavery for many years. We certainly co-ordinate
with the Home Office to tackle the problem that the hon.
Gentleman describes.
-
(Feltham and Heston)
(Lab/Co-op)
Girls who do not receive education are more likely to
become victims of human trafficking, early marriage and
gender-based violence. Will the Foreign Secretary update
the House on what he is doing not only to support girls’
education, but in particular to join up the strategies for
ending violence against women and girls?
-
We continually work to tackle not just female illiteracy
and innumeracy but the associated problems, including
gender-based violence, and we work continually on the
prevention of sexual violence in conflict. I recently had a
meeting with , whom colleagues will
remember championed that issue to great effect.
-
(Leyton and Wanstead)
(Lab)
What discussions has the Foreign Secretary had with the
Government of Pakistan about girls’ education in that
country? What assessment has he made of that Government’s
track record?
-
I am proud to say that I have had repeated conversations
with the Government of Pakistan about the UK contribution
to the challenge that they face. As I am sure that the hon.
Gentleman knows, 66% of adult women in Pakistan are
illiterate. Through the Department for International
Development, the UK is trying to tackle that issue, and I
think that 6 million girls in the Punjab have been educated
thanks to the UK’s generosity.
Commonwealth: Diplomatic Relations
-
Mr (North East Hampshire) (Con)
3. What steps his Department is taking to strengthen UK
diplomatic relations with Commonwealth countries. [905283]
-
(Morley and Outwood)
(Con)
22. What steps his Department is taking to strengthen
bilateral relations with Commonwealth countries. [905302]
-
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
(Boris Johnson)
During the recent Heads of Government meeting at the
Commonwealth summit, we announced the opening of nine new
missions, to great acclaim throughout the Commonwealth.
They include six high commissions in Lesotho, Swaziland,
the Bahamas, Tonga, Samoa and Vanuatu. As I have told the
House before, we are expanding the UK diplomatic network to
become the biggest in Europe.
-
Mr Jayawardena
I welcome the Foreign Secretary’s comments. It was great to
see so many Heads of Government attending CHOGM last month.
Does he agree with Her Majesty that the Commonwealth will
continue to offer stability and continuity for future
generations under the worthy leadership of His Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales?
-
My hon. Friend asks an extremely good question, though he
sets a very high bar in asking me in any way to disagree
with Her Majesty the Queen, which I will not do because I
think that the Prince of Wales will serve admirably as the
next head of the Commonwealth.
-
Intra-Commonwealth trade is expected to increase to £1
trillion by 2020, which is up from £560 billion recorded in
2016. However, Commonwealth nations take just 9% of UK
exports of goods and services. Does my right hon. Friend
agree that, post Brexit, bilateral trade relations with the
Commonwealth will be more important than ever and will
provide us with an exciting opportunity to sell our goods
and services and set up new trade deals with a third of the
world’s population?
-
My hon. Friend is, of course, entirely right: we have a
huge opportunity to build new associations and new trade
deals with some of the fastest growing economies in the
world comprising, as she knows, 2.4 billion people, but
without in any way prejudicing our ability to do unimpeded
free trade deals with other countries and to maintain the
advantages of free trade with our European friends and
partners.
-
(Hornsey and Wood
Green) (Lab)
Will the Foreign Office review its current position on the
plight of the Chagos islanders, who should be granted
immediately the right to repatriation in their home in
the Indian ocean territories?
-
As the hon. Lady knows, we are currently in dispute with
Mauritius about the Chagossian islanders and Diego Garcia.
I have personally met the representative of the Chagossian
community here in this country, and we are doing our
absolute best to deal with its justified complaints and to
ensure that we are as humane as we can possibly be.
-
(Strangford) (DUP)
Bearing in mind the recent return of Zimbabwe to our
Commonwealth family, can the Secretary of State tell us
what other countries might be about to join the
Commonwealth? Is it too much to hope that perhaps the
Republic of Ireland might be one of them?
-
In these questions, it is important not to get too far
ahead of ourselves. Zimbabwe is a great news story at the
moment, but, alas, she has not yet reapplied for membership
of the Commonwealth. We await that application to the
Commonwealth secretariat. It is certainly something that
the UK and other countries would strongly support, as we
discovered at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.
As the hon. Gentleman knows, there are other countries that
are in the pipeline, but they have yet to identify
themselves publicly.
-
(Hornchurch and
Upminster) (Con)
Will my right hon. Friend explain how the UK is currently
working with allies such as Australia to bolster
Commonwealth ties in the south Pacific as a counter balance
to growing Chinese influence in places such as Vanuatu and
the Solomon Islands?
-
I am very grateful to my hon. Friend for her question, and
it has been raised specifically with me by our friends in
the south Pacific that they want to see the UK back there.
A head of an island there described to me his sense of
grief at seeing a vacant UK seat at a recent meeting—I will
not name the country in which the meeting took place. We
are filling that seat; we will be back there in all the
countries that I have just announced.
-
(Glasgow North)
(SNP)
I do not know whether “Fox and Friends” has broadcast in
any Commonwealth countries, but can the Foreign Secretary
tell us whether appearing on breakfast TV is now an
official part of UK diplomatic foreign policy, or is it
reserved only for countries with which we have a special
relationship?
-
I cannot comment on whether “Fox and Friends” is broadcast
across the Commonwealth, but what I will say is that we
should use every possible means at our disposal to reach
out to our friends not just in the Commonwealth, but in the
former Commonwealth—the United States of America.
-
Several hon. Members rose—
-
Mr Speaker
Order. I am sure that colleagues will not wish to be
deprived, so I hope that the right hon. Gentleman will
place a copy in the Library of the House for their
delectation in the long summer evenings that lie ahead.
[Interruption.] The transcript, man.
-
(Gloucester)
(Con)
Will my right hon. Friend join me in congratulating
Malaysia on her recent outstanding elections, which have
seen the return of the first ever opposition party since
independence? It shows that democracy is alive and kicking
in Malaysia. Does he agree that there is much more that we
can do together, not least through an extended relationship
with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations?
-
Not only that; I congratulate my hon. Friend on all the
work he does to promote relations between the UK and ASEAN.
He works tirelessly on that dossier. Malaysia certainly
presents extraordinary opportunities for the UK. A massive
friendship and partnership already exists with the country,
and we look forward to building relations very fast with
the new Government of Mahathir Mohamad.
-
(Bishop Auckland)
(Lab)
We are all delighted that there was a successful
Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting this year. Among
the valued Commonwealth members are of course the Caribbean
countries. We know that Caribbean Foreign Ministers raised
the issue of Windrush deportations with the Foreign Office
in 2014 and that high commissioners did so in 2016, so will
the Foreign Secretary tell us what discussions he and his
Ministers had at that time with their counterparts in the
Home Office?
-
I must respectfully tell the hon. Lady what I am sure she
knows very well: this is a matter for the Home Office. We
certainly alerted the Home Office to the issue, but the
question of how to manage immigrants in this country is a
matter for the Home Office.
Iran Nuclear Deal
-
Mr (Basildon and
Billericay) (Con)
4. What recent discussions he has had with his
international counterparts on the future of the Iran
nuclear deal. [905284]
-
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
(Boris Johnson)
As the House will understand, the UK continues to work hard
with all our friends and partners—particularly the other
European signatories to the joint comprehensive plan of
action—to keep that deal alive. We believe that it is of
fundamental importance that Iran was not in breach of the
JCPOA last week. It is still not in breach of the JCPOA
this week. There are advantages to maintaining the essence
of that deal, so we will continue to work for that and to
protect the interests of UK business in Iran.
-
Mr Baron
Recent tensions between Israel and Iran underline the
importance of the nuclear deal, and we should not forget
how close the west and Iran came to conflict over the
nuclear issue in 2012. The Government have rightly
maintained their full support for the agreement, but
exactly how far are they prepared to go, in concert with
their allies, to keep this deal alive—including, if
necessary, protecting companies that trade with Iran from
American sanctions?
-
My hon. Friend brings a great deal of learning to this
subject. This issue is difficult because of the
extraterritorial effect of US sanctions; when companies
touch the live wire of the American financial network, they
find themselves almost immediately sanctioned. I am going
to Brussels this afternoon to talk to our European friends
about what we can do to work together to protect the
interests of UK and other European businesses.
-
(Ilford South)
(Lab/Co-op)
When the Foreign Secretary goes to Brussels, will he
explain to our European friends that this country values
our defence and security partnership with our European
Union partners? Will he also say positive things about
whether we will be joining permanent structured
co-operation—PESCO—and co-operating with the other European
countries in the future?
-
I can direct the hon. Gentleman to no better text than the
Prime Minister’s Lancaster House speech—fleshed out by her
Mansion House speech—in which she made it clear that the
UK’s commitment to the defence and security of our friends
and partners is unconditional and indivisible.
-
(Preseli Pembrokeshire)
(Con)
rose—
-
Mr Speaker
I wish the right hon. Gentleman a full and speedy recovery.
-
Thank you, Mr Speaker; that is very kind. The Iranian
Government responded to President Trump’s announcement last
week by showering Israel with rockets using their own
forces inside Syria. What does my right hon. Friend think
those forces of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard are
actually doing inside Syria? If the Iran nuclear deal was
not the thing to encourage Iran to become a more
responsible member of the international community, what
does he think will be?
-
My right hon. Friend is completely right to raise the
disgraceful behaviour of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard
Corps and the missiles that are fired from Syria at Israel
and elsewhere. The JCPOA was not designed to constrain that
activity; it was specifically designed to stop Iran
acquiring a nuclear weapon and it has succeeded in that
effort so far. That is why we propose to keep the core of
that deal alive, but to work with our friends and partners
to constrain the malign activity that my right hon. Friend
describes.
-
(Leeds North East)
(Lab)
Last July, at a conference of the Iranian resistance
movement in Paris attended by a number of Conservative
Members, John Bolton announced that the Iranian regime is
“not going to change…the only solution is to change the
regime…And that’s why, before 2019, we…will celebrate in
Tehran!”
Now that Mr Bolton is President Trump’s national security
adviser, does the Foreign Secretary believe that regime
change is still his objective?
-
I have a very high regard for John Bolton and his
intelligence and vision, but I have to say that I do not
believe that regime change in Tehran is the objective that
we should be seeking. I must be very clear with the hon.
Gentleman that I think that we might conceivably achieve
regime change at some stage in the near future, but I
cannot with any confidence say that that would be a change
for the better, because it seems equally plausible to me to
imagine that Qasem Soleimani of the IRGC could put himself
in a very good position to take over from Ayatollah
Khamenei, for instance.
-
Mr (Chingford and
Woodford Green) (Con)
I suggest to my right hon. Friend that there is a
temptation among his allies to point the finger at the
United States and heap opprobrium on it when he goes to
Brussels. May I urge him to point out to them that, since
sanctions were lifted on Iran, it has used the money that
it has earned to invest in developing ballistic missiles,
to start a proxy war in Yemen and to interfere in Syria?
Will he remind them that notwithstanding the fact that it
was a narrow deal, there is a real, serious threat from
Iran that needs to be dealt with?
-
My right hon. Friend is completely right, and that is
indeed what we intend to do. But we also intend to try to
address the substantive difficulties in the JCPOA
itself—the fact that it expired, the fact that the sunset
clauses are not adequate and the fact that in 2025 it is at
least theoretically possible for Iran to proceed very
rapidly to break out to acquire a nuclear weapon. That is a
legitimate concern of President Trump, and we have to deal
with it as well.
Bahrain: Death Penalty
-
(Carmarthen East and
Dinefwr) (PC)
5. What assessment he has made of the effect of the use of
the death penalty in Bahrain on human rights in that
country. [905285]
-
The Minister for the Middle East (Alistair Burt)
The United Kingdom opposes the use of the death penalty in
all countries, in all circumstances. My right hon. Friend
the Foreign Secretary reiterated this in respect of Bahrain
in his written statement of 15 January 2017. The Government
of Bahrain are fully aware of our position. We continue to
have an open and frank dialogue with Bahrain in public and
in private covering a range of issues, including human
rights.
-
Amnesty International, Reprieve and the Bahrain Institute
for Rights and Democracy have all raised concerns about the
use of the death penalty and the routine torture of
political opponents by the regime in Bahrain. What
assurance can the Minister give that the British
Government’s integrated activity fund is not being used to
undermine human rights in Bahrain?
-
Our determined efforts to support reform and change in
Bahrain are aimed at improving the conditions that I
indicated earlier we keep in constant contact with the
authorities in Bahrain about. In relation to the death
penalty, we welcome the decision by His Majesty the King on
26 April to commute the death sentences handed down in a
recent court case.
-
(Cynon Valley) (Lab)
Is it true that UK-funded institutions in Bahrain have been
responsible for covering up torture allegations regarding
death row inmates?
-
No, I do not believe that that can possibly be the case. If
the right hon. Lady would write with the specific detail of
an allegation, I will look at it, but I do not believe that
it is the case.
-
(Nottingham North)
(Lab/Co-op)
18. That specific detail is available in the report by the
Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy and Reprieve
that was referenced earlier. It says that British-funded
institutions and trained-by-Britain organisations have
indeed covered up this sort of behaviour. Can we have an
assurance from the Dispatch Box that that report is being
looked at and that a formal response will come to Members?
[905298]
-
Yes, I will. As I indicated earlier, the purpose of our
engagement with Bahrain is to deal sometimes with difficult
practices that have been there in the past in order to
change them and improve them, but I think a specific
allegation of British involvement and cover-up would not be
right.
Israel-Palestine Peace Process
-
(Warwick and
Leamington) (Lab)
7. What recent discussions he has had with his
international counterparts on prospects for the peace
process in Israel and Palestine. [905287]
-
Mr (Coventry South)
(Lab)
11. What recent discussions he has had with his
international counterparts on prospects for the peace
process in Israel and Palestine. [905291]
-
The Minister for the Middle East (Alistair Burt)
At this highly sensitive time in the region, there is an
urgent need to restart the peace process between Israel and
Palestine. We regularly press both parties to resume direct
negotiations towards the two-state solution.
-
Last week, the Secretary of State suggested that President
Trump could be in line for a Nobel peace prize. Does the
Minister welcome the move by the US to relocate its embassy
to Jerusalem, and does he agree with the White House today
that the 52 Palestinians killed and more than 2,200 wounded
in yesterday’s violence in Gaza were the responsibility of
Hamas?
-
In answer to the first question, our position is known: we
did not agree with the decision, which is a sovereign
decision, of both the United States and Israel to move the
embassy. We have no plans to do anything similar. In
relation to the second question, there is an urgent
question after Question Time, and we will go into the
difficult circumstances of the past few weeks. I will be
happy to deal with that question then.
-
Mr Cunningham
May I push the Minister a little? Why has he not called for
the United Nations Security Council to be recalled so that
it can look at this situation? Does he agree with the
Secretary-General that there should be an inquiry into what
has been happening over the last six or seven weeks?
-
The House may not yet be aware, but there will be a UN
Security Council meeting this afternoon or this evening in
relation to this matter. The UK has already said that it
supports an independent investigation into the
circumstances of what has been happening, and we will
continue to take that position.
-
Sir (East Devon) (Con)
The simple truth is that the realignment of power in the
middle east between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab
Emirates and their now closer friendship with Israel in
this increasingly Sunni-Shi’a divide has left the
Palestinians marginalised, and in danger of being
marginalised further. Will my right hon. Friend, following
the 100th anniversary of the Balfour declaration, restate
categorically the United Kingdom’s commitment to the
Palestinian people and rule out moving the British embassy
to Jerusalem?
-
In answer to the second part of my right hon. Friend’s
question, as I have indicated, that is the United Kingdom’s
declared position: we are not moving our embassy. On the
wider issues, as we will discuss later, the United
Kingdom’s commitment remains to a just settlement of this
issue which recognises the need to respond to Palestinians’
concern at the same time as ensuring the safety and
security and the existence of the state of Israel. That
remains our position.
-
(East Renfrewshire)
(Con)
When the Hamas Prime Minister has said, “We will take down
the border and we will tear out their hearts from their
bodies,” what are this Government doing to build
international pressure on Hamas to renounce violence and
disarm?
-
The United Kingdom regards Hamas as a terrorist
organisation. It is proscribed and we have no dealings with
it. It speaks for itself in relation to its threat to the
state of Israel, and that should always be remembered in
issues where Hamas is involved and is exerting pressure on
the population of Gaza to do its bidding.
-
(North East Fife)
(SNP)
Does the Minister agree with the Foreign Secretary that
Trump’s Jerusalem embassy move is a “moment of opportunity”
for peace?
-
I always agree with my right hon. Friend the Foreign
Secretary, because all circumstances in the region, and
even the tragedies of yesterday—we will get on to this—have
to be used as an opportunity for a springboard to peace,
rather than further confrontation. We have made our view
clear on the embassy. We did not agree with it, but it is a
reality now. It will not be our position, and we will
continue to work for peace in the region.
-
Yesterday was the worst day of violence in Gaza for four
years. Will the Minister look at yesterday’s violence and
agree with me that the embassy move was reckless and
irresponsible and stoked tension? Does he also agree, in
terms of long-term peace, that there is a need for an
impartial and independent investigation?
-
In relation to the second part of the question, I have made
it clear that the UK supports an independent investigation
into what has happened, and I repeat: the move of the
United States embassy yesterday was not supported by the
United Kingdom. We do not see that as being conducive at
present to peace in the region, and the timing, of course,
was incredibly difficult.
-
(Henley) (Con)
The Minister has already mentioned the importance of
face-to-face negotiations between the Israelis and the
Palestinians. Would he please say how important that is for
the future of the area?
-
The events of yesterday were the culmination of many
things, but one of things they were the culmination of was
the failure of respective leaders over time to grapple with
the situation and to realise how urgent and desperate it
has become. The situation in Palestine and Gaza and the
occupied territories will not simply be managed; it will
get worse unless it is grasped and something is done to
make it better.
-
(Heywood and Middleton)
(Lab)
At this moment of abject crisis, following yesterday’s
events in Gaza and west Jerusalem, the Palestinian people
are sorely pressed to retain hope and faith in a two-state
solution. Will the Foreign Secretary give them some hope
and faith today by choosing this moment officially to
recognise the state of Palestine and will he lead a global
effort to persuade other countries to do the same?
-
We have said before that we will recognise the state of
Palestine at a time when it is most conducive to securing
peace in the area, but the hon. Lady is absolutely correct
in saying that the absence of hope and the increase of
despair in the area is of great concern to all of us and
needs to be recognised and dealt with.
Palestinian Refugees and Displacement of Palestinians
-
(Batley and Spen)
(Lab/Co-op)
8. What recent assessment his Department has made of the
extent to which the human rights of Palestinian refugees in
Lebanon, Syria and Jordan are protected. [905288]
-
(Hammersmith)
(Lab)
16. What assessment he has made of the effect of the
long-term displacement of Palestinians on stability in the
middle east. [R] [905296]
-
The Minister for the Middle East (Alistair Burt)
We are committed to protecting the human rights of
Palestinian refugees. In 2017 and 2018, we provided £50
million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency to
support Palestinian refugees across the middle east.
Ultimately, to promote stability across the region, there
must be a fair, agreed and realistic solution to the
Palestinian refugee question.
-
This year, the United States more than halved its aid to
the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian
refugees, piling further pressure on people trapped in an
already hellish situation. In the light of that, can the
Minister tell us what representations he has made to his
American counterparts about this decision and whether he
intends to bring forward a new funding settlement?
-
I have indeed made representations to US counterparts in
relation to this. We have brought forward our own next
tranche of support to UNRWA, and we continue to believe
that support for UNRWA is vital, particularly in the
present circumstances. We will be further reviewing what we
can do—not just ourselves, but with other donors as well.
-
Today, Nakba Day, is the 70th anniversary of the ethnic
cleansing of Palestinians from what is now Israel. Israel
chooses to mark it by escalating the murder and maiming of
civilians in Gaza, including hundreds of children. Can we
hear from the Minister and the Foreign Secretary, as we
have from the shadow Foreign Secretary, an unqualified
condemnation of the actions of the Israeli Government and
security forces and support for international law,
including the right of return? Is the Minister prepared to
take action, starting with the suspension of arms sales to
Israel?
-
That were three questions in one there. I will deal with
the centrality of the issue in Gaza later. However, I can
tell the hon. Gentleman that our statements make it clear
that we deeply regret the extent of the use of live fire
yesterday. We understand the reason that Israel would seek
to protect its border and its border fence—it knows what
would happen if there were a significant breach of it—but
we are also concerned about the events that will have led
to people being pushed towards the fence. However, it is a
complex situation and we will cover it in more detail
shortly.
-
(Tonbridge and Malling)
(Con)
rose—
-
Mr Speaker
Ah, yes. I think the House must hear the cerebral voice of
the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. I call Mr
.
-
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am grateful. As we are talking
about the status of refugees in the middle east, does the
Minister agree with me that his excellent work in the
region has promoted peace but, more than that does he also
agree that many others could contribute to it? I am
particularly thinking of the Iranian Government, who rather
than spending their money on missiles and terrorists in
Syria and elsewhere, could instead spend some of the
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps money on the fate of
refugees in Lebanon, Syria and indeed the areas of Gaza and
the west bank. Those Palestinians are so often linked
through political means to the Iranian regime, yet somehow
the money seems to go only on weapons, with none of it
going on education, schools or hospitals.
-
There are elements of my hon. Friend’s question that I
cannot comment on, but I can say that in the longer term
the engagement of Iran with the region, in a supportive
rather than a disruptive manner, towards the causes that he
mentioned, is, of course, what we look for. But we are some
way away from that yet and we will continue to press the
case with Iran in relation to its behaviour.
Russia: Diplomatic Relations
-
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
(Boris Johnson)
Russia’s use of an illegal nerve agent in Salisbury was met
with an unprecedented global, diplomatic rebuff, in the
sense that 28 countries expelled a total of 153 diplomats.
The House will understand, therefore, the balance between
the UK and Russia in expulsions of operatives: we lost a
handful of people involved in the security side, while they
lost about 153 across the world—a massive net loss for
Russia and a significant gain for the UK. But we remain
committed to a policy of engaging with Russia, while being
wary of what they do.
-
Despite the fact that oil and gas exports make up 70% of
Russia’s international trade, they are not currently
covered under the EU sanctions regime due to the high
reliance of the EU on Russian gas exports. After our exit
from the European Union, would that be a sensible extra
measure for us to take that might assist with our
diplomatic efforts?
-
We will, of course, consider all possibilities once we exit
the European Union and take back control of our sanctions
policy.
-
Dr (Tooting)
(Lab)
At the European championships in 2016, Russian hooligans
showed themselves to be organised, well armed and extremely
violent. British fans’ safety must be our top priority at
the World cup. Will the Secretary of State confirm whether
the British diplomat responsible for fans’ safety at the
World cup was expelled by Russia? If so, how can the
Government even contemplate relying on Russian reassurances
that our fans will be safe?
-
We are not actively trying to dissuade fans preparing to go
to Russia for the World cup, as we do not think that would
be right. They should look at our “Be on the Ball” website
and the risks that we believe may be associated with any
particular venues. But it is up to the Russians, and on
their honour, to guarantee the safety of not just British
fans, but fans from around the world.
-
Mr (Maldon)
(Con)
21. Does my right hon. Friend share the widespread concern
about Nord Stream 2, the proposed Russian gas pipeline?
Does he agree that there appears to be no economic
justification for it? It is instead a political project,
designed to increase European dependence on Russian gas and
weaken Ukraine. Will he press that point on our
allies—particularly Germany and Denmark? [905301]
-
I assure my right hon. Friend that we in the UK Government
are well aware of the deep controversy surrounding Nord
Stream 2. We raise it not just in Ukraine but with other
European friends and partners.
-
Mr (East
Londonderry) (DUP)
Earlier, the Foreign Secretary indicated the diplomatic
headcount exchange. How would he describe current
diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Russia?
Are they likely to change in the near future?
-
I can sum up our policy, which I repeat to the House:
engage but beware. We will continue, where necessary and
possible, to engage with Russia diplomatically and
culturally across the field. But relations are currently,
of course, difficult.
-
(Newbury) (Con)
In firmly supporting the Government’s robust response to
the malign actions of the Putin regime, may I remind my
right hon. Friend that in the cold war we had the best
civil servants and an enormous infrastructure based on
preparation for strategic arms limitation talks? That kind
of engagement is as vital today, and I hope that the
Government are putting equal resources into it.
-
My right hon. Friend raises an extremely good point. As I
think he is indicating, we are increasingly concerned about
a Russian breach of the intermediate-range nuclear forces
treaty. There will have to be much more international
engagement to keep that treaty intact.
Syria
-
(Manchester, Withington)
(Lab)
10. What steps he is taking to ensure the investigation and
prosecution of any breaches of international humanitarian
law in Syria. [905290]
-
(Bolton West) (Con)
15. What diplomatic steps he is taking with his
international counterparts to end the conflict in Syria.
[905295]
-
(Banbury)
(Con)
23. What diplomatic steps he is taking with his
international counterparts to end the conflict in Syria.
[905303]
-
The Minister for the Middle East (Alistair Burt)
We are working closely with the UN, the Syrian opposition
and our international partners to encourage a negotiated
settlement to the Syrian conflict. We support the
non-governmental organisations and UN mechanisms gathering
evidence and preparing future prosecutions for the most
serious crimes committed in Syria.
-
I thank the Minister for that response. I think we all want
the prosecution of the Assad regime and any other parties
responsible for using chemical weapons, but does the
Minister agree that for indiscriminately bombing civilians,
for targeting medical facilities and for using starvation
as a weapon of war, the regime already deserves to be
prosecuted for war crimes?
-
The short answer is yes. It is a question of gathering the
evidence and providing the right forum, but undoubtedly war
crimes have been committed. We are working continually with
authorities to see what mechanisms can be used to hold
people to account. I wish we could be certain of the
outcome.
-
Given the limited impact of the United Nations Security
Council to date, does my right hon. Friend agree that when
it comes to resolution by consensus its terms must be
adhered to?
-
Absolutely, and I am grateful to my hon. Friend. We
actually got resolution 2401 through by consensus. It
called for a ceasefire and humanitarian access,
particularly in relation to eastern Ghouta but it applied
all over Syria. The resolution was then not adhered to by
some of the parties who had signed up to it. If we are
going to make any progress on Syria, UN resolutions have to
be adhered to.
-
Save the Children and the Royal United Services Institute
published an excellent report last week on children in
conflict, which highlighted in particular the devastating
effect of the use of barrel bombs. What discussions has my
right hon. Friend had with our allies about a joint
approach to civilian protection in civilian areas?
-
My hon. Friend is right to highlight this further aspect of
the atrocities perpetrated on the Syrian people. As well as
calling out such behaviour and considering international
mechanisms for holding people to account, the support for
civilians is necessary and, at the recent Brussels
conference on Syria and the region, working with donors, we
pledged to provide at least £450 million this year and £300
million next year to alleviate that extreme suffering.
-
(Halton) (Lab)
Although I agree that President Assad should be held
accountable, a lot of opposition groups have committed
human rights violations and some terrible atrocities. There
has to be a very careful and balanced approach. We need to
ensure that we focus on those groups, too.
-
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. I met the director
of the Independent, Impartial and International Mechanism
recently, and we have been offering help and technical
support through legal services in the United Kingdom. There
should be absolutely no distinction between those who have
committed such crimes.
-
(Wirral South)
(Lab)
As the Minister and other hon. Members have said,
accountability for war crimes in Syria is crucial, but so
is prevention. How can we stop the bombing of hospitals?
-
Again, I wish there were a simple answer to such an honest
and direct question. Without physically intervening and
without a physical no-fly zone, which has been considered
but would be immensely difficult to implement, the best
thing we can do at present is to draw attention to such
attacks on facilities—sometimes off information that has
been given in all good faith to authorities to keep these
places safe— support the work of the doctors and those
involved in humanitarian expertise, and make clear that
this is happening. It has no place in warfare. It has no
place in the modern world. Hopefully, those responsible
will ultimately be held accountable.
Israel: Arms Exports
-
(Birmingham,
Northfield) (Lab)
12. What steps his Department is taking to monitor the use
of arms and arms components exported from the UK to Israel.
[905292]
-
The Minister for the Middle East (Alistair Burt)
Export licensing applications for all countries, including
Israel, are considered on a case-by-case basis against
strict criteria. Human rights and international
humanitarian law considerations are important parts of that
assessment. We keep the situation in Israel under continual
review, as we do with other countries.
-
When, in a written question, I asked the Foreign Secretary
to investigate the uses to which sniper rifles and other
weapons exported under licence from the UK to Israel were
being put, I received from the Minister a reply which
stated:
“We do not collect data on the use of equipment after
sale.”
Does that answer not mean that the Government do not have
the first idea whether UK weapons are being used to shoot
demonstrators in Gaza? What does it take for the UK to
enforce its own arms export criteria and stop arms sales to
Israel?
-
I would say two things in answer to the hon. Gentleman’s
perfectly proper question. First, before any arms sales are
considered, a proper risk assessment is carried out as to
what will happen in relation to those weapons, as I
indicated. Secondly, since the start of the recent
difficulties in Gaza, we have looked at all extant licences
in relation to Israel. Our sense at the moment is that we
have no information to suggest that UK-supplied equipment
has been used against protesters.
-
(North West
Leicestershire) (Con)
Can my right hon. Friend confirm that Israel has the right
to defend itself from external aggression and
terrorism—something that it has unfortunately had to do for
most of the last 70 years?
-
That is quite correct: we support Israel’s right to defend
itself. As in the cases of all other supplies of UK
weapons, strict criteria are imposed on the supply of any
weapons for the purpose of defence.
Myanmar: Rakhine and Kachin
-
(Walthamstow)
(Lab/Co-op)
13. What recent discussions he has had with his Myanmar
counterpart on the treatment of minority communities in
Rakhine and Kachin provinces. [905293]
-
The Minister for Asia and the Pacific (Mark Field)
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised concerns
about the treatment of the Rohingya of Rakhine in a meeting
in Naypyidaw with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on 11
February. I reiterated those messages when I summoned the
Burmese ambassador on 6 March. Moreover, I called for the
Burmese military to show restraint and protect civilians in
Kachin on both 28 April and, most recently, in a public
statement on 11 May.
-
Multiple rapes, airstrikes and genocide—the crimes of the
Burmese security forces against the Rohingya, as well as
against the Kachin and Shan people, are well documented.
The UK Government can refer Burma to the International
Criminal Court from the UN Security Council. Will the
Minister therefore meet the new Justice for Rohingya
Minority initiative to discuss its call for universal
jurisdiction and accountability for those who commit these
atrocities?
-
The hon. Lady will be well aware—she touched on this—of the
idea of universal jurisdiction, but that is not in place at
present. Of course, I am very happy to meet, along with
her, the representatives of the Rohingya community, as I
have done before. The UK is a staunch supporter of the ICC
and we remain committed to working with all our
international partners to secure justice for what has taken
place in Rakhine. It will be a long process. The Burmese
Government have told the UN Security Council that they are
ready to proceed with the domestic investigation. That will
need to be credible, transparent and impartial and will
need, in our view, to have an international component.
-
Mrs (St Albans)
(Con)
As a result of the tens of thousands of rapes in Rakhine
province, there are many thousands of pregnant women whose
babies may well be abandoned in Bangladesh. Will my right
hon. Friend update us on what will happen to those
children, should they be born as a result of rape?
-
I thank my hon. Friend for all the work that she does on
this. Like many Members throughout the House, I have been
absolutely appalled by the reports of extensive sexual
violence in Rakhine, including in graphic and harrowing
testimonies on television programmes on both Channel 4 and
BBC 2 in the last two evenings. I reassure her and the
House that UK aid is already providing comprehensive
counselling and psychological support for 10,000 women in
trauma and more than 2,000 survivors of sexual violence.
Medical aid is also being provided to assist 50,000 safe
births.
-
(Airdrie and Shotts)
(SNP)
Save the Children estimates that 60% of the 500,000
Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are children. What action
will the Government take at the UN Security Council to
avoid a lost generation from that community?
-
I fully appreciate those grave concerns. As the hon.
Gentleman rightly says, the issue of the Rohingya is not
one that has emerged only since last August. In many cases,
it goes back to the late 1970s. There have been various
episodes leading to this, and as he rightly points out, the
risk is that it will have an impact on forthcoming
generations. We will continue to work with all our
international partners, as we are with the EU, to get
sanctions to ensure that there is no impunity for those who
have brought about these terrible crimes. This is a
long-standing issue that will require a patient approach
within the international community. Please rest assured
that we are very much taking a lead in our role as a
permanent member of the UN Security Council.
-
(Crawley) (Con)
What review is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office carrying
out to ensure that, as with UK humanitarian aid, we do not
support the military regime in Rangoon in any other ways?
-
I know that my hon. Friend takes a strong interest in these
matters. It is important to recognise that, although we
were at the forefront of stopping support for the Burmese
military last September, there has been a military
dictatorship since 1962, and it is for our diplomats on the
ground in Naypyidaw and Rangoon to identify the
elements—and there will be elements—in the military with
whom we need to maintain open discussions. It has perhaps
been rather easy to blame all this on State Counsellor Aung
San Suu Kyi, but there are elements within the military
with whom we will need to maintain an engagement.
-
Mr (Birmingham, Perry
Barr) (Lab)
Further to the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member
for Walthamstow (Stella Creasy), two weeks ago the
Government proposed a draft UN statement arguing for a
credible, transparent investigation into war crimes against
the Rohingya and stating that those responsible must be
held to account. What is the current status of that
proposed statement?
-
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. I know that
there has been a great deal of co-operation with the
Opposition Front-Bench team. We all recognise that these
are terrible issues on which the UK political parties,
irrespective of colour, need to work together on behalf of
the international community.
We are awaiting the ICC’s decision on whether it has
jurisdiction over the deportation of the Rohingya from
Burma to Bangladesh on the basis that Bangladesh, unlike
Burma, is a signatory to the Rome statute. The Security
Council could refer Burma to the ICC, but we know that
currently there is insufficient support on the Security
Council, and a vetoed attempt at referral would, in our
view, do little to further—[Interruption.] It is wonderful
to do this as a duet, Mr Speaker, and I could continue
doing so, but I hope you will appreciate that these are
very serious matters about which people feel very strongly
across the House and the country, so I hope you will
indulge me for one more moment. We will ensure as far as
possible that we do nothing to enhance the role of the
Burmese military, and an early push for a Security Council
resolution would, in our view, undermine our position.
-
Mr Speaker
I am extremely grateful to the Minister of State. I say
this principally for the benefit of new Members who might
not have heard me say it before: I once asked a predecessor
of the Clerk of the House why it was that Foreign Office
questions always seemed to take longer than other Question
Times, to which, having consulted his scholarly cranium, he
replied, “Mr Speaker, I think it is on account of the fact
that when Ministers from the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office address the House, they feel they are addressing not
merely the House, or even the nation, but in fact the
world.”
G7 Agreements
-
(Stafford) (Con)
14. What agreements were reached at the 2018 G7 meeting in
Canada. [905294]
-
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
(Boris Johnson)
The most important conclusion of the G7 Foreign Ministers
meeting was that we condemned roundly Russia’s disruptive
activity and, at the suggestion of the UK, launched a new
G7 group to tackle malign state behaviour, building on a
Canadian initiative, and to defend democracies from foreign
interference.
-
I welcome the statement from the G7 on support for
effective measures to promote further verifiable nuclear
arms control and disarmament. Will that be on every agenda
of G7 Foreign Ministers meetings, and will the UK be taking
a lead?
-
As my hon. Friend knows, and as I said in answer to an
earlier question, we are increasingly concerned about
nuclear proliferation. As the House can readily see, that
issue is now at the absolute top of the global agenda, and
he can be sure that the UK will continue to push it at the
G7 and elsewhere.
-
Several hon. Members rose—
-
Mr Speaker
Order. We come now to topical questions. Needless to say,
those who lost out on substantives can well hope to be
called in topical questions, so they should not beetle out
of the Chamber unless they are exceptionally busy people
with many commitments and fuller than average diaries.
Topical Questions
-
(East Ham) (Lab)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental
responsibilities. [905305]
-
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
(Boris Johnson)
I am deeply saddened by the loss of life in Gaza, where
peaceful protests are being exploited by extremists. I urge
Israel to show restraint in the use of live fire, and I
take this opportunity to repeat the UK’s commitment to a
two-state solution with Jerusalem as the shared capital.
My other priority is to preserve the gains made through the
Iran nuclear deal. I am working closely with my French and
German counterparts and will see them in Brussels later
today.
-
My constituent Tofla Ndele, a British citizen, was arrested
when visiting family members in Congo last September. There
has been no explanation for his arrest, and no charges have
been levelled against him. I was grateful to the Secretary
of State for raising the subject with the Congolese Foreign
Minister in March. What progress has been made since then
in securing Mr Ndele’s release?
-
UK officials have visited Mr Ndele regularly since his
detention in September last year, most recently in March.
They have lobbied for improvements in the conditions of his
detention, and recently secured the first visit from a
family member since his arrest. My hon. Friend the Minister
for Africa raised the matter with the Congolese Foreign
Minister in April.
-
Several hon. Members rose—
-
Mr Speaker
Order. From now on, obviously, we need a sentence from each
colleague.
-
(Gillingham and
Rainham) (Con)
T2. I recently held a community engagement event with the
Tunisian ambassador to the United Kingdom. Can the Minister
confirm that security co-operation between the UK and
Tunisia is now excellent, given that TUI and Thomas Cook
have resumed flights to Tunisia? [905306]
-
The Minister for the Middle East (Alistair Burt)
Yes. Tunisia has worked extremely hard at reviewing and
improving its security. We are in constant contact with the
Tunisian authorities, and we hope that many British
tourists will visit the country this summer and beyond.
-
(Islington South and
Finsbury) (Lab)
May I begin by thanking the Foreign Secretary for leading
our cross-party efforts over the last two weeks to destroy
the Prime Minister’s “customs partnership” proposal? I
trust that he finished off the job earlier this morning.
Unfortunately, however, that leaves us with his own crazy
Mad Max—I mean max fac—proposal. May I ask him a very
simple yes or no question, which has already been asked
several times by my right hon. Friend the Member for
Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper), the
Chair of the Home Affairs Committee? Does he believe that
cameras are physical infrastructure?
-
I am grateful to the right hon. Lady for raising this
matter, because it may provide her with an opportunity to
elucidate the Labour party’s policy on the customs union
for the benefit of the nation. I seem to remember that at
the last general election, Labour Members campaigned on a
platform to come out of the customs union. Now they say
that they want to stay in “a” customs union—a customs
partnership. Their policy is absolutely clouded in
obscurity. If the right hon. Lady wishes to part those
clouds of confusion, this is her moment.
-
We are quite willing to exchange places with those on the
other side of the House. All we would ask of them is that
they call a general election.
I do not think that that constituted even an attempt to
answer the question that I asked. Like the Prime Minister,
the Foreign Secretary seems to be unable and unwilling to
state the blindingly obvious. So much for plain-speaking,
bluff authenticity.
Let me try another key question about the max fac proposal.
Can the Foreign Secretary confirm—[Interruption.] He does
need to listen, otherwise he will not understand the
question and will be unable to answer it. Can he confirm
that if the technology on which his proposal relies takes
five years to become fully functional, the UK will be
obliged to remain part of the customs union, and to be
bound by single market rules, until at least 2023?
-
The right hon. Lady had an opportunity to be clear about
what Labour wants to do. Conservative Members have been
absolutely clear. The Prime Minister has said it time and
time again: we are coming out of the single market, we are
taking back control of our borders, our laws and our money,
and we are coming out of the customs union. In her Mansion
House speech, she gave plenty of indications of how we will
deal with the problems that the right hon. Lady has
described.
-
(North Devon)
(Con)
T8. Residents of North Devon regularly raise with me their
concerns about the continuing illegal international trade
in wildlife and wildlife products. Will my right hon.
Friend please update the House on how we are tackling that?
[905313]
-
I can tell the House that this is a subject that arouses
the grave concern of the entire British people. The illegal
wildlife trade is currently worth about £1.7 billion, and
it is of course associated with many other criminal
activities. That is why, in October, we are holding a
global summit in London on that very matter, which I think
will attract the interest of the world.
-
(Coatbridge, Chryston
and Bellshill) (Lab)
T3. If a British citizen from England or Wales dies abroad
there is a further post-mortem when the body returns to the
UK, but those from Scotland, such as my late constituent
Craig Mallon who died in 2012, are not entitled to another
post-mortem and the one conducted by the other country—in
this case Spain—seems to be accepted. This year it will be
six years since Craig Mallon died— [905307]
-
Mr Speaker
Order. What we need from the hon. Gentleman is a sentence
with a question mark at the end. I do not wish to be unkind
to the hon. Gentleman, of whom I am very fond, but we are
very short of time. Blurt it out, man.
-
Craig Mallon died six years ago, after just one
post-mortem; his mother died recently, broken-hearted. Will
the Minister meet me to discuss that case?
-
The Minister for Africa (Harriett Baldwin)
May I draw the hon. Gentleman’s attention to a new
all-party group that has been set up to investigate deaths
abroad in suspicious circumstances?
-
(Cheadle) (Con)
T9. Last year I visited St Lucia as part of a Commonwealth
Parliamentary Association delegation, meeting
representatives from St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.
Britain’s vision post Brexit and its implications for the
Commonwealth family of nations was a topic of discussion.
Can my right hon. Friend give us an assurance that
following the successful Commonwealth Heads of Government
meeting, we will make every effort to strengthen our
economic and diplomatic ties with those island nations?
[905314]
-
I certainly can, and I can tell my hon. Friend that at the
Commonwealth summit I was able, as she may recall, to
announce the opening of 10 new UK delegations, many of them
in the Caribbean or the Pacific.
-
(Dundee West) (SNP)
T4. Yet again we are witnessing appalling violence and loss
of Palestinian lives in Gaza: 58 dead and 2,271 injured,
over half of them wounded by live ammunition. This must end
under international law and human rights must be upheld, so
what immediate steps will the Foreign Secretary take to
ensure that the horrors seen in Gaza yesterday never happen
again? [905308]
-
Ever since it became clear that these protests were going
to continue and the risk of confrontation was very real, we
have been at pains to work with both the Palestinian
Authority and the Israeli Government to minimise and reduce
the tension. It is a matter of horror and regret to us that
yesterday’s events happened; we will continue to urge
restraint on all responsible and seek the peace agreement
that is so urgently needed.
-
Mr (Ludlow) (Con)
Would my right hon. Friend like to take this opportunity to
congratulate the former Prime Minister of Malaysia on his
re-election after an interval, and pass on the best wishes
of the British people to the Malaysian people during this
important transition?
-
The Minister for Asia and the Pacific (Mark Field)
I thank my hon. Friend for his thoughts. The recent
election in Malaysia was historic: the outcome, while a
surprise, represents a genuine victory for democracy and is
a testament to the Malaysian people. Our relationship with
Malaysia is of course both deep and long-lasting, and I
look forward to working closely with the new Prime Minister
and his Government on many of our shared interests.
-
(Merthyr Tydfil and
Rhymney) (Lab)
T6. While I greatly welcome the fact that democratic and
peaceful elections have been held in Iraq, the results and
outcome are far from certain. Will the Foreign Secretary
give his assessment of the future stability and
security—and future direction—of Iraq? [905311]
-
We are pleased that the elections have passed off as
peacefully as they have. We look forward to working with
the new Government, and the reconstruction and stability
situation, which has been encouraged by recent conferences
in Kuwait and other places, should help the future of Iraq.
-
(Brecon and Radnorshire)
(Con)
Hezbollah’s arsenal of rockets supplied by Iran is now
estimated at 150,000. Does the Minister share my concern at
Iran’s malign influence in the region, and what recent
discussions has he had with his Israeli counterparts about
the threat posed by Hezbollah?
-
We are in regular contact with the state of Israel about
threats to it. Hezbollah’s increased weaponry is part of
that, and the supply of weapons to Hezbollah contravenes UN
resolutions. That threat to Israel is very real.
-
(Airdrie and Shotts)
(SNP)
T7. Can the Foreign Secretary confirm whether he still
believes in, and has to abide by, Cabinet collective
responsibility? [905312]
-
Of course.
-
Sir (East Devon) (Con)
After years of kleptomaniac behaviour by the Kirchner
husband and wife team in Argentina, President Mauricio
Macri is struggling to get the Argentinian economy back on
course. Will the Foreign Secretary commit to helping
Argentina and President Macri with the International
Monetary Fund and other organisations?
-
I am grateful to my right hon. Friend, who knows a great
deal about Argentina. I will be going there at the end of
the month to pursue the current improvement in relations
taking place between our two countries.
-
(Enfield North) (Lab)
President Erdo?an of Turkey, who is currently visiting this
country, has called snap elections for 24 June. Those
elections will be held under a state of emergency, severely
curtailing the freedoms of expression, assembly and
association and the right to take part in public affairs.
They will also introduce an executive presidency with
wide-ranging powers that many see as an attack on
democracy. What is the Government’s view?
-
I can tell the right hon. Lady that we had a conference
with our Turkish friends only the other day and that,
although the relationship between the UK and Turkey is very
strong, as she knows, we took every opportunity to raise
our concerns about human rights and the repression of the
media.
-
(Gloucester)
(Con)
The stated position of all British Governments for a long
time has been support for a two-state solution for Israel
and Palestine. Does my right hon. Friend agree that the
heightened violence on the Israeli-Gaza border and the
casualties coming from it now make that possibility look
even more remote?
-
It may be difficult, and it may be remote, but if it is the
right answer we should continue to pursue it, and we will.
-
Several hon. Members rose—
-
Mr Speaker
A sentence each, short and preferably without subordinate
clauses, the first to be delivered through the brilliant
brain of the hon. and learned Member for Edinburgh South
West (Joanna Cherry).
-
(Edinburgh South West)
(SNP)
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
When the Prime Minister meets President Erdo?an later
today, will she raise with him the Turkish military
invasion of Afrin, the numerous civilian deaths and the
persecution of the Kurds, who have so often stood side by
side with the United Kingdom in resisting ISIS?
-
I can certainly reassure the hon. and learned Lady that the
Prime Minister will be raising the very difficult situation
in the north of Syria.
-
(Stafford) (Con)
What assessment have the Government made of the human
rights and political situation in Burundi at the moment?
-
We are very concerned about the situation in Burundi. There
is a referendum there this week and, as my hon. Friend will
know, Her Majesty’s Government continue to send messages
about the need to respect the Arusha peace accords and to
respect democracy in Burundi.
-
(Belfast East)
(DUP)
This Christian Aid week, the charity is campaigning to
highlight inflexibility in the approach to internally
displaced peoples. Will the Minister, along with officials
from his Department and the Department for International
Development, agree to meet representatives of Christian Aid
to see how best we can address that growing situation?
-
I am very happy to do that. The situation of internally
displaced people is very important to the UK, and we are
working with others on the possibility of a UN high-level
panel later this year. I would be very happy to meet
Christian Aid once again.
-
Mr Speaker
: a sentence.
-
(Glenrothes) (SNP)
What steps are the Government taking to ensure that the
Zimbabwean Government understand the importance of proper
reparations for UK citizens who have been the victims of
serious crimes committed allegedly by associates of the
present and previous Governments of Zimbabwe?
-
As we call on the Zimbabwean Government to hold free and fair
elections this year, we are also making representations to
them. I have personally made representations on behalf of the
hon. Gentleman’s constituent to the Zimbabwean Foreign
Minister.
-
(Edinburgh South)
(Lab)
The Foreign Office website says that the European single
market is key to Europe’s and the UK’s place in the global
economy. Does the Foreign Secretary agree with that?
-
I think that whatever the website used to say about the
single market, it will shortly no longer apply to the UK.
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(Glasgow Central)
(SNP)
The UNESCO world heritage site of Socotra has reportedly
become the latest front in the war in Yemen, with Saudi
troops landing there in response to the United Arab Emirates
apparently occupying the island. What is the Minister going
to do to protect that unique and special environment and its
people?
-
I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her question, but I would
advise the House to be a little cautious about some of the
reports coming out in relation to Socotra. I spoke just this
week to the Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister of the United
Arab Emirates, and the circumstances on the allegations being
made are not particularly clear at present, but I can
reassure the hon. Lady that we will be able to make a further
statement about that in due course.
-
(Hammersmith)
(Lab)
The Bahraini criminal court has today locked up and taken
citizenship from 115 people in a mass trial, of whom 53 have
been given life sentences. Will the Minister look again at
the co-operation between this Government and the Bahraini
authorities, which only gives credence to their farcical
regime?
-
As was indicated earlier, the relationship with Bahrain
recognises the pressures brought about on that Government,
but the challenges that they are trying to meet in relation
to human rights and other matters will continue to be part of
our dialogue. We will continue to raise difficult issues
publicly and privately with the Government of Bahrain.
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