The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2016-03-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who will represent the Government at the UNHCR conference on the Syrian refugee crisis on 30 March 2016.
Richard Harrington
I will represent the Government at the UNHCR conference on the Syrian refugee crisis on 30 March 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2016-03-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which overseas territories and crown dependencies have published registries of the beneficial ownership of the legally registered companies that are conducting business through their jurisdictions.
James Duddridge
I had productive discussions with Overseas Territories leaders in December when they agreed to hold beneficial ownership information in their respective jurisdictions via central registers or similarly effective systems. This is an important step forward. We further agreed that we should develop a timely, safe and secure information exchange process to increase our collective effectiveness for the purposes of law enforcement. The Overseas Territories have had productive technical discussions with UK officials and have expressed their willingness to work with us to stamp out criminal financing. I want to see significant progress ahead of the May Anti-Corruption Summit.
The Government is also in dialogue with the Crown Dependencies on this issue.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Offord on 2016-03-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of the firing of two long-range missiles from the Alborz mountain range by Iran.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
Reports that Iran has test launched two long-range missiles are of deep concern. Such activity is inconsistent with UN Security Council Resolution 2231, and we are writing to the UN Security Council to request a report into the tests. We urge Iran to refrain from further tests.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2016-03-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government has received in the case brought at the International Court of Justice in the Hague from 8 March 2016 by the Marshall Islands against the UK and other states on obligations concerning negotiations relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race and to nuclear disarmament.
Mr Hugo Swire
The Government received legal representations from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 24 April 2014, when the Marshall Islands submitted their application. I met Tony deBrum, the then Marshall Islands Foreign Minister, in May 2014 to discuss the issue. The UK filed written objections to jurisdiction and admissibility with the Court in June 2015, and the Marshall Islands provided a written response to those objections in October 2015. Oral hearings on whether the case should proceed to the next phase in which the merits will be considered are currently underway at the ICJ in The Hague.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2016-03-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proposals the UK plans to take to the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington DC in March and April 2016; and whether he plans to attend that summit.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
The Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) will lead the UK delegation to the Nuclear Security Summit on 31 March – 1 April. The UK National Statement and Progress Report will be published on the Summit website at the time of the Summit.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Brown on 2016-03-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he plans not to make a final decision on resettlement of the Chagos Islanders until after the Supreme Court judgement on the 2008 decision of the House of Lords.
James Duddridge
The public consultation on a potential resettlement of the British Indian Ocean Territory concluded on 27 October 2015, and the summary of its responses was published by the Government on 21 January 2016. The Government is now considering all the relevant material, including these responses, and the recent independent feasibility study published in February 2015. The consultation is now closed and it is for the government to now make a decision.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Brown on 2016-03-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the timetable is for the outcome of the consultation on the resettlement of Chagos Islanders to the British Indian Ocean Territory and on the funding for that resettlement.
James Duddridge
The public consultation on a potential resettlement of the British Indian Ocean Territory concluded on 27 October 2015, and the summary of its responses was published by the Government on 21 January 2016. The Government is now considering all the relevant material, including these responses, and the recent independent feasibility study published in February 2015. The consultation is now closed and it is for the government to now make a decision.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Brown on 2016-03-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what further consultation he plans to hold before a final decision is made on possible resettlement of the Chagos Islanders; whom that consultation will involve; and who will make that final decision.
James Duddridge
The public consultation on a potential resettlement of the British Indian Ocean Territory concluded on 27 October 2015, and the summary of its responses was published by the Government on 21 January 2016. The Government is now considering all the relevant material, including these responses, and the recent independent feasibility study published in February 2015. The consultation is now closed and it is for the government to now make a decision.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-03-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of Government support for Kurdish minority groups in Syria on the peace process in that country.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
Syrian Kurds, as with all minority groups in Syria, will have an important stake in a future political settlement for their country. It is for Syrians to decide the exact nature of that settlement, with the help and support of the international community and the United Nations. The Higher Negotiations Committee (HNC), which represents a broad cross section of the Syrian opposition, including Kurdish groups, has made clear its intent to enter into political negotiations with the Syrian regime to achieve a political solution to the conflict. Not all Kurdish groups are members of the HNC, or necessarily part of the internationally recognised list of Syrian “opposition” groups. But to be successful, any political settlement in Syria must be inclusive, taking account of the interests of all parties to the conflict.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2016-03-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, who has (a) visited and (b) stayed at Chevening House since 7 May 2015.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
This Government regularly publishes information on the use of official residences and ministerial meetings.
Details are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:
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