Tag: Ann Clwyd

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann Clwyd on 2016-06-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Bahraini counterpart on restrictions on freedom of assembly and expression in that country.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We regularly discuss human rights and reform with the Government of Bahrain, and call on the Bahraini Government to act proportionately in all such cases to protect the universal rights of freedom of expression and assembly. I most recently raised the issue of human rights on 2 June when I met with the Bahraini Foreign Minister at the biannual UK-Bahrain Joint Working Group meeting.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann Clwyd on 2016-01-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the extension of the term of office of the President of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq, following the legal expiration of his term of office.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

Negotiations between the Kurdish parties over the extension of Kurdistan Regional Government President Masoud Barzani’s term in office are ongoing. We are following the situation closely and encouraging all the parties to work together to resolve this issue peacefully, in the spirit of compromise and respecting democratic principles.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann Clwyd on 2016-03-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Turkish government on the conflict in South East Turkey and further steps to protect the civilian population in that region.

Mr David Lidington

We are aware of reports of civilian casualties in south east Turkey. The Turkish Government have said that 120 civilians and more than twice that number of Turkish police and military personnel have lost their lives in clashes between 20 July 2015 and 17 February 2016. We continue to believe Turkey has a legitimate right to defend itself against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), whose attacks we condemn as we condemn all terrorism. Our thoughts are with the victims of these attacks, and the civilians who have been caught up in the violence. As in any conflict, civilian casualties should be avoided and human rights need to be fully protected.

The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), and our Ambassador in Turkey have emphasised to the Turkish government the need to respect human rights, avoid civilian casualties and return to the peace process. We have been clear, in public and private, that PKK violence must end and we support a return to the peace process, in the interests of Turkey and the region. We stand ready to help in any way we can. I raised these issues when I met Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister on 12 March and with my Turkish counterpart the last time we met in August 2015.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann Clwyd on 2016-06-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Bahraini counterpart on the relocation of citizenship of Bahraini nationals.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We regularly discuss human rights issues with the Government of Bahrain including the revocation of citizenship. I most recently raised the issue at the biannual UK-Bahrain Joint Working Group meeting, held in Bahrain on 2 June.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann Clwyd on 2016-01-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has discussed with his Kurdish counterparts the detention of Esa Barzani and other critics in Kurdistan.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

While we have not made representations on this particular case, during recent visits to Iraq, The Rt Honourable Baroness Anelay of St Johns and I discussed the human rights situation with ministers and senior officials from the Kurdistan Regional Government as well as civil society representatives. Officials at the British Consulate General in Erbil regularly raise human rights concerns with the Kurdistan Regional Government.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann Clwyd on 2016-03-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many former workers of Remploy factories in each Parliamentary constituency are (a) looking for work, (b) in work, (c) retired, (d) in receipt of employment and support allowance and (e) in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance.

Justin Tomlinson

The table below is taken from the August 2015 Labour Market Statistics and shows the last data on number of former Remploy employees in work; claiming JSA or claiming ESA in England, Scotland and Wales.

These statistics were gathered as part of the 18 month People Help and Support Package (PHSP) made available to ex-Remploy employees. We do not have the required data broken down by constituency and we did not collect data for those looking for work but not claiming ESA or JSA.

When the PHSP ended in August 2015, 1,523 former disabled employees had received support from a Personal Case Worker and 867 were in work. A total of 1,182 jobs had been found, 422 were on ESA and 234 on JSA.

DWP asked all disabled former employees made redundant from Remploy to give permission to be tracked. The data we have are necessarily incomplete because they only record the progress and outcomes of those individuals who gave this permission.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann Clwyd on 2016-06-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Burmese government relaunches the Prisoner of Conscience Affairs Committee or establishes a new Committee with a mandate to review the cases of people charged or deprived of their liberty for the exercise of their human rights.

Mr Hugo Swire

The release of some 200 political prisoners during its first few weeks in office is a strong demonstration of the new Burmese Government’s commitment to reforming human rights and the rule of law in Burma. However, we remain concerned that arrests, detentions and sentencing of political activists could continue while the military retains control of the Home Ministry, Police and Courts.

Tackling the causes of political prisoners will require a thorough but longer-term process of legislative and judicial reform. Having an effective Political Prisoners Committee will be an important element of that process and is something we have consistently called for and will continue to do.

The Government has long campaigned on the issue of political prisoners in Burma. We have maintained pressure through bilateral and international actions such as the two annual UN resolutions on Burma in which we have played an instrumental part. I raised this issue directly with the then Minister for the Presidency, U Aung Min, during my visit to Burma in July 2015. We will work with the new Government to help it continue to make progress.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann Clwyd on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations have been or will be made to relevant Bahraini government officials about the arrest and detention of the Al-Wefaq Secretary-General Sheikh Ali Salman.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We are following closely the arrest and ongoing detention of Sheikh Ali Salman. My Rt Hon and noble Friend, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Baroness Anelay raised the case with the Minister for Justice on 14 January. We encourage the government of Bahrain to ensure that due process is followed. We urge all sides to remain calm and avoid any action that might escalate tensions.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann Clwyd on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to government officials in Bahrain on the stripping of Bahraini nationality from Bahrainis who are not dual nationals, for allegedly damaging state security.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We have raised repeatedly with the Government of Bahrain its decision to withdraw citizenship from 31 individuals in 2012. We encourage the authorities to conduct full and transparent investigations into those accused of crimes and to ensure that individuals are given a right of appeal against citizenship deprivation decisions.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann Clwyd on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with government officials in Bahrain about a future visit by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

The UK encourages the government of Bahrain to agree a new date for a visit by the Special Rapporteur for Torture. On 14 January, my Rt Hon and noble Friend, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Baroness Anelay, met the Bahraini Minister of Justice and highlighted the importance of Bahrain continuing to enhance its overall co-operation with UN institutions, including with the UN Office of the High Commission for Human Rights.