Tag: Ann Clwyd

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann Clwyd on 2016-04-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2016 to Question 32065, if his Department will collect data on the number of former workers of Remploy factories in the Cynon Valley constituency are (a) looking for work, (b) in work, (c) retired, (d) in receipt of employment and support allowance, (e) in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance and (f) in receipt of universal credit.

Justin Tomlinson

The Department collected management information on former Remploy disabled employees that gave consent to be tracked during the 18 month People Help and Support Package (PHSP). Although this package ended in August 2015, former Remploy disabled employees that continue to need support can continue to access the specialist employment support that is available for all disabled people including Work Choice and Specialist Employability Support.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann Clwyd on 2015-10-30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he plans to publish the report of the review into the Muslim Brotherhood; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We intend to update the House about the main findings of the Muslim Brotherhood Review shortly. We have been clear from the outset that the purpose of the Review is to get a better understanding of what the Muslim Brotherhood stands for, how they intend to achieve their aims and what that means for the United Kingdom.

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 recent reports he has received on whether the speaker of the parliament of the Kurdistan region of Iraq is being impeded in fulfilling his role.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

On 12 October 2015, during a period of heightened tensions between Kurdish parties over the extension of the Kurdistan Regional Government President’s term, we understand that the Speaker of the Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament was denied access to Erbil. Our Ambassador in Baghdad and Consul General in Erbil have raised this issue with senior members of the Kurdistan Regional Government and underlined the importance of all parties working 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 2016-05-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the prevalence of torture in Egyptian detention facilities.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We remain deeply concerned with reports of torture in Egyptian detention facilities and we have raised this on a number of occasions with senior Egyptian officials in Cairo and in London, most recently on 5 May. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Annual Human Rights Report 2015 designated Egypt a human rights priority country and recorded that, “In 2015, reports of torture, police brutality, and forced disappearance increased. A local NGO documented reports of 676 cases of torture and 137 deaths in detention.”

The UK unreservedly condemns the use of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment as a matter of fundamental principle. The UK will continue to be a leader in advocating strong international systems to combat torture in all its forms.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann Clwyd on 2015-11-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the President of Egypt on that country’s protest and counter-terrorism laws.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) discussed a range of bilateral issues with President Sisi on 5 November, including our concerns about the application of laws regarding protests and counter-terrorism.

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 recent assessment he has made of the political, economic and security situation in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

I visited Erbil in December where I met a range of Kurdistan Regional Government ministers and officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, civil society contacts and members of the British military deployment in northern Iraq. I welcomed the recent military progress achieved by the Kurdish Security Forces against Daesh, particularly the liberation of Sinjar in November, and was able to see firsthand the contribution of British military training, equipment and support to counter-Daesh efforts. I encouraged progress on implementation of the economic reforms needed to manage the current economic downturn, as well as a rapid return to negotiations with Baghdad to secure a sustainable revenue sharing arrangement. To members of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and political party representatives, I underlined the importance of all the parties working together to resolve the issue of the KRG presidency peacefully, in the spirit of compromise and respecting democratic principles.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann Clwyd on 2016-05-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of Egypt’s compliance with international human rights and humanitarian law in its counter-terrorism operations in Sinai.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not made a formal assessment. In 2015 we shared NATO counterinsurgency doctrine with the Egyptian Government and we hope to discuss this further with them, through a planned upcoming Egyptian visit to the UK Centre for counterinsurgency doctrine.

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.

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 (a) financial and (b) other assistance his Department is providing to the Bahraini government for (i) security sector and prison reform, (ii) judicial independence and rule of law and (iii) good governance and related matters.

Mr Tobias Ellwood