Tag: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2015-10-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been their response to the report by Amnesty International in June that the government of Burma has created a climate of fear by pursuing policies of surveillance, harassment and intimidation.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We are increasingly concerned by limits to freedom of expression and assembly in Burma, and a tightening of the democratic space as the November elections approach. These issues have been well documented by Amnesty International and others. We have expressed our concerns to the Burmese authorities a number of times, including during the visit to Burma in July by the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), and most recently, when Mr Swire met the Burmese Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin in New York in September.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2015-10-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to support the people of South Sudan who face starvation.

Baroness Verma

In 2014, the UK was one of the largest donors to the UN Humanitarian appeal which helped to avert famine and ensure that 3.5 million South Sudanese were reached with life-saving assistance. The 2015 appeal is ongoing, and 3.1 million people have been reached so far this year.

Overall, the UK is the second largest bilateral donor to the humanitarian response in South Sudan, having contributed £172 million since the start of the conflict in December 2013 and a further £88.9 million for South Sudanese refugees in the region. Limited access for humanitarian workers in the Greater Upper Nile states, particularly in Unity State, has increased the risk of famine; as noted in the recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). The UK consistently lobbies for all parties to allow unrestricted humanitarian access.

In addition, through DFID, the UK continues to deliver food security programmes in South Sudan, prioritising support to the most vulnerable people.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2015-10-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been their response to the study by the UNHCR showing that 70 per cent of Syrian refugees in Lebanon are living below the poverty line; and of their response to the World Food Programme no longer being able to provide food vouchers to 229,000 refugees in Jordan due to funding cuts.

Baroness Verma

The UK is the second largest bilateral donor to the Syria crisis response having allocated over £1.1 billion since 2012.

As of September 23^rd, DFID has allocated £304 million of funding to the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon since the start of the Syria crisis. As the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) study highlights, refugees in Lebanon are increasingly exhausting their savings and falling into debt. In response, in 2015/16 the UK allocated £94 million to meet the immediate needs of refugees and to support host communities in Lebanon, of which £25 million will support UNHCR directly.

As of September 23^rd DFID has allocated £193m of funding to Jordan since the start of the Syria crises and we continue to support both the international humanitarian response and the Government of Jordan to meet the needs of Syrian refugees and Jordanians, which have been exacerbated by the protracted nature of the refugee situation.

In August 2015, the World Food Programme (WFP) announced cuts to food support in Jordan from September onwards. DFID has provided additional support in response to the difficulties refugees have in accessing daily essentials, including food. This financial year DFID has allocated £19m to a UNHCR programme in Jordan which provides a monthly cash grant to very vulnerable refugees. Cash gives the recipients the choice to buy food, or spend it on other household priorities such as healthcare or rent. WFP reinstated food support in October to 229,000 Syrian refugees living in the urban community. This group of refugees will receive the equivalent of £9.20 per person per month, those more vulnerable (211,000 refugees) will now receive the equivalent of £13.80 per person per month, and those in the camps will receive the equivalent of £18.40. WFP will be able to maintain this level of assistance until January 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2015-10-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been their assessment of the UNHCR claim that the United Kingdom is legally obliged to resettle 114 Syrian refugees who have arrived by boat at the British military base in Cyprus.

Lord Bates

Those migrants who seek asylum will have their claims considered by the Cypriot authorities on behalf of the Sovereign Base Authorities (SBA). There is no obligation to allow those recognised as refugees to take up residence in the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2015-10-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been their response to calls from UNICEF for the United Kingdom to allow refugees to apply for humanitarian visas in countries of origin and transit at United Kingdom embassies.

Lord Bates

There is no provision in our Immigration Rules for someone to be given permission to travel to the UK to seek asylum or humanitarian protection and Her Majesty’s Government has no plans to extend the Immigration Rules to allow refugees to apply for humanitarian visas at any UK embassies.

We are focusing our efforts on resettling vulnerable people in need of international protection from the region, including 20,000 Syrians by the end of the Parliament. This provides refugees with a direct and safe route to the UK and uses established UNHCR processes. This is of course in addition to the £1.12 billion in humanitarian aid provided by the UK for those most in need in the region – more than any other country in the world except the United States.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2014-06-27.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how Chin and Karenni children are likely to be reached by the Myanmar Education Consortium in Myanmar.

Baroness Northover

A local partner of the Myanmar Education Consortium (MEC), Kayan New Generation Youth, is working with Karenni communities in four states: Kayah, Kayin, Naypyidaw and Shan (south). The MEC is not currently supporting partners in Chin State. However, it is supporting a local organisation, Linguistic Society, working in Rakhine, which is developing early childhood care and development material in one of the ethnic languages used in Southern Chin and adjoining Myebone township in Rakhine.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2014-06-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures are in place to ensure that the support being given to the Nigerian authorities for defence and security priorities is underpinned by human rights standards.

Baroness Warsi

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), made a statement about the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) guidance on 15 December 2011.

Since this date all funding and assistance provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to Nigeria, which falls under the criteria set out in OSJA guidance, is examined in compliance with OSJA requirements. This includes strict stipulation on human rights standards and compliance. The OSJA process reflects the determination of the British Government to ensure that such assistance is provided in a manner that promotes, rather than undermines, human rights and democracy in Nigeria.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2014-06-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Nigerian authorities about access for detainees to lawyers and to their families whilst they are in detention.

Baroness Warsi

The UK remains committed to supporting efforts to help enhance the effectiveness and accountability of the Nigerian police and judicial system. We regularly raise human rights concerns, including access to lawyers, with senior members of the Nigerian government at State and Federal level and will continue to do so. We raised specific concerns on the treatment of detainees at military-run detention centres at the UN Universal Periodic Review of Nigeria in Geneva on 22 October 2013.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2014-06-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether concerns about the use of torture have been raised in Uzbekistan under the European Union Human Rights Dialogue; and if so, when.

Baroness Warsi

Concerns about torture were raised in the last EU-Uzbekistan human rights dialogue which took place in November 2013. Specifically, concerns were raised about reports of torture of detainees and there was discussion focussed on encouraging progress towards establishing a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) on torture.

The UK has significant concerns about the human rights situation in Uzbekistan, as reflected in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s annual human rights report. Torture is one of the issues which we continue to raise both in multilateral contexts such as the EU Human Rights Dialogue and through our bilateral contacts with the Government of Uzbekistan. I had wide ranging discussions, including on human rights, during my recent visit to Uzbekistan in April, and more recently during a meeting in London with the Uzbek Ambassador here.

In a bilateral context, our Embassy in Tashkent funds a range of projects in support of good governance, human rights and the development of civil society. In relation to torture prevention, we have promoted British experience of criminal justice reform and have shared UK expertise to support the development of Uzbekistan’s NPM against torture. Our Embassy also contributes to discussions between the Uzbek authorities and its international partners to encourage criminal justice reform.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2014-06-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what pressure is being exerted on countries that have not ratified the Arms Trade Treaty.

Baroness Warsi

The UK has allocated £350,000 to support projects that will help countries to sign, ratify and implement the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). We are working through the UN and EU with countries that require technical assistance and advice on how to implement certain aspects of the Treaty e.g. enforcement training and framing legislation correctly. Other activities include raising awareness with key partners in regions such as West Africa, where communities are seriously affected by the illicit trade in Small Arms.

This year, through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s counter-proliferation programme, we will be funding a series of ATT-related projects specifically focused on ATT signature, ratification, implementation and early entry into force.