The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ahmed on 2015-10-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether restrictions were imposed on the travel of Narendra Modi; if so, whether such restrictions have been lifted; and if so, why.
Lord Bates
The Home Office do not routinely comment on individual cases. The Home Office has obligations in law to protect this information.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ahmed on 2015-10-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports regarding increasing violence towards Palestinians by Israeli troops.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond) said on 9 October, “We condemn all acts of violence, including attacks by Palestinians and by Israeli settlers. We urge all sides to take immediate steps to de-escalate the tensions and avoid actions that threaten to exacerbate the situation”. In his Statement of 13 October, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr. Ellwood), said, “We are also concerned by the use of force by Israeli security personnel in response to protests and security incidents”.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ahmed on 2015-10-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have provided any advice to (1) the Palestinian authorities, and (2) the government of Israel, regarding the peace plan or the two-state solution.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The UK has made clear in conversations with the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government that the best way to achieve a just and lasting resolution that ends the occupation and delivers peace for both Israelis and Palestinians is through negotiations. However, in order to achieve this, there must be an environment conductive to peace. That is why since the start of the current violence we have spoken regularly to both the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government, urging them to use their influence to de-escalate the tensions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ahmed on 2014-06-25.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the Bodu Bala Sena Buddhist Power Force” in Sri Lanka.”
Baroness Warsi
In the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Human Rights and Democracy Report for 2013, we note that non-governmental organisations documented hundreds of attacks against minority religions, including violence, vandalism, and hate speech in Sri Lanka. We also note that statements by nationalist Buddhist groups, including the Bodu Bala Sena, fuelled concern over rising religious tensions.
Our High Commissioner to Colombo has discussed these matters with members of the Government of Sri Lanka. We have encouraged early action to promote peaceful co-existence between all communities, noting the importance of ensuring any acts of violence, intimidation or threats are thoroughly investigated and those responsible brought to justice. Officials from our High Commission in Colombo also met with representatives of the Bodu Bala Sena last year in order to discuss the organisation’s activities and religious tensions in Sri Lanka. During the meeting, British officials expressed concern at attacks directed at Muslim and other minority religious communities.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ahmed on 2014-06-25.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any representations to the government of Sri Lanka regarding the murder of Muslims and the destruction of commercial property in Colombo.
Baroness Warsi
I refer my noble Lord to the reply I gave on 25 June 2014, Official Report, columns WA171-172.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ahmed on 2014-06-25.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to ban the leader of the Bodu Bala Sena, Mr Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara, from entering the United Kingdom.
Lord Taylor of Holbeach
The Home Office does not routinely comment on individual cases. This is because the Home Office has obligations in law to protect this information.
I can confirm that any visa application from Mr Gnanasara would be considered in accordance with the Immigration Rules.
Under the Prevent strategy, the Unacceptable Behaviours policy has prevented a cross section of extremists from entering the UK. This includes excluding individuals for public speaking or publishing material that foments, justifies or glorifies terrorist violence or fosters hatred which might lead to inter-community violence in the UK or otherwise can be demonstrated as providing support for extremists.
Coming to the UK is a privilege we refuse to extend to those who would subvert our shared values.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ahmed on 2015-01-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have provided any financial support for the redevelopment of houses destroyed during recent floods in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The UK government has not received a request from the Indian Government for financial assistance. In 2012, DFID announced that it would end our traditional financial grant aid to India in 2015. From this year on, our partnership will be based on sharing skills and expertise, investing in private sector projects that benefit the poor, and working together on global development issues.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ahmed on 2015-01-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of India regarding human rights issues in the Jammu and Kashmir region.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Allegations of human rights abuses on both sides of the Line of Control in Kashmir must be investigated thoroughly, promptly and transparently. Officials from our High Commissions in New Delhi and Islamabad regularly discuss the situation in Kashmir with the Governments of both India and Pakistan, and visit the region to witness the situation on the ground first-hand. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), has spoken to both his Indian and Pakistani counterparts about regional issues in recent months.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ahmed on 2015-01-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any representations to the government of India regarding the Governor’s Rule currently in place in Jammu and Kashmir.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have not made any representations to the Government of India on this matter.