Tag: Mark Pritchard

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of the sale on stolen antiquities to fund violent conflict and terrorism in Iraq.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

The British Government takes the funding of terrorist organisations through any means very seriously. The Government is concerned by recent reports that stolen antiquities may be funding terrorist activity by groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL). The Government is also concerned by any destruction of important cultural heritage.

The Government endorsed guidelines on countering trafficking in cultural property and related offences at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its twenty-third session in May 2014.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of the theft of antiquities by ISIS and their sale in the international arts market.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

The British Government takes the funding of terrorist organisations through any means very seriously. The Government is concerned by recent reports that stolen antiquities may be funding terrorist activity by groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL). The Government is also concerned by any destruction of important cultural heritage.

The Government endorsed guidelines on countering trafficking in cultural property and related offences at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its twenty-third session in May 2014.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions his Department has had with Sotheby’s Auction House on the sale of conflict antiquities in the UK domestic marketplace.

Mr Edward Vaizey

I have no current plans to hold discussions with the major auction houses, nor has the Government recently discussed the sale of conflict antiquities with them. The Government believes that regulating trade in antiquities is primarily the responsibility of the art and antiquities trade itself. The established trade associations possess codes of ethics by which they expect their members to abide and we expect the associations to strictly enforce those codes. The DCMS has produced advice and guidance to help UK dealers and auction houses consider the relevant issues such as ensuring the secure provenance of cultural objects in which they deal.

The UK takes the issue of illicit trade in cultural goods very seriously and is continuously working to combat this type of trafficking.

The UK has legislation in place, the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, which makes it an offence to import or export objects if that is prohibited under any enactment. Once an EU Regulation prohibiting such import or export comes into force, the act becomes a UK offence. Accordingly, prohibitions on export and import of certain Syrian cultural property under Council Regulation (EU) 1332/2013 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria, have been backed up by UK offences since December 2013. These are complemented by a statutory instrument (The Export Control (Syria Sanctions) (Amendment) Order 2014) which was laid before Parliament on 18 July 2014. The prohibitions relate to the trade in certain Syrian cultural goods where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the goods were removed from Syria on or after 9 May 2011 without consent of the legitimate owner or in breach of Syrian or international law.

The import, export and dealing in illegally removed Iraqi cultural property is prohibited under The Iraq (United Nations Sanctions) Order 2003. While not specific to war situations, the Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Act 2003 prohibits dealing in cultural objects illegally excavated or illegally removed from monuments or structures of historical, architectural or archaeological interest.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department will bring forward legislation to outlaw the sale of stolen conflict antiquities in the UK.

Mr Edward Vaizey

I have no current plans to hold discussions with the major auction houses, nor has the Government recently discussed the sale of conflict antiquities with them. The Government believes that regulating trade in antiquities is primarily the responsibility of the art and antiquities trade itself. The established trade associations possess codes of ethics by which they expect their members to abide and we expect the associations to strictly enforce those codes. The DCMS has produced advice and guidance to help UK dealers and auction houses consider the relevant issues such as ensuring the secure provenance of cultural objects in which they deal.

The UK takes the issue of illicit trade in cultural goods very seriously and is continuously working to combat this type of trafficking.

The UK has legislation in place, the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, which makes it an offence to import or export objects if that is prohibited under any enactment. Once an EU Regulation prohibiting such import or export comes into force, the act becomes a UK offence. Accordingly, prohibitions on export and import of certain Syrian cultural property under Council Regulation (EU) 1332/2013 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria, have been backed up by UK offences since December 2013. These are complemented by a statutory instrument (The Export Control (Syria Sanctions) (Amendment) Order 2014) which was laid before Parliament on 18 July 2014. The prohibitions relate to the trade in certain Syrian cultural goods where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the goods were removed from Syria on or after 9 May 2011 without consent of the legitimate owner or in breach of Syrian or international law.

The import, export and dealing in illegally removed Iraqi cultural property is prohibited under The Iraq (United Nations Sanctions) Order 2003. While not specific to war situations, the Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Act 2003 prohibits dealing in cultural objects illegally excavated or illegally removed from monuments or structures of historical, architectural or archaeological interest.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will discuss with Transport for London the installation of hand sanitisers on London Underground trains and platforms.

Jane Ellison

Hand sanitisers can make an additional useful contribution to reduction of carriage of bacteria and viruses on the hands. However, the mainstay for reduction in transmission of bacteria and viruses remains regular washing of hands with soap and water. There has not been a trial of the use of hand sanitisers in public places such as train stations so there is no evidence for how effective an intervention like this might be. The Director of the London office of Public Health England and health advisor to the Mayor of London will raise the issue with Transport for London.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will hold discussions with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime on a global response to the sale of stolen antiquities to fund terrorism.

Norman Baker

The UK takes the funding of terrorist organisations through any means very seriously. This Government endorsed guidelines on countering trafficking in cultural property and related offences at the UN Office on Drugs and CrimeCommission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its twenty-third session in May 2014.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2015-09-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to amend the Blue Badge scheme to allow badges to be awarded to those with severe cognitive disabilities.

Andrew Jones

The Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (England) Regulations 2000 allow badges to be awarded to people with any permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking, which may include those with cognitive disabilities. The Government has no plans to amend the eligibility rules for Blue Badges.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will hold discussions with his counterparts in the United Arab Emirates on the alleged torture of UK citizens in UAE prisons.

Hugh Robertson

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office takes allegations of mistreatment of any British national overseas extremely seriously. With the permission of an individual, we will always formally raise these with the host government. We have raised our concerns on a number of specific cases in the UAE and will continue to use the Ministerial Taskforce and other opportunities to raise consular issues when necessary, including those relating to British Nationals in detention.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will raise the release of political prisoners in Eritrea with his Eritrean counterpart.

Mark Simmonds

We remain deeply concerned at the continued arbitrary detention of political prisoners in Eritrea, including some detained without trial since September 2001. Our Ambassador in Asmara and EU counterparts regularly raise this with the Eritrean Government, calling for their release. I have raised human rights issues with the Foreign Minister and, most recently, FCO officials raised the issue with the Eritrean Ambassador in March 2014. We will continue to do so at every opportunity

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will discuss sexual violence against women in India with his Indian counterpart.

Mr Hugo Swire

We are committed to working with the government of India and international partners to address the problem of gender-based violence, human trafficking and child exploitation in India. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) has invited the government of India to attend the End Sexual Violence in Conflict Summit and has already discussed the initiative with the new Indian Foreign Minister.