Tag: The Lord Bishop of Leeds

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Leeds on 2016-04-18.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 5 April (HL7332), what financial and technical assistance they are providing to the Kurdistan Regional Government in its efforts to document the evidence of mass graves and genocide committed by Daesh.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We are aware of reports that mass graves have been discovered in northern Iraq. The relevant authorities in the Kurdistan Regional government (KRG) have not requested us to send forensic teams to investigate these reports, and we have no plans to do so.

We condemn in the strongest terms the targeting and persecution of Yezidis, Christians and other communities by Daesh. We continue to urge the Government of Iraq and the KRG to do all it can to ensure the security and rights of all communities in Iraq.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Leeds on 2016-02-24.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many UK nationals are resident in the other EU member states.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

There are approximately 2 million UK citizens living, working and travelling in the other 27 Member States of the EU.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Leeds on 2016-04-18.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 5 April (HL7331), what is their assessment of the prospect of the government of Iraq acceding to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We are not aware of any information indicating that the Government of Iraq is in the process of acceding to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The UK is a strong supporter of the ICC. We offer support to any State that is in the process of ratifying the Rome Statute or needs assistance in adopting the national legislation needed to enact the full implementation of the statute. Whether Iraq chooses to accede to the Rome Statute is a matter for the Government of Iraq.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Leeds on 2016-02-24.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the financial costs to other EU member states of the social security benefits received by UK nationals resident in those member states.

Lord Freud

We do not hold this information.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Leeds on 2016-02-24.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the implications of a decision by the UK to leave the EU for those UK nationals resident in other EU member states.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

There are approximately 2 million UK citizens living, working and travelling in the other 27 Member States of the EU. They all currently enjoy a range of specific rights to live, to work and access to pensions, health care and public services that are only guaranteed because of EU law. There would be no requirement under EU law for these rights to be maintained if the UK left the EU. Should an agreement be reached to maintain these rights, the expectation must be that this would have to be reciprocated for EU citizens in the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Leeds on 2016-03-23.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Iraq about Iraq becoming a signatory to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The UK coordinates with other EU member states to promote the universality of the Rome Statute. We offer support to any State that is in the process of ratifying the Rome Statute or needs assistance in adopting the national legislation needed to enact the full implementation of the statute.

Whether Iraq chooses to accede to the Rome Statute is a matter for the Government of Iraq.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Leeds on 2016-03-23.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to record the atrocities that have been committed by Daesh in Iraq so that, in due course, offenders may be brought to justice.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

This Government wants to see accountability for Daesh abuses, and has supported efforts to document them. The UK co-sponsored the UN Human Rights Council Resolution in September 2014 mandating the investigation of Daesh abuses.

In Iraq, we are funding training for human rights defenders to improve victim support and case documentation of sexual violence committed by Daesh. It is hoped that this evidence will be able to be used in the future to hold the perpetrators to account.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Leeds on 2016-03-23.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports of the use of chemical weapons by Daesh in Iraq.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

There are credible reports that Daesh has used chemical weapons in Iraq. The Government of Iraq, with support from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), investigated allegations of chemical weapons use in Iraq last year and has concluded that sulphur mustard was used against Peshmerga fighters on 11 August 2015.

Allegations that Daesh attacked the village of Taza on 8 March 2016, possibly with sulphur mustard, are being investigated by the Government of Iraq, along with two other recent allegations of Daesh use of chemical weapons. Such behaviour would be consistent with Daesh’s record of complete disregard for human rights and international norms and values. We welcome the OPCW Director General’s press statement of 23 March offering assistance to the Government of Iraq.

We continue to monitor all allegations of chemical weapon use very closely, and condemn all such attacks by anyone, anywhere.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Leeds on 2016-03-23.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to establishing new consular premises in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The Government is committed to delivering a permanent, fit-for-purpose Consulate General platform in Erbil at the earliest opportunity.

Significant changes to the security situation in Iraq have necessitated that we review our requirements and plans for the Consulate General platform in order to ensure that we are able to meet our political, security, prosperity and humanitarian objectives, both now and in the future. We continue to offer an uninterrupted service from our current Consulate General platform and continue to explore options for the acquisition of appropriate office accommodation for the future.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Leeds on 2016-03-23.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Iraq on resolving the budget impasse with the Kurdish Regional Government.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We regularly raise the importance of securing a new budget agreement between Baghdad and Erbil with senior representatives of the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

During his visit to Iraq in March the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), raised the issue with both Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, and President of the Kurdistan Region, Masoud Barzani.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), underlined the importance of a new agreement with Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari and KRG Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani in Iraq in December 2015.

Officials at our Embassy in Baghdad and our Consulate General in Erbil continue to highlight the benefits of a united Iraq and the benefits to both sides of agreeing a new oil sharing and budget arrangement.