Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Tuesday 8 September 2020 · 14 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 6 Partly answered 8 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Suzanne Webb inquired about the Department for International Development's recent activities and commitments, and the Foreign Secretary responded by mentioning the launch of the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to integrate aid efforts.
  • Suzanne Webb raised concerns over the case of Ye Ming Yuen in Singapore and the use of corporal punishment globally; the Foreign Secretary affirmed the UK's opposition to corporal punishment and commitment to supporting Mr. Yuen.
  • Lisa Nandy questioned the Foreign Secretary about the UK's obligations under international law and the debt owed to Iran, leading to discussions on diplomatic relations and efforts to resolve the International Military Services debt.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Suzanne Webb
Foreign Affairs
Context

No specific context given, but questions regarding recent trips and departmental activities.

Question

If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. I am concerned about the recent activities and commitments made by the Department for International Development and its integration with foreign policy initiatives.

Answer from Dominic Raab

Since the last oral question session, I visited Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to press for a new dialogue and to reinforce the UK's commitment to a negotiated two-state solution. On 2 September, we launched the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to integrate our aid expertise and our diplomatic reach and to project global Britain as an even stronger force for good in the world.

Answered
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Q2 Suzanne Webb
Foreign Affairs
Context

There is a case involving Ye Ming Yuen in Singapore, who has been sentenced to caning for his actions. The UK opposes the use of corporal punishment.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend share my concern about the case of Ye Ming Yuen in Singapore, and will he ensure that the Government continue to raise our objections to the use of corporal punishment all over the world? I am concerned about the treatment of Mr Ye Ming Yuen and want assurance that we will maintain our stance against corporal punishment.

Answer from Dominic Raab

My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and our staff continue to support Mr Yuen and his family during what must be a very distressing time. I can tell her and reaffirm that the United Kingdom's long-standing global position is to oppose corporal punishment in all circumstances and to call for the consideration of alternative sentences.

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Q3 Lisa Nandy Lab Wigan
Foreign Affairs
Context

The UK is facing pressure to comply with its international obligations, specifically regarding the withdrawal agreement. There are concerns about undermining diplomatic efforts by breaching these commitments.

Question

In the last six months, the Foreign Secretary has publicly reminded Iran, Israel, China and Russia of their obligations under international law. I agree with him, so does he agree with me and with the most senior legal official in Government, who has behaved with honour and principle this morning, that when the Prime Minister briefs that he will unilaterally tear up our international obligations, it undermines our moral authority, harms our national interest and makes a mockery of the Foreign Secretary's attempts to stand up for international law? Will he assure the House that he, as the Foreign Secretary, will never vote for amendments that violate our international obligations?

Answer from Dominic Raab

I obviously respect all the brilliant civil servants who work for us. I used to work as a Foreign Office lawyer myself. I can say to the hon. Lady that I am surprised she would open up this question. As we go through the uncertainty of changing our relationship with the EU, we will make sure that there is maximum certainty for businesses as regards the UK internal market, and of course we will legislate to that effect. Ultimately, we will take every measure necessary to protect the integrity of the United Kingdom and to comply with and live up to the Good Friday agreement, ensuring that it is respected.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment on voting against amendments violating international obligations was not explicitly made

How: Surprised She Would Open Up This Question, Protecting Integrity Of Uk

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Q4 Lisa Nandy Lab Wigan
Immigration Foreign Affairs
Context

There is an international arbitration ruling that the UK owes a debt to Iran, which has not yet been paid. There are concerns over the detention of dual nationals in Iran.

Question

The right hon. Gentleman clearly does not read the newspapers, because his own Government have been briefing the precise opposite. Let me try him on another international obligation. An international arbitration ruling determined that the UK owes a debt to Iran, which has not yet been paid. In a letter to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family last week, the Defence Secretary said that the UK acknowledges there is a debt to be paid and is seeking to find ways to pay it. It is absolutely vital that the Government have a clear and agreed strategy for Nazanin, Anoosheh Ashoori and all dual UK nationals to ensure that they are brought home as soon as possible. Does the right hon. Gentleman agree with the Defence Secretary, and if so, what steps is he now taking to resolve these heartbreaking cases?

Answer from Dominic Raab

I can tell the House that I had two conversations throughout August with Foreign Minister Zarif. We pursue all the cases of our dual nationals. The question of the International Military Services debt is a parallel issue, but we have always said that we would work to resolve that. As well as all the wider issues that have already been raised in relation to Iran, there is never an engagement, a meeting or a telephone conversation that goes by without our being absolutely clear—and I hope that the hon. Lady agrees—on the appalling and arbitrary detention of all dual nationals and calling for their immediate release.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps to resolve debt and bring home dual nationals were not fully detailed

How: Two Conversations With Foreign Minister Zarif

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Q5 Crispin Blunt Con
Women & Equalities
Context

The UK has an opportunity to advance LGBT rights globally, including addressing historical legacies of imperialism.

Question

With my right hon. Friend's much enhanced departmental responsibilities, together with Britain's current chairmanship of the 42-nation Equal Rights Coalition, he has an unprecedented opportunity to reinforce Britain's claim to leadership in advancing the freedom of all LGBT+ people around the world to be themselves. Britain also has a special responsibility to address the unhappy legacy of the laws and the culture bequeathed by imperial Britain. What measures is he considering for global Britain to take this opportunity as well as to help to address the legacy of imperial Britain?

Answer from Dominic Raab

I thank my hon. Friend and hugely welcome all his efforts in this regard. We are taking forward all these strands—from media freedom to the Magnitsky sanctions, to the work that we are doing on LGBT rights. He will know that we intend to build on our current official development assistance allocation for the strategic review on LGBT rights, which will be completed in the autumn. As a founding member of the Equal Rights Coalition of 42 states sharing the same values, in 2019 we took on the role of co-chair and we plan not only to deliver the first ever UK-led five-year action plan, committing the coalition to taking domestic and international measures on LGBT and equality issues, but to expand the ERC and, in particular, to try to draw in more participation from Asia, Latin America and Africa, for all the reasons that he mentioned.

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Q6 Chris Elmore Lab Bridgend
Foreign Affairs
Context

There is a concern about the spread of disinformation related to vaccines and treatments for COVID-19, impacting global public health efforts.

Question

There is clearly a global effort to find a vaccine and treatments for people suffering from covid-19, but what representations have the Foreign Secretary or any of his Ministers made on trying to tackle disinformation on vaccines or in relation to false cures for covid-19? There really needs to be a global effort to tackle the ticking time bomb that is disinformation.

Answer from Dominic Raab

The hon. Gentleman is right to point out that the UK has a comparative advantage internationally, with research that is going on at Oxford and Imperial in pursuit of the vaccine and the leadership that the Prime Minister showed at the Gavi summit to smash all the records and get $8.8 billion-worth of funding to ensure equitable access to the whole world. That is good for the United Kingdom—we do not want a second wave globally—and important as a matter of moral responsibility. On misinformation, we have discussed it in the G7 and plenty of other formats, and the hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that we must be rigorous and robust in rebutting false information, particularly when it is irresponsible about something such as vaccine safety standards.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific representations made by Ministers to tackle disinformation not detailed

How: Discussed In The G7, Rigorous And Robust Rebuttal

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Q7 Bernard Jenkin Con Harwich and North Essex
Parliamentary Procedure
Context

The MP references a series of correspondences with the Leader of the House about the merger plans for international aid committees. There is concern over whether such mergers would reduce oversight.

Question

May I draw my right hon. Friend's attention to the exchange of correspondence between our right hon. Friend the Leader of the House and me as Chairman of the Liaison Committee about the continuing scrutiny of the overseas aid budget? What possible justification could there be for any reduction in scrutiny by Parliament of this very substantial and complicated budget?

Answer from Dominic Raab

The Government take the position that Select Committees ought to shadow Departments, but the representation is ultimately for the House to decide. The Independent Commission for Aid Impact provides scrutiny and accountability; its role will be reviewed to ensure it adds value with practical recommendations.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The justification for reducing parliamentary scrutiny was not provided.

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Q8 Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem North East Fife
Foreign Affairs
Context

There is a concern over unnecessary mergers during a time when UK aid is critically needed overseas. The questioner seeks an estimate of costs before the announcement.

Question

The Government embarked on and rushed through an unnecessary and expensive merger of the FCO and DFID right at the time when UK aid is needed most overseas. Despite repeated requests from my office, it appears that the Government either do not know what the merger will cost or are not willing to say. Will the Foreign Secretary confirm whether or not any estimate of merger costs was made prior to the merger's announcement in June?

Answer from Dominic Raab

Covid has shown why we need to integrate our international efforts, but over time, there will be considerable savings on administrative costs as we streamline and combine previous Departments.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The estimate of merger costs was not confirmed.

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Q9 Sheryll Murray Con
Brexit Local Government
Context

There is a discussion about the cost-effectiveness of maintaining an office abroad post-Brexit.

Question

Does my hon. Friend think that Cornwall Council's staffed office in Brussels is a good use of taxpayers' money at this time, when the money could be spent on local services?

Answer from Nigel Adams

Given we have left the EU, having an operation overseas is curious. The UK has 280 overseas posts that represent all parts of the UK; Cornwall Council's decision on its own operations is ultimately for local voters to decide.

Answered
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Q10 Virendra Sharma Lab
Context

The MP hosted a youth summit that produced a memorandum of understanding. They seek a meeting with the Secretary of State for support.

Question

This summer, I hosted the British South Asian Youth Summit, bringing together more than 150 young people from across south Asia and Britain. They discussed the future, wrote a memorandum of understanding and agreed to work together. Will the Secretary of State meet me and some of those young people to hear their proposals and offer the support of his network to the positive cause of promoting understanding and engagement in the region?

Answer from Dominic Raab

The hon. Gentleman's endeavour is exceptional; we want stronger relationships with that part of the world, and would be interested in receiving proposals directly to ensure either I or the Minister meets those involved.

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Q11 Theresa Villiers Con
Foreign Affairs
Context

The UN embargo expires in October, and the UK abstained from a resolution to extend it. There is concern over Iran's potential access to more weaponry.

Question

The UN embargo on the sale of conventional weapons to Iran expires in October. Unless it is extended, Iran will no doubt have more access to weapons to use to oppress its own people and spread death and terror through proxies such as Hezbollah, so why did the UK abstain on a resolution to extend the embargo? What action is the Foreign Secretary going to take to make sure that it stays in place?

Answer from Dominic Raab

The UK's position is clear: we want to see the continuation of the arms embargo. We offered our good offices to work with all permanent members of the Security Council, but ultimately unless the resolution can pass, it has no impact in restraining Iran.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions taken or planned were not detailed.

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Q12 Afzal Khan Lab Manchester Rusholme
Foreign Affairs
Context

There is concern over reports of detainment and forced disappearance of the Muslim population in Xinjiang, China. The questioner seeks to hold the Chinese government accountable.

Question

Nearly 80% of the Uyghur Muslim population has vanished since 2016, as a result of either detainment in concentration camps or forced disappearance. In light of that, will the Secretary of State outline what steps his Department is taking to hold the Chinese Government to account for these heinous crimes? Will he confirm today that the Government will call for an impartial international investigation into what is taking place in Xinjiang?

Answer from Nigel Adams

We have serious concerns about gross human rights violations against Uyghurs and other minorities, including extrajudicial detention of over 1 million Uyghur Muslims. We are playing a leading role in holding China to account, led the UK with 27 countries at the UN Human Rights Council, and the Foreign Secretary has raised Xinjiang with his Chinese counterpart.

Answered
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Q13 Paul Holmes Con Hamble Valley
Foreign Affairs
Context

The JCPOA did not address Iran's financing of terrorism or the development of ballistic missiles. Iran is suspected of breaching nuclear commitments and allowing violent interventions through militias.

Question

The JCPOA deal did not include terms relating to Iran's financing of terrorism and development of ballistic missiles. As Iran appears to have both breached its nuclear commitments and allowed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to intervene violently across the region, does my right hon. Friend agree that a new deal addressing these issues is vitally needed?

Answer from Dominic Raab

My hon. Friend will know that, along with our E3 colleagues, we have triggered the dispute resolution mechanism for the JCPOA on the nuclear side. It has always been the case that the JCPOA did not encompass the wider destabilising activities in which Iran engages in the region through militias and proxies, and we have always been open and willing, and indeed pressing, to try to incorporate a bigger agreement.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about agreeing that a new JCPOA is needed was not addressed directly. The response acknowledged the issue but did not commit to a new deal or provide concrete steps.

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Q14 Margaret Ferrier SNP
Foreign Affairs
Context

In the past year, 70 critics of the Zimbabwean Government have been abducted and tortured by security forces.

Question

It has been two years since President Mnangagwa took office in Zimbabwe, yet progress in human rights reform has been non-existent. In the past year alone 70 critics of the Zimbabwean Government have been abducted and tortured by security forces; what steps is the FCDO taking to engage with the Zimbabwean authorities to progress reforms and ensure that those responsible for human rights violations are brought to justice?

Answer from Dominic Raab

I share the hon. Lady's concern about the situation in Zimbabwe. We follow it carefully and engage with our international partners as well as directly with the Government of Zimbabwe. Working with our partners, we have the tools, if the evidence allows and we decide it is the right thing to do, to apply targeted sanctions on those who commit the most egregious human rights abuses.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about concrete steps taken by the FCDO was not fully answered. The response acknowledged concerns but did not provide specific actions or timelines.

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