Live Foreign and Commonwealth Office Questions House of Commons


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of Parliament at 11pm at first we have Boris Johnson's first session

:00:00.3:59:59

as Foreign Secretary. Order, order. Questions to the

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Secretary of State for Forehgn and Commonwealth Affairs. Number one, Mr

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Speaker. With permission I will say that I know my honourable friend

:00:29.:00:32.

cares deeply about Kashmir `nd visited the region and I have

:00:33.:00:38.

recently met representatives from both sides recently and I whll

:00:39.:00:43.

continue to do so. Thank yot, Mr Speaker. Has the Minister sden the

:00:44.:00:53.

report of hundreds of Kashmhri protesters suffering eye injuries

:00:54.:00:56.

because of pellet guns and will the Minister please speak out against

:00:57.:01:06.

this. 'S of course I'm concdrned about the use of pellet guns, and of

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course he will know that thd use of pellet guns has become under review.

:01:13.:01:21.

Alternative methods of crowd control will be continued to be scrttinised.

:01:22.:01:26.

Does Britain have a special relationship -- response but in

:01:27.:01:36.

helping to find a solution to the troubles in Kashmir? Four of course

:01:37.:01:40.

the UK has good relationships with India and Pakistan that the

:01:41.:01:46.

long-standing position held by successive governments is it is for

:01:47.:01:49.

India Pakistan to find a lasting resolution taking into accotnt the

:01:50.:01:55.

wishes of the Kashmiri people. It is not for the UK to prescribe a

:01:56.:01:59.

solution or act as mediator. There are no winners in Kashmir, the

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research -- recent clashes have caused millions of pounds of damage.

:02:08.:02:13.

A military solution is not working, can I urge the Minister to dncourage

:02:14.:02:17.

a political solution that not only involves India Pakistan but also the

:02:18.:02:23.

Kashmiris themselves. Four of course we should continue to do all they

:02:24.:02:28.

can to promote trade and st`bility in the region. As has been stated in

:02:29.:02:35.

Kashmir we have seen over 100 killed and hundreds blinded, and the use of

:02:36.:02:44.

indiscriminate pellet guns. Will the Minister today condemned thhs

:02:45.:02:49.

shocking abuse of human rights and as a permanent member of thd UN

:02:50.:02:52.

Security Council does he not believe we have a responsibility to support

:02:53.:02:58.

and uphold UN resolution 47 to allow the sons and daughters of K`shmir

:02:59.:03:01.

their birthright to self-determination? Four as I noted

:03:02.:03:05.

of course I'm concerned by the reported use of pellet guns and any

:03:06.:03:08.

allegations of human rights will be investigated only, promptly and

:03:09.:03:16.

transparently. Will the Minhster speak with officials at number ten

:03:17.:03:21.

and urged the Prime Minister to raise this issue during her

:03:22.:03:27.

forthcoming visit to India? Mr Speaker, the UK of course shares and

:03:28.:03:31.

long-standing and deep friendship with India and I'm delighted the

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Prime Minister has announced she will be visiting India in November

:03:34.:03:36.

and it will be an important opportunity to discuss the full

:03:37.:03:42.

range of bilateral issues. The previous Foreign Secretary said in

:03:43.:03:47.

March that the question of Kashmir should be a precondition of the

:03:48.:03:51.

resumption of talks with Pakistan and since there has been more than

:03:52.:03:56.

100 days of unrest in the area. Can I ask the Foreign Secretary what

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specifically he is doing to bring about an end to the violencd and a

:04:00.:04:08.

resumption of the talks? Of course as I have said we have very good

:04:09.:04:12.

relations with India and Pakistan and these are two proud nathons We

:04:13.:04:17.

encourage both countries to maintain good relations but recognisd the

:04:18.:04:21.

right message for both sides to determine. We are seeing imlense

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issues in their own country to sort out, we would have thought they

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would be an appetite to get this issue resolved? Why does thd Revista

:04:31.:04:35.

think that appetite does not seem to exist either in India or Pakistan?

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-- the Minister. As I have noted of course this is a very important

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matter and we raise these issues with both governments. But

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ultimately it is for both shdes to progress with this issue and to

:04:50.:04:59.

determine the outcome. On the half of the opposition can we associate

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ourselves with the Minister's remarks. The recent upsurge in

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violent clashes and terrorist attacks in Kashmir is deeplx

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disturbing and we would urgd all sides to engage in dialogue, halt

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the cycle of violence and kdep incident to millions from h`rm. To

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that end we have heard todax about the use of pellet guns against

:05:20.:05:24.

protesters which is totally unacceptable. Will the Minister and

:05:25.:05:27.

the sick gestate urged the Hndian authorities to make good on their

:05:28.:05:33.

commitment to stop the use ,- and the secretary of state. , as I have

:05:34.:05:39.

noted on a number of occasions, the use of pellet

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of course it is right that the UK and the Russian Federation should

:05:55.:06:00.

continue to cooperate and engage in all the areas where we have common

:06:01.:06:04.

interests. But in view of the ruthless and brutal behaviotr of the

:06:05.:06:10.

Russians in Ukraine and in Syria, I hope the house will agree that it is

:06:11.:06:14.

right UK should take a lead in keeping pressure on sanctions and it

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cannot be business as usual with Russia. I agree, the behaviour of

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Putin has been despicable, lurdering his opponents, assassinating

:06:25.:06:27.

political opponents like Boris Nemtsov, as well as the inv`sion of

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Georgia and Crimea and now the despicable behaviour in Syrha where

:06:33.:06:38.

he tries to draw a moral eqtivalence between British and American bombing

:06:39.:06:45.

of military installations rtn by Daesh and the bombing of hospitals

:06:46.:06:51.

in Aleppo. But can I just s`y that I'm not sure demonstrations outside

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BMC will make any differencd but what might is if we stopped Putin's

:06:54.:06:57.

cronies coming to London. Why on earth do we still allow those who

:06:58.:07:05.

were involved in the murder to come to this country. Will he delonstrate

:07:06.:07:13.

to the Home Secretary? I'm grateful for the question because he is like

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to point out there is no im`gery whatsoever between the actions of

:07:18.:07:19.

the Russians and the Assad regime that the Americans and the others on

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the other side. Just in the last 11 months Russian bombing alond has

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been responsible for the de`ths of 3189 civilians of whom 763 were

:07:29.:07:35.

children. It is in no circulstances that it is absolutely right we

:07:36.:07:39.

should be keeping up the sanctions regime not just on, not just on

:07:40.:07:44.

Russia, but on the members `nd associates of the Putin reghme. With

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my right honourable friend `gree that it be particularly vild

:07:53.:08:01.

happenings in Syria have bedn allowed to happen because of several

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years in weakness in western policy towards that area and would he

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further agree that if we want to hold the ring, the importance of

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being seen to be absolutely solidly behind Nato has never been stronger?

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My right honourable friend hs of course absolutely right. And he is

:08:23.:08:28.

right to say that the vacuul left by the decision of I'm afraid this

:08:29.:08:32.

house and indeed the Obama demonstration in 2013 not to oppose

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the Saddam regime has allowdd the Russians to move into that space. It

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is vital to keep up the pressure not just with sanctions but also of

:08:44.:08:49.

course with the threat of jtstice in the International criminal Court. It

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is unfortunate that in Russha itself the press, print and social media,

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has been gagged and hence the reason I have very little sympathy for the

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complaints made today by Russia today, which is undoubtedly a form

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of propaganda constantly usdd by Putin and his gang. What is now

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happening surely as far as the media is concerned is the same as happened

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under communism and before that Sarries on. Repression at home and

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leads to repression abroad. -- Tsarism. I noted the decision on the

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bank to withdraw support for Russia Today, a wholly independently taken

:09:35.:09:38.

decision, in spite of what xou may have heard this morning. Ond of the

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things we are doing to promote free and fair information in Russia is of

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course to support the BBC World Service. , there is a Ukrainian

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film-maker imprisoned in Russia for 20 years, will be government demand

:10:00.:10:12.

his immediate release? We are indeed concerned by the number of Tkrainian

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nationals who have voiced their opposition to what has happdned the

:10:16.:10:21.

illegal annexation of Crime` and who face lengthy jail sentences

:10:22.:10:29.

including Oleg Sentsov. We `re appealing to the Russian authorities

:10:30.:10:35.

immediately. Last March President Putin was praised for his rtthless

:10:36.:10:42.

clarity in retaking Palmyra and by August the Foreign Secretarx said he

:10:43.:10:45.

wanted to normalise relationships with Russia last week he called for

:10:46.:10:50.

demonstrations. Foreign Secretary, where is the political conshstency

:10:51.:10:54.

and how does this build trust in the diplomatic Trinity?

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I think the House will have heard that matters where we can cooperate

:11:00.:11:04.

with Russia it is vital that we do so. To the point about

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demonstrations outside the Russian Embassy, I merely draw attention to

:11:10.:11:12.

the paradox and the pre-quete reality that the Stop the W`r

:11:13.:11:17.

Coalition has seen fit to demonstrate against the barbarism

:11:18.:11:24.

taking place in Aleppo -- the paradox and the peculiar Lara T

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Will he welcomed the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, who is

:11:31.:11:36.

meeting the Queen this week? I know a bit about Russian Orthodoxy,

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having been married in a chtrch The Russian Orthodox Church has suffered

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appallingly. It is an opportunity now for the Foreign Secretary to

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make clear that whatever our differences with the Russian

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Government at the moment, wd have nothing but support for the Russian

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people and her face, and th`t perseverance in times of trhal. I

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defer to my right honourabld friend's knowledge of the Rtssian

:12:00.:12:08.

Orthodox Church, but I had to say that I think it is important that we

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keep open all lines of communication. The archbishop might

:12:11.:12:12.

have some interesting points to make. I think it would be ilportant

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to give a message from the TK that we do not tolerate what is happening

:12:16.:12:20.

in Crimea, in the east of Ukraine and, above all, in Syria. I hope

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that the visit of the archbhshop will be a factor for change in the

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Kremlin. Question number three.

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With permission, I will answer this together with questions eight and

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ten. Since becoming Foreign Secretary I have engaged with many

:12:43.:12:46.

of my counterparts across Etrope and beyond, including partners `s far a

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field as Turkey and Japan. Those discussions have, of course, touched

:12:52.:12:55.

on the article of the referdndum and the Government's plans to enact the

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result. Thank you. My right honourable

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friend kindly visited my constituency is Telford last year,

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so he will know that there `re many Japanese employers in Telford. Can

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my right honourable friend please tell the House what assurances he

:13:12.:13:14.

has given his Japanese counterpart is that post-Brexit global Britain

:13:15.:13:19.

is still a great place to do business?

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Thank you very much. My honourable friend will know that since the

:13:24.:13:26.

referendum result there has been a ?24 billion investment in this

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country from Japan, Japanesd investment continues to comd in I

:13:33.:13:36.

think all Japanese and investors around the world, indeed, c`n be

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safe in the knowledge that we will get the best possible deal for goods

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and services that will allow their companies to flourish and prosper in

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this country as never beford. The Secretary of State will be aware

:13:55.:13:57.

that the timetable is triggdring instability and uncertainty in the

:13:58.:14:03.

economy, so much so that thd Cabinet is considering spending billions to

:14:04.:14:08.

keep back single market accdss for the City of London. What is the

:14:09.:14:12.

timetable for the same support to be played for Scotland, where 62% voted

:14:13.:14:19.

to Remain? The people of Scotland obviously had a referendum hn 2 14,

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voted convincingly to remain in the UK. This was a United Kingdom

:14:25.:14:29.

decision and we will continte the negotiations as a United Kingdom,

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and we will get a fantastic deal for this country, a strong deal for the

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EU, both a strong UK and a strong EU.

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Thank you, Mr Speaker. Following on from that, the Honourable Ddputy

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Speaker of the Italian chamber of deputies, whom I am the right

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honourable member for Gainsborough met three weeks ago, confirled in

:14:52.:14:55.

The Times yesterday that Brhtain should retain access to the single

:14:56.:15:01.

market and control its migr`nts Will the Foreign Secretary please

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reciprocate by confirming on Italian media the welcoming comments made by

:15:06.:15:11.

that honourable man, and will he also confirm that Italians continue

:15:12.:15:15.

to be mentioned welcome across the UK?

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SPEAKS IN ITALIAN. Forgive le. I am very grateful to my honourable

:15:25.:15:34.

friend. I think that Italian television has been requesthng an

:15:35.:15:38.

interview with me. That is the most interesting interview application I

:15:39.:15:42.

have ever heard. Italians and members from all member states can

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have assurance that their status he will be protected provided there is

:15:47.:15:49.

a symmetry and reciprocity on the other side.

:15:50.:15:54.

Mr Ben Bradshaw. When he recently met John Kerry, did he have the

:15:55.:15:58.

opportunity to discuss the @merican Chamber of Commerce report which is

:15:59.:16:02.

apparently landing in the C`binet Office this week which warndd that

:16:03.:16:05.

American companies with $600 billion worth of investment in Brit`in are

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currently reviewing them because of uncertainty over our future

:16:10.:16:13.

unfettered access to the single market? And next time they Cabinet

:16:14.:16:18.

Brexit subcommittee meets, will he support the Chancellor in standing

:16:19.:16:22.

up to the hard Brexiteers who seem to want to do such a untold damage

:16:23.:16:28.

to the economy? I have not xet seen the American Chamber of Comlerce

:16:29.:16:32.

report, by his own account ht has not yet been published. I h`ve no

:16:33.:16:36.

doubt that American companids, in common with all companies in the

:16:37.:16:41.

world outside the UK and thd EU will find the UK in future `nd even

:16:42.:16:46.

better place to invest in and bring their corporations to because of the

:16:47.:16:49.

natural advantages of time zone language, talent and skills that

:16:50.:16:53.

this country enjoys. Given that the 170 odd countries

:16:54.:17:00.

outside the EU have successfully traded with the EU, some have trade

:17:01.:17:05.

deals and some do not, what does he say to the pessimists and the

:17:06.:17:13.

Remoaners who say that we c`nnot survive outside the EU, particularly

:17:14.:17:18.

given that business costs rdlative under costs a lot more to do

:17:19.:17:26.

business on continent? I deprecate the terms pessimists and Reloaners,

:17:27.:17:29.

we are all in this together and everybody wants to make a great

:17:30.:17:34.

success of Brexit. I have no doubt that this country will be able to do

:17:35.:17:37.

a fantastic deal with our friends and partners in the European Union

:17:38.:17:43.

and, simultaneously, becoming even more attractive to investors from

:17:44.:17:48.

around the world with a new series of stunning free trade agredments.

:17:49.:17:54.

Sur Alex Salmond. How does he explained his counterparts hn

:17:55.:17:58.

support for Turkey's accesshon to the European Union, since that was

:17:59.:18:03.

used by the Brexiteers as a reason for getting the UK out? Did he

:18:04.:18:08.

campaigned for Turkish accession to get the UK out, or did he c`mpaigned

:18:09.:18:14.

for the UK to get out to support Turkish accession? He will know

:18:15.:18:17.

because we had a debate on this very subject during the course of the

:18:18.:18:22.

referendum campaign, I am a passionate advocate of Turkhsh

:18:23.:18:26.

membership of the EU if that is what the Turks once, sometimes they seem

:18:27.:18:29.

to change their minds these days, always provided that the UK has left

:18:30.:18:34.

before that date. Alex Salmond. I have an arthcle

:18:35.:18:38.

written by the Foreign Secrdtary, I think there is only one of this one,

:18:39.:18:45.

in which he argues immediatdly after the referendum campaign for full

:18:46.:18:48.

participation in the single market place. If it was OK for the leader

:18:49.:18:52.

of the Brexiteers to argue for full participation in the single market

:18:53.:18:56.

place after the referendum, why is it not OK for people on this side of

:18:57.:19:01.

the House to try to force that issue to a vote in the House of Commons?

:19:02.:19:06.

He will know full well that it is completely unrealistic to expect the

:19:07.:19:10.

government to put its negothating position before those negothations

:19:11.:19:16.

are concluded. It has never happened. Ireland were all sorts of

:19:17.:19:18.

negotiations on Maastricht `nd the European treaties -- I remelber all

:19:19.:19:24.

sorts of negotiations. They were never put to the house before they

:19:25.:19:28.

were completed. There has been reference to

:19:29.:19:30.

draft newspaper column in f`vour of draft newspaper column in f`vour of

:19:31.:19:34.

Remain that the Secretary of State wrote in February, he said this is a

:19:35.:19:37.

market on our doorstep readx for further exploitation, why are we so

:19:38.:19:42.

determined to turn our back on it? The argument he made back then is

:19:43.:19:47.

exactly why we on this side of the House are so concerned about a hot

:19:48.:19:52.

Brexit that would put access to the market at risk and risk British

:19:53.:19:56.

jobs. Can I ask the Secretary of State why you no longer agrdes with

:19:57.:20:00.

himself? Most people will understand that the

:20:01.:20:05.

arguments have moved on and the people have spoken overwhellingly,

:20:06.:20:08.

and one of the most powerful cases that could possibly have bedn made

:20:09.:20:13.

for Leave was to be found in that article I wrote for Remain.

:20:14.:20:19.

Everybody who has read it is feeling a profound sense of leaving the

:20:20.:20:25.

European Union. That feeling is absolutely justified and I `m

:20:26.:20:27.

delighted that the people h`ve voted accordingly. Number four. Wd support

:20:28.:20:44.

the UN response to the Syri` crisis and its regional impact. We have

:20:45.:20:48.

allocated ?1.1 billion to Sxria s neighbours to help them meet you

:20:49.:20:52.

monetarily and obligations, while maintaining border security. We work

:20:53.:20:57.

closely with them to providd humanitarian aid and job and

:20:58.:21:00.

educational opportunities for refugees. An estimated 75 to 10 ,000

:21:01.:21:07.

refugees, mostly women and children, are trapped without food and little

:21:08.:21:11.

aid on a no man's land on the Syrian/ Jordanian border. Ghven that

:21:12.:21:21.

Jordan already has thousands of refugees, if the next milit`ry

:21:22.:21:23.

target is to be Raqqa, the capital of ices, with an inevitable further

:21:24.:21:26.

flow of refugees, what will the Foreign Secretary do to asshst

:21:27.:21:30.

Jordan now and in the futurd? I m grateful to the question, wd are in

:21:31.:21:35.

regular contact with the Jordanian authorities to assist the

:21:36.:21:38.

humanitarian situation in that area, we are one of the biggest ddliveries

:21:39.:21:42.

of age to the area and in rdcent months we have had meetings on

:21:43.:21:46.

several occasions with the government of Jordan to try to

:21:47.:21:49.

address growing concerns about conditions. I know the Primd

:21:50.:21:53.

Minister has raised at hersdlf. One of the many barriers to keeping safe

:21:54.:21:59.

routes out of Syria is the practice of the Syrian Government of

:22:00.:22:02.

declaring a stolen passports belonging to those who oppose them.

:22:03.:22:09.

As a matter of some urgency, will the Foreign Secretary speak to his

:22:10.:22:13.

colleagues Home Secretary about the position facing an award-winning

:22:14.:22:20.

Syrian journalist who was rdcently -- who recently had her passport

:22:21.:22:23.

confiscated as she came into Heathrow. I am aware of that case,

:22:24.:22:28.

it is difficult because we lust compensate stolen passports but we

:22:29.:22:34.

are doing what we can to assist that lady. Could I thank the Secretary of

:22:35.:22:39.

State for that update? As hd knows, the UN envoy to Syria has ddscribed

:22:40.:22:45.

the presence of someone thotsands had the fighters in eastern Aleppo

:22:46.:22:48.

as an easy alibi for the Russian and Syrian forces to justify thdir

:22:49.:22:55.

bombardment. Will he support the proposals to offer the jihadi

:22:56.:22:59.

fighters some sort of passage out of the city so they can be dealt with

:23:00.:23:06.

in an international criminal Court? I am grateful to the right

:23:07.:23:10.

honourable lady. The realitx is that no such proposal can conceivably be

:23:11.:23:17.

made to work in the absence of a Russian and Assad regime cessation

:23:18.:23:21.

of hostilities. That is the precondition, there must be a

:23:22.:23:25.

durable and convincing ceasdfire delivered by the Assad regile before

:23:26.:23:30.

any such proposal can concehvably be made to work. Number five. H visited

:23:31.:23:38.

Mogadishu in August and was pleased to see that after decades of civil

:23:39.:23:42.

war and transitional governlent Somalia is now making significant

:23:43.:23:47.

and remarkable progress. However, security and governance need to

:23:48.:23:50.

improve and Al-Shabab is far from defeated. The Foreign Officd deserve

:23:51.:23:56.

great credit for being the only EU country to reopen its embassy in

:23:57.:24:00.

Mogadishu, which was announced at the summit in February 20 12. Does

:24:01.:24:05.

he agree that now that Al-Shabab has been pushed out of Mogadisht, it is

:24:06.:24:12.

essential that local governlent structures built up so commtnities

:24:13.:24:16.

can be properly represented? What is the Foreign Office doing to help

:24:17.:24:20.

this? Can I pay tribute to ly right honourable friend as former African

:24:21.:24:27.

minister for organising that very conference on Somalia in 2002 which

:24:28.:24:32.

help to galvanise international support for Somalia. He is

:24:33.:24:36.

absolutely right, we need to work on the government structures. We need

:24:37.:24:41.

to support the troops. Therd is much work to be done. Al-Shabab has been

:24:42.:24:45.

pushed out of the capital chties but it is still in the south of the

:24:46.:24:51.

country. Considering the security situation in Somalia, how does the

:24:52.:24:54.

Minister assess the role of Ethiopia and what impact has the continued

:24:55.:25:03.

detention of a British citizen had on relations with the Ethiopian

:25:04.:25:07.

regime? I am aware of the sdt tier state of emergency and I will

:25:08.:25:13.

perhaps write to him with ddtail on the case that he raises. I would

:25:14.:25:18.

like to ask you to pass on congratulations to Ethiopia, Kenny,

:25:19.:25:24.

Uganda other countries that are being important contribution forces

:25:25.:25:29.

to the support and stabilitx of Somalia. Number six. I met Russian

:25:30.:25:34.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov the New York two days after the bombing

:25:35.:25:40.

of the aid convoy and during those discussions we focused on Sxria I

:25:41.:25:45.

pressed him, as I have alre`dy told the House, to do what I think the

:25:46.:25:48.

world wants Russia to do, which is bring pressure to bear on the Assad

:25:49.:25:53.

regime to have a ceasefire. The Foreign Secretary may not bd its

:25:54.:25:57.

biggest fan, that even the Duropean Council yesterday found that Russian

:25:58.:26:01.

use of chemical weapons and targeting civilians are war crimes.

:26:02.:26:06.

Having distanced himself from demos at the embassy, Witty make sure that

:26:07.:26:11.

the UK leads in advocating Beto As long as Russia has that gets out of

:26:12.:26:16.

jail card, resolutions will be ignored and an appalling situation

:26:17.:26:17.

will get worse. At that European Council medting

:26:18.:26:30.

yesterday in which I partichpated fully, the UK delegation introduced

:26:31.:26:32.

language specifically targeting Russia and took out languagd that

:26:33.:26:37.

sought to create a false eqtivalence between Russia and the US. Ly

:26:38.:26:46.

honourable friend and would he remember that in 2005 the government

:26:47.:26:52.

along with every other membdr of the General Assembly of the UN signed up

:26:53.:26:55.

to the responsibility to protect. Having just voted to take that job

:26:56.:26:58.

isn't it appalling we are bowing down to the bully in the Middle East

:26:59.:27:02.

there instead of taking the responsibility to protect sdriously

:27:03.:27:10.

is brutalising millions? Pole the honourable member is quite right,

:27:11.:27:15.

and the UK has been in the lead in the UN Security Council as xou will

:27:16.:27:21.

appreciate, Mr Speaker, in ringing pressure to bear on Russia `nd not

:27:22.:27:25.

just in the use of chemical weapons but in its continuing refus`l to get

:27:26.:27:28.

the Syrian regime to have a ceasefire and we are in the lead

:27:29.:27:35.

furthermore in trying to brhng all responsible parties to the

:27:36.:27:40.

International criminal Court. Last week in the Commons the Fordign

:27:41.:27:44.

Secretary said that more kinetic options should be considered. But

:27:45.:27:49.

then only yesterday, the dax before, emerging from his talks, he said

:27:50.:27:59.

there was little interest and there for the UK should play a forward

:28:00.:28:04.

roll in urging other nations. Four I have to say that I am inspired by

:28:05.:28:11.

the agency has brought to this thread and I think the mood is

:28:12.:28:15.

certainly changing. I do not yet detect sufficient appetite hn the

:28:16.:28:19.

capitals of the West and certainly not in the waters for the khnd of

:28:20.:28:22.

action that I think could bd useful. But as secretary Ceri said, nothing

:28:23.:28:34.

is off the table. Following the EU referendum result and the formation

:28:35.:28:38.

of the Department for International trade both the Foreign Secrdtary and

:28:39.:28:41.

the Secretary of State are dngaged in positioning ourselves as partner

:28:42.:28:43.

of choice for countries across Africa. As chairman of the `ll-party

:28:44.:28:52.

Parliamentary group for Afrhca I recently led a delegation to Namibia

:28:53.:28:57.

in South African looking at trade and economic development. There is

:28:58.:29:01.

huge concern across Africa on the impact of Brexit, particularly on

:29:02.:29:04.

the European economic partndrship agreements which currently governed

:29:05.:29:10.

trade agreements. This is undermining developing economies.

:29:11.:29:13.

Will he confirm that leaving the single market would mean ab`ndoning

:29:14.:29:17.

these are grimacing with thd estimate how long it would take to

:29:18.:29:22.

negotiate any agreement with each of the 54 African countries? Mr Speaker

:29:23.:29:25.

firstly I pay tribute to thd work she does, and indeed all of the

:29:26.:29:33.

trade envoys, many of whom `re in the chamber today. It reflects our

:29:34.:29:39.

desire to do more business Post Brexit. We are trusted, eng`ged and

:29:40.:29:44.

indeed committed to do more in these countries. South Africa is just one

:29:45.:29:48.

example of that. She raises an important point. A number of

:29:49.:29:52.

countries have signed deals or about to sign deals with you on trade

:29:53.:29:56.

some of them now bowing out because they want to see what happens with

:29:57.:30:01.

Brexit. It is important we strike the necessary deals as we move

:30:02.:30:07.

forward. As well as encouraging trade with Africa, what can Her

:30:08.:30:11.

Majesty 's government do to increase trade between African countries

:30:12.:30:15.

particularly in the great L`kes area? Mr Speaker, firstly could I

:30:16.:30:22.

pay tribute to my predecessor, the former Minister for Africa on the

:30:23.:30:27.

superb work he did in pionedring the strengthening in Britain's

:30:28.:30:30.

relationship with this important continent. They want to do business

:30:31.:30:33.

with us and we want to do btsiness with them. It is important they are

:30:34.:30:37.

encouraged to do business whth each other, the great Lakes is a good

:30:38.:30:40.

example of that. A massive infrastructure projects togdther to

:30:41.:30:44.

get oil out of the country `nd through a number of countrids and

:30:45.:30:47.

also that will assist countries such as South Sudan. This is where

:30:48.:30:50.

Britain with our expertise can come forward. Four it took the ET 12

:30:51.:31:02.

years to negotiate the EPA which was finally signed in June, is the UK

:31:03.:31:06.

Government seriously going to begin that process all over again? Could

:31:07.:31:12.

I, Mr Speaker, just suggest to the SNP that they understand whdre we

:31:13.:31:18.

are now? The result is therd. Brexit is where we are, that has bden made

:31:19.:31:22.

clear already. We now have `n opportunity to embrace this. We have

:31:23.:31:26.

an opportunity to go to these countries and sign deals. Wd should

:31:27.:31:29.

not be looking through the small print to say why we can't do these

:31:30.:31:37.

things. From the Gambia to South Africa, the Commonwealth offers

:31:38.:31:40.

great potential for expanding trade with Africa. Will the Minister make

:31:41.:31:44.

sure that we make full use of these opportunities to secure trade deals

:31:45.:31:49.

and to get exporting to these emerging economies? Mr Speaker, when

:31:50.:31:56.

the trade opportunities arise it is not just the opportunity it is also

:31:57.:32:03.

the element of trust that exists because of our legacy and hhstory

:32:04.:32:07.

and because of the trust th`t exists, that is exactly what we need

:32:08.:32:11.

to be leveraging as well as the wonderful companies that we have to

:32:12.:32:17.

be able to provide support on a wide range of sectors. I met the Iraqi

:32:18.:32:28.

Foreign Minister last week here in London and the bilateral forum. And

:32:29.:32:34.

the Foreign Secretary and I met other foreign and defence mhnisters

:32:35.:32:38.

at the Washington conferencd in the summer. Four as my right honourable

:32:39.:32:45.

friend will know the Kurdistan regional government has for a long

:32:46.:32:49.

time been short-changed indded if not cut off completely by the

:32:50.:32:53.

government of Baghdad. Although there are some promising signs Iraqi

:32:54.:32:59.

federalism needs to be genuhne. Will my honourable friend convey this to

:33:00.:33:04.

his Iraqi counterpart and rdmind them of the conservation and the

:33:05.:33:10.

Kurds and the feis Madaya are making in pushing back the advances?

:33:11.:33:20.

Firstly can I join him in praising their bravery and it is important

:33:21.:33:23.

they are working together whth the newly trained Iraqi forces to build

:33:24.:33:30.

liberate the city of Mosul. He is also light to raise concerns about

:33:31.:33:33.

the relationship with the rdst of Iraq. We have long maintaindd it is

:33:34.:33:36.

important and within our interest to seek the united Iraq but it is in

:33:37.:33:41.

the Constitution itself and I was pleased to that end that thd

:33:42.:33:44.

bilateral forum we had last week also included a spokesman on foreign

:33:45.:33:51.

affairs for Kurdistan. When I visited Iraq this year with the

:33:52.:33:59.

Defence Select Committee we are moving much slower politically than

:34:00.:34:04.

militarily. What support ard we providing two politicians more

:34:05.:34:08.

broadly to help them keep up with the military solutions? Firstly can

:34:09.:34:12.

I welcome visit such as that conducted by the Defence Select

:34:13.:34:15.

Committee. The more engagemdnt we have to see what is going on on the

:34:16.:34:18.

ground the more we can bettdr understand the challenges wd are

:34:19.:34:25.

facing. But as Daesh is pushed out more and more focus will be on the

:34:26.:34:35.

domestic matters which will remain in the country. We still nedd to

:34:36.:34:40.

look at counterterrorism and accountability laws but I c`n

:34:41.:34:43.

guarantee our embassy including our own ambassador Hank Baker who was

:34:44.:34:48.

doing excellent work to support the government of Iraq. Thank you,

:34:49.:34:54.

certainly I know the good work that the ambassador and his colldagues

:34:55.:34:58.

are doing in Baghdad to makd progress move along and we should be

:34:59.:35:02.

appreciative of their efforts. On political development in particular

:35:03.:35:05.

can I ask for his observation on whether or not the issue of Sunni

:35:06.:35:14.

exclusion, whether the lessons of that have been learned and whether

:35:15.:35:17.

he has greater hopes that the current government will address that

:35:18.:35:25.

issue? This is quite a colldction, now the third former ministdr from

:35:26.:35:28.

the Middle East and Africa H am addressing, it is an honour they are

:35:29.:35:31.

here and providing their wisdom to this chamber. I'll watch my back. He

:35:32.:35:41.

is absolutely right to focus on the sectarian tensions dimension. Iraq

:35:42.:35:48.

got it wrong, we got it wrong, it was the absence of including Sunnis

:35:49.:35:54.

in society which led to the creation of Daesh in the first place. They

:35:55.:35:59.

are working should have to lake sure we get this bad, the day after the

:36:00.:36:04.

guns for silence in Mosul this must be a Sunni led approach to lake sure

:36:05.:36:10.

there is peace in Mosul., and no one can dispute the comprehensiveness of

:36:11.:36:14.

his answers for which we ard grateful that we do have tile

:36:15.:36:18.

constraints. The honourable member for Brussels to mention the

:36:19.:36:23.

Kurdistan regional government. The Minister will be aware that the KRG

:36:24.:36:28.

does not just host refugees from Syria, it also hosts potenthally 1

:36:29.:36:35.

million internally displaced Iraqis but because they are not refugees

:36:36.:36:38.

they don't get the support of the recognition in the KRG that they

:36:39.:36:44.

need. If the conflict in Mosul leads to more refugees can he givd more

:36:45.:36:50.

support to the KRG? He touches on a very serious matter, which hs

:36:51.:36:56.

challenging to say the least for the UNDP to recognise what will happen

:36:57.:37:02.

once the final liberation Mosul Texas. There will be floods of

:37:03.:37:06.

refugees coming out of the country and capital city going in dhfferent

:37:07.:37:11.

directions including Kurdistan. I visited some of the camps and when I

:37:12.:37:15.

went other camps won't imprdss, the refugees were actually in schools

:37:16.:37:19.

and protecting schools -- preventing schools from beginning their

:37:20.:37:22.

September curriculum. We pax tribute to the work of Kurdistan and much of

:37:23.:37:26.

a different programmes have gone to support the refugees in that part of

:37:27.:37:33.

Iraq. The efforts to free areas of Iraq from Daesh control is one fully

:37:34.:37:39.

supported on this side of the house and the ongoing effort to rdtake

:37:40.:37:45.

Mosul. Can I ask the Ministdr how he plans to ensure the civilian

:37:46.:37:48.

population will be protected from the fighting and those civilians

:37:49.:37:55.

fleeing from Mosul will recdive the humanitarian support they nded? As I

:37:56.:38:01.

mentioned at the UNDP, development programme, coordinating all aspects

:38:02.:38:05.

of the UN working with the racket is taking the lead on the stabhlisation

:38:06.:38:08.

and reconstruction of the chty itself. But the Paulista has made it

:38:09.:38:13.

very clear that there should be no Peshmerga, no Kurdish forces

:38:14.:38:20.

entering the cities. They should be no Shi'ite forces either, this is a

:38:21.:38:26.

predominantly Sunni city and it should be liberated by Mosul forces.

:38:27.:38:32.

Then there is a civilian tr`ined police force to come and provide

:38:33.:38:40.

that important security aftdr that. Mr Speaker I spoke to the gdneral

:38:41.:38:44.

coordinator of the Syrian hhgh negotiations committee on sdveral

:38:45.:38:53.

occasions, October six and 03 most recently, we discussed the

:38:54.:38:55.

importance of the Syrian opposition continued commitment to the

:38:56.:39:02.

political process. Does Mikd Wighton are attached to countries in the

:39:03.:39:06.

region and bringing together the Syrian opposition?, crying lost

:39:07.:39:12.

grateful to them. As the hotse may know we had a meeting here hn

:39:13.:39:24.

London, of interested partids, and Doctor Riyadh hijab set out a very

:39:25.:39:28.

compelling case for a post-@ssad Syria with a broad-based government.

:39:29.:39:36.

Pluralist democracy. They h`ve a plan for 30% the nonrepresentational

:39:37.:39:41.

in their politics, which is perhaps even better than the Labour Party.

:39:42.:39:53.

And he answers... Perhaps... He answers... The answer is ond of the

:39:54.:40:04.

key questions which is, is there a future for Syria and sad? -, without

:40:05.:40:12.

a sound? Not just the Syrian opposition but Syrian civil society

:40:13.:40:18.

and also NGOs in this country are calling for a government to lead on

:40:19.:40:22.

a comprehensive strategy to protect civilians. Can I ask the Foreign

:40:23.:40:27.

Secretary to confirm that that is what our government will take the

:40:28.:40:30.

lead in considering now? I'l grateful and again I pay trhbute to

:40:31.:40:33.

the forcefulness with which she has advocated this. I wish I must say

:40:34.:40:39.

that three years ago the opposition had been as resolute in wishing to

:40:40.:40:43.

see that kind of engagement to protect the people of Syria because

:40:44.:40:48.

the critical decision was t`ken then which as the Right Honourable

:40:49.:40:51.

gentleman and members of whhch has made it much more difficult for us

:40:52.:40:56.

today. I want to see the will of this house clearly expressed in

:40:57.:40:58.

support of what your lady h`s said. With America increasingly absorbed

:40:59.:41:10.

by a sometimes the real presidential election, France and Germanx facing

:41:11.:41:14.

elections of their own next year, Secretary Kerry soon to leave

:41:15.:41:18.

offices -- office and a change of leadership that the UN, a ddgree of

:41:19.:41:24.

paralysis as entered into the negotiation process on Syri`.

:41:25.:41:32.

I rather thought the honour`ble gentlemen had finished, but if he

:41:33.:41:35.

has a short sentence he can blurt it out.

:41:36.:41:38.

I thought it was an excellent question which goes to the heart of

:41:39.:41:41.

what is happening at the molent as I said earlier the space has been

:41:42.:41:47.

vacated by Western powers and it has been occupied, I'm afraid, by the

:41:48.:41:52.

Russians. We need to do whatever we can now to put pressure on the

:41:53.:41:58.

Russians, through sanctions, through the threat of the International

:41:59.:42:02.

criminal Court and, indeed, measures such as the one the honourable

:42:03.:42:06.

member suggests from a sedentary position are already in place in

:42:07.:42:10.

this country. Is the Foreign Secretary aware that there `re many

:42:11.:42:15.

people in Syria and the aid agencies that whilst they can understand the

:42:16.:42:19.

sort of bombastic bluster that he is so good at, the fact is that serious

:42:20.:42:25.

diplomacy needs a calm, rathonal approach if we are to try to get

:42:26.:42:31.

peace in Syria. I am grateftl. Alas, I think what is really needdd at

:42:32.:42:37.

this stage is a tough appro`ch. The primary cause of the sufferhng of

:42:38.:42:44.

the people of Aleppo is the Syrian regime that is overwhelmingly

:42:45.:42:48.

responsible for the depths of the 400,000 people who have died so far

:42:49.:42:53.

in that conflict. They are backed by their Russian puppeteers. It would

:42:54.:42:57.

be a fatal mistake now to lose sight of that priority and give up on the

:42:58.:43:03.

pressure that needs to be applied to Russia and their Syrian clidnts

:43:04.:43:10.

Question 13. The issuing of Italian passports as a matter to thd Italian

:43:11.:43:14.

authorities. There have therefore been no discussion so far whth the

:43:15.:43:18.

Italian Embassy on the issuhng of Italian passports to Italians.

:43:19.:43:27.

Bedford is proudly home to ` large multi-generational Italian community

:43:28.:43:31.

which has relied on our consul for the provision of Italian passports.

:43:32.:43:36.

There has been a sustained `nd large increase in demand for Italhan

:43:37.:43:40.

passports and I am told that the capacity at the Italian Emb`ssy is

:43:41.:43:44.

limited. May my ministerial friends please raise this with the

:43:45.:43:47.

ambassador? In the UK and especially in Bedford

:43:48.:43:51.

there are a number of British National is eligible for an Italian

:43:52.:43:54.

passport who have recently `pplied for one. That is a matter of the

:43:55.:43:59.

Italian Government, as I sahd, but I can assure my honourable frhend that

:44:00.:44:04.

I will raise this with them as appropriate following his rdquest.

:44:05.:44:10.

Does the Secretary of State agree that the uncertainty created on the

:44:11.:44:14.

future of EU citizens living in the UK at the obsession of the

:44:15.:44:17.

Government with reducing imligration that it is easier and more secure

:44:18.:44:26.

for an EU national to becomd a citizen of a new state in space to

:44:27.:44:30.

remain a citizen of the country they have contributed to for manx years?

:44:31.:44:35.

I think it is rather more sdrious than the tone she has adoptdd in the

:44:36.:44:39.

House today. We are short of time that I want to

:44:40.:44:48.

hear Kelly Tolhurst. Number 14. The Foreign Secretary hosted a

:44:49.:44:51.

meeting on Yemen with key international partners and the UN

:44:52.:44:56.

envoy on Sunday, when it was agreed that the UN would present a road map

:44:57.:45:01.

for political sentiment to both parties as soon as possible. The UK

:45:02.:45:04.

and US have called for immediate ceasefire on all sides.

:45:05.:45:09.

This is being grouped with puestion 15 at the request of the Government,

:45:10.:45:14.

that is my understanding. Whth your permission, sir. That is wh`t I was

:45:15.:45:18.

volunteering. Kelly Tolhurst. The Yemeni

:45:19.:45:24.

population continues to suffer from preventable incidents, most recently

:45:25.:45:29.

at the funeral where 140 were killed and 500 injured. Given the

:45:30.:45:33.

Minister's timely and important visit to Riyadh last week, what

:45:34.:45:37.

assessment could he make of the standard of the regional inhtiatives

:45:38.:45:40.

seeking to address the high number of civilian casualties?

:45:41.:45:46.

This was a tragic event and our sympathies and concerns go out to

:45:47.:45:50.

all those affected. It was `lso a huge mistake and it is important

:45:51.:45:55.

that Saudi Arabia is able to investigate properly. The rdason why

:45:56.:45:59.

I travelled to Saudi Arabia was to force that message from the Prime

:46:00.:46:03.

Minister, to say we need an accurate understanding and investigation as

:46:04.:46:07.

to what took place. Saudi Arabia has already produced an initial document

:46:08.:46:11.

showing that their hand is going up to recognise a huge breach `nd

:46:12.:46:16.

standard operating procedurds, there was one individual, at least one,

:46:17.:46:22.

that will be charged, according to this, and there are plans to provide

:46:23.:46:25.

humanitarian support for those injured.

:46:26.:46:28.

The scenes of destruction and starving children in Yemen put the

:46:29.:46:32.

international community to shame. Does the Minister share concerns

:46:33.:46:36.

that British weapons shouldn't no circumstances be news to target

:46:37.:46:40.

civilians and, if so, what hs his Government doing to ensure that She

:46:41.:46:45.

raises a very important question as to who is doing the bombing, what is

:46:46.:46:50.

happening and how was it accountable? No doubt, it is a very

:46:51.:46:54.

difficult war. One reason I invited the Foreign Minister to this house

:46:55.:46:58.

yesterday to meet parliamentarians is so everyone here could ptt those

:46:59.:47:03.

very questions, so that he can hear from this parliament the concerns

:47:04.:47:07.

expressed not just yesterdax and, indeed, today, that over thd last

:47:08.:47:11.

number of months. But the coalition he put together

:47:12.:47:15.

under resolution to 216 to support the president, we must make sure

:47:16.:47:19.

that the war is legitimate, but let's forget the devastation caused

:47:20.:47:25.

by Houthis as well. The whole House will welcomd the

:47:26.:47:29.

announcement of a 72 hours ceasefire in Yemen started on Wednesd`y night.

:47:30.:47:33.

We will share the hope of the United Nations that this can be thd basis

:47:34.:47:37.

for lasting peace and that the children of Yemen can receive the

:47:38.:47:40.

humanitarian relief that thdy so desperately need. But as thd

:47:41.:47:45.

Secretary of State observed in respect of Aleppo last week and

:47:46.:47:50.

today, the end of a conflict does not end the need to investigate

:47:51.:47:54.

potential violations of international humanitarian law. Will

:47:55.:47:58.

the Minister confirm when it is that we expect to see full indepdndent UN

:47:59.:48:02.

led investigations conducted into the thousands of air strikes carried

:48:03.:48:09.

out in Yemen on civilian targets? She had this answer and posd the

:48:10.:48:12.

very same question to the Foreign Minister yesterday. It is the

:48:13.:48:18.

standard for any country engaged in warfare that when a mistake is made

:48:19.:48:22.

they produce their own investigation and report. I have said in this

:48:23.:48:27.

chamber that if I feel that that report or any report is unddrvalued,

:48:28.:48:34.

it is how to be dismissed, H will absolutely join with her and others

:48:35.:48:38.

to say it should be independent and UN led. But after I visited Saudi

:48:39.:48:43.

Arabia we saw a report making very clear exactly what happened, and I

:48:44.:48:48.

encourage, as I did yesterd`y, to say there are outstanding rdports,

:48:49.:48:55.

not thousands, that is misldading, that there are number that need to

:48:56.:49:00.

be clarified. I'm sure the word inadvertent or inadvertentlx was in

:49:01.:49:03.

there, one cannot accuse other members of misleading the house

:49:04.:49:10.

Topical questions are meant to be brief, so are the answers.

:49:11.:49:15.

Number one. My priorities for the rest of 2016 to ensure a robust and

:49:16.:49:19.

measured response to the crhsis in Syria while pressing home otr

:49:20.:49:23.

campaign against Daesh, working alongside our allies to protect the

:49:24.:49:28.

rules -based international system against the ambitions of Russia and

:49:29.:49:31.

our own ambitious and outward looking global Britain.

:49:32.:49:37.

Given that military action hn Mosul could result in the replacelent of 1

:49:38.:49:42.

million civilians and the International Committee of the Red

:49:43.:49:45.

Cross claims they can only provide for 300000 and the UN 60,000 more,

:49:46.:49:50.

can he please tell the housd what provisions, measures and pl`ns have

:49:51.:49:53.

been agreed to ensure civilhan safety, the security of food and

:49:54.:49:59.

water and the provision in these catastrophic circumstances?

:50:00.:50:05.

Carriages confirm that it is Mosul? As I and third in a previous answer,

:50:06.:50:10.

it is imperative that we get what happens when the guns fall silent

:50:11.:50:15.

correctly. We can't afford ` refugee crisis on the scale already

:50:16.:50:19.

suggested. That is why the international community has come

:50:20.:50:23.

together on a number of occ`sions, including Washington, DC, where the

:50:24.:50:27.

Foreign Secretary and I attdnded, to make sure we have the necessary

:50:28.:50:30.

measures in place to support those fleeing, to make sure that hf

:50:31.:50:34.

chemical weapons attacks take place they can be dealt with and `lso that

:50:35.:50:38.

there is processing so we c`n capture those people who have

:50:39.:50:43.

committed war crimes and thdy can be put on trial.

:50:44.:50:47.

Will my right honourable frhend outline the state of UK/ Turkish

:50:48.:50:51.

relations, particularly following claims made during the Brexht debate

:50:52.:50:56.

earlier in the year? The Turkish Government very much

:50:57.:50:59.

appreciated Rulli condemnathon of the coup attempt of the 15th of

:51:00.:51:05.

July. We worked very closelx on migration, counterterrorism and

:51:06.:51:08.

other matters and I will pax my second visit to Ankara later today.

:51:09.:51:16.

The attempts by members of the former Libyan taunt Governmdnt Tariq

:51:17.:51:20.

eight -- retake control of Tripoli is deeply worrying to all of those

:51:21.:51:25.

who want to see security return to Libya. Can the Foreign Secrdtary

:51:26.:51:29.

tell the house who he believes is currently in charge in Liby`? What

:51:30.:51:35.

is his leaving security and stability and who does he think is

:51:36.:51:40.

responsible for the mess Libya finds itself in? I could spend an hour on

:51:41.:51:44.

that last question and say how misleading, inadvertently

:51:45.:51:49.

mid-leading, it is. It does not help as to suggest that somehow what

:51:50.:51:53.

happened in 2011 is now applicable to what happened today. There was a

:51:54.:51:59.

Libyan government, there was a Prime Minister, there were elections. Many

:52:00.:52:04.

were asked to leave in 2011/12, very sadly, after 40 years of misrule

:52:05.:52:08.

under Gaddafi we now see society trying to develop, and that is the

:52:09.:52:14.

challenge we face today. Might constituents and five at the

:52:15.:52:18.

former servicemen are being held in a jail in Chennai. Can I urge my

:52:19.:52:22.

right honourable friend and the government to do everything in their

:52:23.:52:26.

power to work with the Indi`n authorities and resolve the

:52:27.:52:27.

situation for all the familhes concerned?

:52:28.:52:33.

My heart absolutely goes out to the families, I raise this case when I

:52:34.:52:37.

was in India in July, I raised it again on the 5th of October to the

:52:38.:52:41.

Indian High Commissioner of the UK. I know my honourable friend is

:52:42.:52:44.

working incredibly hard on highlighting the issue and H look

:52:45.:52:48.

forward to meeting him, alongside the honourable members reprdsenting

:52:49.:52:53.

other families, tomorrow. My honourable friend asked darlier

:52:54.:52:59.

about a Londoner, a British citizen, a political dissidents kidn`pped in

:53:00.:53:03.

June 20 14. In June this ye`r, the Foreign Secretary's predecessor and

:53:04.:53:08.

entered in a press release that he had acute -- secured assurances that

:53:09.:53:12.

this man would be granted access to a lawyer. They have not been

:53:13.:53:15.

granted. Will the fall ALL: HOWZAT! Foreign Secretary now request the

:53:16.:53:26.

release of that man? I have written an open letter. I cannot colment

:53:27.:53:31.

further because I can't -- handling of the case is the subject of legal

:53:32.:53:35.

proceedings. Evidence from Syria of hosphtals and

:53:36.:53:38.

aid convoys being deliberatdly targeted and bonds have horrified

:53:39.:53:42.

and outrage people around the world. The Foreign Secretary has already

:53:43.:53:46.

said the people responsible should be held accounting Internathonal

:53:47.:53:49.

criminal Court and that the Russians and the Assad regime are prhmarily

:53:50.:53:54.

responsible. What measures would he support to charge, arrest and

:53:55.:53:59.

prosecute either Putin or Assad or both? Thank you very much. The most

:54:00.:54:07.

important thing at this stage is that the UK is leading the way in

:54:08.:54:13.

accumulating evidence against those responsible for these crimes. It

:54:14.:54:16.

will be essential that we h`ve good secured testimonials against those

:54:17.:54:21.

responsible, and in due course I am sure they will be useful. The

:54:22.:54:28.

ministries of justice grind slowly and small. Last week on a

:54:29.:54:33.

cross-party visit to the West Bank I was deeply concerned by the human

:54:34.:54:37.

rights abuses being perpetr`ted by the government of Israel. C`n the

:54:38.:54:40.

Foreign Secretary tell me when the follow-up legal report into Israeli

:54:41.:54:46.

treatment of Palestinian chhld detainees will be published, and can

:54:47.:54:50.

he outlined the reasons for the delay? She raises an import`nt

:54:51.:54:56.

aspect of a very complicated challenge in the Middle East

:54:57.:55:01.

rumbling on for far too long. I raised this with the deputy Foreign

:55:02.:55:04.

Minister during my last visht, we try to get further access and

:55:05.:55:08.

conditions put in place to lake sure that those child detainees `re

:55:09.:55:12.

provided with the support that they deserve.

:55:13.:55:18.

As chairman of the all-partx group on Argentina, can I congrattlate the

:55:19.:55:23.

minister on his steps to bolster UK/ Argentine relations? Does hd agree

:55:24.:55:27.

with me that there are really important consequences for the

:55:28.:55:33.

continued improvement of relations between the two countries?

:55:34.:55:36.

I am very happy to confirm that The Government is building a much more

:55:37.:55:40.

constructive relationship whth the Government of Argentina. Chdwing a

:55:41.:55:44.

visit to Buenos Aires I agrded and historic joint statement including

:55:45.:55:51.

some very important benefits for both the Falkland Islands and

:55:52.:55:54.

Argentina. The Foreign Secretary posted

:55:55.:55:59.

diplomats from nine countrids as well as the UN special envox in

:56:00.:56:05.

London on Saturday on Syria. Apparently no agreement could be met

:56:06.:56:09.

on the delivery of aid and no future date was set to met again. Could he

:56:10.:56:11.

perhaps tell us what went wrong 'S Roma country meeting on Sunday

:56:12.:56:21.

was extremely successful in the sense that there was unanimous

:56:22.:56:26.

agreement from all parties concerned not just France, Germany, Italy but

:56:27.:56:33.

Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the Q`tar the UAE, the United States and ourselves

:56:34.:56:37.

that we should proceed on the basis that I have already outlined the

:56:38.:56:43.

house to continue to put prdssure on the Assad regime and their

:56:44.:56:46.

properties in the form of the Russians. Economically,

:56:47.:56:51.

diplomatically, through the UN and through the use of the International

:56:52.:56:58.

criminal Court. What support has the United Kingdom being given to

:56:59.:57:03.

international efforts to address the dangerous bits go situation in the

:57:04.:57:09.

Democratic Republic of Congo. I had the opportunity to visit thd DeOssie

:57:10.:57:18.

and President is refusing to get back. We have made the case

:57:19.:57:25.

forcefully that he must honour the constitution. It is a large country,

:57:26.:57:29.

80 million people, if it gods back into its dark chapter it will have a

:57:30.:57:32.

consequence to the surroundhng countries. We are in a very delicate

:57:33.:57:37.

place in the development of the democracy in that country. Lr

:57:38.:57:43.

Speaker, excluding cabinet leetings times has the Foreign Secretary met

:57:44.:57:46.

with secretaries of State for Brexit and international trade to draw up a

:57:47.:57:51.

plan to prepare for the continued access to the single market which

:57:52.:57:56.

will protect the economy in Northern Ireland? I'm in constant exchange of

:57:57.:58:05.

views with my friends and colleagues from the Department of exithng the

:58:06.:58:09.

European Union and indeed the Department for International trade

:58:10.:58:13.

and we are a nest of singing birds as you can imagine. Things `re

:58:14.:58:20.

working extremely well, it lay come as a surprise to know. And H have no

:58:21.:58:31.

doubt what ever that we will do a fantastic deal with weak and in the

:58:32.:58:35.

interests of UK and a strong EU I feel sure that the right honourable

:58:36.:58:45.

gentleman is not sign yet that it would be melodic and it is hn a

:58:46.:58:49.

matter of time. In light of the international interest to shgn trade

:58:50.:58:55.

deals, what practical interdsts is my right honourable friend's

:58:56.:59:01.

Department taking? One of the most extraordinary things was to discover

:59:02.:59:07.

the full extent of the network that the UK has a manual. We havd more

:59:08.:59:12.

coverage overseas than the French with only 70% of the budget. My

:59:13.:59:19.

experience of UK diplomats `nd trade officials as they are superbly well

:59:20.:59:25.

informed about the needs of UK business and industry and whll

:59:26.:59:28.

assist us in every capital hn doing first-class free-trade deals. , a

:59:29.:59:36.

further to 12 is in the British government is uniquely placdd to be

:59:37.:59:41.

to bring Pakistan and India together in some form of negotiations

:59:42.:59:45.

particularly considering thdy are both nuclear powers. Mr Spe`ker as

:59:46.:59:53.

I noted earlier, we had regtlar dialogues with both governmdnts and

:59:54.:59:56.

obliterate the point that at the end of the day it is up to the two

:59:57.:00:06.

countries to come together. It is not just the Foreign Secret`ry's

:00:07.:00:15.

bank manager that will miss his many newspaper, columns, I read the one

:00:16.:00:18.

he rode in the Daily Telegr`ph in which he said the only change exit

:00:19.:00:21.

will make to our country without the weird extricate ourselves from EU

:00:22.:00:25.

law. Today can the Foreign Secretary to last that he hasn't changed his

:00:26.:00:29.

mind again and he still belheves it is in our countries interests to

:00:30.:00:34.

remain within the single market I am grateful to my right honourable

:00:35.:00:40.

friend for her question. I can tell her that my view remains absolutely

:00:41.:00:48.

crystal clear, adamantine, that we will be better off extricathng

:00:49.:00:53.

ourselves from the toils of the EU legal system. As the Prime Linister

:00:54.:00:59.

has rightly said, we are gohng to leave the penumbra of Europdan

:01:00.:01:03.

legislation, that is the right thing to do for this country. And we will

:01:04.:01:09.

go forward with a fantastic free trade deal in goods and services

:01:10.:01:13.

that will be good for this country and good for the EU. Given the

:01:14.:01:20.

deteriorating security situ`tion in and around Lashkar Gah, can I ask

:01:21.:01:28.

the Foreign Secretary what lessons he has learned from the British

:01:29.:01:32.

deployment to Helmand province? , confessed they can I pay trhbute to

:01:33.:01:35.

the honourable gentleman for working has done, it is important wd provide

:01:36.:01:43.

the support, but unfortunatdly we have seen pushback from the Taliban

:01:44.:01:48.

up from the Pakistani border on until we get some sense of governors

:01:49.:01:52.

back into the capital of Lashkar Gah I'm afraid the Taliban will continue

:01:53.:01:58.

to push towards Kandahar. Following the governments commissioned study

:01:59.:02:01.

into the resettlement of thd British Indian Ocean Territory, can I ask

:02:02.:02:10.

when the government envisagds making the settlement? We're still

:02:11.:02:11.

considering the issue and whll report back to the house in due

:02:12.:02:17.

course. I cannot stop raising this until the Martin family get the

:02:18.:02:21.

support they deserve. Their daughter died in Italy for the half xears ago

:02:22.:02:25.

because of multiple stab wotnds to her throat, her last words were

:02:26.:02:32.

"The man". Her death was recorded as suicide. Will the new team `greed to

:02:33.:02:39.

a meeting? We have a very dddicated consular team who are often having

:02:40.:02:45.

to deal with issues of this sort and if the honourable lady wishds to

:02:46.:02:49.

come to see me and consular officials I will be happy to arrange

:02:50.:02:55.

such a meeting. And I thank the Minister for his answer on Kashmir

:02:56.:02:58.

but as somebody who was born in Kashmir minister has said it is up

:02:59.:03:01.

to India and Pakistan to cole forward but ultimately for the

:03:02.:03:04.

long-term solution the people of Kashmir have been given the right to

:03:05.:03:07.

self-determination in accordance with the 1948 UN resolution. The

:03:08.:03:15.

Prime Minister has said she supports... I have indulged the

:03:16.:03:18.

honourable gentleman Billy Kee can do be brief. Mr Speaker as H noted

:03:19.:03:23.

earlier of course we want a lasting peace in Kashmir, that is what we

:03:24.:03:28.

want see. I have made the point that in terms of the resolution we should

:03:29.:03:33.

be taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. The last person

:03:34.:03:42.

I can accommodate. What recdnt discussions has Her Majesty 's

:03:43.:03:45.

government in the UK had with the majesties government in Can`da on

:03:46.:03:48.

the outcome of the European union referendum? From Mr Speaker, regular

:03:49.:03:55.

discussions with the governlent of Canada, I look forward to vhsiting

:03:56.:03:58.

in due course but on the matter of trade deals it is of course a matter

:03:59.:04:01.

for the Department of International trade. Urgent question, John

:04:02.:04:15.

Woodcock. To ask the Secret`ry of State for Defence whether hd will

:04:16.:04:24.

make a statement on the libdration of Mosul and counter Daesh

:04:25.:04:25.

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