:00:07. > :00:14.Order, order. Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and
:00:15. > :00:23.Commonwealth Affairs Mr Fabian Hamilton. Question one, Mr Speaker.
:00:24. > :00:27.During last month's state visit my right honourable friend the Prime
:00:28. > :00:33.Minister and the president discussed the importance of issues on which we
:00:34. > :00:37.disagree, including human rights. I also set out the government's
:00:38. > :00:40.position on Tibet, including our human rights concerns in a
:00:41. > :00:45.Parliamentary debate secured by the honourable gentleman in June. I
:00:46. > :00:49.thank the Minister for that answer. The Minister will be aware that the
:00:50. > :00:54.UN committee against torture met last week in Geneva to review
:00:55. > :00:58.China's record and expressed serious concerns over its continued use of
:00:59. > :01:02.torture to extract confessions from prisoners. In its response, the
:01:03. > :01:07.Chinese delegation denied all allegations of endemic, systemic am
:01:08. > :01:13.a systematic acts of torture. China also claims to hold no political
:01:14. > :01:20.prisoners at all. Bilby Minister or the Foreign Secretary ensure that
:01:21. > :01:25.the routine use of torture in jails is raised with China at the next UN
:01:26. > :01:29.human rights Council? In Tibet or anywhere else, we would raise these
:01:30. > :01:33.matters. May I congratulate the honourable gentleman in keeping
:01:34. > :01:38.Tibet at the forefront of this House's deliberations. We had to
:01:39. > :01:42.debate recently. I should say that during the recent state visit, which
:01:43. > :01:44.was a huge success, the president acknowledged the importance of
:01:45. > :01:48.improving human rights protection and said China was ready for
:01:49. > :01:52.increased cooperation on this issue with the UK. The UK is one of the
:01:53. > :01:57.few countries in the world to have an annual human rights dialogue with
:01:58. > :02:00.China, and that is an important architecture within which to press
:02:01. > :02:09.the Chinese, and to raise these matters. We shall continue to do so.
:02:10. > :02:12.Mr Speaker, the Minister will recall in an exchange on October 22 he
:02:13. > :02:16.confirmed that China is ready to cooperate with the UK and other
:02:17. > :02:22.countries in the area of human rights. On the subject of Tibet, but
:02:23. > :02:25.also the persecution of practitioners, the alleged
:02:26. > :02:31.harvesting of organs, were those matters discussed with the Chinese
:02:32. > :02:35.president when he visited the UK? Well, the honourable gentleman
:02:36. > :02:40.credit me with almost total recall, but I will say that our position has
:02:41. > :02:47.been consistent on this matter. My right honourable friend on these
:02:48. > :02:51.issues, did raise these matters with the state councillor during the
:02:52. > :02:56.strategic dialogue with China in Beijing in August. We have also
:02:57. > :03:00.raised specific concerns over reports of organ harvesting on
:03:01. > :03:08.numerous occasions, including in answer to a written question on July
:03:09. > :03:11.the 15th. Catherine West. Could the Minister please tell the House what
:03:12. > :03:15.discussions have taken place to promote the importance of the
:03:16. > :03:20.freedom of religious expression in Tibet, and in particular amongst the
:03:21. > :03:24.weaker people? I would say to the honourable lady, these are issues
:03:25. > :03:29.which we raise consistently with the Chinese within the framework of the
:03:30. > :03:37.UK Chinese human rights dialogue. We publish the report which is updated
:03:38. > :03:40.every six months. The recent comments about the state visit, that
:03:41. > :03:46.the ratio with China is now based purely on one of commerce, this is
:03:47. > :03:51.wrong. This is not a winery relationship. So as we get closer to
:03:52. > :03:55.the Chinese we are seen as a good partner to China, and in terms of
:03:56. > :03:58.inward investment and trade with both countries, so we can discuss
:03:59. > :04:04.these things with him in a more mature way than many other countries
:04:05. > :04:06.can, it boils down to whether or not you believe in megaphone diplomacy
:04:07. > :04:10.by getting alongside the people you are trying to talk to and pointing
:04:11. > :04:18.out that the way to do things is the way that we do things. Question two.
:04:19. > :04:23.The UK is actively supporting UN efforts led by the Secretary
:04:24. > :04:28.General's new special representative to reach a lasting political
:04:29. > :04:34.agreement in Libya. We are also helping Tunisia and other North
:04:35. > :04:37.African countries to develop their economies, as well as strengthening
:04:38. > :04:46.their CTK abilities. I will be visiting Tunisia shortly to assess
:04:47. > :04:48.the effectiveness of UK medical and strategic cooperation and I will
:04:49. > :04:54.meet with the representative later this week. With the secretary of
:04:55. > :04:59.state agrees that it is in our interests that those countries at
:05:00. > :05:05.risk of extremist infiltration receives support controlling their
:05:06. > :05:11.borders? Yes, I would agree with that. What we have recognised since
:05:12. > :05:16.the attacks in Tunisia is that we need to focus more attention on
:05:17. > :05:20.those countries that are one step away from the chaos that is going on
:05:21. > :05:26.in Libya, countries that are making a success of things might but which
:05:27. > :05:31.still have some fun abilities, and which are being targeted by the
:05:32. > :05:39.extremists. We need to help them to build resilience against extremism.
:05:40. > :05:46.The Minister will know that Tunisia's economy has been badly hit
:05:47. > :05:54.to the collapse of its tourist industry. What steps is he taking to
:05:55. > :05:58.help other countries reach stability, particularly those in the
:05:59. > :06:03.Gulf States? We need to work with the Tunisians to improve security so
:06:04. > :06:10.that the tourist trade can resume as soon as is practical. The EU is also
:06:11. > :06:13.looking at relaxation of olive oil quotas to allow Tunisia greater
:06:14. > :06:18.access to the European market for olive oil, a product which it has
:06:19. > :06:24.plenty, if it is able to export it. My honourable friend, the
:06:25. > :06:28.Parliamentary undersecretary, visited the country a few weeks ago
:06:29. > :06:33.and discussed a 49 .1 with the Tunisians around support for the
:06:34. > :06:38.economy, and we are with the French seeking to act as the cheerleaders
:06:39. > :06:44.for support for the Tunisian economy within the EU. With the Foreign
:06:45. > :06:50.Secretary agree with me that we should also take this opportunity to
:06:51. > :06:53.encourage organisations such as the foundation for democracy, and a
:06:54. > :06:58.range of other organisations and institutions within our Western
:06:59. > :07:02.allies, United States, France and Germany, to name but three? The work
:07:03. > :07:08.they can do to ensure that we have political stability and democracy to
:07:09. > :07:13.other North African countries. Yes, I agree with my honourable friend,
:07:14. > :07:20.and of course Tunisia is ahead of the game, as it were. One of the
:07:21. > :07:23.success stories of the 2011 Arab Spring with a functioning
:07:24. > :07:28.constitution, democratic elections, but all of it challenged by the
:07:29. > :07:37.desire of the extremists to target success stories like that. We must
:07:38. > :07:41.stand with them. Mr Speaker, I am sure the Foreign Secretary will join
:07:42. > :07:44.us in expressing outrage at the terrorist atrocity in Mali in which
:07:45. > :07:54.22 were slaughtered, citizens of China, Mali, Belgium, amongst
:07:55. > :08:00.others, and we now see affiliated organisations operating across the
:08:01. > :08:07.wider area, could he say what is happening across the Sahara to
:08:08. > :08:13.tackle terrorism? We are working with a wide range of countries,
:08:14. > :08:19.including crucially Nigeria, because this is a pincer movement coming
:08:20. > :08:23.across the Sahara, so we are working with the full range of countries.
:08:24. > :08:29.But I would say that if we are going to stop this spread of terrorism, we
:08:30. > :08:38.have two tackle it at its heart, and its heart is in Raqqa in Syria. The
:08:39. > :08:42.security situation in the Sinai is a threat to Egypt, other countries in
:08:43. > :08:47.North Africa, as well as the coalition against Isil, as we saw
:08:48. > :08:51.with the recent terrorist attack. What is the Foreign Secretary's
:08:52. > :08:57.assessment of the security situation and its impact in Sinai? The
:08:58. > :09:02.security situation in Sinai is serious. The Egyptian army is
:09:03. > :09:07.engaged in combat with terrorist groups across Sinai, and in fact on
:09:08. > :09:14.the Foreign Office's travel advice recommends against all travel to
:09:15. > :09:17.Sinai, except the area around Sharm el-Sheikh which is itself still
:09:18. > :09:24.considered safe for travel, although travel through the airport is
:09:25. > :09:28.advised against. We seek to work with the Egyptian authorities to
:09:29. > :09:33.deal with the terrorist challenge that they are facing in Sinai. Does
:09:34. > :09:39.the Foreign Secretary believe that further air strikes alone will move
:09:40. > :09:44.us towards political stability in the wider region? Perhaps he could
:09:45. > :09:47.take this opportunity to address the efficacy of military intervention in
:09:48. > :09:51.Syria, and how it would contribute to a wider initiative to end civil
:09:52. > :09:56.war and does he have a plan for securing the peace, a plan which
:09:57. > :10:01.should include measures to close down all sources of finance and new
:10:02. > :10:05.recruits to the terrorist cult, including a government inquiry into
:10:06. > :10:10.their financing question mark why is this government attempted to make a
:10:11. > :10:12.case for war while Felling to address the need for a long-term
:10:13. > :10:27.competency of peace plan? I think the short answer is that air
:10:28. > :10:36.strikes alone will not alone destroy Daesh. But they have to be a part of
:10:37. > :10:39.the overall solution. In respect of our other specific enquiries, if she
:10:40. > :10:44.will wait until Thursday, she can look forward to hearing from the
:10:45. > :10:50.Prime Minister himself into how this fits into our wider strategy. I wait
:10:51. > :10:56.in anticipation for Thursday's statement. I am also grateful for
:10:57. > :11:04.the use of Daesh and all the other parties will follow suit. The US are
:11:05. > :11:10.bombing Daesh. France are also targeting rebels. Turkey are bombing
:11:11. > :11:17.Daesh and are bombing Kurdish forces in the North. If military action
:11:18. > :11:23.forces Daesh give up Sony and Iraq, in the coming weeks and months,
:11:24. > :11:29.which forced us the foreign secretary expected take its place on
:11:30. > :11:34.the ground? Again, the short answer is the honourable lady is correctly
:11:35. > :11:38.identifying the situation is complex. As the Prime Minister
:11:39. > :11:42.himself has said, we have to resolve these two things in parallel. We
:11:43. > :11:47.have to get a political solution to the Civil War in Syria so we can get
:11:48. > :11:51.everybody dealing with the problem of Daesh instead of fighting each
:11:52. > :12:01.other. That is what our comprehensive strategy will seek to
:12:02. > :12:10.achieve. I discuss progress on central registers of the central
:12:11. > :12:21.Cayman Islands and brand-new dog yesterday. -- berm you does. Paul
:12:22. > :12:34.Moynihan. The Prime Minister wrote to the overseas territories. It is
:12:35. > :12:42.clear that the Prime Minister wants the overseas territories to have
:12:43. > :12:45.public registers of ownership. Can he ensure that overseas territories
:12:46. > :12:56.adopt public registers or at the very least ensure access for the
:12:57. > :13:00.public. I think the honourable gentleman should give the overseas
:13:01. > :13:05.territories where credit is due. Progress has been made to central
:13:06. > :13:10.registers full working on security forces and police forces access to
:13:11. > :13:15.that register. But longer term, he is entirely right. The public access
:13:16. > :13:19.to that information is the direction we need to go and will have to go
:13:20. > :13:26.alternately. But the Overseas Territory 's are making progress.
:13:27. > :13:35.Can my right honourable friend let us know what progress we have made
:13:36. > :13:39.on tax evasion? This is a clear area where progress has already been
:13:40. > :13:43.made. The territories have fulfilled their commitments are automatic tax
:13:44. > :13:52.exchange and this was achieved in working in partnership with them.
:13:53. > :13:57.Number four, Sir. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to group this
:13:58. > :14:05.with question 15. One of the five principal strands of Isil strategy
:14:06. > :14:09.is stabilisation support. The UK has spent in the forefront in providing
:14:10. > :14:20.humanitarian support with ?1 billion committed to supporting host
:14:21. > :14:25.countries. I am grateful to my honourable friend for that answer.
:14:26. > :14:33.Will the Minister while carrying on this important work will work flat
:14:34. > :14:38.out to build a robust and energised consensus against Isil among the
:14:39. > :14:43.other countries in the Middle East? Mr Speaker, he is right. We must be
:14:44. > :14:48.energised. The government is committed to working with the now 65
:14:49. > :14:59.strong counter Isil coalition. On our 5-point strategy. Cutting off
:15:00. > :15:05.Daesh's funding scream. Providing humanitarian stabilisation support I
:15:06. > :15:10.have mentioned already. -- stream. Does my right honourable friend
:15:11. > :15:13.agreed that we must do all we can to support those living in refugee
:15:14. > :15:21.camps. And to ensure that they can return to their homes and rebuild
:15:22. > :15:28.their lives and safety and security? We have done a lot to do just that,
:15:29. > :15:32.to allow people to stay in the region, to help the vulnerable who
:15:33. > :15:36.need to be taken away from the region and supported. Which is why
:15:37. > :15:45.we are taking 20,000 refugees here in the UK. They are not allowed to
:15:46. > :15:50.be working illegally. What is the government doing to help countries
:15:51. > :16:01.like Jordan economic lace of that can change and that refugees can't
:16:02. > :16:07.work legally? That is a valid point. A bit of tension locally with people
:16:08. > :16:12.in the camp, willing to be paid less but wanting to work. We're working
:16:13. > :16:15.programmes and United Nations, so programmes and United Nations, so
:16:16. > :16:19.that they can feel that they can keep skills up. So when the guns
:16:20. > :16:25.finally fall silent in Syria, we need those skills to be transferred
:16:26. > :16:28.back into the country. When I visited the refugee camp, I could
:16:29. > :16:33.see first-hand the amount of aid that the UK government is giving to
:16:34. > :16:37.help the situation of the ground in Syria, as well as in Lebanon in
:16:38. > :16:41.Turkey and well swear. The UK is the second highest honour to those
:16:42. > :16:45.countries. Can the Minister update us as to what progress he has made
:16:46. > :16:49.in getting other neighbouring countries and other partners to make
:16:50. > :16:55.their proper contribution to helping humanitarian crisis in the region?
:16:56. > :17:00.Firstly, I am grateful for his support. Sometimes this number of
:17:01. > :17:04.20,000 refugees that we are taking in the UK is taken out of context,
:17:05. > :17:09.in comparison with the work we are doing to support those, such as
:17:10. > :17:13.those in the Zaatari count. We are providing support to other countries
:17:14. > :17:17.but we are also encouraging the neighbours. That is why we are
:17:18. > :17:20.hosting a conference here in February along with Kuwait to
:17:21. > :17:22.encourage other countries to provide a conference here in February along
:17:23. > :17:24.with Kuwait to encourage other countries to provide donations so we
:17:25. > :17:36.can be ready for post-conflict reconstruction balls in Iraq and in
:17:37. > :17:42.Syria. -- both ends. I discussed the situation in Syria to recent of the
:17:43. > :17:46.support Syria support group. The Prime Minister discussed Syria with
:17:47. > :17:53.President Putin at the margins of the G20 summit last week. When I saw
:17:54. > :17:57.represents the most immediate threat to our national security, we should
:17:58. > :18:04.be targeting its headquarters in Syria instead of leaving military
:18:05. > :18:07.action there to other countries? I think, Mr Speaker, my honourable
:18:08. > :18:11.friend knows my views and reviews of the Prime Minister very well. We do
:18:12. > :18:17.believe it is morally unacceptable to outsource an action which is
:18:18. > :18:21.essential to the defence of the United Kingdom and UK citizens
:18:22. > :18:26.around the world to others. That is why we will be seeking to build a
:18:27. > :18:33.consensus in this House for taking military action to Daesh and Raqqa.
:18:34. > :18:38.Regarding the situation in Syria, has the Foreign Secretary 's seen
:18:39. > :18:43.the letter into the's Times paper were nearly 200 Islamic scholars
:18:44. > :18:48.have denounced the strongest possible terms, ISAs terror. That is
:18:49. > :18:52.the sort of propaganda we should use and the foreign office should use in
:18:53. > :18:57.every way in all parts of the world. Shouldn't we make it perfectly
:18:58. > :19:02.clear, as they have done, that the atrocities in Paris have nothing to
:19:03. > :19:12.do with the wicked West. We went to war over Kosovo in order to protect
:19:13. > :19:17.Muslims and we were right to do so. -- Isis. Our position is a moral
:19:18. > :19:22.position. We are defending the right of people, Christians, years the
:19:23. > :19:27.Dees, Jews and Muslims to practice their religion freely against
:19:28. > :19:32.tyranny that imposes its view by beheadings, by rates, by mass
:19:33. > :19:37.deportations. And we must end this terror. He is right, that are vital
:19:38. > :19:44.to in our armoury is the very substantial body of thoughtful,
:19:45. > :19:49.moderate Islamic scholarship around the world. And we, when I say we,
:19:50. > :19:53.all nations of goodwill, this should be essentially led by the Muslim
:19:54. > :19:57.countries of the world. We need to ensure that that view prevails. We
:19:58. > :20:03.need to help the Muslims of the world reclaim their religion from
:20:04. > :20:06.the extremists. Is my honourable friend aware of the appalling news
:20:07. > :20:12.this morning that a Russian bomber has been shot down by a Nato
:20:13. > :20:15.country, Turkey. Is this not a potentially dangerous situation
:20:16. > :20:19.given that nothing like that happened during the whole of the
:20:20. > :20:22.Cold War. If we are going to get a solution in the north, we need to
:20:23. > :20:28.look at building a moderate Sunni regime. That may go back, we may
:20:29. > :20:35.have to go back to read drying the boundaries. Mr Speaker, I review and
:20:36. > :20:41.the strong view of all of our partners and allies is that we need
:20:42. > :20:46.to preserve the territorial integrity of Syria. If we start
:20:47. > :20:50.opening up boundaries in the region, I can promise my honourable friend
:20:51. > :20:56.we will prolong the agony. As far as the reports coming in this morning
:20:57. > :21:01.of a potential Russian air force jet shot down near the Turkish border,
:21:02. > :21:06.we are seeking further details urgently bores and gong Kok --
:21:07. > :21:11.Moscow and Ankara. This is potentially a serious incident. But
:21:12. > :21:17.it will not be unwise to comment further until we have the facts.
:21:18. > :21:22.Following their shockingly brutal attacks in Paris, no one doubts that
:21:23. > :21:27.we have to defeat Daesh in both Iraq and in Syria. This must be linked to
:21:28. > :21:32.the urgent need for the peace line to end the Civil War in Syria. Can
:21:33. > :21:35.he tell the House when he expects a decision to be reached on which
:21:36. > :21:40.opposition groups will take part in the talks due to start on the 1st of
:21:41. > :21:44.January? What is as current assessment of the chances of
:21:45. > :21:47.securing a ceasefire as part of these discussions about the
:21:48. > :21:58.formation of a transitional government? As the right -- right
:21:59. > :22:04.honourable gentleman has said, it is the heart of the group s' work. They
:22:05. > :22:10.are tasked with the drawing up a list, and agreed list, of opposition
:22:11. > :22:14.participants. I hope that when the team meets next, and we expect that
:22:15. > :22:19.to beat in the second week of December, that we will be able to
:22:20. > :22:24.approve a list at that point. It is right that I should emphasise that
:22:25. > :22:27.there are still some differences among the international support
:22:28. > :22:33.group. The Russians and Iranians do not take the same view of who is an
:22:34. > :22:39.acceptable interlocutor as are other partners do. I thank the Foreign
:22:40. > :22:46.Secretary for that reply. The unanimous agreement of UNC to the
:22:47. > :22:49.Council resolution to 249 last Friday was a significant moment in
:22:50. > :22:54.the fight against Daesh because the world community has come together to
:22:55. > :22:59.fight this evil, using in the words of the resolution, all necessary
:23:00. > :23:23.measures. Can the right honourable gentleman give us an idea of how
:23:24. > :23:27.macro three's position in Syria -- Daesh's is two events around the
:23:28. > :23:31.world? As the Prime Minister has said on many occasions, there is no
:23:32. > :23:37.doubt that the head of this multi-tentacled monster is in Raqqa,
:23:38. > :23:42.in Syria. Its logistics, is controlling brain, its strategic
:23:43. > :23:46.Communications, which are extremely effective, are all run from that
:23:47. > :23:50.headquarters. We will not destroy it by cutting off its limbs, we can
:23:51. > :23:54.only destroy it by going for the heart. It is right that I should say
:23:55. > :24:00.that some of the activity conducted around the world in the name of Isil
:24:01. > :24:07.is directed, clearly directed, from Raqqa. In other cases, it is
:24:08. > :24:18.inspired by Isil propaganda, but not directly controlled from Raqqa. So
:24:19. > :24:26.it is a mixture. Our immediate priority is to ensure that it passes
:24:27. > :24:28.into law. The government is also committed to supporting efforts to
:24:29. > :24:31.maximise registration and the electoral commission plans a
:24:32. > :24:37.campaign in the run-up to the campaign in the run-up to the
:24:38. > :24:41.referendum itself. Given that the unelected House of Lords are now
:24:42. > :24:45.calling for voting franchise to be extended to 16 and 17-year-olds. And
:24:46. > :24:54.given the change in public attitudes, could the government look
:24:55. > :24:58.again and legislate the franchise? This House, the elected House has
:24:59. > :25:03.voted on three occasions in recent months against lowering the voting
:25:04. > :25:07.age to 16 for this referendum. The government will propose to overturn
:25:08. > :25:12.this latest amendment from the Lords. I have to say it is a bit
:25:13. > :25:14.rich for him and his party to carp about the franchise when they voted
:25:15. > :25:32.against having a referendum at all. Will he sure that be sufficient time
:25:33. > :25:36.to have both arguments before having the referendum itself on the EU? I
:25:37. > :25:40.can assure my honourable friend that there will be ample time for those
:25:41. > :25:47.arguments to be aired, both in this House and outside. Can I pressed the
:25:48. > :25:52.minister a little bit further on this issue of 16 and 17-year-old.
:25:53. > :25:58.The other house passed their amendment by a big majority on the
:25:59. > :26:02.18th of November on this. There are rumours of disagreements within the
:26:03. > :26:17.government and within the Cabinet on how to respond. The Prime
:26:18. > :26:22.Minister... The Prime Minister has left the door open so far to change
:26:23. > :26:26.in the West is that he has been asked previously about this. We know
:26:27. > :26:30.that 16 and 17-year-olds are capable of understanding the issues. We know
:26:31. > :26:36.that they are interested and want to take part, so why won't the Minister
:26:37. > :26:41.agree to the amendment and give 16 and 17-year-olds a proper say in the
:26:42. > :26:49.future of our country? There are honourable members in various parts
:26:50. > :26:53.of the House who champion the cause of reducing the voting age to 16,
:26:54. > :26:56.but I would say to the right honourable gentleman that the right
:26:57. > :27:03.time to debate that issue is during legislation where such a change
:27:04. > :27:07.would apply to the franchise for all elections and referendums, and not
:27:08. > :27:14.just as a one-off tacked onto a bill for a particular referendum. Carolyn
:27:15. > :27:21.Harris. Question seven, Mr Speaker. I discussed the current migration
:27:22. > :27:24.rises with my EU counterparts on a regular basis, for example be
:27:25. > :27:29.foreign affairs Council last Monday, in Brussels, and when I met with a
:27:30. > :27:35.group of EU countries in Prague the previous Friday. All of them agree
:27:36. > :27:41.on the importance of a competence of approach to tackling the underlying
:27:42. > :27:47.causes of regular migration, and the UK is playing a leading role in
:27:48. > :27:51.delivering this approach. Maybe the minister could share with us what
:27:52. > :27:56.progress is being made with our European colleagues to create simple
:27:57. > :28:03.and safe routes for refugees to be united with their families who have
:28:04. > :28:08.already found Santry in Britain? -- sanctuary. The refugees we are
:28:09. > :28:11.mainly discussing in terms of the question she asked about discussions
:28:12. > :28:17.with my EU colleagues are those who are arriving within the Schengen
:28:18. > :28:26.area. Clearly, those people, since people are -- Britain is not in that
:28:27. > :28:27.area, would not be able to access the UK in the normal course of
:28:28. > :28:31.events, so their future will be within the Schengen area, unless at
:28:32. > :28:37.some point they pertain EU citizenship. Will my right
:28:38. > :28:44.honourable friend explain what's more action can be taken to stop
:28:45. > :28:47.resident Assad's murder of his own people, which is contributing to the
:28:48. > :29:02.refugee crisis that we are seeing at the moment? Mr Speaker, she is
:29:03. > :29:07.absolutely right. The honourable lady is absolutely right. Clearly
:29:08. > :29:10.there is agreement across the European Union that we need to
:29:11. > :29:15.address these issues upstream, and one of the most pressing challenges
:29:16. > :29:19.is the Civil War in Syria. As I have already said once this afternoon,
:29:20. > :29:23.the Prime Minister will set out our preference of approach to that
:29:24. > :29:29.problem, military, political and two and, on Thursday. As part of those
:29:30. > :29:35.discussions with the European Council, what part of those
:29:36. > :29:40.discussions are centred on the real genocide that is happening,
:29:41. > :29:44.including in UN HCI refugee camps in Lebanon, Jordan, the Kurdish
:29:45. > :29:50.autonomous region, I radicalised Islamist linked to Daesh, who are
:29:51. > :29:56.killing Christians in those camps and driving them out of them? I
:29:57. > :29:59.would have to tell the honourable gentleman candidly that that has not
:30:00. > :30:04.been the focus of discussion in foreign affairs Council about the
:30:05. > :30:08.migration crisis, but I am aware of concerns about what is going on in
:30:09. > :30:13.the camp, and of course the UK's approach is to invest heavily in
:30:14. > :30:17.providing safe and appropriate facilities for refugees in the
:30:18. > :30:22.region so that they can return to Syria in due course. We will
:30:23. > :30:28.continue to advocate that approach and to encourage our EU partners to
:30:29. > :30:34.put more money into that effort. Question eight, Mr Speaker. With
:30:35. > :30:36.permission, Mr Speaker, I shall answer this bastion together with
:30:37. > :30:41.the question nine. My right honourable friend the Minister has
:30:42. > :30:46.had deductive rounds of talks with every European leader, and with the
:30:47. > :30:48.president of the European Council, the European Parliament and the
:30:49. > :30:52.European Commission. The Foreign Secretary, Chancellor and I, also
:30:53. > :30:59.maintain regular contact with our counterparts right across Europe.
:31:00. > :31:04.Can the Minister go further and confirmed that the government will
:31:05. > :31:10.not seek to tear up hard one employment rights as part of this
:31:11. > :31:13.negotiation with the EU? We believe that the flexibility of the opt out
:31:14. > :31:18.that we have from the 48 hour week under the working time direct live
:31:19. > :31:22.is one that is very important to keeping employment in this country
:31:23. > :31:29.high, compared with the tragic levels of unemployment in many other
:31:30. > :31:34.European nations. We shall certainly ensure we will keep this. Will the
:31:35. > :31:39.Minister and accept that there will be no treaty changes secured before
:31:40. > :31:44.the referendum? I set out the position on that in the statement
:31:45. > :31:52.and subsequent answers that I gave a week ago. What he -- is very
:31:53. > :31:57.important is that we secure a package of changes which will be
:31:58. > :32:02.seen by all as irreversible and as legally binding. The government used
:32:03. > :32:08.to complain about Tony Blair giving up the UK rebate back to the
:32:09. > :32:12.European Union, so why did the Prime Minister not ask for a reduction in
:32:13. > :32:17.our membership fee to the EU as part of his letter? Is it that the
:32:18. > :32:21.government is now happy that we gave up the rebate, or is it that the
:32:22. > :32:25.primary step has only asked for the things that he has already had
:32:26. > :32:28.agreed by the EU so he can say the negotiations were a success, on the
:32:29. > :32:42.basis that if you ask for nothing, when you get nothing it will be a
:32:43. > :32:47.success? Mr Speaker, my honourable friend would be right to applaud the
:32:48. > :32:51.Prime Minister's success in getting the first ever reduction in the EU
:32:52. > :32:55.Sakho multi annual budget. I can assure him that what lies ahead will
:32:56. > :33:00.be negotiations that will be tough, that will at times be difficult,
:33:01. > :33:07.which I am confident will end with a better set of relationships between
:33:08. > :33:12.this country and the EU. Surely is it not the case that these very
:33:13. > :33:15.modest proposals which were set out in that letter were the only ones
:33:16. > :33:23.which the government believed that the rest of the EU would agree to,
:33:24. > :33:26.which is why an end to free movement, which is something so many
:33:27. > :33:33.people want to see, is not even going to be discussed? Well we have
:33:34. > :33:41.made it clear that we want to see the freedom of movement for workers
:33:42. > :33:44.be just that, and not a freedom of movement to elect the best welfare
:33:45. > :33:50.system anywhere in Europe. I would say to my honourable friend that we
:33:51. > :33:53.must also take account in our approach to this subject the fact
:33:54. > :33:56.that there are hundreds of thousands of British citizens who themselves
:33:57. > :34:04.are able to work, study and live elsewhere in Europe. Further to the
:34:05. > :34:07.previous question, will the issue of freedom of movement, the principle,
:34:08. > :34:14.not the detail, the principle of freedom of movement, will it be
:34:15. > :34:17.discussed or not? I has to ask the honourable gentleman to go and read
:34:18. > :34:23.again the letter that the Prime Minister sent last week because that
:34:24. > :34:27.makes clear that, while we accept the principle of a freedom of
:34:28. > :34:34.movement for workers, we want to secure changes which ensure that we
:34:35. > :34:38.can reduce the core factors which element of our welfare system exert
:34:39. > :34:46.in adding to migration into this country. Following what my
:34:47. > :34:53.honourable friend said, if the bar is so hah and -- so high and so
:34:54. > :34:59.tough, what is the Prime Minister really going to fight for? What is
:35:00. > :35:05.holding him back? Come on, the bar is so low, this negotiation is just
:35:06. > :35:11.a joke. I perhaps look forward to the day when my honourable friend is
:35:12. > :35:15.able to join me at ministerial meetings in Europe when he can
:35:16. > :35:21.actually see that the task of negotiating is not quite as easy as
:35:22. > :35:25.he has made out in his question. I can't give a running commentary on
:35:26. > :35:31.ongoing negotiations, but I remind my honourable friend that the
:35:32. > :35:37.president commented that the British are task and they would be "really
:35:38. > :35:41.difficult to find an agreement". That indicates we have a real
:35:42. > :35:53.negotiation in front of us. Mr Martin day. Question ten. Thank you,
:35:54. > :35:56.Mr Speaker. Britain has made its support for the president in Yemen
:35:57. > :36:06.clear in deed, and recognised his legitimate request for military
:36:07. > :36:12.assistance which has compounded and Jackie -- a dire humanitarian
:36:13. > :36:21.situation. The Foreign Secretary and I received assurances of compliance.
:36:22. > :36:25.I wonder if he can give a timeline for the proper investigations that
:36:26. > :36:32.were pledged earlier this month into any breaches of humanitarian law in
:36:33. > :36:35.Yemen? Mr Speaker, these investigations must be concluded,
:36:36. > :36:39.they must be looked into, and they will be ongoing. It is a very
:36:40. > :36:43.difficult situation on the ground, unable to have access in many cases
:36:44. > :36:49.to verify what has happened. Progress is being made by the envoy
:36:50. > :36:52.in bringing the parties together in Geneva very shortly, and that is
:36:53. > :36:58.where we need to focus on action getting a ceasefire in place. The
:36:59. > :37:01.humanitarian consequences of the conflict in Yemen after hunt
:37:02. > :37:06.clay-macro heart-rending. Would my honourable friend agree that peace
:37:07. > :37:11.talks leading to a political settlement would be the best way to
:37:12. > :37:14.bring an end to the humanitarian suffering and any breaches of
:37:15. > :37:18.international law in this country? My honourable friend is right. We
:37:19. > :37:22.have discussed some important challenges in the Middle East, but
:37:23. > :37:30.the scale of the situation in Yemen is dire. 20 million people are
:37:31. > :37:33.facing starvation. The lack of water and support that they need. There is
:37:34. > :37:39.no government there, and until we have a ceasefire, the port will not
:37:40. > :37:45.be able to open up to allow the humanitarian support to enter the
:37:46. > :37:48.country. Human rights watch has documented 27 air strikes since
:37:49. > :37:54.March 26 that appear to violate the laws of war in Yemen. On November
:37:55. > :37:58.the 11th, the Foreign Secretary said he supported proper investigations
:37:59. > :38:02.into human rights violations from all sides in the Yemen conflict. Can
:38:03. > :38:08.the Minister explain why the United Kingdom failed to support the Dutch
:38:09. > :38:11.at the last meeting of the UN human rights Council when they call for a
:38:12. > :38:22.credible investigation into these violations? Mr Speaker, this is an
:38:23. > :38:26.important point. I met NGO's and had a band table discussion on this
:38:27. > :38:32.policy. There was an international discussion on this matter. We have
:38:33. > :38:37.been working on encouraging Saudi Arabia and other parties involved in
:38:38. > :38:42.this coalition. There are ten other countries as well. Those cases need
:38:43. > :38:51.to be looked into efficiently and properly by the country itself.
:38:52. > :38:55.Question 11. Since operations by the global coalition began last year, I
:38:56. > :39:00.still has lost more than 30% of the territory it once controlled in
:39:01. > :39:09.Iraq. Most recently, Kurdish forces retook Singel, and slowly but surely
:39:10. > :39:19.Isil is being pushed back, and I am confident that it will be driven out
:39:20. > :39:23.of Iraq in time. As Chair of the all-party group on Islamic phobia, I
:39:24. > :39:27.would like them be formally termed as Daesh. But does my honourable
:39:28. > :39:32.friend agree that cutting supply lines with Syria will hasten its
:39:33. > :39:46.defeat and bring about the restoration of the territory? The
:39:47. > :39:50.retaking of Sinjar is important, but we need to go to the heart and head
:39:51. > :39:56.of the beast in Iraq. Does he regard Turkey as a reliable
:39:57. > :40:02.ally in the battle against Isil, when you consider that not only
:40:03. > :40:08.today they have shot down a Russian jet, who are also trying to fight
:40:09. > :40:12.Isil, they are buying oil from Isil in order to prop them up, they are
:40:13. > :40:18.bombing the Kurds, who are also fighting Isil. This Syrian
:40:19. > :40:31.engagement is an almighty guess. -- mess.
:40:32. > :40:44.Turkey holds the key to a number of questions. And also the migration
:40:45. > :40:50.challenge for Europe. It will be an important partner for this country
:40:51. > :40:54.and the European Union. For, sir. Following my recent discussions in
:40:55. > :40:59.Vienna, an international Syria support group will meet on a regular
:41:00. > :41:04.basis in parallel with Syrian lead discussions with the opposition and
:41:05. > :41:09.the facilitated by the UN to take forward a transition process for
:41:10. > :41:13.that country. The UK will work with our international partners to mean
:41:14. > :41:18.men took -- momentum in this important endeavour. Is it not
:41:19. > :41:28.clearer than ever that Isil pose a threat to our national security. Is
:41:29. > :41:34.it not incumbent upon us in this House to support our allies and that
:41:35. > :41:39.the failure to do so would call complete the world and on their
:41:40. > :41:43.part? It is true that we have military capabilities, the precision
:41:44. > :41:46.weapons available on Tornado aircraft, which would make a
:41:47. > :41:52.difference to the military battle on the ground in Syria. But it is
:41:53. > :41:55.incumbent upon us and we have accepted this challenge to make the
:41:56. > :41:59.case is not just for military intervention to set that case in a
:42:00. > :42:06.broader context of a comprehensive approach to the Syria problem. The
:42:07. > :42:08.Prime Minister has taken upon him himself the responsibility of
:42:09. > :42:13.delivering his comprehensive strategy to the House. It is ever
:42:14. > :42:23.more apparent that unless we deal with the biggest recruitment drive
:42:24. > :42:29.for Daesh by the Assad regime, we will not tackle the cancer that is
:42:30. > :42:35.Daesh. Can he tell us how he will prioritise UK engagement to get a
:42:36. > :42:39.ceasefire and a complex compounds of plan question worked through the
:42:40. > :42:44.international support group for Syria that we have set up. She is
:42:45. > :42:50.right. We will not get a ceasefire, we will not get the opposition
:42:51. > :42:54.groups working with the rump of regime forces against Daesh unless
:42:55. > :42:59.and until they can be clear that Assad is going at a certain point, a
:43:00. > :43:06.clear and defined point, in the transition process. At the moment we
:43:07. > :43:11.do not have agreement across the ISS GE about that point. But that is
:43:12. > :43:14.where we have to go and that is the fundamental thrust of all
:43:15. > :43:19.discussions, around tried to get agreement on a route for an exit by
:43:20. > :43:27.Assad, so that the rest of the pieces of this chicks can follow in
:43:28. > :43:30.to place. -- jigsaw. Given Britain's economic ties with Gulf
:43:31. > :43:34.nations and other states in the Middle East, both I and the Foreign
:43:35. > :43:39.Secretary meet our counterparts to discuss a range of issues including
:43:40. > :43:48.security. In recent weeks, the UK hosted the Egyptian president and I
:43:49. > :43:58.have returned from all man and will be heading to Kuwait, looking at the
:43:59. > :44:02.whip on duty. We face an epidemic of Jihadist violence. Can my honourable
:44:03. > :44:06.friend assure the House that it is close dialogue with our golf friends
:44:07. > :44:10.and partners that they will press on them that funding by some of them of
:44:11. > :44:15.these dangerous organisations must stop?
:44:16. > :44:23.My right honourable friend is right. This is one of the key trait of the
:44:24. > :44:27.strategy is to prevent funding taking place. It is important all
:44:28. > :44:33.countries across the Middle East work hard to prevent this from
:44:34. > :44:38.happening. With the Minister raise in his discussions the current
:44:39. > :44:43.terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians. With 108 Israelis killed
:44:44. > :44:47.or injured by shootings or stabbings in the street in recent weeks and
:44:48. > :44:55.will he condemned the incitement that goes with that, including the
:44:56. > :45:08.statement from the Palestinian... That Jewish body parts should be put
:45:09. > :45:13.out in pieces to remove the thought from their heads. She races are very
:45:14. > :45:16.serious point. In the past few weeks we have seen a reduction in the
:45:17. > :45:22.violence that is taking place in the West Bank. Since the start of this
:45:23. > :45:26.current scale of violence, we have spoken regularly with all sides with
:45:27. > :45:29.the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority, we need to DS
:45:30. > :45:38.intentions and get all parties back to the table. Number 14, Mr Speaker.
:45:39. > :45:50.I saw for myself in July the desperate plight of the community.
:45:51. > :45:54.Relieving that plight remains a priority. We will press the incoming
:45:55. > :46:28.government to do so. I thank the Minister for his answer. Elections
:46:29. > :46:32.in Burma were a victory for the people of Burma, not withstanding
:46:33. > :46:38.the fact that the Rohingya registered franchise from that
:46:39. > :46:43.election. I could only just conclude by concurring what press --
:46:44. > :46:48.President Obama said about the Rohingya. He hopes they will be
:46:49. > :46:52.treated fairly and justly in their own country and we believe as he
:46:53. > :46:56.does, they are deserving of the world's protection and support. The
:46:57. > :47:01.incoming government will have a lot on its plate. It will have to expect
:47:02. > :47:20.expectation. We stand ready to help them do that. But the... I have
:47:21. > :47:25.written to them. I am grateful to the Minister for what he said. My
:47:26. > :47:31.priorities remain the struggle against violence in all its forms
:47:32. > :47:36.including a response to the recent despicable attacks in Paris and the
:47:37. > :47:39.Middle East. The containment of Russian actions that threaten the
:47:40. > :47:42.international rules -based system and the renegotiation of Britain's
:47:43. > :47:47.relationship with the European Union. Decisions taken in the
:47:48. > :47:51.strategic defence and offence review will underpin the diplomacy that
:47:52. > :47:56.allows us to make effective progress in all of those areas. Backing a
:47:57. > :48:01.round out its off power with hard power. Tomorrow, Mr Speaker, I will
:48:02. > :48:04.travel to Malta for the Commonwealth heads of government meeting and for
:48:05. > :48:11.the state visit of her Majesty the Queen. Given the changes to the
:48:12. > :48:16.Ministerial Code, is at his view that ministers and the civil and
:48:17. > :48:22.diplomatic services remain bound by the UK boss Mac international treaty
:48:23. > :48:32.obligations? I think the answer to that, Mr Speaker, is yes. How does
:48:33. > :48:38.the strategic defence spending review provide the foreign office
:48:39. > :48:43.with new tools to deal with the situation in Syria, particularly in
:48:44. > :48:49.context of a wider strategy and coordination? Mr Speaker, I have
:48:50. > :48:54.said longer for the publication of the report to the colleagues across
:48:55. > :48:58.government, that the most important reinforcement that we could have
:48:59. > :49:08.diplomacy would be clear statements about this country's determination
:49:09. > :49:12.to back its Armed Forces. We have turned that into specific programmes
:49:13. > :49:16.and plans that will deliver a romp forces the capability that we need
:49:17. > :49:23.to backers of parks with hard power. I have spend a lot of time this
:49:24. > :49:30.weekend hearing about my constituent members about their views on Syria.
:49:31. > :49:34.They do want to know what practical difference Britain can make, how
:49:35. > :49:37.civilians will be protected and whether there is a comprehensive
:49:38. > :49:42.plan to rebuild Syria after was whether proper government in place
:49:43. > :49:46.of Assad to as used chemical weapons on his people? I am glad to hear he
:49:47. > :49:51.is taking the pulse of his constituents. On the last point, as
:49:52. > :49:55.I've said before, the Prime Minister will set out a comprehensive
:49:56. > :49:58.strategy. It is not just about military intervention, it is about
:49:59. > :50:04.how we use that military intervention achieve the political
:50:05. > :50:08.set -- solution that we need. On the military point, yes, the UK does
:50:09. > :50:13.have capabilities that will make a difference. We have the dual mode
:50:14. > :50:21.Brimstone missile carried an attorney dope aircraft which is a
:50:22. > :50:27.precision weapon, unlike any of the other allies have in the coalition.
:50:28. > :50:32.It will insure minimisation of collateral damage and collateral
:50:33. > :50:36.casualties, and that is one of the reasons our allies as sucking me
:50:37. > :50:40.take part in this campaign. There has been another weekend of deadly
:50:41. > :50:45.terror attacks on Israeli citizens, including a brutal stabbing
:50:46. > :50:48.yesterday. Will he condemn these attacks and does he agree that
:50:49. > :50:58.sanctions incitement to commit terror must end? -- sanctioned. My
:50:59. > :51:03.honourable friend is right. We need to get all parties back to the
:51:04. > :51:06.table. Unfortunately it does seem that the planet seamer misaligned at
:51:07. > :51:10.the moment. We need to reconfigure and make sure that all parties come
:51:11. > :51:17.back and prevent the scale of violence from increasing. What steps
:51:18. > :51:23.does the Foreign Secretary taking to ensure that genuine law-abiding
:51:24. > :51:29.refugees leaving Syria are not locked out of the asylum process as
:51:30. > :51:34.a result of border measures being introduced across the EU after the
:51:35. > :51:41.brutal attacks in Paris? Clearly, it is a matter for each member state of
:51:42. > :51:45.the European Union and other European countries to determine
:51:46. > :51:51.their own border controls. The way forward has to be for asylum seekers
:51:52. > :51:57.to be properly assessed and screamed at the first safe country that they
:51:58. > :52:01.go to and for us to tackle the problem in the camps, in the near
:52:02. > :52:05.East, so that people get some assurance of a decent life and
:52:06. > :52:10.opportunities for education for their children. Rather than
:52:11. > :52:18.hazarding these appalling journeys to Europe. With the Foreign
:52:19. > :52:23.Secretary agree with me that in order that we play a constructive
:52:24. > :52:26.role in dealing with Isis and other instabilities in the region, we need
:52:27. > :52:32.a comprehensive strategy towards the Middle East as a whole, not just
:52:33. > :52:39.Syria? Yes, Mr Speaker, I do agree with that. The government is working
:52:40. > :52:44.up a golf strategy, looking at how the UK will engage with this very
:52:45. > :52:47.important region, important for our security and important for our
:52:48. > :52:54.prosperity as well, over the next 5-10 years. Does the Foreign
:52:55. > :53:06.Secretary agree that defeating Daesh abroad provides security at home? I
:53:07. > :53:17.saw headlines yesterday that cast doubt on that. The result unity in
:53:18. > :53:21.the UK hate Daesh. The Sun newspaper published divisions yesterday when
:53:22. > :53:25.we need unity. It is clear to me that the majority of the Muslim
:53:26. > :53:29.population here in the UK and across the world applaud what is going on
:53:30. > :53:34.and are sickened by the fact that it it is being done ostensibly in the
:53:35. > :53:38.name. They are very clear that their religion does not in any way support
:53:39. > :53:42.or authorise the action is being carried out by Daesh and we should
:53:43. > :53:48.help them to reclaim their religion from the terrorists and the
:53:49. > :53:53.extremists. In improving economic times in the UK and sub-Saharan
:53:54. > :54:00.Africa is important. What are the government's objectives at the
:54:01. > :54:03.summit next week? The honourable gentleman is right. Economic
:54:04. > :54:10.development is central to everything that we do. I head of the global
:54:11. > :54:13.African investment Summit, I will be meeting a collection of presidents,
:54:14. > :54:18.prime ministers and foreign ministers at Lancaster House,
:54:19. > :54:20.looking at economic Dev elements, looking at working with those
:54:21. > :54:25.countries to develop their businesses, alongside Ritter 's
:54:26. > :54:31.business, to grow Africa out of poverty. In the course of questions
:54:32. > :54:36.today, the Foreign Secretary has mentioned the need for compounds of
:54:37. > :54:40.strategy. We have heard before about financial sanctions. Update the
:54:41. > :54:47.House on what conversations he has had with counterparts in the US and
:54:48. > :54:54.EU about stopping the supply of cash and financial services to Daesh? Mr
:54:55. > :54:57.Speaker, she is right to say that it is not just on the battlefield, it
:54:58. > :55:00.is about cutting down on the finances as well. We are looking to
:55:01. > :55:05.freeze accounts, huge amounts of work to be done through the
:55:06. > :55:09.Financial Services Authority is in order to identify the flow of funds
:55:10. > :55:14.coming from large donors, individuals. In addition to that, we
:55:15. > :55:19.are looking at the money streams coming into Daesh itself, as it
:55:20. > :55:22.sells antiquities and oils. It is reflected in the fact that the
:55:23. > :55:27.amount of foreign fighters, the amount they get on a monthly debases
:55:28. > :55:42.has been reduced because funds into Daesh are being reduced. Will he
:55:43. > :55:48.talk about what the UK is doing in Burundi. I am grateful for him to
:55:49. > :55:52.raise the situation in the ruined it. It is important there is a
:55:53. > :56:02.regional solution. I have had discussions with the role London
:56:03. > :56:08.government which is in gauging -- Rwandan government. This is a matter
:56:09. > :56:13.of grave concern and I have had a number of frank and open
:56:14. > :56:18.conversations with the Burundi and Foreign Minister and issues an open
:56:19. > :56:23.letter to him as well as a number of the international community.
:56:24. > :56:31.It is estimated that Russian bombings have killed many people,
:56:32. > :56:35.when the Foreign Minister met with the Foreign Minister and he urged
:56:36. > :56:39.him to refocus those air strikes away from the opposition armies who
:56:40. > :56:43.are fighting President Assad's reign of terror, and towards those
:56:44. > :56:46.terrorists who brought down that Russian airliner? Absolutely right,
:56:47. > :56:50.that is what we have been urging the Russians to do. If they want to
:56:51. > :56:55.fight Isil, we will be happy to work with them. But at the moment, what
:56:56. > :56:58.we have seen is that a significant proportion, the majority in fact, of
:56:59. > :57:02.their air strikes have been directed against the moderate opposition
:57:03. > :57:05.fighting Assad. In fairness, since the Russians acknowledged that it
:57:06. > :57:09.almost certainly was terrorist action that brought down that
:57:10. > :57:14.airliner, they have directed a larger proportion of air strikes
:57:15. > :57:17.against Isil held territories. Good my right honourable friend find
:57:18. > :57:21.any further detail on discussions he has had with the Iraqi government
:57:22. > :57:29.about ensuring measures are taken to promote security and enhanced
:57:30. > :57:36.erupt's liberation of areas. Focus needs to be done on supporting
:57:37. > :57:41.Iraqi, but unfortunately many Sunni Muslims in Iraq believe they are not
:57:42. > :57:45.properly represented in Baghdad, so we are working with the Prime
:57:46. > :57:47.Minister to encourage financial services laws and National Guard
:57:48. > :57:54.laws to go through so that they have a place, and are represented
:57:55. > :57:58.properly in Baghdad. I would like to thank the
:57:59. > :58:03.Parliamentary secretary of state for writing to me about my Yemeni
:58:04. > :58:09.constituent. I read the Home Office device he directed me to on this
:58:10. > :58:13.issue. Does he agree it does not inspire confidence that the Home
:58:14. > :58:24.Office managed to miss translate medicines some frontier, and will he
:58:25. > :58:27.meet with me to discuss this? I am grateful that she raises this matter
:58:28. > :58:35.and I would be delighted to meet with her later to discuss it in more
:58:36. > :58:39.detail. The world's attention is rightly on the Middle East and Syria
:58:40. > :58:44.at the moment, but there is an ongoing situation in Ukraine. Has my
:58:45. > :58:50.right honourable friend made any assessment of the situation in
:58:51. > :58:54.Ukraine? We remain concerned about the situation in Ukraine. I was last
:58:55. > :59:00.there in early October this year, when I met the Prime Minister, the
:59:01. > :59:04.Foreign Minister, and other Ukrainian leaders and
:59:05. > :59:07.parliamentarians. The latest situation is that there has been an
:59:08. > :59:15.upsurge of fighting in certain locations around Donetsk. The key
:59:16. > :59:19.thing now is to ensure that the Minsk process is followed through to
:59:20. > :59:27.the end, and all parts of it are completed. We are right not to be
:59:28. > :59:31.part of Shannon and DIY to call for reform, but doesn't the invoking of
:59:32. > :59:39.the EU defence clause remind us why we have to be part of a reformed EU,
:59:40. > :59:43.as well as part of Nato? I think that what France has done by in
:59:44. > :59:49.vogue in that article in the treaty has been to ask other member
:59:50. > :59:52.states, and crucially not the European institutions under that
:59:53. > :59:59.article, to come to its assistant in all possible ways, as they need to
:00:00. > :00:05.react to the terrorist onslaught on Paris. It is important to bear in
:00:06. > :00:10.mind that that treaty article also makes reference to the need for the
:00:11. > :00:19.EU always to coordinate its work with that of Nato. The Foreign
:00:20. > :00:23.Secretary will be aware that the former primary of Canada Stephen
:00:24. > :00:27.Harper was rebuffed in his support for self-determination of the people
:00:28. > :00:30.of the Falkland islands. Will he take the opportunity when Mr Trudeau
:00:31. > :00:35.visits this week to emphasise how grateful we are for the Canadian
:00:36. > :00:40.support for the Falkland Islands, and will be policy remain the same
:00:41. > :00:46.under his premiership? My honourable friend can be reassured that we
:00:47. > :00:50.expect the same from Mr Trudeau on who is on his way to London to meet
:00:51. > :00:56.with our Prime Minister and Her Majesty before travelling on. We
:00:57. > :00:59.expect the same relationships. It is an ancient and potent ratio between
:01:00. > :01:04.ourselves and Canada. The honourable gentleman will be aware that has
:01:05. > :01:11.been an election in Argentina, and we look forward to working with the
:01:12. > :01:16.new government of Argentina who hopefully will not suffer from the
:01:17. > :01:18.bullying and hostility shown by the former government of Argentina to
:01:19. > :01:19.the people of the Falkland