Live Foreign and Commonwealth Office Questions House of Commons

Order, order. Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and

Commonwealth Affairs Mr Fabian Hamilton. Question one, Mr Speaker.

During last month's state visit my right honourable friend the Prime

Minister and the president discussed the importance of issues on which we

disagree, including human rights. I also set out the government's

position on Tibet, including our human rights concerns in a

Parliamentary debate secured by the honourable gentleman in June. I

thank the Minister for that answer. The Minister will be aware that the

UN committee against torture met last week in Geneva to review

China's record and expressed serious concerns over its continued use of

torture to extract confessions from prisoners. In its response, the

Chinese delegation denied all allegations of endemic, systemic am

a systematic acts of torture. China also claims to hold no political

prisoners at all. Bilby Minister or the Foreign Secretary ensure that

the routine use of torture in jails is raised with China at the next UN

human rights Council? In Tibet or anywhere else, we would raise these

matters. May I congratulate the honourable gentleman in keeping

Tibet at the forefront of this House's deliberations. We had to

debate recently. I should say that during the recent state visit, which

was a huge success, the president acknowledged the importance of

improving human rights protection and said China was ready for

increased cooperation on this issue with the UK. The UK is one of the

few countries in the world to have an annual human rights dialogue with

China, and that is an important architecture within which to press

the Chinese, and to raise these matters. We shall continue to do so.

Mr Speaker, the Minister will recall in an exchange on October 22 he

confirmed that China is ready to cooperate with the UK and other

countries in the area of human rights. On the subject of Tibet, but

also the persecution of practitioners, the alleged

harvesting of organs, were those matters discussed with the Chinese

president when he visited the UK? Well, the honourable gentleman

credit me with almost total recall, but I will say that our position has

been consistent on this matter. My right honourable friend on these

issues, did raise these matters with the state councillor during the

strategic dialogue with China in Beijing in August. We have also

raised specific concerns over reports of organ harvesting on

numerous occasions, including in answer to a written question on July

the 15th. Catherine West. Could the Minister please tell the House what

discussions have taken place to promote the importance of the

freedom of religious expression in Tibet, and in particular amongst the

weaker people? I would say to the honourable lady, these are issues

which we raise consistently with the Chinese within the framework of the

UK Chinese human rights dialogue. We publish the report which is updated

every six months. The recent comments about the state visit, that

the ratio with China is now based purely on one of commerce, this is

wrong. This is not a winery relationship. So as we get closer to

the Chinese we are seen as a good partner to China, and in terms of

inward investment and trade with both countries, so we can discuss

these things with him in a more mature way than many other countries

can, it boils down to whether or not you believe in megaphone diplomacy

by getting alongside the people you are trying to talk to and pointing

out that the way to do things is the way that we do things. Question two.

The UK is actively supporting UN efforts led by the Secretary

General's new special representative to reach a lasting political

agreement in Libya. We are also helping Tunisia and other North

African countries to develop their economies, as well as strengthening

their CTK abilities. I will be visiting Tunisia shortly to assess

the effectiveness of UK medical and strategic cooperation and I will

meet with the representative later this week. With the secretary of

state agrees that it is in our interests that those countries at

risk of extremist infiltration receives support controlling their

borders? Yes, I would agree with that. What we have recognised since

the attacks in Tunisia is that we need to focus more attention on

those countries that are one step away from the chaos that is going on

in Libya, countries that are making a success of things might but which

still have some fun abilities, and which are being targeted by the

extremists. We need to help them to build resilience against extremism.

The Minister will know that Tunisia's economy has been badly hit

to the collapse of its tourist industry. What steps is he taking to

help other countries reach stability, particularly those in the

Gulf States? We need to work with the Tunisians to improve security so

that the tourist trade can resume as soon as is practical. The EU is also

looking at relaxation of olive oil quotas to allow Tunisia greater

access to the European market for olive oil, a product which it has

plenty, if it is able to export it. My honourable friend, the

Parliamentary undersecretary, visited the country a few weeks ago

and discussed a 49 .1 with the Tunisians around support for the

economy, and we are with the French seeking to act as the cheerleaders

for support for the Tunisian economy within the EU. With the Foreign

Secretary agree with me that we should also take this opportunity to

encourage organisations such as the foundation for democracy, and a

range of other organisations and institutions within our Western

allies, United States, France and Germany, to name but three? The work

they can do to ensure that we have political stability and democracy to

other North African countries. Yes, I agree with my honourable friend,

and of course Tunisia is ahead of the game, as it were. One of the

success stories of the 2011 Arab Spring with a functioning

constitution, democratic elections, but all of it challenged by the

desire of the extremists to target success stories like that. We must

stand with them. Mr Speaker, I am sure the Foreign Secretary will join

us in expressing outrage at the terrorist atrocity in Mali in which

22 were slaughtered, citizens of China, Mali, Belgium, amongst

others, and we now see affiliated organisations operating across the

wider area, could he say what is happening across the Sahara to

tackle terrorism? We are working with a wide range of countries,

including crucially Nigeria, because this is a pincer movement coming

across the Sahara, so we are working with the full range of countries.

But I would say that if we are going to stop this spread of terrorism, we

have two tackle it at its heart, and its heart is in Raqqa in Syria. The

security situation in the Sinai is a threat to Egypt, other countries in

North Africa, as well as the coalition against Isil, as we saw

with the recent terrorist attack. What is the Foreign Secretary's

assessment of the security situation and its impact in Sinai? The

security situation in Sinai is serious. The Egyptian army is

engaged in combat with terrorist groups across Sinai, and in fact on

the Foreign Office's travel advice recommends against all travel to

Sinai, except the area around Sharm el-Sheikh which is itself still

considered safe for travel, although travel through the airport is

advised against. We seek to work with the Egyptian authorities to

deal with the terrorist challenge that they are facing in Sinai. Does

the Foreign Secretary believe that further air strikes alone will move

us towards political stability in the wider region? Perhaps he could

take this opportunity to address the efficacy of military intervention in

Syria, and how it would contribute to a wider initiative to end civil

war and does he have a plan for securing the peace, a plan which

should include measures to close down all sources of finance and new

recruits to the terrorist cult, including a government inquiry into

their financing question mark why is this government attempted to make a

case for war while Felling to address the need for a long-term

competency of peace plan? I think the short answer is that air

strikes alone will not alone destroy Daesh. But they have to be a part of

the overall solution. In respect of our other specific enquiries, if she

will wait until Thursday, she can look forward to hearing from the

Prime Minister himself into how this fits into our wider strategy. I wait

in anticipation for Thursday's statement. I am also grateful for

the use of Daesh and all the other parties will follow suit. The US are

bombing Daesh. France are also targeting rebels. Turkey are bombing

Daesh and are bombing Kurdish forces in the North. If military action

forces Daesh give up Sony and Iraq, in the coming weeks and months,

which forced us the foreign secretary expected take its place on

the ground? Again, the short answer is the honourable lady is correctly

identifying the situation is complex. As the Prime Minister

himself has said, we have to resolve these two things in parallel. We

have to get a political solution to the Civil War in Syria so we can get

everybody dealing with the problem of Daesh instead of fighting each

other. That is what our comprehensive strategy will seek to

achieve. I discuss progress on central registers of the central

Cayman Islands and brand-new dog yesterday. -- berm you does. Paul

Moynihan. The Prime Minister wrote to the overseas territories. It is

clear that the Prime Minister wants the overseas territories to have

public registers of ownership. Can he ensure that overseas territories

adopt public registers or at the very least ensure access for the

public. I think the honourable gentleman should give the overseas

territories where credit is due. Progress has been made to central

registers full working on security forces and police forces access to

that register. But longer term, he is entirely right. The public access

to that information is the direction we need to go and will have to go

alternately. But the Overseas Territory 's are making progress.

Can my right honourable friend let us know what progress we have made

on tax evasion? This is a clear area where progress has already been

made. The territories have fulfilled their commitments are automatic tax

exchange and this was achieved in working in partnership with them.

Number four, Sir. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to group this

with question 15. One of the five principal strands of Isil strategy

is stabilisation support. The UK has spent in the forefront in providing

humanitarian support with ?1 billion committed to supporting host

countries. I am grateful to my honourable friend for that answer.

Will the Minister while carrying on this important work will work flat

out to build a robust and energised consensus against Isil among the

other countries in the Middle East? Mr Speaker, he is right. We must be

energised. The government is committed to working with the now 65

strong counter Isil coalition. On our 5-point strategy. Cutting off

Daesh's funding scream. Providing humanitarian stabilisation support I

have mentioned already. -- stream. Does my right honourable friend

agreed that we must do all we can to support those living in refugee

camps. And to ensure that they can return to their homes and rebuild

their lives and safety and security? We have done a lot to do just that,

to allow people to stay in the region, to help the vulnerable who

need to be taken away from the region and supported. Which is why

we are taking 20,000 refugees here in the UK. They are not allowed to

be working illegally. What is the government doing to help countries

like Jordan economic lace of that can change and that refugees can't

work legally? That is a valid point. A bit of tension locally with people

in the camp, willing to be paid less but wanting to work. We're working

programmes and United Nations, so programmes and United Nations, so

that they can feel that they can keep skills up. So when the guns

finally fall silent in Syria, we need those skills to be transferred

back into the country. When I visited the refugee camp, I could

see first-hand the amount of aid that the UK government is giving to

help the situation of the ground in Syria, as well as in Lebanon in

Turkey and well swear. The UK is the second highest honour to those

countries. Can the Minister update us as to what progress he has made

in getting other neighbouring countries and other partners to make

their proper contribution to helping humanitarian crisis in the region?

Firstly, I am grateful for his support. Sometimes this number of

20,000 refugees that we are taking in the UK is taken out of context,

in comparison with the work we are doing to support those, such as

those in the Zaatari count. We are providing support to other countries

but we are also encouraging the neighbours. That is why we are

hosting a conference here in February along with Kuwait to

encourage other countries to provide a conference here in February along

with Kuwait to encourage other countries to provide donations so we

can be ready for post-conflict reconstruction balls in Iraq and in

Syria. -- both ends. I discussed the situation in Syria to recent of the

support Syria support group. The Prime Minister discussed Syria with

President Putin at the margins of the G20 summit last week. When I saw

represents the most immediate threat to our national security, we should

be targeting its headquarters in Syria instead of leaving military

action there to other countries? I think, Mr Speaker, my honourable

friend knows my views and reviews of the Prime Minister very well. We do

believe it is morally unacceptable to outsource an action which is

essential to the defence of the United Kingdom and UK citizens

around the world to others. That is why we will be seeking to build a

consensus in this House for taking military action to Daesh and Raqqa.

Regarding the situation in Syria, has the Foreign Secretary 's seen

the letter into the's Times paper were nearly 200 Islamic scholars

have denounced the strongest possible terms, ISAs terror. That is

the sort of propaganda we should use and the foreign office should use in

every way in all parts of the world. Shouldn't we make it perfectly

clear, as they have done, that the atrocities in Paris have nothing to

do with the wicked West. We went to war over Kosovo in order to protect

Muslims and we were right to do so. -- Isis. Our position is a moral

position. We are defending the right of people, Christians, years the

Dees, Jews and Muslims to practice their religion freely against

tyranny that imposes its view by beheadings, by rates, by mass

deportations. And we must end this terror. He is right, that are vital

to in our armoury is the very substantial body of thoughtful,

moderate Islamic scholarship around the world. And we, when I say we,

all nations of goodwill, this should be essentially led by the Muslim

countries of the world. We need to ensure that that view prevails. We

need to help the Muslims of the world reclaim their religion from

the extremists. Is my honourable friend aware of the appalling news

this morning that a Russian bomber has been shot down by a Nato

country, Turkey. Is this not a potentially dangerous situation

given that nothing like that happened during the whole of the

Cold War. If we are going to get a solution in the north, we need to

look at building a moderate Sunni regime. That may go back, we may

have to go back to read drying the boundaries. Mr Speaker, I review and

the strong view of all of our partners and allies is that we need

to preserve the territorial integrity of Syria. If we start

opening up boundaries in the region, I can promise my honourable friend

we will prolong the agony. As far as the reports coming in this morning

of a potential Russian air force jet shot down near the Turkish border,

we are seeking further details urgently bores and gong Kok --

Moscow and Ankara. This is potentially a serious incident. But

it will not be unwise to comment further until we have the facts.

Following their shockingly brutal attacks in Paris, no one doubts that

we have to defeat Daesh in both Iraq and in Syria. This must be linked to

the urgent need for the peace line to end the Civil War in Syria. Can

he tell the House when he expects a decision to be reached on which

opposition groups will take part in the talks due to start on the 1st of

January? What is as current assessment of the chances of

securing a ceasefire as part of these discussions about the

formation of a transitional government? As the right -- right

honourable gentleman has said, it is the heart of the group s' work. They

are tasked with the drawing up a list, and agreed list, of opposition

participants. I hope that when the team meets next, and we expect that

to beat in the second week of December, that we will be able to

approve a list at that point. It is right that I should emphasise that

there are still some differences among the international support

group. The Russians and Iranians do not take the same view of who is an

acceptable interlocutor as are other partners do. I thank the Foreign

Secretary for that reply. The unanimous agreement of UNC to the

Council resolution to 249 last Friday was a significant moment in

the fight against Daesh because the world community has come together to

fight this evil, using in the words of the resolution, all necessary

measures. Can the right honourable gentleman give us an idea of how

macro three's position in Syria -- Daesh's is two events around the

world? As the Prime Minister has said on many occasions, there is no

doubt that the head of this multi-tentacled monster is in Raqqa,

in Syria. Its logistics, is controlling brain, its strategic

Communications, which are extremely effective, are all run from that

headquarters. We will not destroy it by cutting off its limbs, we can

only destroy it by going for the heart. It is right that I should say

that some of the activity conducted around the world in the name of Isil

is directed, clearly directed, from Raqqa. In other cases, it is

inspired by Isil propaganda, but not directly controlled from Raqqa. So

it is a mixture. Our immediate priority is to ensure that it passes

into law. The government is also committed to supporting efforts to

maximise registration and the electoral commission plans a

campaign in the run-up to the campaign in the run-up to the

referendum itself. Given that the unelected House of Lords are now

calling for voting franchise to be extended to 16 and 17-year-olds. And

given the change in public attitudes, could the government look

again and legislate the franchise? This House, the elected House has

voted on three occasions in recent months against lowering the voting

age to 16 for this referendum. The government will propose to overturn

this latest amendment from the Lords. I have to say it is a bit

rich for him and his party to carp about the franchise when they voted

against having a referendum at all. Will he sure that be sufficient time

to have both arguments before having the referendum itself on the EU? I

can assure my honourable friend that there will be ample time for those

arguments to be aired, both in this House and outside. Can I pressed the

minister a little bit further on this issue of 16 and 17-year-old.

The other house passed their amendment by a big majority on the

18th of November on this. There are rumours of disagreements within the

government and within the Cabinet on how to respond. The Prime

Minister... The Prime Minister has left the door open so far to change

in the West is that he has been asked previously about this. We know

that 16 and 17-year-olds are capable of understanding the issues. We know

that they are interested and want to take part, so why won't the Minister

agree to the amendment and give 16 and 17-year-olds a proper say in the

future of our country? There are honourable members in various parts

of the House who champion the cause of reducing the voting age to 16,

but I would say to the right honourable gentleman that the right

time to debate that issue is during legislation where such a change

would apply to the franchise for all elections and referendums, and not

just as a one-off tacked onto a bill for a particular referendum. Carolyn

Harris. Question seven, Mr Speaker. I discussed the current migration

rises with my EU counterparts on a regular basis, for example be

foreign affairs Council last Monday, in Brussels, and when I met with a

group of EU countries in Prague the previous Friday. All of them agree

on the importance of a competence of approach to tackling the underlying

causes of regular migration, and the UK is playing a leading role in

delivering this approach. Maybe the minister could share with us what

progress is being made with our European colleagues to create simple

and safe routes for refugees to be united with their families who have

already found Santry in Britain? -- sanctuary. The refugees we are

mainly discussing in terms of the question she asked about discussions

with my EU colleagues are those who are arriving within the Schengen

area. Clearly, those people, since people are -- Britain is not in that

area, would not be able to access the UK in the normal course of

events, so their future will be within the Schengen area, unless at

some point they pertain EU citizenship. Will my right

honourable friend explain what's more action can be taken to stop

resident Assad's murder of his own people, which is contributing to the

refugee crisis that we are seeing at the moment? Mr Speaker, she is

absolutely right. The honourable lady is absolutely right. Clearly

there is agreement across the European Union that we need to

address these issues upstream, and one of the most pressing challenges

is the Civil War in Syria. As I have already said once this afternoon,

the Prime Minister will set out our preference of approach to that

problem, military, political and two and, on Thursday. As part of those

discussions with the European Council, what part of those

discussions are centred on the real genocide that is happening,

including in UN HCI refugee camps in Lebanon, Jordan, the Kurdish

autonomous region, I radicalised Islamist linked to Daesh, who are

killing Christians in those camps and driving them out of them? I

would have to tell the honourable gentleman candidly that that has not

been the focus of discussion in foreign affairs Council about the

migration crisis, but I am aware of concerns about what is going on in

the camp, and of course the UK's approach is to invest heavily in

providing safe and appropriate facilities for refugees in the

region so that they can return to Syria in due course. We will

continue to advocate that approach and to encourage our EU partners to

put more money into that effort. Question eight, Mr Speaker. With

permission, Mr Speaker, I shall answer this bastion together with

the question nine. My right honourable friend the Minister has

had deductive rounds of talks with every European leader, and with the

president of the European Council, the European Parliament and the

European Commission. The Foreign Secretary, Chancellor and I, also

maintain regular contact with our counterparts right across Europe.

Can the Minister go further and confirmed that the government will

not seek to tear up hard one employment rights as part of this

negotiation with the EU? We believe that the flexibility of the opt out

that we have from the 48 hour week under the working time direct live

is one that is very important to keeping employment in this country

high, compared with the tragic levels of unemployment in many other

European nations. We shall certainly ensure we will keep this. Will the

Minister and accept that there will be no treaty changes secured before

the referendum? I set out the position on that in the statement

and subsequent answers that I gave a week ago. What he -- is very

important is that we secure a package of changes which will be

seen by all as irreversible and as legally binding. The government used

to complain about Tony Blair giving up the UK rebate back to the

European Union, so why did the Prime Minister not ask for a reduction in

our membership fee to the EU as part of his letter? Is it that the

government is now happy that we gave up the rebate, or is it that the

primary step has only asked for the things that he has already had

agreed by the EU so he can say the negotiations were a success, on the

basis that if you ask for nothing, when you get nothing it will be a

success? Mr Speaker, my honourable friend would be right to applaud the

Prime Minister's success in getting the first ever reduction in the EU

Sakho multi annual budget. I can assure him that what lies ahead will

be negotiations that will be tough, that will at times be difficult,

which I am confident will end with a better set of relationships between

this country and the EU. Surely is it not the case that these very

modest proposals which were set out in that letter were the only ones

which the government believed that the rest of the EU would agree to,

which is why an end to free movement, which is something so many

people want to see, is not even going to be discussed? Well we have

made it clear that we want to see the freedom of movement for workers

be just that, and not a freedom of movement to elect the best welfare

system anywhere in Europe. I would say to my honourable friend that we

must also take account in our approach to this subject the fact

that there are hundreds of thousands of British citizens who themselves

are able to work, study and live elsewhere in Europe. Further to the

previous question, will the issue of freedom of movement, the principle,

not the detail, the principle of freedom of movement, will it be

discussed or not? I has to ask the honourable gentleman to go and read

again the letter that the Prime Minister sent last week because that

makes clear that, while we accept the principle of a freedom of

movement for workers, we want to secure changes which ensure that we

can reduce the core factors which element of our welfare system exert

in adding to migration into this country. Following what my

honourable friend said, if the bar is so hah and -- so high and so

tough, what is the Prime Minister really going to fight for? What is

holding him back? Come on, the bar is so low, this negotiation is just

a joke. I perhaps look forward to the day when my honourable friend is

able to join me at ministerial meetings in Europe when he can

actually see that the task of negotiating is not quite as easy as

he has made out in his question. I can't give a running commentary on

ongoing negotiations, but I remind my honourable friend that the

president commented that the British are task and they would be "really

difficult to find an agreement". That indicates we have a real

negotiation in front of us. Mr Martin day. Question ten. Thank you,

Mr Speaker. Britain has made its support for the president in Yemen

clear in deed, and recognised his legitimate request for military

assistance which has compounded and Jackie -- a dire humanitarian

situation. The Foreign Secretary and I received assurances of compliance.

I wonder if he can give a timeline for the proper investigations that

were pledged earlier this month into any breaches of humanitarian law in

Yemen? Mr Speaker, these investigations must be concluded,

they must be looked into, and they will be ongoing. It is a very

difficult situation on the ground, unable to have access in many cases

to verify what has happened. Progress is being made by the envoy

in bringing the parties together in Geneva very shortly, and that is

where we need to focus on action getting a ceasefire in place. The

humanitarian consequences of the conflict in Yemen after hunt

clay-macro heart-rending. Would my honourable friend agree that peace

talks leading to a political settlement would be the best way to

bring an end to the humanitarian suffering and any breaches of

international law in this country? My honourable friend is right. We

have discussed some important challenges in the Middle East, but

the scale of the situation in Yemen is dire. 20 million people are

facing starvation. The lack of water and support that they need. There is

no government there, and until we have a ceasefire, the port will not

be able to open up to allow the humanitarian support to enter the

country. Human rights watch has documented 27 air strikes since

March 26 that appear to violate the laws of war in Yemen. On November

the 11th, the Foreign Secretary said he supported proper investigations

into human rights violations from all sides in the Yemen conflict. Can

the Minister explain why the United Kingdom failed to support the Dutch

at the last meeting of the UN human rights Council when they call for a

credible investigation into these violations? Mr Speaker, this is an

important point. I met NGO's and had a band table discussion on this

policy. There was an international discussion on this matter. We have

been working on encouraging Saudi Arabia and other parties involved in

this coalition. There are ten other countries as well. Those cases need

to be looked into efficiently and properly by the country itself.

Question 11. Since operations by the global coalition began last year, I

still has lost more than 30% of the territory it once controlled in

Iraq. Most recently, Kurdish forces retook Singel, and slowly but surely

Isil is being pushed back, and I am confident that it will be driven out

of Iraq in time. As Chair of the all-party group on Islamic phobia, I

would like them be formally termed as Daesh. But does my honourable

friend agree that cutting supply lines with Syria will hasten its

defeat and bring about the restoration of the territory? The

retaking of Sinjar is important, but we need to go to the heart and head

of the beast in Iraq. Does he regard Turkey as a reliable

ally in the battle against Isil, when you consider that not only

today they have shot down a Russian jet, who are also trying to fight

Isil, they are buying oil from Isil in order to prop them up, they are

bombing the Kurds, who are also fighting Isil. This Syrian

engagement is an almighty guess. -- mess.

Turkey holds the key to a number of questions. And also the migration

challenge for Europe. It will be an important partner for this country

and the European Union. For, sir. Following my recent discussions in

Vienna, an international Syria support group will meet on a regular

basis in parallel with Syrian lead discussions with the opposition and

the facilitated by the UN to take forward a transition process for

that country. The UK will work with our international partners to mean

men took -- momentum in this important endeavour. Is it not

clearer than ever that Isil pose a threat to our national security. Is

it not incumbent upon us in this House to support our allies and that

the failure to do so would call complete the world and on their

part? It is true that we have military capabilities, the precision

weapons available on Tornado aircraft, which would make a

difference to the military battle on the ground in Syria. But it is

incumbent upon us and we have accepted this challenge to make the

case is not just for military intervention to set that case in a

broader context of a comprehensive approach to the Syria problem. The

Prime Minister has taken upon him himself the responsibility of

delivering his comprehensive strategy to the House. It is ever

more apparent that unless we deal with the biggest recruitment drive

for Daesh by the Assad regime, we will not tackle the cancer that is

Daesh. Can he tell us how he will prioritise UK engagement to get a

ceasefire and a complex compounds of plan question worked through the

international support group for Syria that we have set up. She is

right. We will not get a ceasefire, we will not get the opposition

groups working with the rump of regime forces against Daesh unless

and until they can be clear that Assad is going at a certain point, a

clear and defined point, in the transition process. At the moment we

do not have agreement across the ISS GE about that point. But that is

where we have to go and that is the fundamental thrust of all

discussions, around tried to get agreement on a route for an exit by

Assad, so that the rest of the pieces of this chicks can follow in

to place. -- jigsaw. Given Britain's economic ties with Gulf

nations and other states in the Middle East, both I and the Foreign

Secretary meet our counterparts to discuss a range of issues including

security. In recent weeks, the UK hosted the Egyptian president and I

have returned from all man and will be heading to Kuwait, looking at the

whip on duty. We face an epidemic of Jihadist violence. Can my honourable

friend assure the House that it is close dialogue with our golf friends

and partners that they will press on them that funding by some of them of

these dangerous organisations must stop?

My right honourable friend is right. This is one of the key trait of the

strategy is to prevent funding taking place. It is important all

countries across the Middle East work hard to prevent this from

happening. With the Minister raise in his discussions the current

terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians. With 108 Israelis killed

or injured by shootings or stabbings in the street in recent weeks and

will he condemned the incitement that goes with that, including the

statement from the Palestinian... That Jewish body parts should be put

out in pieces to remove the thought from their heads. She races are very

serious point. In the past few weeks we have seen a reduction in the

violence that is taking place in the West Bank. Since the start of this

current scale of violence, we have spoken regularly with all sides with

the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority, we need to DS

intentions and get all parties back to the table. Number 14, Mr Speaker.

I saw for myself in July the desperate plight of the community.

Relieving that plight remains a priority. We will press the incoming

government to do so. I thank the Minister for his answer. Elections

in Burma were a victory for the people of Burma, not withstanding

the fact that the Rohingya registered franchise from that

election. I could only just conclude by concurring what press --

President Obama said about the Rohingya. He hopes they will be

treated fairly and justly in their own country and we believe as he

does, they are deserving of the world's protection and support. The

incoming government will have a lot on its plate. It will have to expect

expectation. We stand ready to help them do that. But the... I have

written to them. I am grateful to the Minister for what he said. My

priorities remain the struggle against violence in all its forms

including a response to the recent despicable attacks in Paris and the

Middle East. The containment of Russian actions that threaten the

international rules -based system and the renegotiation of Britain's

relationship with the European Union. Decisions taken in the

strategic defence and offence review will underpin the diplomacy that

allows us to make effective progress in all of those areas. Backing a

round out its off power with hard power. Tomorrow, Mr Speaker, I will

travel to Malta for the Commonwealth heads of government meeting and for

the state visit of her Majesty the Queen. Given the changes to the

Ministerial Code, is at his view that ministers and the civil and

diplomatic services remain bound by the UK boss Mac international treaty

obligations? I think the answer to that, Mr Speaker, is yes. How does

the strategic defence spending review provide the foreign office

with new tools to deal with the situation in Syria, particularly in

context of a wider strategy and coordination? Mr Speaker, I have

said longer for the publication of the report to the colleagues across

government, that the most important reinforcement that we could have

diplomacy would be clear statements about this country's determination

to back its Armed Forces. We have turned that into specific programmes

and plans that will deliver a romp forces the capability that we need

to backers of parks with hard power. I have spend a lot of time this

weekend hearing about my constituent members about their views on Syria.

They do want to know what practical difference Britain can make, how

civilians will be protected and whether there is a comprehensive

plan to rebuild Syria after was whether proper government in place

of Assad to as used chemical weapons on his people? I am glad to hear he

is taking the pulse of his constituents. On the last point, as

I've said before, the Prime Minister will set out a comprehensive

strategy. It is not just about military intervention, it is about

how we use that military intervention achieve the political

set -- solution that we need. On the military point, yes, the UK does

have capabilities that will make a difference. We have the dual mode

Brimstone missile carried an attorney dope aircraft which is a

precision weapon, unlike any of the other allies have in the coalition.

It will insure minimisation of collateral damage and collateral

casualties, and that is one of the reasons our allies as sucking me

take part in this campaign. There has been another weekend of deadly

terror attacks on Israeli citizens, including a brutal stabbing

yesterday. Will he condemn these attacks and does he agree that

sanctions incitement to commit terror must end? -- sanctioned. My

honourable friend is right. We need to get all parties back to the

table. Unfortunately it does seem that the planet seamer misaligned at

the moment. We need to reconfigure and make sure that all parties come

back and prevent the scale of violence from increasing. What steps

does the Foreign Secretary taking to ensure that genuine law-abiding

refugees leaving Syria are not locked out of the asylum process as

a result of border measures being introduced across the EU after the

brutal attacks in Paris? Clearly, it is a matter for each member state of

the European Union and other European countries to determine

their own border controls. The way forward has to be for asylum seekers

to be properly assessed and screamed at the first safe country that they

go to and for us to tackle the problem in the camps, in the near

East, so that people get some assurance of a decent life and

opportunities for education for their children. Rather than

hazarding these appalling journeys to Europe. With the Foreign

Secretary agree with me that in order that we play a constructive

role in dealing with Isis and other instabilities in the region, we need

a comprehensive strategy towards the Middle East as a whole, not just

Syria? Yes, Mr Speaker, I do agree with that. The government is working

up a golf strategy, looking at how the UK will engage with this very

important region, important for our security and important for our

prosperity as well, over the next 5-10 years. Does the Foreign

Secretary agree that defeating Daesh abroad provides security at home? I

saw headlines yesterday that cast doubt on that. The result unity in

the UK hate Daesh. The Sun newspaper published divisions yesterday when

we need unity. It is clear to me that the majority of the Muslim

population here in the UK and across the world applaud what is going on

and are sickened by the fact that it it is being done ostensibly in the

name. They are very clear that their religion does not in any way support

or authorise the action is being carried out by Daesh and we should

help them to reclaim their religion from the terrorists and the

extremists. In improving economic times in the UK and sub-Saharan

Africa is important. What are the government's objectives at the

summit next week? The honourable gentleman is right. Economic

development is central to everything that we do. I head of the global

African investment Summit, I will be meeting a collection of presidents,

prime ministers and foreign ministers at Lancaster House,

looking at economic Dev elements, looking at working with those

countries to develop their businesses, alongside Ritter 's

business, to grow Africa out of poverty. In the course of questions

today, the Foreign Secretary has mentioned the need for compounds of

strategy. We have heard before about financial sanctions. Update the

House on what conversations he has had with counterparts in the US and

EU about stopping the supply of cash and financial services to Daesh? Mr

Speaker, she is right to say that it is not just on the battlefield, it

is about cutting down on the finances as well. We are looking to

freeze accounts, huge amounts of work to be done through the

Financial Services Authority is in order to identify the flow of funds

coming from large donors, individuals. In addition to that, we

are looking at the money streams coming into Daesh itself, as it

sells antiquities and oils. It is reflected in the fact that the

amount of foreign fighters, the amount they get on a monthly debases

has been reduced because funds into Daesh are being reduced. Will he

talk about what the UK is doing in Burundi. I am grateful for him to

raise the situation in the ruined it. It is important there is a

regional solution. I have had discussions with the role London

government which is in gauging -- Rwandan government. This is a matter

of grave concern and I have had a number of frank and open

conversations with the Burundi and Foreign Minister and issues an open

letter to him as well as a number of the international community.

It is estimated that Russian bombings have killed many people,

when the Foreign Minister met with the Foreign Minister and he urged

him to refocus those air strikes away from the opposition armies who

are fighting President Assad's reign of terror, and towards those

terrorists who brought down that Russian airliner? Absolutely right,

that is what we have been urging the Russians to do. If they want to

fight Isil, we will be happy to work with them. But at the moment, what

we have seen is that a significant proportion, the majority in fact, of

their air strikes have been directed against the moderate opposition

fighting Assad. In fairness, since the Russians acknowledged that it

almost certainly was terrorist action that brought down that

airliner, they have directed a larger proportion of air strikes

against Isil held territories. Good my right honourable friend find

any further detail on discussions he has had with the Iraqi government

about ensuring measures are taken to promote security and enhanced

erupt's liberation of areas. Focus needs to be done on supporting

Iraqi, but unfortunately many Sunni Muslims in Iraq believe they are not

properly represented in Baghdad, so we are working with the Prime

Minister to encourage financial services laws and National Guard

laws to go through so that they have a place, and are represented

properly in Baghdad. I would like to thank the

Parliamentary secretary of state for writing to me about my Yemeni

constituent. I read the Home Office device he directed me to on this

issue. Does he agree it does not inspire confidence that the Home

Office managed to miss translate medicines some frontier, and will he

meet with me to discuss this? I am grateful that she raises this matter

and I would be delighted to meet with her later to discuss it in more

detail. The world's attention is rightly on the Middle East and Syria

at the moment, but there is an ongoing situation in Ukraine. Has my

right honourable friend made any assessment of the situation in

Ukraine? We remain concerned about the situation in Ukraine. I was last

there in early October this year, when I met the Prime Minister, the

Foreign Minister, and other Ukrainian leaders and

parliamentarians. The latest situation is that there has been an

upsurge of fighting in certain locations around Donetsk. The key

thing now is to ensure that the Minsk process is followed through to

the end, and all parts of it are completed. We are right not to be

part of Shannon and DIY to call for reform, but doesn't the invoking of

the EU defence clause remind us why we have to be part of a reformed EU,

as well as part of Nato? I think that what France has done by in

vogue in that article in the treaty has been to ask other member

states, and crucially not the European institutions under that

article, to come to its assistant in all possible ways, as they need to

react to the terrorist onslaught on Paris. It is important to bear in

mind that that treaty article also makes reference to the need for the

EU always to coordinate its work with that of Nato. The Foreign

Secretary will be aware that the former primary of Canada Stephen

Harper was rebuffed in his support for self-determination of the people

of the Falkland islands. Will he take the opportunity when Mr Trudeau

visits this week to emphasise how grateful we are for the Canadian

support for the Falkland Islands, and will be policy remain the same

under his premiership? My honourable friend can be reassured that we

expect the same from Mr Trudeau on who is on his way to London to meet

with our Prime Minister and Her Majesty before travelling on. We

expect the same relationships. It is an ancient and potent ratio between

ourselves and Canada. The honourable gentleman will be aware that has

been an election in Argentina, and we look forward to working with the

new government of Argentina who hopefully will not suffer from the

bullying and hostility shown by the former government of Argentina to

the people of the Falkland