:00:00. > :00:12.Good morning and welcome to BBC Parliament's live coverage of the
:00:13. > :00:16.comments on a day when, once again, there will be plenty of leadership
:00:17. > :00:21.discussion going on among the politicians outside Parliament.
:00:22. > :00:29.Inside the Commons, a Lib Dem albeit adjusting a ten minute rule to allow
:00:30. > :00:32.EU citizens to stay in the UK after the Government completes
:00:33. > :00:37.negotiations on leaving the EU. There are also debates on the
:00:38. > :00:42.invitations of leaving the EU on energy policy and the environment,
:00:43. > :00:52.and a second debate concerning the results of SAT tests, after pupils
:00:53. > :00:56.fail to meet targets in reading, writing and mathematics. Don't
:00:57. > :00:59.forget to join me for a round-up of both houses tonight at 11 o'clock.
:01:00. > :01:03.First is his questions to the Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and
:01:04. > :01:07.his ministerial team. The first question from Labour's Richard
:01:08. > :01:23.burden concerns the Israel Palestine situation.
:01:24. > :01:35.Order, order. The clerk will now proceed to read the title of the
:01:36. > :01:41.private bill set down for this day. The question is at the bell now be
:01:42. > :01:44.read a second time. As many as are of the opinion, say "aye". To the
:01:45. > :01:52.contrary, "no". . I think the ayes have it. Question to the Secretary
:01:53. > :02:00.of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. Mr Richard
:02:01. > :02:04.burden. Mr Speaker, before answering this question, with your permission,
:02:05. > :02:10.may I take this opportunity to say, two weeks ago I had the difficult
:02:11. > :02:14.task of responding to the written a Foreign Office question committed by
:02:15. > :02:18.our former colleague Jo Cox. Given her act of role in foreign affairs,
:02:19. > :02:23.I completed this task, as I believe it is what she would have wanted.
:02:24. > :02:29.Given the frequency and passion with which she spoke and indeed influence
:02:30. > :02:32.policy in this very form at Foreign Office question, I thought it
:02:33. > :02:40.appropriate to begin by paying attributed to her. -- paying tribute
:02:41. > :02:45.to her. It is warm we welcomed in the House. The honourable gentleman,
:02:46. > :02:51.perhaps more than anyone in this House, knows of what he speaks. I
:02:52. > :02:56.thank the Minister. Thank you, Mr Speaker. We are deeply concerned by
:02:57. > :03:02.continued demolition of Alice in the property buyers really authorities
:03:03. > :03:07.and the worrying spike in demolitions this year. -- demolition
:03:08. > :03:11.of Palestinian property by Israeli authorities. We regularly raise our
:03:12. > :03:14.concerns with the Israeli Government, and we make it clear
:03:15. > :03:22.that such actions do not encourage the confidence building measures
:03:23. > :03:26.needed for talks to recommence. Can I associate myself with the words
:03:27. > :03:32.the minister has said about former colleague and our friend Jo Cox. She
:03:33. > :03:36.was an exceptional member of Parliament. And she was an
:03:37. > :03:41.exceptional person as well. Perhaps the greatest tribute to that any of
:03:42. > :03:46.us can give to Jo Cox is to continue her work to support human rights
:03:47. > :03:51.throughout the world. One of the things that Jo Cox was passionate
:03:52. > :03:55.about was justice for the Palestinians. According to United
:03:56. > :04:04.Nations 649, Palestinian structures have been demolished this year by
:04:05. > :04:08.Israel. They have displaced a thousand people, over 400 of them
:04:09. > :04:12.being children. It is getting worse and not better. I know the Minister
:04:13. > :04:15.condemns these things, but it is real deal they can continue with the
:04:16. > :04:22.culture of impunity, why should they stop? -- if Israel feel they can
:04:23. > :04:27.continue. My question is, what can the international community do to
:04:28. > :04:33.show Israel that has not got it realistic, -- impunity, and what
:04:34. > :04:39.actions with the ministers abroad? We absolutely agree that we are
:04:40. > :04:43.concerned about the rate of demolitions. We need to place
:04:44. > :04:49.additional pressure on Israel, and indeed the Palestinians, to come to
:04:50. > :04:56.the table. I am pleased we held a summit in Paris to address the
:04:57. > :05:01.challenges we face. The extent of demolitions taking place is
:05:02. > :05:05.highlighted in a report produced by Russia, the US, the EU and the UN,
:05:06. > :05:12.which underlies the very concerns that the honourable gentleman
:05:13. > :05:16.outlines. Could I also be associated with the very moving words of my
:05:17. > :05:21.honourable friend with regard to our late colleague Jo Cox. Onto the
:05:22. > :05:28.general point, my honourable friend is quite right about not moving
:05:29. > :05:33.towards a situation where people are going to talk together. But there is
:05:34. > :05:37.the other side of the coin. 36 Israelis have been murdered this
:05:38. > :05:43.year, for foreign nationals have been murdered this year. Instead of
:05:44. > :05:46.condemning those murders, the Palestinian Authority have glorified
:05:47. > :05:50.them. Surely, giving even this weekend that the Israeli Prime
:05:51. > :05:55.Minister said that he would meet without condition, we should be
:05:56. > :06:03.urging on the Palestinian authorities to do precisely that. Mr
:06:04. > :06:07.Speaker, my honourable friend raises an important issue. We raise these
:06:08. > :06:11.issues and discuss them at Foreign Office questions on a regular basis,
:06:12. > :06:18.but we have had the Paris summit, we have had a meeting between Prime
:06:19. > :06:23.Minister Netanyahu and the president CC in Egypt. We are now seeing this
:06:24. > :06:27.comeback onto the agenda. The concern I had, which I raised at the
:06:28. > :06:30.Paris summit, is that with all the other distractions and concerns in
:06:31. > :06:34.the Middle East, we have lost sight of something that needs to be
:06:35. > :06:38.resolved. My right honourable friend makes an important point that the
:06:39. > :06:42.actions of the Palestinians did not go unnoticed, and we require the
:06:43. > :06:48.leadership of President Bass to make sure he makes it very clear that
:06:49. > :06:52.these actions must be condemned. As well as the demolition of
:06:53. > :06:55.Palestinian homes in the West Bank, Israel continues to arrest and
:06:56. > :07:00.detain Palestinian children in Israel and the occupied Palestinian
:07:01. > :07:05.territories. G four arrests have been providing services to Israeli
:07:06. > :07:11.security checkpoints and presence have been found to be in breach of
:07:12. > :07:14.their fundamental human rights obligations. Would you join me in
:07:15. > :07:20.calling for gene for S two withdraw from its relevant contracts with the
:07:21. > :07:27.Israeli state agencies? I will certainly look at the case she
:07:28. > :07:30.raises. My friend the Foreign Secretary is also concerned about
:07:31. > :07:35.Palestinian children detained in Israeli prisons, and raise it with
:07:36. > :07:47.the Secretary of State John Kerry. I also raised myself on my visit to
:07:48. > :07:52.Israel. The demolition of Arab houses and Jewish houses was started
:07:53. > :07:56.by scum of the British, in between the wars during the terms of the
:07:57. > :08:06.British mandate for Palestine. -- started BIOS, the British. Had the
:08:07. > :08:10.Minister has conversations with his Israeli counterpart as to the
:08:11. > :08:19.legitimacy of using British mandate law today? Well, it is wrong, I
:08:20. > :08:25.think, for any Government around the world, given our legacy and the
:08:26. > :08:28.bread of which we have had influence over the last couple of hundred
:08:29. > :08:33.years 2.2 British policy and say that that is the cause. All laws can
:08:34. > :08:36.be updated. There is a responsible to borrow sides to come together and
:08:37. > :08:50.resolve this matter for the long-term. Mr Speaker, embassies and
:08:51. > :08:52.high commissions play a key role in promoting British interests and
:08:53. > :08:56.assisting British companies in entering new markets. The Prime
:08:57. > :09:00.Minister, Foreign Secretary and I have led delegations of businesses
:09:01. > :09:05.overseas, and we work to sleep with UKTI to ensure our businesses
:09:06. > :09:11.receive continued support and advice. -- we work closely with
:09:12. > :09:15.UKTI. I have a constituent who has written to one particular embassy in
:09:16. > :09:19.many times, and whilst the knowledge has correspondence, he has never
:09:20. > :09:24.received any answers or further response. This is preventing him
:09:25. > :09:28.from fulfilling an important part of a significant business deal. With
:09:29. > :09:33.the minister be able to provide any assistance in receiving a full
:09:34. > :09:36.response Romney and busy? I am aware of this case, and grateful of the
:09:37. > :09:46.honourable lady to raise this matter. If anybody is concerned
:09:47. > :09:50.about their constituents not getting support from embassies, let us know.
:09:51. > :09:54.I understand the head of the UKTI in Morocco, where this company was to
:09:55. > :09:58.trade, has spoken to the company directly, and I can only apologise
:09:59. > :10:01.there was a delay in the normal level of support we would expect for
:10:02. > :10:06.any company wanting to do business in Morocco or anywhere else. Would
:10:07. > :10:09.my honourable friend not agree that not enough small and medium
:10:10. > :10:13.businesses export around the world, and our balance of payments and
:10:14. > :10:19.trade is whitening? Therefore we need to constantly review everything
:10:20. > :10:23.we do in trade policy. Would he agree in particular that embassies
:10:24. > :10:31.around the world could help with digital linking. My honourable
:10:32. > :10:37.friend raises a very important point and covers at particular area of
:10:38. > :10:40.interest. I should see the Foreign Secretary had an opportunity to
:10:41. > :10:43.brief ambassadors and High Commissioners when they returned to
:10:44. > :10:47.the UK last week because of the new environment that we now find
:10:48. > :10:53.ourselves in, the rural embassies and high commissions can play across
:10:54. > :11:00.the world in exploring new markets and opportunities as well as old
:11:01. > :11:03.ones is now critical. Mr Speaker, first of all I would
:11:04. > :11:12.like to welcome the honourable lady to her place with her compact team,
:11:13. > :11:19.a model, I hope, of improved productivity in the UK economy. Time
:11:20. > :11:22.will tell. As my right honourable friend the Prime Minister announced
:11:23. > :11:25.last month, the Government is creating a new EU units which will
:11:26. > :11:31.bring together the brightest and best from Whitehall and the private
:11:32. > :11:35.sector, including lawyers, financial experts and trade experts. And Jess,
:11:36. > :11:38.the Government is actively seeking to recruit trade specialists,
:11:39. > :11:40.including approaching former civil servants who have retired or moved
:11:41. > :11:53.to the private sector. Can he tell the House who much this
:11:54. > :11:57.is going to cost? Not at this stage but what I can tell him is in the
:11:58. > :12:02.circumstances in which we find ourselves, facing the opportunities
:12:03. > :12:06.which we now do, recruitment of trade specialists, whatever that
:12:07. > :12:11.cost us, is likely to be an investment well worth making.
:12:12. > :12:16.As the Foreign Secretary heartened by the fact that since to leave the
:12:17. > :12:21.EU a number of key countries and economies including India, China,
:12:22. > :12:24.Australia, have already approached the UK regarding further link trade
:12:25. > :12:33.and how well this compares with the stalled trade talks between the EU
:12:34. > :12:36.and the US and Canada? Yes, it is a source of some optimism that a
:12:37. > :12:40.number of significant economies around the world have indicated that
:12:41. > :12:44.they would be open to the idea of cheat agreements with the UK. My
:12:45. > :12:48.honourable friend makes a point which is very obvious but
:12:49. > :12:52.nonetheless important, that legal shooting a trade deal between two
:12:53. > :12:56.countries is always good to be much easier than negotiating a trade deal
:12:57. > :13:02.between one country and on the other hand 28 countries.
:13:03. > :13:09.Last week in committee Oliver Letwin stated we clearly need a new kind of
:13:10. > :13:14.highly skilful and experienced trade negotiators. I hope he sees irony in
:13:15. > :13:18.the fact that the best negotiators are based in Brussels but can he
:13:19. > :13:22.provide assurance that from now on we will bring in the best trade
:13:23. > :13:32.negotiators notwithstanding their nationality? He had in mind the
:13:33. > :13:41.Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. I was puzzling about that
:13:42. > :13:46.I am grateful for clarification. I am happy to answer the question. As
:13:47. > :13:50.I said earlier in response to the initial question we will need to
:13:51. > :13:55.hire a significant numbers of trade negotiators. I see no reason and I
:13:56. > :13:58.said this a couple of weeks ago in the House, node is why we would not
:13:59. > :14:04.hire people who were non-British if they were the best people to do the
:14:05. > :14:07.job. Clearly people would not want to hire the citizen of another
:14:08. > :14:11.country to negotiate a trade deal with that country but having entered
:14:12. > :14:15.that caveat I would hope that we would put together the best and most
:14:16. > :14:23.capable teams from whenever. Thank you. I am sure the Foreign Secretary
:14:24. > :14:28.will agree that the Prime Minister's treat envoys have done an important
:14:29. > :14:32.role around the world. As our relationship with the European Union
:14:33. > :14:37.changes will he make representations to ensure that that programme is
:14:38. > :14:41.rolled out across Europe as well? It is a good point that my honourable
:14:42. > :14:44.friend reasons. That will be an issue for the new Prime Minister
:14:45. > :14:49.because trade envoys are personal appointments of the Prime Minister.
:14:50. > :14:58.Does the Foreign Secretary agree with the assessment made by a former
:14:59. > :15:04.secretary of the Foreign Office that to deal with political and legal
:15:05. > :15:13.complexities of leaving the EU the Foreign Office itself will need to
:15:14. > :15:18.double in size? I recognise that there is a huge and complex task
:15:19. > :15:21.ahead of us in negotiating both are except from the European Union, and
:15:22. > :15:28.perhaps more importantly the new arrangements that Britain will have
:15:29. > :15:31.with the EU 27. This is a project that will have limited judicial.
:15:32. > :15:37.Once the negotiations are completed the task will be done. I am not sure
:15:38. > :15:40.that increasing the size of the Foreign Office will necessarily be
:15:41. > :15:45.the most appropriate way of doing that. Having a specialist unit that
:15:46. > :15:47.will deal with this short to medium-term task may be the most
:15:48. > :15:55.efficient way of delivering the outcome.
:15:56. > :15:59.The incoming Prime Minister told us yesterday that she intends to make a
:16:00. > :16:03.success of Brexit as part of that is going to be trade stocks with
:16:04. > :16:07.countries throughout the world. How is the message already gone out to
:16:08. > :16:10.our embassies and high commissions that even before Brexit happens that
:16:11. > :16:16.initial talks about trade should start with other countries? The
:16:17. > :16:23.message that has gone out is that Britain will need to redouble its
:16:24. > :16:27.efforts in international trade and refocus where about trade is
:16:28. > :16:35.concentrated in the future. I should also be clear about this, until we
:16:36. > :16:38.have served in Article 15 of this we remain a fool participating member
:16:39. > :16:43.of the European Union and our ability to negotiate new trade
:16:44. > :16:50.agreements is restricted by continued application of EU law
:16:51. > :17:02.until we have negotiated are except. -- we remain a complete member of
:17:03. > :17:09.the European union. We regularly raise human traits with
:17:10. > :17:16.the Chinese authorities. I recently discussed human rights are fortnight
:17:17. > :17:21.ago. In addition last month my right honourable friend raised concerns
:17:22. > :17:27.about detention of human rights defenders with the supreme court.
:17:28. > :17:32.Following a UK withdrawal from the EU we would need to develop a new
:17:33. > :17:37.set of trading relationships with China. What we're sure to the
:17:38. > :17:40.minister gave that this will not diminish our ability or resolve to
:17:41. > :17:46.publicly condemn the Chinese Government for human rights abuses?
:17:47. > :17:50.The honourable gentleman will now that we are keen on getting a date
:17:51. > :17:54.for the annual human rights dialogue, that is the architecture
:17:55. > :17:58.within which we can reason individual cases, but we continue to
:17:59. > :18:03.raise individual cases and that there is no dialogue will have to
:18:04. > :18:11.increase that. Can the Minister say what action he
:18:12. > :18:18.has taken to question the Chinese Government on the brutal persecution
:18:19. > :18:25.of those who peacefully practice, end relation to the live harvesting
:18:26. > :18:31.of organs. I have raised concerns about this duelling the annual UK
:18:32. > :18:37.human rights dialogue and we will continue to do this. We pay close
:18:38. > :18:46.attention to this and remain concerned at restrictions on freedom
:18:47. > :19:03.of religion of any kind. Good I associate myself with the Minister's
:19:04. > :19:09.remarks in relation to Jo Cox. An advocate of refugees. We miss her
:19:10. > :19:20.very much. Her memory inspires as to work for those whose voice is really
:19:21. > :19:23.hurt. In relation to the China human rights situation, according to
:19:24. > :19:27.Amnesty International, over the past year at least 248 human rights
:19:28. > :19:33.lawyers and activists have been targeted by the authorities. One
:19:34. > :19:41.prominent lawyer and 12 others are now under arrest on charges of
:19:42. > :19:44.subverting state power. What is the assessment of this? Would he agree
:19:45. > :19:52.that on occasion the Government approach lacks assertiveness? I
:19:53. > :19:56.would like to associate myself with the remarks of the honourable weedy
:19:57. > :20:09.and disassociate myself with the concluding remarks.
:20:10. > :20:18.-- honourable -- honourable lady remarks. We have raised remarks with
:20:19. > :20:28.the Chinese Foreign Minister and will continue so to do.
:20:29. > :20:34.With permission I will answer this question and question 11 together.
:20:35. > :20:38.As the Prime Minister has said we must ensure that the interests of
:20:39. > :20:43.all parts of the United Kingdom are properly taken into account as we
:20:44. > :20:47.progress these negotiations so as we prepare for talks with the European
:20:48. > :20:51.Union we will involve the Scottish, Welsh as Northern Ireland
:20:52. > :20:54.governments as well as the near of London, the overseas territories and
:20:55. > :20:59.other regional interests and officials of the new EU units will
:21:00. > :21:05.be making contact with counterparts in the devolved administrations.
:21:06. > :21:11.While that answer is encouraging it does not give a lot of detail. Much
:21:12. > :21:16.like the plans of the Brexiteer is went into the referendum. Can the
:21:17. > :21:19.Foreign Secretary tell us what formal roll with Scottish Government
:21:20. > :21:26.other devolved governments have in the process of organising Brexit? We
:21:27. > :21:31.will consult with the Scottish Government. We will consult
:21:32. > :21:37.formally. We will also maintain an informal dialogue including a senior
:21:38. > :21:42.official level on an ongoing basis. The Scottish and have been very
:21:43. > :21:47.clear that EU nationals have to be a priority. Given the net financial
:21:48. > :21:50.contribution does the Foreign Secretary not agree that EU
:21:51. > :21:54.nationals, the financial contribution they make, should be
:21:55. > :22:04.more of a priority than new nuclear weapons?
:22:05. > :22:09.I am not sure that the two issues need to be set in priority order,
:22:10. > :22:13.they can both be pursued in parallel. The decision to renew our
:22:14. > :22:18.nuclear deterrent is separate from the negotiations that we will be
:22:19. > :22:24.carrying out with the European Union including negotiations to ensure the
:22:25. > :22:34.rights of EU nationals and the reciprocal rights of EU nationals.
:22:35. > :22:37.Regardless of whether or not the Scottish Government is involved in
:22:38. > :22:44.the negotiations can the Foreign Secretary please confirm that these
:22:45. > :22:49.negotiations are about as leaving the European Union and are not some
:22:50. > :22:53.sort of renegotiation of our terms of membership that will result in a
:22:54. > :23:02.halfway House where we are half and and half out of the European Union?
:23:03. > :23:07.I can confirm that. The next Prime Minister has made very clear that
:23:08. > :23:10.Brexit means Brexit. We will be negotiating are except from the
:23:11. > :23:16.European Union that we will of course also be seeking to negotiate
:23:17. > :23:20.an Agreement between the United Kingdom and the EU 27 to regulate
:23:21. > :23:26.our trade and other relationships with the EU.
:23:27. > :23:30.With the Foreign Secretary agree that it is better that Scotland's
:23:31. > :23:34.plays a productive role in securing a new relationship between the UK
:23:35. > :23:40.and the EU rather than looking to join as a new member with the usual
:23:41. > :23:47.and put a border across this island? Yes, I agree very strongly with what
:23:48. > :23:52.my honourable friend says. Scotland's's best future is in a
:23:53. > :23:58.strong United Kingdom, trading effectively with the European union.
:23:59. > :24:04.We saw the case for independence when we had the previous referendum
:24:05. > :24:10.others did not stack up at $100 per barrel of oil. It certainly does not
:24:11. > :24:15.stack up at $50 per barrel of oil. The Highlands and Islands currently
:24:16. > :24:19.benefits from an additional 192 earlier new rules in transition
:24:20. > :24:24.funding, can the Minister guarantee that given the new incoming Prime
:24:25. > :24:27.Minister's haste to get on with Brexit that the UK Government will
:24:28. > :24:35.guarantee that funding for the Highlands and Islands? There are
:24:36. > :24:39.many... Britain is a significant net contributor to the European union
:24:40. > :24:44.but within that significant net contribution there are a significant
:24:45. > :24:49.number of flaws to particular regions, particular projects within
:24:50. > :24:53.the UK and one of the issues that we will have to address is how the
:24:54. > :24:57.disappearance of those funds from Russells are to be protected in the
:24:58. > :25:02.future and that will be an important part of the negotiations.
:25:03. > :25:06.In the EU Scotland has benefited from access to EU research funding
:25:07. > :25:12.and a wealth of talented researchers. The Guardian reported
:25:13. > :25:21.that the thought to leave the EU has unleashed a wave of discrimination
:25:22. > :25:24.against UK researchers. What message does he have for those universities
:25:25. > :25:29.and research staff and workers who benefit from being part of the EU
:25:30. > :25:33.and how will he is your Scotland and our interests are protected? This is
:25:34. > :25:39.not an issue just about Scotland, it is wider than that. I would say two
:25:40. > :25:42.things. First of all, so long as we are a complete member of the
:25:43. > :25:47.European Union and are paying the samba should not be any
:25:48. > :25:51.dissemination against the UK, UK institutions, UK applicants are
:25:52. > :25:58.funding, or a UK citizens. We must picture that is not. Secondly, the
:25:59. > :26:03.point of negotiating an arrangement for's relationship with the EU 27
:26:04. > :26:08.after we leave the European Union is to protect collaborative research,
:26:09. > :26:12.educational projects, cultural exchanges, as well as our important
:26:13. > :26:21.trading relationships going forward. Can I begin by thanking the Foreign
:26:22. > :26:25.Secretary for him welcoming me to this new job. We are a compact team
:26:26. > :26:31.but we have the advantage of being made at all to difficult women
:26:32. > :26:40.therefore we are formidable and up for the task. If rumours of
:26:41. > :26:47.promotion are true this may be my final session with the Secretary of
:26:48. > :26:53.State before he takes another job. We have seen that everyone is in
:26:54. > :26:56.flux. He has a reputation as being both formidable and approachable so
:26:57. > :27:02.I will be sorry if our acquaintance is so brief. The Secretary of State
:27:03. > :27:08.has said that he has given assurances that he will consult
:27:09. > :27:10.Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, London, Gibraltar on negotiating
:27:11. > :27:16.strategy for a Brexit prior to tripling Article 50 - will this also
:27:17. > :27:21.apply to Her Majesty 's opposition saw that concerns of communities we
:27:22. > :27:32.represent our reflected? First of all, I am surprised to hear
:27:33. > :27:35.at the honourable lady saying she expects promotion. I thought those
:27:36. > :27:40.expecting promotion through their hat in the ring yesterday on the
:27:41. > :27:45.Labour side, but maybe she will be a late entrant to that competition. On
:27:46. > :27:48.the substance of her question, of course there will be extensive
:27:49. > :27:52.discussion about all of these issues in Parliament, and the opposition of
:27:53. > :27:58.course will have an opportunity to present its use, and we shall listen
:27:59. > :28:02.carefully to them. I was hoping to get greater assurance that that
:28:03. > :28:07.there would be formal consultation with the opposition prior to the
:28:08. > :28:12.start of negotiation, because we must avoid the mistakes made by the
:28:13. > :28:17.outgoing Prime Minister before his resignation, where no proper
:28:18. > :28:20.discussion took place, and it was a totally artificial timetable. At the
:28:21. > :28:23.Prime Minister done those things, perhaps we would have got a better
:28:24. > :28:27.and more inclusive deal, the country may not have voted for Brexit, and
:28:28. > :28:31.he might not be stepping down tomorrow. Does he accept that the
:28:32. > :28:35.Prime Minister has made a mistake, and can you guarantee those mistakes
:28:36. > :28:38.will not be made by the new Prime Minister? Can I say that I may have
:28:39. > :28:43.been a bit closer to those negotiations that she was, and I
:28:44. > :28:47.think I can confidently say that engaging with the opposition would
:28:48. > :28:52.not have affected the outcome. Questions and answers are taking too
:28:53. > :28:58.long, so what we need now is a couple of very pithy enquiries, not
:28:59. > :29:04.elongated ones. Alex Almond. The whole of Scotland is deeply
:29:05. > :29:08.concerned about the Foreign Secretary, given his recent couple
:29:09. > :29:11.that comments during the referendum, for example when he said it would
:29:12. > :29:16.take longer to negotiate than the Second World War. So will it take
:29:17. > :29:19.longer to negotiate Brexit and the Second World War? And how would any
:29:20. > :29:23.future lay Chancellor of the Exchequer deal with such
:29:24. > :29:28.uncertainty? I think the concern is this, and he will recognise this. If
:29:29. > :29:35.a future treaty between the United Kingdom and the European Union 27 is
:29:36. > :29:39.deemed to be of mixed confidence, it will have to be ratified by 27
:29:40. > :29:43.national parliaments. I think I am writing the shortest time that has
:29:44. > :29:47.been done in any EU treaty is just under four years. That is after
:29:48. > :29:53.taking into account the time it takes to negotiate. As the Foreign
:29:54. > :29:55.Secretary is seen in the poll at the weekend across European countries
:29:56. > :30:03.from YouGov, which showed two things? One was that the UK
:30:04. > :30:10.Government was deeply unpopular, and there were majorities in every
:30:11. > :30:17.country surveyed looking for work to an independent Scotland in Europe.
:30:18. > :30:21.-- looking forward. Why is the UK so unpopular and Scotland so popular in
:30:22. > :30:24.Europe? I think if there is one thing to be taken into account by
:30:25. > :30:33.the last two weeks, is his do not read polls.
:30:34. > :30:38.Our condolences go to the victims and families of those involved in
:30:39. > :30:42.this terrorist attack recently. Where human rights abuses exist, we
:30:43. > :30:46.have raised them with the Bangladeshi Government. The
:30:47. > :30:51.Government fund a normal programmes that support civil society and
:30:52. > :30:55.Bangladesh. -- a number of programmes. Supporters of the
:30:56. > :31:00.opposition Bangladeshi national party have told me that hundreds of
:31:01. > :31:04.party workers have now disappeared, and the Amnesty report referred to
:31:05. > :31:09.at least 43 in four disappearances in their latest international
:31:10. > :31:14.report. Whatever their true number, will you agree with me that the
:31:15. > :31:23.political situation in Bangladesh is no very serious and it is vital
:31:24. > :31:31.political rights... I have made it clear that justice must be done.
:31:32. > :31:38.When human rights watch identify Bangladesh as having the highest
:31:39. > :31:39.rate of child marriage, this is a fundamental human rights,
:31:40. > :31:46.particularly for those girls that are forced into marriages at such an
:31:47. > :31:51.early age. What is the Government doing to make his views known to the
:31:52. > :31:56.Bangladesh Government, and through the column and other organisations,
:31:57. > :32:00.that this is not acceptable? It is clearly not acceptable, and we
:32:01. > :32:02.continue to have a robust dialogue with the Bangladesh Government. We
:32:03. > :32:09.are significant aid donor working on these projects within that country.
:32:10. > :32:12.Hindu priests have been brutally murdered, and other religious
:32:13. > :32:16.minorities savaged. What actions have my honourable friend taken to
:32:17. > :32:21.inform the Bangladeshi Government that this is completely unacceptable
:32:22. > :32:25.and they have to face up to their responsibilities? Indies, I can only
:32:26. > :32:28.repeat what I have just said. We have robust discussions with the
:32:29. > :32:33.Government of Bangladesh. We are very concerned about the situation
:32:34. > :32:35.in that country, not least from connections with Daesh and other
:32:36. > :32:40.organisations, and basic human rights as well. What specific
:32:41. > :32:52.representations have been Minister made to the government following the
:32:53. > :32:56.brutal murders in dhaka, in an area that should be secure, and yet
:32:57. > :33:08.murderers and terrorists have been allowed in?
:33:09. > :33:19.I have written to express my condemnation of this senseless act
:33:20. > :33:24.of horror. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The relations
:33:25. > :33:31.with India remain extremely good. I spoke only this week to eight
:33:32. > :33:34.high-level grip -- a high-level group of Indian businessmen here in
:33:35. > :33:37.the UK, and of course they want to know what is happening now with our
:33:38. > :33:44.relationship with India following the recent referendum. For
:33:45. > :33:47.individuals and businesses in Cheltenham, the UK's position in the
:33:48. > :33:53.EU is increasingly important. How will it change a post Brexit? Of
:33:54. > :33:55.course, we still have 1.5 million Indians in this country, or people
:33:56. > :34:00.of Indian descent, and the connections are huge and robust.
:34:01. > :34:04.People go between India and the UK a lot. And clearly early discussions
:34:05. > :34:06.about the shape of a trade relationship with India will form
:34:07. > :34:13.part of discussions over the next year or so. On the diplomatic front,
:34:14. > :34:17.what discussions has the Minister had with the Indian Government on
:34:18. > :34:21.the recent events in Kashmir? We are very saddened by the recent reports
:34:22. > :34:30.of the arm wrestling Kashmir and offer our condolences to the victims
:34:31. > :34:38.and families. -- tragic events in Kashmir. I am delighted my
:34:39. > :34:41.honourable friend reference the fact discussion about a future trade
:34:42. > :34:43.relationship will take place in parallel with our excellent
:34:44. > :34:47.negotiations, but what kind of capability does he need to recruit
:34:48. > :34:54.to the Department to get into the detail of those discussions? My
:34:55. > :34:58.honourable friend will know that trade policy is with UKTI, what I
:34:59. > :35:02.would say to him that I will repeat what my right honourable friend the
:35:03. > :35:08.Foreign Secretary said earlier. We need to recruit and train more trade
:35:09. > :35:11.negotiators. We are still a member of the EU until the end of the
:35:12. > :35:14.negotiations have taken place, but there is absolutely no reason not to
:35:15. > :35:25.start having exploratory talks, which we are beginning to do.
:35:26. > :35:29.Mr Speaker, with permission, could I answer that question number 12? I
:35:30. > :35:33.attended the French ministerial conference on the Middle East peace
:35:34. > :35:37.process in Paris on the 3rd of June. We are in close contact with the
:35:38. > :35:43.French Government and will consider how the UK might contribute and
:35:44. > :35:48.their plans develop. Pity the Foreign Secretary could not attend
:35:49. > :35:51.the conference. Will he be attending are advising successor to attend the
:35:52. > :35:54.main conference later this year, and will he joined France and other
:35:55. > :36:04.European countries in recognising Palestine if Israel refuses to
:36:05. > :36:07.cooperate? To make it clear, the summit was actually moved at short
:36:08. > :36:12.notice to accommodate, I think it was, the Secretary of State for the
:36:13. > :36:16.United States, my honourable friend the Foreign Secretary was in Africa
:36:17. > :36:19.at home, and that is why I was able to attend. I hope he did not feel he
:36:20. > :36:24.was short-changed by the fact that I was there instead of the Foreign
:36:25. > :36:28.Secretary. It was an important meeting to have, as I mentioned
:36:29. > :36:33.earlier, to register the need for the international community to play
:36:34. > :36:35.its part, and we put forward to moving this process forward.
:36:36. > :36:42.Discussions will take place in the coming months in order to bring the
:36:43. > :36:47.parties together. Could I thank the Minister for his answer, but it
:36:48. > :36:52.might of recent moves made by the Egyptian Foreign Minister, does the
:36:53. > :36:55.Minister believe that chances for success are improving, and what
:36:56. > :36:59.steps will be Government take to ensure that both Israel and
:37:00. > :37:04.Palestine are sufficiently incentivised to come to the table to
:37:05. > :37:08.talk? She is absolutely right to say that both parties need to be
:37:09. > :37:12.efficiently incentivise. The worry I have had in visiting both the
:37:13. > :37:15.Palestinian areas and Israel is that the leaders on both sides are not
:37:16. > :37:18.necessarily speaking for the people, who genuinely want something
:37:19. > :37:22.different. The concern I have is that unless we see the affirmative
:37:23. > :37:26.steps taking place to reverse the current trends that we have been
:37:27. > :37:31.seeing, we will drift towards an entrenched position of a one state
:37:32. > :37:38.reality of perpetual occupation and indeed of conflict as well. Will the
:37:39. > :37:41.Minister assure us that the Foreign Secretary or his successor will
:37:42. > :37:50.attend the peace conference that the French are planning later this year?
:37:51. > :37:53.Mr Speaker, I think on the day or the day before a reshuffle is about
:37:54. > :37:59.to take place, I will heed his comments and we will do our best. I
:38:00. > :38:01.would suggest that the comments or the implication that somehow the
:38:02. > :38:07.Foreign Secretary is not engaged in these matters - we have these
:38:08. > :38:11.overseas and summits, and there are a lot of bilaterals that take place,
:38:12. > :38:14.not least that the Nato conference in Warsaw, where my honourable
:38:15. > :38:17.friend had bilaterals with his necessary counterpart, and these
:38:18. > :38:26.very important issues are raised there as well. Question number nine.
:38:27. > :38:29.Mr Speaker, we have these discussions regularly, and are
:38:30. > :38:34.consistent focus is on securing a comprehensive and durable solution
:38:35. > :38:39.which tackles the causes as well as consequences of migration. Thank
:38:40. > :38:42.you, and I'm grateful for that answer, but will he reaffirmed this
:38:43. > :38:47.Government's commitment to operations of the year, and can he
:38:48. > :38:51.confirm that we will continue to cooperate with our European allies
:38:52. > :38:56.in relation to the refugee crisis? I can confirm that, added the prime
:38:57. > :39:03.ministers as Robbie after the referendum that we would continue
:39:04. > :39:06.our contribution, which is day saved more than 60,400 lives and has
:39:07. > :39:18.destroyed more than 160 smuggling vessels. -- the Prime Minister
:39:19. > :39:21.confirmed after the referendum. Major aid agencies and charities
:39:22. > :39:24.seem to have a different take on what is happening in camps and
:39:25. > :39:29.movement spanning governments. Is he keeping in touch with them? My
:39:30. > :39:34.colleagues in the departments for International development are in
:39:35. > :39:39.constant contact with the main aid agencies, and are very large
:39:40. > :39:44.humanitarian effort in Turkey and Syria and neighbouring countries
:39:45. > :39:51.Revenant and Jordan is very much focused by the UN and other such
:39:52. > :39:58.agencies. In view of the fact of the loss of life and hardship arising
:39:59. > :40:05.from the refugee crisis are clearly long time and in danger of becoming
:40:06. > :40:10.institutionalised, will he get confirmation of the proposal put
:40:11. > :40:17.forward of the establishment of a UN humanitarian zone? While that was
:40:18. > :40:21.indeed a constructive proposal, I do not want to underestimate the
:40:22. > :40:27.difficulties of getting agreement of the Security Council and anything
:40:28. > :40:32.through the UN. We have operation Sofia, which is working, to which
:40:33. > :40:35.many European countries are contributing, and I think we should
:40:36. > :40:38.get back to work more effectively, help the Libyans to build up the
:40:39. > :40:42.capacity of their own coastguard and use the internet is available. Does
:40:43. > :40:50.the Minister accept that in respect of the Brexit negotiations, much
:40:51. > :40:56.work will require to be done to secure joint UK EU efforts in
:40:57. > :40:59.Northern Africa in tackling the escalating refugee crisis? I think
:41:00. > :41:03.that so long as we remain members of the European Union, and afterwards,
:41:04. > :41:08.it is going to remain in the interests of this country that we
:41:09. > :41:11.work very closely with our European friends and allies. This is a
:41:12. > :41:18.problem that will be with us for our generation, and it will need
:41:19. > :41:27.concerted international corporation. Number ten, Mr Speaker. We have got
:41:28. > :41:29.eight Commonwealth trade envoys representing British business with
:41:30. > :41:32.expanded representation in a number of countries, and we are looking
:41:33. > :41:35.forward next year to the inaugural Commonwealth trade ministers meeting
:41:36. > :41:43.here in London in March, currently co-hosted between ourselves and the
:41:44. > :41:46.Government of Malta. I thank the Minister for his reply. With the
:41:47. > :41:50.decision to withdraw from the EU, many British companies will be
:41:51. > :41:53.looking to expand their business with Commonwealth countries. What
:41:54. > :41:59.specific plans does the Government have two help support them in that
:42:00. > :42:05.respect? This is something we are concentrating on. Enter Commonwealth
:42:06. > :42:12.trade is projected to surpass $1 trillion by 2020. The Commonwealth
:42:13. > :42:15.includes a quarter of the world's landmass and 50% of the population
:42:16. > :42:18.is under the age of 30, so there are some huge and important
:42:19. > :42:28.opportunities there. With my honourable friend make sure
:42:29. > :42:34.that small countries in Africa and Asia are not left behind off what I
:42:35. > :42:38.believe will be a trade bonanza? I hope my honourable friend is right.
:42:39. > :42:45.Three quarters of Commonwealth trade is with South Africa, Malaysia, and
:42:46. > :42:58.other countries, and who needs to expand that into other countries. --
:42:59. > :43:11.and Britain needs to expand that. The Caspian, the South Caucasus,...
:43:12. > :43:17.In order to provide opportunity for small firms particularly from
:43:18. > :43:22.Scotland will he encourage BP in work with the Government of
:43:23. > :43:30.Azerbaijan to deliver pipelines? Indeed. That is an economic and
:43:31. > :43:35.strategic interests of the UK and he makes a strong point about Scotland.
:43:36. > :43:39.Many companies are in Azerbaijan in the wake of this investment. Another
:43:40. > :43:48.example of how the Foreign Office is helping deliver for Scotland.
:43:49. > :43:52.At number of people but we were speaking to our concerned at the
:43:53. > :43:56.impact that the UK leaving the European Union will have on
:43:57. > :44:00.diplomatic work to encourage countries like Georgia to move
:44:01. > :44:12.towards Western Europe. What assessment has the Foreign Secretary
:44:13. > :44:17.made of this? We were active in both the preparation for and at the Nato
:44:18. > :44:23.summit meeting in Warsaw to emphasise that our commitment to
:44:24. > :44:29.working closely with countries like Georgia, to bring them into the
:44:30. > :44:36.Europe, Atlantic family of nations continues, and those governments
:44:37. > :44:42.will understand that commitment. Significant military progress has
:44:43. > :44:56.been made in Iraq, Syria and Libya. Iraqi security forces have liberated
:44:57. > :45:01.a tone, and in Libya the Libyan national army is winning the battle.
:45:02. > :45:13.We need to see physical progress now in Syria, Libya and Iraq. Thank you
:45:14. > :45:16.for that reply, what initiatives has he undertaken recently to ensure
:45:17. > :45:26.that the international effort concentrates on securing the defeat
:45:27. > :45:35.of SME rather than that of the Allies and proxies? In Syria there
:45:36. > :45:39.are two separate battles, the civil war between the regime and
:45:40. > :45:44.supported, and the battle between the international community against
:45:45. > :45:49.Daesh. We have always been clear that there cannot be lasting success
:45:50. > :45:54.against Daesh SB resolve the political crisis in Syria and create
:45:55. > :45:57.a regime which is acceptable to the sedate Muslim population Syria
:45:58. > :46:12.giving them an alternative to the appalling offer from Daesh. --
:46:13. > :46:21.acceptable to the Sunni Muslim population. Can he therefore assure
:46:22. > :46:32.the House that no British support has been offered to any Libyan
:46:33. > :46:38.militia group not allied to GNA? If we were minded to commit combat
:46:39. > :46:43.forces to activity in Libya we would first come to the House of Commons.
:46:44. > :46:47.We are working closely with the Government of National accord
:46:48. > :46:52.including talking to them about how we can use exemptions from the UN
:46:53. > :46:55.arms embargo to forge a closer working relationship between
:46:56. > :47:01.militias and that Government. She will be interested to know that
:47:02. > :47:07.later this afternoon I will be meeting the Prime Minister at a
:47:08. > :47:14.London. My priority is to address head on Islamist extremism and the
:47:15. > :47:20.threats to the rules -based international system while
:47:21. > :47:24.responding to the foreign policy challenge of implementing the UK
:47:25. > :47:30.decision to leave the EU and negotiating the terms of Britain's
:47:31. > :47:34.future relationship with the EU 27. What steps are being taken to make
:47:35. > :47:37.sure that our embassies are in their best position to forge excellence
:47:38. > :47:44.trading deals for the United Kingdom? As one of my colleagues
:47:45. > :47:47.said earlier we had all are senior people in London last week for the
:47:48. > :47:52.annual leadership conference and I set out to them the challenge to the
:47:53. > :47:57.Foreign Office and its network as we move into this new phase where we
:47:58. > :48:00.will be seeking to redouble our efforts to build trade relationships
:48:01. > :48:05.around the world beyond the European Union. I can tell the House that I
:48:06. > :48:13.got a resounding response, that they are up for that challenge.
:48:14. > :48:16.Earlier today the permanent Court of arbitration ruled against Chinese
:48:17. > :48:22.claims in the South China Sea backing a case brought by the
:48:23. > :48:26.Philippines. Does the Minister agree that this ruling must be respected
:48:27. > :48:30.and noncompliance by the Chinese Government would not only caused
:48:31. > :48:36.severe reputational damage to China but also constitute a breach of
:48:37. > :48:43.international law? The UK's position has always been and will remain that
:48:44. > :48:46.we urge respect for international law under the rules -based
:48:47. > :48:51.international system and decisions arising from international tribunal
:48:52. > :48:55.is that she will know that the ruling is 501 pages long, it arrived
:48:56. > :49:03.on my desk just before coming over here to answer questions, and the
:49:04. > :49:08.honourable lady is obviously super efficient, we will study the
:49:09. > :49:12.decision carefully and if the honourable lady can give me any
:49:13. > :49:21.insight into her understanding of page 4302I would be grateful. What
:49:22. > :49:25.assessment has the Secretary of State made of the threat of nuclear
:49:26. > :49:33.proliferation especially across Asia and the Middle East? We take this
:49:34. > :49:41.threat of nuclear proliferation very seriously indeed. We have made huge
:49:42. > :49:45.progress over the last 18 months in shutting down the Iranians nuclear
:49:46. > :49:50.weapons programme. We remain deeply concerned about the programme in
:49:51. > :49:53.North Korea and about the risk of proliferation particularly from
:49:54. > :49:59.North Korea and we work closely with allies and partners around the world
:50:00. > :50:02.to address that challenge. Given the upsurge in violence over
:50:03. > :50:05.the weekend can ministers set out what action they have taken over the
:50:06. > :50:28.situation in the safe sedan? -- South Sudan. I attended the
:50:29. > :50:40.signing one year ago and there was optimism. But now we are watching
:50:41. > :50:45.events closely. We urge both sides to begin toxic again. After five
:50:46. > :50:50.decades of armed conflict in Colombia where 200,000 people have
:50:51. > :50:53.lost their lives and millions have been displaced and historic
:50:54. > :51:01.ceasefire has been agreed between both sides. Can the Minister update
:51:02. > :51:09.the House on blood andpos-macro? Yes, I welcome the bilateral
:51:10. > :51:14.ceasefire reached on the 23rd of June. This is a significant step
:51:15. > :51:17.towards ending 50 years of conflict that has affected the life of so
:51:18. > :51:23.many Colombians. We will continue to support Colombia juicing this piece.
:51:24. > :51:45.Over the weekend forces opened fire in
:51:46. > :51:50.Kashmir. Will the Minister informed them that opening fire on funeral
:51:51. > :52:04.protesters bat on funeral processions is not correct? I refer
:52:05. > :52:09.to what I said earlier,. The situation in the Maldives continues
:52:10. > :52:14.to deteriorate. What steps are being taken to persuade the Government to
:52:15. > :52:18.change the trajectory it is going on at the moment? We encourage that
:52:19. > :52:24.governments to engage constructively with the United Nations and
:52:25. > :52:28.Commonwealth envoys and implement the recommendations. It is crucial
:52:29. > :52:51.that this is reached. Supreme court Lord's note advise a
:52:52. > :52:55.refusal to permit resettlement would be unreasonable and
:52:56. > :53:05.disproportionate. Will the secretary advise on a quick decision? As the
:53:06. > :53:10.honourable gentleman will now we have been studying options around
:53:11. > :53:16.the British Indian Ocean Territory and the situation of those
:53:17. > :53:22.islanders. The current Prime Minister has taken a great interest
:53:23. > :53:27.in this budget will now fall to the new Prime Minister. The people of
:53:28. > :53:31.Gibraltar are concerned at pressure from Spain now that we are leaving
:53:32. > :53:36.the European Union. Will the Minister confirm that the Government
:53:37. > :53:41.will be involved in the negotiation and recognise an immediate boost to
:53:42. > :53:45.the economy will be given by agreeing a free trade agreements
:53:46. > :53:54.between Gibraltar and the UK and by ruling out any redundancies in the
:53:55. > :54:00.Ministry of Defence force? I saw the Chief minister yesterday,
:54:01. > :54:09.my third such conversation with him since the UK referendum. I have not
:54:10. > :54:13.only be the British Government to complete involvement in Gibraltar in
:54:14. > :54:17.the course she shuns about our exit from the EU and our subsequent
:54:18. > :54:21.relationship with the EU 27 but I have also invited the achievement of
:54:22. > :54:24.stuff to identify the key economic priorities for the people of
:54:25. > :54:27.Gibraltar that we should be looking to as we approach those
:54:28. > :54:31.negotiations. Judicial executions in Iran have
:54:32. > :54:38.increased by more than doubled since 2010 and there have been 2400
:54:39. > :54:41.executions since the President was elected three years ago. What
:54:42. > :54:51.representations has the Government moved to the Government of Iran into
:54:52. > :54:56.the execution of children including one believed to have been hanged 20
:54:57. > :55:01.was just 14 or 15 years old? We regularly make representations to
:55:02. > :55:04.the Government of Iran about the widespread abuse of human rights in
:55:05. > :55:10.Iran including the widespread use of the death sentence and the
:55:11. > :55:13.unacceptable practice of imposing death sentences on miners. We will
:55:14. > :55:18.continue to make such representations at every opportunity
:55:19. > :55:22.is. Common will countries are already large investors in the UK,
:55:23. > :55:26.will the governments continue to support business groups to make sure
:55:27. > :55:30.that track record continues? Yes we will and we will continue to work
:55:31. > :55:40.with the Commonwealth enterprise and investment Counsel on promoting in
:55:41. > :55:49.track and wealth trade. Can I thank the Foreign Secretary for the event
:55:50. > :55:58.yesterday to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the massacre? Will he
:55:59. > :56:05.join with me today saying it is not only important to remember that but
:56:06. > :56:08.also redouble our efforts to shore future generations free hate and
:56:09. > :56:16.intolerance can read? Of course, anyone who was there last night will
:56:17. > :56:23.have heard testimony of people who survived the terrible events 21
:56:24. > :56:31.years ago. They are harrowing tales. Utterly needless slaughter that
:56:32. > :56:35.occurred. The process of remembering is not just to remember about to
:56:36. > :56:40.make sure that we apply the lessons we remember and make sure this could
:56:41. > :56:49.never happen again. An important economic relationship
:56:50. > :56:53.that we have with India is the Tata steel portfolio, will he make sure
:56:54. > :56:57.that the protection of this continues to be at the forefront of
:56:58. > :57:02.our diplomatic relationship with India? I can tell my honourable
:57:03. > :57:12.friend that this remains a high priority for the Secretary of State
:57:13. > :57:23.for business. Clear Martin died in Italy 40 years ago, her death was
:57:24. > :57:38.reported as suicide -- Claire Martin. I am happy to discuss this
:57:39. > :57:42.tragic case but it remains that the UK cannot carry out investigations
:57:43. > :57:47.in the Italian judicial system any more than the Italian Government can
:57:48. > :57:51.do so here but I understand that the magistrate has offered a meeting
:57:52. > :57:56.with the family and I hope this will provide a way forward.
:57:57. > :58:12.There the bursary of the Iran nuclear deal falls in two days. One
:58:13. > :58:20.discussions are you I promise that is not the planted question, but
:58:21. > :58:26.there is a meeting happening this afternoon between the Iranian
:58:27. > :58:29.central bank, the United States Treasury, and international banks
:58:30. > :58:33.based in London in an attempt to make some progress on this matter so
:58:34. > :58:38.that the people of Iran can start to benefit from the seminal deal that
:58:39. > :58:45.was done a year ago. It is a pleasure to welcome back to
:58:46. > :58:55.the House to let city. -- Tulip Siddiq. My constituents have been
:58:56. > :59:02.detained in Iran for 100 days now. Will the Minister join me in
:59:03. > :59:06.denouncing the Iranian authorities and ensuring that Nazanin and her
:59:07. > :59:11.daughter are returned to their home as soon as possible? We are
:59:12. > :59:17.continuing to lobby the Iranians regularly, about all our citizens
:59:18. > :59:22.there, including her constituent. I spoke on the 4th of July to the
:59:23. > :59:26.Foreign Minister and subsequently followed up with a letter. The
:59:27. > :59:29.Minister for the Middle East met her family on the 18th of May, and we
:59:30. > :59:35.will continue to push the Iranians on this case, both consular access
:59:36. > :59:39.to her, Iran does not recognise dual nationality, this is the challenge,
:59:40. > :59:45.and also for more information about the charges that are alleged against
:59:46. > :59:48.her. On my recent visit to Kiev, there was palpable fear from the
:59:49. > :59:51.Ukrainians that sanctions may start to be lifted against Russia
:59:52. > :59:54.President Putin. Does my rate honourable friend agree that that
:59:55. > :59:58.cannot happen until meaningful discussions have taken place on
:59:59. > :00:02.Ukraine's sovereign borders? I would go further than that and say it
:00:03. > :00:07.cannot happen until Russia has complied with its obligations under
:00:08. > :00:11.the Minsk agreement. My honourable friend, I also met with the
:00:12. > :00:15.Ukrainian Foreign Minster at the weekend in Warsaw, and he is right,
:00:16. > :00:22.there is a concern by Ukrainians that Britain's departure from the
:00:23. > :00:26.European Union may lead to a weakening of European Union resolved
:00:27. > :00:29.on this issue. I very much hope that will not be the case. It is
:00:30. > :00:32.certainly true that we have been one of the leading advocates of a tough
:00:33. > :00:43.line within the European Union. The can. In light of the ongoing events
:00:44. > :00:49.in Sudan, many of us find both issues with the content and context
:00:50. > :00:53.of the UK dialogue. What red lines does the UK Government have in that
:00:54. > :00:56.dialogue? I will get the Minister for Africa to write to him in more
:00:57. > :01:00.detail, but the dialogue as an important juncture in the
:01:01. > :01:04.relationship. We were invited by Sudan to commence this. I make it
:01:05. > :01:10.very clear that we need to continue to support Saddam. It is the source,
:01:11. > :01:14.post and a transit country for migration, so it affects the rest of
:01:15. > :01:19.Europe and what is going on there. -- to support Sudan. We want to
:01:20. > :01:24.continue to help the humanitarian situation there which is dire. They
:01:25. > :01:27.need our support. Can I join with those welcoming the fact that a
:01:28. > :01:30.large number of big players in the global economy are queueing up to
:01:31. > :01:36.the financial trade deals with the UK? Made many Korean constituents
:01:37. > :01:40.would very much like to know whether that includes South Korea, a
:01:41. > :01:44.brilliant trade partner with the UK. -- my very many Korean constituents.
:01:45. > :01:49.The UK has an existing free-trade agreement with the Republic of
:01:50. > :01:52.Korea, and under that agreement, the UK has seen its exports to career
:01:53. > :01:58.more than double over a very short period of time. Once we are outside
:01:59. > :02:05.the European Union, depending on the details of the arrangements may
:02:06. > :02:08.make, we will be ready to enter into new trade agreements with all
:02:09. > :02:14.countries around the world. The UK will remain an advertising trading
:02:15. > :02:19.nation delivering prosperity by our success around the globe. -- and
:02:20. > :02:23.outward facing trading nation. What recent discussions have the
:02:24. > :02:30.Government had with Turkey about their opposition to the Syrian
:02:31. > :02:35.Democratic forces offensive to relieve a very important strategic
:02:36. > :02:40.battle? In fact, I met my Turkish opposite number and also sat next to
:02:41. > :02:45.the president and the binary session at the Nato summit in Warsaw at the
:02:46. > :02:51.weekend, and we discussed this issue. Of course the STF assault is
:02:52. > :02:57.vitally important, and it will close a strategic gap and cut off supplies
:02:58. > :03:02.into Syria, supplies and rooms for fighters going into Syria, in a very
:03:03. > :03:07.important way. The tracks' concern is the role of Kurdish organisations
:03:08. > :03:13.within the STF, including some that are associated with prescribed
:03:14. > :03:20.associations. -- the Turks' concern. The UN is seeking to reassure the
:03:21. > :03:29.Turks and allowing the STF to deliver his objective. We have run
:03:30. > :03:35.out of time. We recently marked the first anniversary of the dreadful
:03:36. > :03:39.terrorist attack in Tunisia. What work is being done by the Foreign
:03:40. > :03:43.Office to support the families of the victims and to mark that
:03:44. > :03:51.dreadful event? I had the honour of representing Britain at the
:03:52. > :03:55.anniversary that took place the two -- to mark the tragic events. We
:03:56. > :03:58.have done everything we can to provide support to those believed,
:03:59. > :04:03.injured, and those affected by the mental trauma of what they saw. That
:04:04. > :04:07.help continues, and I am pleased to confirm the announcement the Prime
:04:08. > :04:10.Minister made on the weekend that there will be amoral belts, probably
:04:11. > :04:20.expected to be in the North of England, to mark the horrific events
:04:21. > :04:23.-- there will be a memorial belt. Can the Foreign Secretary Calley has
:04:24. > :04:33.what progress has been made in persuading her allies -- our allies
:04:34. > :04:36.to provide support to women who have escaped sexual slavery under Daesh
:04:37. > :04:39.and are in great need of medical and psychological support that they
:04:40. > :04:44.cannot access properly and either Syria or Iran? The honourable lady
:04:45. > :04:50.is absolutely right to give attention to those who have faced
:04:51. > :04:56.persecution by Daesh. We have had a number of debates on this matter. It
:04:57. > :05:02.is many minorities, and we are making sure we are as supporting
:05:03. > :05:10.NGOs directly targeting people providing support, in the immediate
:05:11. > :05:18.aftermath but also in the long-term. Fiona McTaggart. The reason I was
:05:19. > :05:26.steamy is that I spoke this morning to my constituent whose husband has
:05:27. > :05:31.been detained in South Sudan since the 18th of June without charge, and
:05:32. > :05:37.it seems to me that in view of the situation and turmoil there are,
:05:38. > :05:44.that it is urgent for the British authorities to demand his release or
:05:45. > :05:49.his charge instantly. This man is a diabetic, he is not being properly
:05:50. > :05:57.the Darfur, and it is time that we defended our citizens. -- he has not
:05:58. > :06:00.been properly looked after. We have already touched on the concerns we
:06:01. > :06:06.have inside Sudan, the stability we have seen, despite the transitional
:06:07. > :06:10.Government of national unity. I'll ask the Minister for Africa to get
:06:11. > :06:14.in touch with her to find out what consular support is being provided.
:06:15. > :06:22.I'm sorry I cannot accommodate all colleagues, but I will take Joanna
:06:23. > :06:26.Cherry. Can the Minister tell us whether following upon Brexit, the
:06:27. > :06:28.United Kingdom will continue to participate in the Paris climate
:06:29. > :06:36.change agreements, or whether that agreement will require to be
:06:37. > :06:40.rewritten? Mr Speaker, this is a prime example of where we need to
:06:41. > :06:47.come down and not scaremonger. We are absolutely committed to that and
:06:48. > :06:55.to our climate change targets by 2050 of reducing emissions.
:06:56. > :06:59.Actually, I thought I was going to include the honourable lady, but
:07:00. > :07:06.that really will have to be the last one. Hannah Bardell. The Minister
:07:07. > :07:13.will recall the case of Mike is it and who was killed in Israel last
:07:14. > :07:17.year. -- the case of my constituent. We now have the autopsy report, but
:07:18. > :07:21.it is in Hebrew, and her family are being suggested that they should
:07:22. > :07:25.assume the cost of that. Can the Minister tell me if this is
:07:26. > :07:29.something the SCO can support on? I am grateful for his support of our,
:07:30. > :07:34.but the family are desperate, and require support. This has been a
:07:35. > :07:39.very difficult case for the family and for everybody involved, and we
:07:40. > :07:43.were able to meet Members of Parliament that were involved. I
:07:44. > :07:46.also raise this with the Israeli authorities as well. It is not
:07:47. > :07:52.normal for the Foreign Office to provide the translation facilities.
:07:53. > :07:54.Perhaps if we can discuss this outside the chamber, we can work
:07:55. > :08:00.through something and provide assistance to the family. Foreign
:08:01. > :08:04.Office questions tend to break box office records, and so I think the
:08:05. > :08:08.ministers should take some pride in that fact. The other way of looking
:08:09. > :08:12.is that I am giving them additional speaking opportunities. Point of
:08:13. > :08:19.order, we will come to the honourable gentleman, we are saving
:08:20. > :08:24.him up. My honourable friend who is standing for the leadership of my
:08:25. > :08:28.party heard her constituency windows broken, and the police have
:08:29. > :08:34.confirmed that such an incident has taken place. Can we take the
:08:35. > :08:38.opportunity of deploring such hooliganism, whoever commits it and
:08:39. > :08:41.whichever party is involved? It is totally unacceptable, and one hopes
:08:42. > :08:46.the police will apprehend the culprits as quickly as possible. I
:08:47. > :08:51.thank the honourable gentleman for his point of order. Of course, it is
:08:52. > :08:55.not strictly in any residual sense a matter for the chair, but it is a
:08:56. > :09:02.matter for the chair in one respect, and that is that in common with all
:09:03. > :09:04.colleagues, the chair believes in democracy and peaceful exchange of
:09:05. > :09:08.opinion.