:00:12. > :00:20.Welcome to the live coverage from the House of Commons. We will have
:00:21. > :00:25.the Finance Bill to tackle money-laundering and corruption. MPs
:00:26. > :00:30.are expected to finish deliberations today. There is a motion announcing
:00:31. > :00:35.changes to benefit payments and increasing the level of the minimum
:00:36. > :00:38.pension. The House of Lords is holding a second debate on
:00:39. > :00:43.legislation to start the formal process from leaving the EU. You can
:00:44. > :00:51.watch live coverage of that on the red button service or on our
:00:52. > :00:57.website. Join me for a round-up of the day in both Houses of Parliament
:00:58. > :00:58.at 11 o'clock this evening. First, questions to Boris Johnson and his
:00:59. > :01:16.team of ministers. Order, order, the clock will read
:01:17. > :01:29.the title of the private bill set down for consideration.
:01:30. > :01:37.Questions To The Secretary Of State For Foreign And Font -- Secretary Of
:01:38. > :01:48.State For Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs. I Will Take Questions And
:01:49. > :01:53.One, Ten And 12 Together. I Met and have good conversations and I am
:01:54. > :01:58.sure we will be having more in the weeks ahead. Too deep in a
:01:59. > :02:06.relationship that has been part of the foundation of global peace and
:02:07. > :02:10.prosperity for the last 70 years. Called the Foreign Secretary
:02:11. > :02:14.confirmed to me that when he met with the Secretary of State last
:02:15. > :02:20.week, he said unequivocably that Her Majesty 's Government thinks the ban
:02:21. > :02:25.on travel by President Rouhani proposed on Muslim countries is
:02:26. > :02:31.simply wrong? He will know very well that this Government did not support
:02:32. > :02:40.the travel measures introduced by the executive order. They were
:02:41. > :02:43.something that we would make to the House and not something we would
:02:44. > :02:49.like to see in this country and we made it clear to our friends in
:02:50. > :02:56.America and it was by engaging with the White House and others that we
:02:57. > :03:01.were able to secure the important clarification that the executive
:03:02. > :03:05.order would make no difference to any British passport holder
:03:06. > :03:09.irrespective of country of birth. I'm pleased to hear the Foreign
:03:10. > :03:14.Secretary's reports but I want if you could tell us more about how he
:03:15. > :03:21.plans to manage the important tripartite relationship between each
:03:22. > :03:29.-- between the UK, EU and US post Brexit? The Ansett is that on some
:03:30. > :03:31.things, we will differ from our American friends. We had an example
:03:32. > :03:47.of that. -- cancer. -- answer. There are some members
:03:48. > :03:54.who are not in the same space that we are. The policy of the UK as you
:03:55. > :04:01.would expect is to stick up for UK interests and UK values and if I can
:04:02. > :04:07.use jargon to triangulate dynamically between the two.
:04:08. > :04:14.Speaking of standing up for British interest, Mr Trump's record suggests
:04:15. > :04:19.any deal he agrees to would be to our disadvantage. What will the
:04:20. > :04:27.Foreign Secretary de -- do to make sure any deals with not just
:04:28. > :04:33.American ones? It is very important to be clear eyed about how American
:04:34. > :04:37.power and success in negotiating trade agreements and to recognise we
:04:38. > :04:47.will have to be on our mettle to get a good deal for this country. I have
:04:48. > :04:55.no doubt that we will be able to do such a deal and it is a great shame
:04:56. > :04:59.that in 44 years of EU membership, we have not been able to secure a
:05:00. > :05:03.free trade deal with the United States. That is now on the table. In
:05:04. > :05:07.his discussions, did he discuss the best opportunity to mark a state
:05:08. > :05:14.visit by President Trump and did he put in my suggestion that 2020, the
:05:15. > :05:18.anniversary of the Pilgrim Fathers, would be a better day for a state
:05:19. > :05:24.visit than in the next few months when it is right -- likely to be a
:05:25. > :05:30.rallying point for discontent in the UK? I thank my right honourable
:05:31. > :05:36.friend for his interest in suggestion. It is not one I had time
:05:37. > :05:40.to make to our American counterparts. Let us see how the mat
:05:41. > :05:44.of the state visit evolves. The invitation has been issued and it
:05:45. > :05:49.has been accepted and I am sure it will be a great success. Would my
:05:50. > :05:52.right honourable friend tell the Secretary of State next time he
:05:53. > :05:55.meets him that if the current discussions between the US
:05:56. > :05:59.Department of defence and State Department lead to them recommending
:06:00. > :06:02.to President Trump that they put American ground troops in the root
:06:03. > :06:11.-- northern Syria to combat Isis, that the British Government would
:06:12. > :06:15.not be following them? I am not aware of any such proposal. Nor do I
:06:16. > :06:18.think having listened to the language being used both by the
:06:19. > :06:23.White House and by the State Department, that we are going to see
:06:24. > :06:28.the imminent contribution of ground troops in that theatre. I do think
:06:29. > :06:32.that the advent of the Trump administration offers the
:06:33. > :06:40.possibility of new thinking on Syria and the hope of a new way forward.
:06:41. > :06:44.Last week the honourable member for tooting and I went to Jordan as
:06:45. > :06:50.guests of Oxfam and we met a number of Syrian refugees, notably one man
:06:51. > :06:55.who lived in the refugee camp. He was due to start a new life in
:06:56. > :07:00.America, literally within the next few weeks. It is difficult to put
:07:01. > :07:03.into words the sense of despair that all his hopes and dreams for a new
:07:04. > :07:07.life have been shattered by President Trump's decision to ban
:07:08. > :07:12.all refugees from going to America. Would my right honourable friend,
:07:13. > :07:17.when he gets the next opportunity, not hesitate in telling him that
:07:18. > :07:21.this ban on refugees brings great shame on his country and he should
:07:22. > :07:28.lift that ban on refugees immediately? She will know full well
:07:29. > :07:33.we have already expressed our disagreement with the travel ban and
:07:34. > :07:40.indeed the policy on refugees. She was in the House when I came to
:07:41. > :07:46.explain the Government's view about that policy. This country can be
:07:47. > :07:54.extremely proud of the way we not only support that particular camp in
:07:55. > :07:58.Jordan, which we do, and we agreed another ?30 million to support that
:07:59. > :08:01.individual operation, but this country is the second-biggest
:08:02. > :08:08.contributor to the humanitarian effort in the region with 3.2
:08:09. > :08:15.billion already pledged. Isn't it a case that policy triangulation has
:08:16. > :08:19.meant that these people anticipate when an American policy is going to
:08:20. > :08:23.be and mimic it? That must be difficult into a pity what American
:08:24. > :08:25.policy will be and who will be implementing it. The Foreign
:08:26. > :08:31.Secretary wait to see what the policy is before changing policies
:08:32. > :08:37.like the two state solution in the Middle East? I'm sure the right
:08:38. > :08:41.honourable gentleman knows very well that not only is Her Majesty's
:08:42. > :08:47.Government's policy unchanged on the solution in the Middle East but so
:08:48. > :08:55.to the best of my knowledge is the United States's policy. If I may
:08:56. > :09:00.with the guidance of the House, it is my impression that the policy of
:09:01. > :09:04.the United States is migrating evermore to wards a position of
:09:05. > :09:14.congruence within our policy rather than the reverse. Was it the Foreign
:09:15. > :09:17.Secretary's idea to visit President Trump after seven days in office?
:09:18. > :09:23.Given the Foreign Secretary declared he would go to New York in case he
:09:24. > :09:29.was mistaken for Mr Trump, is there any chance President Trump would not
:09:30. > :09:33.come to London on a state visit in case he is mistaken for the Foreign
:09:34. > :09:41.Secretary? I'm embarrassed to tell you that not only... I was mistaken
:09:42. > :09:46.for Mr Trump in Newcastle, which rather took me aback. Also in New
:09:47. > :09:56.York, a humbling experience as you can imagine for me. I can't tell you
:09:57. > :10:00.who was the exact progenitor of the excellent idea to accord an
:10:01. > :10:06.invitation to the President to come on a state visit but the invitation
:10:07. > :10:09.has been issued. It is a wholly appropriate thing for the British
:10:10. > :10:16.Government to do and it will be a great success. With my right
:10:17. > :10:21.honourable friend agree that at a time when there is fresh fighting in
:10:22. > :10:26.the Ukraine, at a time when Russia continues to carry out large-scale
:10:27. > :10:32.exercises close to the borders the Baltic states, some of them with
:10:33. > :10:36.nuclear capable of treatment, would he agree there has never been a time
:10:37. > :10:39.in recent years when our relationship with America and
:10:40. > :10:45.keeping Nato together has been so important for Europe as a whole? He
:10:46. > :10:50.is completely right and why it was so important that the Prime Minister
:10:51. > :10:55.on her very successful visit to the White House secured from Donald
:10:56. > :10:59.Trump the 100% commitment to our Nato alliance which has been the
:11:00. > :11:13.guarantor of peace in our times. We note that Trump's Muslim than
:11:14. > :11:18.attracts die -- Daesh's... Can I ask the foreign sense -- Secretary
:11:19. > :11:21.Wattie has had in discussions with the Secretary of State the defence
:11:22. > :11:27.by the increased threat to UK national security as a result of his
:11:28. > :11:32.immoral and racist policies? We remain vigilant about the threat to
:11:33. > :11:37.terror as a result of all international policies but as I have
:11:38. > :11:43.said before, the seven countries in question had been previously singled
:11:44. > :11:47.out by the Barack Obama administration for term Visa
:11:48. > :11:54.restrictions and as she will be aware, this Government has already
:11:55. > :12:01.signalled its disapproval of the ban to which members opposite are
:12:02. > :12:05.rightly objecting. They quantified the queue of countries seeking to do
:12:06. > :12:13.a free-trade deal with the US and where Britain's place was in queue.
:12:14. > :12:23.Racks stellar sin was clear he regards the UK of pivotal importance
:12:24. > :12:29.for his own country. -- Tillerson considers that. Nato is pivotal not
:12:30. > :12:35.just for the safety of European countries but for the US itself.
:12:36. > :12:40.Tillerson was also clear that the UK will be at the front of the queue
:12:41. > :12:44.for a new trade deal. President Trump boasts of running a
:12:45. > :12:52.finely tuned machine, but the truth is that when it comes to all of the
:12:53. > :12:56.world's major crises from Ukraine to Syria, from Afghanistan to North
:12:57. > :13:00.Korea, American policy is under review. I hear from the Secretary of
:13:01. > :13:04.State there is new thinking but we have yet to see anything coherent
:13:05. > :13:09.from America. The finely tuned machine has not stalled is much as
:13:10. > :13:14.hats not got going, and the resulting vacuum is being felt by
:13:15. > :13:18.the Russians. Peace talks on Syria and Afghanistan are taking place
:13:19. > :13:23.without US or UK involvement, so is the secretary of State happy to keep
:13:24. > :13:27.voting for President Trump's ideas or will we see a change in
:13:28. > :13:30.initiative from any of these countries and if so what is the
:13:31. > :13:39.plan? The finely tuned machine that is the
:13:40. > :13:45.Labour Party is a fine one to offer any kind of political advice to the
:13:46. > :13:50.American administration. As she knows very well, it is in fact the
:13:51. > :13:55.UK that has been in the lead on trying to find a solution in the
:13:56. > :14:00.Yemen. It is the UK which has been in the lead in Somalia in trying to
:14:01. > :14:06.maintain the commitment they are, and I think in all fairness she
:14:07. > :14:10.should recognise that the current area of diplomacy being considered
:14:11. > :14:15.by the United States in respect of Syria is a course that the UK has
:14:16. > :14:19.principally advocated. That is one in which the Russians and the
:14:20. > :14:24.Iranians are separated in their interests, we move towards a
:14:25. > :14:29.political solution any transition away from the barbarism of the Assad
:14:30. > :14:35.regime. I have to say, Mr Speaker, if that
:14:36. > :14:39.is the plan, I am a monkey's uncle. The fact is the Government has been
:14:40. > :14:44.frozen out of negotiations on some of the most pressing issues we face.
:14:45. > :14:49.Afghanistan, for more than 15 years, there have been 450 British
:14:50. > :14:52.fatalities. The American army general on the ground John Nicolson
:14:53. > :14:57.describes the fighting as a stalemate, which may take several
:14:58. > :15:00.thousand more troops to break. In the meantime, Russian led peace
:15:01. > :15:05.negotiations are going on in the absence of America, and the United
:15:06. > :15:09.Kingdom, and in the absence of any other Nato member. So I ask again,
:15:10. > :15:15.when will we start seeing some leadership on this Government?
:15:16. > :15:25.If she is referring to Russian led peace talks in Afghanistan, she is
:15:26. > :15:32.perhaps talking about detox... The talks on Syria... It is in the view
:15:33. > :15:37.of all of the Syria supporting countries that those talks should
:15:38. > :15:43.resume as soon as possible in Geneva. When she talks about the UK
:15:44. > :15:48.contribution to Afghanistan, I think she can be very proud, and the whole
:15:49. > :15:52.house can be very proud of the sacrifice made by those 456 British
:15:53. > :15:56.troops who have lost their lives over the last 15 years, because
:15:57. > :16:00.there are hundreds of thousands of women in Afghanistan being educated
:16:01. > :16:02.as a result of the sacrifice made by British troops and investment by the
:16:03. > :16:06.British people in that country. There are people getting food and
:16:07. > :16:11.water and sanitation it would not otherwise have received it.
:16:12. > :16:16.Question number two, Mr Speaker. My right honourable friend and I
:16:17. > :16:24.took part in the Geneva conference on Cyprus, and we welcome the
:16:25. > :16:28.intention to resume talks next month and are keen to maintain momentum
:16:29. > :16:31.and bring negotiations to a successful conclusion.
:16:32. > :16:35.Will he agree that the fair country guarantees should have no place in
:16:36. > :16:40.the settlement for Cyprus because Cypriots should be able to determine
:16:41. > :16:44.their own future without the threat of external military intervention?
:16:45. > :16:47.It is up to the two sides to understand what kind of future
:16:48. > :16:53.security arrangements they won for a united Cyprus which will enable both
:16:54. > :16:56.committees to remain secure. As a guarantor power, the UK plays a
:16:57. > :17:01.supportive role and is open to any arrangement which is acceptable to
:17:02. > :17:06.the two communities. I thank the Minister for that reply.
:17:07. > :17:09.You will know that from Northern Ireland's point of view we have been
:17:10. > :17:12.able to have a partnership Government which has moved from
:17:13. > :17:17.bringing communities together. Can I ask this question, what is being
:17:18. > :17:23.done in relation to, from that advice from Northern Ireland, to
:17:24. > :17:28.bring advice, which could benefit Cyprus at this moment in time?
:17:29. > :17:34.I think the example of Northern Ireland is an example to the whole
:17:35. > :17:40.world, and I think it has been of benefit in the likes of Nepal and
:17:41. > :17:46.Colombia in that way. I hope the lesson from Northern Ireland can be
:17:47. > :17:49.taken into account for Cyprus and formed the progress we would like to
:17:50. > :17:55.see in Cyprus. What does the Minister have a view,
:17:56. > :18:00.that the best for the solution is the dedication and encouragement of
:18:01. > :18:04.both this Cypriot leaders negotiating, the realisation that
:18:05. > :18:09.the status quo of divided services is untenable? And we need to make
:18:10. > :18:18.sure Turkey understands that when it comes to guarantees.
:18:19. > :18:23.We will upload, and we must applaud the two leaders working towards a
:18:24. > :18:26.solution. Other things are necessary such as the cooperation of Greece
:18:27. > :18:33.and Turkey, the next-door countries, and successful referendums within
:18:34. > :18:39.each community. Last time negotiations on Cyprus
:18:40. > :18:42.seemed close to a deal but the effort collapsed when hackers broke
:18:43. > :18:49.into the UN computer systems and documents were leaked to a separate
:18:50. > :18:55.newspaper. The inflamed community tensions which followed had a hand
:18:56. > :18:59.in scuppering the deal. What assurance can you give that lessons
:19:00. > :19:03.have been learned from that experience and a proper safeguards
:19:04. > :19:08.are in place to protect negotiations from undue influence from outside?
:19:09. > :19:13.We have close association with the UN special representative, and I am
:19:14. > :19:17.confident that he will have thought of this possible intrusion into the
:19:18. > :19:20.successful negotiations and I hope those safeguards are properly in
:19:21. > :19:27.place. Question number three, Mr Speaker.
:19:28. > :19:33.With permission, I will answer questions three and 13 together.
:19:34. > :19:38.Global Britain is a programme to help to explain to the world but
:19:39. > :19:44.also to the people of this country what I think they do not often
:19:45. > :19:47.suspect, which is the full range of Britain's military, cultural,
:19:48. > :19:53.commercial, diplomatic influence in the world. I do think that it is
:19:54. > :20:08.important to do that, now particularly as we make Brexit, or
:20:09. > :20:10.Breentry as we should perhaps call it, as we help people understand
:20:11. > :20:15.that a more global Britain will be more prosperous.
:20:16. > :20:18.And my right honourable friend tell us how the various initiatives about
:20:19. > :20:22.building a global Britain as we leave the EU will help the people of
:20:23. > :20:25.the Yeovil constituency in the south-west of England?
:20:26. > :20:34.I am delighted to tell my honourable friend that over the next ten years,
:20:35. > :20:40.we will for instance be spending ?178 billion on defence, one of the
:20:41. > :20:45.few countries in Nato to contribute 2% of our GDP to defence for that,
:20:46. > :20:48.and there will be more funds to support companies in Yeovil such as
:20:49. > :20:54.a helicopter company that, as far as I know, built the Wildcat submarine
:20:55. > :21:03.hunting helicopters among other vital bits of kit.
:21:04. > :21:08.Will you agree that in addition to defence of soft power, including the
:21:09. > :21:09.effective use of aid and increasing trade and investment by helping
:21:10. > :21:15.businesses to find suitable partners, that remains an essential
:21:16. > :21:18.part of the UK approach to boosting security in the more dangerous part
:21:19. > :21:23.of the world? I agree. If I may just give the
:21:24. > :21:30.House, Mr Speaker, one stunning fact that should seldom be off there lips
:21:31. > :21:33.when selling a UK... When selling UK universities to the world, of the
:21:34. > :21:40.Kings, queens, presidents and prime ministers in the world today, one in
:21:41. > :21:43.seven were educated in this country, and we have more international
:21:44. > :21:47.students in London than any other city in the world.
:21:48. > :21:52.The Foreign Secretary's brother probably told him that. There is no
:21:53. > :21:56.harm in that. Mr Speaker, could we have a number
:21:57. > :22:03.of honesty in terms of an assessment of this nasty little hard Brexit
:22:04. > :22:06.campaign? The fact is that we, instead of insulting the former
:22:07. > :22:11.prime ministers Tony Blair as he did last week, will he take seriously
:22:12. > :22:18.the danger to this country of a hard Brexit that the people of this
:22:19. > :22:22.country did not sign a black check for -- a blank cheque. They want a
:22:23. > :22:26.real vote as how good the deal is with Europe as we leave it.
:22:27. > :22:31.I do not think anybody could seriously say that the former
:22:32. > :22:34.premised had been resulted by any remarks I made last week. What I was
:22:35. > :22:40.trained to get over was my strong feeling that a debate was had last
:22:41. > :22:45.year and everybody understands that and we were going forward with a new
:22:46. > :22:49.approach for this country, a global approach, and it will be eight clean
:22:50. > :22:51.and Brexit and I think a highly successful Brexit, as the premise
:22:52. > :22:56.has said. Given that a famine has just been
:22:57. > :23:04.declared in South Sudan, Cathy confirmed that a truly global Brexit
:23:05. > :23:08.will respond to global situations like that rather than siphoning off
:23:09. > :23:12.in power in advance? I'm sure he will be aware that the
:23:13. > :23:17.UK is one of the only countries in the world to contribute 0.7% of our
:23:18. > :23:25.GNI to overseas development. We have a fantastic record, not just in the
:23:26. > :23:30.Sudan, but across Africa. And I say-so that in... Ears is right to
:23:31. > :23:35.draw attention to the approaching famine in South Sudan, we have sent
:23:36. > :23:41.400 troops to help deal with that emergency. -- he is correct to draw
:23:42. > :23:46.attention to this. Thank you, Mr Speaker. We remain
:23:47. > :23:50.deeply concerned about the UK consulate cases in Iran and continue
:23:51. > :23:52.to raise them with the Iranian Government at every opportunity,
:23:53. > :24:00.including when I visited Iran last month. And by the Foreign Secretary
:24:01. > :24:04.when he met his counterpart at the Munich Security conference.
:24:05. > :24:10.I thank my honourable friend for his answer. He is familiar with the case
:24:11. > :24:16.of a 77-year-old father and grandfather to my constituent who
:24:17. > :24:19.has been detained in Iran's notorious prison for almost 60 year.
:24:20. > :24:23.Does he agree with me that at a time when Iran and the West's
:24:24. > :24:26.relationship are under increasing scrutiny, the exercise of clemency
:24:27. > :24:32.in this case and others like it would demonstrate Iran's commitment
:24:33. > :24:35.to constructive engagement with the international community?
:24:36. > :24:38.Mr Speaker, I wholeheartedly agree with my honourable friend and I'm
:24:39. > :24:45.grateful for the work he has done with the family. I was able to meet
:24:46. > :24:48.the counterpart on the 25th of January and I spoke to an ambassador
:24:49. > :24:54.this morning about this particular case, and indeed when I visited Iran
:24:55. > :24:58.last month, I am pleased to see he will now be receiving the health
:24:59. > :25:03.Cathy has been requesting. He is right that there is a case for
:25:04. > :25:09.clemency here. -- he will be receiving the health care.
:25:10. > :25:12.Is anyone in the British Government able to make direct contact with the
:25:13. > :25:17.Iranian Revolutionary guard, because these are the people arresting and
:25:18. > :25:21.falsely imprisoning our national 's? If we are speaking simply to the
:25:22. > :25:26.puppets in Tehran, no one from Britain will be safe to visit that
:25:27. > :25:31.country. Mr Speaker, we should be careful of
:25:32. > :25:34.the language we use. The Iranians like many countries do not recognise
:25:35. > :25:39.dual nationality, and therefore we must conduct these matters with
:25:40. > :25:42.diplomacy. Our avenue with the Iranians, which was not there are a
:25:43. > :25:49.couple of years ago, is through the Iranian Foreign Ministry, and we
:25:50. > :25:52.have had communications from our Prime Minister from the Foreign
:25:53. > :25:56.Secretary, as I said, and now from myself with our embassy opening as
:25:57. > :26:00.well. The Prime Minister made clear on the
:26:01. > :26:04.17th of January the high priority this Government places on its
:26:05. > :26:08.science relationship with Europe. My honourable friend the Ministry of
:26:09. > :26:11.State for science research and innovation is in regular contact on
:26:12. > :26:13.this issue with his European counterparts including the European
:26:14. > :26:18.Commission. Can I ask that he will confess to
:26:19. > :26:23.the House that there are no barriers to the UK joining future
:26:24. > :26:28.collaborative ventures, and that the UK intends to pursue those
:26:29. > :26:33.collaborative ventures with high tech beacons around the world
:26:34. > :26:37.including Hong Kong, and Israel? The Government aims to secure the
:26:38. > :26:42.best possible outcome for UK science and research as we leave the EU, and
:26:43. > :26:45.both the EU and the UK have publicly emphasised the importance of
:26:46. > :26:49.continuing to work together to produce high-quality research. Both
:26:50. > :26:53.at home and abroad we will remain at the forefront of science and
:26:54. > :26:57.research. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The
:26:58. > :27:01.Government White Paper tells us that they would welcome an agreement with
:27:02. > :27:07.the European partners on science and technology issues but gives no
:27:08. > :27:10.indication as to how that agreement will be achieved, no timetable, no
:27:11. > :27:13.detail and absolutely no guarantees. Can the Minister tell us what
:27:14. > :27:14.discussions have actually taken place rather than simply telling us
:27:15. > :27:24.that? The department views on science but
:27:25. > :27:27.this will be an essential part of the negotiations we conduct with the
:27:28. > :27:34.European Union after we've triggered Article 50. Could I screw ministers
:27:35. > :27:37.to ensure that scientific Corporation in Europe is also
:27:38. > :27:50.extended to the preservation of threatened species? -- secure
:27:51. > :27:52.ministers. The Foreign Secretary is proof that the woolly mammoth can
:27:53. > :28:08.return from extinction. This Government is committed to
:28:09. > :28:11.strengthening our commonwealth engagement in continuing the theme
:28:12. > :28:15.of global Britain and we look forward to hosting the Commonwealth
:28:16. > :28:23.trade ministers meeting in March and the Commonwealth heads of Government
:28:24. > :28:28.meeting in 2018. Could he tell me how he believes that the inaugural
:28:29. > :28:31.Commonwealth Trade Minister's meeting referred to can be used as
:28:32. > :28:39.an opportunity to promote the Commonwealth as a trading network?
:28:40. > :28:44.The network of 52 states is important to Great Britain. Combined
:28:45. > :28:48.population of 2 billion people and 1 billion under the age of 25 and in
:28:49. > :28:52.the post-Brexit environment, we are looking for a trade deals. When we
:28:53. > :28:56.travel across the Commonwealth, the first question they ask is what are
:28:57. > :29:01.the opportunities the Brit now you are liberated from doing business
:29:02. > :29:05.through Brussels. This meeting is a great opportunity for us to embark
:29:06. > :29:12.on looking towards those trade deals we need for the future. Will the
:29:13. > :29:17.Minister join me in welcoming the cross-party majority in the vote on
:29:18. > :29:22.the EU candidate trade deal and what priority is the minister given to
:29:23. > :29:24.completing that deal and also ensuring similar arrangements with
:29:25. > :29:35.our Commonwealth Canadian friends and cousins post-Brexit? He makes an
:29:36. > :29:39.important point and as we are contained at the moment until
:29:40. > :29:45.Article 50 has gone through the passage, Canada is another example
:29:46. > :29:55.of where we can push forward trade deals to the benefit of the UK. On
:29:56. > :29:58.going to the continent along with other ministers visiting nine
:29:59. > :30:05.countries, can I encourage him not to just look at the existing
:30:06. > :30:08.Commonwealth baguette Zimbabwe back and Mozambique and Rwanda and
:30:09. > :30:19.perhaps look at the Ivory Coast and invite them? The Foreign Secretary
:30:20. > :30:26.has been to Gambia, Ghana and Liberia and I was in Angola and DRC
:30:27. > :30:30.and Rwanda. I stress the opportunity is there that as we venture across
:30:31. > :30:37.Africa, there is huge opportunities the Great Britain to advance our
:30:38. > :30:40.trade deals post-Brexit. Does the Minister agree that increasing
:30:41. > :30:44.systems to promote democracy in places like Bangladesh is a vital
:30:45. > :30:49.part of strengthening ties between the UK and members of the
:30:50. > :30:53.Commonwealth? He is right. These are countries that we have a history
:30:54. > :31:03.with and a relationship with and we are trusted and through
:31:04. > :31:08.organisations, we can do that work and hope to embark on such projects
:31:09. > :31:13.with Bangladesh and other countries across the Commonwealth. With 52
:31:14. > :31:17.members encompassing a third of the world's population, isn't it vital
:31:18. > :31:20.that we set out our still four Britons and we want free trade with
:31:21. > :31:23.Commonwealth countries and the Government sets a plan how this can
:31:24. > :31:38.be achieved. I'm sure Westminster Hall will be
:31:39. > :31:45.packed tomorrow. The Commonwealth trade will surpass $1 trillion by
:31:46. > :31:49.2020 and the trade estimated across the Commonwealth is 20% cheaper
:31:50. > :31:54.because of common legal systems and language and trust. That is the
:31:55. > :31:59.areas we need to spy to given our leadership role in the Commonwealth.
:32:00. > :32:03.90% of those that live in the Commonwealth live in countries where
:32:04. > :32:06.homosexuality is illegal and Tanzania has announced it intends to
:32:07. > :32:12.publish lists of people who are meant to be homosexual in the public
:32:13. > :32:17.domain. That is a massive danger to those individuals. It poses further
:32:18. > :32:22.risk to others because they are trying to close down all the HIV
:32:23. > :32:26.AIDS units and trying to blame homosexuality that HIV. Don't we
:32:27. > :32:30.need to enter into negotiations with our colleagues with our eyes wide
:32:31. > :32:38.open and making clear we will not put up with this kind of thing? I
:32:39. > :32:41.will be visiting Tanzania soon and will take that message with me. It
:32:42. > :32:49.is important to understand that whilst we have our trade advances
:32:50. > :32:54.across Africa, we do not miss the opportunity to raise delicate
:32:55. > :33:03.matters such as this so 21st-century standards can be met. We maintain
:33:04. > :33:08.excellent relations with Japan and have a close defence Corporation and
:33:09. > :33:12.RAF Typhoon 's was a visible demonstration of this operation.
:33:13. > :33:19.Japanese businesses employ 140,000 people in the UK which shows our
:33:20. > :33:23.economic ties. Would he agree that North Korea's recent missile tests
:33:24. > :33:27.in violation of UN security resolutions shows how important it
:33:28. > :33:31.is we maintain strong military and security relationships with our
:33:32. > :33:38.friends in Japan and South Korea as well as strong trade relationships?
:33:39. > :33:42.The actions of North Korea are a direct violation of resolutions and
:33:43. > :33:46.are a threat to international peace and security, are pleased to our
:33:47. > :33:52.friends in Japan and South Korea. Last week the UN -- the great
:33:53. > :33:59.ambassador was summoned and we made clear concerns. Japan is our closest
:34:00. > :34:03.security on and we stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies. Wattie
:34:04. > :34:07.agreed that the innovative technology sector is important in
:34:08. > :34:13.terms of trade between Japan and the UK and we in Northern Ireland excel
:34:14. > :34:18.at that. Witty and share -- witty ensure that that sector is promoted
:34:19. > :34:26.heavily for the benefit both of the Japanese workforce but for those
:34:27. > :34:30.developing a sector here? We enjoyed close trade relations with Japan.
:34:31. > :34:35.When I was in Japan last year, I met with Japanese companies and he will
:34:36. > :34:41.be aware that the biggest acquisition that has come to the UK
:34:42. > :34:47.was the acquisition of arm Holdings by Softbank which is ?24 billion.
:34:48. > :34:50.Will the Minister engage with his Japanese counterpart to get the
:34:51. > :34:58.latest assessment of their attempts to resolve their dispute with Russia
:34:59. > :35:04.over the puerile islands? We maintain close links with Japan and
:35:05. > :35:08.all our allies on matters related to security and we continue to have
:35:09. > :35:14.dialogues across a range of issues including those he has just raised.
:35:15. > :35:19.Last week the Scottish Government's external affairs Minister visited
:35:20. > :35:24.Japan to boost investment. It is causing a cloud of uncertainty and
:35:25. > :35:36.given a pending EU Japan free trade agreement, will be Brexit agenda
:35:37. > :35:42.leave the UK trailing behind? I regularly talk to Japanese
:35:43. > :35:46.businesses to hear their views. We have seen a huge amount of
:35:47. > :35:49.investment being confirmed from Japan into the UK and I made
:35:50. > :35:56.reference to the armed Holdings deal but she will know Nissan reconfirmed
:35:57. > :36:12.the plant in Sunderland. If that is not a vote of confidence in the UK,
:36:13. > :36:16.I don't know what is. Yes indeed I met Prime Minister Netanyahu and
:36:17. > :36:21.repeated what is the historic UK position that we believe that the
:36:22. > :36:29.settlements on the west bank are illegal and constitute a barrier to
:36:30. > :36:32.a peaceful settlement in the region. President Trump has caused concern
:36:33. > :36:39.for future peace in the Middle East by dismissing a commitment to a two
:36:40. > :36:42.state solution. Can he confirm the UK is committed to a two state
:36:43. > :36:57.solution and will double its efforts on that? I can and he misrepresents
:36:58. > :37:00.what the US President said. In addition to representations about
:37:01. > :37:06.settlements, did she set this within the context that Hamas has restored
:37:07. > :37:11.its military strength to levels before 2014 as an illustration that
:37:12. > :37:18.Piste is not entirely depend on this one issue? We are aware of the
:37:19. > :37:24.preparations being made by Hamas in Gaza and we remain concerned about
:37:25. > :37:33.that situation. That underscores the reality that Israel is at fault that
:37:34. > :37:37.the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and we have made that
:37:38. > :37:43.absolutely clear. Nobody should underestimate the very real security
:37:44. > :37:50.threat that is Israel -- that Israel faces and we are on the side of the
:37:51. > :38:01.Israelis as they face that threat. Two days ago stopped now orders were
:38:02. > :38:05.distributed in the village of an area of mine including a primary
:38:06. > :38:09.school that serves 170 children from the local communities. He may or may
:38:10. > :38:14.not know that that school is being visited by a large number of
:38:15. > :38:17.honourable members from this house and if demolitions take place there
:38:18. > :38:22.to make way for settlements, the chances of a Palestinian state
:38:23. > :38:31.disappear. Is he making representations and what action will
:38:32. > :38:35.he take to ensure Mr Netanyahu mates -- meets the representation? There
:38:36. > :38:39.is a difference between settlements taking place and demolitions taking
:38:40. > :38:47.place in the West Bank and those in demolitions within Israel. Does my
:38:48. > :38:50.right honourable friend think our opposition to settlements is
:38:51. > :38:58.somewhat diluted by treating all settlements equally? The late
:38:59. > :39:03.President Arafat recognised there would be land swaps. Wouldn't it be
:39:04. > :39:09.better to concentrate on new settlements and relieve the existing
:39:10. > :39:15.settlements for a final decision? The policy of the Government is
:39:16. > :39:18.unchanged. We regard settlements as illegal. As far as they are
:39:19. > :39:41.outside... There is some sense when it comes to
:39:42. > :39:44.doing that deal. I want to give the Foreign Secretary another
:39:45. > :39:54.opportunity to answer the question that the honourable member behind me
:39:55. > :40:03.said. The police arrived at this area and issued stop work orders. An
:40:04. > :40:07.entire community are about to be forcefully displaced. What
:40:08. > :40:16.representation has he made to his Israeli counterpart regarding this?
:40:17. > :40:21.My honourable friend will be going to Israel very shortly and when
:40:22. > :40:25.we've got to the bottom of the complaints she is making, I'm sure
:40:26. > :40:32.he will be raising it. Alongside concerns about mass and rebuilding
:40:33. > :40:35.of its network of crisp -- cross-border terror tunnels, does he
:40:36. > :40:44.share the alarm at the new activities of Daesh together with
:40:45. > :40:51.the violence from her ass and a new wave of terror attacks on Israeli
:40:52. > :40:55.citizens? -- Hamas. He is completely right and I think what he says
:40:56. > :41:02.underscores the need for a regional solution that brings together all
:41:03. > :41:07.the surrounding states of Israel, to do a deal that brings the
:41:08. > :41:17.Palestinians to the table and brings concessions from the Israelis. The
:41:18. > :41:22.Israeli authorities at no stage have ever wanted a viable independent
:41:23. > :41:35.Palestinian state and the inane comments of President Trump has
:41:36. > :41:39.strengthened the horror in Israel. What is continuing to occur with the
:41:40. > :41:45.destruction of their homes and their settlements being built by the
:41:46. > :41:52.Israelis? Every Israeli Prime Minister in the last 20 years has
:41:53. > :41:57.supported a two state solution. I think that is the right way forward.
:41:58. > :42:04.It is the policy of the UK Government and I think it remains a
:42:05. > :42:10.policy of the US Government. The difficulty will be to get a deal
:42:11. > :42:14.that allows the creation of the state that I think everybody wants
:42:15. > :42:17.to achieve in stock but which protects the security of the state
:42:18. > :42:28.of Israel. That is the difficulty. But last week President Trump said
:42:29. > :42:33.clearly on televisions across the world that he could, and I quote,
:42:34. > :42:39.live with either one of a two state or a one state solution. So I am
:42:40. > :42:43.sure the Foreign Secretary would agree it is deeply disappointing the
:42:44. > :42:45.president could casually disregarded so many years of international
:42:46. > :42:52.consensus on a possible peace agreement between Israel and the
:42:53. > :42:55.Palestinian people. Did Mr Netanyahu give any hint at his recent meeting
:42:56. > :43:03.with the Prime Minister that he too was prepared to live with a 1- state
:43:04. > :43:07.solution? If so, what was her response?
:43:08. > :43:11.Let's be clear. What is needed now and what of the President and Prime
:43:12. > :43:16.Minister Netanyahu and indeed the Palestinians have all said, is that
:43:17. > :43:18.there needs to be dialogue. At the moment I do not think the
:43:19. > :43:24.Palestinians are committing to dialogue in the way they can and
:43:25. > :43:31.shoot. It takes two to negotiate in this problem. -- committing to
:43:32. > :43:35.dialogue in the way they can and should. In the last ten years we
:43:36. > :43:39.have seen no progress so let's not rule out the possibility of progress
:43:40. > :43:45.today. Strongly committed to European
:43:46. > :43:49.community and will remain so as after we leave the EU. Nato remains
:43:50. > :43:52.the cornerstone of our defence and we will continue to play or full
:43:53. > :44:00.part in supporting European security, particular in Eastern
:44:01. > :44:03.Europe. Does he not find it as depressing as
:44:04. > :44:10.I do that whilst other countries are obsessed with creating an EU defence
:44:11. > :44:14.identity, they are failing to meet their Nato requirement of spending a
:44:15. > :44:24.minimum of 2% on defence? And his views on Germany by dragging their
:44:25. > :44:29.feet, being the richest country but not honouring the agreement?
:44:30. > :44:35.Nothing should cut across Nato's role as the cornerstone of European
:44:36. > :44:39.defence, and other parties' contribution fairly distributed to
:44:40. > :44:43.Nato would make sure that it can remain a force it should be.
:44:44. > :44:48.The Foreign Secretary mentioned the sanctions against Russia with regard
:44:49. > :44:52.to their actions in Ukraine. Can the Minister confirm that even when we
:44:53. > :44:57.leave the EU, it is open to us to democratically agree with the rest
:44:58. > :45:01.of the EU, such sanctions in future, because it is in our mutual
:45:02. > :45:06.interest? This is not specifically a question
:45:07. > :45:09.about defence policy on the order paper, but I can reassure the
:45:10. > :45:12.honourable lady that the answer is yes and some kind of parallel
:45:13. > :45:21.structure for implementing sanctions will be required and I am sure it
:45:22. > :45:26.will be. Mr Speaker, Burma has made welcome
:45:27. > :45:29.progress towards democracy since reforms in 2011 and lifted media
:45:30. > :45:38.censorship and least political prisoners and held legit elections
:45:39. > :45:44.in 2015. 25% of seats in parliament that we want to see a transition to
:45:45. > :45:50.full democracy. Mr Speaker, the National League for
:45:51. > :45:54.democracy, in power at the moment, continues to lock up its own
:45:55. > :46:00.activists who have spoken against the accessing of Burma's military,
:46:01. > :46:05.and ethnic minorities. Will the Minister made it clear to the Bernie
:46:06. > :46:08.'s Government they cannot be recognised as genuinely democratic
:46:09. > :46:12.if they keep putting behind bars their critics?
:46:13. > :46:15.Of course human rights are vital and important and we always ask any
:46:16. > :46:23.Government to make sure they are observed. Can the point more broadly
:46:24. > :46:27.be made by me that the real issue is stopping violations of security
:46:28. > :46:32.access and delivering accountability imports of Burma where it does have
:46:33. > :46:37.it? And is the point that my right friend the Foreign Secretary press
:46:38. > :46:42.the Burmese Government on when he visited last month.
:46:43. > :46:50.Muslims were barred from voting in last year's elections in that place,
:46:51. > :46:55.and endemic violence against a particular minority has been
:46:56. > :46:59.described by UN officials as ethnic cleansing which may amount to crimes
:47:00. > :47:06.against humanity. Did the Foreign Secretary raise this plight on his
:47:07. > :47:13.recent trip to Burma? Yes, he most certainly did.
:47:14. > :47:19.Topical question. Rob Marris. Question one.
:47:20. > :47:22.Mr Speaker, by the next time I answer questions in the house, the
:47:23. > :47:28.Government will have invoked Article 50. My priority therefore for the
:47:29. > :47:33.rest of the year will be to ensure the smoothest and cleanest possible
:47:34. > :47:37.departure from the EU, consistent with maintaining close corporation
:47:38. > :47:42.with our European friends. I shall also strive, which the other side
:47:43. > :47:46.can ever achieve, to work alongside the new US administration, as we
:47:47. > :47:49.deal with common challenges posed by Russia and the crises in the Middle
:47:50. > :47:52.East. By 2015, the highest court in
:47:53. > :47:58.Connolly decided Her Majesty's Government had committed against its
:47:59. > :48:03.embassy employee on the basis of his ethnic identity and religious
:48:04. > :48:06.convictions, so the court ordered his immediate reinstatement, yet Her
:48:07. > :48:09.Majesty's Government stubbornly continues to refuse to obey the
:48:10. > :48:13.court in Colombia. Does the UK Government not take seriously the
:48:14. > :48:19.judicial decisions of courts in Colombia does the UK Government not
:48:20. > :48:23.take seriously its need to cease its ethnic and religious discrimination
:48:24. > :48:26.against these employees in Colombia? As the honourable member well knows,
:48:27. > :48:33.I have written to him in detail and it is impossible to reinstate him as
:48:34. > :48:38.the job no longer exists. There is a great local charity which
:48:39. > :48:46.helps women who are stuck overseas often facing domestic violence,
:48:47. > :48:48.called Global Ark. What is he doing to help domestic violence sufferers
:48:49. > :48:53.unable to return to the country with their children?
:48:54. > :49:03.My honourable friend will know that we have a programme to support the
:49:04. > :49:08.return of... Of children who... Whose parents are stuck in the wrong
:49:09. > :49:17.country, erm, and we do that through our, erm... Erm... We... We do it...
:49:18. > :49:23.We do it to our proper presses and making use of all of our constant
:49:24. > :49:27.services. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am sure the
:49:28. > :49:33.whole house will welcome the recent positive political developments in
:49:34. > :49:38.the Gambia, but Gambian authorities are already investigating
:49:39. > :49:41.allegations that the former resident smuggled millions of dollars worth
:49:42. > :49:46.of assets out of the country before his departure last month. So, what
:49:47. > :49:50.steps is this Government taking to help track down any meaning assets
:49:51. > :49:54.-- missing assets which may have ended up in the UK, and to make sure
:49:55. > :49:59.any proceeds of corruption are returned to the Gambia without
:50:00. > :50:03.delay? We are... Thank you, Mr Speaker. We
:50:04. > :50:09.are doing everything we can to support the Gambia's, erm, judicial
:50:10. > :50:16.system, and the honourable lady will know that the new president there
:50:17. > :50:21.has indicated that he would like the UK to be the Gambia's principal
:50:22. > :50:24.partner of choice in tackling corruption in that country and
:50:25. > :50:30.putting the Gambia back on an even keel. I can tell you, Mr Speaker,
:50:31. > :50:42.that, erm, when I recently went to the Gambia there were crowds in the
:50:43. > :50:45.street dancing... Not because I think they were necessarily pleased
:50:46. > :50:50.to see me... Perhaps they were... But because they were delighted that
:50:51. > :50:55.the Gambia was being welcomed back into the Commonwealth. And I can
:50:56. > :51:02.tell you that their joy was unconfined.
:51:03. > :51:05.Further the two comments made last week by Mike right honourable friend
:51:06. > :51:09.the Foreign Secretary, would he care to suggest what the great British
:51:10. > :51:16.public should watch on television rather than the former Prime
:51:17. > :51:21.Minister and member of... The guacamole- loving former Member of
:51:22. > :51:29.Parliament. I am very grateful to my honourable
:51:30. > :51:33.friend. I hesitate to advise the British public what to watch on
:51:34. > :51:42.television. But I have to say that I think they will exercise their
:51:43. > :51:47.infinite wisdom in not heeding the siren voices of those who tried to
:51:48. > :51:50.overturn the democratic decision of the people of this country last year
:51:51. > :51:54.to embark on a course that I think will lead us not only to democratic
:51:55. > :52:02.emancipation, but to a new course of global prosperity...
:52:03. > :52:09.The NGO, an independent organisation, Position For Human
:52:10. > :52:16.Rights, published a report which said that the Indian authorities
:52:17. > :52:19.recently in the conflict in Indian occupied Kashmir responded to
:52:20. > :52:23.protesters, killing 87 of them and injuring 9000 of them. What
:52:24. > :52:31.representation has our Government made to the Indian authorities
:52:32. > :52:34.regarding this excessive use... Mr Speaker, we discuss a wide range
:52:35. > :52:39.of issues with the Indian authorities, but can I say to the
:52:40. > :52:46.point she was raising, that earlier in the year, the State Government of
:52:47. > :52:55.Kashmir ordered the establishment of special investigating teams to look
:52:56. > :53:00.into the deaths of civilians and is violence and we will look into this.
:53:01. > :53:03.There were also crowds to welcome us when we arrived in Ghana, although
:53:04. > :53:07.we could not work out whether it was for us or for the Minister for
:53:08. > :53:11.trade, but it was nevertheless enjoyable. It seems the greater the
:53:12. > :53:15.number of trading connections we forge, particularly in west Africa,
:53:16. > :53:18.the stronger the foundation on which to build good international
:53:19. > :53:25.relations. Does he agree with me that withdrawal from the European
:53:26. > :53:30.customs union gives us a once in a lifetime opportunity to boost the
:53:31. > :53:38.dramatic relations worldwide?, I thank my friend... And I thank the
:53:39. > :53:40.envoy for gun and all of our trade envoys to do fantastic effort.
:53:41. > :53:42.Thanks to the efforts of my colleague and others that we are
:53:43. > :53:49.seeing increased trade with countries such as Ghana and I'm glad
:53:50. > :53:51.to see British firms in operation but for the largest single
:53:52. > :53:57.private-sector employer in Ghana being a firm run by a British person
:53:58. > :54:01.and be proud of the contribution. The former prime ministers Tony
:54:02. > :54:04.Blair has acknowledged the people voted to leave the EU but not at any
:54:05. > :54:09.price. Does the Foreign Secretary agree that when the price of Brexit
:54:10. > :54:14.becomes clear, people should be asked to confirm that it is a price
:54:15. > :54:20.they wish to pay? This House very clearly mandated by
:54:21. > :54:25.six to one to give the people the decision, Mr Speaker, whether or not
:54:26. > :54:28.to stay in the European Union. All sorts of threats and all sorts of
:54:29. > :54:33.blandishments were made to the people of this country to stay in...
:54:34. > :54:41.Those threats and warnings have proved to be ballet shoes and I
:54:42. > :54:48.think all future threats will be taken with a pinch of salt.
:54:49. > :54:54.Many sectors in my constituency rely on foreign workers, from highly
:54:55. > :55:00.skilled workers to seasonal agricultural workers in agriculture.
:55:01. > :55:03.Including 12% of workers at Addenbrooke's, my local hospital. I
:55:04. > :55:08.know the Secretary of State values the importance of foreign workers
:55:09. > :55:10.and EU nationals and their contribution to the country, but as
:55:11. > :55:13.he also acknowledged it is important to acknowledge and give them some
:55:14. > :55:19.certainty as to their future as soon as the?
:55:20. > :55:23.I accept that we need to give all the 3.2 million EU nationals the
:55:24. > :55:27.maximum possible certainty and we should do it as fast as possible.
:55:28. > :55:31.Unfortunately I don't think it is reasonable to do that in advance
:55:32. > :55:37.of... In certainty to UK nationals in other EU countries. We would like
:55:38. > :55:42.to do that as fast as possible but it is up to our friends and
:55:43. > :55:46.colleagues abroad to join us. Last week, Donald Trump said, I am
:55:47. > :55:49.securing peace between Palestine and Israel, so I am looking at two
:55:50. > :55:53.states and one state, I can live with either one. In light of hearing
:55:54. > :55:58.that direct quote, how can the Foreign Secretary say as he did
:55:59. > :56:03.earlier to my honourable friends that US policy has not or is not
:56:04. > :56:07.changing? I must accuse the honourable member
:56:08. > :56:10.failing to listen to the answer I gave a few moments ago...
:56:11. > :56:19.It was that I am not here to defend or explain what the American
:56:20. > :56:23.president has said but he made it very clear. He made it clear that
:56:24. > :56:28.there should be dialogue but he also made it clear that he thought that
:56:29. > :56:31.the settlements should no longer continue... That illegal settlements
:56:32. > :56:38.should no longer continue. And that the solution is a deal is to be done
:56:39. > :56:43.between the two parties. That is what everybody in this house
:56:44. > :56:49.believes and wants. Today, once again, the ghastly
:56:50. > :56:56.prospect of famine stalks the world, in four countries with which Britain
:56:57. > :57:00.has very close and long-standing connections, historic connections.
:57:01. > :57:04.Yemen, north-east Nigeria, South Sudan and Somalia. Will the Foreign
:57:05. > :57:08.Secretary in short, perhaps to the court meeting mechanism of the
:57:09. > :57:12.National Security Council, that every sinew of Government is bent to
:57:13. > :57:17.address and combat this unconscionable situation?
:57:18. > :57:22.I can certain up the give my right honourable friend that a charade and
:57:23. > :57:27.I think the whole House could be very proud of the work that is being
:57:28. > :57:31.done by the Department for International Development and the
:57:32. > :57:36.huge contribution this country makes through UK aid to all four of the
:57:37. > :57:40.region, that he identifies, and in the Yemen in particular as he will
:57:41. > :57:44.know. I know he has recently been to the Yemen and it is a difficult and
:57:45. > :57:50.intractable problem but it is the UK who is trying to knock heads
:57:51. > :57:53.together and get a deal. Despite its continued violations of
:57:54. > :57:58.international law, Israel enjoys fame and trade status with the UK
:57:59. > :58:03.and the EU. Does the Minister agree that if the UK Government is serious
:58:04. > :58:08.about peace and justice post Brexit, we must revisit trade negotiations
:58:09. > :58:17.with Israel while it continues to deny Palestinians rights?
:58:18. > :58:23.If the honourable lady is suggesting we should boycott Israeli goods,
:58:24. > :58:34.that I must say I am completely rejecting her advice.
:58:35. > :58:38.That global British strategy should include the whole of the British
:58:39. > :58:40.family, including overseas territories and Crown dependencies.
:58:41. > :58:42.What guarantees will Government give that they will be included in any
:58:43. > :58:59.new arrangements post Brexit? I can assure him that the sovereign
:59:00. > :59:04.trades position remains unchanged and Gibraltar is involved in the
:59:05. > :59:13.preparations with the process of leaving the European Union. Can you
:59:14. > :59:21.look into the abuses of Muslims by the Burnley 's army at the human
:59:22. > :59:28.rights Campsall -- human rights Council this month? They have issued
:59:29. > :59:34.a report on the widespread human rights violations and a raptor has
:59:35. > :59:40.led to a press briefing. A report is due in March and we will consider
:59:41. > :59:44.the scope for further enhancing scrutiny and can confirm I will be
:59:45. > :59:54.attending I will be attending the human rights Council. Brexit
:59:55. > :59:58.provides... Will the Foreign Secretary agree there should be a
:59:59. > :00:02.moratorium on any asset disposals until a review is complete and that
:00:03. > :00:07.such a review should examine how to bring other Government departments
:00:08. > :00:20.under the control of their respective heads of mission? I am
:00:21. > :00:25.delighted by his support. It is true we have an unparalleled network
:00:26. > :00:32.around the world and it is true they will be needed more than ever as we
:00:33. > :00:36.forge a new global future. That is a point that will be heard loud and
:00:37. > :00:46.clear by the current occupant of the Treasury who was the previous
:00:47. > :00:52.Foreign Secretary. Last month we met with NGO's raised concern about the
:00:53. > :00:56.safety of aid workers in Yemen. Particularly at the checkpoints
:00:57. > :00:59.where they were at risk of being caught. Could the ministers tell me
:01:00. > :01:10.what specifically is the Government doing to end aerial them bark mode
:01:11. > :01:17.in Yemen so aid can get through? -- bombardments. I will be visiting
:01:18. > :01:22.this week and we are concerned that we need to move towards a political
:01:23. > :01:28.resolution here and we won the military component that has been
:01:29. > :01:32.taking place to end. The Israeli Prime Minister has spoken about
:01:33. > :01:38.coming together with the Gulf cooperation Council 's on security
:01:39. > :01:43.issues. In countries like Jordan and Egypt, does the Foreign Secretary
:01:44. > :01:50.think the GCC has a role to play in the Palestinian peace process? He
:01:51. > :01:57.brings a wealth of knowledge to this subject. I think the GCC and Arab
:01:58. > :02:03.countries do hold the key and a variant of the Arab peace plan is
:02:04. > :02:11.where we will end up. What it takes is for base -- for both sides to see
:02:12. > :02:17.that and make progress. Doesn't the announcement by Toshiba regarding...
:02:18. > :02:20.Will mean foreign investment is required into the Moorside nuclear
:02:21. > :02:26.development and Disney bought a new question over the decision by the UK
:02:27. > :02:37.to pull-out of Eurotunnel creating more instability? We intend to make
:02:38. > :02:42.sure that all of our research and nuclear fusion will continue after
:02:43. > :02:48.we leave. We look forward to the day we will see a sovereign Palestinian
:02:49. > :02:54.state existing alongside a safe and secure Israel. Does he agree with me
:02:55. > :03:02.that we come to this through face-to-face negotiations between
:03:03. > :03:07.Palestine and the Israelis? I think those negotiations should take place
:03:08. > :03:12.as fast as possible. With Iran testing missiles, North Korea
:03:13. > :03:16.murdering dissidents, does the Minister agree now is the time to
:03:17. > :03:22.renew western resolve and leadership which has sometimes been lacking in
:03:23. > :03:28.the past eight years? I completely agree. One of the interesting
:03:29. > :03:34.phenomena of the global reaction to the new US presidency is how variant
:03:35. > :03:42.it is with some of the other commentary. What I am finding is
:03:43. > :03:45.many people in foreign ministries and other governments are hopeful
:03:46. > :03:50.that they will see American leadership again where it has been
:03:51. > :03:55.lacking. They are particularly encouraged by the role of the UK in
:03:56. > :04:07.helping to transmit and to improve American policy. Last week I led a
:04:08. > :04:11.delegation to Kosovo. The President, Prime Minister and others we met or
:04:12. > :04:16.appreciated if of his recent visit. Could I invite my right honourable
:04:17. > :04:19.friend to reaffirm our continued support for Kosovo and to take part
:04:20. > :04:28.in any future initiatives to help them? We shall and I much enjoyed my
:04:29. > :04:33.time in Kosovo and all those who have sprung to the defence of the
:04:34. > :04:36.former Prime Minister this afternoon from the Labour benches should know
:04:37. > :04:46.at least in Kosovo, years memorialised in the fuel -- form of
:04:47. > :04:50.many who christened Tony Blair. President Putin made the President
:04:51. > :04:56.Trump's new best body but he isn't ours. Will the Foreign Secretary
:04:57. > :05:07.will be -- will give his new support to the debates that will allow any
:05:08. > :05:14.Russians to be seized in the UK? We will be looking carefully at that
:05:15. > :05:17.debate as it unfolds and the arguments that made. We think we
:05:18. > :05:24.have a good provision in our statute and will take account the debate as
:05:25. > :05:28.it evolves. I have recently had a meeting in my constituency's surgery
:05:29. > :05:33.with a delegation from... It is regarding the lack of democracy in
:05:34. > :05:42.Cameroon. There is fear, brutality and a lack of English speakers. What
:05:43. > :05:48.is the role that the FCO for the security fund and supporting
:05:49. > :05:54.democracy in this area? Can I pay tribute to the day after is based in
:05:55. > :05:57.the UK that provide us with an understanding of what is going on
:05:58. > :06:02.and I pay tribute to the work she does. In Cameroon, I agree with the
:06:03. > :06:09.concerns she has raised and she is right to point of the front where we
:06:10. > :06:15.should provide that stability and we can do just that. The Secretary of
:06:16. > :06:21.State confirmed what this house resolved on the 9th of February that
:06:22. > :06:25.there should be the planning settlements in the occupied
:06:26. > :06:33.Palestinian territories. Why if the UK -- boy is the UK allowed to trade
:06:34. > :06:37.with those illegal settlements? It is their policy of the UK and the
:06:38. > :06:44.policy of many of our friends and partners to continue to trade on the
:06:45. > :06:49.grounds that that is the best way to support the economy of the region.
:06:50. > :06:54.Many of whose workers come from populations within the occupied
:06:55. > :06:58.Palestinian territories. They are dependent for their livelihoods and
:06:59. > :07:07.it is a policy that is widely understood and supported. We will
:07:08. > :07:15.continue with it. We must move on. Thank you Mr Speaker.
:07:16. > :07:21.Notwithstanding the underwhelming support for my vote of no confidence
:07:22. > :07:24.in you, has the Government or the backbench business committee
:07:25. > :07:30.contacted you in any way to allocate time for this unresolved matter to
:07:31. > :07:34.be debated and indeed voted on? The short and is is now and there is no
:07:35. > :07:39.reason why they should've done. A point which I can say from my own
:07:40. > :07:42.and heart, fortified in the knowledge that is also the signed
:07:43. > :07:46.advice of the experienced clerk of the House who has been working in
:07:47. > :07:56.the service of the House for 40 years. Point of order. World the
:07:57. > :08:02.secretaries in the Chamber, the Foreign Secretary made the point at
:08:03. > :08:04.the dispatch box Jim questions that the Trump travel ban