Live Foreign and Commonwealth Office Questions House of Commons

in both Houses of Parliament at 11 o'clock tonight. But first we have

questions to the Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and his ministerial

team. Hors d'oeuvre. City of London open

spaces bell, the chairman of ways and means to revival mission. The

question is on the order paper. I think the ayes have it. Middle level

Bill, the chairman of weather means to move the revival mission. I beg

to move. Objection. Objection taken. Motion to be taken what Dave.

Tuesday the 18th of July. Thank you. Cemetery Bill, Lords. Move the

revival mission. He is keen, very keen today. I beg to move. The

question is on the order paper. I think the ayes have it. Chairman of

ways and Means, to move, the motion for an returns. Thank you. Not so

much a nod as a magnificent bowel. -- bow. Mr Nigel Huddleston. Number

one, Mr Speaker. I should like to begin by congratulating a rock's

security forces for liberating Mosul from the grass of Daesh, the flag of

Iraq flies once more in the country's 's second city and I pay

tribute to the pilots who played a vital role in supporting this

operation, delivering more air strikes than anyone else apart from

the United States, I think the House can take pride in what they have

done. An illegal wildlife trade, I think we can be pleased with the

agreement be Prime Minister helped to secure IBG 20 summit in Hamburg

and I say to all honourable members, this is not about cracking down on

the trade in charismatic mega- fauna but of course in cracking down on

those who engaged not just in illegal wildlife trafficking but in

gun-running and people trafficking and much other human misery. We can

be proud of what we are doing. Nigel Huddleston. I applaud the efforts of

the Government is making in this area and I am pleased that the UK

will be hosting the illegal wildlife trade conference in 2018. Can the

Foreign Secretary confirm how much the money the department has

committed to tackling illegal wildlife trade and how the money is

being spent effectively? I can confirm that we are increasing our

contribution to ?26 million, another ?30 million to tackle illegal

wildlife trade and I have myself seen what UK finance projects are

doing in ten year to crack down on this while trade.

Mr Speaker, thank you, I say to the Foreign Secretary we have to give

there is a much greater priority than we do. Not only our Government

but across the world. Every single week it seems all mud it seems we

see programmes on television, 55 African elephants are poached every

single day. It is simply not good enough and the Foreign Secretary has

to make this a priority. It is not good enough for us to look at our TV

screens until sorry about it, we have to have a far greater

commitment to do something about it. I completely share the Passion of

the right honourable member. I would point out that the UK has been on

the lead on all this for several years now and we will be continuing

to push this agenda, not just at the T20 as the Prime Minister did, but

of course Attar IW teed summit that we are hosting next October in

London. With my right honourable friend tell us a little bit of the

strategy he is taken to approach this? The link between illegal what

I've trade, smuggling, people traffic like lawlessness and pilots

in many countries is extremely real and so addressing wildlife trade may

seem hysterical but it is not at all, it's about the stability of

many nations that farm partners of the United Kingdom. It is not only

touches the heart of millions of people in our country, it helps to

cause increased human misery because the same people are involved in

trading drugs, in arms, in human trafficking, worth up to ?30 billion

a year and we are playing a major part in frustrating that trade.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. There is increasing evidence that the UK's

legal ivory market has been used as described for an illegal trade. What

about them all-out ban on the ivory trade? The honourable gentleman we

know we have a commitment in this Government to all-out ban on the

sale of ivory in this country and that is what we intend to pursue.

Rachel McLean. Question number two, Mr Speaker. With your permission, I

will answer questions to answer for together. The Foreign Office

continues to support that... 14. The give and -- forgive me. My

department, my apologies. My department indeed used to support EU

exit negotiations and the Government works to strengthen our relations

with partners worldwide. As a champion of free trade, we will

continue to seize the opportunities afforded by Brexit I guarantee our

long-term global prosperity. Rachel McLean. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I

thank my right honourable friend for this answer. Businesses in my

constituency are looking to make the most of the opportunities of Brexit

provides for them. But can my right honourable friend ensure me that he

will work closely with the Department of trade, the Department

for exiting the EU to ensure businesses that are already trading

with the single market are given support to help build new export

markets for their goods and services around the world to ensure their

continued prosperity? Absolutely. I congratulate my

honourable friend on what I believe is her first question in this

chamber and I think it is a very good one and she can reassure her

constituents that, of course, not only will the excellent companies in

her constituency be able to continue to enjoy free trade with the rest of

the European Union, with the EU 27, but of course they will have the

additional opportunity afforded by the new free trade deals that we

will be able to strike with countries around the world. I am

pleased to say that they were queueing up to make that point to

the Prime Minister IBG 20 in Hamburg. Today is the feast Day of

Saint Benedict, the agency of Europe. He famously warned against

against the others. Will my right honourable friend please proclaim

that we do not want any murmuring from anybody against our vision of

an open, free trade in Europe, the best possible free-trade deal,

leading the world towards free trade and on tour prosperity? I think my

right honourable friend makes an excellent point. Members on both

sides of this House know very well, 85% of us were elected on a very

clear manifesto to come out of the European Union, to come out of the

single market and as the leader of the Labour Party has said to come

out of the customs union as well. Nothing could be clearer than that

and I think what the people of this country want us to do is to get on

and deliver a great Brexit and with the support of members opposite, I

have no doubt that we can achieve it. Ben Bradshaw. A transition

period of three years during which we will remain under the jury system

at the ECJ. Neither the Secretary of State has said any such thing. Cue

him being called second, I am not sure he minds. Hilary Benn. In

March, the Foreign Secretary said leaving the EU with no deal would be

perfectly OK. However, last month the Chancellor of the Exchequer said

that would be a very, very bad outcome for Britain. Since the two

positions are clearly completely contradictory, who should the

British public believe? I think what the British public can take from

both the Chancellor and myself and indeed from the vast majority of

Labour members opposite, as I understand, their position, that we

all want to get on and do the deal and do the best deal possible and to

leave the EU. Mr John Barron. The Australian Government which

negotiated free-trade deals with China, Japan and South Korea in very

short order by focusing on trade itself, rather getting bogged down

in disputes rather to standings and legalities and regulations. I agree

very much with what my right honourable friend has said and I

think with a bit of gumption and a bit of positive energy, there is no

limit to what we can achieve and we should get on and do it and of

course we cannot ink in the free-trade deals now but we can

certainly pencil in the outline. Yesterday, the Prime Minister 's

spokesman was reported as saying the transition rules could involve the

European Court of Justice for a limited time, that is a matter for

negotiation. That was the quake that was reported. Can the Foreign

Secretary confirmed this change in Government policy and set out the

rationale behind it? We are in the negotiation whose objective is to

out from under the penumbra of the European Court of Justice outside

the EU legal order and that is what we will achieve.

Since we joined the Common Market until the date we leave, we will

have given the EU a total of ?209 billion. Will the Foreign Secretary

make it clear that if they want a penny more, they can go and whistle?

I am sure my honourable friend the's words will have broke like a

thunderclap over Brussels and they will pay attention to what he has

said, and he makes a very valid point. I think these sermons I have

seen that they proposed to demand from this country seem to me at

extortionate, and I think to go whistle is an appropriate

expression. Will the Secretary of State ensure in the spirit of

cooperation the final Brexit deal is endorsed by the devolved parliaments

before it assigned? About as the honourable gentleman knows very

well, we work closely with the ministerial committee to bring in

the devolved administrations and to make sure the great deal we are

going to get has their endorsement and their approval. Further to the

question from the right honourable gentleman for Leeds Central, did my

right honourable friend he had a report on the today programme this

morning that other European leaders were making it clear that they would

not accept a deal on any terms, does he share my view that what is sauce

for the goose is sauce for the gander? May I congratulate my

honourable friend on his sixth child? Many congratulations on that.

He makes a good point about the negotiation stance of our friends

and partners across the Channel. They do sound at the moment they are

pretty hard over, as we see in the Foreign Office, but I have no doubt

in the fullness of time, a suddenness will descend and a

willingness to compromise, because a great Brexit deal, a grapefruit

trade deal, a deep and special partnership is in our interest --

great deal. Given the given the prime Mr's appeal to these benches

to help her out, where does the Foreign Secretary field there are

areas for compromise? As I said, I think the striking thing about this

debate is how much unanimity there is between the two sides of the

chamber on the fundamental questions. I've been very struck by

the right honourable gentleman, the leader of the Labour Party, he seems

to be very much on all fours with the objectives of the Brexit... I

don't wish... He very much agrees with the position we are taken, they

hope to see him in the lobbies with us. I hate to disagree with the

Foreign Secretary. While he is right to say the Leader of the Opposition

is fully behind the government, and these benches are fully behind the

Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, it is the opposition that is

hopelessly split on this issue. Is that not hindering the government's

negotiating position? It is not for me to comments on the ability of the

Labour leader to control his party, I take it they are all following

Labour policy, which is to come out of the EU, come out of the single

market. If they aren't, they can stand up now and buy their questions

portray their position. They are supporting the will of the British

people as expressed last year. If they wish to dissent from that, now

is the time. Can I start by welcoming the new Foreign Office

front bench in their positions? Back in July last year, I wrongly accused

them of being an all-male team. If only I'd waited a year. I would have

been correct. Mr Speaker, talking of female Tory MPs, the member of the

Newton Abbot use a disgusting racist phrase in her Commons at the East

India club. I hope the Foreign Secretary will join me in condemning

them. I hope you will agree offensive language deriving from the

era of American slavery has no place in modern society. The member of

Dean Abed was trying to ask a valid question. A question about what

would happen if Britain fails to reach a deal -- Newton Abbot. Can I

asked the Foreign Secretary to answer that question today? Can he

explain what that no deal option would mean to the people and

businesses of Great Britain? As I've said before, I think the chances of

such an outcome of vanishingly unlikely, since it is manifestly in

the interests of both sides of the Channel to get a great free trade

deal and new special partnership between us and the European Union,

and that is what we will achieve. Unfortunately, it leaves us in on

the wiser, it is baffling, it is the Prime Minister, at least for now, he

decided to put the deal of the no deal option on the table. She

couldn't stop using the phrase Junior election campaign, and now

are me ask what it means in practice, they refuse to tell us.

The Foreign Office, the Foreign Affairs Committee said in December,

I quote, the government should produce a new deal plan identifying

the likely consequences, and making proposals to mitigate potential

risks. Anything else would be a dereliction of duty. We cannot have

a repeat... Order. I apologise the interesting here, but he needs to

bring herself a single sentence, because there are lots of colleagues

who want to take place. Is normally succinct. Return to form. Given a

plan to no deal would be worse than that dereliction of duty, can I

asked the Foreign Secretary to spell out what no deal would mean, can you

reassure as it is not, at a very least he has a private plan to

manage the risk? There is no plan because we will get a great deal.

Just for the sake of example and alliteration, I would remind the

honourable lady that there was a time, I old enough to remember it,

when Britain was not in what we call the Common Market. Foreign officials

are working closely with colleagues to prepare for the 400th

anniversary, nine please Oliver Colville, the former member for

Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport, has been appointed chair by the Prime

Minister, and they will make the most of the opportunity to

commemorate the legacy of the pilgrims and the special

relationship. Well, Mrs Biggar, I thought the Prime Minister wanted

help from the opposition bench -- Mr Speaker. I'm here available. The

re-elected co-chair of the pilgrims group. I was prepared to offer my

services to take on this role rather than on parliamentarians.

Nevertheless, can the good people expect support from this government

as promised by George Osborne to properly celebrate the fact that the

pilgrims and their legacy, including the modern United States, originates

in battered hall? At least eating claim that it has strong coastal

links, but we do welcome already his contribution to the House by the

comments he made on the 9th of March, reminding us of the

anniversary, it will be an historic opportunity for us to celebrate.

Across the sows, we will think of every possible way in which we can

do so to best effect. The importance of the anniversary can hardly be

overstated. Would it not be a more suitable dates for a state visit

from the president of the United States to have it in 2020 to mark

this, rather than in the months to come? I note the suggestion, but

that matter is already in train, and the visit offered to the president

stands. I thank my right honourable friend because the UK is in the lead

on this issue helping Ukraine to make the vital reforms that need to

do and to continue on a cracking down on corruption, which is so

important if we are to encourage a long-term and continued investment

in a successful Ukraine. Can I congratulate my right honourable

friend on the organisation last week of the Ukraine reform conference in

London? It demonstrates that Britain will continue to play a leading role

on the world stage. But can he confirm that whilst Ukraine still

faces major challenges, progress is being made in areas like tackling

corruption, and canny see what more we can do to assist them? May I get

the ball back over the net by congratulating my right honourable

friend on the coming chair on the Ukraine all-party group? We all in

this House have a clear interest in a strong and successful Ukraine, not

why we've invested another 33 million in helping Ukrainians to

tackle the problems of governance. The House should be in no doubt

about what is going on in Ukraine. This is an arm wrestle, if you like,

between two value systems come our way of looking at the world and the

Russian way, and it is vital for our continent and vital for this country

that Alloway prevails, and we're British help, I believe it is

prevailing and will prevail. So far there has in a single sign of all

the efforts Britain has rightly made in relation to Ukraine, paying

dividends in terms of Russia stopping its corrupt meddling in

that country. He is right the fault lies with Russia, they annexed

Crimea, they drive the problem in the Donbas region. What you are

seeing from the UK, and by the way, we are contributing the efforts to

stave off that Russian military meddling with a non-lethal equipment

that we've agreed to send to Ukraine. But more importantly, we

are engaging, held the Ukrainians to sort out their domestic, political

scene, to crack down on Russia. To be fair to Ukrainians, they aren't

only seeing 4% growth, depending on the figures you believe, but they

have made more progress in cracking down on corruption in the last three

years than in the last 25 years. A very different country is being

born. Our bilateral relationship is strong because it is a deep bond of

friendship rooted in our shared histories and common values. We look

forward to strengthening those ties over the coming years and have

agreed to hold regular strategic talks to maximise the full potential

of this important bilateral relationship. I thank the Minister

that response. Canadian investment is important and my consistency and

across the UK. As we move forward in leaving the EU, seeking a free-trade

deal with Canada, however relationship will be more important,

as is specifically our relationship with the provincial governments. Do

we have the network in place across Canada to make sure we are making

the best of those relationships? On behalf the House, I express our

sympathy to all those in British Columbia who been affected by the

damaging wildfires in that province. Our Consulate general in Calgary,

Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver do work for a provincial governments to

increase bilateral trade, particularly in the infrastructure

sector. We are working across all levels of the Canadian government to

ensure British companies can take full advantage of the opportunities

offered by the Canada EU, rent of economic and trade agreement. Is he

not aware, I have strong family relationships and Canada, is he not

aware that senior diplomats in Canada are absolutely aghast at the

way in which this government is handling our withdrawal from Europe

and its impact on world trade? They believe the swashbuckling sector

ministers are not the right people. I have to say, positive energy and

gumption won't give us a good deal in Europe. We need people who have a

eye for detail, this Foreign Secretary has no idea about detail!

I simply don't recognise the analysis right honourable gentleman

has offered the House on any matter he's just mention. May I say, I

think I were opportunities for future trade with Canada will be

enormous once we've left the European Union. I thank the

Minister, 2017 marks the 150th anniversary of the Canadian

Confederation, and our two nations face together some of the most

difficult challenges in our history in that period. Will he agree that

actually with those relationships, provides a great relationship to

build on and reject the nonsense we just heard? Yes, I agree

emphatically. We also offer our congratulations to Canada on the

anniversary of Canadian Confederation. We are please the

Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were able to join

celebrations in Ottawa to mark the celebration. On a practical basis,

the Foreign Secretary met Foreign Minister last week and agreed to

hold talks to ensure we can maximise the full potential of this important

and close by that relationship way beyond the expectations of the right

honourable gentleman opposite. Thank you, Mr Speaker. We have a

strong and wide-ranging relationship with the Philippines on prosperity,

education and security issue. Ministerial visits to the

Philippines and annual high-level talks between officials help a graph

that corporation. Most recently, my right honourable friend was there as

recently as last December and this enables us to discuss concerns about

human rights was pursuing closer diplomatic and trade links. Mr

Speaker, my skin constituency has been held in Philippines since 2008.

Sentence on to produce foreign employment defence. They have failed

to acknowledge a clemency request despite his poor health. Concerns

about the safety of the institution and his parents worried they will

not see him again. Well my honourable friend set out what is

being done to support his family's efforts to bring him home?

May I thank for his work over the many years on behalf of Mr Taylor's

parents in North Swindon. We have been providing ongoing well for

support to Kevin Taylor since his arrest almost ten years ago. Most

recently a visit in prison and we have liaised with his parents only

yesterday. Our consulates are bought as extended to delivering funds and

vitamins, medical points after Mr Taylor brought his health concerns

to our attention. A clemency request was made as recently as 2015 that I

reassure my honourable friend we will do our level best to continue

this work and I will be in touch without apartment to ask to redouble

his efforts in the days ahead. Thank you, Mr Speaker. In the year since

the president of Philippines took ASBOs, 13,000 people have been

killed. He has threatened to extend martial law across the entire

country and last week, he said he would eat the livers of terrorists

with salt and vinegar. But the Secretary of State for International

Development claims that Britain has shared values with the president.

Could the Minister tell the House which values we share with the

President? The honourable lady will recognise the shared values in

relation to international trade and we need to recognise that. Indeed

with all dedication, it is not an issue of ditching anything else, I,

like the honourable lady, concerned about the high death toll in the war

on illegal drugs has come to a head in his role. We have been urging

much more thorough independent instigation at all violent deaths

that have taken place I would say that from our perspective, we have

repeatedly and will continue to raise human rights concerns with the

administration and I will be doing so with Manila and I have at some to

be visiting to make light of the Kaci made. -- the case she has made.

Pay tribute to the campaigns on the subject, our policy in relationship

to Zimbabwe kiddies used to be to balance out the best days of the

horrifying record of Bieber Gabi regime -- Mugabe and the people have

suffered terribly over the last 40 years. Can I welcome the honourable

member to his position and wish him every success in it? $53 million was

spent by Mugabe on private travel overseas last year, the same time

the United Kingdom paying proportionally more in UK aid to

that country than any other country in Africa. Does he think that

perhaps with the election is coming next year and Mugabe refusing to

permit the 20 13th Constitution, now is the time to put some of that

money into helping voter education in those rural areas can show? Thank

you, Mr Speaker. The answer is that I agree. We are trying to balance a

very difficult thing which is the terrible performance of the Mugabe

regime with a country where people have been dying of cholera,

suffering extreme him a humour tarry in need. Focusing on free and fair

elections is one of the first things we can do in a country like

Zimbabwe. The policy of incremental engagement with Zimbabwe is the be

best, sometimes an unpalatable best policy. But with the Minister

consider in the near term actually visiting Zimbabwe, which would be a

great step forward and prospered the UK in a better position for

relationships longer term? The honourable member has huge expertise

is African Minister. The decision on whether or not I as a minister were

to visit Zimbabwe depends a great deal on the genuine commitment to

the Zimbabwe Government towards reform and I will be guided by the

ambassador of the country as to when such a visit would be necessary and

possible. Number eight.

We are in costs contact with our international counterparts,

including most recently at the organisation of American States

summit last month. I issued a very strong statement on the 6th of July,

utterly condemning the 5th of July attack on Venezuela's national

assembly and its elected members and calling for the Venezuelan

Government to uphold the Constitution and show respect for

democratic institutions and the statement was echoed by many

political colleagues across the world mark.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Leader of the Opposition described the regime

in Venezuela is offering an alternative agenda from which we

could learn. The alternative agenda has seen the economy collapse,

poverty increase, dozens of people, scores of people killed in civil

unrest and now an attempt to undermine both the elected Congress

and the independent Attorney General. Will my right honourable

friend confirm that Her Majesty's Government strongly condemns the

attempt by the regime to rewrite the constitution and rock out democracy?

The Leader of the Opposition does seem to be a great fan of the

Venezuelan Government. A passable impression himself as Fidel Castro

won sometimes things. What is happening to the Venezuelan economy

gives us a very clear indication of what would happen to the UK economy

if ever the right honourable gentleman were Prime Minister.

Mr Speaker, what practical steps have been taken to deal with famine

on the border between Venezuela and Colombia by the British Government?

There are no easy such attempts. We do not have a bilateral programme

that are in touch with the United Nations. But the very question of

the honourable lady does illustrate the extent to which the Venezuelan

Government has driven their own people to poverty, running very

short of some of the most basic goods on which they have to live.

Number nine, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker. We readily raise these

issues with Israel, calling for a reversal of the policy of settlement

expansion. I reiterated that in the House of Commons last week but also

recently both the Foreign Secretary and myself have made statements

strongly condemning proposals the new settlement expansion in both the

West Bank and East Jerusalem. Mr Speaker, only last week the

right-wing Israeli Government announced a further expansion of the

illegal settlement programme so it is clear that whatever action the

British Government is taking, it is not working. It is not time Her

Majesty's Government to more response to this problem? Ensuring

the proper labelling of all importing goods so that they are

designated as coming from an illegally occupied Palestinian

territory. This is a long and difficult

process, as the honourable gentleman rightly dies. We have a policy in

relation to labelling and continued conversations will go on with the

state of Israel in relation to, as last week, the suggestion that the

edge of the new housing units being built and East Jerusalem. But it is

a complex process, the United Kingdom does not believe in boycotts

of sanctions, but clear labelling has been that the sometimes

consumers can take their choice. We have contributed to a number of

structures, EU structures that have been demolished. Will he asked the

Government of Israel for our money back? Mr Speaker, I think my right

honourable friend is referring to some work done by the EU. The EU has

not sought compensation from the state of Israel in relation to this

and no decision has been taken on any further action.

Settlements are a barrier but they are far from the only barrier to

peace. The building blocks for the peace process is our trade and

economic development in the West Bank and supports the coexistent

projects to get them working together. Funding for which, I'm

afraid, this Government has stopped. Can I asked the minister whether he

will reinstate funding to the coexistent projects to build the

priest projects? The honourable gentleman understands this issue

extremely well and a extreme bill-mac -- I agree there are

building blocks and settlements are by far from the only barrier in

relations to that. Trade and investment remains very important.

We will be looking further out what prospects are for any new

initiatives. I'm aware of the coexistent projects that he mentions

and certainly I will be having a look about wearing my joint

responsibilities. Mr Speaker, we are glad to see the

Mr back working on this issue. But this is the second time in the space

of a week when the Foreign Secretary has declined to speak about middle

east and evolve the job to him instead. And that follows his

failure even to mention Israel or Palestine in the Tory election

manifesto. So I simply ask the Minister, when are we going to hear

the Foreign Secretary stand up and condemn these new illegal

settlements? The other day, this week. I did it this week. Can I find

the honourable lady for her warm welcome and enjoy being back in this

role, no matter what is broken at me in response to it. Can I say the

Foreign Secretary strongly condemned the proposals that were announced at

the West Bank quite recently. But I like to feel he has confidence in

his Minister for the Middle East. As he has confidence in his soul missed

a team to answer appropriate questions but I have never known him

to be shy of answering a question when necessary. Question Time, Mr

Speaker. Thank you, Mr Speaker. United Kingdom was instrumental, Mr

Speaker, in securing the Paris agreement on climate change. We are

helping other countries to meet their targets and we are confident

that we will be able to meet our own ground-breaking target of reducing

emissions by 18% by 2050. I thank the Foreign Secretary for his

answer. Last week, Downing Street said the primers are intended to

challenge President Trump on climate change at the G20 meeting. With this

and how have been better done before he announced he was pulling out of

the Paris agreement than after? As I have told the House before, we made

our views very clear to the US administration, repeatedly we have

expressed dismay that they have withdrawn. But on the other hand, I

think all members on both sides of the House should acknowledge in all

fairness that the United States has made and continues to make, even

under this initiation, continues to make substantial progress in

reducing greenhouse gases. This country has reduced CO2 by 42% since

1990, despite a 67% increase in GDP. The United States has achieved,

report progress and we intend to encourage them on that path.

Following the isolation of Donald Trump at last week G20 Summit, on

the issue of the Paris agreement, further postponement of the trip to

the UK, can I ask the sexual simple question. Does the Government regard

President John is the leader of the free world, is so, how would they

rate the job he is doing... As a mark out of ten? -- president Trump.

We certainly regard the achievement of the Prime Minister as

considerable as getting the US president to sign up actually to the

G20 agreement on climate change, as she did. She is instrumental in

getting the Americans to endorse. Getting the Americans to sign up to

the communique and I think members on all sides of the House will

appreciate that whatever disagreements they have with the

current incumbent of the White House, the president of the United

States is the leader of our most important ally and he deserves that

and respect for the consideration of this country. Question 11, Mr

Speaker. With the Foreign Secretary's permission, ensuring the

promotion of human rights and engaging with this next essential

part of the global policy of Britain, ministers meet their

cultivars readily and raise issues, gender equality, modern slavery,

freedom of belief and religion, the death penalty and torture. It is an

essential part is who we are the United Kingdom and the Foreign

Commonwealth Office. Back in March, the UN human rights Council to

commit atrocities. Women being raped by the security forces. Does the

Minister agree that the perpetrators of such crime be brought to justice

as a matter of urgency? And can he tell us what

I was recently in Burma and was able to reaffirm the United Kingdom's

sport for the Independent United Nations commission. This is a

difficult issue being wrestled with by those in Burma. And the UK

remains very close to the humanitarian needs of the people

there. The World Trade Organisation estimates three out only for trade

deals include provisions to improve human rights, is what discussions

has my honourable friend been having with his colleagues in the

Department of trade to make sure our new trade deals include obligations

to improve human rights where it is appropriate? My right honourable

friend is right, ensuring human rights are an essential part of the

future policy of the UK in terms of trade deals. As these issues are

raised now, it's an important part of future and will continue to be a

key part of our prosperity drive. Following the arrest of amnesty

International Turkey director, they are examples of the worrying shift

away from respected human rights in Turkey. What steps has the Foreign

Secretary himself taken to ensure the immediate and unconditional

release of these two people? The right honourable lady knows these

issues extremely well. My right honourable friend the Foreign

Secretary has raised this with his counterpart on the Prime Minister

raise this as the T20 were the president of Turkey -- G20. This

remains an important issue. On his recent visit to Burma, did he

encourage the Burmese government to allow full access and cooperate

fully with the fact-finding machine looking into human rights issues in

that country. Yes, indeed. It is a difficult issue but we've made it

very clear that the UN independent report need full consideration. We'd

urge the government to do all they can to facilitate what the UN needs

to complete its work. There is an internal investigation already been

carried out by the Burmese government.

We have been able to gain access through our console. What efforts

are being made to ensure the human rights and the medical needs of the

two people in prison are being protected? Mr Speaker, I met with

the family last week. I've raised this issue directly with my

counterpart, the Deputy Foreign Minister of around, and the Iranian

ambassador. We remain concerned about this and other consulate cases

involving around. I can assure the lady we will continue to raise these

at the highest issue. Briefly from the front bench. As a government

celebrated his victory in the High Court over arms sales to Saudi

Arabia, number of people affected by the cholera epidemic in Yemen past

300,000. Humanitarian workers face a choice of using it twinkling food

supplies to be those children suffering from malnutrition or those

infected with cholera. In that context, can the Minister told the

House wired the Saudi led Coalition continues to use British bombs to

attack farms, food factories and water plants? The judgment by the

gorgeous today was unequivocal in saying the United Kingdom had fully

fulfilled its obligations under the control of the arms trade. And also

the work that was being toured with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia in

relation to its response to international humanitarian law was

fundamental to that judgment. The situation in Yemen remains a

humanitarian disaster, the actor Kingdom is involved in seeking to do

all it can, the cholera outbreak has taken some 6500 cases each day. I am

pleased we are fully engaged and tried to do all we can to mitigate

these actions -- United Kingdom. He is new, I thought I was new, too.

I am concerned the democratic freedoms continue to face

fundamental restrictions in the Maldives. Pressure, including

arrests has grown. Human rights activists, the media art under

threat. The government raise these issues frequently with the Maldives

government and we led the recent UN statement in the gene human rights

Council. My right honourable friend will know that a Coalition of

opposition parties in the Maldives, led by the former president,

committed to democracy and proving relations with this country, has

secured a majority in that country's parliament. Does he share my concern

is that the regime may resort to legal means to prevent Parliament

from properly functioning in that country? I am very concerned is at

that prospect. I have to say, no one's hands in recent years in any

part of the political environment in the Maldives have been entirely

clean. It has not been a happy situation across the board. The

biggest regret we have on this site is the Maldives unilaterally left

the Commonwealth in 2016, and I hope a new regime will bring them back

into the international regime in this way. Firstly we should pay

tribute to what United States has done with its peacekeeping budget.

It provides well over a quarter of the global peacekeeping budget. Over

$2 billion a year, which has not eligible, so we need to pay tribute

and encourage them to play the role, that essential part. And then

sticking to the Congressional limit of 25% is vital for the UN

peacekeeping operations. Does the Minister agree the loss of financial

support from the US will be devastating, such as the world food

programme Will they get them to reconsider their planned cuts? It is

right, in the current global situation, UN peacekeeping

operations are vital. But reforms can be introduced. The move to close

on the peacekeeping operation in Ivory Coast, we can reduce costs and

peacekeeping. It is vital the States and others continue play a strong

role, and support from United States has been vital for the last 50 years

and we hope it will continue to be. Topical questions. Can I just remind

colleagues in this Parliament, topical questions are sure to be as

-- supposed to be shorter. My priority is to help resolve tensions

in the Gulf where Britain has all friendships and vital interests,

that's why I've just returned from visits to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and

cut. I reinforce the need for dialogue. I will the summit in

Trieste tomorrow, whether UK is playing a vital role in guaranteeing

stability and resisting Russian ambitions. Yesterday in Kashmir,

seven Hindu pilgrims were brutally murdered by terrorists, including

five women whilst undergoing it. What action has my right honourable

friend taken to condemn this outrage? Waterboard will he give to

recovering and bringing to justice the terrorists who we believe are in

Pakistan -- what will he give? The whole issue is something we are in

close contact with. I give the issuer and we will bring this up in

the course of the next 24 hours and as for a plan of action in the wake

he has asked. Does the Foreign Secretary agree that if there's to

be an extension of military action in Syria, there should be a full

debate and vote in this House? That is for the Leader of the House to

consider, I can tell him that no such request has been made. I must

say I think the difference in the current American administration's

attitude, many people on the other side of the House, is to be

welcomed. As America appears to be volunteering we surrendering power,

and from the main platform of our interest in the several decades, it

is not vital the Foreign Office address is substantially to beef up

our dramatic effort so we may retain our prosperity, security and our

influence abroad? I'm delighted to welcome him to a cause I think is

gathering strength across both sides of the House of Commons, everybody

understands, global Britain must be properly supported. We have a

world-class network of embassies, 278, the best foreign service in the

world, but they do need proper financing and proper support. The

Foreign Secretary has spoken in the past about his ardent opposition to

female genital meat elation. We'll he therefore have a word with the

Home Secretary who is yet to respond to be -- mutilation. She is

threatened with deportation. I raise it with the Prime Minister and have

yet to receive an answer. I heard her raised this before. I'm sure the

case of her constituent is indeed very troubling. I'm sure the Home

Secretary will have picked up what she's had to say today. I welcome

the part played by purchase forces in stabilising the threat posed by

Daesh. What does he and British forces for ensuring that such an

insurgency does not recur? I thank him for an excellent question. It is

one thing but others to drive Daesh out of Ozil, but we must make sure

the reasons they sprouted in those cities do not recur and that this

study -- the Sunni minority have the confidence in their country. Not

since the Suez crisis has a UK Government been so combines of the

defeated at the United Nations, as it was last week. In this week's

spirit of bipartisan cooperation, should the Foreign Secretary would

not grant the right of return? I must respectfully disagree with the

gentleman opposite. We secured rather more positive votes than we

had expected. As it happens, the other side of the case got fewer

than half the members of the UN in support of their cause. I think that

most impartial observers of the matter would agree their case has

been substantially weakened as a result, not that it was a strong

case to begin with. Last week Palestinian president said he would

continue paying prisoner salaries to people who are murdered innocent

civilians. Does the Foreign Secretary agree with me that there

is nowhere we will have peace in the Middle East unless there are

projects and support for coexistence on the Palestinian side? My

honourable friend is right, there are a number of barriers on the

Palestinian side to be able to make progress. Support for incitement and

terror is one of those, we are looking carefully to make sure no

payments go in the wrong direction. It is true the Palestinian authority

need to look very hard to make sure it is not giving the wrong signals

as we try to make progress on the middle East peace process.

Will the Minister pick up the phone to the opposite numbers in India, do

a deal to get the men deported so we can have a pint in Chester before

the summer is out? I do appreciate the persistent with which he

campaigns from his constituents, and his raise it with me. I have in turn

raises myself personally with my Indian counterparts. What they say

to me is they cannot interfere in their own court system anymore than

we can interfere in our own quarters. That is where the massacre

of your stance, but I want to assure him we continue to raise him on that

issue. Does my right arm friend agree we

have, as we leave the EU, a great opportunity to boost our mutual

trade and security interests by enhancing our diplomatic relations

with Ghana and other Commonwealth countries? I want to pay tribute to

the right honourable member, Ghana is one of the most impressive recent

of ultimate in Africa, three recent transitions of democratic power, a

rapidly growing economy and huge example of how we moved to the

Commonwealth, the Commonwealth can become one of the great success

stories of Britain's next five years. The Paralympic games in Rio

were a great success, showing inspirational talent and importance

of sports included worldwide. What discussions has a foreign of us had

with Japanese counterparts to lend our full support to the Tokyo

Paralympic games going forward? I thank you right honourable lady

for her question. A huge amount of work is going on. But also very

importantly, she rightly says, the Shia organisation and we are working

very closely to make sure there is a seamless progress between 2012. I

think it is going to be a great success, the Paralympic games in

Tokyo. In the next few weeks, the HR Government from Libya are coming

over here to visit the UK. I am wondering if my right honourable

friend or any of the friend bench would like to meet them when they

come over here because they play a pivotal role in keeping peace in

Libya. Mr Speaker, an expansion of the Libyan political agreement we

believe is necessary to move matters along. There is a lot happening on

the political and business side and Libya as it gets back on its feet.

Her be happy to meet those whom I honourable friend wants to bring

forward. Given the collapse of the talks in Cyprus and that the

Government remains a guarantor of the process, what is the Government

going to do now? Mr Speaker, very sadly, the cyber stalks on which

people have done so much work for over two years collapse in the early

hours of Friday morning. -- these I press talks. This was a once in a

generation trustee reunify the island. Sadly it has been missed and

rejected so we go back to the status quo and it is enormous pity indeed,

a tragedy for future generations that agreement was not reached.

In view of the continuing concerns about human rights in Hong Kong,

does my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary intend to make any

further representation on the joint declaration? I hope my honourable

friend will be assured that the UK has been very active in emphasising

the significance of this joint British decoration which is a

legally binding treated richly with the UN and continues to be

reinforced today. Join my own meeting with the Chinese ambassador

I stress the UK's strong commitment to the joint declaration. We urge

the Chinese and the Hong Kong and mistress and governors and all

politicians in Hong Kong to retain from any actions that Bill Clinton

or undermine confidence in the one country two systems principle. The

Foreign Secretary has rightly underlined the UK US relations in

this new role. The relationship is collect the light by cultural

programmes which are now in peril by President Trump's proposal to cut

47% from the budget. Will he make representations to underline how we

think the programme should be expanded and pushed to the point of

extinction? I stand here as a Kennedy scholar which is a very

similar sort of structure and we have a fantastic programme of

scholars sponsored by the front office. My right honourable friend

has confirmed that he will raise the issue of scholarships with secretary

to listen when he next season. With a quart of a million people now

refugees as a result of the repression in human rights abuses in

that country, what is the Foreign Secretary doing to stimulate

dialogue to resolve the political impasse that? The situation in Bindi

is very disturbing, we call upon all on the brilliant president to --

upon the President and leading the peace talks in Burundi as in so many

countries in the war, the only long-term solution is a political

salutes you -- solution to a crisis. Friends of Syria to discuss the

desperate need to get more aid to the hundreds of thousands being

starved to death in Syria. I thank the honourable gentleman for his

persistence in pursuing this cause and he is absolutely right, we have

spoken across the chamber many times about the humanitarian crisis in

Syria. I will have great pleasure in meeting the Syria group to discuss

what the UK is doing by the House will know that this country is the

single, the second-biggest contributor of humanity relief aid

to Syria in the wild. Whilst I welcome the fact that the Prime

Minister raise the issue of the at the G20, can he focuses efforts on

the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and seek a meeting with her urgently, it

is almost four years have our bodies have been languishing in jail there.

I visited them myself. It is time they were brought home. My right

honourable friend is absolutely right. He suggests an interesting

avenue for further work. I will look at the possibility of talking to the

Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Whether we will be more successful

in her in making our points, I wore ascertained. We will leave no stone

unturned. Mr Speaker, last week at the same time as represented ?57

were meeting in the next, they were convicting a human rights activist

the charges on which defence witnesses were not allowed to

testify. The defendant was taken to hospital during the trial and it was

convicted in his absence. What action the Government is taking to

make sure the authorities in Belarus... The most important thing

we can do is enhance our bilateral relations by visitor. No minister

has visited Belarus for many years and I intend to do so at the

earliest opportunity. As well as the physical rebuilding

of Mosul, the Iraqi constitution allows for them to regain power,

looking at devolving power to the people of Mosul. I am grateful to my

honourable friend. He is right that Iraq is an ethnically divided

country, religiously divided country, we must make sure that

everybody feels properly represented in the new constitution and

evolution to Mosul is certainly an option that we will be exploring.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Before he meets the friends of Syria group,

will he discussed a comrade is a strategy to protect civilians with

the Department for International Development and a Ministry of

Defence and we can have a proper joint strategy at last? I can tell

the honourable lady that is already happening. Extremely grateful to the

Foreign Secretary. I recognise there is so unsatisfied demand but not as

much as they might have been if I had not overrun which I was pleased

to do and I'm sure the Foreign Secretary was equally