Live Foreign and Commonwealth Office Questions House of Commons

for a round-up of the Day in both

Houses of Parliament at 11pm. First,

questions to the Foreign Secretary

Boris Johnson and his team

administers. -- his team of

ministers.

Order, order. Questions to the

Secretary of State for Foreign &

Commonwealth affairs. Mr Chris

Bryant. Nokia. Mr Derek Thomas.

Number two, Mr Speaker.

Boris

Johnson.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, we

are delighted to be hosting next

year's Commonwealth heads of

Government meeting, one of the

biggest summits the UK has ever

posted. All member states have

confirmed they will send high-level

legislators. We want a great

celebration for the Commonwealth,

underpinned by real substance. We

are working closely with young

people across the Commonwealth to

produce at the order of the summit.

Thank you, Mr Speaker and thank you

for the response Mr Secretary. Given

that 40% of the world's young people

live in the common love, what more

can the department dude to nurture

aspiration and create opportunity in

the interest of peace across the

Commonwealth? -- and the Department

do to nurture.

I thank you for

putting a finger under huge

opportunity that summit provides to

focus on young people. I believe we

should focus on particular on the

education of young women and girls.

This is the opportunity to change

lives most erratically across the

Commonwealth, and across the world.

-- most dramatically.

Thank you, Mr

Speaker. Delighted that we are

hosting next week. Next year, sorry.

I wonder if the forwards secretary

could take this opportunity,

following the most recent meeting of

the UN human rights Council, in

terms of our bilateral relationship

with Sri Lanka, to reach rate or

Government's position on the run

structured and ensure that -- to

reiterate the Government's position

on the Rome Statute. Workarounds

should be properly investigated.

I

have raised those questions with the

Government also like. We believe

they are making progress but will

continue to insist more must be

done.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. When

one sees these use -- the huge

economic growth of Commonwealth

countries, will be Secretary of

State agree with me that it's

important to use this summit as an

opportunity for us to start talking

about how to recalibrate our export

policy to focus on the common love?

My honourable friend is entirely

right. With 2.4 billion people in

some of the fastest-growing

economies of the world, the 52

countries of the common wealth and

represent a superb opportunity for

the Scottish to free trade deals.

That does not mean we will

necessarily be relaxing our desire

to do a fantastic free trade deal

with the European friends and

partners. -- -- for the UK to do

street trade till.

Perhaps it will

be discussing how this is another

sign of the sun setting on Empire

2.0 before it even risen.

On the

contrary, I'm sure the whole House

will join with me in congratulating

the Indian judge on his election and

I'm sure the whole House will agree

that it is a fine thing that another

common law judge has joined the

International Court of Justice.

Mr

Speaker, I referred he has to make

entry in the member interest, would

you agree with me that a positive

way of showing a post Mugabe is a

Barbie could be reactivated for that

country to -- Zimbabwe could be

reintegrated at the next summit.

Good to make sure there is a path to

new membership for a post Mugabe

Zimbabwe?

I think this would be a

fine and noble aspiration for the

Commonwealth and for Zimbabwe.

Several steps need to be gone

through before that can happen.

There must be free and fair

elections next year, then Zimbabwe

must apply to the Commonwealth

Secretariat and make clear to the

Commonwealth and the world that

Zimbabwe fulfilled the criteria on

human rights, law and democracy that

are necessary for membership.

Produce further outline discussions

you've had with the secretary of

state for Brexit regarding the need

for solidified to reach deals

between the 52 Commonwealth

countries. Would you agree this must

be a priority for London 2018?

I

fully support the aspiration of the

honourable member. Free trade steals

and the prospect of increasing trade

with Commonwealth of the partners

will be at the heart of the summit.

-- free trade deals and the

prospect.

Parliamentarians are

meeting in February across the

Commonwealth, organised by the

Commonwealth Parliamentary

organisations. Would you consider

hosting a reception for those 150

parliamentarians, either at the

Foreign Office, or maybe ten Downing

St for a reception?

I'm always

grateful to my honourable friend,

who is full of knowledge of these

matters. I will consider the

possibility of holding just such a

reception. I can think of all sorts

of suitable venues.

Jessica Morden.

Number three, Mr Speaker.

Well, it

will be well done when it gets to

the box.

Forgive me. Thank you, Mr

Speaker. I have made repeated

representations, as the Honourable

member, can imagine, to the

Government in Burma, particularly to

the president. Charity return of the

refugees. -- the President to urge

the return of the refugees. We

released the first UN statement on

Burma in a decade. I believe Burma

must heed these calls from the

international community and take

necessary steps that we have set

out.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Three

months on from the start of this

current crisis and we continue to be

shocked and horrified by the tragic

stories we see the Rohingya fleeing

to Bangladesh. There have been

reports of considering of the

imposing some sanctions against

Myanmar's leaders. Discussions have

you had on this and what would be

the Government's position?

I have

raised this already, as you can

imagine, with our European friends

and partners and the foreign affairs

Council on the 16th of October. We

had agreement table that we would

suspend Burmese military visits and

review all defence cooperation and

got a further agreement to consider

additional measures if the situation

didn't improve. We will not be doing

so.

The UN has made it clear that

Muslims could receive a legal status

allowing them to lead a normal life

in Bangladesh and access to labour

market, education and health

service. Will my right honourable

friend continue to press these

demands to the United Nations and

directly with the Burmese

authorities? My honourable friend is

absolutely right. That is the

critical thing. If these people are

to have any confidence about the

prospect of the return to Rakhine,

they must have clarity as to their

citizenship and the treatment in

Rakhine.

This is why the plan makes

it clear that there must be

citizenship rights and investment in

development of equal treatment for

all Rakhine's ethnic groups.

Thank

you, Mr Speaker. This morning,

Amnesty International released a

report highlighting repression and

rights violations on the Rohingya

people every single day. They've can

pick Myanmar to an open-air prison.

What discussions has the Honourable

secretary had about this?

I am

grateful. In answer to another

friend, I just detailed what we have

been doing with our EU vendor

partners. We have secured the

suspension of military visits and

will review matters with our friends

and partners as things develop.

Thank you. Since the outbreak of the

violence, over 6000 violence

refugees have crossed the border

into Bangladeshi. Where there is an

urgent need for life-saving aid. In

light of the desperate situation,

what support is the Government

offering so that refugees can have

access to the basic essentials that

exist, clean water, and shelter?

My

honourable friend is entirely right

that the UK is one of the biggest

participants, or second biggest

donor, to be humanitarian crisis in

Bangladesh. I think we should all

congratulate the Government of

Bangladesh for the forbearance and

energy be put into coping with this

appalling, appalling crisis. The UK

is contributing £47 million. That

has helped to help sanitation for

more than 138,000, emergency shelter

for 130,000. We have provided

counselling and psychological

support that will reach women

suffering from the trauma of war and

2000 survivors of sexual violence.

Medical help for pregnant women to

give birth safely. It is the record

that the whole house can be proud

of.

There has been evidence of the

fact that is ethnic cleansing and

genocide that is taking place in

Burma. What action has the

Government taken with the UN about

prosecution of the Buddhist monks

and generals were carrying out

ethnic cleansing in the

International courts?

As I agree

very much with the honourable lady,

unless the refugees are allowed to

retire on, then this crisis, this

porridge will indeed satisfy the

definition of ethnic cleansing. As

for genocide... -- this case will

indeed satisfy the definition. We

have received evidence and testimony

of a troubling kind and what we will

do is make sure that all testimony

is collected and used so that the

proper authorities can determine

whether indeed it answers to be

definition of genocide. As the

Oracle lady will know, genocide is a

strict legal tiring and we need to

wait for judicial decision.

-- as

the honourable lady. Not a single

innocent life has been lost and they

have not been involved in any

violence, according to them. Does my

right honourable friend that no

whitewash report will cover up the

mounting evidence of the atrocities

carried out?

I agree with my

honourable friend that it is vital

that the Burnie 's Government

acknowledge the scale of what is

happening and the horror with which

events are being greeted around the

world. -- Myanmar Government. People

have looked to hire for horror

honourable leadership and we salute

her for her democracy in the face of

the generals, but it is vital she

stands up and condemn what is

happening and brings the nation

together and so far, I am afraid to

see, the Government has failed to do

that they are.

Question number four.

Progress has been made since the

signing of the peace agreement last

November. They have disarmed and are

a political party. A temporary

ceasefire has been negotiated.

Difficult challenges remain and it

is vital that momentum continues,

especially as the country prepares

for elections next year.

In light of

the current crisis of implementation

of the Colombia peace agreements,

including colours of leaders, the

changes and the lack of integration

opportunities, will be minister make

representations to the Colombian

Government about their need to

implement the agreement is signed.

We support the Government end up

lamenting the agreement is signed.

We are concerned on attacks on human

rights offenders which is stopping

the peace. The majority of such

attacks lies with the legal armed

groups.

-- illegal. Does my right

honourable friend agree with the

former presidents of Columbia that

the continuing prohibition of drugs

policy and the vast criminal

enterprises serves to undermine

peace, stability and the

institutions of Columbia and its

neighbours and will be Government

work to move towards an evidence

-based policy response?

Mr Speaker,

I think my honourable friend is

right in pointing to the fact that

drug smuggling and drug trading is

becoming a main threat to the

implementation of the peace

agreement and indeed I am reassured

that the Colombian Government is

investigating the deaths of several

individuals who have protested

against eradication on the 5th of

October.

With the Minister see what

he can do by way of the drag towards

European action, bring support of

pressure. The president can mean and

implement a peace deal but at the

moment, the progress simply isn't

there to underpin the peace process.

We must have action in these last

six months.

We are actively

supporting the Colombian Government.

We provided almost £20 million from

the conflict security and

stabilisation fund. I am also proud

that UK led work has led to the

resolution is to assist the peace

building process we all want to see

succeed.

Number five, Mr Speaker. Mr

Speaker, only a political solution

will bring the long-term stability

that Yemen needs.

The parties must

engage constructively. The United

Kingdom is playing a part to try and

bring other parties together in

order to see it that tackles and

mission which is needed.

Yemen is in

the grip of a humanitarian disaster

with another 50,000 children

expected to die before the end of

the year due to famine and cholera.

The UK power smack arms sales to

Saudi Arabia have been worth 18

times... -- the UK power trade. What

will the UK contribute to the

Yemen's construction, rather than

deconstruction?

The efforts being

made now with the collision are both

to give them assurances about the

security they need to ensure there

are no further missile attacks like

the one on the 4th of November.

Also, to seek to relieve the

restrictions that are preventing

humanitarian access getting through.

No one doubts the scale at the

moment and the United Kingdom, with

others, is working on both the

security for the coalition in the

area as well as the need to relieve

the restrictions so that

humanitarian access can be given.

The conflict in Yemen is a proxy war

between Saudi Arabia and Iran in

terms of achieving in that region.

Would you agree with me that the UK

should use all its diplomatic

leveraged with its allies and

players in the region to get a peace

process under way to de-escalates

this conflict and get a genuine

peace process under way in Yemen's

my honourable friend is right.

That

is a process under way led by the UN

special representative, that we are

supporting, it requires both sides

to recognise that is not military

answer to Yemen, there has to be a

put cousin Lycian. We are working

both with our ambassador in Yemen to

try and ensure the parties get

together.

-- political situation.

The scale of the crisis is truly

frightening. The impact of the Saudi

blockades could result in further

deaths. Has the Prime Minister spoke

into the crown Prince of Saudi

Arabia and if she has not, can she

do so in order to get the blockade

lifted?

Ministers, including the

Prime Minister, have spoken to the

Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.

Representations have been made by

other Ministers and continue to do

so. We recognise the need for

security for the coalition but we

also recognise the need to lift

these restrictions and make sure

humanitarian access is given.

Would

my right honourable friend agree

with me that the situation in Yemen

points to the fact we have a field

around policy? We have a country,

capital in Iran that is taking

hostages, developing missiles,

threatening their neighbours and our

policy is what? There is none.

Well,... There is a significant

policy. A number of difficult

debates and conversations have

detailed. Work is going on to

explore opportunities there are for

Iran to play a more constructive

part in the region. In relation to

human right sanctions and criticism

of their actions with terrorist

groups in the area and there

stabilising of the region, the

United Kingdom is clear position.

That is engagement with Iran, which

is important. The policy of that

constructive engagement is actually

very clear.

Yesterday the Minister

of State said that the Saudi

blockades of Yemen did not breach

international serenity of the law

because it is intended to stop the

smuggling of missiles. How did he

respond then to the leaked briefing

by the United Nations panel of

experts on Yemen, which says there

is no evidence of such smuggling and

this is just another attempt by the

Saudi coalition to justify

obstructing the commodities that are

civilian in nature?

I do not agree

with the conclusion, too. No, I do

not agree with the UN assessment. It

is clear that weapons have been

smuggled into Yemen. They have been

used to fire against parties to the

coalition and we are quite sure that

is the case. However, the point is,

not only to give security to those

who do not want to see such missiles

pointed at their airports, but at

the same time, to ensure they

realise that these restrictions

being put on entry to ports may not

assist them in dealing with all the

smuggling we are concerned about,

but will damage the human Italian --

to managerial situation. --

humanitarian situation.

Thank you,

Mr Speaker.

I will take questions

number six and 11 together. We

defend human rights in a variety of

ways. Funding human rights

advocates, training judges and

police, but it also involves our

selves as Ministers raising with

heads of state human rights issues

across the world and continents.

Last February, the Foreign Secretary

said he wished to be a champion for

the president of Egypt. With mass

arrests, torture as an

disappearances end deaths in custody

now the norm in Egypt, what does the

Government defined as champion in

human rights?

We continue to raise

very strongly with the Egyptian

Government about these issues. He is

right to raise them. There are

troubling issues within Egypt. We

are studying them and we raise them

with our American partners and

European Union partners. The Foreign

Secretary raised directly with the

president of Egypt on his last

meeting.

Similar to the horrors that

we witnessed last year in Syria,

today we are confronted with another

brutal siege of the area by the

regime. What action will the

Government take to protect

civilians?

We agree that the regime

is horrifying the way it treats

civilians. It has an extraordinary

record of brutality and murder. We

will document the abuses they have

done. We call on them through every

single channel not to conduct these

operations and we will make sure

people are held accountable for

their crimes.

Christians communities

are under attack in a number of

developing countries to whom we give

very large amounts of international

aid, including Pakistan. What steps

will the Government take to make

sure this aid is given on the

condition these communities are

protected?

That is correct.

Christian communities and other

minority religious groups are under

threat across the world, that is

true of Christian communities in the

middle east, Africa and Pakistan. We

will support civil society

organisations. We support in

Pakistan the rights of Christian

securities and minority amenities

and we continue to advocate for them

with the Government of Pakistan and

we will continue that support into

the future.

The putts free first advisory board

urged people to press the Qatari

Government. -- this month's refurb's

advisory board urged a flood of

press Government.

We have looked

seriously into this issue. We have

pressed this issue with the Qatari

Government and will continue to

press this issue.

Can the Secretary

of State tells what progress has

been made in Sudan regarding the

political situation and human rights

situation?

Thank you, Mr Speaker. We

have a renewed dialogue with the

Government of Sudan, as the member

will be aware. The US Government has

lifted sanctions in relation to

Saddam. I met the Sudanese

delegation as part of this dialogue.

We had a human rights workshop at

the centre of this dialogue and

continue to press with their special

rapporteur on human rights for

exactly these issues.

Thank you, in

August, the American Government

withheld $290 million from its

military and economic aid for each

of because of their recent track

record on human rights. -- age for

Egypt. With the Honourable Minister

speak to his friend the secretary of

state and ask them to learn some

lessons from Donald Trump, at least?

LAUGHTER

To force President Sisi to clean up

its act.

We thank the Shadow

minister for raising this issue. We

agree strongly. There are disturbing

signs in Egypt and that is why the

Foreign Secretary has raised this

issue directly with President Sisi

and we will continue to do so.

Maintaining the integrity of the

Antarctic Treaty is fundamental to

protecting unpractical. The UK's

leading role within this system has

allowed us to put consistently for

increased levels of protection for

the content's runnable environment

and we are committed to continuing

to do so. -- vulnerbale environment.

Recently on television we have

reminded of the vulnerability of

Antarctica. Yet an area some seven

times the size of Germany, it was

rejected. Will he take the

opportunity of pressing the Russians

to protect the area?

And how to put

that on our agenda but may I

reassure my honourable friend at the

UK is equal proponent of the

proposal to establish a marine

protected area in this seat,

developed by the EU and its never

states. British scientists are

taking a leading role in preparing a

final MBA proposal to be presented

for the conservation of Antarctic

Marine resources in early next year.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. As the

Honourable gentleman says, million

people watched Blue Planet on Sunday

and we want to do know what the

Government is going to do to protect

the beautiful environment around

south Georgia. While the Government

now committed to establishing a

Marine Sanctuary found this British

Overseas Territory? -- around this

British Overseas Territory?

This has

been championed by my honourable

friend the member for Newbury. Not

just in the Antarctic that the UK

champions Marine protection. We are

on track to deliver horribly built

manifesto around the territories.

The south Georgia and south sandwich

islands have been designated a

sustainable use area, covering 100

monitors.

Question number 80.

Mr

Speaker, the Foreign Secretary met

Spanish foreign ministers. This was

in Bath on the 3rd of November. The

Prime Minister spoke to the Spanish

Prime Minister on connect up. We are

actively engaged with the Spanish

Government in Madrid and the Spanish

in London.

The whole House is united

in our concern for events in

Catalonia. How it's been handled

over recent weeks. Scotland is no

stranger to independence referendum.

Does the Minister share my belief

that the success of our referendum

in 2014 demonstrates the importance

of having such referendums conducted

according to the rule of law and

subject to the rules agreed by both

sides beforehand?

I absolutely agree

with my honourable friend. Catalonia

is a matter for Spain in the same

way that Scotland was for the UK.

The Scottish referendum was a legal

referendum following the signature

of the Edinburgh agreement between

the Scot Department and the

Government of the UK. The referendum

in Catalonia was not legal in that

way and we fully support Spain in

upholding the rule of law and

constitution.

Alison Taylor 's.

The

Honourable gentleman makes the point

about the Scottish referendum been

made a legal referendum but

Catalonia has not had any legal

right for a referendum. Would you

put pressure on his colleagues in

Spain to look to the referendum in

Scotland as to how these rights can

be respected?

This is a matter for

Spain and they should be upheld and

not challenged in a legal way as

they have been in Catalonia. -- in

an illegal way.

Does he not agree

with me that the heavy-handed action

of the Spanish police exacerbated

matters? Does he also take heart

from news breaking in Spain at the

moment that the intent to give

fiscal power to Catalonia similar to

that of the Basque country and this

has not been offered before?

Nobody

was to see violence as we saw on the

television. If there is be progress

on this, which is what the Spanish

Government legally and properly

decided, then we support any such

legal and democratic action.

Foreign

Secretary.

The Government published

a paper that sets out our vision for

a greater partnership with the EU on

foreign policy and defence and

development. Anthony to say that my

discussions with our friends in the

EU since then, this paper has had a

good reception. -- I'm pleased to

say.

The so-called future

partnership paper on foreign

security policy published by the

Brexit apartment in September had

plenty of positive things to say

about the value of EU and UK

corporation but can the Secretary of

State therefore updated House on

what progress beyond the mighty fine

words has been made on the Brexit

negotiations?

If by that the

Honourable Judge remains progress on

foreign policy and defence policy,

then I must remind the House that

this is not at the absolute centre

of the negotiations because it is

widely understood that the UK,

contributing as we do 20% of

European defence spending, 25% of

European aid spending, will be there

in a sport of way whatever the

outcome of the negotiations. -- in a

supportive way. As the PM has said,

particularly warmly received by

friends and partners, are committed

defence and security of Europe is

unconditional as it was has been and

will be. -- our commitment to

defence and security in Europe.

Can

they write on the friend confirm

categorically that we will remain as

committed as ever to European

security after we leave the EU? --

time I right honourable friend

confirm categorically.

We certainly

shall. You ask an important

question. The answer cannot be

repeated too often. It is to be hurt

particularly in those countries that

urged companies to shadow of Soviet

domination at the media that we are

there for the long term, as were the

only borders of Estonia. -- as the

idea on the borders of Estonia. We

are committed to Nato, which is the

guarantor of peace and stability in

our continent. The UK is the second

biggest contributor to the Nato

alliance.

EU funding has enabled an

African union peacekeeping force to

play a vital role in helping to

stabilise Somalia in its transition

to democracy. But we cannot be

complacent. It supported for the

Government to maintain some

influence as we prepare to leave the

EU. What we are and the Foreign

Secretary gave that this important

issue will not be forgotten during

the Brexit negotiations? -- what

assurances can the Foreign Secretary

give?

It was this year that we heard

the Somalia conference, working with

the EU. In particular make sure that

the Somalia settle Government --

central Government collaborates

closely with the member states to

make sure that the fight can be

prosecuted more successful. This is

the work we arguing with -- that we

arguing with the EU.

This is not the

point, that would you not have to be

inside the European Union. -- is

this not the point.

He is right and

I have to be at work support that we

will offer in the future to a flying

buttress outside the main body of

the cathedral, but supportive of

that cathedral. That's how the UK

will continue to be on and

unconditional basis.

Mr Speaker,

last week that the foreign affairs

select committee Sir Simon MacDonald

told the committee that more civil

servants, unelected bureaucrats,

would be sent to Brussels. Could you

tell us how many of these officials

will focus on foreign and Security

policy with the EU, how much it will

cost and whether it will be part of

the settlement with the EU?

I can

tell the House, Andrew that all

members will be please do this, that

we will beef up our representation

in Europe. -- I'm sure that all

members. 50 more posts at least in

other EU capitals and they will be

strengthening and intensifying some

bilateral relationships, which in my

view have been allowed slightly to

ossify under the EU recommends over

the past 45 years. -- EU

arrangements over the past 45 years.

Sir Simon MacDonald did say that

there is an initial Treasury pot of

£250 million. How much of that has

he secured to go through security

policy co-operation has the

Chancellor told him to go whistle?

I

don't think the member could have

been listening to my last answer

because I said that the increased

diplomatic reputation that we would

be making in the rest of Europe

would be disbursed not just in

Brussels but around the rest of the

capitals. Of course, each and

everyone of these individuals will

be working on our common foreign and

security objectives and making the

case that I've made in an earlier

answer, but we support for European

defence and security is

unconditional. -- that our support

for European defence.

Thank you.

It's now nearly 50 years since the

start of the troubles in Northern

Ireland and none of us that lived

the time ever want to go through it

again. The Foreign Secretary had

given its guarantee to BBC Northern

Ireland that evil drug Brexit would

leave arrangements on the Irish

border would leave the arrangement

absolutely unchanged. -- that a vote

that for Brexit would leave

arrangements. Family Foreign

Secretary give the same promises

today?

My right honourable friend is

right ask this question because I

was recently in Dublin talking to

all the political groups there and

there's no question that the issue

of the border is very alive in Irish

politics. I repeatedly pledged to

which she refers, that there can be

no return to a hard-fought. There

can be no hard worker. This would be

on thinkable. It would be economic

and political madness. -- no hard

border. Everybody, on both sides of

this House, understands the social,

political and spiritual

ramifications of alarming any such

thing to happen. That's why it's so

important that we get onto the

second phase of the negotiations,

that we get sufficient progress at

the European Council in September.

No one will have missed the fact

that like so many of his initial

promises over Brexit, he has turned

from and guaranteed to an aspiration

on a deal. I was listening to him

and it did seem to me that like his

partner from the sun, he now seems

to be seeing it as up to the Irish

to find a solution. It was his

promise that border arrangements

would not change and it is up to him

to make sure it works. That is why I

want to challenge the Foreign

Secretary today. He put down for red

lines and none of them related to

the Irish land border, which is a

crucial issue.

Indescribably

grateful to the Shadow Foreign

Secretary but I think she is

approaching the end. I went to

accommodate... I am happy to indulge

the frontbenchers to a degree but I

want to allow backbenchers.

Let me

urge him today to add a fifth red

line at a promise what you promise

last year, Irish border arrangements

will not change and if they do, he

will refuse to stay in the

Government.

The right Honourable

lady appeared harder question before

she heard my first answer. --

prepare her third question. There

will be no return to a hard order.

We do not want a hard border east,

south, west or east. Minister of

State. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I will

answer questions ten and 13

together. We are concerned about the

demolition of Palestinian property

which causes unnecessary suffering

and is harmful to peace. While we

regularly raise these issues, our

representative raised this on the

2nd of November.

I thank the

Minister for his answer. As we know,

recently we have seen a clear

indication from the Israel defence

Minister... The military issue of

the order for the intention to

evacuate the communities in certain

areas, does the Minister agree with

me that Israel must be held to

account if those things actually

take place?

This is continued

conversation with the Israeli

authorities where we make clear, as

do others, that the threats to

settlement is unacceptable. I

visited the areas recently and I

have representatives from the

embassy. We wait to see what further

developments will be. There is talk

about further demolitions but the

legal process holds them back.

Israel can be in no doubt about our

concerns of Palestinian property

demolitions and the detriment to the

peace settlement.

Over at the years

there has been 100,000 hectares of

land taken, Palestinian land to give

settlements. Will he at least called

the Israeli Government to lift the

order that is referenced in the

village and put in measures guidance

for UK businesses to stop trade with

illegal settlements in a bid to

break the cycle?

I think we will

keep our existing trade

relationships which gives customers

the chance to make their own

decisions about where goods come

from. We make our position on

settlements clear and will continue

to do so.

I thank my honourable

friend from his answers. The Prime

Minister of Israel was recently

here. What discussions did the Prime

-- did he have about the peace talks

so that we can create a state of

Palestine alongside a secure state

of Israel?

The Prime Minister met

the Prime Minister of Israel on the

2nd of November. She reiterated our

continued opposition to settlement

activity, but also encourage the

Prime Minister to make the most of

the likely opportunities that will

come up when the Americans bring

forward the proposals they have been

discussing privately over some month

for the prospects of peace. This is

a chance which should not be missed

by either side.

This year marks 40

years since the historic visit to

Israel which lead to lasting peace

between Israel and Egypt. Does my

right honourable friend agree that

there can only be peace between

Israel and Palestinians to the

resumption of direct peace talks

with issues of land borders can be

resolved?

The short answer to that

is yes but I do not think we should

missed that 40th anniversary and the

extra ordinary activity that took

place during that time. What we

would give now for a similar gesture

of peace on all sides that would

bring this long-standing conflict to

an end.

Does the Minister believe

that children in detention

constitutes a breach of the United

nation 's right of the children, in

reference to Israel and the West

Bank's?

We express repeated concerns

in relation to the treatment of

children and ask them to adhere to

UN principles. It is a matter of

long-standing concern and we

continue to raise it.

Number 12, Mr

Speaker.

We have seen no evidence of

any country successfully interfering

with our robust electoral system but

we know, of course, that Russia

seeks to undermine our institutions

to further their ends, including on

social media and the best guarantee

against that is a free, open press

and an accessible media.

How does

the Foreign Secretary square that

with the comments by the Prime

Minister herself only last week?

Saying that she believes there has

been Russian interference in our

political system. Will he do

something about this and does he not

think it is a disgrace that has not

been one member of the security

services interviewed by any

committee in this house about what

the real facts are?

When the Prime

Minister spoke of meddling in

elections, as she did in her mansion

house speech, she was referring to

examples outside the UK and the

honourable gentleman will recall

that she made that clear at the

Prime Minister question is on the

13th of November.

Question 14, Mr

Speaker.

A question that follows

almost directly on from our comments

and criticisms of what was going on

in Russia. Freedom of the press is

indispensable for prosperous

societies around the world and that

is why we announced funding from the

FCO on the 2nd of November of £1

million for the next financial year

to support projects which supports

freedom of expression and the work

of journalists.

I am very proud of

the Government activity on freedom

of expression around the world and

welcome the funding for areas of the

world where press freedoms are

curtailed. Can you confirm whether

this £1 million funding is a one off

or whether it will be reviewed and

possible increased if it is deemed

successful?

We are going to review

these excess of the funding. It is

there to show the Government's

commitment as part of our global

button values agenda to a free press

around the world. We are seeing

across the world more journalists

being killed, more journalist being

locked up and that is not only a

political disaster, an economic

disaster as well. The companies that

are the most prosperous and

successful are also ones in which

that is a free press able to expose

corruption and enable democracy.

In

Hong Kong, freedom of the press and

expression and assembly is

guaranteed by Article 3.5 at the

joint declaration. Yet, last week

Beijing said they would imprison

people for up to three years for

disrespecting the Chinese national

anthem. Resident Trump said nothing

about this and his visit. What is he

going to do about this to uphold

values that we are legally obliged

to uphold? -- resident Trump.

We

have made it clear to our Chinese

partners that the joint declaration

is valid and the one country, two

systems, enshrining the values he

draws attention to, remains in

force.

I think our early lunchtime

exchanges would be incomplete if we

did not have the intervention of

this member.

Members visit

Bangladesh regularly. We have a

special relationship. If the right

Honourable member, the Minister for

the middle east and Minister of Asia

visited on the 20th of October.

Is

he satisfied with the level of

support we are providing for the

finger? -- Rohingya?

It is a

horrifying situation. Bernie is

citizens that are driven out of

their homes, provoked in large part

by the military. We are providing

millions of pounds worth of

assistance. It makes the UK the

single largest bilateral donor. We

have sent experts to the camps in

Bangladesh but there is always more

to be done.

Topical questions.

Number one, Mr Speaker. The Foreign

Secretary. Last week I visited

Dublin where I discussed how to

strengthen the bonds between Arab

countries and address Ireland's

unique circumstances. -- bonds

between our countries. I am

following the situation in Zimbabwe

and the goal is to have free and

fair elections next year. I am

concerned by the suffering in Yemen.

Urging humanitarian emergency

supplies get through to the millions

who depend on them.

The United

Nations special repertoire on

expression of human rights reports

the regime has undertaken

harassment, persecution and staff of

the BBC Persian service and their

families, aimed at preventing them

doing their jobs. Can the Foreign

Secretary explain what

representations he has made?

We have

made repeated representations to the

Iranians about human right concerns

but I would be happy to take up the

issue she raises in person in the

course of my visit to, or my

rejected visit, in the next couple

of weeks.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

With the quality and talks breaking

down in Germany and the possibility

of the need for a second German

election and given that any new UK

trade deal needs unanimous consent

from all EU governments, is the

Foreign Secretary being advised we

need more time to secure a trade

deal?

I think it is a thoughtful

question about what is happening in

Germany. I don't, as it happens,

think the German Government will be

any way incapacitated either from

the gushy Asians in December or from

going forward to do a great trade

deal with the UK. -- either from the

negotiations in December.

Last

Wednesday, the Prime Minister was

asked a question about the elections

in Somali land and in response

locked about the different country

of Somalia. Can the Foreign

Secretary take her to one side and

ask her to leave the foreign gas to

him? Can he tell us how the Foreign

Office is working to promote peace

and democracy in Somali land in the

wake of last week's post election

violence?

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Somali land is in fact a rear beacon

of peace and stability in the region

-- Rayer. We would congratulate the

extra ordinary steps taken by the

candidates in those collections to

commit to ending FGM and to put the

framework in place to do that.

Thank

you, Mr Speaker. In April last year

had the pleasure to visit Palestine

but also the sadness to witness a

young Palestinian by being trade to

throwing stones with no

representation and it being

conducted in Hebrew. With the Prime

Minister plans to review children in

military custody because back -- in

military custody?

I thank her for

the question. I raised the issue

with the Israeli authorities during

my visit in August 2017 and

Ministers and the British ambassador

to Tel Aviv have spoken and written

to the Israeli Justice Minister and

the Israeli Attorney General.

Reports of ill treatment of the

Palestinian minors.

The Secretary of

State will be aware that despite the

talks last week, the world is not on

track to limit global warming. What

steps is he taking to make sure we

get back on track?

As the whole

house knows, the UK has been in the

lead in championing measures to

mitigate climate change and we

should be proud of the impacts we

have had this country to cut our own

CO2 and working with friends

partners around the world to permit

the Paris accord.

All the Foreign Secretary agree that

there are several important

preconditions to a successful

expression of a global Britain,

quite apart from the need to have a

better funded Foreign Office, will

be also a great image to be a far

more effective coordination and

expression of Britain's truly

formidable soft power? -- will be

also agree with me that the means to

be a farmer effective coordination.

My right honourable friend raises a

fascinating conundrum, how to

effectively Government could marshal

the panoply of UK soft power. I

never normally disagree in any way

with an right honourable friend but

I think our soft power is so huge

and would not necessarily benefit

from any political attempt to

coordinate it. I believe the work of

the British Council is often unsung

and is a huge importance. That is an

organisation I think all members of

the House will want to support the

properly funded.

In April last year,

one of my constituents was murdered

in Trinidad, he was just 22. There

has been secrecy amid allegations of

corruption. The alleged killers has

been adjourned several times. Paul

Pogba Japan are Government except on

the Trinidad authorities to enjoy

this case is heard? -- what can our

Government except on Trinidad.

Kathy

Hall of having been a survivor or a

relative of somebody that has gone

through homicide, when that happens

abroad and in an unfamiliar context,

the problems of the justice system.

We will continue to monitor this

case closely and we have specialised

unit in the Foreign Office now to do

with these kinds of cases.

I wrote a

noble friend will not be aware that

the former mayor of Caracas floaters

House arrest and made it out of

Venezuela, managing to reach Spain.

Any suggestion that Venezuelan

cottages anything like -- is

anything like democracy is

ridiculous.

I totally agree. He is

but the latest opposition figure to

flee from Venezuela. I raised our

concerns with the Foreign Minister

on the 10th of October denied that

Venezuela is in crisis. This is a

moral, this is wrong and it is why

our Government has supported EU

sanctions that have been adopted

now.

We continue to see report of

violence and human rights violations

in Kashmir. There seems little or no

progress towards peace and security.

What recent discussions have you had

with the intent of mid-regarding

Kashmir and what assessment have you

made for the resolution of this? --

have you had with the Indian Prime

Minister regarding Kashmir.

This is

an issue to be resolved with the

governments of India and Pakistan.

We continued to champion issues

relating to human rights abuse

whenever they occur.

Henry Smith.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. We have lost

to thank the Kurdish administration

for protecting minorities in the

fight against Daesh over the recent

years. -- we have a lot to thank.

Can I call the Foreign Secretary to

stick with his counterparts in

Baghdad to the entire the

intransigence of the Federal Iraqi

Government was the aspiration of the

Kurdish people for independence? --

towards the aspirations of the

Kurdish people.

This has been a

difficult chapter for the Kurdish

region and also Iraq. So far because

at present on both sides and a

desire to reconcile, been no

nonphysical conflict on the area of

the Government. It is essential that

we find everything present

constitutional difficulties to make

sure that alongside the concerns of

the Kurdish people are recognised,

within a strengthened and united

Iraq. The UK will do everything in

its power to make sure that we put

our words to that effect.

Who shall

we have, yes. I was going to call

him but he is not standing. Jo

Swinson.

At the last foreign office

questions, I was told that the UK

could not pinpoint any direct

Russian cyber attacks on this

country. Today he tells us that the

Prime Minister's comments last week

about cyber espionage and disruption

refer to other countries. Will you

tell because what he thinks the UK

is uniquely immune to Russian

interference or is he just

complacent about the threat?

I

should be clear that because of the

sensitivity of the intelligence

involved it is impossible for us to

pinpoint these attacks in public and

the Prime Minister in referring to

middling in elections, was referring

to meddling in other countries.

If

he will confine himself to a short

sentence, I will call but if not I

want.

There is no hiding that the

loss of a British judge on the ICJ

is a major loss for British

diplomacy. What listeners will --

what lessons will be led to make

sure this doesn't happen again?

I

can't quite agree with the

construction offering places and

events but I will repeat my

congratulations to the Indian George

and, as the us will not, it has been

a long-standing objective of UK

foreign policy to support India in

the UN. -- to the Indian George

and,.

The military orders for the

Bedouin villages will involve the

forcible transfer of all four 400

people, something described by the

director of the Israeli human rights

organisation, as a war crime. If

Israel believes that such actions

can continue without consequence,

what reasonable they have to think

they can do anything other than

carry on with these kinds of actions

with impunity?

Mr Speaker, the

honourable gentleman's Woods and his

concerns are echoed by the UK, as

has been made repeatedly Lee.

Concerns about demolitions and that

are the things which we believe make

a peace settlement more difficult.

We are in contact with Israel in

relation to this. We hope that cover

an event, given opportunity for

Israel to recognise it can have a

viable two state solution, we will

do everything we can to press for

this as should the Palestinian

Government.

What representations

have the minister made to the

Government of Pakistan about human

rights abuses?

Thank you, Mr

Speaker. This is a region of

Afghanistan. So so interference in

Berkshire and would be a serious

issue. We are talking about a

different region and we will do

this.

My constituent has been

imprisoned in Egypt for several

weeks, having taking tramadol with

hotel management boyfriend's back

pain. She may be tried on Christmas

Day. -- having taking tramadol with

her on holiday to manage her

boyfriend's back pain. Will you make

representations to the Egyptian

authorities to make it known that

this was a naive young woman that

has made a bad mistake but not

committed a crime in her mind?

I

think the honourable gentleman and

recognise the work that he is doing

on behalf of his constituents. I can

tell him that we are providing every

possible conciliar rate assistance

to this lady and I have intervened

myself to the Egyptian Foreign

Minister.

Does the Foreign Secretary

regret the Russian veto of the UN

thought into the investigation of

the use of chemical weapons in

Syria?

I do, it is shameful. Another

aspect of Russia's continual

updating of some of the worst

excesses of the Assad regime. This

is where everything is able to

copper nickel to Russia at the end

of next month. -- this is one of the

things that I intent to take up when

I go to Russia at the end of next

month.

What assessment has befallen

office-mate of the current political

situation in Cambodia? -- has the

Foreign Office made of the current

political situation.

As the House

will be aware, the opposition leader

in Cambodia has been arrested and

imprisoned. Cambodia continues to be

a 1-party state. Increasingly

brittle crackdowns on the

opposition. This is in every of

extreme concern for the

international community. Cambodia

remains an outlier in the Asian

community.

Action is needed in

Rohingya to bring about a composite

end to this crisis. Can you update

us on what discussions you have

heard that the US allies or

attempted take an international --

allies have urged them to take the

lead?

Any pressure on Burma and the

Government would be greatly assisted

by a greater pressure from the US. -

Rex Tillerson, actively now

engaging. Burma is not an error with

the US is traditional in the year.

-- is not a place where the US is

traditionally in the lead. I have

mentioned some of the things we've

done at the UN and elsewhere to

concerted pressure on the premise

covered.

In his discussions with the

Government of India, I wonder if the

Foreign Secretary could tell us what

has been set by the human rights

record in the state of the print

job, and relation to one of my

constituent that has been in custody

since the 4th of May member -- the

4th of November without charge and

possibly there have been charges of

torture. And the Secretary of State

if I speak and the House how he is

working with the office of the Prime

Minister -- to work with my

constituent?

We have not had a

meeting with the constituent. We

take any allegation of torture

seriously. -- we have now had a

meeting. It