Contributions
834 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSoft PowerMy hon. Friend is spot on. I agree that British innovation is a key soft power asset. We recognise the importance of innovation and technology for global Britain, which is why the…17 Mar 2020HANSARDSoft PowerMy hon. Friend is right to raise that issue. I have had the pleasure of visiting studios in Wales. I agree that our creative industries are at the forefront of the innovation I…17 Mar 2020HANSARDSoft PowerMy right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised that issue with his Iranian counterpart yesterday. We are deeply concerned about both the individuals the hon. Lady mentions. We…17 Mar 2020HANSARDViolence in DelhiThe events in Delhi in February were very concerning, and the British high commission in New Delhi is monitoring the situation closely. The death of one protester is one too many.…17 Mar 2020HANSARDViolence in DelhiI know that my hon. Friend takes a keen interest in this issue. We welcome the fact that there have been no new reports of rioting since February, although we are sure that…17 Mar 2020HANSARDSri Lanka: Human RightsOn 25 February the Minister for South Asia and the Commonwealth, my noble Friend Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, met the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister in Geneva to express the UK’s serious…17 Mar 2020HANSARDSri Lanka: Human RightsThe hon. Gentleman is right to raise this matter. In a statement on 27 February we raised our serious concerns about those reports of surveillance and harassment of human rights…17 Mar 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsI know that my hon. Friend has been working very hard, because I have been in contact with him over the weekend on behalf of his constituents who have been affected by the…17 Mar 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe are extremely concerned about the issues in Sri Lanka, to which I referred earlier in response to the question asked by the hon. Member for Harrow West (Gareth Thomas). As the…17 Mar 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to raise the issue that his constituents face in the Philippines. Travel advice is changing hourly—we have made over 100 changes in the past…17 Mar 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend is right to raise this issue. The UK and Ireland are in regular contact at the highest levels to discuss our respective responses to covid-19, and we will continue…17 Mar 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Lady is absolutely right to raise this issue. I know of the particular problem. I have spoken to other hon. Members about constituents who are probably in the same…17 Mar 2020HANSARDFreedom of Religion or BeliefI congratulate the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) on securing this incredibly important debate, and I commend him for his long-standing commitment to this issue. I also…12 Mar 2020HANSARD China’s Policy on its Uighur PopulationThe reality is that, now we have left the EU, designing the first piece of UK autonomous sanctions legislation will be complex, and it is worth taking the time to get it right.…11 Mar 2020HANSARD China’s Policy on its Uighur PopulationOur concerns about this area and the report that my hon. Friend refers to are very well known. The research in the report, and the potential use of forced labour, gives us a…11 Mar 2020HANSARD China’s Policy on its Uighur PopulationThat is absolutely right. Members have my commitment that we will introduce our own sanctions regime, but we have to put the secondary legislation in place to ensure that we get…11 Mar 2020HANSARD China’s Policy on its Uighur PopulationIt would be inappropriate to comment on potential designations before the regulations come into force.11 Mar 2020HANSARD China’s Policy on its Uighur PopulationI will move on; I do have to finish, and I hope to give my hon. Friend the Member for The Wrekin a couple of minutes at the end. I hope the hon. Gentleman will understand. Our…11 Mar 2020HANSARD China’s Policy on its Uighur PopulationI commend my hon. Friend the Member for The Wrekin (Mark Pritchard) on securing this important debate and on his excellent, well-informed speech. I thank hon. Members for their…11 Mar 2020HANSARDTurkey-Greece Border: RefugeesI am not as familiar with that particular programme as my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, but I am sure we will be able to find a full…10 Mar 2020