Results 1-20 of 6,064 for speaker:Alistair Burt
- Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Afghanistan (16 May 2013)
Alistair Burt: The information is as follows. (a) The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Department for International Development (DFID) are working together to ensure the Afghan Government implements its national and international human rights commitments and obligations, including the UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Implementation of the Afghan...
- Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Afghanistan and Pakistan (16 May 2013)
Alistair Burt: The FCO has supported opinion surveys which looked at attitudes towards governance, religion and society in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). In 2010 and 2011, these surveys included a question related to “US drone strikes in the FATA”. The proportion of respondents that believed that drone strikes were never justified rose from 59% in 2010 to 63% in 2011. No...
- Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Altaf Hussain (16 May 2013)
Alistair Burt: The activities of the Muttahida Quami Movement and Altaf Hussain are not a matter for the British Government, provided that they are lawful. The police are the appropriate body to investigate any allegations of criminal acts.
- Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Bangladesh (16 May 2013)
Alistair Burt: The terrible event of the Rana Plaza collapse in Savar has highlighted the importance of following the law, enforcing regulations and eliminating the underlying corruption that increases daily risk to innocent individuals in Bangladesh. The British Government is committed to improving living and working conditions in Bangladesh. The Ethical Trading Initiative, supported by the Department for...
- Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Bangladesh (16 May 2013)
Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has had no recent discussions with his European counterparts or the European Commission on plans to use preferential trade access to encourage better health and safety regulations in Bangladesh. The preferential trade access is a policy which is owned by the...
- Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Bangladesh (16 May 2013)
Alistair Burt: The British Government is very concerned about the recent violent protests and deaths in Bangladesh. There have been a number of outbreaks of violent unrest in Bangladesh since mid-February, resulting in approximately 200 deaths to end April. We continue to monitor the situation closely. On the specific 5- 6 May violence, we have calls for the Government of Bangladesh to conduct an impartial,...
- Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Pay (16 May 2013)
Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has performance procedures where a performance related pay (PRP/bonus) is only paid to a qualifying member of staff. There are robust misconduct procedures where the suspension or removal of a PRP/bonus payment could be imposed as a penalty for an act or acts of gross misconduct where dismissal was not appropriate. In such circumstances, the member of...
- Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Syria (16 May 2013)
Alistair Burt: The British Government has led the way in introducing EU Measures against the Syrian regime, including against President Assad. All items currently prohibited under the EU Syria sanctions are listed in the official journal of the EU http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2 012:330:0021:0051:EN:PDF This means that no UK company can sell these goods to or buy these goods...
- Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (16 May 2013)
Alistair Burt: We continue to make clear, in discussions at the UN Security Council, the importance of full respect for human rights and note that the latest Security Council Resolution on MINURSO added a new emphasis on human rights, encouraging Morocco and the Polisario to continue in their respective efforts to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in Western Sahara and the Tindouf refugee...
- Written Answers — Home Department: Armed Conflict: Syria (15 May 2013)
Alistair Burt: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. We judge that Syria is now the number one destination for jihadists anywhere in the world today. Violent extremist groups are attracting a large number of foreign fighters of all nationalities, including a substantial number of UK citizens. We are unsure of the precise number involved in fighting...
- Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Bahrain (15 May 2013)
Alistair Burt: We have received representations from two non-governmental organisations (NGOs). We explained that the views expressed in the guest blogs for World Press Freedom Day that were published on the British embassy in Bahrain's webpage do not reflect those of the UK Government. All views expressed are solely those of the authors. Our most recent human rights report made clear that we have some...
- Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Bahrain (15 May 2013)
Alistair Burt: To mark World Press Freedom Day, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) asked journalists and bloggers to write guest blogs and articles in order to highlight freedom of expression across the world through personal testimonies. We had over 20 contributions from our embassies—including blogs, videos, and articles. All views expressed in guest blogs for World Press Freedom Day are...
- Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Egypt (15 May 2013)
Alistair Burt: The Government remains concerned about reports of people-trafficking in the Sinai. We have raised these concerns with the Egyptian and Israeli authorities, most recently with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in March 2013. We have also raised the treatment of refugees in Sinai with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Cairo, which, at the request of the Egyptian authorities, deals...
- Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Saudi Arabia (15 May 2013)
Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), discussed women's rights with the Foreign Minister, HRH Prince Saud al-Faisal, when he visited Saudi Arabia in July 2011—including education and employment opportunities, and allowing women to drive vehicles. The last discussion he had with Prince Saud on...
- Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Bahrain (14 May 2013)
Alistair Burt: We are aware of reports that Ms Al Asfoor and Ms Al Mosawa have been charged with activities relating to terrorism following their arrest on 20 April at the Grand Prix circuit. They have both been sentenced to an initial 60 days in prison, after which another hearing will take place to determine their further detainment or release. We encourage the Government of Bahrain to ensure that due...
- Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Israel (14 May 2013)
Alistair Burt: None of the Israeli companies that participated in the UK Israel Tech Hub mission to the UK in April are based in illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories or the Golan Heights. We have no information on whether these companies have provided any equipment, services or infrastructure to any such settlements.
- Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Iraq (13 May 2013)
Alistair Burt: I refer the hon. Member to the response the Senior Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Warsi, gave in the other place on 18 March 2013, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA116.
- Jobs and Business (10 May 2013)
Alistair Burt: Not guilty.
- Hezbollah (9 May 2013)
Alistair Burt: I thank the hon. Member for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow (Mr McCann) for raising this important issue; for the clear and unequivocal support that he has given to the forces of stability in the middle east; for the way that he has pointed out the risks and the dangers that Hezbollah action poses in the area; for his support for the state of Israel; and for his courtesy in sending...
- Burma (Human Rights) (8 May 2013)
Alistair Burt: I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, Southgate (Mr Burrowes) on securing this timely and important debate on the issues facing Burma. I thank him for his usual courtesy in giving us sight of his speech so that I am able to refer to a number of the issues he raised. I also thank Members for attending the debate, a larger number than is usual for a late-night Adjournment...