Tuesday Volume 699 20 July 2021 No. 37 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Tuesday 20 July 2021 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2021 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 789 20 JULY 2021 790 journalists are rounded up, pro-democracy protesters House of Commons are arrested and 1 million Uyghurs are incarcerated in detention camps. In October, before he was overruled Tuesday 20 July 2021 by the Chancellor and the Prime Minister, he said that there comes a point where sport and politics cannot be The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock separated. When is that point? Dominic Raab: The hon. Lady knows that the PRAYERS participation of any national team in the Olympics is a matter for the British Olympic Association, which is [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] required, as a matter of law under the International Virtual participation in proceedings commenced (Orders, Olympic Committee regulations, to take those decisions 4 June and 30 December 2020). independently. We have led the international response [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] on Xinjiang, and also on Hong Kong. Of course, as we have said, we will consider the level of Government representation at the winter Olympics in due course. Oral Answers to Questions Lisa Nandy: While the Foreign Secretary continues to duck the question, the Chinese Government have raised the stakes.Yesterday,he admitted that China was responsible FOREIGN, COMMONWEALTH AND for the Microsoft Exchange hack, which saw businesses’ DEVELOPMENT OFFICE data stolen and hackers demanding millions of pounds in ransom. He said that the Chinese Government The Secretary of State was asked— “can expect to be held to account”. He might want to have a word with the Treasury, Hong Kong: National Security Law because just two weeks ago, at Mansion House, the Chancellor said that it was time to realise Aaron Bell (Newcastle-under-Lyme) (Con): What recent “the potential of a fast-growing financial services market with assessment he has made of the effect of the National total assets worth £40 trillion”. Security Law on the people of Hong Kong. [902990] While the Foreign Secretary is imposing sanctions, the The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth Chancellor is cashing cheques. How does the Foreign and Development Affairs and First Secretary of State Secretary expect to be taken seriously in Beijing if he is (Dominic Raab): The national security law in Hong not even taken seriously around his own Cabinet table? Kong is not being used for its original avowed purpose, which according to Beijing was to target Dominic Raab: I thank the hon. Lady, but she is … wrong on two counts. It was yesterday that the UK, “a tiny number of criminals who endanger national security”. along with our EU, NATO and US allies and Canada, Instead, it is being used to stifle the freedoms of the Australia and New Zealand, publicly attributed the people of Hong Kong and undermine the joint declaration. Microsoft Exchange server attacks to the Chinese; it was not then that they took place. She is also wrong in Aaron Bell: I welcome the continuing success of the her characterisation of the Mansion House speech. Of new visa relief for holders of British national overseas course, we have made it clear right across Government status; it reflects the UK’s historic and moral commitment that we will hold the Chinese Government to account to the people of Hong Kong in the face of the new on human rights, but also on cyber-attacks or other national security law, which continues to be used to nefarious activities, while also seeking a constructive crack down on freedom of expression, as we have just relationship. seen from the recent closure of Apple Daily. Will my right hon. Friend confirm what steps he is taking to Sexual Violence in Conflict: Ethiopia ensure that those Hongkongers will be welcomed to Britain and able to integrate into our local communities? Anthony Mangnall (Totnes) (Con): What steps he has taken to deploy personnel from the Preventing Sexual Dominic Raab: I think that this is the most big-hearted Violence in Conflict initiative UK team of experts to offer that the UK has made since the Indian Ugandans Ethiopia. [902991] fled Idi Amin. My hon. Friend is right that it is not just about offering safe haven; the Ministry of Housing, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Communities and Local Government has announced a Commonwealth and Development Affairs (James Duddridge): £43 million dedicated support package to ensure that Our priority is to get access for humanitarian actors in BNOs can integrate and thrive in our country. Tigray. We have seen some improvements since the Foreign Secretary called for greater access, but it is still Mr Speaker: I call the shadow Foreign Secretary. not good enough. We have, however, deployed an expert at PSVI to Ethiopia in June for a scoping mission, Lisa Nandy (Wigan) (Lab) [V]: We have watched as recommendations from which will outline further support the situation has deteriorated in Hong Kong and as that may be possible, including additional deployments. genocide is committed in Xinjiang. The Foreign Secretary has issued statements and introduced sanctions while Anthony Mangnall: I thank the Foreign Secretary and clinging to the absurd prospect of boarding a plane to the Minister for deploying a member of the PSVI unit Beijing next year to participate in a public relations or team—whichever we are calling it. It is particularly coup for the Chinese Government. He is asking the welcome that we are stepping forward and providing royal family and senior politicians to stand by while that assistance, but in the light of the fact that the 791 Oral Answers 20 JULY 2021 Oral Answers 792 United Nations cannot consider any of the issues without money. The FCDO is uniquely placed to bring together a resolution, will the UK Government push for a resolution diplomatic clout and humanitarian expertise, to ensure of the United Nations Human Rights Council to consider the drive for more effectiveness in the response to all the ongoing human rights abuses in the Tigray region? humanitarian crisis through preparedness, and an example of that is the G7 famine compact. James Duddridge: We look at all options. Under the G7 presidency, we issued a joint statement of Foreign Patrick Grady: In that case, what is the Minister’s and Development Ministers on 2 April; there was also a message to constituents in Glasgow North who have statement on 2 May and a communiqué from leaders on donated in good faith to UK Government aid match 13 June. We will continue to work with UN colleagues programmes such as those run by Mary’s Meals or War as well. Child, who have now been told that the match funding they were expecting for every pound donated by a Mr Speaker: I call the shadow Minister. member of the public will be delayed at least until next year? That is delaying and slowing down vital life-saving Stephen Doughty (Cardiff South and Penarth) (Lab/ humanitarian work, so when are the aid match funds Co-op): I welcome the Minister’sresponse. The allegations going to be released? Hopefully it will be sooner rather of rape and sexual violence have shocked the world. I than later. [Interruption.] also welcome the recent comments by our permanent representative to the United Nations about the shocking James Cleverly: As my ministerial colleagues have attacks on humanitarian workers, including those in just said, the hon. Gentleman answers his question in recent days. Unfortunately, we have heard increasingly his question. I pay tribute to the generosity of spirit of inflammatory language from Prime Minister Abiy, and the people of the UK—all parts of the UK—who have in recent days fighting involving Tigrayan forces has contributed to humanitarian relief causes. I also pay allegedly spread to the Afar region. With famine, violence tribute, of course, to the excellent work of the FCDO and so many needs increasing, will the Minister confirm members of staff who are based in East Kilbride; they whether our total support to Ethiopia will increase or do fantastic work . be cut this year? Kerry McCarthy: May I ask the Minister specifically James Duddridge: We are committed to helping the what support is being made available to the small island community, and our support overall will of course states?Theyhaveclimatevulnerability—theyareparticularly increase, but I think the hon. Gentleman is talking not vulnerable to extreme weather events—and they have about support but about finance. Actually, what is been devastated financially by the pandemic, but the critical is our focus on resolving the conflict, because metrics that are used to calculate whether they count as only then can we get humanitarian partners in to deliver least-developed countries often do not take into account the aid. Aid convoys have come under attack and those particular vulnerabilities. What is he doing to 600 vehicles are needed each week, so without a diplomatic ensure that aid will get to them, and that debt relief is effort to quell that conflict—for the Eritreans to remove also considered? themselves from Ethiopia and to quell the types of additional conflicts that the hon. Gentleman is talking James Cleverly: The hon. Member makes an important about—any more money is not going to get through. point, and we take our responsibility to small island nations seriously. That issue does not necessarily fall Overseas Humanitarian Work within the humanitarian spend, which is designed for Patrick Grady (Glasgow North) (SNP): What recent more acute need, but we will of course, through things assessment he has made of the potential effect of reductions like COP26, take into consideration the factors that are in the UK aid budget on the UK’s humanitarian work difficult for small nations to deal with, whether they be overseas.