Tuesday Volume 660 14 May 2019 No. 300 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Tuesday 14 May 2019 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2019 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 69 14 MAY 2019 70 Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington) (LD): Is the House of Commons Secretary of State able to say anything about the security arrangements for those members of various Sri Lankan communities who have had to go into camps for their Tuesday 14 May 2019 own protection as a result of the attacks? The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock Mr Hunt: If the right hon. Gentleman is talking about people with security concerns in this country, they should obviously talk to their local police force PRAYERS about their concerns. In terms of what we are doing in Sri Lanka, we have sent a team from the Metropolitan [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] police counter-terrorism command to help families affected by the atrocity, and we have also sent the Foreign Office’s rapid deployment team to help families who Oral Answers to Questions wish to cut short their holidays. Mr Khalid Mahmood (Birmingham, Perry Barr) (Lab): The unity we saw after the Easter Sunday bombings has FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE sadly been threatened by reprisal attacks against ordinary Sri Lankan Muslims and refugee communities from The Secretary of State was asked— Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Will the Secretary of State do everything possible to encourage the Sri Lankan Security Situation in Sri Lanka Government to provide those innocent people with the shelter and protection they need? 1. Mr Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall) (Lab): What recent assessment he has made of the security Mr Hunt: I thank the hon. Gentleman for making situation in Sri Lanka. [910866] that important point. We all have to recognise that the The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth purpose of that attack—and, indeed, the attack in Affairs (Mr Jeremy Hunt): We remember the appalling Christchurch—was to stir up hatred between people of terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday with different faiths. That is why it is important for all enormous sadness and continue to assess the security leaders, both political and religious, to promote a message situation. Operations are ongoing, and we assess that it of tolerance. I thank the hon. Gentleman for doing that, is very likely that terrorists will try to mount further but he is absolutely right to say that the Sri Lankan attacks. authorities need to do it as well. Mr Sharma: What steps would the Secretary of State Cyprus like to see the British media take to report more responsibly on terrorist attacks, especially following the decision by 2. Bambos Charalambous (Enfield, Southgate) (Lab): The Sun, the Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror to publish What recent diplomatic steps he has taken to help to edited footage of the Christchurch murders despite a pursue a resolution to the division of Cyprus. [910867] public request from the New Zealand police authorities not to do so? The Minister for Europe and the Americas (Sir Alan Duncan): I had a productive meeting with the United Mr Hunt: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. Nations Cyprus consultant Jane Holl Lute on 8 January All Members of this House are proud that the media in this year, and my officials are in regular contact with this country are among the freest and most vibrant in her. I welcome the meeting of the two Cypriot leaders the world, but it is important that they exercise that on 26 February, and we are supporting those efforts. In freedom with responsibility when reporting terrorist March, the Prime Minister met the Cypriot President, incidents. The broadcasting of the Christchurch footage and the Foreign Secretary met Cypriot Foreign Minister was regrettable, and I very much support the comment Christodoulides to discuss how the UK can further by the Prime Minister of New Zealand that we should support any future settlement. not use the name of the perpetrator of the attacks to give him the glory that he was seeking. Bambos Charalambous: Will the Minister join me in Greg Hands (Chelsea and Fulham) (Con): One way condemning the decision of the Turkish Government to to improve the security situation is to raise prosperity begin drilling for oil and gas in the territorial waters of through trade. What discussions has my right hon. Cyprus, which not only jeopardises the chances of a Friend had with the Secretary of State for International successful resumption of the peace talks but risks a return Trade on improving our trading relationship with Sri to open conflict? Will he call on Turkey to immediately Lanka after Brexit? withdraw its drill ships from Cyprus’s exclusive economic zone? Mr Hunt: I thank my right hon. Friend for his question. I have discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary Sir Alan Duncan: Yesterday, I met the Turkish of State for International Trade on trade issues nearly ambassador and had very constructive discussions with every day, and Sri Lanka is one of the many countries him. The position of the UK is that, in line with the where we want to be able to continue with tariff-free UN convention on the law of the sea, exploratory and quota-free trade. We look forward to pursuing drilling should not proceed in any area where sovereignty those opportunities post Brexit. is under dispute. 71 Oral Answers 14 MAY 2019 Oral Answers 72 Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet) (Con): Does the Patrick Grady: It must be difficult for Foreign Office Minister agree that it will be impossible for talks between Ministers to find the UK’s colonial legacy landing the two sides to restart with a view to getting reconciliation inconveniently in their laps, but what is at stake here is and a settlement while the Turkish incursion into Cyprus’s not just Chagossian justice, but the UK’s standing in EEZ continues? the new post-Brexit world order. The UK must get on board and work with, not against, the UN, the ICJ and Sir Alan Duncan: We would obviously like to see the the rules-based order. It has to recognise that it cannot de-escalation of any tensions and constructive talks to throw its weight around anymore. Will the Department resume. We are doing our utmost as a guarantor power engage constructively with the UN to determine where to play our role in that, and I hope that all the participants sovereignty really lies for the Chagossians and, ultimately, can get together and talk seriously once again about accept that sovereignty should lie with the people? how some kind of settlement can be reached. Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley) (Lab): Did the Minister Harriett Baldwin: As the hon. Gentleman knows, that have any discussions with the Turkish ambassador about has never been the UK Government’s position. In fact, the re-run of the elections in Istanbul? Is there a possibility the Chagos archipelago has been under continuous that we may be sending election observers? British sovereignty since 1814. But he can deduce from my earlier answer that conversations are ongoing and Sir Alan Duncan: Yes, I did have such discussions, that we are making strong representations. The whole and I sought assurances from the ambassador that an world benefits from the security provided by having this invitation to election observers would soon be forthcoming, base in the Indian ocean. so that the election in Istanbul can be seen by the world to be free, fair and transparent. I believe that we have Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab): Whatever the outcome made good progress on securing such an invitation. of the sovereignty situation, another issue is that the Daniel Kawczynski (Shrewsbury and Atcham) (Con): marine preservation zone has made it possible to protect There has been serious speculation that we may be fish stocks for large parts of the eastern coast of Africa. willing to hand over some land from our British sovereign Wherever we end up, we must preserve the marine bases in the event of an agreement in Cyprus. Has the preservation zone. amount of land been agreed? Harriett Baldwin: We are proud of the UK’s record in Sir Alan Duncan: It has been the case for many years creating not just that zone, but others around the world. that we have been prepared to part with some of the They are incredibly important for the world’s oceans sovereign base land. In that sense, our position remains and demonstrate the importance of working together unchanged. both globally and through the Commonwealth to preserve oceans and fish stocks. Christian Matheson (City of Chester) (Lab): I have a constituent who was assaulted by bouncers at a club in Cyprus and is now in the regional neurological centre with Oman: Shihuh Tribe severe injuries. The authorities in Cyprus have dragged their feet during the investigation, but they have suggested 4. Brendan O’Hara (Argyll and Bute) (SNP): What that the perpetrators may have melted away across the discussions he has had with his Omani counterpart on border into northern Cyprus, where they are out of the treatment of the minority Shihuh tribe in the Musandam touch. Does the Minister agree that the continued division region. [910869] poses a threat to British tourists in Cyprus? The Minister for the Middle East (Dr Andrew Murrison): Sir Alan Duncan: I extend my sympathy and concern The Government are aware of the concern surrounding following that assault.