Uyghurs: Questions to Ministers on the European Parliament resolution on the human rights situation in Xinjiang, on the call “to propose an import ban on all products produced by forced labour and on products produced by all Chinese companies listed as exploiting forced labour”, and their call to implement “an ambitious corporate sustainability due diligence directive”. Question on the risks of repatriation of Uyghur refugees; and Question on the 50 Uyghur refugees who have been in detention in Thailand for close to 10 years.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL3030):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 9 June on the human rights situation in Xinjiang; and, in particular, the call “to propose an import ban on all products produced by forced labour and on products produced by all Chinese companies listed as exploiting forced labour”, and to implement “an ambitious corporate sustainability due diligence directive”. (HL3030)
Tabled on: 31 October 2022
Answer:
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon:
We are aware of the resolution passed by the European Parliament on 9 June regarding the human rights situation in Xinjiang. We continue to closely monitor the evidence of widespread human rights violations in Xinjiang, including forced labour, and in response have taken robust action. Over the last year we have provided new guidance to UK companies on the risks of doing business in Xinjiang, introduced enhanced export controls, and committed to introduce financial penalties for organisations that do not comply with modern slavery reporting requirements. The Procurement Bill will further strengthen the ability of public sector bodies to disqualify suppliers from bidding for contracts where they have a history of misconduct, including forced labour or modern slavery. We continue to keep our policy response under review.
Date and time of answer: 15 Nov 2022 at 16:52.
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Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL3029):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool::
To ask His Majesty’s Government what support they are providing to the government of Thailand to help the situation of refugees, particularly Uyghur refugees facing the risk of refoulement. (HL3029)
Tabled on: 31 October 2022
Answer:
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon:
The UK is committed to upholding the principle of non-refoulement and has repeatedly called on other countries to respect their obligations not to force persons to return to a country where there are substantial grounds for believing they would be in danger of being subjected to torture.
We have raised the detention of Uyghurs in Thailand directly with the Thai authorities at both Ministerial and official level, and continue to work closely with likeminded partners on the issue.
We continue to urge Thailand, as a State Party to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of or Punishment, not to undertake the refoulement of these individuals to China.
Date and time of answer: 15 Nov 2022 at 16:50.
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Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL3028):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool: :
To ask His Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Thailand regarding over 50 Uyghur refugees who have been in detention for close to 10 years in that country. (HL3028)
Tabled on: 31 October 2022
Answer:
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon:
The UK is committed to upholding the principle of non-refoulement and has repeatedly called on other countries to respect their obligations not to force persons to return to a country where there are substantial grounds for believing they would be in danger of being subjected to torture.
We have raised the detention of Uyghurs in Thailand directly with the Thai authorities at both Ministerial and official level, and continue to work closely with likeminded partners on the issue.
We continue to urge Thailand, as a State Party to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of or Punishment, not to undertake the refoulement of these individuals to China.
Date and time of answer: 15 Nov 2022 at 16:40.
