NEWS ON THE UN IN PARLIAMENT

13 NOVEMBER 2008

The House of Commons held a debate on international aid transparency.

12 NOVEMBER 2008

FCO minister Bill Rammell answered a written question from John Bercow on progress towards an international arms trade treaty.

Written answers given by DFID ministers on UN issues included:

1. Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (John Bercow)
2. UK overseas aid (Dai Davies)

11 NOVEMBER 2008

Oral questions to the Foreign Secretary included the issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Iran.

DFID minister Michael Foster answered a written question from Lyn Brown on refugee camps in Lebanon.

Written answers given by FCO ministers on UN issues included:

1. sale of small arms (Helen Southworth)
2. three questions from Phyllis Starkey on violence in the West Bank and Israel
3. Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (Dai Davies)
4. disarmament of militia in Darfur (Keith Simpson)

10 NOVEMBER 2008

DEFRA and DECC minister Lord Hunt answered a written question from Lord Jones on the impacts of climate change on island states.

Written answers given by FCO ministers on UN issues included:

1. two questions from William Hague on the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
2. resolutions at the UN General Assembly (Dai Davies)

6 NOVEMBER 2008

The House of Commons held a topical debate on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo [].

Written answers given by FCO ministers on UN issues included:

1. two questions from Mark Oaten on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo []
2. effect of the UN arms embargo on Somalia (John Bercow)
3. arms trading with Sudan (John Bercow)
4. human rights situation in Darfur (John Bercow)

Click here to view answers 2, 3 and 4.

5 NOVEMBER 2008

The House of Lords held a debate on piracy off the coast of Somalia. UNA-UK Chair Lord Hannay took part in the debate.

The International Development Secretary gave oral answers on a number of UN issues, including the Millennium Development Goals and climate change.

Written answers given by FCO ministers on UN issues included:

1. internally displaced persons in Chad (Keith Simpson)
2. human rights abuses in Cote D'Ivoire (John Bercow)
3. piracy off the coast of Somalia (Keith Simpson)
4. the UN Mission in Sudan (Keith Simpson)

Written questions on UN issues in the House of Lords included:

1. piracy (Lord Bradshaw)
2. gender diversity in the UN Human Rights Committee (Lord Rana)

4 NOVEMBER 2008

William Hague asked an urgent question on the security and humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Foreign Secretary made a written statement on the situation.

FCO minister Bill Rammell answered a written question from Greg Knight on piracy off the coast of Somalia.

MOD minister Bob Ainsworth answered a written question from Joan Humble on the recruitment age for the UK armed forces.

3 NOVEMBER 2008

The House of Lords held a debate on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. UNA-UK Chair Lord Hannay took part in the debate.