We share many of the concerns highlighted in the US House of Representatives' letter to Secretary of State Blinken, not least around freedom of expression and political debate. We are clear in our expectation that Turkey, like all countries, should live up to its human rights obligations towards all its citizens. The Minister for the European Neighbourhood and the Americas raised a range of human rights issues on 21 April with her Turkish counterpart and urged swift implementation of the Human Rights Action Plan published in March. Working with the US and other international partners, we will continue to encourage Turkey, including at Ministerial level, to act in line with the conventions of the Council of Europe and to make greater progress on wider human rights reforms.

We have regular discussions with Turkish counterparts, including ministers, about human rights issues, where we encourage Turkey to take greater steps to improve its human rights record. The Minister for the European Neighbourhood and the Americas raised a range of human rights issues on 21 April with her Turkish counterpart. We welcomed the publication of Turkey's human rights action plan on 2 March 2021 and urge Turkey to ensure its prompt and thorough implementation.

Through the UK's Conflict, Stability and Security Fund we have provided capacity building partnerships, and promoted human rights standards, with Turkish government institutions involved in migration management and the labour market, which includes trade unions. This work is supporting an evidence-based approach on tackling child and labour trafficking; fostering the protection of vulnerable migrants in the workplace; and promoting greater access to opportunities in formal labour sectors.

The Government continues to work for the preservation and strengthening of effective arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation measures, taking into account the prevailing security environment. To that end, we will continue our engagement with civil society and academia. The Government welcomes this project and will follow it with interest.

The UK is deeply concerned by the deteriorating security situation in the north-east of Mozambique, and the increasing attacks by groups with links to Islamic extremism. As the Minister for Africa made clear publicly on 26 and 28 March, we condemn the recent appalling attacks in Palma, Cabo Delgado and we stand with the people of Mozambique against terrorism. To date, the insurgency has claimed over 2,000 lives and displaced over 700,000 people.

We are working with the Government of Mozambique to address the root drivers of conflict and instability, including through engagement with the Government of Mozambique's regional development authority in Cabo Delgado, and by providing targeted assistance under the framework of a Defence Memorandum of Understanding. The UK also co-chairs, with Ireland, the International Community Crisis Taskforce. This brings together the Mozambican government and the international community in high-level discussion about humanitarian and other crises, including the ongoing crisis in Cabo Delgado. UK Aid has provided £20m of humanitarian and development support to people in the north-east of Mozambique, ensuring they have access to food, shelter and basic healthcare.

When we have concerns about humanitarian issues and conditions in a country, we raise these directly with the government concerned. Denmark is party to both the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the 1951 Refugee Convention and we are confident that Denmark has a robust legal rationale to demonstrate this approach and is in compliance with its obligations under both Conventions.

The UK is a longstanding supporter of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). We are clear that a fair settlement for Palestinian refugees must be agreed as part of a wider negotiated peace settlement. Until that time, the UK remains firmly committed to supporting UNRWA and Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. In Financial Year 2020/2021, the UK provided £63.6m to UNRWA, which includes £7m to the Syria Emergency Appeal and £3.8m to the OPTs Emergency Appeal. Decisions on UK aid to UNRWA in Financial Year 2021/2022 are currently being considered in the context of a temporary overall reduction in Overseas Development Assistance, as announced by the Foreign Secretary on 26 November.

The UK has long provided support to refugees in Kenya and appreciates the hospitality that the Government of Kenya has for decades shown to refugees and asylum seekers. We are aware of their recent decision to close the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps and are working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other development partners to find solutions that are durable, safe and in line with Kenya's national and international obligations. We acknowledge, as the Roman Catholic Bishops of Kenya have, that full closure of the camps in a short timeframe would pose an significant challenge. We will continue to press for solutions that are designed collaboratively and in line with International Refugee Law.

As the Integrated Review sets out, the UK as an open economy needs to engage with China. We will continue to pursue a positive economic relationship while at the same time increasing protection of our critical national infrastructure, institutions and sensitive technology, and strengthening the resilience of our critical supply chains, so that we can engage with confidence. In November 2020, the Government introduced the National Security and Investment Bill to Parliament, which represents a significant upgrade to the UK's powers to intervene in transactions from any country that would undermine national security.

The UK has responded to China's actions in Hong Kong by creating a new immigration route for British Nationals (Overseas) and their eligible family members and dependents, suspending the extradition treaty with Hong Kong and extending the arms embargo applied to mainland China to include Hong Kong.

In respect of Xinjiang, the UK has announced measures to help ensure that no British organisations, whether government or private sector, deliberately or inadvertently, are profiting from or contributing to China's human rights violations in the region and, in March, we imposed Global Human Rights sanctions on four Chinese officials and an entity responsible for those violations, alongside the EU, US and Canada.

We are clear in our discussions with China that our longstanding policy on Taiwan has not changed: we consider the Taiwan issue one that should be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue. We have made clear our concern at any activity by China and Taiwan that risks destabilising the status quo.

We have welcomed President Abbas' announcement of dates for legislative and Presidential elections in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the first time since 2006. We encourage the Palestinian leadership to work toward strong, inclusive, accountable and democratic institutions, based on respect for the rule of law and human rights. Free and fair elections are an important and necessary step. The UK will work closely with the Palestinian Authority and international partners to support this, including encouraging the Government of Israel to allow elections in East Jerusalem, in keeping with the Oslo Accords. The Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa spoke to the Israeli Ambassador to the UK on 19 April to reiterate the importance of Palestinians living in East Jerusalem being permitted to vote in Palestinian Legislative Council elections. We also look forward to maintaining excellent relations with the new Israeli government, when formed, and working closely together.

The UK has a long-standing commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights internationally and defending democratic freedoms is fundamental to our foreign policy. On Myanmar, we have used our presidencies of both the G7 and the UN Security Council to secure strong statements to uphold the human and political rights of parliamentarians. The Minister for Asia formally summoned the Myanmar Ambassador twice and stressed that State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and others who had been arbitrarily detained should be released. In Turkey, we continue to make clear that we expect the government to undertake any legal processes or actions against opposition MPs fairly, transparently and with full respect for their human rights and the rule of law. In Venezuela, we are concerned at reports of the detention of opposition MPs and continue to call on all Venezuela's leaders to support the restoration of democracy. We will continue to support democracy and the work of parliamentarians worldwide.

We are concerned by the legal action taken against the People's Democratic Party (HDP) and its officials, including MPs and mayors, accused of alleged terrorist links. If those links are proved to be accurate, we urge the HDP to distance itself entirely from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and its ongoing terrorist activity. We have made it clear to Turkey that we expect the government to undertake any legal processes or actions against opposition parties, MPs, party officials, elected mayors, human rights defenders and journalists, fairly, transparently and with full respect for the rule of law. My colleague the Minister for the European Neighbourhood and Americas raised these issues with the Turkish Ambassador on 30 March. Officials from the British Embassy in Ankara also regularly meet members of the HDP to discuss their concerns. Working with our international partners, we will continue to encourage Turkey, including at Ministerial level, to make greater progress on wider human rights reforms.

The Minister for the European Neighbourhood and the Americas, Wendy Morton MP, is aware of the allegations of "pushbacks" conducted by Frontex in the Aegean Sea and is monitoring the situation via the British Embassy in Athens. Greece has denied using any illegal practices. Minister Morton understands that Frontex has conducted an internal investigation into the allegations, and that the European Parliament has established a permanent standing committee in order to scrutinise Frontex activity in the Aegean. HMA Athens raised this issue with Greek Migration Minister Mitarakis on 10 March 2021 and we will continue to urge all parties to uphold international human rights standards in respect of the migrants and to avoid any actions that may endanger human life.

We are aware of the decisions adopted at the 164th session of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians of the Inter- Parliamentary Union and are considering its findings on the human rights situation in Turkey. We regularly engage bilaterally with Turkey on human rights, including at Ministerial and ambassadorial level, to discuss our concerns. We are also active participants in Council of Europe discussions on Turkey. We have encouraged Turkey to implement swiftly and fully its newly published human rights action plan as a positive step in improving the situation.

We are aware of reports of the arrest of Mr Gergerlioğlu, MP for the People's Democratic Party (HDP). We have made it clear to Turkey that we expect the government to undertake any legal processes or actions against opposition parties, MPs, party officials and elected mayors, as well as human rights defenders and journalists, fairly, transparently and with full respect for the rule of law. Our Embassy meets regularly with the HDP leadership, as it does with other opposition parties, to discuss their concerns, including the arrest of HDP MPs. We will continue to engage closely with Turkey to encourage the full protection of fundamental rights of all peoples, regardless of their legitimate political affiliations, particularly in the areas of freedom of expression and assembly, press freedom and the treatment of detainees. We expect Turkey to treat detainees in accordance with International standards, including access to lawyers and medical care.

Securing aid cross-border aid access into Syria is a top priority for the UK. The UK regularly raises the issue of UN-mandated cross-border access, and we are using our position at the UN Security Council, and in bilateral discussions, to push for greater aid access into Syria and to urge renewal of Resolution 2533. Russia, backed by China, has reduced cross-border aid access into Syria, placing political support for the Assad regime above lifesaving support for the Syrian people.

The UK is clear that assistance via Damascus alone will not sufficiently meet the needs across the whole of Syria and so remains committed to the delivery of aid to those most in need in Syria, through all mechanisms. After a decade of conflict, it is essential to renew the resolution to avoid further humanitarian disaster.

The UK has been a leading donor to the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh, having committed £293.5 million since August 2017. This has been channelled through UN agencies and NGOs, working alongside the government of Bangladesh. UK aid has been instrumental in improving the lives of the 890,000 refugees and the vulnerable local Bangladeshi communities in Cox's Bazar district. Our funding has provided lifesaving support including food, healthcare, nutrition, education, clean water and sanitation, and targeted support for women and girls. The UK continues to lead international efforts to maintain attention on the Rohingya crisis and seek durable solutions and accountability for atrocities committed. This includes work through the UN Security Council and the international conference hosted in October 2020 alongside the US, EU and UN.

Over the last ten years, the Assad regime has consistently and deliberately undermined the pursuit of peace and caused untold suffering for Syria. The UN's 2021 Humanitarian Needs Overview has reflected a sharp increase in requirements, with over 13 million people in need of aid; 5.9 million are in need of shelter, 12.4 million are food insecure and 2.4 million children are out of school.

Delivering results in Syria, in a wide range of geographic areas and sectors, with a constantly evolving situation on the ground, is extremely complex and challenging. In regime-held areas, regime officials regularly limit or delay issuing visas to humanitarian workers inhibiting their ability to effectively deliver aid, and also restrict some operations such as the transport of medical supplies.

It is unacceptable that the Assad regime continues to deny aid access to millions of people in Syria. The UK continues to call upon all parties to the conflict to engage constructively, increase aid access, uphold International Humanitarian Law and protect civilians.

The Government values the work of the Prison Reform Trust and, specifically, the ongoing dialogue with the Trust as to how best to support those serving the sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP), whether in prison or in the community.

The Government and officials acknowledge that recalling any offender to custody involves some disruption. However, we have not identified cases of “unnecessary” recalls of offenders subject to IPP licences. HM Chief Inspector of Probation found in a thematic review of the Probation Service’s culture and practice on recall, published on 10 November last year, that offender managers are considering, properly, public protection when deciding how to respond to evidence that offenders have breached their licence conditions in such a way as to indicate escalating risk. Thus, where an offender on an IPP licence is recalled to custody, it is because the Probation Service has concluded that the offender’s risk is now too high for it to be managed effectively in the community, even with the imposition of additional licence conditions.

However, offender managers must always consider whether there are safe alternatives to recall when responding to breaches of licence conditions and evidence of increased risk. Additionally, HM Prison and Probation Service is working to improve the quality and timeliness of its risk assessments following recall, so that the Parole Board may in some cases safely direct the re-release of recalled offenders on an IPP licence earlier than is currently the case.

The Home Office regularly engage with our international counterparts and seek to incorporate their findings into our evidence base, and this has informed our work to date.

We have already committed £14 million for a cross-government Refugee Transitions Outcomes Fund to offer greater support to refugees with a focus on employment, housing and wider integration.

Building on this programme and other schemes available, we will develop a package of tailored support - such as language training, skills development and work placements – to help refugees build their lives in the UK.