It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

As part of our human rights work in Egypt, we focus on lobbying to end pre-trial detention and improving prison conditions in Egypt. On human rights more broadly, the Foreign Secretary raised human rights in her first meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry in New York on 20 September. Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, James Cleverly, also raised human rights with Foreign Minister Shoukry and met human rights activists during his recent visit to Cairo. We welcome Egypt's new human rights strategy.

The UK continues to monitor the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza. We urge access into and out of Gaza, in accordance with International Humanitarian Law, for humanitarian actors, reconstruction materials and those, including Palestinians, travelling for medical purposes. We continue to urge the Egyptian authorities to show maximum flexibility in maintaining access through the Rafah crossing. The critically ill in Gaza should be able to access the urgent medical care they need.

The United Kingdom strongly opposes the death penalty in all countries and in all circumstances, as a matter of principle. This is especially the case for juveniles. This is in line with the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Arab Charter on Human Rights. We continue to raise human rights concerns, including the death penalty, with the Egyptian authorities, both privately and in forums such as the UN Human Rights Council. Following recent cases the Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa made clear to the Egyptian Government, at a senior level, our serious concern about the use of the death penalty.

It remains a long-standing policy of the United Kingdom to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. We continue to raise human rights concerns, including the death penalty, with the Egyptian authorities, both privately and in forums such as the UN Human Rights Council. Most recently, on 18 November, our Ambassador in Cairo raised our concerns over the death penalty with the President of Egypt's National Council for Human Rights.

We continue to raise our human rights concerns with the Egyptian authorities, particularly around detention and prison conditions. Most recently, our Ambassador in Cairo raised concerns over detention conditions with the President of Egypt's National Council for Human Rights during a meeting on 18 November. We continue to urge the authorities to ensure that all detainees are treated in accordance with relevant international human rights standards.

Egypt is not a member state of the Council of Europe and the decisions of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers generally focus on the Council of Europe membership. Nevertheless, the organisation plays a prominent role in promoting the humane treatment of offenders and decent prison conditions. The treatment of prisoners, both convicted and untried, in Egypt is an important concern of the UK. We regularly urge the Egyptian authorities to ensure that all detainees are treated in accordance with international human rights standards. During Egypt's Universal Periodic Review in the United Nations Human Rights Council in November 2019, we called upon the Egyptian government to ensure access to medical care and family visits in prisons, and to release all those detained for exercising the right to freedom of expression. The Foreign Secretary recently raised human rights issues with his Egyptian counterpart at the UK-Africa Investment Summit.

​Our Ambassador to Cairo raised concerns over the cases of Dr Essam El Haddad and his son Gehad El Haddad with the Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights in July 2019. He responded that he would convey these to the relevant authorities.

​We regularly raise our human rights concerns with the Egyptian authorities, particularly around detentions and prison conditions. We continue to urge the authorities to ensure that all detainees are treated in accordance with relevant international human rights standards. For example, during Egypt's Universal Periodic Review in November 2019, we called upon the Egyptian Government ensure access to medical care and family visits in prisons and to release all those detained for exercising the right to freedom of expression. Our Ambassador in Cairo last raised the specific cases of Essam El Haddad and Gehad El Haddad at senior level in July 2019.

It remains a long-standing policy of the United Kingdom to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. We have regularly made our position clear to the Egyptian Government.

We have particular concerns in Egypt regarding Article 122 of the Child Law in Egypt and cases involving the death penalty and juveniles. Our Embassy in Cairo has raised our concerns with the Egyptian authorities and asked them to take action to release political detainees who remain imprisoned and to review mass judicial decisions.

I raised our concerns in my interim Autumn Statement on Human Rights Priority Countries on 22nd October 2019. Our ambassador in Cairo repeated these concerns in a meeting with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 23 October 2019.

Egyptians have repeatedly demonstrated their desire for a secure, prosperous, and democratic country since the revolution of 2011. In that context, we look forward to protection of Egyptians' constitutional rights, freedom of expression and more space for Non-Governmental Organisations and civil society. We believe that these rights and freedoms are essential for Egypt’s long-term stability. We have raised specific concerns with the Egyptian authorities about the large number of arrests that followed the demonstrations in Egypt on 20 September.

We are also closely monitoring the situation in Iraq. The UK continues to support the Iraqi government to deliver on the legitimate demands of the protestors for jobs, services and tackling corruption. We have made clear our concerns over the use of force. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Middle East Minister, Andrew Murrison, released a statement on 3 October emphasising the right to peaceful protest. The Foreign Secretary spoke to Prime Minister Abdul Mehdi on 9 October to express UK concerns about the security response and push for the Government to take concrete action to respond to protesters’ concerns. Lord Ahmad also spoke to Foreign Minister Al-Hakim on 10 October to underline these points.

We are concerned about the arrest of activist Alaa Abd El Fattah and his lawyer Mohammed El-Baqer, including reports that they have been mistreated in prison. Officials in Cairo raised both of these cases with the Egyptian authorities on 3 October.

The UK regularly raises human rights with the Egyptian authorities, including concerns about extended pre-trial detention and prison conditions. We continue to urge the authorities to ensure that all detainees are treated in accordance with relevant international human rights standards. We have raised specific concerns about the recent arrests at a senior level in London and Cairo, most recently on 17 October. We will also use the opportunity of Egypt’s Universal Periodic Review on 13 November to press the Egyptian Government to take action to address prison conditions and guarantee rights to freedom of expression.

​We have been closely engaged on the case of Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh. Officials raised his case with Egyptian authorities on 4 July in London and on 7 July in Cairo. We will continue to urge the Egyptian authorities to ensure all detainees are treated in accordance with relevant international human right standards and continue to raise the importance of access to medical care.

​I have been following recent developments in Egypt carefully and have been receiving regular updates. I note the international attention former President Morsi's death has attracted and await with interest the results of the independent medical report ordered by the Egyptian Prosecutor General into the causes and circumstances.

Prison conditions is one of our human rights priorities in Egypt. We raise the issue of family visits regularly with the Egyptian authorities, most recently in May.

​Egypt is a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights Priority Country and the UK continues to urge the Egyptian Government to ensure full implementation of the rights and freedoms set out in Egypt's Constitution. We are deeply concerned about reports of torture and mistreatment in detention in Egypt. We will continue to urge the Egyptian authorities to ensure all detainees are treated in accordance with relevant international human right standards. We have raised our concerns in public and in private, including at Ministerial level, through our statement at the UN Human Rights Council and through our Human Rights and Democracy Report published on 5 June.

I reassure the noble Lord that we are deeply concerned about the recurring violence in Gaza and the surrounding region, and we regularly lobby the Israelis about the damage that their restrictions are doing to the lives and livelihoods of ordinary Palestinians. We have also raised concerns with the Egyptian authorities, but there is no excuse or justification for terrorism. We utterly condemn the violent acts of Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza. The firing of rockets towards civilian areas is unacceptable and must stop. I agree with the noble Lord that all parties should work together to agree a long-term sustainable plan to improve the situation with help from the international community, and we welcome efforts by those who are working to develop solutions that will ultimately lead to peace.

My Lords, we regularly discuss the situation in Gaza with the Israeli and Egyptian Governments. This includes the Minister of State for the Middle East raising our concerns with the Israeli authorities during his visit to Israel in May, as well as discussions with the Egyptian ambassador on 16 May. We are gravely concerned about the recent escalation of violence in Gaza. We welcome the Egyptian and United Nations brokered ceasefire and urge all parties to make progress towards a long-term agreement.

​While we have made no assessment on this specific issue, the British Government welcomes any steps towards the peaceful resolution of tensions and the end of hunger strikes; we welcome Egypt's role in this process. We regularly raise the situation of Palestinians in Israeli prisons with the Israeli authorities who have reiterated their commitment to treat prisoners and detainees humanely and in accordance with international law.

Egypt is an FCO Human Rights Priority Country and the UK regularly raises concerns about human rights with the Government of Egypt. We have not raised these individual cases with the Egyptian authorities, but will continue to urge them to ensure all detainees benefit from the protections and rights afforded to them by the Egyptian Constitution and are treated in accordance with relevant international human right standards.