UK-Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council 2021

Thursday 9th December 2021 Written Statements

[The Minister for Asia (Amanda Milling)]

On Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 November, I chaired the ninth UK-Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council in London. The Council was the first in person since 2018 and was attended by elected leaders and representatives from Anguilla, Ascension Island, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, St Helena, the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, Tristan da Cunha and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The key themes of discussion at this year’s Council were environment and oceans, the International Maritime Organisation III code audit, the UK-overseas territories relationship, economic resilience, law enforcement, the response to and recovery from covid-19, the importance of mental health and protecting the vulnerable, and improving inclusivity in our societies.

Mr right hon. Friends the Prime Minister, and the Foreign Secretary, as well as HRH The Duke of Cambridge, addressed the Council. Other ministerial colleagues attending the discussions included the Minister for the Pacific and International Environment (the right hon. Lord Goldsmith), the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, my hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Robert Courts), the Minister for Security and Borders, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Hampshire (Damian Hinds), the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Faversham and Mid Kent (Helen Whately), the Minister for Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Charnwood (Edward Argar) and the Under-Secretary of State for Education, my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Will Quince). I was also joined by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Aldridge-Brownhills (Wendy Morton)

The Council agreed priorities and set out a number of important commitments and areas for joint work in the year ahead.

We discussed the importance of protecting the unique environments and biodiversity in the overseas territories, recognising that these are on the frontline of the effects of climate change. The territories expressed thanks to the UK for facilitating their presence at the COP26 summit. We agreed to prioritise climate change and environmental issues in future funding for the territories.

We reaffirmed our commitment to supporting the overseas territories in building successful and resilient economies, acknowledging the impact of external shocks, such as the covid-19 and natural disasters on the small and vulnerable economies of territories.

We recognised that the impacts of covid-19 were not yet over and committed to continue working together collaboratively to bolster the health services in the territories through existing and new links with the UK. We committed to work with the territories to access the limited supply of the UK’s therapeutics supply. We reaffirmed our commitment to improving the lives of people with mental health problems, including children and young people.

We reaffirmed our joint commitment to build upon cross-multi-agency law enforcement working to enhance co-operation and increase capacity in the territories. We also discussed the important role that Governments can play in promoting inclusive societies.

We agreed a joint communiqué, which was issued following the conclusion of the conference and was published on the gov.uk website.

The communiqué and associated press statement reflect the commitment of the Governments of the overseas territories and the UK to continue to work in partnership to achieve the vision set out in the June 2012 White Paper: “The Overseas Territories: security, success and sustainability”.

In line with our commitment in the White Paper, we will continue to report to Parliament on progress by Government Departments.

[HCWS455]