Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
Her Majesty's Government what support they have offered to the French authorities in their action against Teodorin Obiang, Vice-President of Equatorial Guinea, in relation to allegations of embezzlement, corruption and extortion in that state.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
It is government policy to neither confirm nor deny the existence of a mutual legal assistance request.
The UWO provisions in the Criminal Finances Act 2017 are not yet commenced. When commenced, we expect that operational agencies will consider their use in appropriate cases when investigating the assets of individuals held in the UK.
Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are taking steps to ensure that Commonwealth countries do more to tackle global health threats, such as malaria.
Answered by Lord Bates
The UK is a leader in accelerating malaria control through our contribution to the Global Fund, direct support to countries to develop and implement malaria policies, and our extensive research programme for new drugs, diagnostic and insecticides. Since it started work, the Global Fund has spent over £13.6bn in Commonwealth countries.
In addition, DFID supports a number of Commonwealth countries, for instance Ghana, to tackle health threats by strengthening their health systems – one of the most important methods to prevent, detect and respond to emerging and existing health threats.
Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many specialist personnel, expert in international trade agreements within the Commonwealth, they have engaged by outsourcing to the private sector as part of the Brexit process; and how many of those have been engaged to deal specifically with trade agreements with South Africa.
Answered by Lord Price
The Department for International trade has not engaged any trade specialists, including for trade agreements with South Africa, via private sector outsourcing.
Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what process of consultation is in place between them and the Commonwealth Secretariat (1) prior to, (2) during, and (3) after, the process of setting the UK budget contribution; and what other parties are consulted.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Member State contributions to the Commonwealth Secretariat's general budget are based on scales agreed at the UN, which are then agreed by the Commonwealth's Executive Committee and Board of Governors. The UK is a member of both groups. All Commonwealth countries are represented at the Board of Governors. Through attendance at these meetings we ensure that UK funds are allocated and spent in an efficient and transparent manner.
Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which Government departments are responsible for setting the UK contribution to the Commonwealth Secretariat; on what basis it is set; and what data are used to determine increases or decreases in that contribution.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is responsible for the UK's assessed contribution to the Commonwealth. The UK remains the largest financial contributor to the Commonwealth Secretariat, providing around 32% of the total budget. Financial contributions to the Commonwealth Secretariat's general budget are based on scales agreed at the UN. Under existing Commonwealth guidelines, the budget is shared amongst the membership in accordance with three principles: capacity to pay, equitable burden sharing, and shared ownership and responsibility. This ensures that all members enjoy an equal voice within the organisation.
In addition to FCO assessed contributions, the Department for International Development also makes voluntary contributions to the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation, and a number of other Commonwealth programmes.
Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what UK contribution to the Commonwealth Secretariat budget they made for the years (1) 2010, (2) 2011, (3) 2012, (4) 2013, (5) 2014, (6) 2015, and (7) 2016; and, for each further year for which a budget has been set, what will be the contribution.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's assessed contributions to the Commonwealth Secretariat have been as follows:
2010/2011: £4,840,936
2011/2012: £5,168,586
2012/2013: £5,262,654
2013/2014: £5,326,331
2014/2015: £5,455,484
2015/2016: £5,469,640
Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the latest adjustments to the UK contributions to the Commonwealth Secretariat budget, particularly in relation to the scope and staffing of the Commonwealth Health and Education Unit and the measurement of progress of its work across the Commonwealth.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Through projects and programmes, the Commonwealth Secretariat's general budget - to which the UK pays an assessed contribution - is used to deliver outcomes outlined in the Commonwealth Secretariat Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan will be discussed and approved at the next Board of Governors meetings in March.
The UK's assessed contribution does not fund specific projects. The Department for International Development makes voluntary contributions to the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation and a number of Commonwealth programmes.
Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the potential effects on investment of uncertainty around issues of future market access, whether they plan to commit to (1) extending bilaterally the duty- and quota-free access that the least developed countries have had to the UK market since 2001 once the UK’s exit from the EU is completed; (2) honouring the duty- and quota-free market access granted to Caribbean countries since 2008 until new bilateral trade agreements have been concluded; and (3) unilaterally extending the duty- and quota-free access granted to sub-Saharan countries under the transitional arrangements established since 2008 until new bilateral trade agreements have been concluded.
Answered by Lord Price
While the UK is still a member of the EU, all rights and obligations will apply. There will be no initial change in the way we trade with developing countries. The new Department for International Trade will work with the Department for International Development on the structure and access to the UK’s markets to be offered to developing countries. This will reflect the UK’s longstanding support for Least Developed Countries and other developing country trading partners including through preferential trade agreements. This recognises that trade can be an effective way of growing economies and reducing poverty internationally.
Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to continue to recognise EU sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and food safety approvals for imports of agricultural products from the African, Caribbean and Pacific group countries once the UK’s exit from the EU is complete, or whether they plan to require exporters from those countries to secure separate SPS and food safety approvals for exports to the UK.
Answered by Lord Price
A new Department for Exiting the European Union has been established by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, to oversee arrangements for the UK’s exit from the EU after we have triggered Article 50. Until then the UK remains a full member of the EU.
Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what role they plan to take in the design of an international migration policy, based on respect for human rights, when they no longer chair the Khartoum Process.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is continuing its Chairmanship of the Khartoum Process, and remains committed in its support for human rights. Our focus remains on the implementation of the actions agreed at last year’s EU-Africa Valletta Summit on migration.
We are working with EU and international partners to ensure that EU funding underlying the Khartoum Process is properly monitored and overseen, including compliance with the EU Treaties which includes respect for human rights.