Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of permitting the Falkland Islands to negotiate with the EU to seek to remove tariffs on Falkland Islands exports of fish and meat products to the EU
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK Government is fully committed to supporting the Overseas Territories, and we will continue to do all we can to protect their interests. During negotiations of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, we made clear to the EU from the outset that we were negotiating on behalf of the Overseas Territories. However, the European Commission refused to negotiate a future relationship that included the Overseas Territories. We sought to change the Commission's position, but it declined to engage. As a result, tariffs now apply on exports from the Overseas Territories to the EU, in particular exports from the Falkland Islands. We are working with the Falkland Islands Government to agree the appropriate actions to mitigate against the impact of tariffs on their exports to the EU.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to negotiate with the EU on behalf of the Falkland Islands to remove tariffs on the export of fish and meat products from the Falkland Islands to the EU.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK Government is fully committed to supporting the Overseas Territories, and we will continue to do all we can to protect their interests. During negotiations of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, we made clear to the EU from the outset that we were negotiating on behalf of the Overseas Territories. However, the European Commission refused to negotiate a future relationship that included the Overseas Territories. We sought to change the Commission's position, but it declined to engage. As a result, tariffs now apply on exports from the Overseas Territories to the EU, in particular exports from the Falkland Islands. We are working with the Falkland Islands Government to agree the appropriate actions to mitigate against the impact of tariffs on their exports to the EU.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the impact to the Falkland Islands economy of the introduction of tariffs on Falkland Islands exports of fish and meat products to the EU.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK Government is fully committed to supporting the Overseas Territories, and we will continue to do all we can to protect their interests. During negotiations of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, we made clear to the EU from the outset that we were negotiating on behalf of the Overseas Territories. However, the European Commission refused to negotiate a future relationship that included the Overseas Territories. We sought to change the Commission's position, but it declined to engage. As a result, tariffs now apply on exports from the Overseas Territories to the EU, in particular exports from the Falkland Islands. We are working with the Falkland Islands Government to agree the appropriate actions to mitigate against the impact of tariffs on their exports to the EU.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (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 UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement on the export of fish and meat products from the Falkland Islands to the EU.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK Government is fully committed to supporting the Overseas Territories, and we will continue to do all we can to protect their interests. During negotiations of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, we made clear to the EU from the outset that we were negotiating on behalf of the Overseas Territories. However, the European Commission refused to negotiate a future relationship that included the Overseas Territories. We sought to change the Commission's position, but it declined to engage. As a result, tariffs now apply on exports from the Overseas Territories to the EU, in particular exports from the Falkland Islands. We are working with the Falkland Islands Government to agree the appropriate actions to mitigate against the impact of tariffs on their exports to the EU.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide regular assessments of the risks of climate change to the British Overseas Territories.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The environment is a devolved responsibility for the Overseas Territories (OTs), however the UK Government offers its support to tackle climate change in several ways. The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) has funded projects including the Joint Nature Conservation Committee which supported OTs in the Caribbean and Bermuda to assess the value of their natural capital and build resilience against hurricane related flood risks. This will enable them to have a detailed understanding of the risks hurricanes pose to their OT, and develop long term adaptation strategies. Defra have funded a project with the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership, focusing on the challenges faced by OTs from marine climate change impacts. This project will engage directly with regional experts across the UKOTs, to provide a consensus view on the key issues, and how OTs are responding to them. The work will culminate in a series of summaries for decision makers in the UKOTs. Through the UK Government funded Darwin and Darwin Plus Initiatives, the UK continues to support the ability of the OTs to increase their resilience and ability to adapt in the face of climate change by funding individual projects. The UK Government continues to have regular discussions with the OTs about potential climate change risks, to ensure this is adequately monitored.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will provide the funding to the government of St Helena for a new reservoir; and if so, when such funding will be provided.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK Government has financed major water infrastructure investments over the last 10 years, including reservoir enlargements. The UK is currently funding a capital investment programme on the island, and the St Helena Government are responsible for proposing and prioritising the list of individual projects. The St Helena Government is currently developing its long term water management strategy, which will identify potential water infrastructure needs.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the UK’s membership of the World Trade Organization includes the British Overseas Territories.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The United Kingdom's membership of the WTO does not currently include the Overseas Territories. The UK Government is constitutionally responsible for the international relations of the Overseas Territories, and should an Overseas Territory wish to participate in the WTO, the United Kingdom Government would look to assist in exploring the processes and options available.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to support the government of Tristan da Cunha in any future negotiations for a trade agreement with the EU.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Government is fully committed to supporting the Overseas Territories and we will continue to do all we can to protect their interests. The impact of the UK's departure from the EU is different for each territory, including the introduction of tariff on exports from the Overseas Territories. Tristan da Cunha's primary export of rock lobster to the EU is currently not subject to tariffs. Fish and coffee exports from St Helena are not significantly impacted. The Government will continue to work with the territories to mitigate against the impact of tariffs, as well as taking up the benefits of the UK's independent trade policy.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to support the government of Saint Helena in any future negotiations to secure market access for the export of (1) fish, and (2) coffee products to the EU.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Government is fully committed to supporting the Overseas Territories and we will continue to do all we can to protect their interests. The impact of the UK’s departure from the EU is different for each territory, including the introduction of tariff on exports from the Overseas Territories. Tristan da Cunha’s primary export of rock lobster to the EU is currently not subject to tariffs. Fish and coffee exports from St Helena are not significantly impacted. The Government will continue to work with the territories to mitigate against the impact of tariffs, as well as taking up the benefits of the UK’s independent trade policy.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the renewal of the licence for supplying communication services to the government of St Helena, what plans they have for competitive tendering in the process of granting the new licence.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The St Helena Government is responsible for the island's telecommunications policy as this is a devolved matter. Telecommunications on St Helena are currently governed under a 10-year licence issued to a service provider in 2012 which expires on 31 December 2022.
The St Helena Government is responsible for negotiating the new licence and has appointed technical consultants to assist in a review of the new licence and the future procurement exercise. The St Helena Government's tender process for the new licence holder has commenced and the deadline date for proposals is 26 February 2021.