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Written Question
Freeports: Northern Ireland
Thursday 9th March 2023

Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland is compatible with the identification of a freeport in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We are committed to extending the benefits of our Freeports programme across the UK and continue to work with stakeholders from sectors and places across Northern Ireland on how best to do so.

This is another important reason why we need to see a restored Executive.


Written Question
Ukraine: Armenia
Thursday 28th April 2022

Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Armenia regarding its neutrality towards the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Written Question
Northern Ireland Protocol: Trade
Thursday 13th January 2022

Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what has been the percentage change since (1) the UK withdrawal from the EU on 31 January 2020, and (2) the application of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, in trade between Northern Ireland and (a) Great Britain and (b) the Republic of Ireland.

Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

Trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain is not considered international trade and is, therefore, not captured in our official trade statistics.

As set out in the July 2021 Command Paper, the UK is clear that significant trade diversion is occurring and the thresholds for A16 safeguards have been met.

The percentage change in trade value since the UK withdrawal from the EU on 31 January 2020 and the current application of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland is devised using the Irish Government's Central Statistics Office (CSO) at the following link: https://www.cso.ie/en/statistics/externaltrade/goodsexportsandimports/.

According to the CSO, compared to the similar period from 2018 (February 2018 to October 2019), Irish exports and imports with Northern Ireland have increased by 18 per cent and 38 per cent respectively, since the UK withdrawal from the EU (February 2020 to October 2021).

According to the CSO, compared to the similar period from 2018 (January 2018 to October 2018), Irish exports and imports with Northern Ireland have increased by 44 per cent and 89 per cent respectively, since the application of the Protocol.


Written Question
Armenia: Azerbaijan
Tuesday 30th November 2021

Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the recent violence on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, what steps they are taking to secure agreement between the governments of those two countries on (1) the demarcation of their shared border, and (2) a lasting peace agreement.

Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

UK diplomats continue to engage with partners. This includes in Baku, Yerevan and at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna where the UK continues to reinforce our support for the Minsk Group Co-Chairs and their work to facilitate negotiations over all outstanding matters relating to the conflict. The UK Government continues to urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to engage in substantive discussions under the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. The Minister for Europe and Americas reinforced these messages in her recent meetings with the Armenian Ambassador on 4 November and the Azerbaijani Ambassador on 17 November.


Written Question
Nagorno Karabakh: Politics and Government
Monday 29th November 2021

Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they recognise Nagorno-Karabakh as being part of the Republic of Azerbaijan; and whether they are aware of any Armenian Armed Forces located in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

The UK Government supports the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Azerbaijan whilst recognising the acceptance of a free expression of will on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh as laid out in the Minsk Group's Basic Principles. The UK Government has no independently verified evidence that Armenian Armed Forces are currently located in Nagorno-Karabakh. We continue to support the efforts of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs to secure a peaceful settlement to the conflict through substantive negotiations without preconditions and without the use of military means.


Written Question
Republic of Ireland
Friday 30th July 2021

Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the departure of the UK from the EU, whether the country of Ireland is formally called (1) the Republic of Ireland, or (2) Ireland, in UK law.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

It is the UK Government's policy to refer to the country of Ireland as 'Ireland', as can be seen in the latest FCDO geographical names index (March 2021) available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/geographical-names-and-information. The UK's departure from the EU has not changed this.


Written Question
France: Coronavirus
Monday 12th July 2021

Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of France about the recognition of proof of vaccine status against COVID-19 issued by the NHS, in (1) England, (2) Scotland, (3) Wales, and (4) Northern Ireland.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We work closely with French partners through the British Embassy in Paris and with the French Embassy in London to ensure that all travel restrictions are communicated to UK nationals, including on the recognition of vaccine status. As of 9 June, travellers from the UK to France who are fully vaccinated do not need to justify an essential reason for travel or self-isolate upon arrival. France accepts proof of vaccination status via the NHS App or an official NHS letter. Full information is available on our FCDO Travel Advice pages, which we update regularly.


Written Question
France: Diplomatic Service
Monday 12th July 2021

Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the British ambassador to France is appointed to serve the United Kingdom or Great Britain.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Her Majesty's Ambassador to the French Republic is formally approved by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Head of State of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. As an official of Her Majesty's Government, a British Ambassador therefore represents the whole of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.


Written Question
UK Relations with EU: Northern Ireland
Monday 28th June 2021

Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Her Majesty's British ambassador to France has discussed the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland with the foreign minister of France.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Ministers and Senior Officials regularly engage with their French counterparts on a range of priority issues. Her Majesty's Ambassador to France has discussed the Northern Ireland Protocol on a number of occasions with Senior Officials and Ministers in the French Government. The Prime Minister and President Macron also discussed the Protocol in the margins of the G7 Leaders Summit on 12 June, where the Prime Minister made clear his desire for pragmatism and compromise on all sides but underlined that protecting the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement in all its dimensions was paramount.


Written Question
Azerbaijan: Land Mines
Monday 21st June 2021

Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the governments of (1) Russia, and (2) Armenia, to have the location of land mines in Azerbaijan sovereign territory made available to the government of Azerbaijan.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

During her visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan in February the Minister for the European Neighbourhood and the Americas highlighted UK concern over the large amount of unexploded ordnance across the region. We understand from Azerbaijani government reports that as of 9 June 2021, 27 Azerbaijanis have been killed and over 100 injured by explosive remnants of war. We are deeply concerned by this ongoing loss of civilian life.

The UK Government continues to urge both countries, most recently at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on 3 June, to work together to ensure that humanitarian organisations have unimpeded access to the region and that de-mining maps are urgently provided to ensure the safety of civilians.