Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is their intention that the Common Travel Area between the UK and the Republic of Ireland would continue if the UK ceased membership of the EU.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), believes Britain’s best future lies within a reformed EU. He is focused on addressing the concerns of the British people and is confident that the right agreement can be reached.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the UK, as one of the three guarantor powers of Cyprus, was consulted in connection with the request by Russia to the government of Cyprus for the provision of military facilities on that island.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have discussed with the Republic of Cyprus their dialogue with the Russian Federation on the provision of facilities for humanitarian and emergency purposes. The Republic of Cyprus have stated very clearly that they have no plans for a Russian military base on the island.
The UK remains fully engaged on issues of regional security with the Republic of Cyprus, while recognising that it is for the Republic of Cyprus to decide which bilateral agreements to sign.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they participated in the election observer presences at the recent elections in Turkey; and whether OSCE or Council of Europe observer delegations were also present at those elections.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The British Government deployed 2 Long Term Observers to join 18 other Long Term Observers in the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Limited Election Observation Mission for the early parliamentary elections in Turkey on 1 November 2015.
Delegations from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE also observed the elections in Turkey on 1 November.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they participated in the election observer presence at the recent elections in Azerbaijan; and whether OSCE or Council of Europe observer delegations were also present at those elections.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly decided not to send observers. However the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe sent a 28 member observation team.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government who are the Members of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; and what is the political affiliation of each Member.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
A list of full and alternate UK members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), as well as their party affiliations and European political groupings, is attached here. The current delegation consists of those members who were appointed by the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), on 15 January 2013 and includes Members from both Houses. The party distribution should reflect the composition of the House of Commons. However, the delegation remains unchanged from before May’s general election (apart from, sadly, Charles Kennedy). Therefore, some existing UK PACE members no longer have seats in Parliament. This delegation can continue for up to a maximum of six months from the date of May’s general election. The new delegation will be appointed by the Prime Minister by November 2015. The party distribution will reflect the composition of the House of Commons.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether members of the Spanish Guardia Civil were present at the Queen's Birthday Parade in Gibraltar; whether those members wore their Spanish uniforms; and what assessment they have made of whether the Spanish Guardia Civil has facilitated incursions by Spanish vessels into the British waters at Gibraltar.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Representatives from local Spanish authorities, including the Guardia Civil, are invited to Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Parade every year. Two officers from the Guardia Civil attended this year’s Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Parade and Garden Party in ceremonial dress. The officers paid full respect to the Colours of Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Gibraltar Regiment.
Guardia Civil vessels have been involved in unlawful incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters around Gibraltar. Although unlawful incursions by Spanish state vessels are a violation of sovereignty, they have no legal impact. These incursions do not weaken or undermine the international legal basis for UK sovereignty over British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. We protest all unlawful incursions to the Spanish authorities.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made representations to the government of Mexico about human rights in that country, and about access to water and sewage services for protestant families in Mariano Matamoros in the state of Chiapas.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The British Government attaches great importance to the support of human rights around the world, in Mexico as elsewhere. We are aware of reports that some Protestant communities face discrimination in certain areas of Mexico and will continue to monitor the situation closely. We encourage efforts by the Mexican government to strengthen processes and mechanisms to prevent human rights violations and ensure that those responsible for violations are brought to justice. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), discussed human rights with President Peña Nieto during his State Visit to the UK in March this year. Our Embassy in Mexico City has an ongoing programme of meetings and discussions with representatives of the Mexican government, human rights defenders and non-governmental organisations. We hope these efforts will help strengthen rule of law in Mexico and build respect for fundamental human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief.Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the electors in Gibraltar can vote in (1) elections to the House of Commons, and (2) elections to the European Parliament; and, for the forthcoming European Union referendum, whether these electors will be registered for the first time for a United Kingdom national election.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Residence in Gibraltar does not entitle a person to vote in elections to the UK House of Commons. However, a British citizen resident overseas, including in Gibraltar, is entitled to vote in UK Parliamentary elections if they were previously resident and registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years.
EU citizens resident in Gibraltar, and qualifying Commonwealth citizens resident in Gibraltar, are entitled to vote in European Parliamentary elections as part of the combined South West England and Gibraltar region.
The EU Referendum Bill introduced to Parliament on 28 May 2015 makes provision for Commonwealth (including British) citizens to be entitled to vote in the forthcoming EU referendum if they are entitled to vote in Gibraltar at a European Parliamentary election. This replicates the franchise for referendums under the European Union Act 2011.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for Easter 2016 to recognise the Irish Republican Easter Rising against the United Kingdom.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Planning for the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising is a matter for the Irish government. We are aware that on 30 March 2015 the Irish Government will launch its formal programme of events to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising. The positive dialogue that exists between the UK and Irish governments will continue as detailed plans for 2016 take shape.
The British Government is committed to working closely with the Irish government during the decade of centenary commemorations of 1912-1922 to promote a greater understanding of our shared history, and to do so in the spirit of mutual respect, reconciliation and historical accuracy.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the statement on St Patrick's Day by Joe Biden, United States Vice President, that "anyone wearing orange is not welcome here".
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Vice President Biden made clear that his remarks were intended as a joke. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my right Hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Theresa Villiers), was in Washington DC for Saint Patrick’s Day events and received a warm welcome from the Administration and on the Hill. She attended the Speaker’s lunch and a reception at the White House where the President publicly thanked her for her work in securing the Stormont House Agreement in December.