Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what support they are providing to Somaliland to enhance political stability in that country.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The UK remains committed to enhancing political stability in Somalia, including in Somaliland. We are supportive of dialogue between Somaliland and neighbouring Puntland, and with the Federal Government of Somalia on areas of mutual interest.
In Somaliland, the UK is an active member of a group of international donors which provide technical, financial and political support to the National Electoral Commission and the broader electoral cycle in Somaliland. This included £2.18million in UK support to plan, prepare and deliver biometric voter registration in Somaliland.
Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the level of piracy in the Indian Ocean off the coast of (1) Yemen, (2) Somalia, and (3) Kenya, in each of the last five years.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The number of acts of piracy in the Western Indian Ocean has reduced sharply in recent years. According to the EU's counter-piracy mission, EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta, there were 11 reported piracy related attacks on commercial vessels in the region in the last five years. Of those, only one – an attack against a Comoros flagged oil tanker, the Aris 13, on 13 March 2017 – was successful. By contrast, in 2011, there were 176 reported piracy attacks.
Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their plans for the UK's future role in the international task force dealing with piracy in the Indian Ocean.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The UK plays a leading role in the fight against piracy in the Western Indian Ocean. We contribute the Commander and Operational Headquarters for the EU's counter piracy mission, EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta, as well as the Deputy Commander for the international Combined Maritime Force, Task Force 151. The UK will continue to play an active role in both missions.
Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what contribution they are making to the international task force dealing with piracy in the Indian Ocean.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The UK plays a leading role in the fight against piracy in the Western Indian Ocean. We contribute the Commander and Operational Headquarters for the EU's counter piracy mission, EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta, as well as the Deputy Commander for the international Combined Maritime Force, Task Force 151. The UK will continue to play an active role in both missions.
Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will support the application of The Gambia to rejoin the Commonwealth.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The UK welcomes President Barrow's declaration of his intention to rejoin the Commonwealth. The UK encourages President Barrow to begin the process as soon as possible and looks forward to working with his administration.
Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many High Commissioners and Ambassadors initiate or participate in regular meetings with other Commonwealth representatives to discuss Commonwealth issues of common interest.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Many of our High Commissioners and some Ambassadors regularly meet with their counterparts from Commonwealth countries to discuss matters of shared interest and where they can work together to support Commonwealth values. Commonwealth Week in March is a particular focus for these meetings and Commonwealth activities. During the FCO's Annual Leadership Week, the Minister for the Commonwealth convenes meetings for all our Commonwealth Heads of Mission to discuss Commonwealth affairs and how we can work together with other Member States to advance common priorities and tackle shared challenges.
Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the consequences for the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man of the UK's withdrawal from the EU, and what action they plan to take to protect the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man in the event of such a withdrawal.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man have a special relationship with the EU, provided under Protocol 3 to the UK’s Treaty of Accession to the European Community. The procedure governing a country’s departure from the EU is set out in Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. This provides for a period of two years for the negotiation of exit terms. After two years, the departing Member State is deemed to have left the EU, meaning that both the rights and the obligations that derive from membership would lapse. This two year deadline can be extended, but only by unanimous agreement of all EU Member States.
At the February European Council the Government negotiated a new settlement, giving the UK special status in a reformed EU. The Government's position, as set out by the Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), to the House of Commons on 22 February, is that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU.
Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the consequences for Gibraltar of the UK's withdrawal from the EU, and what action they intend to take in relation to Gibraltar in the event of such a withdrawal.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Gibraltar’s economy is strengthened by the UK’s EU membership. As the Chief Minister of Gibraltar has clearly stated, an UK exit from the EU would pose "an existential threat in economic terms" to the territory.
The UK will continue to defend and support Gibraltar’s interests, and uphold British sovereignty. The UK will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another State against their wishes. Furthermore, the UK will not enter into any process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content.