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Written Question
EU Countries: British Nationals Abroad
Monday 11th December 2023

Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether member countries of the EU can reach independent agreements with the UK about the rights of British part year residents post-Brexit without recourse to the EU Commission.

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

The UK's Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU confirms that both the UK and EU currently provide for visa-free travel for short-term visits for each other's nationals in accordance with their respective laws.

British citizens are treated as third country nationals under the Schengen Borders Code. As such, they are able to travel visa-free for short stays of up to 90 days in a rolling 180-day period. Stays beyond the EU's 90 in 180 days visa-free allocation is for individual Member States to decide and implement through domestic entry rules and visa arrangements for non-EU citizens.

Where competency lies for agreements between EU Member States and third countries is a matter between the European Commission and Member States.

The Government continues to engage regularly with the European Commission and EU Member States on a wide range of mobility-related issues.


Written Question
Spain: British Nationals Abroad
Monday 11th December 2023

Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what position they took during discussions between the Spanish acting Minister of Industry, and Foreign Office officials in November in which the 90-day cap on the stay of British tourists in Spain was discussed; and whether any agreement was reached.

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

The Spanish Tourism Minister met with Foreign Office officials in November to discuss tourism. British tourists in Spain are treated as third country nationals under the EU's Schengen Borders Code. As such, they are able to travel visa-free for short stays of up to 90 days in a rolling 180-day period. UK travellers applying for visas to visit or stay in Spain for longer periods of time are processed according to Spanish domestic law, reflecting the UK's position as a non-EU Member State. Whilst the UK government would welcome any changes to visa systems that benefit UK nationals, this is a matter for national governments and parliaments. We are not currently negotiating any reciprocal agreements.


Written Question
Visas: France
Monday 11th December 2023

Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following reports that the French Senate has approved a bill amendment giving British second-home owners in France an automatic long-stay visa right without any formalities, whether they would support reciprocal rights; and what assessment they have made of the prospects that any such agreement would be successfully implemented.

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

The UK government regularly discusses citizens' rights with French and other European counterparts.

Whilst the UK government would welcome any changes to visa systems that would benefit UK nationals, this is a matter for national governments and parliaments. We are not currently negotiating any reciprocal agreements.

We will continue to follow the passage of the French Immigration Bill closely and stand ready to inform British nationals of any changes which may affect them, should they become law.


Written Question
France: British Nationals Abroad
Monday 11th December 2023

Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with their French and European counterparts about the prospect of an automatic visa entitlement for British nationals who own a second home in France.

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

The UK government regularly discusses citizens' rights with French and other European counterparts.

Whilst the UK government would welcome any changes to visa systems that would benefit UK nationals, this is a matter for national governments and parliaments. We are not currently negotiating any reciprocal agreements.

We will continue to follow the passage of the French Immigration Bill closely and stand ready to inform British nationals of any changes which may affect them, should they become law.


Written Question
Navid Afkari
Monday 5th October 2020

Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Iran about the execution of Navid Afkari on 12 September.

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

The execution of Navik Afkari by the Iranian authorities was deplorable. The UK Government made clear its public condemnation of the action on 12 September. The UK Government is firmly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country, as a matter of principle, and we unreservedly support the right to peaceful protest. Iran's human rights record is of serious and longstanding concern to the UK. The continued use of the death penalty, weak rule of law and restrictions on freedoms of expression remain deeply worrying. We share the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran's concerns that death sentences were handed down and/or implemented following proceedings that did not comply with fair trial and due process safeguards. The UK is committed to holding Iran to account on a wide range of human rights issues, including the right to a fair trial. We will continue to take action with the international community to press Iran to improve its poor record on all human rights issues.


Written Question
Navid Afkari
Monday 5th October 2020

Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether Navid Afkari had a fair trial in Iran prior to his execution.

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

The execution of Navik Afkari by the Iranian authorities was deplorable. The UK Government made clear its public condemnation of the action on 12 September. The UK Government is firmly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country, as a matter of principle, and we unreservedly support the right to peaceful protest. Iran's human rights record is of serious and longstanding concern to the UK. The continued use of the death penalty, weak rule of law and restrictions on freedoms of expression remain deeply worrying. We share the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran's concerns that death sentences were handed down and/or implemented following proceedings that did not comply with fair trial and due process safeguards. The UK is committed to holding Iran to account on a wide range of human rights issues, including the right to a fair trial. We will continue to take action with the international community to press Iran to improve its poor record on all human rights issues.


Written Question
Iran: Human Rights
Monday 5th October 2020

Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the execution of Navid Afkari on the human rights situation in Iran, in particular, on the right to a fair trial.

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

The execution of Navik Afkari by the Iranian authorities was deplorable. The UK Government made clear its public condemnation of the action on 12 September. The UK Government is firmly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country, as a matter of principle, and we unreservedly support the right to peaceful protest. Iran's human rights record is of serious and longstanding concern to the UK. The continued use of the death penalty, weak rule of law and restrictions on freedoms of expression remain deeply worrying. We share the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran's concerns that death sentences were handed down and/or implemented following proceedings that did not comply with fair trial and due process safeguards. The UK is committed to holding Iran to account on a wide range of human rights issues, including the right to a fair trial. We will continue to take action with the international community to press Iran to improve its poor record on all human rights issues.


Written Question
Philippines: Administration of Justice
Tuesday 28th November 2017

Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made representations to the government of the Philippines regarding the systematic practice of extra-judicial killings of suspected drug dealers and users and other suspected criminals.

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

We are very concerned by the death toll and human rights violations associated with the 'war on illegal drugs' in the Philippines. The UK urges thorough and independent investigations into all violent deaths, and for the Philippine government to ensure those involved in abuses, including security forces, are brought to justice. We continue to offer UK expertise on evidence-based drug policies and rehabilitation of drug addicts

Ministers and officials have raised concerns with their Philippine counterparts, including the Minister for Asia and the Pacific, with the Philippine Ambassador and senior Philippine parliamentarians. The UK has also raised concerns at the Human Rights Council including through the Philippines Universal Periodic Review process.


Written Question
South Korea: Olympic Games
Thursday 19th October 2017

Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the decision of the government of France that its Winter Olympics team will not travel to the 2018 Games in PyeongChang if that team's security cannot be guaranteed, whether they intend to apply an equivalent policy to the British Winter Olympic team.

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

Our current travel advice to South Korea is unrestricted for all British Nationals travelling to or residing in South Korea, including the British Winter Olympic and Paralympic Teams. We advise travellers to remain vigilant about heightened tensions on the peninsula and urge them to register for travel advice updates from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) as well as our Twitter and Facebook updates. FCO travel advice is under continuous review. The FCO regularly liaises with the British Olympic and Paralympic Associations in preparation for the games.


Written Question
South Korea: Olympic Games
Thursday 21st September 2017

Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what contingency plans are in place for UK competitors and supporters travelling to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in the light of the threat of instability in that region; and what advice they have issued.

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

Both the UK Government and the Pyeongchang Organising Committee for the Olympic Games in South Korea have contingency plans for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as we do for all major sporting events. As we prepare for the Games, we are in close touch with the British Olympic and Paralympic Associations. The Government keeps all travel advice under constant review, including for the Republic of Korea.