Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what the role of the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Commonwealth Affairs is regarding the development and production of oil in new offshore fields within Falkland Island waters in light of the Offshore Minerals Ordinance (Rectification) Order 2011.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government maintains a consistent position on the right of the Falkland Islands to develop their natural resources. It is integral to their right of self-determination, which this Government will resolutely uphold. Any new hydrocarbons licences require the consent of the Secretary of State, who acts in accordance with applicable Falkland Islands legislation, we do not comment on individual licences.
The Government of the Falkland Islands is responsible for hydrocarbon development and the relevant regulatory framework, which includes provision for safety and environmental protection. The Falkland Islands Government have followed their own domestic legal processes in relation to the Sea Lion oil field, including in respect of assessing environmental impact.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what the role of the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs has been in the approval of oil production licenses in the Falkland Islands in the last thirty years; and whether they anticipate any imminent changes to that role.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government maintains a consistent position on the right of the Falkland Islands to develop their natural resources. It is integral to their right of self-determination, which this Government will resolutely uphold. Any new hydrocarbons licences require the consent of the Secretary of State, who acts in accordance with applicable Falkland Islands legislation, we do not comment on individual licences.
The Government of the Falkland Islands is responsible for hydrocarbon development and the relevant regulatory framework, which includes provision for safety and environmental protection. The Falkland Islands Government have followed their own domestic legal processes in relation to the Sea Lion oil field, including in respect of assessing environmental impact.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Commonwealth Affairs has consented to the development and production programme for the Sea Lion Northern oil field.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government maintains a consistent position on the right of the Falkland Islands to develop their natural resources. It is integral to their right of self-determination, which this Government will resolutely uphold. Any new hydrocarbons licences require the consent of the Secretary of State, who acts in accordance with applicable Falkland Islands legislation, we do not comment on individual licences.
The Government of the Falkland Islands is responsible for hydrocarbon development and the relevant regulatory framework, which includes provision for safety and environmental protection. The Falkland Islands Government have followed their own domestic legal processes in relation to the Sea Lion oil field, including in respect of assessing environmental impact.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the environmental impact of new oil fields in Falkland Island waters; and whether they support the development of new oil fields in those waters.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government maintains a consistent position on the right of the Falkland Islands to develop their natural resources. It is integral to their right of self-determination, which this Government will resolutely uphold. Any new hydrocarbons licences require the consent of the Secretary of State, who acts in accordance with applicable Falkland Islands legislation, we do not comment on individual licences.
The Government of the Falkland Islands is responsible for hydrocarbon development and the relevant regulatory framework, which includes provision for safety and environmental protection. The Falkland Islands Government have followed their own domestic legal processes in relation to the Sea Lion oil field, including in respect of assessing environmental impact.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Life peer)
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
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.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Life peer)
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
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.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Life peer)
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
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.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Life peer)
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
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.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Life peer)
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
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.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Life peer)
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
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.