Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made an assessment of the differing risks posed by different strengths of cannabis; and, if so, whether they have published those results.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The government relies on the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to inform its assessment of drug harms. The most recent advice from the ACMD relating to cannabis is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/acmd-cannabis-classification-and-public-health-2008
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to promote trade between the UK and the countries of the Central American Integration System.
Answered by Lord Price
The Department for International Trade (DIT) has trade promotion officers working in Panama, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.
Supported by DIT sector resources, they are focused on identifying high value opportunities for UK exporters in sectors including Financial Services, Mining, Railways and Water.
DIT commits resources to markets that hold the biggest potential for UK companies to export to, and to attract investment from. DIT is also exploring ways to work more proactively other countries that make up the Central American Integration System, specifically Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. This as part of DIT’s developing regional approach to Latin America, where today we have an established DIT presence in a total of 12 markets.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the situation of the people of Norfolk Island and of the legality of the actions which have been carried out by the Commonwealth of Australia on the island to absorb it into the State of New South Wales.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
As a Territory of Australia, the governance of Norfolk Island is a matter for the Australian Government.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the referendum on the UK's membership of the EU, what plans they have to promote co-operation between members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
One of the opportunities of the UK's departure from the EU is the ability to deepen our relationship with Commonwealth nations and the strengthen the organisation. We therefore remain determined to deliver on our manifesto commitment to strengthen the Commonwealth's focus on promoting democratic values and development. Furthermore, we will look to build on this commitment when the UK co-hosts with Malta the inaugural meeting of Commonwealth Trade Ministers in March 2017, and hosts the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2018.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the future implications of continued nuclear weapons tests by North Korea on the stability of the Korean Peninsula.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The UK condemns the recent nuclear test conducted by the Democratic Poeple's Republic of Korea (DPRK), which is a direct violation of binding UN Security Council Resolutions. The DPRK must comply with its obligations under all relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, including abandoning all nuclear weapons and nuclear programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. We continue to discuss further UN Security Council measures with partners.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the implications for the UK of proposed international sanctions against Russia.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Along with our allies in the EU and US, we continue to step up pressure on the Assad regime and its Russian backers to resolve the crisis in Syria. The UK will remain at the forefront of international efforts, including maintaining EU resolve on sanctions.