Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 9 January (HL3519), how many consular officials are currently serving the Consulates General of the government of China in (1) Belfast, (2) Manchester, and (3) Edinburgh.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Further to my Written Answer of 9 January (HL3519), as of 18 January 2023 FCDO records list 11 consular officers appointed to the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Belfast, 13 consular officers to the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Manchester and 10 consular officers to the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Edinburgh. Article 1(1)(d) of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963 defines "consular officer" as "any person, including the head of a consular post, entrusted in that capacity with the exercise of consular functions."
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many diplomats from China are based in the UK; and in which locations.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office publishes details of foreign embassies, high commissions and consular posts in the UK on gov.uk, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/foreign-embassies-in-the-uk. This page includes the London Diplomatic List which contains the addresses and contact details of all embassies and high commissions, as well as the names of heads of mission and other diplomatic agents appointed in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961. The entry for the People's Republic of China, as of December 2022, lists 127 diplomatic agents in the locations set out below. In addition, consular officials are appointed to the Consulates General of the People's Republic of China in Edinburgh, Manchester and Belfast.
Embassy of the People's Republic of China
49-51 Portland Place W1B 1JL
Consular Section
31 Portland Place W1B 1QD
Defence Section
25 Lyndhurst Road NW3 5PA
Economic and Commercial Office
16 Lancaster Gate W2 3LH
Cultural Section
11 West Heath Road NW3 7UX
Education Section
50 Portland Place W1B 1NQ
Science & Technology Section
10 Greville Place NW6 5JN
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what updates they can provide to the political parties in Northern Ireland regarding the ongoing negotiations with the EU on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Foreign Secretary and Vice President Maroš Šefčovič are in regular contact and officials on both sides continue to meet to discuss solutions on this issue. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is also in regular contact with political parties in Northern Ireland. Our preference is for a negotiated solution but should one not be reached we will press ahead with the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill in the interests of Northern Ireland. The Bill allows for a negotiated solution to be incorporated directly.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister has spoken to President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan following her appointment; and if not, what plans she has to do so.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The Prime Minister has not spoken to President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan, and currently has no plans to do so.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in their negotiations with the European Commission on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland; what consultations they are holding with (1) the Northern Ireland political parties, (2) representatives of the Northern Ireland business community, in relation to the progress of these talks; and when they expect the negotiations to conclude.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The tenth meeting of the Ireland and Northern Ireland Specialised Committee took place earlier this week. We made clear our ongoing determination to address all outstanding issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol, and to find durable solutions as soon as possible for the benefit of people and businesses in Northern Ireland.
We are not setting deadlines but there are still significant gaps and the need for solutions is urgent.
In addition to talks there is also regular ongoing Ministerial and official engagement with political parties, business groups, civil society and other stakeholders in Northern Ireland.