Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support they provide to British companies seeking to navigate international sanctions regimes and to find out, quickly and cost-effectively, which people and entities are subject to sanctions imposed by the (1) UK, (2) EU, (3) USA, and (4) UN.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK Government publishes the UK Sanctions List, sanctions legislation and guidance on gov.uk to support businesses in understanding their obligations under the UK's sanctions regimes. This includes information in relation to all UN sanctions regimes, which the UK implements. It is important for businesses to do their own due diligence.
The UK coordinates with the US and EU on designing sanctions. The US and the US provide their own guidance to businesses on how to comply with their legislation.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the prospects for progress on (1) the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action negotiations, (2) political prisoner releases, and (3) gas supplies to the UK and EU, of strengthened democratic governance and transparency in Iran; and what discussions they will have with the government of the United States about those prospects.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Iran's lack of regard for the rule of law and lack of transparency was starkly on show in 2022, not least through the authorities' brutal crackdown on protests. The execution of young people detained in connection to protests is a tragic result of a system where forced confessions, lack of due process and disproportionate sentences are rife. UK action, alongside our partners, is shining a light on the regime's persistent human rights violations. Through our sanctions designations, our work in multilateral fora and our lobbying, the UK is keeping the focus of international pressure on the regime including those responsible for unfairly detaining British and other foreign nationals.
A viable deal was put on the table in March and again in August 2022 which would have returned Iran to compliance with its Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) commitments and returned the US to the deal. Iran refused to seize a critical diplomatic opportunity to conclude the deal with continued demands beyond the scope of the JCPoA. We are considering next steps with our international partners, including the US.
Iran lacks the required physical and political infrastructure for gas exports.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what topics, industries and sectors they intend to prioritise through discussions in the 2023 Ukraine Recovery Conference.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Ukraine Recovery Conference will focus on the role of the private sector in supporting recovery and reconstruction. It will provide a platform for the Government of Ukraine to set out its priority reforms, particularly in the business environment, and for international partners to signal their support and their offer to Ukraine. The conference will look at how to unblock obstacles to investment and how governments, the private sector and civil society can work together to support recovery and reconstruction efforts in the longer-term.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of sanction breaking corridors or transit hubs affecting the efficacy of sanctions regimes implemented in relation to the situation in Ukraine; and if so, where these corridors or hubs are located.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
In the London declaration signed with Ukraine, the Prime Minister committed to taking determined action with partners to tackle all forms of sanctions circumvention. The UK Government is working with international partners to close loopholes, combat circumvention and undermine Russia's attempts to build global resilience to sanctions. This includes working jointly with US and EU sanctions co-ordinators to raise the issue with a number of countries that may be undermining the sanctions imposed by the UK and its allies. The UK Government will continue to assess where and how third-countries may be allowing UK business to circumvent sanctions and take action accordingly.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Penn on 30 January (HL4895), with which government agency in Ukraine they are engaging in regards to the 2023 Ukraine Recovery Conference.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Ukraine Recovery Conference will be a high profile event, co-chaired jointly by the Prime Minister and President Zelenskyy, aimed at building an effective and lasting economic recovery.
HMG Ministers and officials continue to have regular discussions with members of the Government of Ukraine on a variety of topics, including the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2023. We are working closely with Ukrainian partners to ensure it delivers tangible progress. Prime Minister Shmyhal's office is coordinating the input of Ukrainian ministries, including the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to offering a war risk insurance plan for investors from the UK in order to facilitate (1) trade, and (2) jobs, in the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK is committed to helping Ukraine rebuild to emerge from the war with a modernised economy resilient to Russian threats. UK Export Finance (UKEF) is supporting the Government of Ukraine with £3.5 billion of financial capacity available for priority projects. UKEF is open to cover war and political risks in Ukraine through a number of different products to support UK exports and investors as part of reconstruction.