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Written Question
Blue Belt Programme
Wednesday 25th October 2023

Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues to amend the Blue Belt Programme to (a) increase protections for endangered bird species, (b) conserve fishing stocks and (c) protect the ocean floor.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The FCDO's Blue Belt Programme provides the UK Overseas Territories (OTs) with support, training and technical expertise to protect species and habitats within their waters. Each OT is unique, therefore the management and protective measures are Territory specific. For example, OTs have put in place measures to protect sea-bird species; established sustainable and precautionary fishing practices to conserve fish stocks and have banned damaging fishing practices (such as benthic trawlers) and hydrocarbon removal to protect the ocean floor. The Programme will continue to support OTs with the protection and sustainable management of their marine environment.


Written Question
Development Aid: Animal Welfare
Monday 25th September 2023

Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what consideration his Department makes of animal welfare when determining its aid development policies.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The 2022 Strategy for International Development (IDS) set the direction for all of the UK's international development work. It outlines a patient approach and a focused set of priorities that will drive lasting, sustainable, growth, alleviate suffering and tackle the root causes of global crises. We will use all our levers, from our diplomacy to our investment and trade, to deliver our development objectives. The Action Plan for Animal Welfare demonstrates the Government's commitment to animal welfare and how we will deliver on this commitment, both at home and abroad.


Written Question
British Overseas Territories: Animal Welfare
Friday 10th September 2021

Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure animal welfare in the British Overseas Territories.

Answered by James Duddridge

The Action Plan for Animal Welfare was published on 12 May 2021 and sets out the Government's plans, aims and ambitions across animal welfare.

Our exit from the EU affords us the opportunity to raise our already high domestic animal welfare standards, to act as a dynamic leader on the world stage, and to introduce measures and protections which are right in principle.

The Action Plan for Animal Welfare demonstrates this Government's commitment to a brighter future for animals both at home and abroad, and also provides a foundation for conversations on how we can continue to improve animal welfare and conservation in the future.


Written Question
Latin America: Animal Welfare
Friday 10th September 2021

Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help support the prevention of animal abuse in (a) South and (b) Central America.

Answered by James Duddridge

The Action Plan for Animal Welfare was published on 12 May 2021 and sets out the Government's plans, aims and ambitions across animal welfare.

Our exit from the EU affords us the opportunity to raise our already high domestic animal welfare standards, to act as a dynamic leader on the world stage, and to introduce measures and protections which are right in principle.

The Action Plan for Animal Welfare demonstrates this Government's commitment to a brighter future for animals both at home and abroad, and also provides a foundation for conversations on how we can continue to improve animal welfare and conservation in the future.


Written Question
Asia: Animal Welfare
Friday 10th September 2021

Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help support the prevention of animal abuse in Asia.

Answered by James Duddridge

The Action Plan for Animal Welfare was published on 12 May 2021 and sets out the Government's plans, aims and ambitions across animal welfare.

Our exit from the EU affords us the opportunity to raise our already high domestic animal welfare standards, to act as a dynamic leader on the world stage, and to introduce measures and protections which are right in principle.

The Action Plan for Animal Welfare demonstrates this Government's commitment to a brighter future for animals both at home and abroad, and also provides a foundation for conversations on how we can continue to improve animal welfare and conservation in the future.


Written Question
Africa: Animal Welfare
Friday 10th September 2021

Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help support the prevention of animal abuse in Africa.

Answered by James Duddridge

The Action Plan for Animal Welfare was published on 12 May 2021 and sets out the Government's plans, aims and ambitions across animal welfare.

Our exit from the EU affords us the opportunity to raise our already high domestic animal welfare standards, to act as a dynamic leader on the world stage, and to introduce measures and protections which are right in principle.

The Action Plan for Animal Welfare demonstrates this Government's commitment to a brighter future for animals both at home and abroad, and also provides a foundation for conversations on how we can continue to improve animal welfare and conservation in the future.


Written Question
Haiti: Earthquakes
Monday 6th September 2021

Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to support the Haitian Government since the earthquake in that country.

Answered by Nigel Adams

In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake the UK announced that up to £1 million of support was available for the response effort. This is in addition to our significant contributions to the UN, the Red Cross and the Start fund. A UK Emergency Medical Team has completed its assessment mission of the needs caused by the earthquake, and the UK funded an expert to join the UN's Disaster Assessment and Coordination mission, conducting an initial assessment and coordinating the international response. 1,300 UK-funded shelter, hygiene and lighting kits were sent to Haiti from the UK and Panama. The UK has also provided funding to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), which is assisting with operations and coordination. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Wave Knight was deployed offshore from Haiti until 29 August, supporting the US humanitarian response by serving as a landing pad for US helicopters. The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF), of which the UK is a founding donor, has agreed a pay out of approximately $40 million. Further UK support remains available if required.


Written Question
Endangered Species: Conservation
Wednesday 14th July 2021

Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the protection of endangered species globally.

Answered by James Duddridge

The UK Government is playing a leading role in developing an ambitious post-2020 global biodiversity framework, to be adopted at COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) later this year. This includes supporting global targets to ensure more ocean and land is protected, ecosystems are restored, species extinction rates are slowed and population sizes are recovering. At the G7 Summit, Leaders agreed the Nature Compact, setting out commitments to reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. Over the next five years, at least £3 billion of the UK's International Climate Finance will be invested in climate change solutions that protect, restore and sustainably manage nature. In September 2020, the Prime Minister announced a £220 million International Biodiversity Fund, including a £100 million Biodiverse Landscapes Fund, to address biodiversity loss. The UK Government is also introducing world-leading due diligence legislation through the Environment Bill to tackle illegal deforestation in UK supply chains.

We are driving international efforts to protect endangered animals from poaching and the illegal wildlife trade (IWT), and are investing £36 million between 2014 and 2021 on work to directly counter IWT in animals and plants. We are also contributing £250 million to the Global Environment Facility between 2018-2022, which includes the world's biggest fund for tackling IWT, the Global Wildlife Programme (GWP), supporting IWT projects across 32 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.


Written Question
Nagorno Karabakh: Armed Conflict
Monday 5th October 2020

Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps his Department is taking to help de-escalate tensions in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Answered by Wendy Morton

I spoke to the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers on 28 September. I raised UK concerns over civilian casualties and fatalities, urged immediate de-escalation and reinforced the importance of returning to negotiations within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. The UK continues to engage actively with international partners in support of these objectives. The Prime Minister discussed the situation in Nagorno Karabakh with President Erdogan on 28 September. And, following a request from the UK and its European partners, the issue was discussed at the UN Security Council on 29 September.


Written Question
Russia: Military Exercises
Thursday 30th July 2020

Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the Russia holding military exercises in the Caucasus region during recent hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Answered by Wendy Morton

The Government is deeply concerned by the recent hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan and regrets the loss of life. We continue to monitor the situation closely. We are aware of the recent exercises in southwest Russia, and monitor Russian exercise activity closely. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office statement of 14 July called for Armenia and Azerbaijan to respect the ceasefire, engage in dialogue and refrain from rhetoric that could increase tensions. The prosperity of the South Caucasus and wider regional energy security depends on both sides returning to the negotiating table and engaging in substantive talks. The Government fully supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs aimed at facilitating this.