Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much of the funding for the UK Overseas Territories Blue Belt programme was spent on staff salaries in (a) the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, (b) the Marine Management Organisation and (c) UK Overseas Territory governments in (i) 2016-17 and (ii) 2017-18.
Answered by Alan Duncan
During 2016-17 and 2017-18 the amount spent on staff salaries within Cefas was £153,000 and £578,000 respectively and in the Marine Management Organisation was £57,000 and £307,000 respectively in line with the support and advisory roles they provide. Within UK Overseas Territory Governments, salaries were £50,259 in 2016-17 and £109,148.81 in 2017-18.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much funding from the UK Overseas Territories Blue Belt programme was transferred directly to each of the Overseas Territory governments to spend on their local marine conservation priorities in (i) 2016-17 and (ii) 2017-18.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The Overseas Territory Governments which received direct funding from the Blue Belt Programme were the Ascension Island Government (£300,000 in both 2016-17 and 2017-18), British Indian Ocean Territory Administration (£725,000 in 2017-18 to part fund a maritime patrol vessel), St Helena Government (£39,500 in 2017-18), Tristan Da Cunha Government (£140,000 in 2017-18) and the Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (£52,500 in 2017-18). In both periods, up to £500,000 per year was available to all Territories through the Overseas Territories Environment and Climate Fund (also known as Darwin Plus) for bespoke marine projects.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proportion of by-catch was caught by activities funded by the UK Overseas Territories Blue Belt programme in each of the participating Overseas Territories in (i) 2016-17 and (ii) 2017-18.
Answered by Alan Duncan
All scientific surveys undertaken through the Blue Belt programme are designed in line with international best practice, and undertake consideration of all potential impacts together with mitigation measures to limit such impacts, pre-deployment. There was no by-catch in 2016-17. During the 2017-18 fish stock assessment and tagging research, undertaken at the request of the Government of Tristan Da Cunha, specific gear was employed which limited the incidental mortality of non-target species but seven sharks (Notorynchus cepedianus) were killed through depredation by other species.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many International Union for Conservation of Nature red-listed species were killed as a result of activities funded by the UK Overseas Territories Blue Belt programme in each of the participating Overseas Territories in (i) 2016-17 and (ii) 2017-18.
Answered by Alan Duncan
All scientific surveys undertaken through the Blue Belt programme are designed in line with international best practice, particularly in terms of seabird mortality mitigation measures. No International Union for Conservation of Nature red-listed species were killed or injured when undertaking scientific surveys during 2016-17 or 2017-18.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information his Department holds on how many (a) turtles, (b) sharks and (c) seabirds were killed as a result of activities funded by the UK Overseas Territories Blue Belt programme in (i) 2016-17 and (ii) 2017-18.
Answered by Alan Duncan
All scientific surveys undertaken through the Blue Belt programme are designed in line with international best practice. There were no incidental mortalities of turtle or seabird species as a result of the scientific surveys undertaken through the Blue Belt programme in either 2016-17 or 2017-18. Where possible all sharks are released alive during surveys, but in 2017-18 seven sharks (Notorynchus cepedianus) were killed through depredation by other species during surveys in Tristan da Cunha.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
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 level of terrorist activity supported by and carried out by Hezbollah.
Answered by Alistair Burt
We are deeply concerned by Hizballah's involvement in terrorist activity in the Middle East and beyond. We condemn the threat this poses to regional security and stability. We also condemn Hizballah's military support for Asad's brutality in Syria.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of ongoing UK dialogue with Hezbollah on that organisation’s stance on terrorism.
Answered by Alistair Burt
There is no ongoing UK dialogue with Hizballah, with whom the UK maintains a no contact policy.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to protect the biodiversity of those waters to the north of Ascension Island which are open to fishing.
Answered by Alan Duncan
Through the Blue Belt Programme, the UK Government is working with the Ascension Island Government to ensure the effective implementation of its sustainable fisheries management regime around Ascension. This includes using near real-time analysis of satellite data to build intelligence on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and to allow targeted enforcement during fishery patrols. Data collected will be used in conjunction with research currently underway as part of a scientific approach to determine the final size and location of any Marine Protected Area around Ascension. We are also working through the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas to improve regional management and ensure sustainable harvest levels of tuna, billfish and pelagic shark, species.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many licences have been issued to whom for commercial fishing in the waters around Ascension Island in the last six months; and how much accrues to the public purse from each such licence.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The Ascension Island Government are responsible for issuing commercial fishing licences around Ascension’s waters. Within the last six months, no licences have been issued for fishing within the Ascension Exclusive Economic Zone.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when his Department expects to make an announcement on the UK strategy for the future of Ascension Island.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The Minister for the Commonwealth and the UN is leading work within Whitehall to determine the future strategy for Ascension Island. This is significant and complex work, involving a range of interested parties, and the Minister will provide updates as soon as possible.