Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing economic sanctions on Sudan's military government.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We remain concerned at the political crisis and continued violent repression of protesters in Sudan. Since the 25 October 2021 military coup, Ministers, British Embassy staff in Khartoum and senior FCDO officials have continued to call on all parties to engage in dialogue and support the return to the democratic transition. Most recently on 2 March, we released a statement welcoming a report on progress in the UN facilitated talks and calling on all political actors to engage in the next phase. With partners we continue to consider all options to maintain pressure on the Sudanese military to protect human rights and deliver the people's demands for freedom, peace and justice. This includes the possibility of sanctions.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which Government Department is the policy lead for (a) climate mitigation and (b) climate adaptation in the British Overseas Territories.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Overseas Territories Governments maintain the policy lead for climate mitigation and adaptation in their Territories. In the UK, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy lead on domestic climate mitigation and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is responsible for domestic climate adaptation. The UK Government is working in partnership with the Overseas Territories to address climate challenges, including through various funds, such as the Darwin Plus, which provides funding for environmental projects and the Blue Belt programme, which protects over 4 million square kilometres of ocean around the Overseas Territories.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which British Overseas Territories have fulfilled their commitment under the Joint Ministerial Council Communique 2020 to publish territory-led plans for climate adaptation and mitigation.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
At the UK-Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council in November 2020, each Overseas Territory government committed to endeavour to communicate a territory-led plan for climate change adaptation and mitigation, which contributes towards global carbon emission reductions, by the time of the COP26 Summit in November 2021. Saint Helena, the Falkland Islands, Montserrat and Gibraltar produced their plans and all Overseas Territories remain committed to continuing to communicate their plans and strategies following COP26, including the recently published 'Building a Sustainable Virgin Islands' plan by the British Virgin Islands. The UK Government continue to work closely with the Overseas Territories to address climate change challenges.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many staff in her Department have been assigned to work on the Convention of Biological Diversity; and how many Ministers in her Department plan to attend the conference from 25 April to 8 May 2022.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity represents an historic opportunity to secure agreement to ambitious global action over the next decade - an opportunity humanity cannot afford to miss. The UK is committed to playing a leading role in developing an ambitious post-2020 global biodiversity framework to be adopted at COP15. The COP is due to take place in Kunming, China, later this year, though due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, we expect a delay to the planned dates of 25 April to 8 May. Minister Goldsmith will head the UK delegation to COP15 to lead the call for a highly ambitious outcome.
Defra is the lead department for the Convention on Biological Diversity, working closely with the FCDO and Cabinet Office. A core team is in place in Defra to deliver hugely ambitious outcomes, drawing on expertise within Defra, its specialist arms-length bodies, and working with other Government departments, civil society organisations, and society at large. This includes working with the FCDO and our Posts across the diplomatic network, through which we are engaging host governments to support delivery of our objectives. Nature is one of the key priorities in the UK's COP26 Presidency, and the Cabinet Office COP26 Unit is also supporting preparations for COP15 to ensure a successful delivery of UK objectives.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions her Department has held with counterparts in Mozambique on the political and security situation in that country.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK holds regular discussions with Mozambican counterparts on the political and security situation. Our High Commissioner met the Mozambican Defence Minister on 14 January to discuss Cabo Delgado and UK support. The UK co-chairs the International Taskforce on Cabo Delgado, which works closely with the Mozambican government, coordinating the international community response to the security and humanitarian threats.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the notification of the two year trigger on deep sea mining at the International Seabed Authority.
Answered by James Duddridge
The UK recognises the growing pressure to extract deep sea resources, and is deeply concerned about the potential impacts of mining activities on the fragile marine environment. We therefore continue to press for the very highest environmental standards to be agreed and activated by the International Seabed Authority. Until there is sufficient scientific evidence about the potential impacts on deep sea ecosystems and strong and enforceable environmental regulations in place, the UK has committed not to sponsor or support the issuing of any exploitation licences for deep sea mining projects.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with the Brazilian Government on recent protests in Brasilia by representatives of indigenous peoples in the Amazon region of that country.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The UK is committed to promoting and defending the human rights of all individuals, and we regularly discuss issues affecting indigenous people with Brazilian authorities. The UK continues to support work with indigenous communities across Brazil, including in the Amazon region. UK programmes on building back better after the COVID-19 pandemic include a focus on vulnerable groups, including in the Amazon region, and work on issues such as solar energy, primary healthcare, and skills development. The UK has also supported local and indigenous people in the Amazon through our International Climate Finance Programmes, with nearly £120 million invested since 2012.
The Foreign Secretary, and the Secretary of State for International Trade have regular discussions with their Brazilian counterparts on a range of issues. They have raised the crucial importance of combatting illegal deforestation at the UK-Brazil Strategic Dialogue in October 2020, and at the Joint Economic and Trade Committee in November 2020. More recently, the Foreign Secretary discussed climate and environment matters with the Brazilian Foreign Minister in June 2021. The UK stands ready to support Brazil's efforts to counter increasing deforestation rates, and we welcome the recent reduction of approximately 25% in areas under deforestation alerts.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with representatives of indigenous peoples in Brazil on deforestation in their territory and the Amazon region.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The UK is committed to promoting and defending the human rights of all individuals, and we regularly discuss issues affecting indigenous people with Brazilian authorities. The UK continues to support work with indigenous communities across Brazil, including in the Amazon region. UK programmes on building back better after the COVID-19 pandemic include a focus on vulnerable groups, including in the Amazon region, and work on issues such as solar energy, primary healthcare, and skills development. The UK has also supported local and indigenous people in the Amazon through our International Climate Finance Programmes, with nearly £120 million invested since 2012.
The Foreign Secretary, and the Secretary of State for International Trade have regular discussions with their Brazilian counterparts on a range of issues. They have raised the crucial importance of combatting illegal deforestation at the UK-Brazil Strategic Dialogue in October 2020, and at the Joint Economic and Trade Committee in November 2020. More recently, the Foreign Secretary discussed climate and environment matters with the Brazilian Foreign Minister in June 2021. The UK stands ready to support Brazil's efforts to counter increasing deforestation rates, and we welcome the recent reduction of approximately 25% in areas under deforestation alerts.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with the Brazilian Government on legislation that concerns the rights of indigenous communities in the Amazon region of that country.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The UK is committed to promoting and defending the human rights of all individuals, and we regularly discuss issues affecting indigenous people with Brazilian authorities. The UK continues to support work with indigenous communities across Brazil, including in the Amazon region. UK programmes on building back better after the COVID-19 pandemic include a focus on vulnerable groups, including in the Amazon region, and work on issues such as solar energy, primary healthcare, and skills development. The UK has also supported local and indigenous people in the Amazon through our International Climate Finance Programmes, with nearly £120 million invested since 2012.
The Foreign Secretary, and the Secretary of State for International Trade have regular discussions with their Brazilian counterparts on a range of issues. They have raised the crucial importance of combatting illegal deforestation at the UK-Brazil Strategic Dialogue in October 2020, and at the Joint Economic and Trade Committee in November 2020. More recently, the Foreign Secretary discussed climate and environment matters with the Brazilian Foreign Minister in June 2021. The UK stands ready to support Brazil's efforts to counter increasing deforestation rates, and we welcome the recent reduction of approximately 25% in areas under deforestation alerts.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the UK will continue to be the largest bilateral donor to the Global Partnership for Education of the G7 countries.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The Prime Minister and President Kenyatta of Kenya will co-host the Global Education Summit: Financing the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) in London in July 2021. As co-hosts, it is our policy to use all the means at our disposal to host a successful Summit. A well-funded GPE will be central to delivering the two ambitious global objectives endorsed by G7 Foreign and Development Ministers in London on 5 May of getting 40 million more girls in school, and 20 million more girls reading by age 10 in the next 5 years.
As the Foreign Secretary has previously confirmed, we plan to increase our next contribution to GPE, details of which will be announced in due course. The majority of donor pledges will be known immediately after the Summit in July, with others coming in during the replenishment period.