Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government which provisions of (1) Articles 5–10, and (2) Annex 2, of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland will be removed as a result of the Windsor Framework.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Windsor Framework legal texts set out how it operates to disapply swathes of EU rules for internal UK trade, to ensure that UK food and drink safety rules apply for internal UK agrifood retail trade; to remove burdensome customs bureaucracy; to ensure it is UK authorities who licence drugs for the whole UK; to enable VAT and excise changes to be made UK-wide; and to give effect to the Stormont Brake which provides a key new democratic safeguard.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government which EU laws will remain in force in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework, which would otherwise be subject to removal under the provisions of the Retained EU Law Bill.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK Government is committed to taking the necessary steps to uphold the UK's international obligations, including the Withdrawal Agreement and the Windsor Framework.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the requirements of the proposed EU Entry/Exit System (EES) which will be placed on (1) UK citizens, (2) Irish citizens, (3) EU citizens who are not Irish, and (4) non-EU citizens who wish to travel from Northern Ireland to the Irish Republic.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The European Commission is developing the European Entry/Exit System (EES), an automated IT system for registering all third country nationals, including UK citizens, each time they travel to and from the Schengen Area. As the Republic of Ireland is not part of the Schengen Area, EES will not apply to travel between the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what system is in place to report on the potential of (1) primary, and (2) secondary, legislation, to create regulatory divergence between Great Britain and Northern Ireland in areas where the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland applies.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Explanatory notes accompanying all Government Bills, and explanatory memoranda accompanying all secondary legislation, should set out any potential implications that the legislation may have on regulatory divergence between Great Britain and Northern Ireland in areas where the Protocol applies. Any operational differences that materialise as a result of legislative changes are detailed in the relevant gov.uk guidance. We work with other Government departments to ensure that explanatory notes and memoranda provide clear information.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the prospect for release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe from prison in Iran.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Iran's decision to proceed with these baseless charges against Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is an appalling continuation of the cruel ordeal she is going through. Instead of threatening to return Nazanin to prison Iran must release her permanently so she can return home. The Foreign Secretary raised her case, and the cases of Anoosheh Ashoori and Morad Tahbaz, with Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian on 22 September and 8 November. We continue to engage with Iran at the most senior levels and our Ambassador in Tehran continues to regularly raise our detainees with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ministers hold regular meetings with officials to direct activity across the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office aimed at securing her release.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the government of Iran regarding the case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Foreign Secretary raised her case, and the cases of Anoosheh Ashoori and Morad Tahbaz, with Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian on 22 September and 8 November. The Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa met with Deputy Foreign Minister Bagheri Kani on 11 November. We continue to engage with Iran at the most senior levels and our Ambassador in Tehran continues to raise regularly our detainees with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with NATO partners about China's policy towards Taiwan.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Her Majesty's Government considers the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue. The UK Government is in regular contact with like-minded partners on our shared priorities.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of the United States of America about the defence of Taiwan following the statement on 21 October by President Biden that the United States has a "commitment" to defend Taiwan.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Her Majesty's Government considers the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue. The UK Government is in regular contact with the US Government on our shared priorities. We underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait alongside the US and other partners in the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' communique in May and G7 Leaders' communique in June.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which EU countries allow entry to UK nationals based on double vaccination with the Pfizer vaccine.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Entry requirements for EU member states are laid out on the relevant FCDO Travel Advice country page. Border restrictions are a Member State competence and are the decision of the receiving country. As of 12 October, 23 EU member states formally recognise UK vaccine status for purposes of entry. This includes those vaccinated with Pfizer. Entry restrictions will vary from country to country and are liable to change quickly and with little notice: travellers should always ensure they are familiar with the latest restrictions prior to undertaking travel.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with NATO member states in relation to preventing Afghanistan becoming a base for terrorist training camps.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK continues to monitor closely the terrorist threat from Afghanistan, including from Al Qaeda and ISKP, and has proscribed both of these organisations and their associated groups. These topics are routinely discussed at NATO meetings, and bilaterally with NATO allies including US, Canada, Turkey, France and Germany at Foreign Minister and Head of State level. We are working with our international partners to stop Afghanistan from again becoming a haven and inspiration for terrorism and thereby reduce the terrorist risk to the UK and the international community.