Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Burmese counterpart on prisoners of conscience in that country.
Answered by Lord Swire
The release of political prisoners has been an early priority for the new NLD-led government, with over 100 having been released since Friday.
The UK Government has long campaigned on the issue of political prisoners in Burma and we welcome this quick action.
Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to promote trade and diplomatic connections with the Commonwealth.
Answered by Lord Swire
The UK is committed to maintaining and strengthening its economic and diplomatic engagement with the Commonwealth. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) led a strong UK delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) in Malta in November. He announced funding for a number of initiatives including to help the Commonwealth’s small island states develop their maritime economies.
The UK pressed to ensure that trade issues were covered in the CHOGM communique. Commonwealth leaders agreed to advance global trade negotiations and in particular ratify the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.
I and The Minister for Trade and Investment, the right hon the Lord Maude of Horsham, took part in the Commonwealth Business
Forum in Malta. Lord Maude addressed the opening plenary on leveraging trade networks across the Commonwealth, and pushed for progress on free trade agreements to facilitate and increase trade between Commonwealth countries. He also held a number of bilateral meetings to discuss trade and investment opportunities. The UK continues to be a strong supporter of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council which organised the Business Forum and is expanding business networks across the Commonwealth.
Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information his Department holds on the number of foreign nationals who have been reported as missing from foreign-flagged fishing vessels in Falkland Islands waters in each of the last five years.
Answered by Lord Swire
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold this information. Such data is collected and is held by the Falkland Islands Government who have devolved responsibility for the Falkland Islands' fishing industry.
The honourable Member should contact the Department for Natural Resources within the Falkland Islands Government who can supply her with this information.
Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department has provided to the Falkland Islands government to tackle modern slavery on foreign fishing vessels operating in Falkland Islands waters.
Answered by Lord Swire
The licensing, legislation, regulations and management of the fishing industry on the Falkland Islands is a devolved responsibility of the Falkland Islands Government.
The Falkland Islands Government maintains a rigorous fisheries licensing regime to ensure all vessels operate to the highest possible standards and investigates all allegations of abuse on fishing vessels within Falklands' waters.
The British Government is committed to tackling modern slavery wherever it exists in the UK, and around the world.
Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many of the (a) vessels and (b) companies which have been sold licences to fish in the Falkland Islands in each of the last three years have been found guilty of criminal behaviour in other legal jurisdictions.
Answered by Lord Swire
The honourable Member should contact the Department for Natural Resources within the Falkland Islands Government, who can supply her with this information.
Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Taiwanese government on labour conditions on board Taiwanese-flagged vessels operating in Falkland Islands waters in each of the last two years.
Answered by Lord Swire
The British Trade and Cultural Office in Taipei has held discussions with the Taiwanese authorities over fishing issues around the Falklands, most commonly regarding fishing licences.
Although we have not raised labour conditions aboard Taiwanese flagged vessels in recent conversations, we are seeking to approach the Taiwanese authorities on this issue.
The Falkland Islands Government has devolved responsibility for the Falkland Islands' fishing industry, including its legislation, regulations, and licensing.