Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of President Biden's attempts to renegotiate the Iranian Nuclear Deal on (a) sanctions, (b) the freezing of Iranian assets, (c) the strength and stability of the Iranian regime, and (d) the stability of the Middle East.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
Iran has refused to conclude a deal that would have restored the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with continued demands beyond the JCPOA's scope. We are considering next steps with our international partners.
We have been clear about our concerns over Iran's destabilising activity throughout the region including its political, financial and military support to a number of militant groups. The UK has designated over 200 Iranian entities and individuals in relation to human rights abuses, proliferation and terrorism.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will impose a ban on all Iranian political, diplomatic and government officials coming to the UK, in the context of recent civil unrest in Iran.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
The Iranian authorities' mistreatment of protestors and journalists is a serious violation of human rights. The UK is committed to robustly holding Iran to account for its actions and on 10 October sanctioned the so-called Morality Police and seven individuals for serious human rights violations. Our ability to hold Iran to account is enabled, in part, by the UK-Iran bilateral relationship. On 3 October, we summoned Iran's most senior official in the UK to condemn the violent crackdown in Iran. Our diplomatic ties also enable discussion on other priority matters of UK national security, such as the Iran nuclear deal, Afghanistan and Iran's destabilising role in the Middle East.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Guyanese counterpart on that Government's decision not to allow two accredited international observers from the Carter Centre to return to Guyana to observe the ongoing election recount and the remainder of Guyana’s electoral process.
Answered by Wendy Morton
As the Foreign Secretary said in his statement of 24 March, a transition of government in Guyana should only take place in line with transparent and democratic principles that lead to credible results. We continue to call upon President Granger to ensure that proper procedures are followed before embarking upon a transition of government. Our High Commissioner, on the Foreign Secretary's behalf, has worked with US, Canadian and EU counterparts to make clear our concerns and disappointment at the refusal to allow the Carter Center and IRI into the country. The UK will continue to call for all to adhere to the democratic principles Guyana has signed up to as a member of the Commonwealth, to ensure the voice and will of the people of Guyana are heard.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
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 adequacy of the availability of accommodation in Glasgow for the 26th Conference of the Parties.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has assessed the availability of accommodation for the 26th Conference of the Parties within Glasgow and a one hour radius of Glasgow. We are confident that sufficient accommodation is available.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of using cruise liners to provide accommodation for attendees at 26th Conference of the Parties in Glasgow.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not made an assessment of the potential merits of using cruise liners. Our expectation is that there will be sufficient accommodation within Glasgow and the surrounding region for attendees.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what executive authority the President of the 26th Conference of the Parties, UN Climate Conference will have over staff within the his Department that are working on climate diplomacy.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
The British Government are aware of the need for strong and coordinated senior ministerial governance on COP26. The Prime Minister will chair a new Cabinet Committee on Climate Change attended by the Foreign Secretary. The COP President will report to the Prime Minister and will be based in the Cabinet Office, working closely with the newly established COP unit. We anticipate appointments being made to this unit from across Whitehall Departments.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
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 level of energy and climate change policy staffing resources his Department requires to host the COP26 UN Climate Conference in 2020.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
COP26 will require a whole-of-government effort, including strong diplomatic engagement. Both UK-based and locally-engaged staff across the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's network will continue to hold climate change diplomacy as a personal priority, and it will remain a Priority in our Embassies and High Commissions. We will be increasing our network of climate attaches.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many full time equivalent staff worked on climate change and energy in (a) his Department's UK-based offices and (b) embassies, high commissions and other overseas posts in each year from and including 2010 to 2019.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) works actively across the international climate and energy agenda in partnership with the work of the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and other government departments. Some of the functions previously filled by FCO staff are now delivered by officials in these departments, for example, international climate change strategy and policy.
Climate Change and Energy (CCE) work is a network-wide priority, so forms part of a wide range of officers' work, including Heads of Mission and staff at all levels. The time allocated varies widely from a very small part of an officer's time to full time work on CCE.
The table below shows numbers of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) FCO staff working on CCE issues. Staffing figures rely on individual staff members' recording of their activities.
Financial Year | FTE FCO Staff working in London | FTE FCO Staff working overseas | Total |
2009/10 | 69.175 | 264.951 | 334.126 |
2010/11 | 47.493 | 204.508 | 252.001 |
2011/12 | 48.278 | 166.218 | 214.496 |
2012/13 | 43.840 | 169.939 | 213.779 |
2013/14 | 44.897 | 156.699 | 201.596 |
2014/15 | 41.482 | 162.824 | 204.306 |
2015/16 | 31.937 | 148.539 | 180.476 |
2016/17 | 18.77 | 111.86 | 130.63 |
2017/18 | 11.505 | 97.019 | 108.524 |
2018/19 | 10.19 | 96.712 | 106.902 |
2019/20 | 19.59 | 109.067 | 128.657 |
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many officials are employed in (a) his Department's London offices and (b) the UK's global diplomatic network work on climate security.
Answered by James Duddridge
As of January 2016 149 full-time equivalent staff resource was spent on our Climate Change/Low Carbon Economy/Energy Security work across our network of 268 offices in 168 countries. Of these, 72 staff were working full-time on Climate Change and Energy issues.
As of June 2016 nine full-time equivalent staff in London work directly on climate change issues.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office allocation of resource is kept under regular review as staff and local priorities change, so there is a quite regular flux in numbers and locations. For example, in the run up to COP21, there was an increase in Ministerial and network engagement related to the Paris negotiations, to build support for a successful agreement.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Department for Transport on the proposal to develop a work plan to define the shipping industry's fair share in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions ahead of the International Maritime Organisation meeting on 18 to 22 April 2016.
Answered by James Duddridge
Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials are in regular contact with Department for Transport counterparts who lead for the UK at international negotiations to reduce emissions from the global aviation and shipping sectors. All countries agreed in Paris in December 2015 to limit global temperature increases to well below 2°C, and to pursue efforts towards 1.5°C. International negotiations on how the global shipping sector can contribute to this are at an early, technical stage.