Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will take steps to support an organised referendum for the people of former British Southern Cameroons on their future national status.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK remains concerned about the crisis in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon, and those affected by the crisis. The UK works closely with international partners and the Government of Cameroon to promote a peaceful resolution to the crisis. It would not be appropriate for the UK to interfere with national civil and democratic processes.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make it her policy to end UK Government support for Liquid Natural Gas in Mozambique in the context of the UK’s climate commitments under the Paris and Glasgow COP Agreements.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK is committed to working with countries across the world to support their transitions away from fossil fuels. Mozambique's primary energy challenge is providing access to clean, reliable, affordable energy to all. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) can improve energy access, boost the economy and jobs, and reduce deforestation through lowering the demand for wood for energy. That is why this LNG investment was supported by the World Bank and the African Development Bank, to help ensure Mozambique meets the Sustainable Development Goals. Mozambican natural gas is among the cleanest in the world in terms of carbon intensity, and the Government of Mozambique and major gas operators have committed to the use of carbon capture and storage to decarbonize the gas prior to export. The Government of Mozambique considers gas revenues an important source of investment to support its energy transition, in line with its Nationally Determined Contribution and Paris Agreement commitments, including a commitment to reach 62% renewable energy by 2030.
The UK's targeted support for LNG in Mozambique will therefore help ensure a just and clean energy transition. The UK is also supporting the development of Mozambique's renewables potential, including support for renewable hydrogen, and through £20 million of UKAid for private sector investment in off-grid renewables which has already reached 250,000 people in rural areas and is set to reach 750,000 by 2023. The UK is also mobilising £520 million in private financing to expand access to the power grid.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the (a) UK's support for Liquid Natural Gas in Mozambique and (b) compatibility of that support with the UK’s climate commitments under the Paris and Glasgow COP Agreements.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK is committed to working with countries across the world to support their transitions away from fossil fuels. Mozambique's primary energy challenge is providing access to clean, reliable, affordable energy to all. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) can improve energy access, boost the economy and jobs, and reduce deforestation through lowering the demand for wood for energy. That is why this LNG investment was supported by the World Bank and the African Development Bank, to help ensure Mozambique meets the Sustainable Development Goals. Mozambican natural gas is among the cleanest in the world in terms of carbon intensity, and the Government of Mozambique and major gas operators have committed to the use of carbon capture and storage to decarbonize the gas prior to export. The Government of Mozambique considers gas revenues an important source of investment to support its energy transition, in line with its Nationally Determined Contribution and Paris Agreement commitments, including a commitment to reach 62% renewable energy by 2030.
The UK's targeted support for LNG in Mozambique will therefore help ensure a just and clean energy transition. The UK is also supporting the development of Mozambique's renewables potential, including support for renewable hydrogen, and through £20 million of UKAid for private sector investment in off-grid renewables which has already reached 250,000 people in rural areas and is set to reach 750,000 by 2023. The UK is also mobilising £520 million in private financing to expand access to the power grid.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that the families of British nationals who have been evacuated from Afghanistan to (a) Italy and (b) other third countries have access to essentials and basic necessities.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Consulate staff in all British Embassies and Consulates are available to assist families of British Nationals. In addition, Rapid Deployment Teams (RDT) have been sent to Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Dubai to reinforce our Embassy staff to assist arrivals from Afghanistan.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to provide support to young people remaining in Afghanistan so that they can join their families in the UK.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
We stand by our commitment to help all Afghans who are eligible to come to the UK, including those who hold refugee reunion visas, to travel by whatever routes are available. We are clear that the Taliban must ensure safe passage for these people out of Afghanistan, and any engagement with them will emphasise this first and foremost. We are also in frequent contact with neighbouring countries, and wider partners, to help secure safe routes.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of necessities and support being provided to UK nationals and their families who have been evacuated from Afghanistan through third party countries.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The former Foreign Secretary's visit to Pakistan and Qatar and Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon's visit to Tajikistan focussed on regional diplomacy and secured cooperation to support Britons and their immediate families. Four Rapid Deployment Teams have been deployed to countries neighbouring Afghanistan and to Qatar to ensure safe onward passage to the UK. We are providing consular assistance and are working, in collaboration with the Home Office, to support the return to the UK of British nationals from Afghanistan in neighbouring countries and elsewhere through assistance on border movement, travel documentation and transport.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure that Afghan nationals are provided with a safe passage to the UK, via third countries if necessary.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
We are focused on ensuring safe passage for anyone remaining in Afghanistan who are eligible to come to the UK and wishes to leave. The former Foreign Secretary visited Qatar and Pakistan from 1-3 September to discuss safe passage via third countries. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon also visited Uzbekistan and Tajikistan from 1-3 September. We have been clear to our partners in the region that we have the capacity to process British cases, whether they are nationals or ARAP-eligible cases, and that if they permit eligible vulnerable groups across the border that we will take them directly back to the UK.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he has taken with his counterparts of countries neighbouring Afghanistan to establish a plan to ensure the safety of Afghans seeking refuge.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The former Foreign Secretary visited Qatar and Pakistan from 1-3 September. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon visited Uzbekistan and Tajikistan from 1-3 September. The former Foreign Secretary had a telephone conversation with the Foreign Minister of Pakistan on 15 and 27 August, the Tajik Foreign Minister on 2 September, and the Uzbek Foreign Minister on 6 September. Lord Ahmad has additionally called the Deputy Foreign Minister of Tajikistan on 23 and 25 August and the Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan on 25 August and the Deputy Foreign Minister on 8 September. Discussions focused on securing safe passage for those fleeing Afghanistan and advancing the government's international priorities. On 3 September, the FCDO announced £30 million in additional humanitarian funding to assist the regional response to the surge in refugees.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many families were split at Kabul airport during the Government’s evacuation of UK nationals and Afghan civilians from Afghanistan in August 2021.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Our Armed Forces, FCDO, Home Office, and MoD civilian staff worked tirelessly to bring over 15,000 people to safety in the UK over the two weeks of Operation Pitting. Our priority has been to keep families together wherever possible.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Trade on the export of (a) Paraquat and (b) other pesticides that are banned in the UK to India.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The Foreign Secretary has not discussed this with the International Trade Secretary. The export of paraquat is regulated under the Great Britain Prior Informed Consent (PIC) regulatory regime for the export and import of certain hazardous chemicals. Companies intending to export any of these chemicals from Great Britain must notify the importing country via the exporter's Designated National Authority. For Great Britain the Designated National Authority is The Health and Safety Executive.
Paraquat additionally requires the explicit consent of the importing country before export can take place. India allows the import of Paraquat and the exchange of information that PIC provides allows all countries to make informed decisions on the import of those chemicals and on how to handle and use them safely.