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 much humanitarian aid has been provided to Rwanda in each of the last ten years prior to the agreement to enter into an offshoring refugee partnership.
Answered by Vicky Ford
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.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 the UK’s humanitarian aid to Rwanda was reduced due to the under the reduction in Overseas development aid in the last two years.
Answered by Vicky Ford
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.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 her Department has made an assessment of the the potential merits of forgiving Rwanda’s international debt, which accounts for 50 per cent of the countries’ GDP.
Answered by Vicky Ford
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
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 she had made of whether the formation of the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine is compatible with that country’s obligations under the UN International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The International Convention is a treaty that prohibits the recruitment, training, use, and financing of mercenaries. The UK is not a signatory to this Convention. FCDO advises against all travel to Ukraine.
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 meetings officials in his Department have had with people from Southern Cameroons residing in the UK on the conflict in that country; and if he will meet with delegations from that country in the future.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK engages with a wide range of stakeholders on the crisis in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon, including NGOs, civil society, religious leaders and academics, as well as national and local government. We believe it is important to hear first-hand accounts from the conflict and to encourage initiatives that aim to reduce human suffering and restore peace. The FCDO regularly considers its approach to stakeholder engagement for Cameroon, and how best to engage with a diverse range of voices, including the Cameroonian diaspora.
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.