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Written Question
British Overseas Territories and Caribbean: Digital Technology
Wednesday 20th March 2024

Asked by: Damian Collins (Conservative - Folkestone and Hythe)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assistance has been provided for the development of digital infrastructure in (a) the British Overseas Territories and (b) Caribbean Commonwealth countries since 2014.

Answered by David Rutley

Whilst digital infrastructure is a mostly devolved matter, the UK provides significant support to the four Official Development Assistance (ODA) eligible Territories. The FCDO-funded capital investment programme in Montserrat recently delivered a sub-sea fibre cable and in St Helena we are supporting improvements in the local telecommunications infrastructure.

The UK has not provided support for digital infrastructure in the Caribbean through our bilateral ODA. However, we continue to support the development of digital infrastructure through our shareholding in multilateral agencies including the World Bank, Inter-American and Caribbean Development Banks.

Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 21 Jun 2022
World Press Freedom Day

"I beg to move,

That this House has considered World Press Freedom Day 2022.

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Hollobone. In the 21st century, speaking truth to power is an increasingly dangerous business. While we have in our minds the war in Ukraine and Russia’s …..."
Damian Collins - View Speech

View all Damian Collins (Con - Folkestone and Hythe) contributions to the debate on: World Press Freedom Day
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 21 Jun 2022
World Press Freedom Day

"My right hon. Friend makes an extremely important point. As I said at the start, 29 journalists have died, as have two media assistants—exactly the sort of people he refers to. They work together on the frontline, and without the work of those production assistants, the stories that people seek …..."
Damian Collins - View Speech

View all Damian Collins (Con - Folkestone and Hythe) contributions to the debate on: World Press Freedom Day
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 21 Jun 2022
World Press Freedom Day

"I thank the Minister and all right hon. and hon. Members for their participation in this excellent debate. A number of cases have been raised relating to media freedom and the suppression of journalism around the world, and it is right that those cases have been heard in the debate …..."
Damian Collins - View Speech

View all Damian Collins (Con - Folkestone and Hythe) contributions to the debate on: World Press Freedom Day
Written Question
Afghanistan: Refugees
Thursday 3rd March 2022

Asked by: Damian Collins (Conservative - Folkestone and Hythe)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many Afghan journalists the UK has evacuated from Afghanistan since 1 August 2021.

Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government

We do not collect comprehensive data on the profession of those relocated, so the following figures are estimates only.

The UK will continue to relocate eligible individuals under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). The ACRS commenced on 6 January and will provide up to 20,000 women, children and others at risk with a safe and legal route to resettle in the UK.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 24 May 2021
Belarus: Interception of Aircraft

"The kidnapping of Roman Protasevich is the worst example of what has been a systematic campaign by the Belarusian Government against journalists. Last year there were 480 detentions of journalists, who spent more than 1,200 days behind bars, and at least 62 cases of physical violence against them. Does my …..."
Damian Collins - View Speech

View all Damian Collins (Con - Folkestone and Hythe) contributions to the debate on: Belarus: Interception of Aircraft
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 19 Jan 2021
Oral Answers to Questions

" What recent discussions he has had with the US Administration on reports of the (a) detention and (b) assault of journalists covering the rioting in Washington, D.C. on 6 January 2021. ..."
Damian Collins - View Speech

View all Damian Collins (Con - Folkestone and Hythe) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 19 Jan 2021
Oral Answers to Questions

"There were 342 assaults on journalists in America last year and there have been 13 further this year. Will my right hon. Friend work with the new Administration in America to protect the rights of journalists around the world, and also call on social media companies to do more—[ …..."
Damian Collins - View Speech

View all Damian Collins (Con - Folkestone and Hythe) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Written Question
Ethiopia: Armed Conflict
Monday 11th January 2021

Asked by: Damian Collins (Conservative - Folkestone and Hythe)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to support humanitarian relief for people affected by the conflict in Tigray in Ethiopia; and what recent discussions he has had with his Ethiopian counterpart on restoring peace to that region.

Answered by James Duddridge

The UK is supporting life-saving assistance for people affected by the conflict in Tigray, including health and malnutrition treatment and water and sanitation delivered through UN agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and NGO partners. We continue to work closely with the UN and partners, in calling for sustained, free and unfettered humanitarian access across Tigray, in line with the guiding principles laid down by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Since the Foreign Secretary met the Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister in London on 25th November we have continued to press the Government of Ethiopia for a political solution to restore peace, including in my call with the Ethiopian Finance Minister on 16 December.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 08 Sep 2020
Oral Answers to Questions

" What diplomatic steps his Department has taken to help ensure media freedom for domestic and international journalists in Belarus. ..."
Damian Collins - View Speech

View all Damian Collins (Con - Folkestone and Hythe) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions