Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for his policies of the proposed International Monetary Fund loan package for Tunisia.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have been clear about the importance of socio-economic stability in order to provide for the Tunisian people. The UK is closely following the proposed loan programme of the International Monetary Fund and was disappointed to learn that the IMF board meeting to discuss the loan program for Tunisia was postponed. We encourage the resumption of talks and urge the Tunisian government to take forward the difficult but necessary reforms to stabilise the economic situation and bring socio-economic stability to Tunisia. We stand ready to support the swift implementation of the steps necessary to strengthen Tunisia's economic and financial situation.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
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 implications for his policy of the political and economic situation in Tunisia.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK closely monitors the economic and political situation in Tunisia. We have made our views clear, calling for continued public commitment to and respect for all Tunisians' civil, political, social and economic rights and to the rule of law. Given the scale of the socio-economic and fiscal challenges, we encourage the Tunisian government to implement urgent reform steps and deliver on the demands of the Tunisian people. The UK stands ready to play a constructive role.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress she made with her G7 counterparts following the summit in Bavaria, Germany on tackling the global increases in energy prices.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We are working closely with our G7 and other likeminded partners to support global energy security and stabilise economic recovery. For example, on 2 September, G7 Finance Ministers announced their intention to introduce an oil price cap mechanism related to Russian oil. The cap consists of a ban on services related to the maritime transport of Russian oil products sold above a collectively-agreed price cap, with an exception for those sold below the cap. It aims to reduce Russian energy revenues while avoiding a spike in global prices. On 8 September, the UK announced an 'Energy Price Guarantee' and a new Energy Supply Taskforce which will negotiate with domestic and international suppliers to agree long-term contracts that reduce the price they charge for energy and increase the security of its supply to help tackle rising energy prices. Other members of the G7 are exploring similar domestic packages.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to help ensure Sweden and Finland are able to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation expeditiously.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK Government has engaged regularly with NATO Allies to advance the NATO accession process for Sweden and Finland. Once the Accession Protocols were signed, the Prime Minister expedited our ratification, recognising the importance of bringing both countries quickly into NATO. We are encouraging all Allies to also ratify swiftly. Rapid integration into NATO will make both countries safer, the Alliance stronger, and the Euro-Atlantic area more secure.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make representations to her counterpart in the French Government that, in addition to the UEFA inquiry, the French authorities conduct their own investigation into (a) police conduct and (b) security measures during the 2022 UEFA Champions League Final.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
HMG has been clear that the events at the Champions League Final were unacceptable. The Foreign Secretary raised the issue with the French Foreign Minister on 1 June, as did the Sports Minister with his counterpart on 7 June. The French Government has apologised and acknowledged that mistakes were made.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the level of threat posed to UK (a) security and (b) regional interests by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We do not routinely comment on intelligence matters or specific threats. As we made clear in the 2021 Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, we are committed to addressing growing threats from Iran, as well as other states. We will continue to use all tools at our disposal to protect the UK and our interests from any Iran-linked threats.
The UK Government has long been clear about its concerns over the continued destabilising activity of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This includes IRGC political, financial and military support to a number of militant and proscribed groups including Hizballah in Lebanon and Syria, militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen. The UK maintains a range of sanctions that work to constrain the destabilising activity of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. We regularly raise Iran's destabilising role in the region at UN Security Council.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support language skills and training across Government departments.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The FCDO is part of the cross-Whitehall languages group which supports and promotes language learning across government departments. The FCDO makes its language training contracts available to other government departments, allowing them to access our competitively procured services. The FCDO is committed to strengthening the languages skills of its staff, who support the achievement of other government departments' international objectives as part of their work.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help resolve the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The UK has played a leading role in responding to the humanitarian crisis, committing over £1 billion in aid since the conflict began. Over the course of our coming financial year, the UK will provide at least £88 million in aid to the people of Yemen. UK funding will be provided through multiple agencies, including the World Food Programme and UNICEF. This will help feed at least 200,000 people every month, provide lifesaving health care for 800,000 women and children, and treat 85,000 severely malnourished children. We will work with our delivery partners to ensure aid is disbursed quickly and effectively to avoid further suffering. An inclusive political settlement is the only way to bring long-term stability to Yemen and to address the worsening humanitarian crisis. The UK fully supports the work of the UN Special Envoy, and welcomes his plans to propose an extension to the current truce in Yemen.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
What diplomatic steps her Department is taking to help strengthen links with Belgium and Luxembourg.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK enjoys excellent diplomatic relations with both Belgium and Luxembourg.
Tomorrow, I will travel to Brussels and meet with the Belgian Prime Minister’s National Security Adviser. We will discuss the situation in Ukraine and measures for strengthening our bi-lateral cooperation and meeting the PM's ambition set out in the 2021 Joint Declaration.
The Economic Secretary to the Treasury met Luxembourg’s Finance Minister on 3 March 2022 to discuss our shared ambition to deepen financial services cooperation, particularly sustainable finance.
We will continue to work closely with Luxembourg on shared concerns
My Noble Friend Lord Ahmad will chair a roundtable on PSVI on 24 May and Luxembourg will attend.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to increase the proportion of diplomats who speak foreign languages in Embassies and High Commissions.
Answered by Vicky Ford
Language skills are critical to the FCDO's operations and impact. Full-time language training is offered for some overseas roles (known as 'speaker slots'), and its successful outcome is measured by examination. In 2018, the proportion of FCDO officers in speaker slots with a valid exam pass at their target level was 55%. Following considerable efforts to improve teaching quality, employee performance and results monitoring, that figure now stands at 70%. The FCDO is committed to further improving target level attainment and expanding the language skills of our staff.