Asked by: Joan Walley (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his environmental responsibilities are for the Overseas Territories.
Answered by James Duddridge
Territory Governments are constitutionally responsible for the protection and conservation of their natural environments. As set out in the 2012 Overseas Territories White Paper, the UK Government provides technical advice and expertise to support the Territories in meeting their environmental obligations, for example through the Darwin Plus fund and supporting environmental mainstreaming initiatives.Asked by: Joan Walley (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has received on the Cayman Islands Environmental Protection Fund; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by James Duddridge
I have received no formal representations on the Cayman Islands' Environmental Protection Fund. The Fund, which is financed by a departure tax, is a matter for the Cayman Islands. Expenditure from the Fund is approved by the Finance Committee of the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly and disbursements fall under the control of the Minister of Finance.
Asked by: Joan Walley (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the timetable is for the adoption of a marine protected area in Pitcairn.
Answered by James Duddridge
We continue to discuss the merits and mechanisms of a potential Marine Protected Area (MPA) around Pitcairn with interested parties. HMG is an enthusiastic supporter of MPAs, having established MPAs in the British Indian Ocean Territory and South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands. An MPA will be considered where there are scientific reasons for it, there is effective enforcement and monitoring capability and the costs are not prohibitive.Asked by: Joan Walley (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent 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 Cabinet colleagues as part of the process of approval of marine protection for the Pitcairn Islands; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by James Duddridge
I have not had any formal discussions with ministerial colleagues about the proposal for a no-take Marine Protected Area (MPA) within Pitcairn’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) since being appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office on 11 August 2014. Senior officials are currently considering these proposals and will provide advice to Ministers in due course.
Asked by: Joan Walley (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which UN peacekeeping missions established since 1990 do not have a human rights mandate.
Answered by Mark Simmonds
21 out of 51 peacekeeping missions established since 1990 did not include a human rights mandate to monitor and intervene. Of these 21, only the Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) is still in operation.
Human rights mandates or components in peacekeeping missions vary depending on the context, and are common in newer peacekeeping missions. The UK Government has supported these human rights mandates wherever possible. This is part of our broader efforts to mainstream human rights into the UN's peace and security work.
Asked by: Joan Walley (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the effects of delays in the organisation of the referendum in Western Sahara on the security situation in that region.
Answered by Hugh Robertson
We receive reports on the security situation in the region including in Western Sahara from a number of sources. The UN mission, MINURSO reports each year to the UN Security Council, most recently in document S/2014/258 dated April 2014.
Asked by: Joan Walley (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent 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 his US counterpart on human rights in Western Sahara.
Answered by Hugh Robertson
Her Majesty's Government has regular discussions with their US counterparts, including on Western Sahara. We support UN efforts to find a negotiated settlement.