Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
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 with international partners to increase vaccination rates in developing nations to help ensure global protection from potential new variants of covid-19.
Answered by Amanda Milling
The UK supports global vaccine access through the COVAX Facility, which has delivered over 1 billion doses. We have donated more than 30 million doses. Millions more will be sent in 2022. As supply increases, we are working with COVAX and country governments to ensure health systems are ready to deliver vaccines at scale.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department plans to meet representatives of the Government of Spain in February 2021 to agree reciprocal arrangements to allow UK nationals to travel to Spain visa-free beyond the 90 days in a 180 day period set out in the Schengen Borders Code for third-country nationals.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
During negotiations with the EU led by Lord Frost, the Government discussed arrangements for British Citizens travelling to the Schengen Area. Regrettably, the EU consistently maintained that British Citizens will be treated as Third Country Nationals under the Schengen Borders Code as of 1 January 2021. This means that British Citizens are able to travel visa-free for short stays for up to 90 days in a rolling 180-day period. This is the standard length of stay that the EU offers to nationals of eligible third countries, in line with existing EU legislation. British Citizens who are planning to stay longer than 90 days in a rolling 180-day period will need permission from the relevant Member State. This may require applying for a visa and/or permit.
The UK's Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU notes that both the UK and EU currently provide for visa-free travel for short-term visits for each other's nationals in accordance with their respective laws. The detail of those arrangements is set by domestic law, reflecting the UK's position as a non-EU Member State.
Negotiations with the EU have concluded and the Government is focused on the smooth, robust and effective implementation of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The Government does not typically enter into bilateral agreements on visa-free travel.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
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 establish bilateral arrangements with Spain to allow UK nationals to travel there visa-free beyond the 90 days in a 180 day period set out in the Schengen Borders Code for third-country nationals.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
During negotiations with the EU led by Lord Frost, the Government discussed arrangements for British Citizens travelling to the Schengen Area. Regrettably, the EU consistently maintained that British Citizens will be treated as Third Country Nationals under the Schengen Borders Code as of 1 January 2021. This means that British Citizens are able to travel visa-free for short stays for up to 90 days in a rolling 180-day period. This is the standard length of stay that the EU offers to nationals of eligible third countries, in line with existing EU legislation. British Citizens who are planning to stay longer than 90 days in a rolling 180-day period will need permission from the relevant Member State. This may require applying for a visa and/or permit.
The UK's Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU notes that both the UK and EU currently provide for visa-free travel for short-term visits for each other's nationals in accordance with their respective laws. The detail of those arrangements is set by domestic law, reflecting the UK's position as a non-EU Member State.
Negotiations with the EU have concluded and the Government is focused on the smooth, robust and effective implementation of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The Government does not typically enter into bilateral agreements on visa-free travel.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations (a) he and (b) his officials are making to counterparts in France on allowing British travellers arriving in France who have received the AstraZeneca/Oxford covid-19 vaccines sourced from the Serum Institute of India to follow regulations in France in-line with people who are fully vaccinated with other approved covid-19 vaccines.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is in close touch with partners across Europe, including France, on the issue of the 5 million doses of AstraZeneca that were manufactured by the Serum Institute of India for use in the UK, called Vaxzevria. The European Medicines Agency has authorised this vaccine and we are confident travel will not be affected. The Government stands ready to share further details of the MHRA's approval of this particular batch should it be required.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations (a) he and (b) his officials are making to counterparts in Malta on allowing British travellers arriving in Malta who have received the AstraZeneca/Oxford covid-19 vaccines sourced from the Serum Institute of India to follow regulations in Malta in-line with people who are fully vaccinated with other approved covid-19 vaccines.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is in close touch with partners across Europe, including Malta, on the issue of the 5 million doses of AstraZeneca that were manufactured by the Serum Institute of India for use in the UK, called Vaxzevria. The European Medicines Agency, as well as our own medicines regulator, has authorised this vaccine and travel should not be affected. We have confirmed with the Maltese authorities that all vaccines delivered in the UK, regardless of type, batch or location of manufacture, are sufficient for entry into Malta.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to safeguard the human rights of Palestinian households (a) threatened with or (b) undergoing eviction in the Silwan area of East Jerusalem.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
The UK continues to engage with the Israeli government on human rights issues in the context of the occupation. We repeatedly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation. The UK regularly raises the issue of forced evictions from their homes with the Government of Israel. The Fourth Geneva Convention, which applies to all occupied territories, prohibits demolitions or forced evictions absent military necessity. The UK is clear that in all but the most exceptional of circumstances, evictions are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. We monitor the situation in Silwan closely, and officials regularly visit and attend related court hearings. We continue to urge Israel to cease such actions.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will work with the Department for Transport to ensure that travel lists issued by that Department are in-line with the covid-19-related guidance for travel issued by his Department.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The FCDO Travel Advice and the Traffic Lights System are two independent processes based on different risk analyses. FCDO travel advice considers the risk to British nationals travelling overseas, while the Traffic Light System assesses and aims to mitigate the overall risk to UK public health of inbound travel to the UK. At present, Travel Advice advises against all but essential travel to all countries on the 'Red' list and does not advise against travel to any country on the 'Green' list.
The traffic light system is currently signposted across all FCDO Travel Advice pages: firstly, at the top of the page, where the 'should not travel to Amber or Red list countries' message is emphasised; and, secondly, within the country page where the Traffic Light status of that country is given.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help ensure that international law is upheld in relation to the eviction of Palestinian households the Silwan area of East Jerusalem.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
The UK regularly raises the issue of demolitions and forced evictions of Palestinians from their homes with the Government of Israel. The Foreign Secretary raised ongoing evictions, demolitions and settlement activity with the Israeli Authorities during his visit to the region on 26 May. The UK is clear that in all but the most exceptional of circumstances, demolitions and evictions are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. We monitor the situation in Silwan closely, and officials regularly visit and attend related court hearings.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations (a) he is and (b) officials of his Department are making to counterparts in Lithuania on allowing British travellers arriving in Lithuania who have received the AstraZeneca/Oxford covid-19 vaccines sourced from the Serum Institute of India to follow regulations in Lithuania in-line with people who are fully vaccinated with other approved covid-19 vaccines.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is in close touch with partners across Europe, including Lithuania, on the issue of EMA approval of the 5 million doses of AstraZeneca that were manufactured under license by the Serum Institute of India for use in the UK. Officials are currently in discussions with Lithuanian counterparts to confirm that Lithuanian authorities will regard those vaccinated in the UK with these doses as vaccinated for the purposes of entry to Lithuania. The Government stands ready to share further details of the MHRA's approval of this particular batch should it be required.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what role officials in his Department are undertaking in negotiations for a settlement on the island of Cyprus between North Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK remains committed to supporting the UN process to reach a Cyprus Settlement, which will be good for Cyprus, regional stability and UK interests. On 27-29 April, in support of the efforts led by the UN Secretary General to find common ground on a way forward to resolve the Cyprus Issue, the Foreign Secretary represented the UK as a Guarantor Power at informal UN talks in Geneva. He was supported by Officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
At the meeting, the Foreign Secretary continued to urge all sides to demonstrate flexibility and compromise to find a solution to the Cyprus Issue within the UN Security Council parameters. This followed UK messaging to the parties ahead of the talks, including the Foreign Secretary's visit to the island on 4 February where he met President Anastasiades, Turkish Cypriot leader Tatar and the UN. Ahead of the talks, during my visit to Cyprus (7-9 April), I reiterated this message and the UK's support for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus issue. To this end, FCDO Ministers and Officials will continue to engage with all parties in support of the UN process.