Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will review the offer of a state visit to President Trump.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
No.
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential role of (a) co-operatives and (b) co-operation in his Department's approach to international development.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government recognises the important contribution cooperatives have made in serving local communities around the world. Cooperatives are a tried-and-tested model in international development, that can enable citizens and producers to access services or markets and strengthen their voice in local processes. Cooperatives can enable sustainable and inclusive development centred on self-help, democratic ownership, and concern for the community. The UK has supported cooperatives and producer organisations in developing countries, including, for example in agriculture through funding to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP), which supports producer organisations, and the Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness Programme (CASA), which partners with cooperatives and small agribusinesses in low-income countries to improve smallholder farmers' access to markets.
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish a breakdown of the costs that contribute to the £570 fee for an emergency travel document.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The fee for an Emergency Travel Document is £100. The costs break down as follows: 69% on staffing for our Emergency Travel Document Centres, 27% on the online application system and other digital services, and 4% on consumable items.
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the £570 fee for an emergency travel document.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The current cost for an Emergency Travel Document is £100 as published on gov.uk and in all consular public waiting rooms.
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to introduce (a) exemptions and (b) reduced fees for emergency travel documents for people in financial hardship.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We do not plan to introduce exemptions or reduce the fees for Emergency Travel Documents. In exceptional circumstances, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office may be able to provide an emergency loan to help British nationals return to the UK, once all other avenues of support have been exhausted. We have long advised British nationals travelling overseas to make sure they have appropriate travel insurance, which will often cover the cost of services like an Emergency Travel Document.
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what costs contribute to the fee for an emergency travel document.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The following costs contribute to the fee for an Emergency Travel Document: staff costs, consumables, couriering and digital services.
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the administrative cost to her Department is of preparing an emergency travel document.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The full recovery cost to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office for an Emergency Travel Document is £135.
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has plans to introduce (a) exemptions and (b) reduced fees for emergency travel documents for individuals in financial hardship.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have consistently advised British people travelling overseas to make sure they have appropriate travel insurance, which will often cover the cost of services like an Emergency Travel Document (ETD). In exceptional circumstances, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office may be able to provide an emergency loan to help British nationals return to the UK, once all other avenues of financial support have been exhausted. Loans can cover the cost of an ETD where one is needed.
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of violence by armed groups and militias such as M23 armed group in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo; and what steps he is taking to help reduce this.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds
The UK condemns the use of violence by armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including M23, and is committed to encouraging continued engagement and delivery on commitments by all parties under the Luanda peace process. In August and September 2024, the Minister for Africa visited Angola, DRC and Rwanda where he met with their respective presidents and urged de-escalation. He has subsequently spoken on a number of occasions with foreign ministers in the region. The UK is delivering a three-year £208 million humanitarian programme in the east of DRC, providing life-saving emergency assistance and increasing the resilience of crisis-affected communities.
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
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 help tackle (a) violation of personal freedoms of female students and (b) other forms of mistreatment of women and girls in Iran.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Iran's human rights record is unacceptable. We condemn the continued repression of women and girls by the Iranian authorities. We maintain 94 human rights sanctions on senior Iranian decision makers, including those responsible for Iran's oppressive hijab law. We continue to support the UN Special Procedures of the Special Rapporteur and Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, mandates which are essential for spotlighting Iran's human rights violations, including against women and girls. We will continue to work alongside international partners to hold the Iranian regime accountable, including at the UN Third Committee this month.