Asked by: Pauline Latham (Conservative - Mid Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps she is taking to encourage cathode active material producers to the UK.
Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Pauline Latham (Conservative - Mid Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the UK’s domestic critical mineral capacity.
Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Pauline Latham (Conservative - Mid Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps she is taking to strengthen the UK supply chain in the production of lithium-ion batteries.
Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Pauline Latham (Conservative - Mid Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps she is taking to encourage rare earth magnet producers to the UK.
Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Pauline Latham (Conservative - Mid Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, which nations she has pursued critical mineral agreements with.
Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation
Asked by: Pauline Latham (Conservative - Mid Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of chicane barriers on the accessibility of (a) footpaths and (b) cycle routes.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The impact of chicane barriers on the accessibility of footpaths and cycle routes was assessed as part of updating Cycle Infrastructure Design Guidance in 2020 and Inclusive Mobility Guidance in 2021. These documents set out good practice on the design of access barriers. Active Travel England’s design toolkits include specific tests on the acceptability of barriers on new or upgraded routes.
Asked by: Pauline Latham (Conservative - Mid Derbyshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the extent to which Canada's critical minerals capacity is a factor in its inclusion of a potential expansion of Pillar II of the AUKUS agreement.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As the AUKUS Defence Ministers announced earlier this month, in identifying collaboration opportunities for AUKUS nations to work with other states on advanced capability projects under Pillar 2, we will take into account factors such as technological innovation, financing, industrial strengths, ability to adequately protect sensitive data and information, and impact on promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Asked by: Pauline Latham (Conservative - Mid Derbyshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he has had discussions with his counterparts in (a) the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and (b) Cyprus on the potential merits of introducing direct flights from UK airports to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the last 12 months.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
In accordance with the rest of the international community, with the sole exception of Turkey, the UK does not recognise the self-declared "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" as an independent state. Under the Chicago Convention, only the Republic of Cyprus may designate Cypriot airports for international flights. It has not done so for Ercan airport. As such, it is not possible to fly directly between the UK and the north of Cyprus. Ministers have not discussed this topic with the Cypriot government or Turkish Cypriot administration. The FCDO does not hold data on arrivals to Ercan airport.
Asked by: Pauline Latham (Conservative - Mid Derbyshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what data his Department holds on the number of UK nationals that entered the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus through Ercan International Airport in Northern Cyprus in each year since 2010.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
In accordance with the rest of the international community, with the sole exception of Turkey, the UK does not recognise the self-declared "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" as an independent state. Under the Chicago Convention, only the Republic of Cyprus may designate Cypriot airports for international flights. It has not done so for Ercan airport. As such, it is not possible to fly directly between the UK and the north of Cyprus. Ministers have not discussed this topic with the Cypriot government or Turkish Cypriot administration. The FCDO does not hold data on arrivals to Ercan airport.
Asked by: Pauline Latham (Conservative - Mid Derbyshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he has made representations to his Gambian counterpart on (a) that country's obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and (b) ensuring a continuing ban on female genital mutilation.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Female genital mutlilation (FGM) should be illegal. I [Minister Mitchell] spoke to The Gambia's Foreign Minister on 9 April to relay the UK's deep concern about the progress in The Gambia's National Assembly of the bill that would legalise FGM. I highlighted the serious implications if the bill were to become law, including for The Gambia's international reputation. The UK continues to engage broadly through regular contact with senior Gambian Government officials and other stakeholders. We are working with international partners to coordinate and complement messaging and activity.