Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding has been provided by his Department to non-governmental organisations registered in Sri Lanka (a) directly and (b) indirectly since 2018.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office publishes project spend on DevTracker and details can be found on GOV.UK. Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) programme data is published annually, with data for Sri Lanka available on GOV.UK from 2018 - 2022. Information on CSSF spend for 2022-23 will be published in due course on GOV.UK. Under the FCDO's International Programme between FY 18/19 to FY 22/23, we have contributed £519,492.40 with Sri Lankan registered NGOs receiving £489,492 directly and £30,000 indirectly.
Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what legal basis he began negotiations with Mauritius on the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Negotiations have begun between the UK and Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory /Chagos Archipelago. Through negotiations, taking into account relevant legal proceedings, it is our intention to secure an agreement on the basis of international law to resolve all outstanding issues in relation the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago.
Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to promote bilateral relations with the Commonwealth.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The UK marked Commonwealth Day on 9 March. In his statement, the Prime Minister outlined the enduring bond between the Commonwealth network of 54 countries, who are united in its promotion of peace, democracy and human rights. At Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018 (CHOGM18) in London, the UK announced £500m of projects and programmes to support delivery of the Commonwealth leaders commitments under the headings of security, prosperity, democracy and sustainability. After hosting CHOGM18, the UK took up the role of Commonwealth Chair-in-Office, a position held by the Commonwealth country which has hosted the most recent CHOGM.
The UK has been an active Chair-in-Office, committed to strengthening and renewing the Commonwealth, through its three pillars - the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Member States and Commonwealth organisations and networks. We have driven delivery of Commonwealth leaders commitments, supported the Commonwealth to have a stronger voice as an advocate for multilateral cooperation in the rules-based international system and increased solidarity between members. The UK has also championed reform of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Initiatives have been undertaken in a diverse range of policy areas, from climate change and marine protection, to cyber security, mediation of conflict and promotion of intra-Commonwealth trade. 31 Commonwealth countries are together now tackling marine plastic pollution, whilst over 3,000 women entrepreneurs across the Commonwealth have been supported to internationalise their businesses, and barriers to trade have been reduced.
Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps his Department is taking to tackle the illegal wildlife trade.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) works with a wide-range of partners to raise awareness and promote action to tackle the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT). During visits to Asia in September and October, I discussed IWT with ministers in Mongolia and Cambodia, and in Laos I raised awareness with students about the catastrophic impacts the trade has on wildlife populations.
We have also worked with international partners to help secure a strong IWT Resolution at this year's United Nations General Assembly. We are increasing our support for Africa-led Green Corridors initiatives to further support wildlife conservation, community development and safe movement of animals across borders. The FCO also supports Defra to deliver projects overseas, including those funded by the IWT Challenge Fund.
In 2018 the FCO, together with the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra), and the Department for International Development, convened the largest ever global IWT conference, at which 65 countries and a number of multilateral organisations signed up to the London Declaration.
Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to tackle the illegal wildlife trade.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
“It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.”
Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to secure the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The British Government remains extremely concerned about Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's welfare. We repeatedly call for her release at the highest levels and our Embassy in Tehran continues to request consular access. The Prime Minister raised his concerns about dual national detentions with President Rouhani on 24 September. The Foreign Secretary raised his concerns with Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif on 17 September and met Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband on 2 September to reinforce the UK's support in bringing his wife home. We are in regular contact with Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family and we urge Iran to release Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe so they can be reunited.
Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)
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 Armenian counterpart on the protection of endangered brown bears in that country.
Answered by Alan Duncan
This is not a foreign policy issue. Animal welfare policy is the responsibility of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The UK Government shares the concerns of the public about this issue and we are committed to the highest standards of animal welfare, both here in the UK and in our work with countries abroad. Britain engages with other countries directly and as part of global forums such as the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health). The protection of endangered species is a priority for the UK Government. Decisions on future funding levels for this area will be taken as part of the forthcoming Spending Review.
Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will increase funding allocated to (a) rehabilitation centres to help bears rescued from cages in restaurants and (b) the protection of endangered species more widely.
Answered by Alan Duncan
This is not a foreign policy issue. Animal welfare policy is the responsibility of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The UK Government shares the concerns of the public about this issue and we are committed to the highest standards of animal welfare, both here in the UK and in our work with countries abroad. Britain engages with other countries directly and as part of global forums such as the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health). The protection of endangered species is a priority for the UK Government. Decisions on future funding levels for this area will be taken as part of the forthcoming Spending Review.
Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the (a) People's Republic of China, (b) United Arab Emirates and (c) Republic of Zimbabwe on the Republic of Zimbabwe's sale of 97 elephants to zoos in China and the UAE since 2012.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
International trade in live elephants from Zimbabwe is permitted under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) if certain conditions are met. The UK does not have the power to intervene in the way in which another Party implements the Convention.
On 30 April, I spoke to Priscah Mupfumira, Zimbabwe Minister of Environment, Tourism and the Hospitality Industry, raising our concerns pertaining to elephants captured from the wild in Zimbabwe. Our Embassies in Beijing and Abu Dhabi are aware of the issue and regularly raise conservation issues with the respective governments.
Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department plans to change its policy in respect of the representations made by the Republic of Zimbabwe for the lifting of the global ban on the ivory trade in order to sell £231 million of ivory.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
We have no plans to change our policy regarding the sale of ivory. The international trade in elephant ivory is currently banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). A proposal has been put forward by a small number of CITES Parties, including Zimbabwe, for consideration at the 18th meeting of CITES Conference of the Parties (CoP) to resume international trade in ivory from these countries. These proposals will be subject to robust challenge at the CoP before any decision.