Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the assassination attempt on Argentina's Vice President, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, on 1 September 2022.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The UK condemns the recent assassination attempt on Vice President Kirchner and stands with the Government of Argentina in support of democracy and the rule of law, and against political violence.
The UK is keen to work with Argentina to continue to strengthen our bilateral relationship. This includes building on our recent cooperation on health, including on COVID-19 vaccines, on climate change and on human rights, notably as co-chairs of the Equal Rights Coalition.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the political situation in Argentina.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We want Argentina to be stable and prosperous. Economically, we believe Argentina's International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme provides the best vehicle for macroeconomic stability. On 25 March we voted in favour of a new IMF deal to restructure the country's debt and in June we supported the completion of the first review of the deal programme.
The UK is keen to work with Argentina to continue to strengthen our bilateral relationship. This includes building on our recent cooperation on health, including on COVID-19 vaccines, on climate change and on human rights, notably as co-chairs of the Equal Rights Coalition. The UK condemns the recent assassination attempt on Vice President Kirchner and stands with the Government of Argentina in support of democracy and the rule of law, and against political violence.
Asked by: Baroness Barker (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the level of international funding for LGBT+ organisations; and what plans they have to increase the Official Development Assistance funding allocation to such groups.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK regularly engages our partners, including governments, civil society, philanthropists and multilateral organisations, on taking a collaborative approach to Official Development Assistance funding in support of LGBT+ rights. As co-chairs of the Equal Rights Coalition (ERC), the UK and Argentina oversaw the adoption of the ERC's first strategy and five-year implementation plan in July 2021. The UK actively participates in the ERC Donor Coordination Working Group which aims to improve coordination between all actors.
Plans for levels of UK funding for the current spending round are not yet confirmed. In June 2022, the Prime Minister announced £2.7 million of new UK funding to support LGBT+ grassroots human rights defenders, and advance equality and freedom across the Commonwealth.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Argentine counterpart following the deportation of Colombian lawyer, Diego Martinez, from Argentina to that country.
Answered by Vicky Ford
UK ministers and senior officials regularly raise human rights issues, as well as specific cases of concern, with the Colombian Government and in multilateral fora. Most recently, Lord Ahmad discussed human rights and the security situation in Colombia in his meeting with President Duque on 12 April. I [Minister Ford] also discussed human rights concerns with Vice-President and Foreign Minister Ramírez on 10 February.
Immigration and border decisions are a matter for the two countries. The UK expects all countries to follow their international obligations in respect of deportations.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Colombian counterpart on the deportation of Diego Martinez from Argentina to Colombia.
Answered by Vicky Ford
UK ministers and senior officials regularly raise human rights issues, as well as specific cases of concern, with the Colombian Government and in multilateral fora. Most recently, Lord Ahmad discussed human rights and the security situation in Colombia in his meeting with President Duque on 12 April. I [Minister Ford] also discussed human rights concerns with Vice-President and Foreign Minister Ramírez on 10 February.
Immigration and border decisions are a matter for the two countries. The UK expects all countries to follow their international obligations in respect of deportations.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make representations to her international counterparts on the level of funding provided for LGBT+ community groups in low and middle income countries.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK regularly engages our partners, including governments, civil society, philanthropists, and multilateral organisations, on taking a collaborative approach to Official Development Assistance funding in support of LGBT+ rights.
As co-chairs of the Equal Rights Coalition (ERC), the UK and Argentina oversaw the adoption of the ERC's first strategy and five-year implementation plan in July 2021. The UK actively participates in the ERC Donor Coordination Working Group which aims to improve coordination between all actors.
Plans for the levels of UK funding for the 2022-5 Spending Round are not yet confirmed, but we will continue to focus on low and middle income countries in the global south. In June 2022, the Prime Minister announced £2.7 million of new UK funding to support LGBT+ grassroots human rights defenders, and advance equality and freedom across the Commonwealth.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her Argentine counterpart on Argentina's intention to participate in the Summit of G7 leaders in June 2022.
Answered by Vicky Ford
Invitations to the Summit of G7 leaders are handled by the organisers of the event. The UK Government has not had discussions on this topic with the Government of Argentina.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 10 March 2022 to Question 137988, on Falkland Islands: Sovereignty, whether his Department has undertaken a recent assessment of the adequacy of the level of UK forces in the South Atlantic in the context of recent statements from Alberto Fernández asserting Argentinian sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.
Answered by James Heappey
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave previously to Question 137988. The Ministry of Defence undertakes regular assessments of possible threats to the Falkland Islands to ensure that an appropriate defensive capability is maintained. Our forces in the South Atlantic are at the appropriate level to ensure the defence of the Islands. As part of these assessments, we closely monitor statements from the Government of Argentina, amongst other factors.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the Argentine Government's decision to join the BRICS group of emerging economies.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The issue of BRICS membership is a matter for members of that group.
The UK wants to see a prosperous and stable economy in Argentina. On 25 March, the UK voted in favour of a new IMF deal to restructure the country's debt. We believe Argentina's IMF programme provides the best vehicle for macroeconomic stability, and we expect Argentina to continue to honour its commitments as part of that agreement.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Argentine counterpart on reports of a further military deployment in Tierra del Fuego, particularly on the security of the Falkland Islands.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
UK Government ministers and officials are in regular contact with their Argentine opposite numbers. For example, the Minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean met with Foreign Minister Cafiero on 11 March. The United Kingdom has no doubt about its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands and surrounding maritime areas, and no doubt about the principle and the right of self-determination for the Falkland Islanders. The UK Government remains absolutely committed to the protection of the Falkland Islands and its population. Our forces in the Falkland Islands are defensive and the levels are kept under review: the UK undertakes regular assessments of possible threats to the Islands to ensure that an appropriate defence capability is maintained.