Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to increase cooperation with British Overseas Territories to help tackle financial crime.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
British Overseas Territories (OTs) cooperate with the UK on fighting financial crime and are committed to meeting international standards; including those set by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Financial Action Task Force. The FCDO has provided extensive support including funding and direct technical assistance to build local capacity and support the development of essential legislation. The FCDO, alongside HMT and the Home Office, co-hosts regular UK-OT fora on Economic Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism. A UK-OT ministerial illicit finance dialogue was launched at the Joint Ministerial Council in May 2023. A preparatory senior officials dialogue will take place in the British Virgin Islands between 12 to 14 September.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much from the public purse her Department has spent on feasibility studies for the offshoring of people seeking asylum to UK Overseas Territories in each of the last three years.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
While individuals are endangering lives making perilous journeys, every possible option must be considered to reduce the draw of the UK. We are always willing to work with partners around the world to tackle the joint challenge of illegal migration.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which UK Overseas Territories her Department is considering for the offshoring of people seeking asylum.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
While individuals are endangering lives making perilous journeys, every possible option must be considered to reduce the draw of the UK. We are always willing to work with partners around the world to tackle the joint challenge of illegal migration.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much from the public purse his Department has spent on feasibility studies for the offshoring of people seeking asylum to the UK Overseas Territories in each of the last three years.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has not funded any such feasibility studies.
Responsibility for migration and Asylum claims in the British Overseas Territories lies with the elected Overseas Territories governments. The Territories face varying levels of Asylum claims and the UK Government is providing support where needed. The FCDO, in partnership with the Home Office, will continue to work with the Territories on asylum procedures.
Asked by: Sally-Ann Hart (Conservative - Hastings and Rye)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much and what proportion of the UK’s commitment to protect 30 per cent of the ocean by 2030 will be met by marine protected areas around the UK Overseas Territories.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Blue Belt supports the protection of 4.3 million square kilometres, representing around 65 per cent of British waters. This protection represents approximately 90 per cent of the UK's commitment to protect 30 per cent of the ocean by 2030.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with Girlguiding UK on their decision to end operations in British Overseas Territories.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK maintains strong cultural links with the Overseas Territories and our continuing partnership bring benefits to the UK and to the Territories. The Government shares the disappointment felt in the Overseas Territories at the decision of Girlguiding UK to end support for British Girlguiding Overseas operations. We are continuing discussions with Girlguiding UK, together with Department for Culture, Media and Sport as the lead Department, and the Ministry of Defence, on how Girlguiding in the Overseas Territories can continue to be supported.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Answer of 14 March 2022 to Question 134064 on Rape: Victims, if he will publish guidance on the application of the right to anonymity to victims of rape in cases in which (a) the rape occurred abroad and (b) the perpetrator was (i) a non-UK citizen, (ii) a British Overseas Territories citizen, (iii) a British National (Overseas) and (iv) a British Overseas citizen.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992, which makes provision for automatic reporting restrictions to protect the identity of complainants in cases of rape and other serious sexual offences, extends to the United Kingdom and does not apply to criminal proceedings overseas. Where, however, an offence of rape is alleged to have been committed abroad by a UK national (including a person holding one of the categories of citizenship listed in the Question) or by someone resident in the UK, there is the possibility of asserting extra-territorial jurisdiction and trying the case in a UK court. In cases where that is done, the reporting restrictions in the 1992 Act would apply in the usual way.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign nationals have been granted British overseas territories citizenship in each of the past five years.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Home Office does not currently publish this data, due to ongoing developments with the underlying data systems. Historic data up to 2018 can be found in Table Cit_03 in the citizenship summary tables.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support financial centres in the (a) British Overseas Territories and (b) Crown Dependencies introducing public beneficial ownership registers.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government is committed to supporting the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to deliver commitments to implement publicly accessible registers of beneficial ownership. Our recent support includes: working with smaller Overseas Territories to update their systems to enable public access; purchasing a new company register for Anguilla, which will allow for public access; and funding Open Ownership, a specialist NGO, to provide technical assistance to each Overseas Territory.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent progress his Department has made on the introduction of a public beneficial ownership register in the (a) Cayman Islands and (b) British Virgin Islands.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government is committed to supporting the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to deliver commitments to implement publicly accessible registers of beneficial ownership. Our recent support includes: working with smaller Overseas Territories to update their systems to enable public access; purchasing a new company register for Anguilla, which will allow for public access; and funding Open Ownership, a specialist NGO, to provide technical assistance to each Overseas Territory.