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Written Question
Spain: Democracy
Wednesday 14th July 2021

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 officials in his Department have had discussions with their counterparts in the Spanish government on the potential effect on democracy in Spain of the claim by the Spanish Court of Auditors for €5.4 million from Catalan government officials for the work that they have done abroad.

Answered by Wendy Morton

UK Government ministers and officials discuss a range of issues with their Spanish counterparts. Our Consulate General in Barcelona maintains contact with regional authorities there on matters such as trade, investment and tourism. UK Government officials regularly meet with representatives of the Catalan government to discuss matters of mutual interest that are within their competence as an autonomous community of Spain. We have been clear on the issue of Catalonia. The UK continues to support the upholding of the Spanish Constitution and the rule of law. This issue is a matter for Spain and the Spanish courts.


Written Question
Spain: Democracy
Wednesday 14th July 2021

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 officials in his Department have had discussions with their counterparts in the Catalonian government on the potential effect on democracy in Spain of the claim by the Spanish Court of Auditors for €5.4 million from Catalan government officials for the work that they have done abroad.

Answered by Wendy Morton

UK Government ministers and officials discuss a range of issues with their Spanish counterparts. Our Consulate General in Barcelona maintains contact with regional authorities there on matters such as trade, investment and tourism. UK Government officials regularly meet with representatives of the Catalan government to discuss matters of mutual interest that are within their competence as an autonomous community of Spain. We have been clear on the issue of Catalonia. The UK continues to support the upholding of the Spanish Constitution and the rule of law. This issue is a matter for Spain and the Spanish courts.


Written Question
Catalonia: Sovereignty
Monday 12th October 2020

Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish a response to EDM 936, on the Disqualification of the President of Catalonia, tabled by the hon. Member for Arfon.

Answered by Wendy Morton

This is a matter for Spain and the Spanish courts. Political leaders, like anyone else, have a duty to abide by the law.


Written Question
Catalonia: Sovereignty
Thursday 8th October 2020

Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Spanish counterpart on the disqualification of Quim Torra as President of Catalonia.

Answered by Wendy Morton

This is a matter for Spain and the Spanish courts. The Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with his Spanish counterparts on this matter.


Written Question
Catalonia: Sovereignty
Thursday 31st October 2019

Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Spain about that government's treatment of protesters in Catalonia and Barcelona.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

​I am saddened that a minority of protesters have resorted to violence in Catalonia. It is important that all parties work to resolve their political differences peacefully and in line with the Spanish legal framework and constitution. The Government has been clear that the situation in the Autonomous Community of Catalonia is a matter for Spain, and that questions related to the issue of independence should be resolved within the proper constitutional and legal channels. The Minister for Europe and the Americas recently outlined this position to the Spanish Ambassador, and in Parliament on 15 October.


Written Question
Catalonia: Sovereignty
Friday 25th October 2019

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Spanish counterpart on the recent prison sentences for Catalan separatist leaders; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Christopher Pincher

​As I outlined in Parliament on 15 October, this is a matter for the Spanish courts. Political leaders, like anyone else, have a duty to abide by the law.


Written Question
Spain: Foreign Relations
Friday 25th October 2019

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last met his Spanish counterpart; and what issues were discussed at that meeting.

Answered by Christopher Pincher

​The Foreign Secretary met his Spanish counterpart in the margins of the Gymnich on 29 August and they discussed no deal contingency planning and EU Exit. I met the Spanish Ambassador on 18 September and we discussed EU Exit no deal contingency planning, the bilateral relationship and the situation in Catalonia. I further met the Spanish Ambassador on 10 October.


Written Question
Catalonia: Sovereignty
Monday 21st October 2019

Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made representations to his Spanish counterpart on the (a) general and (b) police response to pro-independence demonstrations in Catalonia.

Answered by Christopher Pincher

I am saddened that a minority of protesters have resorted to violence in Catalonia. It is important that all parties work to resolve their political differences peacefully and in line with the Spanish legal framework and constitution. The Government has been clear that the situation in the Autonomous Community of Catalonia is a matter for Spain, and that questions related to the issue of independence should be resolved within the proper constitutional and legal channels. I recently outlined this position to the Spanish Ambassador and in Parliament on 15 October.


Written Question
Catalonia: Sovereignty
Thursday 17th October 2019

Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)

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 Spanish counterparts on the jailing of Catalan politicians.

Answered by Christopher Pincher

​The Government has been clear that the situation in Catalonia is a matter for Spain. The United Kingdom supports the rule of law. Questions related to the issue of Catalan independence should be resolved within the proper constitutional and legal channels. Political leaders, like anyone else, have a duty to abide by the law. I outlined this position to the Spanish Ambassador and in Parliament on 15 October.


Written Question
Catalonia: Sovereignty
Thursday 17th October 2019

Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)

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 (a) Austria, (b) Belgium, (c) Bulgaria, (d) Croatia, (e) Cyprus, (f) the Czech Republic, (g) Denmark, (h) Estonia, (i) Finland, (j) France, (k) Germany, (l) Greece, (m) Hungary, (n) Ireland, (o) Italy, (p) Latvia, (q) Lithuania, (r) Luxembourg, (s) Malta, (t) Netherlands, (u) Poland, (v) Portugal, (w) Romania, (x) Slovakia, (y) Slovenia and (z) Sweden on the jailing of Catalan politicians.

Answered by Christopher Pincher

​The Government has been clear on the issue of Catalonia. This is a matter for Spain. The United Kingdom continues to support the upholding of the Spanish Constitution and the rule of law. The conviction of the separatist leaders in Catalonia is a matter for the Spanish courts. The Foreign Secretary has had no discussions on this with his counterparts in the countries cited.