Asked by: Baroness Finlay of Llandaff (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much income the Exchequer received in (1) 2021, and (2) 2022, from import duty of food from the Maldives’ sustainable tuna line fishing industry.
Answered by Baroness Penn - Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
HMRC does not hold the information requested.
Traders pay customs duty and import VAT based on calculated liabilities for goods, either immediately or on a monthly basis via duty deferment accounts. Also, VAT-registered businesses can account for import VAT on their VAT Return by using postponed VAT accounting. The subsequent revenue collected is not recorded on a product or sector basis and thus no breakdown by product or country of origin is held. This is because businesses are not required to provide figures at a product level within their VAT returns, as this would impose an excessive administrative burden.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of current tariffs on the import of tuna from the Maldives.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK currently applies the UK Global Tariff of 20% to imports of tuna from the Maldives. This rate is also applied to imports from all other trading partners where preferential arrangements are not in place.
The Government continues to explore pragmatic opportunities to enhance bilateral trade relations with the Maldives in areas of mutual interest, including fishing.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether her Department has made an assessment of the economic impact of imposing tariffs on the import of tuna into the UK from the Maldives.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government does not make an assessment on the economic impact of imposing tariffs on every product from every trading partner.
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, with reference to his Department’s publication of electronic purchasing card spending over £500 for 2021, what goods or services were purchased under the category Computer Equipment and Services from (a) Manta Air Maldives on 5 October 2021, and (b) The Marina at Crossroads Maldives on 12 December 2021.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
These costs do not relate to the purchase of computer equipment. Merchant Category Codes (MCC) can sometimes be wrongly assigned by the merchant's card company. When transactions are approved in our system, we are not provided with the Merchant Category Codes (MCC), only the merchant's name, date, and the value. Correct MCC assignment is the responsibility of the merchant and has no bearing on the validity of the transaction.
The Manta Air expenditure relates to local flights for UK experts deployed to the Maldives to deliver underwater counter-terrorism training at the Maldives Police Academy. Manta Air offered the best value and the expenditure was subject to normal FCDO controls.
The Marina at Crossroads expenditure relates to a UK-hosted diplomatic event with key Maldivian government contacts. The Marina was chosen as our High Commission does not have a residence equipped to host such events. It is recognised across the UK Government that the exchange of hospitality has long been an important part of building relations, particularly overseas.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the 20 per cent tariff for tuna exported from the Maldives to the UK given (1) the sustainability of the Maldivian tuna industry, and (2) the zero tariff for tuna exports from all other members of the Commonwealth small island developing states (SIDS).
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK currently applies the UK Global Tariff of 20% to imports of tuna from the Maldives. This rate is also applied to imports from all other trading partners where preferential arrangements are not in place.
The Government continues to explore pragmatic opportunities to enhance bilateral trade relations with the Maldives in areas of mutual interest, including fishing.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which countries his Department includes in its definition of the Indo-Pacific region.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Indo-Pacific Directorate-General in the FCDO has lead responsibility for relations with the following countries and territories: India and Indian Ocean (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka), North East Asia (China, Hong Kong, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea (DPRK), South Korea (RoK), Taiwan), South East Asia (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam) and Oceania (Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu). There is close coordination with other departments leading work on neighbouring countries, especially Pakistan and Afghanistan.
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, what recent discussions he has had with counterparts in the Republic of the Maldives on that country's support for the International Court of Justice's Advisory Opinion of 25 February 2019 and the United Nations Generally Assembly Resolution 73/295 of 22 May 2019 regarding sovereignty over the Chagos Islands.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have regular discussions with the Government of Maldives on a wide range of issues.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it his policy to increase the number of personnel from his Department deployed to the Indo-Pacific region.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Integrated Review in March 2021 affirmed the UK's increased focus and long-term commitment to the Indo-Pacific. The UK has since increased its diplomatic presence in the region; examples include the opening of a new High Commission in Tonga (May 2021) and the official opening of the British High Commission in the Maldives (February 2022).
The UK's increased focus on the region is a whole of Government effort with many departments supporting roles at posts in the region. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is continuing to increase its presence in recognition of the importance of this region to UK interests.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what representations she has received from UK businesses on a possible Economic Partnership Agreement with the Republic of the Maldives; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The Maldives is a valued member of the Commonwealth and an important partner for the United Kingdom. HM Government is keen to cooperate with the Maldivian Government on trade opportunities that benefit people and businesses in both our countries.
As the EU did not have any trade agreement with the Maldives, they could not be included in the United Kingdom’s trade continuity programme. Accordingly, whilst Maldivian access to the British market remains as it was prior to 1st January 2021, we will continue explore pragmatic options to enhance bilateral trade relations in areas of mutual interest, such as fishing.
HM Government and the Maldives are contracting parties to the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, where the United Kingdom is continuing to seek adoption of new measures for the protection of tuna stocks in the Indian Ocean. The United Kingdom’s strength in financial services means she is well placed to support the Maldives secure any necessary capital for sustainable development.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of an Economic Partnership Agreement with the Republic of the Maldives and their fishing methods for catching tuna for the UK’s commitment on sustainable fishing; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The Maldives is a valued member of the Commonwealth and an important partner for the United Kingdom. HM Government is keen to cooperate with the Maldivian Government on trade opportunities that benefit people and businesses in both our countries.
As the EU did not have any trade agreement with the Maldives, they could not be included in the United Kingdom’s trade continuity programme. Accordingly, whilst Maldivian access to the British market remains as it was prior to 1st January 2021, we will continue explore pragmatic options to enhance bilateral trade relations in areas of mutual interest, such as fishing.
HM Government and the Maldives are contracting parties to the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, where the United Kingdom is continuing to seek adoption of new measures for the protection of tuna stocks in the Indian Ocean. The United Kingdom’s strength in financial services means she is well placed to support the Maldives secure any necessary capital for sustainable development.