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, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2022 to Question 106326 on Norfolk Island: Foreign Relations, when his Department last raised Norfolk Island with the Australian Government.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As I [Minister Trevelyan] stated in my answer of 16 December to PQ 106326 Norfolk Island has not been raised in recent discussions with the Australian Government. A search of available files finds no record of Norfolk Island being raised with the Australian Government. It is the longstanding position of HMG that the governance of Norfolk Island is a matter for Australia.
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 any recent discussions with his Australian counterpart on the Norfolk Islands.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Norfolk Island has been a Territory of the Commonwealth of Australia since 1914 and its governance is a matter for Australia. It has not been raised in recent discussions with the Australian Government.
Asked by: Lord Mountevans (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial support they are providing to the UK’s coastal communities.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
As an island nation, the Government is committed to supporting coastal communities and levelling-up across the Union. We are working with local leaders to ensure every coastal region, city and town will recover from Covid-19 and ultimately level-up.
We have continued to make significant progress in supporting coastal communities in a number of areas, demonstrated by the Coastal Communities Fund now having supported 359 projects, totalling over £229 million since 2012. This has funded ambitious schemes such as 'Waters of the Wash' in Kings Lynn, transforming a Norfolk harbour town into a unique sailing destination complete with a new pontoon and swing mooring.
Our coastal economies and communities add unique value to the country and offer significant growth potential. Our commitment to unlocking this growth was demonstrated at Budget 2021, where the Chancellor announced 8 Freeports in 8 regions of England, 7 of them in coastal areas. Freeports will be national hubs for international trade, innovation and commerce, regenerating communities across the UK; attracting new businesses, spreading jobs, investment and opportunity to towns and cities across the country including in coastal areas.
Our £106 million Welcome Back Fund is helping local councils to bounce back from the Covid-19 pandemic by reinvigorating their local communities and supporting local economies. Funding has been allocated to all local authorities in England with additional assistance of up to £100,000 for coastal authorities. This helped our seaside resorts fully capitalise on a rise in domestic tourism over the spring and summer months.
Asked by: Lord Howarth of Newport (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 18 February (HL1480), whether an Act of Parliament established Norfolk Island as a Territory of the Commonwealth of Australia; and if not, (1) how it was established as such a territory, and (2) how Parliament was consulted.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
In 1914 Norfolk Island became a Territory under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia by way of a (UK) Order in Council and the (Australian) Norfolk Island Act of 1913 (enacted by the Australian Parliament).
Asked by: Lord Howarth of Newport (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Norfolk Island (1) was within the geographical boundaries of the Commonwealth of Australia or any State thereof when the power to make laws for Norfolk Island was given to the Commonwealth of Australia in 1914, or (2) has since become within those boundaries.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Norfolk Island has been a Territory of the Commonwealth of Australia since 1914 and its governance is a matter for that country.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether Norfolk Island (a) was within the geographical boundaries of the Commonwealth of Australia or any State thereof when it was given to the Commonwealth of Australia in 1914 or (b) has since become within those boundaries.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
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 recent engagements he has had with representatives of Norfolk Island.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Foreign & Commonwealth Ministers have not had any recent engagement with representatives of Norfolk Island.
Asked by: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many warships surplus to requirements they have sold to foreign governments in each year since 2000; what were their names; and to which governments they were sold.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
Information on the sale of Her Majesty’s ships and submarines, together with Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessels, can be found below.
Year | Ship Class | Name | Purchaser |
2000 | River Class Patrol | Orwell | Guyana |
2000 | Hunt Class Mine Counter Measure | Bicester | Greece |
2000 | Upholder Class Submarine | Unseen | Canada |
2000 | Island Class Patrol | Orkney | Trinidad & Tobago |
2001 | Hunt Class Mine Counter Measure | Berkeley | Greece |
2001 | Upholder Class Submarine | Unicorn | Canada |
2002 | Island Class Patrol | Shetland | Bangladesh |
2002 | Island Class Patrol | Alderney | Bangladesh |
2002 | Type 22 Frigate | Coventry | Romania |
2002 | Type 22 Frigate | London | Romania |
2003 | Upholder Class Submarine | Ursula | Canada |
2003 | Island Class Patrol | Anglesey | Bangladesh |
2003 | Island Class Patrol | Lindisfarne | Bangladesh |
2003 | Type 22 Frigate | Sheffield | Chile |
2004 | Island Class | Guernsey | Bangladesh |
2004 | Upholder Class Submarine | Upholder | Canada |
2006 | Type 23 Frigate | Norfolk | Chile |
2006 | Type 23 Frigate | Grafton | Chile |
2006 | Type 23 Frigate | Marlborough | Chile |
2007 | Sandown Class Mine Hunter | Sandown | Estonia |
2007 | Sandown Class Mine Hunter | Inverness | Estonia |
2007 | Sandown Class Mine Hunter | Bridport | Estonia |
2007 | Landing Ship Logistic (RFA) | Sir Galahad | Brazil |
2008 | Landing Ship Logistic (RFA) | Sir Belvedere | Brazil |
2008 | Hunt Class Mine Counter Measure | Cottesmore | Lithuania |
2008 | Hunt Class Mine Counter Measure | Dulverton | Lithuania |
2010 | Castle Class Patrol | Dumbarton C | Bangladesh |
2010 | Castle Class Patrol | Leeds C | Bangladesh |
2010 | Coastal Survey Vessel | Roebuck | Bangladesh |
2011 | Bay Class Landing Ship (RFA) | Largs Bay | Australia |
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, what discussions he has had with his Australian counterpart on the constitutional status and sovereignty of Norfolk Island.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have not discussed Norfolk Island with their Australian counterparts. Norfolk Island has been a Territory of Australia since 1914 and its governance is a matter for Australia.
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, what discussions the Government has had with the Australian government on administrative and constitutional changes to the arrangement of government of Norfolk Island.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
As I have previously made clear the governance of Norfolk Island is a matter for Australia. In the course of our regular discussions, Government officials, including our High Commissioner in Canberra, have been briefed by the Australian Government about administrative and constitutional changes to the government of Norfolk Island.