Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding has been provided by Darwin Plus by country in each of the last five years.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Darwin Plus is a competitive UK Government grants scheme that provides funding for environmental projects in the UK Overseas Territories. Since 2019, UK government spending on Darwin Plus has increased year on year to a record high of £6.85m in 22/23, reflecting the rising breadth and quality of applications to our schemes. Projects are selected on their merit at application supported by the advice of independent experts currently sat on the Darwin Plus Advisory Group. Darwin Plus funding per territory over the last five years can be found below:
Overseas Territory | Grant Funding from 2019 - 2024 |
Anguilla | £2,702,538.47 |
Bermuda | £562,703.60 |
British Antarctic Territory | £935,916.75 |
British Indian Ocean Territory | £1,233,527.92 |
British Virgin Islands | £3,660,593.29 |
Cayman Islands | £2,871,387.06 |
Falkland Islands | £3,137,812.11 |
Gibraltar | £169,956.10 |
Montserrat | £2,071,315.89 |
Pitcairn, Henderson, Oeno and Ducie Islands | £423,105.00 |
St Helena, Ascension and Tristan Da Cunha | £5,918,668.62 |
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands | £4,412,383.75 |
Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri and Dhekelia | £1,176,523.50 |
Turks and Caicos Islands | £3,462,690.14 |
Asked by: Margaret Hodge (Labour - Barking)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate he has made of when (a) the British Virgin Islands, (b) the Turks and Caicos Islands, (c) the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, (d) the Pitcairn Islands, (e) St Helena, (f) Montserrat, (g) the Falkland Islands, (h) the Cayman Islands, (i) Bermuda and (j) Anguilla will implement a publicly accessible register of beneficial ownership.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We discussed the timeline for implementation of Publicly Accessible Registers of Beneficial Ownership at the Joint Ministerial Council over 14 - 15 November in plenary, in the margins and in bilateral meetings. We have made progress with the majority of the inhabited Overseas Territories (OTs). Some are yet to confirm precise timelines. Intensive discussions continue with these OTs, led by Ministers. We will inform Parliament of the outcome of those discussions before recess.
Asked by: Margaret Hodge (Labour - Barking)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands' implementation of publicly accessible registers of company beneficial ownership in line with the Draft Order in Council prepared by the Secretary of State to comply with the requirement under section 51 of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018; whether that Territory has (a) introduced and (b) passed the legislation required for the creation of a publicly accessible register of company beneficial ownership; whether the register will be (i) open and (ii) free at point of access; and when the register will be (A) live and (B) operational.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government of the Pitcairn Islands (PG) has committed to introduce a publicly accessible register of beneficial ownership (PARBO).
PG is identifying the necessary modifications to its legislative regime to enable the creation of a PARBO that would comply with the standards set out in a written ministerial statement (HCWS369) of 14 December 2020. How the Pitcairn Islands seeks to recoup the costs of operating their PARBO will be a matter for the Territory Government.
PG is assessing its timeline for implementation in light of ongoing constraints on capacity and expertise. The UK Government is providing technical assistance. We will confirm the timeline with Pitcairn and other Overseas Territories at the Joint Ministerial Council scheduled for 14-15 November.
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 is taking steps to improve sanitation facilities on Pitcairn Island.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government will provide £4.52 million in budgetary aid to Pitcairn in the financial year 2023-24. This is to meet the essential needs of the island, including any necessary infrastructure improvement works. The priority for these works, including sanitation, is decided by the islanders.
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 many crimes were reported on Pitcairn Island in each of the past 10 years.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Pitcairn Islands Government reports the following number of crimes reported by year
2013 - 1
2016 - 1
2017 - 1
2019 - 1
2020 - 3
2021 - 1
2022 - 0
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 his Department is taking steps to help improve internet connectivity on Pitcairn Island.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Governor's office is currently working with SpaceX on a trial of their Starlink satellite connection to Pitcairn, with the possibility of rolling out the service on a commercial basis. Additionally discussions are ongoing with the current internet provider on improving the service.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of flying the Pitcairn Island flag in Parliament Square on Bounty Day.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
There are no plans to fly the Pitcairn Islands flag in Parliament Square on Bounty Day.
We fly the flags of the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories including the Pitcairn Islands Flag on Parliament Square for Royal events and occasions such as Trooping of the Colour and for State Visits to London.
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 his Department has made representations to the governments of (a) the Pitcairn Islands and (b) Norfolk Island on the celebration of Bounty Day on 23 January 2023.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Overseas Territory of the Pitcairn Islands is a valued member of the British family. Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park, as Minister of State for Overseas Territories, sent a message of congratulations to the Pitcairn Islands on 23 January, as will Her Excellency The Governor. The Administrator will join the community in their celebrations in the Territory. The Pitcairn Island flag flew from the London headquarters of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office on 23 January. Norfolk Island has been a Territory of the Commonwealth of Australia since 1914 and its governance 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, what steps his Department is taking to protect the biodiversity of Henderson Island.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The FCDO Blue Belt Programme supports the Government of the Pitcairn Islands to manage the large Marine Protected Area, which covers the Territory's waters including Henderson Island. Scientific surveys to Henderson Island have assessed marine litter, coral reefs, and fish and cetacean species. The Conflict Security and Stability Fund has funded a new marine science base on Pitcairn. In addition, the Defra Darwin Plus scheme is funding several projects of benefit to Henderson Island, including one on the feasibility of removing rodents, and one on understanding the importance of the Marine Protected Area for an endangered population of humpback whales.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when a Royal Navy ship last visited Pitcairn Island (a) to patrol UK waters and (b) in any other capacity.
Answered by James Heappey
HMS Spey visited Pitcairn in February 2022 delivering COVID vaccines and dental care as part of its duties as one of the two Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessels deployed in the Indo-Pacific. In addition, Spey conducted patrols in the waters around the islands in the Pitcairn chain to deter and defend against illegal fishing and to carry out environmental monitoring.