Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the success of the Pitcairn Islands Marine Reserve in enhancing and protecting marine life; and how many enforcement actions have been taken against illegal fishing in the reserve since its designation.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The Pitcairn Islands Marine Protected Area (MPA) was declared in September 2016. This MPA prohibits all commercial fishing. The MPA is being actively monitored by satellite surveillance, remote sensing technology, and aerial patrol. There is good evidence that the MPA is being largely respected by local fishing fleets.
Asked by: Baroness Sheehan (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much is provided from the European Development Fund to the governments of (1) the British Overseas Territories, and (2) Antigua and Barbuda.
Answered by Lord Bates
The following table sets out the indicative allocations under the 11th European Development Fund (2014-2020).
Anguilla | €14 million |
Antigua and Barbuda | €3 million |
Falkland Islands | €5.9 million |
Montserrat | €18.4 million |
Pitcairn | €2.4 million |
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha | €21.5 million |
Turks and Caicos Islands | €14.6 million |
In addition, the Overseas Territories and Antigua and Barbuda are able to access Regional Funds under the EDF.
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 discussed tax (a) avoidance and (b) evasion with the Government of the Pitcairn Islands since the last Joint Ministerial Council.
Answered by Alan Duncan
It is difficult to hold any discussions on tax avoidance and evasion with the Pitcairn Islands as they do not have a financial centre.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham, Deptford)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that same-sex marriages are recognised in all British Overseas Territories; and what recent (a) meetings and (b) correspondence she has had on that issue.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 enabled overseas same sex marriages to be recognised as marriages in England and Wales since 13 March 2014. Non-marital overseas relationships, such as civil unions, are also recognised as civil partnerships in England and Wales under the Civil Partnership Act 2004.
As responsibility for legislating on marriage law is a devolved competency for British Overseas Territories, the UK Government cannot ensure that same-sex marriages are recognised in all Territories. However, following the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, the UK Government wrote to all British Overseas Territory Governments to advise them of the change in UK law; to encourage them to introduce similar provisions in their territories; and to ascertain if they had any immediate plans to legislate in this area.
We received a mixed response. The majority of Territories explained that they had no immediate plans to follow the UK approach but others did identify that they would consider introducing legislation. Since that correspondence, the Pitcairn Islands have legislated to introduce same sex marriage and we understand others will follow.
More widely, the UK Government continues to raise LGBT equalities with the Overseas Territories. Earlier this month, Baroness Anelay addressed LGBT issues when she spoke to the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly. The Solicitor General will also co-chair a session in November with the Rt. Hon Baroness Anelay, Minister for the Overseas Territories, on human rights at the Joint Ministerial Council.
The UK Government will continue to work with the British Overseas Territories on LGB&T equality and wider human rights issues. We stand ready to offer support to any Territory wishing to follow the UK’s approach.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, when designating the third tranche of Marine Conservation Zones, whether they will take into account the Wildlife and Countryside Link’s Marine Charter, and in particular its call to address current gaps in Marine Protected Areas, stem the decline in marine habitats, and recover those that are damaged.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Government remains committed to putting in place a well-managed Blue Belt to protect precious marine habitats and species. We are aiming for the third tranche of Marine Conservation Zones to be comprehensive and complete our contribution to the ecologically coherent network of Marine Protected Areas in the North East Atlantic. This network plays an important part in helping stem the decline of marine habitats and species and in aiding their recovery. The Government has also committed to doubling the size of protected ocean around the UK Overseas Territories to four million square kilometres. This commitment included the immediate formal designation of Marine Protected Areas around the Pitcairn Islands and St Helena which will help protect the Territories’ important endemic marine species.Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department plans to include best practice biosecurity and waste management requirement clauses in its next contract for the Pitcairn Island supply ship.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
The tender for the Pitcairn Islands supply ship is currently underway and best practice bio security and waste management requirement clauses will be included in the agreed contract.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what technical assistance her Department has offered to the government of the Pitcairn Islands to help ensure that its draft biosecurity legislation meets best practice.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The UK Government is committed to assisting our Overseas Territories (OTs) in protecting their biodiversity. Territory Governments are constitutionally responsible for the conservation of their natural environments and we work in partnership with them to provide support, including through access to technical advice, expertise and training and through the Overseas Territories Climate and Environment Programme (Darwin Plus).
Preventing the establishment of invasive alien species and eradicating or controlling invasive species is one of our priorities in supporting biodiversity conservation in the OTs. Defra has funded various projects on biosecurity, bio-control and the spread of non-native species in the OTs, including an RSPB-led Darwin Plus project which included work to improve Pitcairn’s biosecurity legislation. Defra officials stand ready to consider any requests from Pitcairn’s Government for technical assistance, advice or expertise on biosecurity matters or in respect of Pitcairn’s biosecurity legislation.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department plans to include best practice bio security and waste management requirement clauses in the next contract for the Pitcairn Islands supply ship.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
The tender for the Pitcairn Islands supply ship is currently underway and best practice bio security and waste management requirement clauses will be included in the agreed contract.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will ensure that the new ship contract agreed for the Pitcairn Islands supply run will include best practice stipulations regarding biosecurity and waste disposal.
Answered by James Duddridge
The Pitcairn Island Government is currently in the process of tendering for a new freight and passenger service. We will stress to them the importance of the need for best practice for biosecurity and waste disposal.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which countries have not had an official visit by a Minister in his Department since May 2010.
Answered by David Lidington
Andorra
Argentina
Belarus
Benin
British Antarctic Territory
Burkina Faso
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Dominica
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
East Timor
Eritrea
Federated States of Micronesia
Fiji
Gambia
Guinea Bissau
Guyana
Honduras
Kiribati
Liechtenstein
Madagascar
Mauritius
Monaco
Nicaragua
Niger
Pitcairn Islands
Republic of Congo
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
St Helena
St Kitt's and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Suriname
Swaziland
Tonga
Tristan da Cuhna
Tuvalu
Venezuela
Zimbabwe