To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


View sample alert

Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Shipping: Arctic
Thursday 21st March 2024

Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to monitor the safety of British ships crossing the Arctic Ocean as new shipping lanes become accessible as a result of climate change.

Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

His Majesty’s Government does not directly monitor the safety of British ships crossing the Arctic Ocean. However, ships transiting these waters will be monitored by those States that have Search and Rescue (SAR) responsibilities in the region.

With regards the safety of British ships in Arctic waters, the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code) came into force 1 January 2017 and requires ships operating in the Polar regions to meet enhanced safety standards which reflect the additional risks associated with those regions. The UK applies these standards through a survey and certification regime to ensure that safety standards are met and that ships operating in polar regions apply the additional safety considerations that are considered necessary.


Written Question
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Antarctica
Thursday 21st December 2023

Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, for what reason the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Americas, Caribbean and the Overseas Territories) visited Antarctica.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I [Minister Rutley] have not visited Antarctica yet but will travel to the region at the end of December 2023. During the visit, I will see first-hand the impact of climate change on this unique environment. I will also have the opportunity to observe the world-class scientific work of the British Antarctic Survey. As the Minister with responsibility for the Polar Regions, the visit will also provide an opportunity to support and thank those who work in Antarctica for extended periods. This will be the first visit to Antarctica by an FCO/FCDO Minister since 2001.


Written Question
Polar Regions: Research
Thursday 23rd November 2023

Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Natural Environment Research Council funding rules on UK Polar research.

Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is the leading funder of natural environment research in the United Kingdom. The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is part of NERC and operates polar infrastructure and facilities on NERC’s behalf, including the polar research vessel and research stations, to enable polar science and research activity. NERC funding, including to polar research, is delivered via competitive, peer-reviewed application processes. Awards are made to Research Organisations based on terms and conditions detailed in NERC’s Research Grants and Fellowships Handbook. NERC also supports strategic research and national capability programmes.


Written Question
British Antarctic Survey
Monday 24th April 2023

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department is providing support to the British Antarctic Survey; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by George Freeman

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), part of UK Research and Innovation, which is an arm’s-length body of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Each year NERC invests around £38 million in BAS to deliver and enable world-leading interdisciplinary research in the polar regions. The UK invested a further £670m for modernising its Antarctica and Arctic research facilities to ensure that the UK stays at the forefront of international polar research.


Written Question
Arctic: International Cooperation
Wednesday 21st September 2022

Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has plans to appoint a UK Ambassador to the Arctic region.

Answered by Jesse Norman

The UK takes a whole-of-government approach to the Arctic, overseen by a Minister with responsibility for the Polar Regions in FCDO. The UK attends all major Arctic meetings and conferences, either from the UK or from our embassies in the region.


Written Question
Climate Change: Polar Regions
Tuesday 25th January 2022

Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their assessment of rising sea levels is based on a rise in average global temperatures, or includes modelling of Arctic and Antarctic ice melt taking into account the accelerated rise in regional temperatures at the poles.

Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Our assessment of rising sea levels, derived from the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, includes modelling of the Arctic and Antarctic ice melt and takes accelerated rise in regional temperatures at the poles into account.


Written Question
Arctic and Shipping
Monday 10th January 2022

Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when she last discussed (a) the security of the Arctic polar regions and (b) freedom of maritime navigation with NATO counterparts.

Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary

Freedom of Navigation is a critical element of the rules-based international order and the UK plays an important role in upholding this principle. A clear example has been the global deployment of the HMS Queen Elizabeth Strike Group in 2021 - a joint deployment with NATO Allies which supported FCDO, Defence and International Trade objectives. We will continue to work with NATO Allies and other partners to safeguard Freedom of Navigation wherever it is under threat. In the margins of the NATO Foreign Ministerial in Riga in December 2021, The Foreign Secretary spoke with like-minded Allies including Canada about the importance of working together on issues affecting the Arctic, such as climate science and collective security. This was part of the Foreign Secretary's regular discussions with NATO counterparts covering regional security issues.


Written Question
Arctic
Thursday 1st July 2021

Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government plans to review the UK's policy on arctic issues prior to COP26.

Answered by James Duddridge

The UK revised its first Arctic Policy Framework, published in 2013, with the publication of "Beyond the Ice: UK policy towards the Arctic" in 2018. This recognised the accelerating rate of climate change in the Arctic and set out the UK's vision and priorities to underpin our commitment to an Arctic that is safe, secure and peaceful. The UK framework is based on three core principles of respect, cooperation and appropriate leadership. This reflects our respect for the sovereign rights of the eight Arctic States, the indigenous peoples and the environment of the region.

Whilst there are no immediate plans to revise the UK's Arctic Policy Framework before COP26, as the Arctic region is now warming at three times the global rate, the UK will maintain a significant contribution to Arctic science and research, focused on understanding the implications of climate change on the Arctic environment, and the livelihoods and economies of Arctic societies. We will highlight the consequences of rapid environmental change in both Polar Regions during COP26.


Written Question
Shipping: Radio Frequencies
Friday 15th January 2021

Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Goldie on 10 December 2020 (HL10934), what tests they have conducted with British merchant ships contacting UK maritime authorities using (1) High Frequency, or (2) Single Side Band, radio communications from the (a) North Atlantic, (b) South Atlantic, (c) Indian, and (d) Pacific, oceans since the closure of Portishead radio station.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has not conducted any specific testing of radiocommunications with UK merchant ships.

Under the Safety of Life At Sea Convention, it is the responsibility of operators of merchant ships to ensure that those ships carry communications equipment that is consistent with the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), which provides an internationally operated maritime communications service.

UK-registered and regulated ships must have radio installations capable of GMDSS communications to shore for their sea areas of operation. In ocean regions they may choose to have either High Frequency (HF) radio or satellite communications, and in polar regions HF is mandatory.


Written Question
Submarines
Thursday 10th December 2020

Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the UK’s ability to communicate with deep sea (1) military, and (2) civilian, vessels in the event of a total satellite blackout.

Answered by Baroness Goldie

For Defence related communications to Military deep-sea vessels the Ministry of Defence would revert to Line of Sight (where feasible) or atmospheric bounce Radio services of a specific wavelength and frequency.

These capabilities are tested at periodical intervals in line with the Defence Exercise Programme.

For communications with civilian vessels, the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) provides an internationally operated maritime communications service. Regulated UK vessels have radio installations capable of GMDSS communications to shore for their areas of operation. In ocean regions they may choose to have either High Frequency (HF) radio or satellite communications, but in polar regions HF is mandatory.