Asked by: David Mackintosh (Conservative - Northampton South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her overseas counterparts on proposals to protect the Last Ice Area and its polar bear population.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
Defra has had no recent discussions with our overseas counterparts on proposals to protect the Last Ice Area. We were however pleased that polar bear range countries committed to the first-ever circumpolar, 10 year action plan in 2015 to protect and manage the bears and their habitat. The UK supports this collaborative approach as the way forward to ensure the long term conservation of the species.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what consultation there has been with the Scottish Government on the implementation of the Polar Code from 1 January 2017.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Government has not yet implemented the Polar Code which is due to enter into force next year. However, we will formally consult all stakeholders, including the Scottish Government, before we introduce the UK Regulations.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect on Scotland of the planned implementation of the Polar Code.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters as adopted by the International Maritime Organization addresses the standards and operation of ships in the Polar Regions. It is intended to provide an appropriate level of safety and environmental protection for vessels operating in these regions.
No specific assessment has been made of the Code’s impact on Scotland. However, there was wide consultation with British stakeholders during the negotiation of the Code ahead of it being adopted in the IMO’s safety committee in 2014 and environment committee in 2015. The Government believes that UK ports and shipping industry are well placed to meet their obligations under the Polar Code when it comes into force in 2017, and to ensure that British activities in the Polar Regions continue to be undertaken in a safe and environmentally responsible way.
Asked by: Angus Robertson (Scottish National Party - Moray)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many officials in his Department work exclusively on Arctic issues; and what the (a) title of position and (b) grade is of each such official.
Answered by James Duddridge
A range of officials from across Government departments input into the UK’s Arctic policy, reflecting the breadth of the UK’s policy interests in the Arctic as set out in the Government’s Arctic Policy Framework. Within the FCO, no one works exclusively on Arctic issues but a number of officials from across the office work collaboratively to develop the UK’s Arctic policy. The policy is coordinated by the Polar Regions Department, headed by a senior SMS1 official, and which chairs the cross-Government network. There is considerable input from posts in the eight Arctic States and the Arctic Council observer states, and from relevant policy officials and legal advisors in London on issues such as climate change, energy, international law and maritime policy.