Asked by: David Morris (Conservative - Morecambe and Lunesdale)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the debate entitled Annual activity report 2023 by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 22 January 2024.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK has noted the Annual Report of the Council of Europe's independent Commissioner for Human Rights. We particularly welcome the Commissioner's focus on the human rights situation of children forcibly transferred or deported to Russia or Russian-controlled territories of Ukraine. The UK supported the Reykjavik Declaration on the situation of the children of Ukraine and continues to support accountability efforts, including through sanctions, awareness-raising campaigns and our participation in the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.
Asked by: David Morris (Conservative - Morecambe and Lunesdale)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the debate entitled Globalisation in times of crisis and war: the role of the OECD since the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 24 January 2024.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK has played an important role in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) response to Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, including by making Ukraine a focus of the UK chaired Ministerial Council Meeting in 2023. We have also fully supported the OECD's firm response to Russia's actions in Ukraine, including its decision to suspend Russia and Belarus from OECD bodies and programmes, close the OECD office in Moscow and open an OECD-Ukraine liaison office in Kyiv.
We also strongly support the OECD's broader work to address shared challenges in the current global context, including its work to promote economic resilience and tackle social inequality.
Asked by: Robert Buckland (Conservative - South Swindon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential benefits to the UK defence industry of Armenia's withdrawal from the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
Answered by James Heappey
On Thursday 22 February, Armenia froze their membership of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), stating that Russia had not fulfilled its security obligations towards Armenia. This does not yet represent a formal withdrawal from the organisation.
The UK recognises this decision as Armenia's sovereign right and will work with Euro-Atlantic allies to support Armenia in the face of Russian threats of retaliation.
The UK is a signatory of the OSCE arms embargo, and as such any benefits to UK defence industry must occur within the mandated restrictions. We will continue to work closely with Armenia to explore opportunities for closer cooperation.
Asked by: Lord Anderson of Ipswich (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of Professor Philippa Webb’s report prepared for the European Parliamentary Research Service, Legal options for confiscation of Russian state assets to support the reconstruction of Ukraine, published in February 2024.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK, alongside the G7, has underscored that Russia must pay for the damage it has caused to Ukraine. The Government is fully committed to working alongside partners to pursue all lawful routes through which immobilised Russian sovereign assets can be used to support Ukraine. In their 24 February statement, G7 Leaders tasked relevant ministries to continue their work to that end and report back ahead of the G7 Summit in June. The Government will keep the House updated on significant developments as appropriate.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to (a) monitor and (b) penalise potential attempts to evade sanctions by exporting to countries that may act as conduits to Russia.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC is responsible for enforcing and monitoring controls on strategic exports and sanctioned goods and investigating potential breaches of those controls.
There are extensive trade sanctions measures in place and the UK Government monitors the effectiveness of all its sanctions, including those made through the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
All sanctions designations, legislation and structures are kept under constant review to ensure that they are as effective as possible in meeting the UK’s foreign policy priorities. This means coming down hard on sanctions evaders; closing loopholes; and working with our international partners.
HM Revenue and Customs existing enforcement mechanisms are robust and act as a deterrent against those considering circumventing sanctions measures. We take breaches of sanctions seriously and undertake a preliminary investigation into all credible allegations of an offence. Non-compliance with UK sanctions is a serious offence and punishable through large financial penalties or criminal prosecution.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to strengthen the enforcement of export controls (a) in general and (b) to halt the potential transfer of British goods to Russia via third countries.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC is responsible for enforcing export controls on strategic goods and sanctions and investigating potential breaches of those controls. There are extensive trade measures in place and the UK Government monitors the effectiveness of all its sanctions, including those made through the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
We are committed to tackling sanctions circumvention, ensuring that sanctions are robustly enforced; potential breaches are investigated, and appropriate action taken. Departments from across HMG are working together, and with UK companies, to ensure that sanctions are enforced.
Internationally, we are working closely with our US and EU sanctions coordinators to raise circumvention with several countries to highlight these risks and support them to enforce sanctions effectively.
For information, on 22 May 2023, HMRC and DBT issued a Notice to Exporters outlining trade sanctions circumvention - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notice-to-exporters-202308-russia-sanctions-trade-sanctions-circumvention
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department is taking steps to help ensure that exports from the chemical and biological materials sector do no inadvertently support Russia's (a) military and (b) biochemical capabilities.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
We have sanctioned the export of all chemicals and biochemicals of concern to Russia.
This is in addition to our existing export controls, which already restrict the export of certain chemicals, pathogens and toxins.
Sanctions and export controls are impacting Russia’s economy and depriving its military of key components, but we are not complacent.
My department has recently announced the creation of the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI) to strengthen enforcement and support industry compliance.
We are also working closely with Ukraine and international partners to coordinate efforts to thwart Russia’s efforts to circumvent sanctions to gain access to technology to support its invasion.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she is taking steps to help educate (a) businesses and (b) academics about the (i) risks and (ii) responsibilities associated with exporting dual-use (A) research, (B) technology and (C) educational materials that could be used (1) by Russia and (2) in military contexts.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The Government has a robust process in place to ensure that sanctions measures are effective. There are legal obligations on all businesses in the UK and all UK citizens to comply with the sanctions regime. HMG will not hesitate to act if it finds evidence that any firms are not complying.
Officials in the Export Control Joint Unit, in collaboration with the Research Collaboration Advice Team in DSIT - which advises research institutions on national security risks linked to international collaboration - regularly engage with relevant stakeholders.
We expect UK businesses and academic institutions to undertake due diligence to ensure that the end destination of their products is not Russia.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on standardising measures to prevent the circumvention of sanctions against Russia.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Preventing circumvention is a priority for UK ministers and officials who routinely work in close coordination with G7 members and allies. Our collective response to circumvention has included the joint publication of a list of Common High Priority goods critical to Russia's military-industrial complex and the introduction of the Oil Price Cap. We continue to deliver joint outreach to third countries and coordinated packages of sanctions that include targets in third countries that are enabling Russia to sustain its war machine. The most recent package was on 22 February. The Government will continue to coordinate with allies on circumvention issues.
Asked by: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the impact of the current sanctions regime on the flow of Russian oil into the UK; and whether he has plans to strengthen those measures.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK, alongside the G7 and Australia, has banned the import of Russian oil and oil products. We have also created the Oil Price Cap which prohibits UK and G7+ firms from providing services facilitating the maritime transport of Russian oil and oil products to third countries above that Cap. Importers must provide proof of origin to relevant UK enforcement authorities, to demonstrate that goods are not of Russian origin.
We continue to monitor the efficacy of our oil-related sanctions and, in coordination with our partners and will take further action if needed.