Asked by: Lord Marlesford (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how Rwanda compares in population density with (1) China, (2) Russia, (3) the USA, (4) Australia, (5) Libya, (6) France, (7) Spain, (8) Germany, (9) the UK, and (10) Greece; and how relevant they regard that measure in their policy for transporting migrants from the UK to Rwanda.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The table below shows the estimated population density (the number of people per square kilometre) of the countries listed based on UN statistics published in October 20231. The countries are ordered as in the question plus Rwanda at 11:
| Country | Population density |
1 | China2 | 148.5 |
2 | Russia | 8.8 |
3 | United States of America | 37.0 |
4 | Australia | 3.4 |
5 | Libya | 4.1 |
6 | France | 117.2 |
7 | Spain | 94.7 |
8 | Germany | 239.2 |
9 | United Kingdom | 278.1 |
10 | Greece | 79.4 |
11 | Rwanda | 569.1 |
1 UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, ‘Statistical Yearbook 2023, Sixty-sixth issue’ (pages 15 to 35), October 2023
2 For statistical purposes, the UN data for China do not include the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan
Population was one of a range of factors that was considered when entering into the Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to deploy UK Armed Forces to the Indo-Pacific region to help counter the threat from China to Taiwan.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We consider the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. We do not support any unilateral attempts to change the status quo. This includes increased Chinese assertiveness towards Taiwan.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he plans to take diplomatic steps to support Taiwan’s application to join World Health Assembly.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK believes that the people of Taiwan have a valuable contribution to make on issues of global concern. We therefore support Taiwanese meaningful participation in international organisations, as a member where statehood is not a prerequisite, and as an observer or guest where it is.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, how many British diplomatic staff are based in Taiwan as of 15 November 2023.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan but a strong, unofficial relationship based on dynamic commercial, educational and cultural ties. The UK has no diplomatic staff in Taiwan. Approximately 50 staff work at the British Office in Taipei. This is a combination of staff from the UK and staff employed locally.
Asked by: Lord Hannan of Kingsclere (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government on what grounds direct flights between the UK and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) are currently prohibited whilst flights to Taiwan are permitted; and what plans they have, if any, to review these in order to facilitate direct flights from the UK to the TRNC.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises the inconvenience caused to passengers by the situation regarding air travel from the north of Cyprus to the UK. Under the Chicago Convention, only the Republic of Cyprus may designate Ercan airport as an international customs airport and grant permission for flights to operate from within its territory. It has not done so. As such, those travelling from Ercan airport to Turkey and then onwards to the UK do so on two distinctly separate flights. To do otherwise would be contrary to the UK’s obligations under the Chicago Convention.
This means that no direct air services between the north of Cyprus and the UK can take place. Ultimately, a just and lasting settlement on the island is the best chance of resolving these complex issues. The UK’s commitment to helping the sides achieve this remains unwavering.
It is not relevant to compare Taiwan and the north of Cyprus given that the Chinese authorities have designated a number of airports in Taiwan as international customs airports.
Asked by: James Daly (Conservative - Bury North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with which (a) foreign countries and (b) administrative regions of foreign countries that issue their own driving licences his Department has an agreement for mutual recognition of documents; and whether his Department is taking steps to reach such agreement with other countries and regions.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The UK continues to exchange and recognise licences originating from all European Economic Area (EEA) countries. Arrangements are in place with all EEA countries for the recognition and exchange of the vast majority of GB licences.
Outside of the EEA, mutual driving licence exchange agreements are in place with the following designated countries:
Andorra | Gibraltar | South Africa |
Australia | Hong Kong | Switzerland |
Barbados | Japan | Taiwan |
British Virgin Islands | Monaco | Ukraine |
Canada | New Zealand | United Arab Emirates |
Cayman Islands | Republic of Korea | Zimbabwe |
Falkland Islands | Republic of North Macedonia |
|
Faroe Islands | Singapore |
|
Work is currently progressing on arrangements with a further seven countries:
Albania | Moldova | Sri Lanka |
Kosovo | San Marino |
|
Malaysia | Serbia |
|
I also recently met with an official delegation from Kenya to discuss existing arrangements with them as well.
Asked by: James Sunderland (Conservative - Bracknell)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what reason his Department has not approved the draft Tax Information Exchange Agreement negotiated between the British Virgin Islands and Taiwan.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government is discussing, with the Government of the British Virgin Islands, the development of a draft Tax Information Exchange Arrangement between the British Virgin Islands and Taiwan. It would not be appropriate to comment on this publicly before these discussions have concluded. The UK Government welcomes the ongoing cooperation of the British Virgins Islands in this matter.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the most recent visit by Lord Johnson of Lainston to the People’s Republic of China, who he met; what he discussed; what response he received to any representations he may have made on the government of China's treatment of the Uyghur minority, threats to Taiwan, and imprisonment of pro-democracy advocates and lawmakers in Hong Kong, including the British citizen Jimmy Lai.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
In China, I met businesses and investors. Whilst attending the China International Fair for Trade in Services, I was briefly introduced to the Minister of Commerce and the Party Secretary of Beijing. I expressed support for our trade and investment relationship, where it is consistent with our values and national security.
On 30 August, The Foreign Secretary visited China meeting senior government figures. He emphasised the UK's position on the mass incarceration of the Uyghur people in Xinjiang, the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and raised rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, including the case of Jimmy Lai.
Asked by: Elizabeth Truss (Conservative - South West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 14 June 2023 to Question 187963 on Department for Education: Taiwan, if she will identify which minister represented her Department for each meeting it held with representatives of the Taiwan Government in 2022; and if she will identify the (i) job title and (ii) grade of the most senior official who represented her Department when a minister was not present for each meeting it held with representatives of the Taiwan Government in 2022.
Answered by Nick Gibb
No Department for Education Ministers met with representatives of the Taiwan administration in 2022.
The Department had regular official level meetings with representatives of the Taiwanese administration during this period, both in the UK and through the British Office in Taipei, in line with our longstanding policy on Taiwan.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help safeguard passage through the Taiwan Strait.
Answered by James Heappey
The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We oppose any action which changes the facts on the ground, raises tensions and hinders the chances of peaceful settlement of the disputes. We will therefore continue to encourage open communication and de-escalation. As a P5 country, we have an interest in upholding international law and freedom of navigation. In 2016 the Permanent Court of Arbitration declared that China has no legal basis to claim its "historic" rights in the South China Sea.
Our maritime presence in the region has grown, with the deployment of two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), HMS SPEY and HMS TAMAR, supporting our persistent presence approach. HMS SPEY last navigated through the Taiwan Strait in January this year and the People's Liberation Army Navy response to her transit was assessed as safe and professional.