Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Thailand regarding over 50 Uyghur refugees who have been in detention for close to 10 years in that country.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to upholding the principle of non-refoulement and has repeatedly called on other countries to respect their obligations not to force persons to return to a country where there are substantial grounds for believing they would be in danger of being subjected to torture.
We have raised the detention of Uyghurs in Thailand directly with the Thai authorities at both Ministerial and official level, and continue to work closely with likeminded partners on the issue.
We continue to urge Thailand, as a State Party to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of or Punishment, not to undertake the refoulement of these individuals to China.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 September to Question 48499 on Dogs: Imports, if his Department will publish the number of dogs imported into the UK from each country outlined in that Answer in (a) 2020, (b) 2021 and (c) 2022.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Below are tables to show the countries of origin of commercial dog imports. The data for 2020 is for UK, and the data for 2021 and 2022 (up to the 31/08/2022) is Great Britain only. We do not hold data for Northern Ireland for 2021 and 2022.
This information is drawn from external TRACES and IPAFFs systems, which are not directly controlled by the department.
EU imports | 2020 |
| Rest of World Imports | 2020 |
Country Of Origin | Dogs |
| Country Of Origin | Dogs |
Austria | 6 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 1 |
Belgium | 13 |
| Argentina | 30 |
Bulgaria | 222 |
| Australia | 118 |
Croatia | 153 |
| Bahrain | 95 |
Cyprus | 4246 |
| Barbados | 8 |
Czech Republic | 135 |
| Belarus | 50 |
Denmark | 2 |
| Bermuda | 4 |
Estonia | 21 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1636 |
Finland | 7 |
| Brazil | 120 |
France | 33 |
| Canada | 76 |
Germany | 103 |
| Cayman Islands | 6 |
Greece | 563 |
| Colombia | 12 |
Hungary | 5065 |
| Costa Rica | 9 |
Ireland (Rep. of) | 5814 |
| Egypt | 26 |
Italy | 243 |
| Ethiopia | 3 |
Latvia | 5 |
| French Polynesia | 1 |
Lithuania | 99 |
| Hong Kong | 69 |
Malta | 5 |
| India | 29 |
Netherlands | 38 |
| Indonesia | 2 |
Poland | 3945 |
| Israel | 13 |
Portugal | 343 |
| Japan | 8 |
Romania | 32525 |
| Jordan | 3 |
Slovakia | 106 |
| Kenya | 26 |
Slovenia | 5 |
| Korea (South) | 29 |
Spain | 6475 |
| Kuwait | 12 |
Sweden | 15 |
| Lebanon | 10 |
Switzerland | 1 |
| Macao | 2 |
Total | 60188 |
| Malawi | 1 |
|
|
| Malaysia | 25 |
|
|
| Mauritius | 85 |
|
|
| Mexico | 51 |
|
|
| Namibia | 3 |
|
|
| New Zealand | 40 |
|
|
| North Macedonia | 566 |
|
|
| Nigeria | 3 |
|
|
| Oman | 8 |
|
|
| Peru | 5 |
|
|
| Philippines | 1 |
|
|
| Qatar | 43 |
|
|
| Russia | 713 |
|
|
| Saudi Arabia | 9 |
|
|
| Serbia | 40 |
|
|
| Singapore | 58 |
|
|
| South Africa | 519 |
|
|
| Sri Lanka | 2 |
|
|
| Taiwan | 7 |
|
|
| Tajikistan | 1 |
|
|
| Thailand | 18 |
|
|
| Turkey | 375 |
|
|
| Turks and Caicos | 1 |
|
|
| UAE | 164 |
|
|
| Uganda | 2 |
|
|
| Ukraine | 3 |
|
|
| Uruguay | 5 |
|
|
| USA | 1592 |
|
|
| Viet Nam | 15 |
|
|
| Zimbabwe | 11 |
|
|
| Total | 6764 |
EU Imports | 2021 | Rest of World Imports | 2021 |
Country | Dogs | Country of origin | Dogs |
Austria | 22 | Argentina | 17 |
Belgium | 78 | Australia | 345 |
Bulgaria | 1093 | Bahamas | 1 |
Croatia | 2003 | Bahrain | 55 |
Cyprus | 3758 | Barbados | 22 |
Czechia | 221 | Belarus | 1 |
Denmark | 719 | Bermuda | 12 |
England | 72 | Brazil | 125 |
Estonia | 23 | Canada | 167 |
Finland | 8 | Cayman Islands | 15 |
France | 411 | China | 174 |
Germany | 76 | Colombia | 12 |
Greece | 1017 | Costa Rica | 13 |
Hungary | 4517 | Ecuador | 2 |
Iceland | 1 | Egypt | 41 |
Italy | 296 | Ethiopia | 4 |
Latvia | 512 | Guam | 3 |
Lithuania | 678 | Hong Kong | 161 |
Luxembourg | 2 | India | 96 |
Malta | 3 | Indonesia | 2 |
Netherlands | 152 | Israel | 12 |
Northern Ireland | 2 | Jamaica | 2 |
Norway | 3 | Japan | 12 |
Poland | 5593 | Jordan | 13 |
Portugal | 500 | Kenya | 43 |
Republic of Ireland | 6658 | Kuwait | 30 |
Romania | 38081 | Lebanon | 36 |
Scotland | 1 | Macao | 1 |
Slovakia | 291 | Malawi | 2 |
Slovenia | 7 | Malaysia | 71 |
Spain | 5909 | Mauritius | 3 |
Sweden | 49 | Mexico | 11 |
Switzerland | 8 | Mozambique | 2 |
Wales | 1 | Namibia | 3 |
(blank) | 1 | Nepal | 1 |
Grand Total | 72766 | New Zealand | 92 |
|
| Nigeria | 2 |
|
| Oman | 14 |
|
| Panama | 2 |
|
| Peru | 25 |
|
| Philippines | 1 |
|
| Qatar | 179 |
|
| Russian Federation | 261 |
|
| Saudi Arabia | 27 |
|
| Serbia | 2 |
|
| Singapore | 141 |
|
| South Africa | 1522 |
|
| South Korea | 60 |
|
| Taiwan | 4 |
|
| Thailand | 48 |
|
| Turkey | 148 |
|
| Ukraine | 6 |
|
| United Arab Emirates | 499 |
|
| United States of America | 966 |
|
| Vietnam | 2 |
|
| Zimbabwe | 22 |
|
| Grand Total | 5533 |
EU Imports to 31/08/2022 | 2022 | Rest of World Imports to 31/08/2022 | 2022 |
Country Of Origin | Dogs | Country Of Origin | Dogs |
Austria | 5 | Albania | 1 |
Belgium | 25 | Algeria | 1 |
Bulgaria | 1248 | Australia | 295 |
Croatia | 1742 | Bahrain | 84 |
Cyprus | 1982 | Barbados | 13 |
Czech Republic | 108 | Bermuda | 10 |
Denmark | 216 | Brazil | 65 |
England? | 35 | Brunei | 2 |
Estonia | 13 | Canada | 90 |
Finland | 5 | Cayman Islands | 11 |
France | 68 | Chile | 5 |
Germany | 90 | China | 101 |
Greece | 254 | Colombia | 7 |
Hungary | 1766 | Costa Rica | 5 |
Isle of Man | 2 | Dominican Republic | 1 |
Ireland (Rep. of) | 4528 | Ecuador | 1 |
Italy | 184 | Egypt | 13 |
Latvia | 309 | Fiji | 1 |
Lithuania | 297 | Hong Kong | 25 |
Luxembourg | 1 | India | 108 |
Malta | 0 | Indonesia | 1 |
Netherlands | 84 | Israel | 5 |
Northern Ireland | 13 | Japan | 6 |
Norway | 7 | Jordan | 4 |
Poland | 1242 | Kenya | 24 |
Portugal | 237 | Korea (South) | 44 |
Romania | 8698 | Kuwait | 10 |
Slovakia | 127 | Lebanon | 16 |
Slovenia | 1 | Malaysia | 32 |
Spain | 3348 | Mauritius | 13 |
Sweden | 10 | Mexico | 16 |
Switzerland | 2 | Namibia | 2 |
UK | 4 | New Zealand | 82 |
Total | 26651 | Nigeria | 1 |
|
| Oman | 1 |
|
| Panama | 2 |
|
| Peru | 4 |
|
| Philippines | 7 |
|
| Qatar | 56 |
|
| Russia | 21 |
|
| Saint Lucia | 1 |
|
| Saudi Arabia | 17 |
|
| Singapore | 66 |
|
| South Africa | 557 |
|
| Sri Lanka | 3 |
|
| Taiwan | 1 |
|
| Thailand | 30 |
|
| Turkey | 57 |
|
| UAE | 233 |
|
| Uganda | 5 |
|
| Ukraine | 2 |
|
| USA | 416 |
|
| Vietnam | 1 |
|
| Zimbabwe | 9 |
|
| Total | 2584 |
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many cats have been imported this year under the Balai Directive; and from which countries those cats originated.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Since we left the EU, the EU import data for 2021 and 2022 was collated from PIMS which is APHA’s Post Import Management System and accounts for all Imports into the United Kingdom that have been entered using IPAFFS (Import of products, animals, food and feed system).
This information is drawn from the external IPAFF’s system not directly controlled by the department.
From 14th April 2022 the United Kingdom temporarily suspended the commercial import of dogs, cats and ferrets if they originated from or have been dispatched from Belarus, Poland, Romania or Ukraine, until 29th October 2022.
January-September 2022 | |
Country Of Origin | Total |
Austria | 1 |
Belgium | 15 |
Bulgaria | 115 |
Croatia | 32 |
Cyprus | 392 |
Czech Republic | 22 |
Denmark | 5 |
England | 3 |
Estonia | 3 |
France | 17 |
Germany | 28 |
Greece | 42 |
Hungary | 94 |
Ireland (Rep. of) | 1 |
Italy | 18 |
Latvia | 155 |
Lithuania | 107 |
Netherlands | 11 |
Poland | 208 |
Portugal | 32 |
Romania | 705 |
Slovakia | 17 |
Spain | 339 |
Sweden | 2 |
Switzerland | 3 |
Antigua and Barbuda | 6 |
Argentina | 7 |
Australia | 140 |
Bahamas | 4 |
Barbados | 1 |
Bahrain | 124 |
Bermuda | 6 |
Brazil | 59 |
Brunei | 3 |
Canada | 81 |
Cayman Islands | 12 |
Chile | 3 |
China | 31 |
Colombia | 12 |
Costa Rica | 2 |
Egypt | 357 |
Georgia | 1 |
Ghana | 2 |
Hong Kong | 29 |
India | 46 |
Indonesia | 5 |
Israel | 2 |
Japan | 8 |
Jordan | 2 |
Kenya | 9 |
Korea (South) | 18 |
Kuwait | 22 |
Lebanon | 8 |
Malaysia | 33 |
Mauritius | 6 |
Mexico | 12 |
Myanmar | 2 |
Namibia | 2 |
New Zealand | 85 |
North Macedonia | 9 |
Oman | 5 |
Pakistan | 2 |
Peru | 1 |
Philippines | 2 |
Qatar | 106 |
Russia | 48 |
Saint Lucia | 1 |
Saudi Arabia | 67 |
Seychelles | 1 |
Singapore | 39 |
South Africa | 348 |
Taiwan | 2 |
Thailand | 43 |
Turkey | 15 |
UAE | 1043 |
Uganda | 1 |
USA | 256 |
Vietnam | 4 |
Zimbabwe | 18 |
Total | 5518 |
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2022 to Question 40929 on Dogs: Imports, if he will publish a breakdown of the countries of origin of the dogs commercially imported into the UK from abroad in (a) 2020, (b) 2021 and (c) 2022.
Answered by Scott Mann - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Below are tables to show the countries of origin of commercial dog imports. The data for 2020 is for the UK, while the data for 2021 and 2022 (up to 31 August 2022) is for Great Britain only. We do not hold data for Northern Ireland for 2021 and 2022.
This information is drawn from external TRACES and IPAFF systems not directly controlled by the department.
Country Of Origin from EU 2020 | Country Of Origin from Rest of World 2020 |
Austria | Antigua and Barbuda |
Belgium | Argentina |
Bulgaria | Australia |
Croatia | Bahrain |
Cyprus | Barbados |
Czech Republic | Belarus |
Denmark | Bermuda |
Estonia | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Finland | Brazil |
France | Canada |
Germany | Cayman Islands |
Greece | Colombia |
Hungary | Costa Rica |
Ireland (Rep. of) | Egypt |
Italy | Ethiopia |
Latvia | French Polynesia |
Lithuania | Hong Kong |
Malta | India |
Netherlands | Indonesia |
Poland | Israel |
Portugal | Japan |
Romania | Jordan |
Slovakia | Kenya |
Slovenia | Korea (South) |
Spain | Kuwait |
Sweden | Lebanon |
Switzerland | Macao |
| |
| Malawi |
| Malaysia |
| Mauritius |
| Mexico |
| Namibia |
| New Zealand |
| Nigeria |
| North Macedonia |
| Oman |
| Peru |
| Philippines |
| Qatar |
| Russia |
| Saudi Arabia |
| Serbia |
| Singapore |
| South Africa |
| Sri Lanka |
| Taiwan |
| Tajikistan |
| Thailand |
| Turkey |
| Turks and Caicos |
| UAE |
| Uganda |
| Ukraine |
| Uruguay |
| USA |
| Vietnam |
| Zimbabwe |
Country Of Origin from EU 2021 | Country Of Origin from Rest of World 2021 |
Austria | Argentina |
Belgium | Australia |
Bulgaria | Bahamas |
Croatia | Bahrain |
Cyprus | Barbados |
Czechia | Belarus |
Denmark | Bermuda |
Estonia | Brazil |
Finland | Canada |
France | Cayman Islands |
Germany | China |
Greece | Colombia |
Hungary | Costa Rica |
Iceland | Ecuador |
Italy | Egypt |
Latvia | Ethiopia |
Lithuania | Guam |
Luxembourg | Hong Kong |
Malta | India |
Netherlands | Indonesia |
Northern Ireland | Israel |
Norway | Jamaica |
Poland | Japan |
Portugal | Jordan |
Republic of Ireland | Kenya |
Romania | Kuwait |
Slovakia | Lebanon |
Slovenia | Macao |
Spain | Malawi |
Sweden | Malaysia |
Switzerland | Mauritius |
| Mexico |
| Mozambique |
| Namibia |
| Nepal |
| New Zealand |
| Nigeria |
| Oman |
| Panama |
| Peru |
| Philippines |
| Qatar |
| Russian Federation |
| Saudi Arabia |
| Serbia |
| Singapore |
| South Africa |
| South Korea |
| Taiwan |
| Thailand |
| Turkey |
| Ukraine |
| United Arab Emirates |
| United States of America |
| Viet Nam |
| Zimbabwe |
Country Of Origin from EU 2022 | Country Of Origin from Rest of World 2022 |
Austria | Albania |
Belgium | Algeria |
Bulgaria | Australia |
Croatia | Bahrain |
Cyprus | Barbados |
Czech Republic | Bermuda |
Denmark | Brazil |
Estonia | Brunei |
Finland | Canada |
France | Cayman Islands |
Germany | Chile |
Greece | China |
Hungary | Colombia |
Isle of Man | Costa Rica |
Ireland (Rep. of) | Dominican Republic |
Italy | Ecuador |
Latvia | Egypt |
Lithuania | Fiji |
Luxembourg | Hong Kong |
Netherlands | India |
Northern Ireland | Indonesia |
Norway | Israel |
Poland | Japan |
Portugal | Jordan |
Romania | Kenya |
Slovakia | Korea (South) |
Slovenia | Kuwait |
Spain | Lebanon |
Sweden | Malaysia |
Switzerland | Mauritius |
| Mexico |
| Namibia |
| New Zealand |
| Nigeria |
| Oman |
| Panama |
| Peru |
| Philippines |
| Qatar |
| Russia |
| Saint Lucia |
| Saudi Arabia |
| Singapore |
| South Africa |
| Sri Lanka |
| Taiwan |
| Thailand |
| Turkey |
| UAE |
| Uganda |
| Ukraine |
| USA |
| Vietnam |
| Zimbabwe |
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when her Department next plans to update the guidance for UK nationals travelling to and living in Thailand.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
FCDO Travel Advice is under constant review. Alongside our travel advice, we have our “Living in Thailand” Guide, which provides additional comprehensive guidance for UK nationals resident in Thailand or planning to relocate to Thailand [last updated 4 April 2022].
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Thai counterpart on enabling humanitarian aid to cross the border between Thailand and Myanmar.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
I [Minister Milling] raised the humanitarian assistance challenges in the border areas with Myanmar with Thailand's Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, when I visited Thailand in January. I discussed these issues again with my Thai counterpart during the UK-Thailand Strategic Dialogue in London on 30 June.
The UK is providing life-saving support on the Thai-Myanmar border. In Karen and Karenni states, which have seen some of the worst conflict, we are supporting the Border Consortium and DanChurchAid, along with many local organisations, to provide life-saving assistance. This support has reached over 80,000 Myanmar refugees in Thailand and 210,000 people in the Thai-Myanmar border areas.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what humanitarian assistance they are providing in Myanmar; and what plans they have to increase aid to provide emergency assistance (1) to the internally displaced, and (2) refugees on adjoining borders.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Meeting humanitarian needs remains a key priority for the UK. We continue to provide humanitarian assistance through international Non-Governmental Organisations, UN agencies and the Red Cross, including food, water, hygiene and sanitation services, shelter and medical equipment, to the most vulnerable in Myanmar, especially those in displacement camps.
Since the coup the UK has provided £49.4 million in aid to Myanmar, the majority for humanitarian and healthcare assistance. £24 million of this has been spent on emergency assistance to over 600,000 internally displaced people and refugees on the borders with Thailand, Bangladesh, India and China. The UK continues to provide humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya in Bangladesh, and to the Rohingya and other vulnerable groups who remain in Myanmar's Rakhine State. The UK has been a leading donor to the Rohingya response in Bangladesh, providing over £330 million since 2017.
The UK will remain a leading donor to the humanitarian response in Myanmar.
Asked by: Anthony Browne (Conservative - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Food Standards Agency has had recent meetings with representatives of international peer regulators in relation to novel foods.
Answered by Maggie Throup
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) regularly meets with its counterpart food safety regulators and discusses novel foods and food innovation.
In March 2022, the FSA’s Chief Executive participated in the third meeting of the International Heads of Food Agency Forum attended by food agency leaders and representatives of international food organisations. The meeting discussed new food sources and production systems and included novel food regulation. At working level, the FSA has participated in meetings with international peers, including with the British Embassy in Tel Aviv, Thailand, and Republic of Ireland.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
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 he has had with his counterparts in South Asia about their policies on protecting the Asian elephant.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government continues to work with our international partners to support the conservation and protection of elephants globally. This includes providing funding through our Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund to support six local communities at key trade routes on the Myanmar-Thailand border in their efforts to deter poaching. We have also provided financial support through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to assist range states in registering, marking and tracing Asian elephants in order to make it harder for animals to be captured and traded illegally.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
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 he has had with his international counterparts on global numbers of Asian elephants.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government continues to work with our international partners to support the conservation and protection of elephants globally. This includes providing funding through our Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund to support six local communities at key trade routes on the Myanmar-Thailand border in their efforts to deter poaching. We have also provided financial support through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to assist range states in registering, marking and tracing Asian elephants in order to make it harder for animals to be captured and traded illegally.