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To ask His Majesty's Government what legislative steps are required to implement the announced additional arms sales restrictions on Israel and on trading arrangements with settlements in the West Bank; and what is the estimated timescale for all such steps to be fully implemented.
To ask His Majesty's Government what legislative steps are required to implement the announced additional arms sales restrictions on Israel and on trading arrangements with settlements in the West Bank; and what is the estimated timescale for all such steps to be fully implemented.
My Lords, building on the question from my noble friend Lord Polak, as the noble Lord acknowledged, Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. It has robust rule-of-law provisions. I wonder what steps the Government are taking to establish those exact provisions in the rest of the Middle East, including Iraq, Iran, Syria and all these other Arab countries.
My Lords, building on the question from my noble friend Lord Polak, as the noble Lord acknowledged, Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. It has robust rule-of-law provisions. I wonder what steps the Government are taking to establish those exact provisions in the rest of the Middle East, including Iraq, Iran, Syria and all these other Arab countries.
My Lords, I thank the Minister for granting us the opportunity to ask questions on this important Statement. These measures amount to a major change in the UK’s approach to the region, so it is right that we are scrutinising them in your Lordships’ House today.
In the other place, the...
My Lords, I thank the Minister for granting us the opportunity to ask questions on this important Statement. These measures amount to a major change in the UK’s approach to the region, so it is right that we are scrutinising them in your Lordships’ House today.
In the other place, the...
Lords private notice question on what recent discussions they have had, if any, with (1) the Government of Argentina and (2) the Government of the United States pertaining to the future of the Falkland Islands; and what steps they are taking to ensure the security of those islands.
Lords private notice question on what recent discussions they have had, if any, with (1) the Government of Argentina and (2) the Government of the United States pertaining to the future of the Falkland Islands; and what steps they are taking to ensure the security of those islands.
I thank the noble Baroness for her reply and, indeed, welcome her to the Dispatch Box and her new job. I look forward to many happy exchanges with her in the future.
The Falkland Islands are British. We fought to defend them in 1982 and there should be no doubt of...
I thank the noble Baroness for her reply and, indeed, welcome her to the Dispatch Box and her new job. I look forward to many happy exchanges with her in the future.
The Falkland Islands are British. We fought to defend them in 1982 and there should be no doubt of...
My Lords, I also extend my welcome to the noble Lord in his new role. I look forward to working with him and am sure that we will have lots of fruitful and mutually beneficial exchanges across this Dispatch Box. We have a long-standing and important relationship with Saudi Arabia. Our principal focus in the region at the moment should be re-establishing free and open navigation of the Strait of Hormuz. Can the Minister say what progress is being made towards that end?
My Lords, I also extend my welcome to the noble Lord in his new role. I look forward to working with him and am sure that we will have lots of fruitful and mutually beneficial exchanges across this Dispatch Box. We have a long-standing and important relationship with Saudi Arabia. Our principal focus in the region at the moment should be re-establishing free and open navigation of the Strait of Hormuz. Can the Minister say what progress is being made towards that end?
I thank the noble Lord for those welcoming remarks—stretching “fruitful” too much, perhaps, but I hope not. I look forward to engaging with and working with him. We continue to believe that a diplomatic settlement around the Strait of Hormuz is the only way of not only resolving the economic dislocation that has resulted from the conflict but preventing Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and our position on its nuclear programme remains unchanged. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary and others in the Government are playing their part in trying to ensure that a ceasefire holds and that a diplomatic resolution is the ultimate result of what happens in the Strait of Hormuz.
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their press release Cheaper travel for millions with a third off fares, published on 22 July, whether any conversations have been held with representatives of nations which were to receive funding through international climate finance where the funding is now being converted into loans; and...
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their press release Cheaper travel for millions with a third off fares, published on 22 July, whether any conversations have been held with representatives of nations which were to receive funding through international climate finance where the funding is now being converted into loans; and...
The Government is switching £400 million of grant funding set aside for future international climate finance projects into loans, providing more flexible ways to meet the Government’s international climate objectives. Discussions with partner countries on international climate finance take place as part of normal programme development and delivery processes. Any engagement relating to future investments will depend on the design and approval of individual investments.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have provided any funding to the Tropical Forests Forever Fund.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have provided any funding to the Tropical Forests Forever Fund.
The Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) represents a critical evolution in forests finance, which is why the Government has been pleased to steadfastly support its development, including by pledging £2.5m to support the establishment of the Fund. Switching funding that had been set aside for international climate finance projects from grants into loans allows DESNZ to make £400m of financial transactions available to support the government's intention to invest in international climate finance projects, which could include projects such as TFFF. I will keep the House updated on the Government’s decision to invest in TFFF.
To ask His Majesty's Government further to their press release Cheaper travel for millions with a third off fares, published on 22 July, to which specific international climate finance projects has the United Kingdom’s contribution been converted to loans.
To ask His Majesty's Government further to their press release Cheaper travel for millions with a third off fares, published on 22 July, to which specific international climate finance projects has the United Kingdom’s contribution been converted to loans.
The Government is reprioritising £454 million from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s budget, including by switching £400 million of grant funding set aside for future international climate finance projects into loans, which could include projects such as the Tropical Forests Forever Facility. This will provide more flexible ways to meet the Government’s international climate objectives. The Government remains committed to spending 0.3% of Gross National Income on Official Development Assistance.
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their press release Cheaper travel for millions with a third off fares, published on 22 July, whether climate finance grants are being converted into loans to pay for this announcement; and, if so, which grants are being so converted.
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their press release Cheaper travel for millions with a third off fares, published on 22 July, whether climate finance grants are being converted into loans to pay for this announcement; and, if so, which grants are being so converted.
The Government is reprioritising £454 million from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s budget, including by switching £400 million of grant funding set aside for future international climate finance projects into loans, which could include projects such as the Tropical Forests Forever Facility. This will provide more flexible ways to meet the Government’s international climate objectives. The Government remains committed to spending 0.3% of Gross National Income on Official Development Assistance.
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their press release Cheaper travel for millions with a third off fares, published on 22 July, what assessment they have made of their ability to claw back funding from the international climate finance projects for which the United Kingdom’s contribution will now take the...
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their press release Cheaper travel for millions with a third off fares, published on 22 July, what assessment they have made of their ability to claw back funding from the international climate finance projects for which the United Kingdom’s contribution will now take the...
The Government is not clawing back funding from existing international climate finance projects. The £400 million relates to switching grant funding that had been set aside for future international climate finance projects into loans, providing more flexible ways to meet the Government’s international climate objectives. The terms of any loans, including expected repayment arrangements, will depend on the final design of individual investments and will be considered in line with normal value for money and Official Development Assistance requirements.
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their press release Cheaper travel for millions with a third off fares, published on 22 July, what is the itemised breakdown of the £454 million funding reprioritised from the budget of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their press release Cheaper travel for millions with a third off fares, published on 22 July, what is the itemised breakdown of the £454 million funding reprioritised from the budget of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
The Government is reprioritising £454 million from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s budget, including by switching £400 million of grant funding set aside for future international climate finance projects into loans, which could include projects such as the Tropical Forests Forever Facility. The remaining £54 million savings are expected from underspends in the Department’s budget.
My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord on his return to the Foreign Office. The whole House thought that he was badly treated by the previous junta, so it is nice to see him back. The Government’s most significant challenge in their recent discussions with Pakistan was their disagreement over the deportation of Shabir Ahmed. Can the Minister update the House on progress in those discussions and what steps the Government will take if Pakistan refuses to allow Shabir Ahmed to be deported?
My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord on his return to the Foreign Office. The whole House thought that he was badly treated by the previous junta, so it is nice to see him back. The Government’s most significant challenge in their recent discussions with Pakistan was their disagreement over the deportation of Shabir Ahmed. Can the Minister update the House on progress in those discussions and what steps the Government will take if Pakistan refuses to allow Shabir Ahmed to be deported?
First, I confess I take a whole-government approach: I am not in the FCDO at the moment but have some responsibility for government policy. I reassure the noble Lord that, in my new responsibilities at the Home Office, I will take his concerns seriously. We need to be clear about our determination to ensure that the individual to whom he refers is no longer in this country. The crimes he committed were appalling and we take this matter seriously. The dialogue between Pakistan and us is ongoing.
My Lords, one of the greatest issues facing nuclear weapons non-proliferation is that of Iran. Both sides of this House are agreed that Iran must never develop or acquire nuclear weapons. Will the Minister update the House on the Government’s latest assessment of what progress Iran is making towards developing nuclear weapons and the effect of the recent United States strikes on that capacity?
My Lords, one of the greatest issues facing nuclear weapons non-proliferation is that of Iran. Both sides of this House are agreed that Iran must never develop or acquire nuclear weapons. Will the Minister update the House on the Government’s latest assessment of what progress Iran is making towards developing nuclear weapons and the effect of the recent United States strikes on that capacity?
As the noble Lord knows, we are deeply concerned about the behaviour of Iran with regards to its nuclear programme. We are committed to doing what is necessary to prevent Iran ever obtaining the use of nuclear weaponry. As for the current conflict that we have recently seen resumed, we are all concerned about the impact that that is having, and indeed whether or not that is having the effect within Iran that we would all wish to see.
My Lords, we welcome the Government’s response—helping is a good thing—and we also welcome support from the Disasters Emergency Committee. As has been said, the British public have been extremely generous. What assessment has the Minister made of the failures of the Venezuelan state in this matter? It has been truly shocking to see the response of what was the Maduro Government and the hollowing out in these circumstances. There has been a dreadful local response. International partners have stepped in to help. What assessment have the Government made of this?
My Lords, we welcome the Government’s response—helping is a good thing—and we also welcome support from the Disasters Emergency Committee. As has been said, the British public have been extremely generous. What assessment has the Minister made of the failures of the Venezuelan state in this matter? It has been truly shocking to see the response of what was the Maduro Government and the hollowing out in these circumstances. There has been a dreadful local response. International partners have stepped in to help. What assessment have the Government made of this?
I agree with the noble Lord. It has been devastating, dreadful and heartbreaking. A country that should be prosperous and successful and that should provide a good place to live and succeed for its population has been badly led by a corrupt regime. I suspect we agree on much of that analysis. What needs to happen now is the physical rebuilding and the support for the population, but the Venezuelan state really needs to look to itself. It has some serious questions to answer about how it has allowed the impact of this to be more devastating than it could have been, and about what it needs to do next to rebuild its economy, society and the country more generally.
My Lords, we do not criminalise British citizens for buying property in disputed territories anywhere else in the world. Why should the West Bank be singled out, particularly when such a measure could even extend to Area C, which is under full Israeli
control under the Oslo accords, and would criminalise British Jews for purchasing a home in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem? Is not the status of disputed territory ultimately a matter for states and international law rather than something to be determined through domestic criminal law applied to individual purchases?
My Lords, we do not criminalise British citizens for buying property in disputed territories anywhere else in the world. Why should the West Bank be singled out, particularly when such a measure could even extend to Area C, which is under full Israeli
control under the Oslo accords, and would criminalise British Jews for purchasing a home in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem? Is not the status of disputed territory ultimately a matter for states and international law rather than something to be determined through domestic criminal law applied to individual purchases?
I think the implementation of international law in this circumstance would be a very good thing. We are not telling people what they have to do; we are pointing out that there is a risk of engaging in business or financial activity that may well support illegal actions. We are very clear that there should be a two-state solution that includes a secure, viable, prosperous, safe and successful Israel alongside the same for Palestine.
My Lords, we are supportive of the Government doing the right thing and protecting our most biodiverse areas, seas and oceans. On Report of the Diego Garcia military base Bill, the Minister admitted that Mauritius does not have the capabilities to protect the current marine protected area, one of the largest in the world. Can the Minister assure your Lordships’ House that the Government will never again seek to transfer the BIOT to a nation incapable of or unwilling to protect the current marine protected area?
My Lords, we are supportive of the Government doing the right thing and protecting our most biodiverse areas, seas and oceans. On Report of the Diego Garcia military base Bill, the Minister admitted that Mauritius does not have the capabilities to protect the current marine protected area, one of the largest in the world. Can the Minister assure your Lordships’ House that the Government will never again seek to transfer the BIOT to a nation incapable of or unwilling to protect the current marine protected area?
To say that Mauritius is unwilling is a bit harsh—it is very willing and it has committed to do this. We have committed to work alongside it to make sure that the waters around the archipelago are protected.
My Lords, I also thank my noble friend Lord Johnson for securing this important debate. The whole committee is to be congratulated for its hard work on the scrutiny of this convention. I am grateful to all noble Lords who have contributed, particularly my noble and learned friend Lady Prentis,...
My Lords, I also thank my noble friend Lord Johnson for securing this important debate. The whole committee is to be congratulated for its hard work on the scrutiny of this convention. I am grateful to all noble Lords who have contributed, particularly my noble and learned friend Lady Prentis,...
My Lords, earlier the noble Baroness referred to the importance of strong, women-led organisations. We on our Benches are very proud of our record of having strong women leaders in charge of our organisation. We are now on our fourth, so we well know the impact that women can make at the
very top of politics. What role is the Government playing in encouraging our international partners to recognise the unique contribution that women can make in leadership roles?
My Lords, earlier the noble Baroness referred to the importance of strong, women-led organisations. We on our Benches are very proud of our record of having strong women leaders in charge of our organisation. We are now on our fourth, so we well know the impact that women can make at the
very top of politics. What role is the Government playing in encouraging our international partners to recognise the unique contribution that women can make in leadership roles?
As a woman who has worked in politics for longer than I care to admit, I welcome the noble Lord’s sisterly solidarity. What are we doing? We fund many women-led organisations. We insist at the Security Council—when we are able to—that women’s participation is embedded in resolutions. We participate fully in multilateral organisations that are supporting the work of women in this context.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the draft UK-EU agreement in respect of Gibraltar will require the enactment of UK primary legislation prior to its ratification.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the draft UK-EU agreement in respect of Gibraltar will require the enactment of UK primary legislation prior to its ratification.
No primary legislation is required, but the final version of the Treaty will be laid in Parliament for scrutiny in accordance with the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.