Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with the Falkland Islands Government on the Secretary of State's consent role in relation to oil and gas licences under the Offshore Minerals Ordinance 1994.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The right of the Falkland Islanders to develop their natural resources for their own economic benefit is integral to their right of self-determination. When deciding whether to consent to new hydrocarbons licences in the Falkland Islands, the Secretary of State acts in accordance with applicable Falkland Islands legislation. UK oil and gas licensing policy does not apply in the Falkland Islands.
I met Members of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly on 3 September and discussed ongoing economic development projects in the Falklands.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to publish the UK's delegation to the COP 31 Summit in Antalya, Türkiye.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The final list of UK delegates travelling to COP will be published by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat at the end of COP31.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of constitutional arrangements in British Overseas Territories and Commonwealth jurisdictions that provide for (a) appointed and (b) nominated legislators to enhance parliamentary oversight.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The British Overseas Territories (OTs) have longstanding and diverse constitutional arrangements, but all reflect a modern UK-OT partnership where constitutional evolution occurs through consultation, negotiation, and agreement between the UK and territory. OT governments should gain support for their proposals through public consultations and cross-party deliberations. UK Ministers will consider OT proposals, mindful that the UK must retain the constitutional powers necessary to discharge our sovereign responsibilities and international obligations. All formal proposals are subject to rigorous assessment, including governance implications and sustainability, by both the UK and the OT.
This approach was reflected in the Turks and Caicos Island's 2024 constitutional reform process. Since then, the TCI Government has sought a further amendment. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further on ongoing discussions.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has considered the implications for parliamentary scrutiny in the Turks and Caicos Islands of a situation in which all elected members of a governing party could simultaneously hold executive office.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The British Overseas Territories (OTs) have longstanding and diverse constitutional arrangements, but all reflect a modern UK-OT partnership where constitutional evolution occurs through consultation, negotiation, and agreement between the UK and territory. OT governments should gain support for their proposals through public consultations and cross-party deliberations. UK Ministers will consider OT proposals, mindful that the UK must retain the constitutional powers necessary to discharge our sovereign responsibilities and international obligations. All formal proposals are subject to rigorous assessment, including governance implications and sustainability, by both the UK and the OT.
This approach was reflected in the Turks and Caicos Island's 2024 constitutional reform process. Since then, the TCI Government has sought a further amendment. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further on ongoing discussions.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the abolition of appointed Members of Parliament under the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution (Amendment) Order 2024 on the operation of parliamentary scrutiny.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The British Overseas Territories (OTs) have longstanding and diverse constitutional arrangements, but all reflect a modern UK-OT partnership where constitutional evolution occurs through consultation, negotiation, and agreement between the UK and territory. OT governments should gain support for their proposals through public consultations and cross-party deliberations. UK Ministers will consider OT proposals, mindful that the UK must retain the constitutional powers necessary to discharge our sovereign responsibilities and international obligations. All formal proposals are subject to rigorous assessment, including governance implications and sustainability, by both the UK and the OT.
This approach was reflected in the Turks and Caicos Island's 2024 constitutional reform process. Since then, the TCI Government has sought a further amendment. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further on ongoing discussions.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has considered proposals for the reintroduction of appointed Members to the Parliament of the Turks and Caicos Islands as a mechanism to strengthen parliamentary scrutiny and representation.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The British Overseas Territories (OTs) have longstanding and diverse constitutional arrangements, but all reflect a modern UK-OT partnership where constitutional evolution occurs through consultation, negotiation, and agreement between the UK and territory. OT governments should gain support for their proposals through public consultations and cross-party deliberations. UK Ministers will consider OT proposals, mindful that the UK must retain the constitutional powers necessary to discharge our sovereign responsibilities and international obligations. All formal proposals are subject to rigorous assessment, including governance implications and sustainability, by both the UK and the OT.
This approach was reflected in the Turks and Caicos Island's 2024 constitutional reform process. Since then, the TCI Government has sought a further amendment. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further on ongoing discussions.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the capacity of the Parliament of the Turks and Caicos Islands to provide effective scrutiny of the executive following the 2025 General Election.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The British Overseas Territories (OTs) have longstanding and diverse constitutional arrangements, but all reflect a modern UK-OT partnership where constitutional evolution occurs through consultation, negotiation, and agreement between the UK and territory. OT governments should gain support for their proposals through public consultations and cross-party deliberations. UK Ministers will consider OT proposals, mindful that the UK must retain the constitutional powers necessary to discharge our sovereign responsibilities and international obligations. All formal proposals are subject to rigorous assessment, including governance implications and sustainability, by both the UK and the OT.
This approach was reflected in the Turks and Caicos Island's 2024 constitutional reform process. Since then, the TCI Government has sought a further amendment. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further on ongoing discussions.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to establish a dedicated market-entry programme for British businesses seeking to participate in Guyana's infrastructure development over the next decade.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Guyana is the UK's largest trading partner in the Commonwealth Caribbean, accounting for 43.7 per cent of UK trade with the region. The UK-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement provides the framework for our trading relationship. We continue to promote trade and investment across sectors including infrastructure, renewable energy, and financial and professional services. This includes trade missions connecting UK firms with local partners and working closely with UK Export Finance, which has increased its capacity for Guyana to £3.5 billion. The UK's Trade Envoy for the Commonwealth Caribbean led a trade mission to Guyana in November 2025. The UK is also developing a successor to the UK Caribbean Infrastructure Fund.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support British companies seeking to invest in Guyana's (a) energy, (b) infrastructure, (c) financial services and (d) professional services sectors.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Guyana is the UK's largest trading partner in the Commonwealth Caribbean, accounting for 43.7 per cent of UK trade with the region. The UK-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement provides the framework for our trading relationship. We continue to promote trade and investment across sectors including infrastructure, renewable energy, and financial and professional services. This includes trade missions connecting UK firms with local partners and working closely with UK Export Finance, which has increased its capacity for Guyana to £3.5 billion. The UK's Trade Envoy for the Commonwealth Caribbean led a trade mission to Guyana in November 2025. The UK is also developing a successor to the UK Caribbean Infrastructure Fund.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has considered appointing a dedicated UK Trade Envoy to Guyana to strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Guyana is the UK's largest trading partner in the Commonwealth Caribbean, accounting for 43.7 per cent of UK trade with the region. The UK-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement provides the framework for our trading relationship. We continue to promote trade and investment across sectors including infrastructure, renewable energy, and financial and professional services. This includes trade missions connecting UK firms with local partners and working closely with UK Export Finance, which has increased its capacity for Guyana to £3.5 billion. The UK's Trade Envoy for the Commonwealth Caribbean led a trade mission to Guyana in November 2025. The UK is also developing a successor to the UK Caribbean Infrastructure Fund.