Baroness Hooper

In all trade deals, HM Government is seeking trade outcomes that support British Overseas Territories' economic interests, and which reflect their unique characteristics.

Trade and investment between the United Kingdom and India was worth £48 billion in 2019 and we are developing an even more ambitious relationship. We have committed to launching an Enhanced Trade Partnership with India later this year and are in the process of cementing the terms of this. Through the Enhanced Trade Partnership both sides are working to bring down trade barriers, open up opportunities for trade and investment, and chart the roadmap towards a potential Free Trade Agreement.

The Territorial Application Clause of the United Kingdom-Turkey Agreement states that it will apply to their land territory, internal waters, territorial sea and airspace; and the maritime areas over which Turkey has sovereign rights or jurisdiction for the purposes of exploration, exploitation and preservation of natural resources, pursuant to international law.

The United Kingdom does not recognise the self-declared “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”.

The UK is a strong supporter of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute settlement system. The UK continues to support resolution of the impasse and the appointment of dispute settlement appeal-adjudicators. The UK has actively participated in discussions at the WTO since January 2019 aimed at relaunching such appointments, and the Rt Hon Conor Burns MP, Minister of State, was personally at the WTO, on the first working day of 2020, to affirm our support for the international rules-based system.

In December 2019, the Director-General of WTO announced that he would conduct more intensive consultations with WTO Members towards this goal. The UK will engage closely in these consultations.

The UK has engaged on this issue in other fora such as the World Economic Forum, G7, G20, Commonwealth, and OECD Ministerial Council meeting.

NHS England is currently consulting on the proposal for a new provider selection regime. The central requirement of the proposed new regime is that arrangements for the delivery of healthcare services must be made in a transparent way, in the best interests of patients, taxpayers and the population. All other procurement will continue to be subject to Cabinet Office procurement processes.

The proposed new provider selection regime will set out overarching requirements in relation to the competitive tender exercise - for example, that it must be transparent and fair. NHS England’s consultation seeks views on the proposed key criteria to be considered when decision makers are running a competitive tender to ensure that services are arranged in the best interest of patients, taxpayers and the population. The proposal will include steps that decision-making bodies can take to manage conflicts of interest when arranging services. We will also develop a broader conflict of interest policy in relation to integrated care systems to address this issue specifically.

NHS England is currently consulting on the proposal for a new provider selection regime. The central requirement of the proposed new regime is that arrangements for the delivery of healthcare services must be made in a transparent way, in the best interests of patients, taxpayers and the population. All other procurement will continue to be subject to Cabinet Office procurement processes.

The proposed new provider selection regime will set out overarching requirements in relation to the competitive tender exercise - for example, that it must be transparent and fair. NHS England’s consultation seeks views on the proposed key criteria to be considered when decision makers are running a competitive tender to ensure that services are arranged in the best interest of patients, taxpayers and the population. The proposal will include steps that decision-making bodies can take to manage conflicts of interest when arranging services. We will also develop a broader conflict of interest policy in relation to integrated care systems to address this issue specifically.

NHS England is currently consulting on the proposal for a new provider selection regime. The central requirement of the proposed new regime is that arrangements for the delivery of healthcare services must be made in a transparent way, in the best interests of patients, taxpayers and the population. All other procurement will continue to be subject to Cabinet Office procurement processes.

The proposed new provider selection regime will set out overarching requirements in relation to the competitive tender exercise - for example, that it must be transparent and fair. NHS England’s consultation seeks views on the proposed key criteria to be considered when decision makers are running a competitive tender to ensure that services are arranged in the best interest of patients, taxpayers and the population. The proposal will include steps that decision-making bodies can take to manage conflicts of interest when arranging services. We will also develop a broader conflict of interest policy in relation to integrated care systems to address this issue specifically.

The Government will continue to support the UK English Language Training (ELT) sector, working closely with English UK - which manages the Accreditation UK quality assurance scheme for UK ELT centres in partnership with the British Council - and others to co-ordinate efforts to boost UK education exports. The Government also continues to support the UK ELT sector more broadly through the global 'Education is GREAT' campaign. The Chancellor confirmed the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) will be extended until 30 September 2021 in the 2021 Budget announced on 3 March 2021. A range of further measures to support all businesses, including those not eligible for the business rates holiday, such as language schools, has also been made available.

The FCDO has provided significant support to the British Council to help mitigate the financial impact of the pandemic on their operations.

Currently there are 42 individuals designated under the UK's Nicaragua and Venezuela sanctions regimes, as well as three Venezuelan nationals designated under the Global Human Rights regime. These individuals are subject to asset freezes and travel bans. The Venezuela sanctions regime also includes trade restrictions on specified goods and technology, such as military goods (e.g. arms) or goods and technology which may be used to repress the civilian population of Venezuela or to intercept and monitor communications. Under UK autonomous regimes, travel ban measures apply solely in the UK, and financial sanctions are only binding on UK nationals, UK registered companies and their subsidiaries.

Various HMG departments and offices hold responsibility for monitoring sanctions compliance and enforcing action against non-compliance, and individuals and companies themselves can also report information on suspected breaches to the relevant enforcement bodies. The Office for Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) takes civil action for breaches of financial sanctions, and can work with the National Crime Agency (NCA) if criminal action is appropriate. The Home Office implement and enforce travel bans.

On 31 December the UK, working side by side with the Governments of Gibraltar and Spain, reached agreement on a political framework to form the basis of a separate treaty between the UK and the EU regarding Gibraltar. This covers issues of key importance to Gibraltar and the surrounding region, and the Governments of both the UK and Gibraltar judge that it provides a firm basis to safeguard Gibraltar's interests. The UK, Gibraltar, and Spain are committed to ensuring that cross-border arrangements can continue until a new treaty enters into force. We remain steadfast in our support for Gibraltar and its sovereignty.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) currently advises against all but essential travel to Costa Rica. This decision is informed by the latest COVID-19 risk assessments from Public Health England (PHE) and the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC). This assessment is based on a number of key indicators, including virus incidence rates, trends in incidence and deaths, testing capacity, test positivity rates and other international epidemic intelligence. FCDO travel advice remains under constant review to ensure it reflects our latest assessment of risks to British nationals and has the key information and advice they need to plan travel. Our top priority is to protect the safety and well-being of the British public; we want to continue?opening up?to international travel but only when we can be sure that the risks to public health are manageable.

The UK takes its responsibilities towards the Overseas Territories extremely seriously. The UK Government is procuring medical equipment and support for each Territory immediately and we will stand fully by the Overseas Territories in the long run as they deal with the impacts of the pandemic. The UK is also leading with partners and allies to support an effective and co-ordinated global health response led by WHO and we are working closely with the Overseas Territories to ensure their needs are fully taken into account. As Minister for the Overseas Territories, I am in constant touch with the Premiers and Governors to ensure they receive the support they need.