Asked by: Baroness Hooper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why relations with Latin America is not listed on the printed list of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office ministerial responsibilities; and why relations with Latin America is not the responsibility of a Minister of State.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Latin America is an important partner for the UK's global ambitions, with many countries aligned with our values, and we maintain a strong diplomatic relationship with countries around the region. The latest list of Ministerial responsibilities was published in November 2021, and lists Wendy Morton MP as FCDO Parliamentary Undersecretary of State (Minister for Europe and the Americas). Responsibilities included the Americas, the Caribbean, and Small Island Developing States. In December 2021, Minister Ford took over responsibility for Latin America. The current page on www.Gov.uk/government/ministers lists this as FCDO Parliamentary Undersecretary of State (Minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean). I am already engaging with Ambassadors from the region, and plan to visit next month.
Asked by: Baroness Hooper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to support the economic role of UK English Language Schools accredited by the British Council following the reduction in their income during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
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.
Asked by: Baroness Hooper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many, and which, countries in Latin America are subject to UK sanctions; and how such sanctions and any possible infringements are monitored, in particular in any country where there is no UK Embassy.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
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.