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Written Question
Latin America: Foreign Relations
Thursday 17th February 2022

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.


Written Question
English Language: Education
Tuesday 30th March 2021

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.


Written Question
Latin America: Sanctions
Thursday 25th February 2021

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.


Written Question
Gibraltar: UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement
Tuesday 19th January 2021

Asked by: Baroness Hooper (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications of the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement for Gibraltar.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

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.


Written Question
Costa Rica: Tourism
Thursday 10th December 2020

Asked by: Baroness Hooper (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current conditions for tourists in Costa Rica, in particular for eco tourists; and what plans they have to review their travel advice for that country.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

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.


Written Question
British Overseas Territories: Coronavirus
Thursday 2nd April 2020

Asked by: Baroness Hooper (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to include British Overseas Territories in the support and protection being offered to individuals and institutions within the UK for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answered by Baroness Sugg

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.


Written Question
Ascension Island: Marine Protected Areas
Friday 22nd February 2019

Asked by: Baroness Hooper (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the formal request from the Ascension Island Council for long-term financial support for its Marine Protected Area.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has not received a formal request from the Ascension Island Government for long-term financial support for its Marine Protected Area. The FCO continues to work closely with our delivery partners to prepare the case for ongoing long-term support to those Territories who have participated in the Blue Belt programme, including Ascension. The Government recognises that there is a need to ensure that designated Marine Protected Areas are monitored and managed to the appropriate international standard.


Written Question
Venezuela: Politics and Government
Friday 29th September 2017

Asked by: Baroness Hooper (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the informal meeting of foreign affairs ministers of EU member states on 8 September in Gymnich, and in advance of the UN General Assembly, what action is being taken at the national and EU level to find a sustainable solution to the current political crisis in Venezuela.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We are working closely with partners, including the EU and UN, to consider a range of options to promote an end to the crisis in Venezuela. The most recent discussion at EU level took place on 12 September. The Lima Group of Foreign Ministers met in the margins of the UN General Assembly on 20 September and will re-convene in Canada in October. Any solution to the current crisis in Venezuela must come from the region. The Minister for Europe and the Americas is working closely with Peru's Foreign Minister, Ricardo Luna, in support of Peru's regional leadership. We will continue to work with partners to consider a wide range of options to prevent further violence and alleviate the suffering of ordinary Venezuelans.

Venezuela remains a Human Rights Priority Country for the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and the Minister for Europe and the Americas met the President of the National Assembly, Julio Borges, and Antonieta Lopez, the mother of opposition leader, Leopoldo Lopez, on 7 September and stressed the UK's unwavering support for the National Assembly as a democratic institution.


Written Question
Pension Credit
Thursday 16th June 2016

Asked by: Baroness Hooper (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Colombia about the dangers faced by defenders of human rights and leaders of land restitution claims, and the case for enhancing their protection.

Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We are concerned by the increase in violence towards human rights defenders (HRDs) in Colombia. Reports from the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Somos Defensores indicate that 63 HRDs were killed in 2015, a 13 per cent increase from 2014. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), raised this issue during his meeting with President Santos on 12 May. During his visit to Colombia in April, the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), also raised human rights concerns with the Colombian Deputy Foreign Minister, Patti Londoño-Jaramillo.

Ensuring protection and support for HRDs, including leaders of land restitution claims, is a priority area for our Embassy in Bogotá. As well as monitoring specific cases, the UK raises our concerns with the Colombian government at every possible opportunity. Our Ambassador to Colombia recently joined an international community initiative called “Ambassadors with Defenders” that aims to raise awareness of the situation of HRDs and follow up on specific cases. Earlier this year, the Ambassador accompanied the Colombian Minister of Interior to a regional human rights roundtable, where the role of local authorities in taking effective action on HRD cases was discussed. The UK was the only member of the international community invited to this event.

With regards to increased protection, on 26 April, President Santos announced the creation of a high level group in charge of investigating threats and killings against HRDs. He invited human rights organisations to appoint five representatives to participate in this group. The Attorney General’s Office has prioritised the investigations of these cases.


Written Question
Cybercrime
Tuesday 14th June 2016

Asked by: Baroness Hooper (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance they have given to the government of Colombia to help it develop its national business and human rights action plan, and whether further assistance will be given to aid its implementation.

Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We supported Colombia in the development of their National Action Plan (NAP) to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The NAP, which is the first of its kind outside of Europe, was launched in December. It allows Colombia to meet its existing human rights obligations and increase business awareness.

The Minister of State for Trade and Investment, my noble Friend, the Lord Price of Sturminster Newton, launched a campaign for British businesses to support peace, primarily through the respect for human rights, during his visit to Colombia last month. Twenty of the largest British companies operating in Colombia subsequently agreed to align themselves to the Colombian National Action Plan for business and human rights.