Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Columbia on removing the investor state dispute settlement provisions from any renewed bilateral investment strategy.

Answered by Baroness Gustafsson - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Following the UK-Colombia Bilateral Investment Treaty’s (BIT) initial ten-year term, in accordance with the treaty’s provisions, it shall remain in force indefinitely unless it is terminated by either Party. The Government has not been formally approached by the Colombian Government regarding proposals to amend the BIT.

The Government regards the UK-Colombia BIT as playing an important role in the investment relationship between our two countries. The stock of total investment between the UK and Colombia was £6.8 billion in 2023.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what was the outcome of their recent discussions with the government of Columbia on the future of the bilateral investment strategy which has reached the end of its initial ten year term.

Answered by Baroness Gustafsson - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Following the UK-Colombia Bilateral Investment Treaty’s (BIT) initial ten-year term, in accordance with the treaty’s provisions, it shall remain in force indefinitely unless it is terminated by either Party. The Government has not been formally approached by the Colombian Government regarding proposals to amend the BIT.

The Government regards the UK-Colombia BIT as playing an important role in the investment relationship between our two countries. The stock of total investment between the UK and Colombia was £6.8 billion in 2023.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of investor state dispute settlements on a country's ability to invest in its Sustainable Development Goals.

Answered by Baroness Gustafsson - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK is party to 81 Bilateral Investment Treaties and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership that contain Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS).

ISDS provides an independent means to resolve disputes with states where investors believe they have experienced arbitrary, discriminatory or unfair treatment or expropriation without compensation. ISDS does not remove governments’ right to regulate in the public interest, including with respect to implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to include the development of standards for the care of people with severe myalgic encephalomyelitis in their delivery plan for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The content of the myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), delivery plan has not yet been finalised. The responses to the 2023 interim delivery plan consultation, along with continued close engagement with stakeholders, will inform the development of the final ME/CFS delivery plan which we aim to publish by end of March. The plan will focus on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease.

To support this, we have reconvened the ME/CFS Task and Finish Group, including senior Department and cross-Government officials, ME/CFS specialists and representatives from NHS England, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the devolved administrations, and ME/CFS charities and organisations in the development of the final delivery plan for ME/CFS.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what duties the Canal and River Trust has with regard to people whose boat is their permanent and only home.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Canal and River Trust is an independent charity, and the Government does not have a role in its management or operational decisions. The Trust’s charitable objects relate to the preservation of our inland waterways for public benefit, particularly for navigation, walking, and other forms of recreation, rather than the provision of permanent accommodation for private individuals, and the Trust’s boat licensing regime has no requirement to declare what a boat is used for or how many people are occupying it.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what legislation protects boat dwellers whose boat is their only home; and whether any additional legal protections for those individuals have been introduced in the last 25 years, and if so, which.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

A boat owner will require the agreement of the mooring owner to moor their vessel. The terms of the agreement issued by the mooring owner must comply with the unfair terms in consumer contracts requirements in the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Boat owners with residential moorings will also benefit from the Protection from Eviction Act 1977. This requires mooring owners to get a court order to evict boat owners who continue to moor after their license agreement has ended.

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