Economy: Remittances

Debate between Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon and Lord Risby

Thursday 4th February 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)]

Of course, I look forward to meeting the noble Lord on that last point. We are looking at particular processes, especially in countries such as Ghana, Nigeria and Somalia, and I am sure that will form the basis of our discussions.

[Lord Risby (Con) [V]]

My Lords, does my noble friend agree, particularly in current circumstances, that it would be desirable to have an international drive to scale up digital solutions, complete with the integration of fintech, if we are to be more innovative in facilitating less costly cross-border transactions?

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)]

My Lords, I agree with my noble friend. The UK supports the Financial Stability Board’s work to enhance cross-border payments, and we will work through the ambitions set at the last G20. I have alluded to the work of the G7; as I said, the UK encourages innovative fintech solutions connecting cross-border mobile wallets, because it is much easier and cheaper to send remittances in that way. We support that objective.

Aviation: Sharm el-Sheikh

Debate between Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon and Lord Risby

Thursday 3rd November 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Risby]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their current guidance on flights from the United Kingdom landing in Egypt, and in particular Sharm El-Sheikh.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport (Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon) (Con)]

My Lords, following the Metrojet crash, the Foreign Office travel advice was changed so that direct air services between the UK and Sharm el-Sheikh Airport were halted. Flights to all other Egyptian airports were unaffected. UK aviation security experts continue to work closely with their Egyptian counterparts on the ground, sharing their expertise in establishing effective security arrangements. We look forward to achieving the return of flights once we can be assured of there being the necessary secure and sustainable security situation on the ground.

[Lord Risby (Con)]

My Lords, all your Lordships will want to be assured about the safety and security of British tourists abroad. Given the considerable improvements that have been instituted at Sharm el-Sheikh Airport, we now have a situation where Belgian and German flights are being resumed. Indeed, as my noble friend said, all other Egyptian airports are open for business. In these circumstances, given that Sharm el-Sheikh is the epicentre of Egyptian tourism, will my noble friend look afresh and very directly at these new changed circumstances, given the catastrophic impact on the Egyptian economy and its stability, and on our winter tour operators?

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon]

I can assure my noble friend that we are mindful of the impacts that have been felt locally. As my noble friend will be aware from his recent visit, our officials from the DfT have been working very closely with the Egyptians on the ground. He mentioned other nations choosing to return flights. That is very much a matter for them, but I am minded of the fact that we are yet to see the final results of the inquiry that the Egyptians have conducted into the Metrojet crash. He will also be aware that the Russians, who were obviously involved directly in that inquiry, are also yet to report back, although they did provisionally say that the crash resulted from a terrorist attack on the plane.

Algeria

Debate between Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon and Lord Risby

Thursday 27th March 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)]

My Lords, the UK is committed to a strong and enduring partnership with Algeria, which is a key regional partner playing an important role in supporting regional stability. Building on a visit by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister in January 2013—and, indeed, the appointment of my noble friend as trade envoy—the UK plans to continue the high level of engagement that has characterised the relationship in recent years. The UK-Algeria high-level dialogue in January this year saw further progress on a range of issues, including security, trade, migration and education. The third meeting of the strategic security partnership will take place later this year.

[Lord Risby (Con)]

My Lords, given the enormous interest and desire to learn English in Algeria, whether in schools, universities or the government sector and in the private sector as well, can my noble friend indicate how we are helping to fulfil this widespread ambition and opportunity? Further, given the growing commercial links, can my noble friend comment on whether a double taxation agreement, moving this forward, is now taking place because it is a great advantage to some of our European partners who already have such an arrangement?

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon]

I take this opportunity, if I may, to pay tribute to my noble friend’s work as a trade envoy. His work has facilitated some major contracts for British companies, including most recently the International Hospitals Group and Surrey Satellite Technology. Turning to his specific questions, of course, English is a powerful tool in our trade across the world and I am delighted to state that the British Council is upgrading its services. It is reopening a teaching college in September, supporting English in schools. Also there is agreement for 100 Algerian PhD students to take up places at UK universities. On the issue of the double taxation agreement, some noble Lords may know that these negotiations have started, are continuing and, indeed, we have exchanged draft texts on the agreement.