Asked by: Lord Ashcroft (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps are being taken to promote economic growth in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Answered by Baroness Warsi
The Turks and Caicos Islands and other British Overseas Territories are small, open and dynamic economies that offer opportunities for investment and trade. UK Ministers and Territory leaders have agreed, through the Joint Ministerial Council last year, an ambitious practical agenda to support our shared vision for the Territories as vibrant and flourishing communities, proudly retaining aspects of British identity and generating opportunities for their people. This agenda includes working together to promote trade and investment opportunities in the Territories, to deliver on the G8 tax and transparency agenda, and to maintain high standards of governance and rule of law. The EU has recently agreed improved market access for Territory services and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) have opened their overseas market introduction service to Territory companies.
The Government is committed to continuing to build a strong partnership with the Turks and Caicos Islands government to help them develop their economy. Since 2008, the UK has supported far reaching reform, including strengthening of economic governance and the management of public finances, and provided a loan guarantee worth up to $260 million. Further, the UK agreed to proposals for the redevelopment of passenger facilities at Providenciales International Airport. The redevelopment should increase its capacity and improve the customer experience. It is expected to be completed later this year.
The Government is continuing to support reform in the Turks and Caicos Islands, including through a Technical Assistance programme supporting capacity building work across a number of Ministries (budget of £1.5 million in financial year 2014-15).
Asked by: Lord Ashcroft (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 2 July (WA 275), whether it is the case that no flights of any kind with any detainee on board have landed at Diego Garcia since September 2001.
Answered by Baroness Warsi
As I said in my answer of 17 June, aside from the two cases of rendition through Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory) in 2002, there have been no other instances in which US intelligence flights have landed in the UK, our Overseas Territories, or the Crown Dependencies, with a detainee on board since 11 September 2001. Though my answer of 2 July referred to this previous answer, it did not specifically repeat the reference to the two cases in 2002, and I want to clarify that for my noble friend.
Asked by: Lord Ashcroft (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there are any proposals to use the sinking fund balance under the Turks and Caicos Islands debt obligations to pay down, to pay off or to buy back existing debt to reduce interest charges.
Answered by Baroness Warsi
The UK and Turks and Caicos Islands governments have agreed a framework for management of public finances that includes principles of good financial management as well as the debt ceilings. Key requirements are that net debt is less than 110 per cent of revenue by the end of the financial year 2015/16 and less than 80 per cent of revenue by the end of the financial year 2018/19, and that debt service is less than 10 per cent of annual operating revenue and liquid assets at least 25 per cent of annual operating revenue.
The Turks and Caicos Islands government has run a surplus for the last two years and continues to be on track to meet the provisions of the agreed framework document. In accordance with the Turks and Caicos Islands legislation, surpluses are paid into a Sinking Fund. The Sinking Fund may only be used for the purposes of paying down debt. However, how the debt is repaid is ultimately a delegated matter for the Turks and Caicos Islands government.
Asked by: Lord Ashcroft (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance is being given to the St Lucia police to find the murderer of Oliver Gobat, a British citizen; and if none, why.
Answered by Baroness Warsi
The Government of St Lucia has requested UK Police assistance with the investigation into the death of Oliver Gobat. In order to consider this request the British Government will require assurances that any person convicted of the alleged crime will not be sentenced to death and we are discussing this with the St Lucians. The Government opposes the use of the death penalty in all circumstances.
Asked by: Lord Ashcroft (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 17 June (WA 36), whether the figure for United States intelligence flights includes all intelligence flights by United States aircraft.
Answered by Baroness Warsi
I refer my noble friend to my previous response in which I said that no US intelligence flights with a detainee on board have landed in the UK, our overseas territories, or the Crown Dependencies since 11 September 2001.
Asked by: Lord Ashcroft (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Liberation and Justice Movement in Sudan has been involved in South Sudan; and if so in what capacity and on what side.
Answered by Baroness Warsi
We are not aware of any reports that suggest that the Liberation and Justice Movement in Sudan has been involved in the conflict in South Sudan.
Asked by: Lord Ashcroft (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 25 April 2013 (WA 447– 48), with regard to the use of Diego Garcia for rendition flights, what is the latest situation in relation to such flights.
Answered by Baroness Warsi
Aside from the two cases of rendition through Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory) in 2002, there have been no other instances in which US intelligence flights landed in the UK, our overseas Territories, or the Crown Dependencies, with a detainee on board since 11 September 2001.