Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have with Tufan Erhurman regarding the future of Cyprus issue since 1 January.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government is committed to supporting a lasting, comprehensive and just settlement that will benefit all Cypriots, within the UN parameters of a Bi-zonal, Bi-Communal Federation with political equality. The UK respects the right of the Turkish Cypriot community to choose their representatives in the UN-led settlement process. We engage with Turkish Cypriot representatives under our long-standing policy of non-recognition and in support of the UN-led settlement process.
Our High Commission in Nicosia engages on a regular basis with Tufan Erhürman and his team regarding the Cyprus issue under our long-standing policy of non-recognition and in support of the UN-led settlement process.
Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the election of Tufan Erhurman in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government is committed to supporting a lasting, comprehensive and just settlement that will benefit all Cypriots, within the UN parameters of a Bi-zonal, Bi-Communal Federation with political equality. The UK respects the right of the Turkish Cypriot community to choose their representatives in the UN-led settlement process. We engage with Turkish Cypriot representatives under our long-standing policy of non-recognition and in support of the UN-led settlement process.
Our High Commission in Nicosia engages on a regular basis with Tufan Erhürman and his team regarding the Cyprus issue under our long-standing policy of non-recognition and in support of the UN-led settlement process.
Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 20 May (HL7156), whether they plan to send a representative to the Turkish Cypriot Cultural Festival as part of their engagement with the Turkish Cypriot community.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The Government does not currently have plans to send a representative to the specific event referenced in PQ HL7889. However, we continue to engage members of the Cypriot diaspora and welcome the strong contribution that the diaspora has and continues to make to UK culture and communities.
Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to work with the Turkish-Cypriot diaspora in the United Kingdom to promote community engagement and stronger ties between the United Kingdom and Northern Cyprus.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
In accordance with the rest of the international community, with the sole exception of Turkey, the UK does not recognise the self-declared 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' as an independent state. Several UN Security Council Resolutions and other multilateral agreements limit links between the UK and the north of Cyprus. However, we support measures aimed at reducing the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community within these constraints. This includes promoting rule of law, good governance, open societies, and positive inter-communal relations. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) officials regularly engage members of the Cypriot diaspora, including from the Turkish Cypriot community.
Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 7 March (HL5231), what are the "long-standing processes on establishing geographical feature names for UK use"; and whether the Gulf of Mexico will be renamed.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The Permanent Committee on Geographical Names (PCGN) advises HMG on policies and procedures for the representation of geographical names for places and features outside the UK, excluding those of the Antarctic. For names of international maritime features beyond any sovereignty, PCGN usually advises reflecting the common English conventional name, which for this body of water is the 'Gulf of Mexico'.
Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will be renaming the Gulf of Mexico; and, if so, what to.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
We have long-standing processes on establishing geographical feature names for UK use, which will continue to govern future labelling.
Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are taking any steps, in collaboration with international partners, to encourage peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We support a just and sustainable peace which restores Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, underpinned by the UN Charter. President Zelenskyy has clearly indicated Ukraine's desire for peace in his Peace Formula, which reflects principles supported by 141 countries in the UN General Assembly. The UK has supported Ukraine to convene senior officials from G7 and several G20 countries, to discuss principles for a just peace. We welcome the planned conference in Switzerland to discuss these principles further. By contrast, Russia's continued actions on the battlefield demonstrate that President Putin has no meaningful interest in a just peace. It will be for Ukraine to determine its position in any negotiations, just as it is for Ukraine to decide its democratic future and long-term security arrangements. The quickest path to peace would be for President Putin to withdraw all Russian troops illegally present in Ukraine and end its aggression against its neighbour.
Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to earmark funds to support Ukraine in the period after the cessation of hostilities.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Supporting Ukraine to build a secure and prosperous future is an essential part of our effort to help Ukraine defeat Russian aggression. The Ukraine Recovery Conference (21-22 June 2023) raised over $60 billion in new support, including $3 billion in UK guarantees to World Bank lending and £240 million of UK bilateral assistance for 2023-24. The UK has earmarked up to $1 billion a year in fiscal support through World Bank guarantees between 2023 and 2027. Bilateral allocations for the 2024-25 financial year are still being finalised and funding beyond 2025 will be confirmed after the next Spending Review.
Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following reports that international aid from Sweden will soon depend on whether the recipient country accepts the repatriation of its citizens, such as asylum seekers and migrants deemed a security risk, what assessment they have made of the case for adopting a similar policy for the United Kingdom.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) is provided with the primary purpose of contributing to reduction in poverty. Allocation decisions are informed by a range of modelling and information sources, including absolute poverty, humanitarian need, geopolitical prioritisation and the ability of a country to self-finance its own development. The recently published White Paper on International Development makes clear that the UK will prioritise its ODA where it is most needed and most effective.
Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of Norway taking over the Chairmanship of the Arctic Council on 11 May 2023, what plans they have to build a stronger relationship with the Council during the two years of Norwegian Chairmanship.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK has been a State Observer to the Arctic Council since its first meeting and we participate actively in the Council's work. The UK welcomed Norway taking on the Chairship of the Arctic Council on 11 May 2023. We look forward to engaging with the new Norwegian Chair over the coming two years, including to look for further opportunities to enhance the UK's contribution to the work of the Council in areas of mutual interest and global importance, such as climate change and marine pollution.