Asked by: Lord Bowness (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to make good the reported shortfall in the budget of the Ministry of Defence, and what effect such a shortfall will have on the UK’s supply of materials to Ukraine.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK Government remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine, which is funded from the Treasury Reserves and not the defence budget. In parallel, we remain absolutely committed to increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP as soon as economic and fiscal conditions allow.
Asked by: Lord Bowness (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current situation between Serbia and Kosovo.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We condemned the unprovoked attack on NATO troops in northern Kosovo on 29 May and, alongside our partners, are calling on Serbia and Kosovo to take immediate steps to de-escalate and return to dialogue. The Foreign Secretary reiterated these messages when he spoke to the Kosovo Prime Minister on 8 June, as did the Prime Minister's Envoy, Lord Peach when he spoke to President Vucic on 7 June. I [Lord Ahmad] discussed the current tensions with Kosovo's Foreign Minister on 8 June.
Asked by: Lord Bowness (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to secure an agreement within the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe on (1) a budget, and (2) a Chair-in-Office, for 2024.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We recognise the challenges faced by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) as a result of Russia's weaponisation of the consensus principle, including delaying critical decisions on the budget and 2024 Chair. We fully support the efforts of current Chair, North Macedonian Foreign Minister Osmani, to reach an agreement on next year's budget and to alleviate immediate financial pressures. We are also working closely with like-minded countries on options for reaching consensus on next year's chair.
Asked by: Lord Bowness (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current situation in Moldova and the reported activities of the Russian Federation in that country; and what assistance they are providing to Moldova to support its ambition to join the EU.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Other than Ukraine, no other country has felt the impact of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine more deeply than Moldova. On 16 March, the Foreign Secretary met Moldovan President Maia Sandu and Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu in Chisinau. He reiterated the UK's steadfast support for sovereign Moldova as it pursues a path of freedom and independence. He also committed a further £10 million of support towards economic and governance reforms. This is in addition to £12 million over three years pledged last year to strengthen Moldova's defences against cyberattack, counter Russian disinformation, reform armed forces and tackle corruption.
Asked by: Lord Bowness (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many provisions of retained EU law were incorporated into UK law by primary legislation.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The information requested is not held centrally by the Department of Business and Trade, primary legislation is outside the scope of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.
Asked by: Lord Bowness (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many provisions of retained EU law were originally passed by the Council of the European Union by a qualified majority vote in which the UK voted against.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The information requested is not held centrally by the Department of Business and Trade.
Asked by: Lord Bowness (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have carried out a detailed study to assess whether the repeal or modification of any provision of retained EU law is incompatible with the 'level playing field' provisions set out in Title XI of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As set out by the Minister of State for Cabinet Office and the Department of Business and Trade Nusrat Ghani MP on 18 January 2023, the Government will as a priority take the action required to ensure that the necessary legislation is in place to uphold the UK's international obligations, including those in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
Asked by: Lord Bowness (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 18 July (HL1671), what consideration they have given to alternative solutions if a scheme of mutual recognition for the disabled persons blue parking badges with the government of Spain cannot be negotiated.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
It is for individual EU Member States to decide if they will recognise a Disabled Parking Card issued in another country. Mutual recognition of parking cards across countries is discretionary and not legally binding. In Spain, local authorities are responsible for parking card verification, therefore recognition of foreign issued parking cards is at their discretion. Recognition of the UK Blue Badge in Spain was discussed as part of wider negotiations on driving licence exchange with Spain, but this has not proved to be a workable approach. UK Government advice to disabled travellers has always been to check locally in the area of travel before parking.
Asked by: Lord Bowness (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 28 October (HL2803), whether mutual recognition of disabled persons’ Blue Badges is a matter for individual Spanish local authorities.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
It is for individual EU Member States to decide if they will recognise a Disabled Parking Card issued in another country. Mutual recognition of parking cards across countries is discretionary and not legally binding. In Spain, local authorities are responsible for parking card verification, therefore recognition of foreign issued parking cards is at their discretion. Recognition of the UK Blue Badge in Spain was discussed as part of wider negotiations on driving licence exchange with Spain, but this has not proved to be a workable approach. UK Government advice to disabled travellers has always been to check locally in the area of travel before parking.
Asked by: Lord Bowness (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 25 May (HL295), what progress the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has made following the request from the Embassy of Kosovo regarding a reciprocal driving licence exchange between the UK and Kosovo.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
A full assessment of the licensing and testing information provided by the Kosovan authorities has been concluded and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency is satisfied that the required standards have been met. While the department is progressing the work required to achieve an exchange agreement as quickly as possible, it is subject to public consultation and the introduction of domestic legislation.