Asked by: Lord Green of Deddington (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to withdraw from (1) the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, and (2) the 1966 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees; and if they have any such plans, what assessment they have made of the need for parliament to have a role in such withdrawals.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government does not have plans to withdraw from the Refugee Convention and its Protocol.
Asked by: Lord Green of Deddington (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to withdraw from (1) the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, and (2) the 1966 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees; and if they have any such plans, what assessment they have made of the need for replacement legislation.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government does not have plans to withdraw from the Refugee Convention and its Protocol.
Asked by: Lord Green of Deddington (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 5 August (HL7139), why they do not publish the results of their assessments of how many people they expect to take up the bespoke immigration route for British Nationals (Overseas) and their dependants; and what the result of their most recent assessment was.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Our offer to British Nationals (Overseas), (BN(O)s), is not about the numbers. The Government has taken decisive action to uphold our commitments to the people of Hong Kong. As previously stated, this scheme is for eligible BN(O) status holders and their immediate family dependants. We estimate that there are up to 2.9 million BN(O) status holders. In reality, a large number of those who are eligible will want to stay in Hong Kong or relocate to other countries in the region.
Asked by: Lord Green of Deddington (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 21 July (HL6842), whether they will now answer the question put, namely, what estimate they have made of (1) the number of holders of British National (Overseas) status in Hong Kong, and (2) their dependants, who are expected to migrate to the UK in the next five years.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
As the Foreign Secretary said on 21 July, we constantly assess the numbers of those expected to take up the bespoke immigration route for British Nationals (Overseas) (BN(O)s) and their dependants. We estimate that there are 2.9 million eligible for BN(O) passports. Of those, there are around 350,000 passport holders. Many of those who may be eligible will want to stay in Hong Kong, or relocate temporarily. The UK will honour its historic and moral responsibilities to BN(O)s.
Asked by: Lord Green of Deddington (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of (1) the number of holders of British National (Overseas) status in Hong Kong, and (2) their dependants, who are expected to migrate to the UK in the next five years. [T]
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As the Foreign Secretary said in Parliament on 1 July, we constantly assess the numbers of those expected to take up the bespoke immigration route which we will put in place for British Nationals (Overseas) (BN(O)s) and their dependants. We estimate that there are up to 2.9 million status holders eligible for BN(O) passports. Of those, there are around 350,000 passport holders.
However, we recognise that there will be people from Hong Kong who do not qualify for these new arrangements. The Foreign Secretary is coordinating closely with international partners, particularly those with specific and close relationships with Hong Kong, to discuss what support they might provide.
Asked by: Lord Green of Deddington (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether EU restrictions on dealings with the Baniyas refinery apply (1) specifically, and (2) by implication, to a third non-EU party supplying it with oil.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Baniyas Refinery Company has been designated by the EU since 23 July 2014. The reasons for its designation include that "it provides financial support to the Syrian regime". Article 14(2) of Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 provides that no funds or economic resources shall be made available, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of designated persons. All persons who are within or undertake activities within EU territory, including the territorial waters of EU Member States, must comply with EU financial sanctions that are in force.
Asked by: Lord Green of Deddington (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the EU Commission about the legal implications of the detention of the Iranian oil tanker Grace 1; and what was the outcome of any such discussions.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The United Kingdom forwarded correspondence from the Government of Gibraltar that notified the EU Commission on 5th July 2019 of Government of Gibraltar action in respect of the Grace 1 on the 4th July 2019 pursuant to enforcement of EU Council Regulation 36/2012 (Syria). It is for Member States to determine and take necessary measures to implement and enforce EU sanctions. In this instance the decision to detain Grace 1 was taken by the Government of Gibraltar.
Asked by: Lord Green of Deddington (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is Gibraltar's current relationship with the EU.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Gibraltar and the United Kingdom form part of a single Member State of the European Union. As per Article 355 (3) TFEU (formerly Article 227(4) Rome Treaty), "the provisions of the Treaties shall apply to the European territories for whose external relations a Member State is responsible". Gibraltar's EU membership is, however, subject to qualifications as set out in the 1972 Accession Act. In particular, EU treaties covering the Customs Union, free movement of goods, VAT rules, the Common Agricultural Policy and the Common Fisheries policy do not apply to Gibraltar.
Asked by: Lord Green of Deddington (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the export of oil to Syria is prohibited by the EU.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Article 14(2) of Council Regulation 36/2012 provides that no funds or economic resources shall be made available, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of persons designated under the relevant annexes of the EU Syria sanctions regime. The definition of 'economic resources' at Article 1(f) of the Regulation encompasses assets of every kind, including oil.
Asked by: Lord Green of Deddington (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any EU restrictive measures against Syria are limited in their application to EU territory.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
All persons or entities within EU territory, including the territorial waters of EU Member States, must comply with EU financial sanctions that are in force. Article 35 of Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria provides that the Regulation applies (a) within the territory of the Union, including its airspace; (b) on board any aircraft or any vessel under the jurisdiction of a Member State; (c) to any person inside or outside the territory of the Union who is a national of a Member State; (d) to any legal person, entity or body which is incorporated or constituted under the law of a Member State; and (e) to any legal person, entity or body in respect of any business done in whole or in part within the Union.