Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Royal Navy visits to Gibraltar have taken place in the last six months.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The Ministry of Defence continually reassesses the Royal Navy's mission in the Strait of Gibraltar, and the assets and people required to deliver it, to ensure that the UK Government's responsibilities can be carried out effectively and can meet evolving threats and future needs. The Royal Navy's Gibraltar Squadron will continue to challenge all incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. The base infrastructure and the Gibraltar Squadron will continue to be modernised in line with the rest of the Royal Navy.
We have interpreted visits to be those ships proceeding alongside in Gibraltar. Records show that, over the period 1 September 2017 to 1 March 2018, there were 15 occasions where Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships visited Gibraltar, in addition to the Gibraltar Squadron that is permanently stationed there.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the future presence and activity of the Royal Navy in the Strait of Gibraltar.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The Ministry of Defence continually reassesses the Royal Navy's mission in the Strait of Gibraltar, and the assets and people required to deliver it, to ensure that the UK Government's responsibilities can be carried out effectively and can meet evolving threats and future needs. The Royal Navy's Gibraltar Squadron will continue to challenge all incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. The base infrastructure and the Gibraltar Squadron will continue to be modernised in line with the rest of the Royal Navy.
We have interpreted visits to be those ships proceeding alongside in Gibraltar. Records show that, over the period 1 September 2017 to 1 March 2018, there were 15 occasions where Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships visited Gibraltar, in addition to the Gibraltar Squadron that is permanently stationed there.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the human rights record of Cameroon and the impact, if any, this is having on anglophone Cameroon.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Cameroon is a State Party to major human rights instruments such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It has, however, signed but not ratified a number of significant instruments.
In recent years Cameroon's far north has been blighted by Boko Haram and this has led to the introduction of strict anti-terror laws. Human rights non-governmental organisations report that the Government of Cameroon is using this legislation to arrest and detain Anglophone separatists. Our High Commissioner in Yaoundé met President Biya on 21 December 2017 and emphasised the Government of Cameroon's legal obligations in respect of human rights.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when consideration was last given to investigating the possibility of arranging a State Visit to the UK by the President of India.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has excellent relations with the Government of India and there is an extensive range of two-way visits by members of each government. As a matter of policy, the Government does not discuss or disclose the details of possible visits by Heads of State or Government until invitations have been issued and accepted, and any announcement is made by agreement with the visiting Head of State or Government.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve intergovernmental relations between the UK and Argentina.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has made significant progress towards a more constructive relationship with Argentina since the election of President Macri in September 2015. In September 2016, the Minister for Europe and the Americas visited Argentina and agreed a Joint Communiqué that committed both countries to closer co-operation across all aspects of our relationship.
As a result, co-operation is increasing, including on trade, science and innovation, anti-corruption and security issues. The Scottish Secretary, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister of State for International Trade (Greg Hands) all visited Argentina in 2017, and the Prime Minister last spoke to President Macri on 12 December.
Our position on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands and the right of the Islanders to determine their own future remains unchanged.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the level of UK–India cooperation on environmental policy.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK and India collaborate across the full range of environmental issues, including access to affordable and clean energy, mobilisation of green finance, development of climate-resilient infrastructure, and sustainable urban development.
The first India-UK Energy for Growth Dialogue was held in April 2017 in New Delhi. It provided an enhanced framework for UK-India cooperation to increase interest and deals in the renewables sector. The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Secretary, Greg Clark, announced up to £20 million of new technical assistance for collaboration in the areas of renewables and energy efficiency. In January 2018 we signed a UK-India memorandum of understanding on bilateral cooperation in urban transport policy, planning, technology transfer and institutional organisation for transport. The UK has a five-year partnership with the Government of India to develop three smart cities in Amravati, Indore and Pune. UK and India also cooperate on environmental issues through a range of multilateral fora.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration has been given to publishing student and non-student immigration figures separately.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply and I will place a copy of their letter in the Library of the House.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to improve political relations with the government of Canada.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK and Canada are already close allies. We work closely on defence and intelligence matters and enjoy close cooperation on many issues where we have commons aims and values. We are the only two countries that are members of all four of The Commonwealth, NATO, the G7, and the G20.
The Prime Minister visited Ottawa on 18 September, to strengthen ties between the UK and Canada. During her visit, a new framework for cooperation was agreed, a new Strategic Dialogue involving our Foreign, Defence and Development Secretaries will be supported by a Public Policy Forum.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the future involvement of the UK in the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the government of Canada and the EU.
Answered by Baroness Fairhead
The UK Government is committed to seeking to ensure continuity in its current trade and investment relationships as we leave the European Union, including those covered by free trade agreements such as the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
On 18 September, the Prime Minister and PM Trudeau announced that both would work together to ensure a seamless transition of agreements such as CETA into new bilateral arrangements.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to review the sale of HMS Ocean, in the light of that ship's role in providing support to the Overseas Territories hit by hurricanes this summer.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave to Lord West of Spithead on 25 September 2017, to Question number HL1505. There are currently no plans to review the decision to decommission HMS OCEAN in 2018.