Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the changes proposed by the Cayman Islands government to the National Conservation Law and their implications for standards of governance in the territory; and what discussions they have had with the Cayman Islands government on these issues.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to strengthening our partnership with the Overseas Territories (OTs) to protect and sustainably manage our unique and globally significant environments. However, responsibility for environment and climate change policy is a devolved matter. We understand the Cayman Islands Government's draft National Conservation Bill is not yet finalised but will be published for public consultation before it is debated in Parliament.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of proposed changes by the Cayman Islands government to the National Conservation Law on their ability to minimise the effects of climate change in the territory.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK is committed to strengthening our partnership with the Overseas Territories to protect and sustainably manage our unique and globally significant environments. However, responsibility for environment and climate change policy is a devolved matter. We understand the Cayman Islands Government's draft National Conservation Bill is not yet finalised but will be published for public consultation before it is debated in Parliament.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the environmental impacts of the Cayman Islands government’s proposed east-west arterial road project.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The responsibility for any environmental impact assessments for road projects is with the Cayman Islands Government, as environment is devolved to Overseas Territories (OTs) governments. Defra regularly engages with the OTs to facilitate knowledge exchange on environmental issues, where requested.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to mandating the use of swift bricks in new-build houses.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We will consider what further action may be appropriate to promote swift bricks and achieve positive outcomes for our swift population.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to publish a new UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government will work with the Governments and Administrations of the UK Overseas Territories on timescales for publishing a new UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to continue financing Darwin Plus at £10 million per year after the current commitment ends in 2025.
Answered by Lord Benyon
Running since 2012, the Darwin Plus programme has invested over £55 million in more than 320 projects across the UK Overseas Territories. The UK Government has recently expanded the Darwin Plus programme to better meet the needs of the UK Overseas Territories. In 2023, Darwin Plus introduced a new local scheme aimed at building capacity, and a new strategic scheme for fostering great innovation, ambition and collaboration in and between territories, both of which are now funding live projects.
Post March 2025, Darwin Plus funding will be subject to outcomes of the next Spending Review.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what amount of fuel subsidy is received by the UK pelagic fishing fleet.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Qualifying fishing vessels are eligible for two fuel duty reliefs: entitlement to use red diesel, taxed at a reduced rate of 10.18p per litre, and marine voyages relief. The government does not consider either of these to be fossil fuel subsidies.Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 5 April (HL3471), what consideration they are giving to the creation of a Deputy Lieutenancy to cover the administrative local government areas of Middlesex.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
No consideration is being given to the creation of a Lieutenancy for Middlesex. Middlesex is covered by the Lieutenancies of Greater London, Surrey and Hertfordshire.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 5 April (HL3471), whether they have received representations on the issue of the creation of a Deputy Lieutenancy for Middlesex, and what consideration they are giving to wider public engagement on the issue.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The creation of a Lieutenancy for Middlesex has been raised in previous PQs (HL9221, HL3471 and HL3783) and DLUHC has also received Ministerial Correspondence on the issue. No consideration is presently being given to wider public engagement on the issue.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies prohibits fuel subsidies for fleets and vessels catching depleted fish stocks in UK waters.
Answered by Lord Douglas-Miller
The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies prohibits specific subsidies, including specific fuel subsidies, for fishing or fishing related activities regarding an overfished stock. The UK does not provide specific fuel subsidies to the UK fishing fleet.