Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assistance the UK is providing to South Sudan through the UNHCR programme.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK's humanitarian portfolio in South Sudan is delivered via a combination of UN and international NGO partners, focusing on delivery of critical assistance to the most vulnerable populations across the country. The UK Government does not provide direct funding to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in South Sudan. We are in close contact with humanitarian partners, including the UNHCR, on the response to those affected by the crisis in Sudan. On 24 May, I [Andrew Mitchell] announced £143 million in humanitarian aid for East Africa this financial year, including £18.9 million for South Sudan.
Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps her Department is taking to help de-escalate tensions between Greece and Turkey.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Greece and Turkey are close friends and allies of the UK. We encourage both countries to resolve issues through dialogue and we support measures aimed at de-escalation and reduction of tensions, including existing deconfliction mechanisms within NATO structures. The former Prime Minister reiterated these messages in his engagements with both President Erdoğan and Prime Minister Mitsotakis at the NATO Summit in Madrid and during calls on 21 June.
Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps her Department is taking to protect the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The United Kingdom has no doubt about its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, the South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands, and surrounding maritime areas. Nor do we have any doubt about the principle and the right of self-determination for the Falkland Islanders. This means there can be no dialogue on sovereignty unless the Falkland Islanders so wish. The 2013 referendum - in which 99.8% of those who voted wanted to maintain their current status as a territory of the United Kingdom - made clear that the people of the Islands do not want dialogue on sovereignty. UK Ministers and officials work to support the Falkland Islanders in protecting their right to determine their own future, including at the UN Special Committee on Decolonization and in other multilateral fora.
Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of a Chinese military base on the Solomon Islands.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
As set out in the Integrated Review (March 2021), the UK is committed to and strategically focussed on the Indo-Pacific region. As a longstanding partner and friend, the UK works to support peace and prosperity for the people of Solomon Islands and across the Pacific region. Our recent deployment of a UK Emergency Medical Team demonstrates our commitment to Solomon Islands.
Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the safety of British nationals in Sri Lanka in light of the recent civil unrest in that country.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK Government takes the safety and security of British nationals overseas seriously, and regularly communicates through travel advice and messaging from the British High Commission in Colombo. Our advice helps British nationals to make informed decisions. Travel advice is advisory only and people must take personal responsibility for any trips they make abroad. Our travel advice remains under constant review to ensure it reflects our latest assessment of risks. Consular staff continue to provide a full range of consular services to British nationals in Sri Lanka. We continue to monitor the situation in Sri Lanka.
We are closely following the situation since attacks against peaceful protesters on 9 May and outbreaks of violence that followed. The Minister for South Asia, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, has made clear that violence against peaceful protestors is unacceptable and that those responsible for attacks should be held accountable. Fundamental rights including the right to peaceful protest must be protected. We encourage all sides to find a democratic and inclusive approach to resolving the current political and economic challenges.
Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help de-escalate tensions between Greece and Turkey.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We welcome the recent meeting between Greek PM Mitsotakis and Turkish President Erdoğan on 13 March and the continuation of bilateral exploratory talks aimed at seeking a resolution to tensions in the Aegean Sea. Ministers regularly discuss regional issues with both Greek and Turkish counterparts and we continue to urge our partners in the Eastern Mediterranean to prioritise opportunities for dialogue and pursue de-escalation.
Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of (a) risk to travellers to Borneo during the covid-19 pandemic, and (b) Borneo's categorisation in the international travel Traffic Light System.
Answered by Nigel Adams
FCDO travel advice related to COVID-19 is based on the country assessments of Public Health England and the National Travel Health Network and Centre, the organisation mandated to provide health advice to British nationals travelling overseas. They judge the risks of exposure to COVID-19 in each country/territory. All FCDO travel advice pages remain under constant review to ensure they reflect the latest threat assessment to British nationals and include up-to-date information and advice.
The Government will set out in May which countries will fall into which category, as well as confirming whether international travel can resume from 17 May 2021.As the 3 countries of Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia govern different parts of Borneo, FCDO travel advice and traffic light ratings will be set out separately under each respective country.
Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
What diplomatic steps his Department is taking to help de-escalate tensions between Greece and Turkey.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The UK is in regular contact with Turkish and Greek partners in support of their bilateral exploratory talks to reduce tensions in the Aegean. These talks were last held on 16 March, and we welcome the commitment from both sides to continue them.
We also welcome the constructive meeting between Greek Foreign Minister Dendias and Turkish President Erdogan and Foreign Minister Cavusoglu in Ankara on 15 April.
It is important that this dialogue continues, including through NATO military de-confliction talks between Turkey and Greece. The Foreign Secretary discussed this with the Greek Foreign Minister on 2 February, and with the Turkish Foreign Minister on 23 March.
In March, I discussed this with the Greek Foreign Minister and the Turkish Ambassador, and I plan to discuss this with Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Kaymakci in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans his Department has for extending the time limit for visa free travel for UK citizens within the Schengen Area.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The Government discussed arrangements with the EU for British Citizens travelling to the Schengen Area. Regrettably, the EU consistently maintained that British Citizens will be treated as third-country nationals under the Schengen Borders Code from 1 January 2021. This means that British Citizens are able to travel visa-free for short stays for up to 90 days in a rolling 180-day period. This is the standard length of stay that EU offers to nationals of eligible third countries that offer visa-free travel for EU citizens, in line with existing EU legislation.
British Citizens planning to stay longer will need permission from the relevant Member State(s). This may require applying for a visa and/or permit. Information about travel to Europe is available on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/visit-europe-1-january-2021
The UK's Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU confirms that both the UK and EU currently provide for visa-free travel for short-term visits for each other's nationals in accordance with their respective laws. The detail of those arrangements is set by domestic law. The Government does not typically enter into bilateral agreements on visa-free travel. The UK keeps its visa system under regular review, and the new points-based immigration system has been developed in the national interest. The Government also keeps arrangements and advice for British Citizens travelling abroad under regular review.
Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans his Department has to review the covid-19 guidance on travel to Tanzania.
Answered by James Duddridge
The FCDO continues to advise against non-essential travel to Tanzania as part of our global travel advisory during the pandemic. All travel advice is under constant review, in consultation with Public Health England, the National Travel Health Network and Centre and our overseas Posts. We will make exemptions from our global advice for countries where the risks to British people are reduced. In the case of COVID-19, we consider the expert UK assessments on risk of exposure to the virus, alongside other relevant linked factors such as the availability of local healthcare, the safety of any local quarantine measures and the resilience of transport options.