Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) he and (b) any Ministers from his Department held meetings with Representative Vincent Yao from the Taipei Representative Office in the UK in (i) September and (ii) October.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary and other FCDO ministers did not hold any meetings with Representative Vincent Yao in September or October.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has demarched the North Korean chargee over North Korean troops in Russia and Ukraine.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The DPRK Charge d'Affairs was called in on 29 October to express our concern about DPRK's support for Russia. We condemn the increasing military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia in the strongest possible terms. We are gravely concerned about the deployment of DPRK troops to Russia, and the reports of DPRK and Ukraine engaged in combat. This demonstrates Russia's growing reliance upon third country support at a time when their casualties are at their highest level. We are working with our partners on a coordinated response, and have made clear to the DPRK that this action is dangerous and has serious consequences for peace and security in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2024 to Question 12092 on Spain: Floods, how many British citizens have been affected by floods in Spain.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has provided consular assistance in 31 cases to British nationals and/or their families, who have been affected by the floods. We encourage anyone seeking assistance to contact the FCDO on 020 7008 5000 from the UK or +34 917 146 300 from Spain.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to the United Nations on the attendance of the UN Secretary General at the BRICS summit in Russia.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary spoke to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres prior to the BRICS Summit in Kazan, where the UNSG reiterated his position that Russia's invasion of Ukraine had violated the United Nations Charter and international law. The meetings that the Secretary-General chooses are a matter for him, not the UK Government. The UK Government continues to bring economic and diplomatic pressure to bear on Russia, including through sanctions.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will place sanctions on the (a) Montenegro based company International Business Corporation Bar and (b) Serbia based company Ventrade DOO for supplying Russia with advanced technology and equipment for its invasion of Ukraine.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK remains steadfast in our support to Ukraine. Together with our international partners, we have implemented the most severe package of sanctions ever imposed on a major economy. The UK alone has sanctioned more than 2,000 individuals and entities under the Russia sanctions regime. Whilst we do not comment on future or individual designations, the Foreign Secretary underlined the importance of tackling third-country support to Russia's military-industrial complex at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 22 October. I [Minister Doughty] regularly raise third-country circumvention and the Common High Priority Items list with counterparts. We have sanctioned several entities in third countries involved in supporting Russia's war machine.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has allocated additional resources to the British Embassy and Consulates in Spain following the recent flooding.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Determining the safety and welfare of British nationals impacted by the severe floods in Spain, through our Embassy and Consulates in the country, is a top priority for the FCDO. We are regularly reviewing the situation and our resources in place to support this effort, working closely with the Spanish authorities, to ensure we continue to act in line with our commitment to provide support to affected British Nationals.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of UK nationals affected by the floods in Spain.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have passed on our sincere condolences to the Spanish government following the devastating floods that have hit the country. We are in contact with the local authorities in Spain to offer our support and determine the number of British Nationals impacted by the catastrophe. The FCDO is providing consular support to a number of British nationals who have been affected by the floods and we encourage anyone seeking our assistance to contact us on 020 7008 5000 from the UK or +34 917 146 300 from Spain.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has (a) offered assistance to the Spanish Government following the recent flooding and (b) held discussions with his Spanish counterpart on the floods.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary and I were shocked and saddened to see the devastating scenes in Spain, and by the deaths and damage caused by heavy flooding. The Foreign Secretrary has been in touch with the Foreign Minister of Spain to express the UK's condolences and offer our support, the Prime Minister and I have also contacted our counterparts. Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected. The British Embassy in Madrid and Consulates in affected areas are providing consular support to affected British Nationals.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 September 2024 to Question 2311 on British Nationals Abroad: Departmental Responsibilities, whether the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan) is responsible for cross-departmental representation of British expats within the Government on matters other than consular and crisis operations.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I am the Minister responsible for consular and crisis operations. My Ministerial responsibilities do not include cross-departmental representation of British expats beyond consular and crisis operations.
The Government has no plans to make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a ministerial portfolio for representing the interests of UK citizens living abroad. Detailed information for British Nationals living abroad can be found on GOV.UK. Our Consular operation offers British Nationals a 24/7, 365 days a year service.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 September 2024 to Question 2311 on British Nationals Abroad: Departmental Responsibilities, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a ministerial portfolio for representing the interests of UK citizens living abroad.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I am the Minister responsible for consular and crisis operations. My Ministerial responsibilities do not include cross-departmental representation of British expats beyond consular and crisis operations.
The Government has no plans to make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a ministerial portfolio for representing the interests of UK citizens living abroad. Detailed information for British Nationals living abroad can be found on GOV.UK. Our Consular operation offers British Nationals a 24/7, 365 days a year service.