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Written Question
Business: Climate Change
Wednesday 20th January 2021

Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress UK embassies and consulates are making in securing international business co-operation on tackling climate change.

Answered by James Duddridge

The FCDO has a key role in delivering a successful COP including in securing international business co-operation in tackling climate change. The Foreign Secretary and FCDO Ministers raise climate change in their engagements with businesses, and our diplomatic network are regularly engaging companies across the globe. These efforts to drive action from businesses and investors on climate change are complemented by the work of Nigel Topping, as the UN High Level Action Champion for COP26 and Mark Carney as the UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance.

At the UK co-hosted Climate Ambition Summit in December, a number of leading firms came forward with major pledges. For instance Apple pledged carbon neutrality for its supply chain and products by 2030.At the same summit, the UK launched the Race to Resilience: a campaign which brings together businesses and insurance companies, alongside mayors, community leaders and others, to commit to building resilience to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of 4 billion people who are vulnerable to climate risks.


Written Question
Carbon Emissions: International Cooperation
Wednesday 2nd December 2020

Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress the Government is making through international co-operation on achieving net zero carbon emissions.

Answered by James Duddridge

Tackling climate change is a key priority for the UK. The Government is committed to working with countries across the world to unlock their renewable energy potential and support their transition towards net zero emissions.

The Government provides extensive support for countries to tackle emissions and cope with the impacts of climate change. Since 2011, we have supported 66 million people to cope with climate change and avoided 31 million tonnes of emissions thanks to our international climate finance - which we have committed to doubling to £11.6 billion between 2021/22 and 2025/26.


Written Question
Embassies: Wines
Monday 9th November 2020

Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure British Embassies and High Commissions serve sparkling wine produced in Great Britain at their events.

Answered by Nigel Adams

British High Commissions and Embassies serve wine produced in a range of locations, including Great Britain, but we do not centrally hold details of the wine that is served or procured by our Posts overseas. However, I fully support the UK wine industry and will encourage our Posts across the globe to stock UK products.


Written Question
Government Departments: Wines
Monday 21st September 2020

Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans the Government Wine Cellar has to increase its proportion of English wine purchases.

Answered by Wendy Morton

The proportion of English wines purchased for the Government Hospitality wine cellar varies year on year, but generally increases eg. in 2018-19 49% of the wine purchased was English or Welsh. In 2019-20 that proportion increased to 73% of the wine purchased.


Written Question
Government Departments: Wines
Friday 18th September 2020

Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of the Government Wine Cellar is (a) English wine and (b) wine from other countries.

Answered by Wendy Morton

English wine made up approximately 10% of the overall stock of the Government Hospitality wine cellar as of 31st March 2020. Wines from other countries constituted about 88% of the cellar stock.