Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Mitchell and Luke Evans

Tuesday 30th April 2024 Commons Chamber

[Dr Luke Evans (Bosworth) (Con)]

1. What recent assessment he has made of the impact of the blue belt programme on ocean health.

[The Deputy Foreign Secretary (Mr Andrew Mitchell)]

The blue belt programme supports the protection and sustainable management of 4.3 million sq km of ocean around Britain’s overseas territories.

[Dr Evans]

The blue belt programme, directly funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, is a fantastic way not only to help with climate change but to improve our environment. One of the biggest threats to oceans is plastics, so will the Government consider strengthening the UN global plastics treaty in the upcoming negotiations?

[Mr Mitchell]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. It is interesting to note that 85% of plastic pollution in the Pacific and Indian oceans comes from just six rivers, and therefore an international treaty really matters. The point he makes is a good one, and it is at the centre of negotiations, which the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton Deane (Rebecca Pow), was talking about last week in Ottawa.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Mitchell]

We are trying to make sure that the water is restored, as I set out earlier, and we are championing the provision of aid by land, sea and air, and I set out the help we have received from the Royal Air Force in that respect. But at the end of the day, the right way to get aid into Gaza is by road and we are pressing in every way we can to ensure that that access is restored.

[Dr Luke Evans (Bosworth) (Con)]

T5. Following on from that discussion about getting aid into Gaza, sometimes we need novel ways of thinking about doing that, so what conversations is my right hon. Friend having with other countries and counterparts about opening a new maritime corridor if the road routes are failing?

[Mr Mitchell]

My hon. Friend makes a good point. We are working closely with a number of partner Governments, including the United States of America, Cyprus and the United Nations. Maritime discussions include corridor planning for the delivery of UK aid and our package of support including equipment and the use of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Cardigan Bay.