Asked by: Bernard Jenkin (Conservative - Harwich and North Essex)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is planning to take in response to Russia's capture of 14 Bulgarian sailors who were stranded in Mariupol as hostages; whether the Government has provided support to the government of Bulgaria to resist Russian demands; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Leo Docherty
The UK and Bulgaria are strong friends and partners and NATO allies. We work closely together with Bulgarian counterparts at all levels in response to Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine including on our diplomatic responses, advancing our common security interests, energy diversification and joint working on countering disinformation. I discussed the response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine when he visited Sofia in March 2023.
Asked by: Bernard Jenkin (Conservative - Harwich and North Essex)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether (a) he, (b) officials in his Department and (c) advisers in his Department read the Duke of Cambridge's speech given at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 16 February 2016 before it was presented.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
No.
Asked by: Bernard Jenkin (Conservative - Harwich and North Essex)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many staff in his Department are working on matters related to (a) European policy, (b) the future of Europe, (c) reform of the EU, (d) the renegotiation of the UK's relationship with the EU, (e) the EU referendum and (f) the consequences of the EU referendum; how many full-time equivalent staff are working on such matters; what the (i) staff and (ii) other cost of such work is; what proportion of that work is undertaken by such staff on (A) communications, (B) strategy and (C) policy; whether his Department has established any specific unit or units to deal with those matters; to whom such (1) staff and (2) units report; whether his Department has issued guidelines to staff on those matters; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Lidington
The Government is fighting hard to fix the aspects of our EU membership that cause so much frustration in Britain - so we get a better deal for Britain and secure our future. Departments are appropriately resourced to support the Government's priorities in Europe, including the renegotiation and referendum.