Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to oral answer of 13 November 2024 by the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, on Chagos Islands, Official Report, Column 793, what the evidential basis is for the statement that providing the costs of the Chagos settlement would put the future secure operation of the Diego Garcia base at risk.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government fully respects the calls for transparency. However, confirming these costs could affect the UK's ability - and that of our closest allies - to negotiate basing agreements in the future therefore putting secure operations at risk. We are not willing to jeopardise the UK's national security.
Further details of the Treaty will be put before both Houses for scrutiny and treaty ratification in the usual way.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the oral Answer by the Minister for the Armed Forces on 2 December 2024, Official Report, Column 27, if he will make an estimate of the cost to his Department of implementing the proposed UK-Mauritius treaty on the Chagos Islands excluding the Government-to-Government payment.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This Agreement will be underpinned by a financial package which will support a new era of economic partnership between the UK and Mauritius and demonstrate the commitment of both parties to support the welfare of Chagossian communities. Financial obligations arising from this agreement, including departmental budgetary responsibilities, will be managed responsibly within the Government's fiscal framework.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when Ministers from his Department have met representatives of the Maldives Government to discuss the future of the Chagos Islands since 4 July 2024; and which Minister met which representative of the Maldives on each such occasion.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary met Maldives Foreign Minister Khaleel at the Commonwealth Heads of Government on 25 October. They discussed a range of issues, including matters relating to the British Indian Ocean Territory. Minister West also spoke with Foreign Minister Khaleel virtually on 14 October and met with the Maldivian High Commissioner on 30 September.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when Ministers from his Department have met representatives of the Chagossian community since 4 July 2024; and which Minister met how many Chagossians on each such occasion.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I have met with members of the Chagossian community twice since 4 July 2024. There are a large number of Chagossian groups in the UK and internationally with a spectrum of views. We will continue efforts to engage the community.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help protect the rights of children in areas of conflict.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to preventing and ending grave violations against children in conflict. We support affected children through our humanitarian funding and support to education in conflict and crisis. We also regularly raise the impact of armed conflict on children with other governments. The UK is an active member of the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), ensuring effective scrutiny of conflicts where children are harmed and holding perpetrators to account.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last discussed with the Libyan Government of National Accord the matter of compensation for victims of IRA terrorism where Semtex and weapons were supplied by Libya; and what plans he has for further such discussions.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We have made clear to the Libyan authorities that resolution of legacy issues remains a priority for us. The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Mr Johnson) and I raised the issue of compensation during our respective meetings with Prime Minister Serraj and Deputy Prime Minister Maiteq during the London Ministerial on 31 October 2016. We will continue to encourage the Libyan authorities to engage with UK victims, and their legal representatives, seeking redress, including those seeking compensation.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he plans to take to assist victims of IRA terrorist attacks where Semtex and weapons were supplied by Libya in securing compensation from the Libyan government; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The issue of provision of assistance to victims of IRA terrorism goes wider than the FCO's remit alone; this answer will therefore focus on the bilateral relationship between the UK and Libya. The UK Government position remains that we are not able to negotiate with the Libyan Government on individual compensation claims, as these are not government-to-government claims. HMG considers these compensation claims to be private matters, best pursued directly with the Libyan Government. We believe that the best approach is to facilitate contacts between victims and the relevant Libyan authorities so that the claims can be settled directly. We continue to emphasise to the Libyan Government the importance we attach to resolution of these matters and continue to raise the issue of compensation to victims of IRA terrorism with the Libyan Government. However, the current instability in Libya has effectively stalled progress on the resolution of legacy issues and rapid progress remains unlikely.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the Libya Reconciliation Unit last discussed with the Libyan Government of National Accord the matter of compensation for victims of IRA terrorism where Semtex and weapons were supplied by Libya.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
At every opportunity, we continue to stress to the Libyan authorities that the resolution of legacy issues is a priority. The Foreign Secretary and Mr Ellwood raised the issue of compensation during their respective meetings with Prime Minister Serraj and Deputy Prime Minister Maiteq during the London Ministerial on 31 October 2016. We will continue to encourage the Libyan authorities to engage with UK victims, and their legal representatives, seeking redress, including those seeking compensation.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the oral evidence of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee of 22 March 2016, Question 397, what progress has been made by the Libyan Government of National Accord in establishing a committee to study the case of victims of IRA terrorism; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The current instability in Libya has effectively stalled further progress on the resolution of legacy issues. No Libyan committee has been set up to study victims of IRA terrorism. The current political, security and economic situation in Libya makes it difficult for victims, their families and representatives to pursue their claims, and makes it unlikely that Libya might be able to settle claims in the near future. We continue to emphasise to the Libyan Government the importance we attach to the issue of compensation for victims of IRA terrorism, but given the significant challenges facing Libya, rapid progress remains unlikely.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the German government urging it to follow up on the meeting between German officials and the National Advisory Council of the Thalidomide Trust in July 2015 and work towards its making financial contributions to those affected by Thalidomide.
Answered by David Lidington
We continue to support the Thalidomide Trust in making their own representations directly to the German Government. Officials in London and at the British Embassy in Berlin remain in contact with both the National Advisory Council and the German authorities following their July meeting, including to encourage further meetings.