Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
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 ensure that British International Investment supports decarbonisation overseas.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
As part of its Climate Change Strategy, British International Investment (BII) takes an active approach in supporting decarbonisation. BII invests in mitigation solutions across Africa and Asia including renewable energy, low carbon transport, climate smart agriculture, forestry, climate technologies and the deployment of green finance via financial intermediaries. BII supports its investees to reduce emissions and increase their resilience both through investment capital and through technical advisory support.
BII is committed to reaching net zero emissions in its investment portfolio by 2050 in a way that supports decarbonisation and sustainable development in the real economy. More details about BII's approach to decarbonisation can be found in BII's Taskforce on Climate related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) disclosure and Annual Reviews.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what oversight his Department has of investment decisions taken by British International Investment.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
FCDO's governance arrangements for British International Investment (BII) align with good practice guidance from the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury for oversight of a Public Finance Corporation.
FCDO sets BII's strategic objectives, goals and parameters for what investments BII can make, via the Investment Policy and Policy on Responsible Investing (PRI). An independent Board chosen for its skills and experience in development and finance oversees BII's performance and is fully accountable to FCDO. Every quarter FCDO receives detailed reporting on BII's investment decisions, which is followed by Quarterly and Annual Shareholder Meetings chaired by FCDO's Director General and Permanent Secretary respectively. At a minimum, the Secretary of State and the BII Chair and Chief Executive meet annually and the Minister for Development meets them quarterly.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) the Office of the Governor of the Cayman Islands or (b) his Department has (i) title to or (ii) direct interest in land in the Central Mangrove Wetland of Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Neither the Office of the Governor of the Cayman Islands nor his department has title to or direct interest in the land in the Central Mangrove Wetland of Grand Cayman.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if the Government will take steps to conclude a legally-binding mechanism for the designation of Marine Protected Areas on the high seas as part of a global high seas treaty ahead of the upcoming fifth session of the intergovernmental conference on marine biodiversity.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Negotiations in the Intergovernmental Conference to negotiate a new Implementing Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) resumed at the UN on 20 February. The UK strongly supports the conclusion of an ambitious agreement at these negotiations and is working hard with international partners to achieve that outcome, which will include a mechanism for establishing Marine Protected Areas in the high seas. Negotiations conclude on 3 March.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has ringfenced spending on climate change mitigation and adaptation within the overseas development assistance budget for financial year 2022-23, at the same levels as 2021-22; and if he will make it his policy to ringfence funding at the same level for financial year 2023-24.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government committed to doubling International Climate Finance to £11.6 billion from 2021/22. It is not our policy to ringfence funding by financial year because of the need to retain flexibility and respond to real world events.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much the UK will contribute towards the joint fund to support indigenous peoples as part of the Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Pledge made at COP26; how much and what proportion of the UK’s pledged contribution has been allocated as of 10 October 2022; and how much and what proportion of the UK's contribution will go directly to indigenous peoples.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK pledged $224 million towards the COP26 Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Forest Tenure Rights Pledge. The total $1.7 billion pledged by the 22 participating public and private donors is not being paid into a joint fund. Each donor decides how their contribution is spent in accordance with the commitments made in the pledge statement. The UK Government's contribution to the pledge is fully allocated against three programmes, the Global Land Governance Programme, the Territorios Forestales Sostenibles (TEFOS) programme in Colombia, and the current and planned next phase of the Forest, Governance and Markets Programme. So far, around 33% of the funds under each of these programmes have been committed via a contract or grant agreement. The UK Government is committed to increasing its direct support to indigenous peoples and local communities in line with the ambition of the pledge, but we are not yet able to say how much or what proportion will go directly to indigenous peoples. This will depend on specific funding agreements under each programme.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will hold discussions with his Chinese counterpart on the human rights implications of the mass collection of DNA from (a) children and (b) other people in Tibet.
Answered by Jesse Norman
We have noted the recent reports of mass DNA collection in Tibet, which we have discussed with NGOs. We continue to urge China to respect all fundamental rights across the People's Republic of China, including in Tibet, in line with both its own constitution and the international frameworks to which it is a party. On 14 June, a concerted UK lobbying effort helped to secure the support of a record 47 countries for a statement at the Human Rights Council that highlighted the human rights situation in Tibet and called on China to comply with obligations with regard to the protection of human rights.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much the UK supplied in international climate finance in (a) 2019, (b) 2020 and (c) 2021; and how much will be supplied in 2022.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK publishes details of our International Climate Finance (ICF) through the European Environment Agency (https://cdr.eionet.europa.eu/gb/eu/mmr/art16_finance/envx3sopa/Final_2020_UK_MMR_climate_finance_report.xlsx/manage_document). The latest published figures report a total spend of £1,183.61 million in 2019. Figures for 2020 and 2021 have not yet been published. The UK met its public commitment to spend £5.8 billion ICF between 2015/16 and 2020/21 and we remain committed to doubling this to £11.6 billion between 2021/22 and 2025/26.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Brazilian counterpart on the disappearance of Dom Phillips and Bruno Araújo Pereira in the Amazon.
Answered by Vicky Ford
My thoughts are with the families of Mr Phillips and Mr Pereira during this difficult time. I am engaged and closely following this case. I discussed the search and rescue effort with Brazil's Justice and Public Security Minister on 9 June, who provided reassurances that that the Brazilian authorities are doing all they can via land, air and river support to find Mr Phillips and Mr Pereira. We have confirmed to the Brazilian authorities that the UK stands ready to provide support if it is requested. My officials at the British Embassy in Brazil remain in regular and close contact with the Brazilian authorities at the most senior levels for updates on the Brazilian search operation to locate Mr Phillips and Mr Pereira. I am extremely thankful and appreciative of their search and rescue effort.
Consular officials in Sao Paulo and London are providing support to Mr Phillips' family in Brazil and the UK.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to help support Somaliland following the recent fire in Hargeisa.
Answered by Vicky Ford
Our thoughts are with the people who have been affected by the fire at Hargeisa market, which caused injuries and extensive damage to businesses. The UK is leading diplomatic and development response efforts on the ground, including by chairing an international community coordination group, which is working with the Somaliland authorities to identify the necessary response.