Lord Selkirk of Douglas Portrait

Lord Selkirk of Douglas

Conservative - Former Member for Life peer

Became Member: 29th September 1997


Lord Selkirk of Douglas is not a member of any APPGs
4 Former APPG memberships
Safeguarding in Faith Settings, Vaccinations for All, Veterans, War Heritage
EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee
12th Jun 2015 - 2nd Jul 2019
European Union Committee
25th May 2016 - 12th Jun 2018
Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee)
16th May 2012 - 30th Mar 2015
Draft Deregulation Bill (Joint Committee)
17th Jul 2013 - 11th Dec 2013
Minister of State (Scotland Office)
1st Jan 1995 - 1st Jan 1997
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scottish Office)
13th Jun 1987 - 6th Jul 1995
Scottish Affairs Committee
13th Nov 1981 - 9th Jun 1983
Lord Commissioner (HM Treasury) (Whip)
7th May 1979 - 1st Oct 1981


Division Voting information

Lord Selkirk of Douglas has voted in 1158 divisions, and 8 times against the majority of their Party.

10 Jul 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Selkirk of Douglas voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 37 Conservative Aye votes vs 47 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 89 Noes - 267
8 Jul 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Selkirk of Douglas voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 50 Conservative Aye votes vs 63 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 119 Noes - 314
8 Jul 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Selkirk of Douglas voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 50 Conservative Aye votes vs 50 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 103 Noes - 278
8 Jul 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Selkirk of Douglas voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 17 Conservative Aye votes vs 35 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 32 Noes - 163
4 Mar 2013 - Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Selkirk of Douglas voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 9 Conservative Aye votes vs 113 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 256 Noes - 153
26 Mar 2012 - Procedure of the House - View Vote Context
Lord Selkirk of Douglas voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 48 Conservative No votes vs 71 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 319 Noes - 96
29 Oct 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [HL] - View Vote Context
Lord Selkirk of Douglas voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 19 Conservative Aye votes vs 21 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 39 Noes - 202
2 Mar 2022 - Nationality and Borders Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Selkirk of Douglas voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 3 Conservative Aye votes vs 127 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 178 Noes - 130
View All Lord Selkirk of Douglas Division Votes

All Debates

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Department Debates
Ministry of Defence
(34 debate contributions)
Wales Office
(23 debate contributions)
Scotland Office
(16 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Fisheries Act 2020
(1,596 words contributed)
Ivory Act 2018
(958 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Lord Selkirk of Douglas's debates

Lords initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Lord Selkirk of Douglas, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.


Lord Selkirk of Douglas has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Lord Selkirk of Douglas has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
14th Apr 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to create a national monument to commemorate those who have lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whilst the Government's immediate focus is on protecting the lives and livelihoods of the nation, building a fitting and a permanent memorial to the loved ones we have lost is something the Government is considering very carefully.

We will set out the Government’s proposed approach to this important matter in due course.

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
10th Jun 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government why they are not providing funding for the continued upkeep of the site of the memorial at Ver-sur-Mer to those under British command who lost their lives at the D-Day landings and in the Battle of Normandy.

The British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer may be eligible for support through the Memorial Grant Scheme which is administered by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. The scheme makes grants towards the VAT incurred by charities and faith groups in the construction, repair and maintenance of public memorial structures, including war memorials. The scheme has a fixed budget of £0.5m per year for this spending period. More detail can be found here- http://www.memorialgrant.org.uk/.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
5th Sep 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of avian flu on the colony of gannets on Bass Rock near North Berwick, and the resulting loss of population.

We recognise the significant threat posed by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to the UK’s seabird populations and it is deeply concerning to see the impact this is having on these important species.

Details of findings of HPAI in wild birds in Great Britain are updated weekly and published via GOV.UK/Bird-Flu, together with outbreak and risk assessments. These reports include the recent mortalities of gannets on Bass Rock. Defra is working with Devolved Administrations, Arm’s Length Bodies and NGOs to monitor and respond to the effect of HPAI on wild birds. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) operate a robust programme of wild bird surveillance and carry out year-round HPAI surveillance of dead wild birds from across Great Britain.

While HPAI viruses are predominantly considered a pathogen of birds, the virus can infect mammals. While there is no routine surveillance for HPAI in seals, causes of death of stranded marine mammals are monitored and investigated through the Cetacean Stranding Investigation Programme and Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme. Where appropriate, stranded seals are tested for avian influenza in collaboration with the APHA avian influenza National Reference Laboratory. While the scale of HPAI findings in seabirds during the 2021/2022 avian influenza outbreak have been unprecedented, to date there is no evidence of increased mortality in UK seal populations or an increase in clinical cases brought into wildlife rehabilitation centres.

Lord Benyon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
5th Sep 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what further steps they intend to take to ensure that seabird colonies, such as colonies of gannets, are adequately protected, including in respect of (1) invasive species, (2) marine pollution, and (3) overfishing.

The UK's seabirds are an important part of our natural heritage, and we continue to support actions to address the range of threats they are facing. Defra have commissioned Natural England to assess the vulnerability of seabird species in light of the pressures they are facing and propose actions to address them. We will work closely with stakeholders to understand the best way to implement and prioritise these actions in early 2023.

To protect the UK's 42 seabird island Special Protection Areas, Defra is funding work through the RSPB's Biosecurity programme which seeks to address the need for biosecurity measures through the removal of introduced predatory mammals.

The UK is a global leader in tackling plastic pollution that enters our waterways, rivers, and ocean. As set out in the UK Marine Strategy Part Three, the UK government is taking action to reduce pollution in the marine environment to help protect marine species, including seabirds. We aim to publish an updated UK Marine Strategy Part Three later this year, outlining the programmes of measures that will continue to move us towards Good Environmental Status in our seas.

We are also assessing the impact that fishing for forage fish species has on the marine ecosystem, including on vulnerable seabirds. Following the recent call for evidence, Defra, working with others, will be developing a policy on a future management strategy for industrial fishing in UK waters. This includes reviewing our policy for the sandeel fishery in the North Sea.

Lord Benyon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
5th Sep 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of how many seals have died around the UK or its territorial waters as a result of avian flu spread through seabird colonies.

We recognise the significant threat posed by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to the UK’s seabird populations and it is deeply concerning to see the impact this is having on these important species.

Details of findings of HPAI in wild birds in Great Britain are updated weekly and published via GOV.UK/Bird-Flu, together with outbreak and risk assessments. These reports include the recent mortalities of gannets on Bass Rock. Defra is working with Devolved Administrations, Arm’s Length Bodies and NGOs to monitor and respond to the effect of HPAI on wild birds. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) operate a robust programme of wild bird surveillance and carry out year-round HPAI surveillance of dead wild birds from across Great Britain.

While HPAI viruses are predominantly considered a pathogen of birds, the virus can infect mammals. While there is no routine surveillance for HPAI in seals, causes of death of stranded marine mammals are monitored and investigated through the Cetacean Stranding Investigation Programme and Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme. Where appropriate, stranded seals are tested for avian influenza in collaboration with the APHA avian influenza National Reference Laboratory. While the scale of HPAI findings in seabirds during the 2021/2022 avian influenza outbreak have been unprecedented, to date there is no evidence of increased mortality in UK seal populations or an increase in clinical cases brought into wildlife rehabilitation centres.

Lord Benyon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
5th Sep 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the scale of the impact of avian flu on UK colonies of seabirds.

We recognise the significant threat posed by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to the UK’s seabird populations and it is deeply concerning to see the impact this is having on these important species.

Details of findings of HPAI in wild birds in Great Britain are updated weekly and published via GOV.UK/Bird-Flu, together with outbreak and risk assessments. These reports include the recent mortalities of gannets on Bass Rock. Defra is working with Devolved Administrations, Arm’s Length Bodies and NGOs to monitor and respond to the effect of HPAI on wild birds. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) operate a robust programme of wild bird surveillance and carry out year-round HPAI surveillance of dead wild birds from across Great Britain.

While HPAI viruses are predominantly considered a pathogen of birds, the virus can infect mammals. While there is no routine surveillance for HPAI in seals, causes of death of stranded marine mammals are monitored and investigated through the Cetacean Stranding Investigation Programme and Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme. Where appropriate, stranded seals are tested for avian influenza in collaboration with the APHA avian influenza National Reference Laboratory. While the scale of HPAI findings in seabirds during the 2021/2022 avian influenza outbreak have been unprecedented, to date there is no evidence of increased mortality in UK seal populations or an increase in clinical cases brought into wildlife rehabilitation centres.

Lord Benyon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
12th Jul 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking (1) to coordinate a response to the outbreak of avian influenza in seabird colonies across Britain, (2) to put in place a surveillance programme that will improve the early detection of avian flu in wild bird populations in the future, and (3) to (a) plan for, and (b) mitigate the risk of, the spread of avian flu to other species, including marine mammals such as grey seals.

The UK’s seabirds are an important part of our natural heritage, and their protection is a high priority for the Government. We recognise the significant threat highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) poses to our seabird populations.

Defra is working with Devolved Administrations, Arm’s Length Bodies and charities to monitor and respond to the effect of avian influenza on wild birds. This includes providing advice on mitigation measures that can be put in place to both protect public health and the impact on wild birds where possible. However, avian influenza is a natural transmission process in wild birds and there is limited evidence that mitigation measures are effective at reducing mortality or morbidity in seabird colonies.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) operate a robust programme of wild bird surveillance across Great Britain and engages in year-round avian influenza surveillance of dead wild birds submitted via public reports and warden patrols. Between 25 October 2021 and 8 July 2022, over 3,000 wild birds have been tested. Of these, 1422 have tested positive for H5 HPAI. There have been findings in 343 different locations in 61 different species in 78 different counties. A report (updated weekly) of findings of HPAI in wild birds is published on GOV.UK together with outbreak and risk assessments (www.gov.uk/government/publications/avian-influenza-in-wild-birds).

Last month a new consortium was launched, led by Defra and APHA, to fund research to look into how avian influenza viruses are emerging in wild populations and help us understand the risk posed to both domestic and wild birds.

While avian influenza viruses are predominantly considered a pathogen of birds, the virus can infect mammals. While there is no routine surveillance for avian influenza in seals in Great Britain, causes of death of stranded marine mammals are monitored and investigated through the Cetacean Stranding Investigation Programme and Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme. Where appropriate, stranded seals are tested for avian influenza in collaboration with the APHA avian influenza National Reference Laboratory.

Lord Benyon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
13th May 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are taking any steps to advance the use of environmentally considerate methods of clearing unexploded ordnance from the sea floor.

Defra recognises the significant impact underwater noise from unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance by detonation can have on vulnerable marine species. Many UXOs lie in areas designated for planned windfarm projects, on cable routes and in areas used by other marine industries, and must be removed to allow safe working conditions.

The Government is aware of, and is investigating, a number of alternative methods to remove UXOs from the seabed. However, these methods have not yet been scientifically proven to be effective in the marine environment and could disturb the ordnance but not fully detonate it, posing health, safety and environmental concerns. Our priority is to ensure any new methods are effective in the marine environment, adhere to relevant health, safety and environmental considerations and are based on robust evidence.

The Government is working closely with scientists, industry and regulators to collect the necessary evidence to enable the safe use of these alternative methods in the marine environment. Once sufficient evidence is available, and on the advice of the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies, the Marine Management Organisation (as the regulatory authority) will be able to make licensing decisions around the use of such techniques.

The Environment Secretary recently met Joanna Lumley and the StopSeaBlasts Campaign, who advocate for the use of alternative UXO clearance methods, to discuss ways in which we can work together to reduce the impact that clearing unexploded bombs can have on marine mammals.

2nd Jun 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to introduce legislation to ban the import of hunting trophies, including animal heads and carcasses.

The Government takes the conservation of endangered species seriously and committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from endangered species in our manifesto. A consultation on controls on the import and export of hunting trophies to and from the UK was undertaken between 2 November 2019 and 25 February 2020. The outcome of the consultation, and the accompanying call for evidence will inform our next steps. We are continuing to work on this important area and will publish the Government response as soon as it is practical to do so.

The UK is Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which regulates international trade in endangered species and aims to ensure it does not threaten their survival. Under these internationally agreed rules, imports of hunting trophies into the UK from species listed under CITES, including elephants, hippopotamuses, lions and cheetahs are subject to strict controls.

Hunting trophies are currently allowed to be imported into the UK where they meet current criteria and demonstrate the import will have no detrimental impact on the conservation status or survival of these species, that the specimens have been obtained from a legal and sustainable hunting operation and in accordance with the legislation on the protection of the species concerned. There are however import suspensions relating to certain species coming from particular countries where the hunting of those species is not considered sustainable. These are kept under review.

2nd Jun 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, under current regulations, trophy hunters were able to bring body parts from threatened and vulnerable species such as elephants, hippopotamuses, lions and cheetahs into the UK over the last 10 years.

The Government takes the conservation of endangered species seriously and committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from endangered species in our manifesto. A consultation on controls on the import and export of hunting trophies to and from the UK was undertaken between 2 November 2019 and 25 February 2020. The outcome of the consultation, and the accompanying call for evidence will inform our next steps. We are continuing to work on this important area and will publish the Government response as soon as it is practical to do so.

The UK is Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which regulates international trade in endangered species and aims to ensure it does not threaten their survival. Under these internationally agreed rules, imports of hunting trophies into the UK from species listed under CITES, including elephants, hippopotamuses, lions and cheetahs are subject to strict controls.

Hunting trophies are currently allowed to be imported into the UK where they meet current criteria and demonstrate the import will have no detrimental impact on the conservation status or survival of these species, that the specimens have been obtained from a legal and sustainable hunting operation and in accordance with the legislation on the protection of the species concerned. There are however import suspensions relating to certain species coming from particular countries where the hunting of those species is not considered sustainable. These are kept under review.

2nd Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to discuss with the International Rescue Corps what support that organisation could offer during future floods.

Defra holds the Flood Rescue National Asset Register. This is a list of teams or assets that voluntarily join the register and maintain availability for national deployment during response to flooding. These assets include teams from the Fire and Rescue Service as well as the voluntary sector. Prior to joining the register, the capability of each team will have been assessed.

Details of how a team can join the National Register are laid out in the 2019 Flood Rescue Concept of Operations (FRCO) and my officials are available to discuss the joining requirements with the International Rescue Corps.

24th Jul 2019
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ban the importation of big-game trophies to the UK; and if they have any such plans, when they intend to publish their proposals to implement such a ban.

The Government takes the conservation of endangered species seriously, with imports of hunting trophies into the UK subject to strict controls under the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations.

The UK has adopted stricter national measures for three species, including tigers, than those set out in CITES and in European legislation. The import and export of live wild taken specimens and tiger parts and derivatives, including hunting trophies, is banned.

The UK is also continuing to work hard on the international stage to agree tough, transparent, global standards on trophy hunting to make sure hunting safeguards are of the highest standard and there is no impact on the sustainability of the species concerned. We will continue to discuss this with other countries.

The Government hosted a stakeholder roundtable in May to hear views from all sides of the debate surrounding trophy hunting. Those discussions continue and we are actively reviewing our position on this important issue.

24th Jul 2019
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to ban the importation of tiger trophies to the UK.

The Government takes the conservation of endangered species seriously, with imports of hunting trophies into the UK subject to strict controls under the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations.

The UK has adopted stricter national measures for three species, including tigers, than those set out in CITES and in European legislation. The import and export of live wild taken specimens and tiger parts and derivatives, including hunting trophies, is banned.

The UK is also continuing to work hard on the international stage to agree tough, transparent, global standards on trophy hunting to make sure hunting safeguards are of the highest standard and there is no impact on the sustainability of the species concerned. We will continue to discuss this with other countries.

The Government hosted a stakeholder roundtable in May to hear views from all sides of the debate surrounding trophy hunting. Those discussions continue and we are actively reviewing our position on this important issue.

2nd Jul 2019
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the practice of "canned hunting".

The Government is aware of the practice of so called “canned hunting”. It is considering this issue carefully and will be informed by evidence it continues to gather.

2nd Jul 2019
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider banning the importation of lion trophies to the UK, following the decision by Australia, France, and the Netherlands to ban such imports.

In May 2019 the Government hosted a stakeholder roundtable to hear views from all sides of the debate. We are reviewing existing evidence surrounding trophy hunting and its impact on conservation.

28th Mar 2019
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by Battersea Dogs and Cats Home Sentencing for animal cruelty in England and Wales, published in 2017, what plans they have to introduce legislation to increase the maximum sentence for the most serious cases of animal cruelty from six months to five years imprisonment.

We are committed to the highest standards of animal welfare and the Government has announced that it will increase the custodial maximum penalty for animal cruelty from 6 months' to 5 years' imprisonment as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

30th Jan 2019
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to (1) support the UK poultry meat industry in key trade developments, and (2) ensure that future poultry meat imports meet Britain's welfare and production standards.

The Government is determined to get the best deal for the UK in our negotiations to leave the EU, including for our world-leading poultry sector.

Significant work is already underway to ensure that UK exporters can maintain access to EU markets after March 2019. The Government is seeking continuity for our existing EU free trade agreements as we leave the European Union. The Government is also actively working with trading partners to promote the concept of regionalisation to minimise the impact on UK exports due to any future outbreak of avian influenza in poultry.

The UK imports a wide range of produce from around the world, all of which already meet our high standards of food safety and animal and plant health. We have no reason to believe that other third countries cannot meet our high standards, and this will be a condition for any market access granted as part of future trade agreements. Any future trade agreements must work for UK consumers, farmers, and businesses.

17th Oct 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for banning the sale and consumption of dog meat in the UK.

It is already illegal to sell dog meat for human consumption and the Government has seen no evidence that dog meat is being sold or consumed in the UK.

17th Oct 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which dog meat (1) has been sold, and (2) is being sold, in the UK.

It is already illegal to sell dog meat for human consumption and the Government has seen no evidence that dog meat is being sold or consumed in the UK.

9th Dec 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of refugees in (1) Europe, (2) the Middle East, and (3) North Africa, and what those figures are broken down by country.

As of 8th December the UN estimate that more than 920,000 refugees and migrants have crossed the Mediterranean to Europe this year. Almost 770,000 have arrived in Greece, and a further 150,000 have arrived in Italy. A large number of refugees remain in the Middle East. The most accurate figures are available for Syrian refugees, of whom there currently are 2,181,293 in Turkey, 1,070,189 in Lebanon, 632,762 in Jordan, and 244,527 in Iraq. Additionally, 2,117,361 Palestinian refugees are currently registered in Jordan, and 452,669 in Lebanon. It is also estimated that North Africa is host to 234,901 refugees, the majority of whom are in Egypt (187,753) and Libya (36,984).

28th Apr 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to outlaw pavement parking throughout England; and whether the responses to their consultation on such parking have been in favour of its ban.

The Government intends to carry out a public consultation later in the year, on possible solutions to the complex pavement parking problem. The consultation will fill evidence gaps, seek views on specific options that were raised by the Transport Select Committee and call for alternative ideas. Ministers will take decisions on next steps in the light of the consultation responses.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
10th Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to address pavement parking.

The Government has responded to the Transport Select Committee’s 2019 Pavement Parking Inquiry, setting out our intention to carry out a public consultation on possible solutions to the complex pavement parking problem. The options include allowing local authorities with civil enforcement powers to enforce against unnecessary obstruction of the pavement, and introducing a London-style pavement parking prohibition across England.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
5th Jun 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to take steps to ensure no future allocation of lower airspace takes place until a policy on the allocation of lower airspace has been agreed and implemented by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Airspace is allocated in accordance with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) classifications of airspace. As set out in the Civil Aviation Authority (Air Navigation) Directions 2017, the CAA is responsible for the policy on the classification of UK airspace, how this is implemented, as well as its modification through the CAA’s airspace change process. The government has no plans to review this.

5th Jun 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to adapt the UK's airspace to reflect technological changes which enable aircraft to take-off and land more safely and accurately.

The Government supports the implementation of the Civil Aviation Authority’s Future Airspace Strategy which sets out the long-term vision for the modernisation of UK’s airspace. The CAA is due to revise this strategy later this year.

The maintenance of air safety and the need for more accurate navigation are key components of the strategy, and both will be assisted by, for example, the use at airports and aerodromes of new satellite-based instrument approach and departure procedures and Ground-Based Augmentation Systems.

27th Jun 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government when patient organisations such as Cystic Fibrosis Trust, whose Clinical Trials Accelerator Platform informed the design of Clinical Trial Acceleration Networks, will be able to share lessons to feed into the implementation update for the O'Shaughnessy Review.

The Government appointed Lord James O’Shaughnessy to carry out an independent review into United Kingdom commercial clinical trials. Following publication of the review on May 26, the Government made five headline commitments to improve the commercial clinical trials system backed by £121 million. This included £20 million to establish two or three new Clinical Trial Acceleration Networks which will bring together several existing mechanisms to create a joined-up approach to clinical trials, focusing on accelerating priority areas of research and delivering best practice.

An update on implementation will be provided in Autumn, which will outline progress against these commitments as well as responding in full to the review recommendations. Implementation of the five headline commitments and the full review response will be informed by consultation with the UK clinical trials community including individual medical research charities and the Association of Medical Research Charities, of which the Cystic Fibrosis Trust is a member.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
27th Jun 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to support for people living with long-term conditions such as cystic fibrosis, following the publication of the report Your life and CF by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust on 6 June, which found that one in five people affected by that condition missed a hospital appointment in the past 12 months due to cost.

People with long term conditions such as cystic fibrosis who are eligible for financial assistance through the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme can claim a refund of reasonable travel costs. Travel expenses should be calculated by reference to the cheapest means of transport that is reasonable for the patient. This can include journeys made in a private vehicle.

To help alleviate cost pressures associated with travel for appointments, NHS England is supporting NHS providers to embed, spread and use video consultations innovatively across their services. The decision on whether an appointment needs to take place face-to-face, on video or by telephone will be made by an expert clinician based on patients’ individual care needs and preferences.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
23rd Apr 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to (1) undertake, or (2) take part in, an international inquiry into the origins of COVID-19 and its global spread.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has an important role to play in leading the global health response. We want to see the WHO continue to learn lessons on how to improve its response to global health emergencies and as such would expect a full review of all elements of their response to COVID-19 to take place once they are out of response mode, as has occurred after previous Public Health Emergencies of International Concern. The United Kingdom intends to engage constructively with a future review.

20th Jun 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to whether they would grant permission for Vladimir Putin to enter the UK.

The UK has made clear, for the avoidance of any doubt, that President Putin would not be welcome in the UK. FCDO officials re-emphasised this to senior officials at the Russian Embassy in the UK at a face-to-face meeting in early April. The UK sanctioned President Putin and applied an asset freeze shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
20th Jun 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of reports that Russian soldiers are castrating Ukrainian prisoners in prisoner of war camps, what assessment they have made of whether Russian soldiers are repeatedly committing crimes against humanity.

Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine is marked by increasing evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Ukrainian service personnel and civilians, including executions, torture and sexual violence. We are fully committed to holding Russian forces to account for any atrocities that have been committed in Ukraine. Established accountability mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court's investigations and Ukrainian domestic judicial processes are investigating all allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. The UK continues to support these independent investigations, including by establishing the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group with the US and EU to provide practical and financial support to assist the War Crimes Unit of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
13th Jun 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken following the fires in North America to offer to give assistance, and in particular drinking water, to Canada.

We have been in contact with the Canadian Foreign Minister and Canadian Government officials, offering UK support and our sympathy, following the devastating wildfires. Canada is a close partner of the UK, and we will continue to work together closely and provide support to one another in times of crisis.

13th Jun 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to offer to give (1) assistance, and (2) drinkable water, to Turkey and Syria following the earthquake of 6 February.

The UK has provided lifesaving and life-sustaining assistance to those in need in Turkey and northwest Syria, committing £43 million in aid. In Syria, the UK provided £4.3 million to the White Helmets for life-saving search and rescue and emergency relief operations. In addition, we provided 242 tonnes of vital relief items to help provide protection against the freezing winter weather conditions. In Turkey, the UK provided: search and rescue capability; specially trained dogs; and treatment to over 19,000 patients by UK medical teams. UK funding has also contributed to restoring the supply of clean water, reaching an estimated 263,000 people.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
30th Nov 2022
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the creation of an international funding facility to combat climate change and respond to the loss and damage commitments made at COP27.

All parties at COP27, including the UK, agreed to establish both new funding arrangements for assisting developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, and a fund for responding to loss and damage. Parties also agreed to establish a Transitional Committee on operationalisation of the funding arrangements and the fund.

The UK announced at COP27 £5 million of funding for the Santiago Network for Loss and Damage which will bring together and enhance the technical assistance available to developing countries suffering from the worst impacts of climate change.

The UK will constructively engage with the Committee, with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and parties and with civil society to help ensure the funding arrangements, fund and the Santiago Network for Loss and Damage deliver effectively for countries particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.

9th Nov 2022
To ask His Majesty's Government how much funding the UK has contributed to the G7 Famine Prevention and Humanitarian Crises Compact since 2021.

The Famine Prevention and Humanitarian Crises Compact was agreed during the UK's G7 Presidency and we have provided our share of the $7 billion in humanitarian assistance to the countries one step from famine in 2021. Globally we intend to spend UK humanitarian funding of £3 billion over the next three years. We continue to deliver on our policy commitments in the Compact. For example, in 2021 we partnered with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and Germany to co-host the High-Level Event on Anticipatory Action.

13th Jul 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 7 July (HL1116), what steps they will take, together with international partners, to seek restitution from the government of Russia for civilian populations in Ukraine which has resulted in (1) extensive loss of life, and (2) damage to buildings in that country.

Putin alone is responsible for the damage and destruction caused by his illegal war in Ukraine. This requires full and urgent reparation by Russia.

The UK Government is considering all options for seizing assets that could be used to support the people of Ukraine and contribute towards the reconstruction of their country, closely with international partners.

The Foreign Secretary announced (https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/ukraine-recovery-conference-foreign-secretarys-remarks-4-july-2022) the UK vision for supporting Ukraine's Reconstruction and Development Plan at the Lugano Ukraine Recovery Conference (4-5 July) and the UK's commitment to host next year's 2023 Reconstruction Conference.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
20th Jun 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that Russia pays restitution to Ukraine after the war in that country.

Mr Putin alone is responsible for the damage and destruction caused by his illegal war in Ukraine. His regime must pay for the damage that it has caused. The UK will continue to support efforts to achieve accountability for crimes committed during the illegal invasion, including by the provision of assistance to the International Criminal Court investigation.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
20th Jun 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to work with European allies to condemn President Putin’s policy of aggression in Ukraine and the detrimental effect on the people of that country, including injuries and fatalities.

The Foreign Secretary continues to ensure the UK is playing a leading role driving the international response to Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, regularly meeting and speaking with Foreign Minister counterparts, including our European allies. We are working with international partners to support Ukraine across a range of areas, including: strengthening their military capabilities; providing economic support; sharing expertise and experience on recovery and reconstruction; unlocking routes to export grain from Ukraine; humanitarian support; and investigations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. We will continue to support the Ukrainian Government in the face of this assault on their sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
20th Jun 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with prosecutors at the International Criminal Court at The Hague regarding (1) investigations, and (2) potential prosecutions, of (a) President Putin, (b) other members of the Russian government, and (c) members of the Russian military, for (i) crimes of aggression, (ii) crimes against humanity, and (iii) genocide.

It is for the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor to independently determine who should be prosecuted for crimes committed in Ukraine, including those that ordered them, in accordance with his mandate under the Rome Statute. The ICC does not have jurisdiction to prosecute the Crime of Aggression in Ukraine because neither Russia nor Ukraine are States party to the Rome Statute. We respect the jurisdiction of competent national or international courts, such as the ICC, to determine if the crime of genocide has occurred in Ukraine. The UK will continue to provide the necessary assistance to the ICC to support its investigations, including an additional £1 million contribution funded through the cross-Government Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
20th Jun 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that the Russian military has (1) attacked civilians in Ukraine indiscriminately, and (2) attacked hospitals, schools, and railway stations in that country, causing injuries and loss of life.

Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine is a premeditated and barbaric assault on a sovereign democratic state. Russia's deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, railway stations and cultural sites constitute war crimes. The UK and its partners will ensure Putin's regime is held accountable.

The UK is a leading bilateral donor to Ukraine, having committed £220 million in humanitarian assistance. We have delivered over 11 million medical items and are donating ambulances, generators and multiple non-food items. Frontline medical aid charity UK-Med will also receive funding of up to £300,000 to help train Ukrainian doctors, nurses and paramedics on how to deal with mass casualties.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
20th Jun 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will work with international partners to provide food supply guarantees to developing countries at risk of food shortages as a result of global food shortages and increasing food prices, caused by the war in Ukraine.

Over the next 3 years, the UK will direct £3 billion of humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable countries and people to help them recover from crises. The UK played a leading role in persuading the World Bank to commit $12 billion of new funding in the next 15 months to respond directly to the food security crisis, as part of its global lending package of $170 billion. The UK is keen to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of the global response through strong coordination and collaboration, and we are therefore supportive of the G7 Global Alliance for Food Security and the US-led road map and country coalition. The UK has committed another £10 million to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) to build resilience in agriculture and food security in the poorest countries, bringing our total contribution to £186 million.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
16th Jun 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that more than 2,500 civilians have been abducted or forcibly removed from Ukraine by Russian forces.

We condemn Russian atrocities, including the alleged abduction and deportation of innocent Ukrainians. The UK has supported multilateral mechanisms to assess the situation in Ukraine, including the OSCE's Moscow Mechanism report, which found multiple instances of clear violations of international law by Russian forces in Ukraine. The Attorney General also led a scoping mission to the region from 8-11 May, to assess how the UK can help the Ukrainian Prosecutor General to identify and collect evidence of atrocity crimes. Alongside international partners, the UK is committed to assisting Ukraine's domestic investigation into war crimes, in addition to the International Criminal Court investigation. We also continue to hold the Russian Government to account. On 16 June, the UK announced a new wave of sanctions including against the Russian Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova for her alleged involvement in the forced transfer and adoption of Ukrainian children.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
16th Jun 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect on the (1) level of debt of, and (2) potential loss of life in, developing countries of global food shortages and increasing food prices, as a result of the war in Ukraine.

Before Russia's invasion, almost 1 billion people in 92 countries did not have enough food to eat and 55 countries, mostly in Africa and Asia, were already in acute hunger crises, emergency or famine conditions. This has now risen to at least 1.7 billion with 49 million people already living a step away from famine (up from 25 million in 2020), and almost 860,000 people estimated to be in famine-like conditions.

Steep increases in the price of staple commodities and agriculture inputs were already apparent before the war. Russia's aggression has further exacerbated these spikes - according to the World Food Programme the price of a food basket in Ethiopia has risen 66 percent, and in Somalia 36 percent. Higher import costs of fuel and food are exacerbating the fragile debt status of many countries particularly in Africa.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
16th Jun 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take, working with international allies, to provide Ukraine with security assurances against further attacks by Russia, after the conclusion of the war in Ukraine.

In a statement on 8 May, the Prime Minister, along with other G7 leaders, confirmed our readiness to undertake further commitments to help Ukraine secure its free and democratic future, such that Ukraine can defend itself now and deter future acts of aggression. We will pursue our ongoing military and defence assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, including through training and material, continue supporting Ukraine in defending its networks against cyber incidents, and expand our cooperation, including on information security. We will also continue to support Ukraine in improving its economic and energy security. We remain in close contact with President Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian leaders on these issues, including during the Prime Minister's recent visit to Kyiv.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
16th Jun 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effects of the Russian blockade of exports of grain from Ukraine; in particular, the impact on food supply and food security in developing countries; and what plans they have to use the Official Development Assistance budget, and the resources of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, to mitigate these effects.

The threat to global food security from Russia's blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports is huge. Putin's illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is exacerbating price rises in commodity markets. 49 million people are already living a step away from famine and almost 860,000 people are estimated to be in famine-like conditions.

Over the next 3 years, we will direct £3 billion to the most vulnerable countries and people to help them recover from crises. We welcome the World Bank's announcement of $30 billion to address food insecurity globally over the next 15 months, which responds to the UK's calls for the Bank to mobilise funding to tackle the growing crisis. The UK has also committed another £10 million to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) to build resilience in agriculture and food security in the poorest countries, bringing our total contribution to £186 million.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
16th Jun 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the confiscation by Russian of millions of tons of produce, including corn, grain, fertilizers, and sunflower oil, from Ukraine; and what steps they will take with international partners to assess whether this constitutes a crime of theft or robbery.

Ukraine's economy and ability to export its produce has been crippled by Russia's continued bombardment of cities and infrastructure across Ukraine, including through bombing agricultural lands, grain silos and Putin's reckless blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports. We are aware of reports of Russia stealing grain from Ukraine and have called for an immediate investigation. We are continuing to call out Russia's false narrative on grain in international fora including the G7 and the Food and Agriculture Organization, emphasising that Russia's actions are exacerbating the global food crisis, putting tens of millions of people at risk of famine.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
15th Jun 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the scale of the support that Ukraine may need to repair and rebuild after the war; and what steps they will take to support the provision of the resources required to do so.

The UK supports Ukraine's vision for rebuilding a sovereign, prosperous, democratic nation that is stronger than before Putin's invasion. The Government of Ukraine estimates that full-scale recovery will cost around $600 billion so far. International estimates range from €200-500 billion. These costs will rise the longer the war continues. The Ukrainian government has established a National Recovery Council, which will develop its National Recovery Plan, to be announced at the Ukraine Recovery Conference at Lugano, Switzerland, 4-5 July. We are working with the Council to develop our support. We will be guided by Ukraine's priorities in harnessing the best of UK development, business and civil society capabilities in support of its recovery and reconstruction. The UK's total financial support for Ukraine so far stands at some $3.6 billion, including military, humanitarian and fiscal support.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
15th Jun 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to participate in the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA); and if so, whether they will seek to increase its budget.

The UK is open to participation in the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA). The ability to voluntarily participate in the activities of ENISA is included in Part 4 of the UK/EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement. It is not for the UK, as a non-member of the EU, to comment on the budget of an EU institution.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
15th Jun 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is their policy to increase their engagement with (1) NATO member states, and (2) European countries, as a result of the war in Ukraine; and if so, how they are seeking to do so.

The UK is playing a leading role driving the international response to Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, regularly meets with Foreign Minister counterparts, including the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, G7 Foreign Ministers and NATO Foreign Ministers; and European counterparts, including the EU. We will continue to work with NATO and European allies to support the Ukrainian Government in the face of this assault on their sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
8th Jun 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of lives threatened as a result of President Putin’s decision to cut off grain exports from Ukraine; and what assessment they have made of the remarks by the Executive Director of the United Nations Food Programme that “the war is going to jeopardise the food security of roughly 276 million people”.

Global humanitarian need and acute food insecurity is at unprecedented levels, driven by covid-19 and climate change, and exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 94 countries are already in crisis or emergency conditions and 49 million people are living a step away from famine. The impact of the invasion is being felt around the world but most acutely in countries already facing dangerous levels of food insecurity. Many have already reported alarming increases in the price of staple commodities since the start of the war. The WFP found the price of a food basket in Ethiopia has risen 66 percent, and in Somalia 36 percent. The UK is working with Ukraine and international partners to find ways, whether by sea or overland, to re-start the export of grain from Ukraine to the countries that desperately need it.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)