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Written Question
Visas: EU Countries
Thursday 16th November 2023

Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether the Government plans to hold discussions with the EU on enabling UK citizens with holiday homes in the EU to extend their stay for more than 90 days in every 180 day period.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

The UK's Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU confirms that both the UK and EU currently provide for visa-free travel for short-term visits for each other's nationals in accordance with their respective laws.

British citizens are treated as third country nationals under the Schengen Borders Code. As such, they are able to travel visa-free for short stays for up to 90 days in a rolling 180-day period. This is the standard length of stay that the EU offers to other third countries, in line with existing EU legislation.

I [Minister Docherty] engage regularly with my EU counterparts to discuss a range of issues, including on mobility.

The Government is focused on the smooth, robust and effective implementation of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.


Written Question
Development Aid and Seeds
Friday 8th September 2023

Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with the World Bank on the countries it is negotiating with on (a) development policy financing and (b) seed laws.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The World Bank does not have a policy in place that restricts farmers in choosing their seeds. The Bank advocates the use of quality seeds and has helped protect farmers, local production, and food security in developing countries. An efficient national agricultural innovation system and an effective seed certification system is essential to meet the challenges agriculture faces in developing countries. The UK is supporting this longer-term goal to do both, boost food security, incomes, and climate adaptation and resilience. World Bank operations, including also development policy loans, are designed at country level, in support of government priorities and plans and in consultation with other stakeholders. The World Bank has committed to full alignment of all its sovereign lending with the Paris Agreement by 1 July 2023. We are holding the Bank to account through the Board.


Written Question
Members: Correspondence
Monday 6th March 2023

Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when his Department plans to respond to the correspondence of 17 August 2020, 9 February 2021, 12 January 2022 and 25 January 2022 from the hon. Member for North Tyneside.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I am grateful to the Honourable member for bringing this matter to my attention. Officials have been in contact with your office and obtained copies. It seems that the correspondence was unfortunately sent to the wrong email address. Officials will work to provide a response.


Written Question
South Sudan: Development Aid
Friday 8th July 2022

Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will commit to reversing the 59 percent cut to UK aid to South Sudan.

Answered by Vicky Ford

The financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has meant we have had to temporarily reduce the level of UK Official Development Assistance (ODA). We are committed to reviewing each year whether a return to 0.7% of gross national income is possible. We continue to be a leading donor to South Sudan and in FY 2021/22 provided an estimated 450,000 people with emergency food aid; daily water and sanitation provision for 86,000 of the most vulnerable displaced persons; nearly 900,000 girls to access education through targeted cash transfers; 797 health facilities to provide essential health and nutrition services; and support to a number of local peace agreements, including strengthening women's and youth participation in peacebuilding. Our aid budget is complemented by our diplomatic work, which presses for the implementation of the peace agreement, constitutional reforms, and good public financial management, which are essential for wider progress in South Sudan.


Written Question
Iraq: Kurds
Thursday 7th July 2022

Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps her Department has taken to help deter missile attacks in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The UK publicly condemned the senseless attack by Iran on Erbil on March 12, and separately condemns the April and May attacks on oil refineries in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The UK continues to closely coordinate with Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government to de-escalate tensions in the region. This includes through the visit of the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government Masrour Barzani to London in April, when I [Minister Milling] met with him, as did the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary.


Written Question
Iraq: Kurds
Thursday 7th July 2022

Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information her Department holds on potential responsibility for missile attacks in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in March, April and May 2022; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The UK publicly condemned the senseless attack by Iran on Erbil on March 12, and separately condemns the April and May attacks on oil refineries in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The UK continues to closely coordinate with Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government to de-escalate tensions in the region. This includes through the visit of the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government Masrour Barzani to London in April, when I [Minister Milling] met with him, as did the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary.


Written Question
USA: Diplomatic Immunity
Tuesday 7th April 2020

Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK citizens have diplomatic immunity in the US.

Answered by Nigel Adams

UK citizens who are members of the Embassy and Consulates of the United Kingdom are notified to the Office of Foreign Missions at the US Department of State.


Written Question
USA: Diplomatic Immunity
Friday 3rd April 2020

Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many US citizens have diplomatic immunity in the UK.

Answered by Wendy Morton

US citizens who are members of the Embassy of the United States of America are notified to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, in line with Article 10 of the VCDR 1961.


Written Question
Bahrain: Political Prisoners
Tuesday 14th January 2020

Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterpart in the Bahrain Government on the reimposition of death sentences against Mohammed Ramadhan and Husain Moosa on 8 January 2020 in Bahrain.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

As I tweeted on 8 January, we are deeply concerned about the death sentence given to Mohamed Ramadhan and Husain Moosa. The UK has raised the matter with senior members of the Bahraini Government. The UK's position on the use of the death penalty is longstanding and clear; we oppose its use in all circumstances and countries. The Government of Bahrain is fully aware of our position. ​


Written Question
Iraq: Kurds
Monday 9th September 2019

Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of bilateral relations with the Kurdistan region in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

​The UK retains strong relations with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). British Ministers and officials regularly engage with KRI representatives. On 1 September our Ambassador to Iraq met the KRI Prime Minister, Masrour Barzani, to discuss latest developments and I spoke to the KRI President, Nechirvan Barzani, on 12 June. The UK also provides significant support to the KRI, including through training assistance to the Peshmerga, humanitarian aid, advice on economic reform, and continued efforts to deepen UK-KRI trade.