Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps he has taken with Cabinet colleagues to help secure international (a) partnerships and (b) other agreements that help tackle illegal immigration to the UK.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We are prioritising international engagement to secure more ambitious partnerships to tackle irregular migration and destroy the business model of organised immigration crime. These include a multi-year operational funding plan with France, a new UK-Italy strategic migration partnership and deepening cooperation with Albania. We have recently announced a new partnership with Bulgaria, as well as negotiations on a new working arrangement between the UK and EU border agency Frontex.
We are also prioritising engagement on migration through multilateral fora, including most recently at the Council of Europe and European Political Community summits.
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to help support UK citizens who have family that are leaving Sudan; and whether his Department plans to take steps to support their safe transportation to the UK.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Since 25 April, the UK has supported the departure of 2,450 people, including British nationals and dependants out of Sudan. The UK Government continues to provide limited consular assistance to British nationals still in Sudan. Those who have left by alternative means to neighbouring countries are receiving consular support on a case-by-case basis. British nationals who require assistance can call us 24/7. Sudanese nationals who have travelled to a third country and wish to join family members in the UK will need to apply for a visa, if they do not already have the right to enter the UK. Further information can be found online at GOV.UK.
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton South)
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 work with her international partners in response to the global cyber threat posed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The UK Government remains vigilant to cyber threats, wherever they come from, and is ready to defend against them, working closely with allies to deter, mitigate and attribute malicious cyber activity. We consider all levers of power to protect the UK's security, consistent with our adherence to UK and international law.
The UK has dedicated significant resource to monitor, understand and counter Russia's cyber threats. This intelligence is shared with our allies, so that we are all prepared to defend ourselves from attack.
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of financial sanctions imposed by the Government on the Russian regime following the invasion of Ukraine.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We have now sanctioned over 1000 individuals, and over 100 businesses since Putin's invasion of Ukraine. This includes oligarchs worth £117 billion. We have also implemented freezes on 18 of Russia's major banks with global assets worth £940 billion. In conjunction with our partners, we have supported the removal seven banks from SWIFT and frozen over 60% of Russian Central Bank reserves, worth £275 billion.
The full effects of our sanctions will take time to materialise, but these targeted measures are severely restricting Russia's access to finance. They also make it harder for Russia to source imports from around the world, which have fallen by 40% since the invasion, resulting in disruption to Russia's supply chains. Russia is heading for the deepest recession since the collapse of the Soviet Union, deeper than the 2008 global financial crisis.
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to provide finance to (a) low- and (b) middle-income countries.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
As set out in the recently published International Development Strategy, we will allocate aid where it is most needed and effective, use aid to bring in more money to development, and amplify this with the ideas that cost little but go far.
The majority of our Official Development Assistance (ODA) will be channelled towards low-income countries where there is a clear commitment to progress. These countries are the least able to finance their development through taxes, borrowing or investment. We will continue to support the global goal of providing at least 0.2% of our Gross National Income (GNI) to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
We will work more with Middle-Income Countries (MICs) who are central to the achievement of global commitments. In these contexts, we will bring together investment, trade, expertise, technology, science and diplomacy to drive long term reform and change, working in partnership with host governments and citizens. We will draw on ODA only as necessary in MICs.
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she has taken to help support peace and stability in the Western Balkans.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
HMG is working closely with our NATO Allies, including the US and European partners, to support security and stability. In February, the Western Balkans Prime Ministers and Ambassadors were hosted in London for talks on strengthening our economic and security partnerships, including cooperation on resilience and cyber. In April, the Government used its Bosnia and Herzegovina autonomous sanctions regime for the first time, sanctioning Bosnian-Serb politicians Milorad Dodik and Zeljka Cvijanovic for their attempts to undermine the legitimacy and functionality of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Government has announced plans to extend our offer of honest and reliable infrastructure investment to the Western Balkans, and aims to mobilise £80 million of UK-backed investment by 2025. This will reduce dependency on Russian hydrocarbons and accelerate the transition to renewables. The Prime Minister's Special Envoy to the Western Balkans, Sir Stuart Peach, is also engaging extensively across the region, working alongside our US and European partners to reduce the risk of conflict.
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of diplomatic British support for Ukraine.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
President Zelenskyy has stated that the only way to halt the war is through diplomacy. The UK supports this view and Ukraine's desire for a just negotiated outcome that ensures a full Russian withdrawal, respects Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and deters Russia from future aggression. The UK calls upon Russia to halt its illegal war and to engage in genuine and meaningful negotiations. The Foreign Secretary continues to lead the diplomatic effort, regularly meeting and speaking with Foreign Minister counterparts, including the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, G7 and NATO Foreign Ministers.
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton South)
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 international counterparts on support for Ukraine.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The Foreign Secretary continues to ensure the UK is playing a leading role in driving the international response to Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, regularly meeting and speaking with Foreign Minister counterparts, including the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, G7 Foreign Ministers and NATO Foreign Ministers. In particular, we are working with international partners to support Ukraine across a range of areas, including military, economic, and humanitarian. We will continue to support the Ukrainian government in the face of this assault on their sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking to help support preparations for the rebuilding of Ukraine.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK is fully behind Ukraine's vision for rebuilding a sovereign, prosperous, democratic nation that is stronger than before Putin's invasion. 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.
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton South)
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 international counterparts on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The Foreign Secretary continues to lead the diplomatic effort, regularly meeting and speaking with Foreign Minister counterparts, including the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, G7 Foreign Ministers and NATO Foreign Ministers.