Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with European counterparts on export tariffs for the British Overseas Territories.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We recognise the impact tariffs have on the Overseas Territories exporting to the EU, particularly the Falkland Islands and Tristan da Cunha. These tariffs stem from the fact that the UK-EU Trade & Cooperation Agreement agreed by the previous UK government did not cover the Overseas Territories.
We recognise the significant issue of these tariffs for the OTs and industry and continue to engage closely with the Overseas Territories on this and other issues to identify opportunities to improve their trading and business environment, not only with Europe but globally, including securing recent US Government agreement to reduce US tariffs on Falklands exports from a proposed 42 per cent to 10 per cent.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of protests in Nepal.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK and Nepal share a deep historic relationship. We are appalled at the recent violence and we continue to support fundamental freedoms and respect for human rights in Nepal, including the right to protest and peaceful assembly. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) have made public statements condemning the violence and calling for accountability and peaceful dialogue. We are closely monitoring events, alongside our international partners, and we will assess the impact fully when the situation has stabilised. The FCDO continues to support impacted British nationals.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support state-level institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK remains committed to the stability and constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), including supporting its state institutions and the Office of the High Representative. On 17 June, the Foreign Secretary and I underlined that commitment to BiH Presidency Members Becirovic and Komsic. We continue to condemn secessionist actions by Milorad Dodik, former President of Republika Srpska, which undermine BiH's stability and state institutions. Our Official Development Assistance (ODA) programmes also support the country's state institutions to deliver their mandates. Our projects provide support to the judiciary and have worked to combat corruption and serious organised crime.
I recently discussed the situation in BiH with the European External Action Service and regularly discuss our work to maintain peace and stability with Quint partners. We will host the Berlin Process this autumn.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with European counterparts on offering support to Bosnia and Herzegovina on the rule of law.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Following the appeal ruling by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) against Milorad Dodik, former President of Republika Srpska, we have worked with European and international counterparts to stress the importance of respect for the judgement and that all actors should uphold the rule of law. In July, the Foreign Secretary spoke with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy about safeguarding BiH's rule of law, and officials have regular coordination meetings with Quint counterparts. We will continue to work with our BiH and international partners to support local actors in upholding the rule of law.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Syrian counterpart on that country's recognition of (a) South Ossetia and (b) Abkhazia.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary has not discussed Syria's recognition of South Ossetia or Abkhazia with his counterpart.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his US counterparts on the United States sanctioning of the Prosecutor and judges of the International Criminal Court.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary has had multiple discussions on sanctions on the International Criminal Count (ICC) with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Successive UK and US administrations have taken a different view on the ICC - for example, the UK are signatories to the Rome Statute, the US are not. We support the independence of the ICC, and do not support sanctioning individual Court officials. The Court must be permitted to do its work, exercising its jurisdiction in line with the Rome Statute, investigating allegations of the international crimes that fall within its remit, and following legal process. These measures will not diminish calls for an end to impunity for the most serious international crimes. We remain fully committed to that goal.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) EU, (b) Canadian and (c) US counterparts on the release of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Russia must pay for the damage it has caused and is causing Ukraine. This is a matter that must be considered collectively, and we are working urgently with our partners across the G7 and European Union to consider all lawful avenues to make Russia pay. It would not be appropriate to give a running commentary; it's important that we preserve the ability to have candid conversations with our international partners.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of recent arrests of political leaders in Georgia.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I am deeply concerned by the recent, politically motivated, sentencing of prominent Georgian opposition leaders. On 23 June, I urged Georgian Dream to stop misusing the judiciary to silence opposition voices, and to release all political prisoners.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) summoned the Georgian Chargé d'Affaires to formally register our concerns about Georgian Dream's unacceptable actions. On 1 July, I spoke with a number of European partners to discuss our collective concerns and, on 11 July, the Foreign Secretary issued a joint statement condemning the politically motivated detentions of opposition politicians.
While Georgian Dream's actions negatively affect our bilateral relations, the UK remains a firm supporter of the Georgian people's Euro-Atlantic aspirations and stands ready to support a return to democratic norms and European values.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential (a) implications for its policies of the Georgian Foreign Agent Registration Act and (b) impact of that legislation on civil society in that country.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I am deeply concerned by the Georgian Foreign Agents Registration Act which came into force on 31 May 2025 and the implications it will have on our ability to support the reforms required for Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. This legislation represents a serious setback for democratic governance, civil liberties, and Georgia's stated European aspirations. I have shared my concerns with Georgian Dream representatives and encouraged engagement with civil society, opposition voices and the Venice Commission to bring their approach into line with international human rights standards as well as Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe principles and commitments.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with European counterparts on the detention of demonstrators in Novi Sad, Serbia.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We and international partners continue to track ongoing political protests and responses in Serbia, including a number of arrests and detentions of demonstrators in Novi Sad and other cities. The UK continues to stress to Serbia's leaders the importance of respecting citizens' rights to freedom of assembly and expression, as the Foreign Secretary did when visiting Belgrade last month.