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 potential implications for her policies of the decision of the United States Government to ease some of the sanctions placed on Cuba.

The UK considers the continued US embargo against Cuba to be counterproductive and we consistently vote in support of the annual United Nations General Assembly Resolution calling for it to be lifted. In light of this, the UK welcomes the announcement by the United States Government of plans to ease some of the restrictions they have imposed on Cuba via a set of measures which are a first step towards encouraging economic growth, especially in support of the private sector, and enabling the reunification of many Cuban families. Nevertheless, the UK continues to consider the activation of Titles III and IV of the Helms Burton Act, which strengthen and continue the embargo against Cuba, to be contrary to international law. We have made our position on this clear, and continue to regularly engage US officials on this issue through our Embassy in Washington, as well as with the US Embassies in Havana and London.