Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 9 March (HL13597), (1) whether, and (2) if so, why, the Falkland Islands have been excluded from the definition of the South Atlantic Overseas Territories; and whether the Falkland Islands have benefited from the Blue Belt programme.

The Falkland Islands are geographically part of the South Atlantic UK Overseas Territories region, but they have so far chosen not to be part of the Blue Belt initiative. The Blue Belt programme remains open to all Overseas Territories, and the UK is keen to offer support to any Territory wishing to enhance marine protection in its waters. Over the past five years, the Blue Belt programme has also contributed funding to the Darwin Plus scheme, which has funded marine environment projects in Overseas Territories which are not currently participating in the programme.