Apr. 16 2024
Source Page: Bermuda: Knowledge Base profileFound: Bermuda: Knowledge Base profile
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had recent discussions with his counterpart in Bermuda on the decriminalisation of possession of cannabis in that territory.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to working in partnership with Bermuda and we remain available to discuss new proposals on this legislation, to find a way forward that works for Bermuda whilst also remaining within the scope of existing international obligations.
Asked by: Margaret Hodge (Labour - Barking)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of Bermuda's implementation of publicly accessible registers of company beneficial ownership in line with the Draft Order in Council prepared by the Secretary of State to comply with the requirement under section 51 of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018; whether the Territory has (a) introduced and (b) passed the legislation required for the creation of a publicly accessible register of company beneficial ownership; whether the register will be (i) open and (ii) free at point of access; and when the register will be (A) live and (B) operational.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government of Bermuda (GoB) already shares confidential information on company beneficial ownership with UK law enforcement under the Exchange of Notes Arrangements. It has also committed to introduce a publicly accessible register of beneficial ownership (PARBO).
The GoB is identifying the necessary modifications to its legislative regime to enable the creation of a PARBO that would comply with the standards set out in a written ministerial statement (HCWS369) of 14 December 2020. How Bermuda seeks to recoup the costs of operating their PARBO will be a matter for the Territory Government.
The GoB is assessing its timeline for implementation in light of the November 2022 Court of Justice of the European Union judgment. The UK Government is engaging GoB on the issues raised by that judgment and providing technical assistance, most recently at the UK-OT Beneficial Ownership Transparency Technical Working Group on 10 October. We will confirm the timeline with Bermuda and other Overseas Territories at the Joint Ministerial Council scheduled for 14-15 November.
Asked by: Mick Whitley (Labour - Birkenhead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the Bermudan Ship Register's compliance with core international maritime and labour conventions.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Bermuda Shipping and Maritime Authority (BSMA) were audited by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in July 2023 to assess compliance with the mandatory International Maritime Organization (IMO) Instruments Implementation Code and UK Secretary of State for Transport's general superintendency over all British shipping matters. These are routine and regular audits. BSMA had areas of ongoing minor actions in the context of continuous improvement but were found to be satisfactorily discharging their obligations under international maritime conventions including the Maritime Labour Convention.
Mentions:
1: David Rutley (Con - Macclesfield) The UK and the British overseas territories of Anguilla, Ascension, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, - Speech Link
Written Evidence Nov. 09 2023
Inquiry: The Status of the UK’s Overseas Territories in the 21 CenturyFound: The Bermuda Constitution at 50: Reflections on its Past and Future (Hamilton, Bermuda: Centre for
Found: (Assembly) 36 36/36 0/36 13/36 (max) 8 22.2% Progressive Labour Party One Bermuda Alliance 30
Written Evidence Nov. 29 2023
Inquiry: The Status of the UK’s Overseas Territories in the 21 CenturyFound: thought it might be helpful if I shared a short summary of points advanced for consideration: - 1.Bermuda
Written Evidence Nov. 29 2023
Inquiry: The Status of the UK’s Overseas Territories in the 21 CenturyFound: Reform of the Constitution of Bermuda is long overdue.