Jul. 17 2023
Source Page: UK–Caribbean region development partnership summaryFound: UK–Caribbean region development partnership summary
Written Evidence Nov. 09 2023
Inquiry: The Status of the UK’s Overseas Territories in the 21 CenturyFound: UK’s Overseas Territories in the 21st Century Disabled Peoples’ International North America and the Caribbean
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to deploy (a) Armed Forces personnel to Guyana and (b) Royal Navy warships to the Caribbean in the context of the border dispute between Venezuela and Guyana.
Answered by James Heappey
We are keeping the situation under close review and have a range of options that could be deployed with the agreement of the Government of Guyana, including the Offshore Patrol Vessel, HMS TRENT.
Mentions:
1: Lord Bruce of Bennachie (LD - Life peer) I thank the Minister for his Answer and declare an interest as president of the Caribbean Council, which - Speech Link
2: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con - Life peer) My Lords, I recognise the important work that the noble Lord does with respect to the Caribbean. - Speech Link
3: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con - Life peer) My Lords, recognising the important role of my noble friend over many years when it comes to the Caribbean - Speech Link
4: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con - Life peer) It is important to recognise the role of our Caribbean partners. - Speech Link
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has to promote economic cooperation between the UK and the CARICOM region.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary co-chaired the biennial UK-Caribbean Forum with the Jamaican Foreign Minister, in Kingston, Jamaica on 18 May. The Foreign Secretary discussed improving two-way trade and signed an MoU that will provide an overarching framework for UK-Caribbean cooperation and is the first of its kind between The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and a nation state.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will publish the list of passengers on-board the then Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's plane during his tour of the (a) Caribbean and (b) Latin America in May 2023.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In accordance with Cabinet Office guidelines, only passengers who are senior officials are published. This information can be found on the FCDO quarterly transparency data return on GOV.UK
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with reference to the then Secretary of State's tour of the Caribbean and Latin America in May 2023, whether an assessment was made of the feasibility of travelling by commercial airline.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Travelling commercially would not have achieved this trip within the time allocated. Foreign travel is a vital part of diplomacy. It is in the national interest that the Foreign Secretary and other Ministers travel abroad to pursue UK interests. Value for money is taken into account in all travel decisions.
Mentions:
1: Lord Shinkwin (Con - Life peer) sure my noble friend is aware that some people from certain ethnic backgrounds, for example African-Caribbean - Speech Link
2: Baroness Barran (Con - Life peer) My noble friend raised the Afro-Caribbean communities but there are also, for example, significant barriers - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton (Con - Life peer) We commend the efforts of partners across the Caribbean and beyond to support orderly political transition - Speech Link
2: Lord Swire (Con - Life peer) he should not underestimate—I am sure he does not—the influence and good will we have in the wider Caribbean - Speech Link
3: Lord Cashman (Lab - Life peer) influence within the region to ensure that the solutions to these problems come from within Haiti and the Caribbean - Speech Link
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with reference to the then Secretary of State's tour of the Caribbean and Latin America in May 2023, what travel options other than Embraer Lineage 1000E were available; what the comparative cost of those options was to Embraer Lineage 1000E; and for what reason Embraer Lineage 1000E was selected as the chosen means of travel.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Government aircraft assets were explored but unavailable. The charter aircraft was selected as the most efficient and value for money asset for the Foreign Secretary and travelling delegation to undertake the visit. Foreign travel is a vital part of diplomacy. It is in the national interest that the Foreign Secretary and other Ministers travel abroad to pursue UK interests. Value for money is taken into account in all travel decisions