Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the British Overseas Territories on tackling tax evasion in those territories.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
British Overseas Territories (OTs) with financial centres are committed to meeting international standards on tax transparency. They have committed to adhere to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Inclusive Framework and Global Forum standards, including the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting minimum standards. Officials in HM Treasury and FCDO have a programme of regular engagement with OTs to discuss implementation of these standards and wider international tax policy. For example, since Easter 2024, such discussions have taken place with Anguilla, Cayman, Gibraltar, Montserrat, and Turks and Caicos.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support the development of healthcare services in Montserrat.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department of Health and Social Care works with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the UK Health Security Agency, and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, to provide health system support to all Overseas Territories, including Montserrat. This includes practical and technical support to supply COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and antivirals, medical equipment, and support on workforce recruitment and retention. We also administer the NHS Quota System which allows Montserrat to refer ten patients for a free course of NHS treatment not available on island.
Asked by: Damian Collins (Conservative - Folkestone and Hythe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assistance has been provided for the development of digital infrastructure in (a) the British Overseas Territories and (b) Caribbean Commonwealth countries since 2014.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Whilst digital infrastructure is a mostly devolved matter, the UK provides significant support to the four Official Development Assistance (ODA) eligible Territories. The FCDO-funded capital investment programme in Montserrat recently delivered a sub-sea fibre cable and in St Helena we are supporting improvements in the local telecommunications infrastructure.
The UK has not provided support for digital infrastructure in the Caribbean through our bilateral ODA. However, we continue to support the development of digital infrastructure through our shareholding in multilateral agencies including the World Bank, Inter-American and Caribbean Development Banks.
Mar. 12 2024
Source Page: British Embassy Oman Campaign Goal 3: EvaluationFound: for graduation from the List in the 2026 review. (3) The DAC agreed to defer the decision to graduate Montserrat
Asked by: Carol Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what recent progress his Department has made on the introduction of public registers of ownership by British overseas territories.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In March, the UK and Overseas Territories discussed their commitments and timelines to implement public registers, either accessible to all members of the public or with access predicated on 'legitimate interest'. I [Minister Rutley] re-stated the UK's expectation that where public access is predicated on 'legitimate interest' this will include media and civil society, among others, and is an interim step to access for all members of the public. The FCDO is funding expert NGO, Open Ownership, to provide technical assistance to expedite implementation; they are providing advice to the governments of Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman, Montserrat, St. Helena, and Turks and Caicos. Officials are conducting a stocktake of progress.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to improve road transport infrastructure in Montserrat.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government has supported Montserrat through a £40 million Capital Investment Programme for Resilient and Economic Growth (CIPREG), which has been spread over six years from 2019-2025. Under this programme a new hot mix asphalt plant has been procured and is currently completing its commissioning. This new plant will allow the Government of Montserrat to undertake routine maintenance of the roads and begin resurfacing high priority areas.
Written Evidence Nov. 09 2023
Inquiry: The Status of the UK’s Overseas Territories in the 21 CenturyFound: , (BVI, Montserrat, Bermuda, Anguilla, TCI, Cayman) Sex, (BVI, Montserrat, TCI, Anguilla, Cayman) Language
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps he is taking to help improve (a) internet and (b) communications connectivity in the Overseas Territories.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This UK Government is committed to supporting the UK Overseas Territories as valued members of the British Family. Whilst telecommunications are mostly devolved matters which are the responsibility of the local governments in the Territories the UK provides significant support to the four Official Development Assistance (ODA) eligible Territories. The FCDO funded capital investment programme in Montserrat recently delivered a sub-sea fibre cable and in St Helena we are supporting improvements in the local telecommunications infrastructure. The FCDO also supports the provision of internet to Pitcairn Island and Tristan da Cunha.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
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 the development of the tourism industry in Montserrat.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I [Minister Rutley] refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 31 May 2023 to Question UIN 186051 which can be found on the Parliamentary Written Questions and Answers webpages: [https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2023-05-22/186051]
Written Evidence Sep. 06 2023
Inquiry: The procedure of the House of Commons and the territorial constitutionFound: Written evidence submitted by Miss Lilian Thomas (Nurse at Montseerat all access group) (TTC 18) Montserrat