Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government which countries the UK has visa free travel arrangements with for British citizens.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
FCDO, who have responsibility for this information, have said that the information this question is requesting can be found in public domain https://visaguide.world/visa-free-countries/uk-passport/
We have included the list for ease:
Albania
American Samoa
Andorra
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Bermuda
Bolivia
Caribbean Netherlands
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Bulgaria
Canada
Cabo Verde
Cayman Islands
Chile
Colombia
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Curaçao
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
French West Indies
Georgia
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guam
Guatemala
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Kazakhstan
Kiribati
Kosovo
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Lesotho
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Malaysia
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Namibia
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niue
North Macedonia
Northern Mariana Islands
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestine
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Réunion
Romania
San Marino
São Tomé and Príncipe
Senegal
Serbia
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Gambia
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turks and Caicos Islands
Türkiye
United States Virgin Islands
Ukraine
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Zambia
Eswatin
Asked by: John Howell (Conservative - Henley)
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 implications for his policies of the debate entitled Recent tensions between Pristina and Belgrade, which took place at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 25 January 2023.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK is committed to supporting Kosovo's international integration, including to institutions such as the Council of Europe. Membership will bring clear benefits to the Kosovan people, including minority communities. We continue to work closely with international partners to support the long-term goal of normalisation of the Serbia-Kosovo relationship, including through the EU-facilitated Dialogue. The Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly plays a crucial role on human rights and rule of law issues, and in pressing states to maintain democratic standards. We welcome this debate and your role in it.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Melton)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the UK has sold weapons or defensive arms to Serbia in the last three years; and whether the UK plans to sell weapons or defensive arms to Serbia in the next two years.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Government publishes Official Statistics (on a quarterly and annual basis) on export licences granted, refused and revoked to all destinations: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data. These reports contain detailed information, including the overall value, the type (e.g. Military, Other), and a summary of the items covered by these licences.
All future export licence applications received will be assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. These Criteria are one of the means by which we implement a range of international legal commitments including the Arms Trade Treaty and other relevant rules of international law.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Melton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2023 to Question 119063 on Serbia: Wagner Group, whether his Department has taken recent steps to assess whether the Wagner Group has opened an office in Belgrade.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
We continue to monitor and assess reports of Wagner Group activity in Serbia, drawing on a range of sources and discussions with Serbian counterparts. On 16 January, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic denied reports that the Wagner Group has a presence in Serbia. The Serbian government has said it will prosecute any Serbian nationals who travel to fight in foreign wars. The UK will continue to raise concerns about Russia's destabilising activity in the region with the Serbian government.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Melton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had formal discussions with representatives of the Serbian Government on the opening of a Wagner Group branch in Belgrade, Serbia in December 2022.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
We regularly discuss the implications and impact of Russia's activity in the Western Balkans region and beyond with Serbian Ministers and officials, including during my [Minister for Europe] recent visit to Serbia, and when the Foreign Secretary met his Serbian counterpart last month. We will always oppose Russian attempts to destabilise the region. We are aware of unconfirmed reports that the Wagner Group has opened a branch in Belgrade and that some Serbian nationals have connections with that organisation.
Asked by: John Howell (Conservative - Henley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of tensions between Serbia and Kosovo; and what steps he is taking to help reduce tensions in the region.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
While the recent removal of roadblocks reduced immediate tensions, the risk of further spikes in tension between Serbia and Kosovo remains. We are working with partners to end the cycle of tensions and advance our shared long-term goal of normalisation of relations, including through our support for EU-facilitated Dialogue. During my visits to Kosovo and Serbia in December, I encouraged a constructive approach and engagement through meaningful dialogue. The Prime Minister's Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Lord Peach, echoed these messages during his 5 January visit to Kosovo. He plans to visit Serbia soon.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia in the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative Conference; and the impact of the Minister’s attendance on the wellbeing of victims and survivors of conflict-related sexual violence attending the conference.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK invited Foreign Ministers from nearly 100 countries to the PSVI Conference. To address conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), we need to involve a range of states, to share experiences and we put survivor voices front and centre. All survivors were provided with full support, including wellbeing and psychological support, which was available throughout the conference. I also met personally with all survivors, and also directly with FM Gërvalla-Schwarz from Kosovo. They recognised the important role the UK was playing in providing a bridge for survivors to directly address issues with countries with whom they had endured serious conflict in the past.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with representatives of the Kosovan government on tensions in the northern part of Kosovo and with Serbia.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK is in close contact with the governments of both Kosovo and Serbia, making clear alongside partners the need to dismantle roadblocks, avoid inflammatory rhetoric and de-escalate latest tensions. The Foreign Secretary is in touch with Kosovo's Prime Minister Kurti and raised recent tensions with the Serbian Ambassador. During my (the Minister for Europe) visits to Serbia on 14 December and Kosovo on 16 December, I underlined that the EU-facilitated Dialogue was key to achieving the long-term goal of normalised relations between Kosovo and Serbia.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 September to Question 48499 on Dogs: Imports, if his Department will publish the number of dogs imported into the UK from each country outlined in that Answer in (a) 2020, (b) 2021 and (c) 2022.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Below are tables to show the countries of origin of commercial dog imports. The data for 2020 is for UK, and the data for 2021 and 2022 (up to the 31/08/2022) is Great Britain only. We do not hold data for Northern Ireland for 2021 and 2022.
This information is drawn from external TRACES and IPAFFs systems, which are not directly controlled by the department.
EU imports | 2020 |
| Rest of World Imports | 2020 |
Country Of Origin | Dogs |
| Country Of Origin | Dogs |
Austria | 6 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 1 |
Belgium | 13 |
| Argentina | 30 |
Bulgaria | 222 |
| Australia | 118 |
Croatia | 153 |
| Bahrain | 95 |
Cyprus | 4246 |
| Barbados | 8 |
Czech Republic | 135 |
| Belarus | 50 |
Denmark | 2 |
| Bermuda | 4 |
Estonia | 21 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1636 |
Finland | 7 |
| Brazil | 120 |
France | 33 |
| Canada | 76 |
Germany | 103 |
| Cayman Islands | 6 |
Greece | 563 |
| Colombia | 12 |
Hungary | 5065 |
| Costa Rica | 9 |
Ireland (Rep. of) | 5814 |
| Egypt | 26 |
Italy | 243 |
| Ethiopia | 3 |
Latvia | 5 |
| French Polynesia | 1 |
Lithuania | 99 |
| Hong Kong | 69 |
Malta | 5 |
| India | 29 |
Netherlands | 38 |
| Indonesia | 2 |
Poland | 3945 |
| Israel | 13 |
Portugal | 343 |
| Japan | 8 |
Romania | 32525 |
| Jordan | 3 |
Slovakia | 106 |
| Kenya | 26 |
Slovenia | 5 |
| Korea (South) | 29 |
Spain | 6475 |
| Kuwait | 12 |
Sweden | 15 |
| Lebanon | 10 |
Switzerland | 1 |
| Macao | 2 |
Total | 60188 |
| Malawi | 1 |
|
|
| Malaysia | 25 |
|
|
| Mauritius | 85 |
|
|
| Mexico | 51 |
|
|
| Namibia | 3 |
|
|
| New Zealand | 40 |
|
|
| North Macedonia | 566 |
|
|
| Nigeria | 3 |
|
|
| Oman | 8 |
|
|
| Peru | 5 |
|
|
| Philippines | 1 |
|
|
| Qatar | 43 |
|
|
| Russia | 713 |
|
|
| Saudi Arabia | 9 |
|
|
| Serbia | 40 |
|
|
| Singapore | 58 |
|
|
| South Africa | 519 |
|
|
| Sri Lanka | 2 |
|
|
| Taiwan | 7 |
|
|
| Tajikistan | 1 |
|
|
| Thailand | 18 |
|
|
| Turkey | 375 |
|
|
| Turks and Caicos | 1 |
|
|
| UAE | 164 |
|
|
| Uganda | 2 |
|
|
| Ukraine | 3 |
|
|
| Uruguay | 5 |
|
|
| USA | 1592 |
|
|
| Viet Nam | 15 |
|
|
| Zimbabwe | 11 |
|
|
| Total | 6764 |
EU Imports | 2021 | Rest of World Imports | 2021 |
Country | Dogs | Country of origin | Dogs |
Austria | 22 | Argentina | 17 |
Belgium | 78 | Australia | 345 |
Bulgaria | 1093 | Bahamas | 1 |
Croatia | 2003 | Bahrain | 55 |
Cyprus | 3758 | Barbados | 22 |
Czechia | 221 | Belarus | 1 |
Denmark | 719 | Bermuda | 12 |
England | 72 | Brazil | 125 |
Estonia | 23 | Canada | 167 |
Finland | 8 | Cayman Islands | 15 |
France | 411 | China | 174 |
Germany | 76 | Colombia | 12 |
Greece | 1017 | Costa Rica | 13 |
Hungary | 4517 | Ecuador | 2 |
Iceland | 1 | Egypt | 41 |
Italy | 296 | Ethiopia | 4 |
Latvia | 512 | Guam | 3 |
Lithuania | 678 | Hong Kong | 161 |
Luxembourg | 2 | India | 96 |
Malta | 3 | Indonesia | 2 |
Netherlands | 152 | Israel | 12 |
Northern Ireland | 2 | Jamaica | 2 |
Norway | 3 | Japan | 12 |
Poland | 5593 | Jordan | 13 |
Portugal | 500 | Kenya | 43 |
Republic of Ireland | 6658 | Kuwait | 30 |
Romania | 38081 | Lebanon | 36 |
Scotland | 1 | Macao | 1 |
Slovakia | 291 | Malawi | 2 |
Slovenia | 7 | Malaysia | 71 |
Spain | 5909 | Mauritius | 3 |
Sweden | 49 | Mexico | 11 |
Switzerland | 8 | Mozambique | 2 |
Wales | 1 | Namibia | 3 |
(blank) | 1 | Nepal | 1 |
Grand Total | 72766 | New Zealand | 92 |
|
| Nigeria | 2 |
|
| Oman | 14 |
|
| Panama | 2 |
|
| Peru | 25 |
|
| Philippines | 1 |
|
| Qatar | 179 |
|
| Russian Federation | 261 |
|
| Saudi Arabia | 27 |
|
| Serbia | 2 |
|
| Singapore | 141 |
|
| South Africa | 1522 |
|
| South Korea | 60 |
|
| Taiwan | 4 |
|
| Thailand | 48 |
|
| Turkey | 148 |
|
| Ukraine | 6 |
|
| United Arab Emirates | 499 |
|
| United States of America | 966 |
|
| Vietnam | 2 |
|
| Zimbabwe | 22 |
|
| Grand Total | 5533 |
EU Imports to 31/08/2022 | 2022 | Rest of World Imports to 31/08/2022 | 2022 |
Country Of Origin | Dogs | Country Of Origin | Dogs |
Austria | 5 | Albania | 1 |
Belgium | 25 | Algeria | 1 |
Bulgaria | 1248 | Australia | 295 |
Croatia | 1742 | Bahrain | 84 |
Cyprus | 1982 | Barbados | 13 |
Czech Republic | 108 | Bermuda | 10 |
Denmark | 216 | Brazil | 65 |
England? | 35 | Brunei | 2 |
Estonia | 13 | Canada | 90 |
Finland | 5 | Cayman Islands | 11 |
France | 68 | Chile | 5 |
Germany | 90 | China | 101 |
Greece | 254 | Colombia | 7 |
Hungary | 1766 | Costa Rica | 5 |
Isle of Man | 2 | Dominican Republic | 1 |
Ireland (Rep. of) | 4528 | Ecuador | 1 |
Italy | 184 | Egypt | 13 |
Latvia | 309 | Fiji | 1 |
Lithuania | 297 | Hong Kong | 25 |
Luxembourg | 1 | India | 108 |
Malta | 0 | Indonesia | 1 |
Netherlands | 84 | Israel | 5 |
Northern Ireland | 13 | Japan | 6 |
Norway | 7 | Jordan | 4 |
Poland | 1242 | Kenya | 24 |
Portugal | 237 | Korea (South) | 44 |
Romania | 8698 | Kuwait | 10 |
Slovakia | 127 | Lebanon | 16 |
Slovenia | 1 | Malaysia | 32 |
Spain | 3348 | Mauritius | 13 |
Sweden | 10 | Mexico | 16 |
Switzerland | 2 | Namibia | 2 |
UK | 4 | New Zealand | 82 |
Total | 26651 | Nigeria | 1 |
|
| Oman | 1 |
|
| Panama | 2 |
|
| Peru | 4 |
|
| Philippines | 7 |
|
| Qatar | 56 |
|
| Russia | 21 |
|
| Saint Lucia | 1 |
|
| Saudi Arabia | 17 |
|
| Singapore | 66 |
|
| South Africa | 557 |
|
| Sri Lanka | 3 |
|
| Taiwan | 1 |
|
| Thailand | 30 |
|
| Turkey | 57 |
|
| UAE | 233 |
|
| Uganda | 5 |
|
| Ukraine | 2 |
|
| USA | 416 |
|
| Vietnam | 1 |
|
| Zimbabwe | 9 |
|
| Total | 2584 |
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
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 implications for his policies of the recent agreements signed between Serbia and Russia; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
On 21 October, I attended the Berlin Process Foreign Ministers' meeting, and emphasized the need for coordination in response to Russian destabilising actions in the Western Balkans, including through Euro-Atlantic integration and support for energy transition. Our Ambassador in Belgrade has welcomed Serbia's condemnation of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, and encouraged further measures to align with European partners, including by imposing sanctions.