Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she has taken to help support peace and stability in the Western Balkans.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
HMG is working closely with our NATO Allies, including the US and European partners, to support security and stability. In February, the Western Balkans Prime Ministers and Ambassadors were hosted in London for talks on strengthening our economic and security partnerships, including cooperation on resilience and cyber. In April, the Government used its Bosnia and Herzegovina autonomous sanctions regime for the first time, sanctioning Bosnian-Serb politicians Milorad Dodik and Zeljka Cvijanovic for their attempts to undermine the legitimacy and functionality of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Government has announced plans to extend our offer of honest and reliable infrastructure investment to the Western Balkans, and aims to mobilise £80 million of UK-backed investment by 2025. This will reduce dependency on Russian hydrocarbons and accelerate the transition to renewables. The Prime Minister's Special Envoy to the Western Balkans, Sir Stuart Peach, is also engaging extensively across the region, working alongside our US and European partners to reduce the risk of conflict.
Asked by: Peter Bottomley (Conservative - Worthing West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to list for each overseas country when resident UK pensioners do not receive yearly increases what the lowest current payment to a pensioner is who was entitled at retirement to a full basic UK state pension, stating the year the pension was frozen.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The UK State Pension is payable worldwide and is up-rated in countries where there is a legal requirement to do so. This is a longstanding policy which has been supported by successive post-war governments for over 70 years.
Up-rating is paid to State Pension recipients in the UK, European Union, European Economic Area, Barbados, Bermuda, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Israel, Jamaica, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Mauritius, Montenegro, Serbia, Switzerland, The Philippines, Turkey, and the United States.
Information on the lowest full basic State Pension in payment, in each country where up-rating is not paid, is not readily available and to provide it would incur a disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Peter Bottomley (Conservative - Worthing West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which countries the UK has (a) bilateral or (b) reciprocal agreements on provision of the State Pension; when each of those agreements was made, whether UK pensioners resident in those countries receive yearly increases; and how many UK pensioners there were in each country as of 9 June 2022.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The UK State Pension is payable worldwide and is up-rated annually in countries where there is a legal requirement to do so. This is a longstanding policy which has been supported by successive governments for over 70 years.
As of November 2020, 473,842 State Pension recipients residing in the European Union or countries which are members of the European Free Trade Association (Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein) receive annual up-rating under various EU-Exit related agreements, including the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement, which entered into force in 2020 and the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which entered into force in 2021.
Other countries with which the UK has a reciprocal agreement also allowing for State Pension up-rating, the date in which the particular agreement was made, and the number of State Pension recipients residing in these countries (as of November 2020) are:
*Following the break-up of Yugoslavia, the UK agreement with former Yugoslavia now covers Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Croatia and Slovenia are EU Member States covered by the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
The UK also has reciprocal social security agreements with New Zealand (1983) and Canada (1995) covering provisions for State Pension, but these agreements do not provide for annual up-rating. As of November 2020, 63,930 State Pension recipients reside in New Zealand and 126,426 recipients reside in Canada.
Source:
State Pension statistics by country of residence are currently available to November 2020 and these are available on Stat-Xplore here: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk
Guidance for users is available at:
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they are having with (1) European partners, and (2) others, regarding the sanctions imposed against Milorad Dodik.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Sanctions are an important part of the UK toolkit for the Western Balkans. We have an autonomous Bosnia and Herzegovina sanctions regime which we keep under constant review. In close coordination with our US, European and other international partners, we are reviewing a range of restrictive measures to introduce consequences for destabilising and dangerous behaviour. These include sanctions as well as greater conditionality attached to international assistance. We cannot currently comment or speculate on future sanctions targets, as to do so could reduce their impact.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the US Administration's decision to impose further sanction on Milorad Dodik.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK welcomed the US decision in January to impose sanctions in response to ongoing threats to Bosnia and Herzegovina's stability. Sanctions are also an important part of the UK toolkit for Bosnia and Herzegovina. In close coordination with our US, European and other international partners, we are reviewing a range of restrictive measures to introduce consequences for destabilising and dangerous behaviour. These include sanctions as well as greater conditionality attached to international assistance. We do not comment or speculate on future sanctions targets, as to do so could reduce their impact.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to guarantee (1) security, and (2) stability, in the Western Balkans in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Russia's unprovoked, premeditated attack against the sovereign democratic state of Ukraine has heightened the risk of miscalculation or exploitation in the Western Balkans region. We will not allow Russia to use the region as a theatre for provocation or distraction. We are working closely with our NATO Allies, including the US and other European partners, to support security and stability across the region. We are using our programme funds to increase resilience against malign activity such as state-sponsored cyber-attacks, and we are deepening economic ties. In Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), we support the recent increase in personnel deployed as part of the Operation ALTHEA peace stabilisation force, and we are reviewing a range of restrictive measures, including sanctions and greater conditionality of international assistance to ensure stability in BiH. While Russia continues to violate international law, human rights and multiple commitments to peace and security, we will work with our allies and partners across the multilateral system to condemn Russia's appalling actions and to isolate it on the international stage.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of Russia's membership of the (1) Bosnia and Herzegovina Peace Implementation Council, and (2) the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board, in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; and what assessment they have made as to whether Russia’s membership should be reviewed.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
While Russia continues to violate international law, human rights and multiple commitments to peace and security, we will work with our allies and partners across the multilateral system to condemn Russia's appalling actions and to isolate it on the international stage. As a signatory of the 1995 General Framework for Peace (GFAP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Russia is a member of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) and its Steering Board. However, since the appointment of High Representative Christian Schmidt, whom the UK fully supports, Russia has not participated in the PIC or the Steering Board. Any review of Russia's membership of the PIC would be for the whole Steering Board.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what peace-building projects are being funded by UK Aid in Bosnia Herzegovina.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
In 2020-2021, the Government funded £60 million of programme activity in the Western Balkans, supporting UK priorities such as conflict prevention and resolution, stronger defence and security, media freedom, gender equality, education, reconciliation, tackling corruption, serious and organised crime and violent extremism. The UK remains committed to helping Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) maintain lasting peace and stability. Our Embassy in Sarajevo supports a range of innovative peace-building projects to deliver citizen-centred reforms. Examples include working with the community in Mostar on social cohesion; the Srebrenica Memorial Centre on genocide prevention; and the International Commission on Missing Persons on improving regional co-operation. We also work to support survivors of sexual violence and mainstreaming gender equality.
Asked by: Andrew Percy (Conservative - Brigg and Goole)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the tensions between Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK supports Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) territorial integrity. Threats from within the Republika Srpska to withdraw from BiH State institutions are dangerous. We have called on those responsible to cease this destabilising and divisive rhetoric. We condemn Russian interference in the crisis, which undermines stability. The UK is committed to upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement. The UK, along with our Allies, is offering visible and practical support to BiH's territorial integrity, to maintain the Office of the High Representative, and the peace stabilisation mission (EUFOR). The Prime Minister's appointment of Sir Stuart Peach as Special Envoy to the Western Balkans, demonstrates the UK's ongoing commitment.
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, what progress has been made on plans to increase the number of NATO staff in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK remains committed to ensuring peace and upholding international law in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). We support the NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo, including though the secondment of UK staff officers, who are building the capacity of the BiH Armed Forces. At the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Riga in December, the Foreign Secretary took part in discussions about how best to support stability in BiH. We are in close contact with our NATO colleagues who are actively working to increase staffing in BiH. Through NATO, as well as our bilateral relationship, the UK will continue to support BiH in implementing domestic reforms and tackling challenges to peace and security.