Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many cats have been imported this year under the Balai Directive; and from which countries those cats originated.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Since we left the EU, the EU import data for 2021 and 2022 was collated from PIMS which is APHA’s Post Import Management System and accounts for all Imports into the United Kingdom that have been entered using IPAFFS (Import of products, animals, food and feed system).
This information is drawn from the external IPAFF’s system not directly controlled by the department.
From 14th April 2022 the United Kingdom temporarily suspended the commercial import of dogs, cats and ferrets if they originated from or have been dispatched from Belarus, Poland, Romania or Ukraine, until 29th October 2022.
January-September 2022 | |
Country Of Origin | Total |
Austria | 1 |
Belgium | 15 |
Bulgaria | 115 |
Croatia | 32 |
Cyprus | 392 |
Czech Republic | 22 |
Denmark | 5 |
England | 3 |
Estonia | 3 |
France | 17 |
Germany | 28 |
Greece | 42 |
Hungary | 94 |
Ireland (Rep. of) | 1 |
Italy | 18 |
Latvia | 155 |
Lithuania | 107 |
Netherlands | 11 |
Poland | 208 |
Portugal | 32 |
Romania | 705 |
Slovakia | 17 |
Spain | 339 |
Sweden | 2 |
Switzerland | 3 |
Antigua and Barbuda | 6 |
Argentina | 7 |
Australia | 140 |
Bahamas | 4 |
Barbados | 1 |
Bahrain | 124 |
Bermuda | 6 |
Brazil | 59 |
Brunei | 3 |
Canada | 81 |
Cayman Islands | 12 |
Chile | 3 |
China | 31 |
Colombia | 12 |
Costa Rica | 2 |
Egypt | 357 |
Georgia | 1 |
Ghana | 2 |
Hong Kong | 29 |
India | 46 |
Indonesia | 5 |
Israel | 2 |
Japan | 8 |
Jordan | 2 |
Kenya | 9 |
Korea (South) | 18 |
Kuwait | 22 |
Lebanon | 8 |
Malaysia | 33 |
Mauritius | 6 |
Mexico | 12 |
Myanmar | 2 |
Namibia | 2 |
New Zealand | 85 |
North Macedonia | 9 |
Oman | 5 |
Pakistan | 2 |
Peru | 1 |
Philippines | 2 |
Qatar | 106 |
Russia | 48 |
Saint Lucia | 1 |
Saudi Arabia | 67 |
Seychelles | 1 |
Singapore | 39 |
South Africa | 348 |
Taiwan | 2 |
Thailand | 43 |
Turkey | 15 |
UAE | 1043 |
Uganda | 1 |
USA | 256 |
Vietnam | 4 |
Zimbabwe | 18 |
Total | 5518 |
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the contribution made by the armed forces to humanitarian and international aid as an addition to the annual Official Development Assistance budget.
Answered by James Heappey
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) works closely with colleagues across Government to ensure humanitarian and international aid gets to the countries that need it.
The MOD supports the FCDO with its Official Development Assistance programme, facilitates the transportation of humanitarian aid to ODA-eligible countries and contributes to cross-government responses to humanitarian crises and natural disasters. This includes our response to natural disasters in the Caribbean region under Operation VENTUS, with a principle focus on support to UK Overseas Territories during the Caribbean Hurricane Season. Most recently in 2022, support has been provided in the Turks and Caicos Islands in the wake of Hurricane FIONA and in the Cayman Islands after Hurricane IAN.
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 5 September 2022 to Question 40929 on Dogs: Imports, if he will publish a breakdown of the countries of origin of the dogs commercially imported into the UK from abroad in (a) 2020, (b) 2021 and (c) 2022.
Answered by Scott Mann - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Below are tables to show the countries of origin of commercial dog imports. The data for 2020 is for the UK, while the data for 2021 and 2022 (up to 31 August 2022) is for Great Britain only. We do not hold data for Northern Ireland for 2021 and 2022.
This information is drawn from external TRACES and IPAFF systems not directly controlled by the department.
Country Of Origin from EU 2020 | Country Of Origin from Rest of World 2020 |
Austria | Antigua and Barbuda |
Belgium | Argentina |
Bulgaria | Australia |
Croatia | Bahrain |
Cyprus | Barbados |
Czech Republic | Belarus |
Denmark | Bermuda |
Estonia | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Finland | Brazil |
France | Canada |
Germany | Cayman Islands |
Greece | Colombia |
Hungary | Costa Rica |
Ireland (Rep. of) | Egypt |
Italy | Ethiopia |
Latvia | French Polynesia |
Lithuania | Hong Kong |
Malta | India |
Netherlands | Indonesia |
Poland | Israel |
Portugal | Japan |
Romania | Jordan |
Slovakia | Kenya |
Slovenia | Korea (South) |
Spain | Kuwait |
Sweden | Lebanon |
Switzerland | Macao |
| |
| Malawi |
| Malaysia |
| Mauritius |
| Mexico |
| Namibia |
| New Zealand |
| Nigeria |
| North Macedonia |
| Oman |
| Peru |
| Philippines |
| Qatar |
| Russia |
| Saudi Arabia |
| Serbia |
| Singapore |
| South Africa |
| Sri Lanka |
| Taiwan |
| Tajikistan |
| Thailand |
| Turkey |
| Turks and Caicos |
| UAE |
| Uganda |
| Ukraine |
| Uruguay |
| USA |
| Vietnam |
| Zimbabwe |
Country Of Origin from EU 2021 | Country Of Origin from Rest of World 2021 |
Austria | Argentina |
Belgium | Australia |
Bulgaria | Bahamas |
Croatia | Bahrain |
Cyprus | Barbados |
Czechia | Belarus |
Denmark | Bermuda |
Estonia | Brazil |
Finland | Canada |
France | Cayman Islands |
Germany | China |
Greece | Colombia |
Hungary | Costa Rica |
Iceland | Ecuador |
Italy | Egypt |
Latvia | Ethiopia |
Lithuania | Guam |
Luxembourg | Hong Kong |
Malta | India |
Netherlands | Indonesia |
Northern Ireland | Israel |
Norway | Jamaica |
Poland | Japan |
Portugal | Jordan |
Republic of Ireland | Kenya |
Romania | Kuwait |
Slovakia | Lebanon |
Slovenia | Macao |
Spain | Malawi |
Sweden | Malaysia |
Switzerland | Mauritius |
| Mexico |
| Mozambique |
| Namibia |
| Nepal |
| New Zealand |
| Nigeria |
| Oman |
| Panama |
| Peru |
| Philippines |
| Qatar |
| Russian Federation |
| Saudi Arabia |
| Serbia |
| Singapore |
| South Africa |
| South Korea |
| Taiwan |
| Thailand |
| Turkey |
| Ukraine |
| United Arab Emirates |
| United States of America |
| Viet Nam |
| Zimbabwe |
Country Of Origin from EU 2022 | Country Of Origin from Rest of World 2022 |
Austria | Albania |
Belgium | Algeria |
Bulgaria | Australia |
Croatia | Bahrain |
Cyprus | Barbados |
Czech Republic | Bermuda |
Denmark | Brazil |
Estonia | Brunei |
Finland | Canada |
France | Cayman Islands |
Germany | Chile |
Greece | China |
Hungary | Colombia |
Isle of Man | Costa Rica |
Ireland (Rep. of) | Dominican Republic |
Italy | Ecuador |
Latvia | Egypt |
Lithuania | Fiji |
Luxembourg | Hong Kong |
Netherlands | India |
Northern Ireland | Indonesia |
Norway | Israel |
Poland | Japan |
Portugal | Jordan |
Romania | Kenya |
Slovakia | Korea (South) |
Slovenia | Kuwait |
Spain | Lebanon |
Sweden | Malaysia |
Switzerland | Mauritius |
| Mexico |
| Namibia |
| New Zealand |
| Nigeria |
| Oman |
| Panama |
| Peru |
| Philippines |
| Qatar |
| Russia |
| Saint Lucia |
| Saudi Arabia |
| Singapore |
| South Africa |
| Sri Lanka |
| Taiwan |
| Thailand |
| Turkey |
| UAE |
| Uganda |
| Ukraine |
| USA |
| Vietnam |
| Zimbabwe |
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 her Department is taking to (a) work with and (b) support the Government of the Cayman Islands in achieving the goals set out in its 2022-2024 Strategic Policy Statement.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The UK continues to support the Overseas Territories, including the Cayman Islands, to build vibrant and sustainable economies and deliver on their strategic priorities. The FCDO has engaged with the Cayman Islands on the Strategic Policy Statement since its inception in 2021, and continues to engage with them on economic matters, including through the UK-Cayman Framework for Fiscal Responsibility. The FCDO is supporting the Cayman Islands to achieve key policy priorities, as set out in the Strategic Policy Statement, including through funding by the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund. Between 2020-21, the programme funded projects in five key areas in the Cayman Islands covering Governance, Justice, Border Security, the Environment/Climate Change and Covid-19 support. The UK Government also continues to support environmental priorities with a range of projects in the Cayman Islands including coral reef protection, disaster resilience, seabed mapping and a climate change risk assessment, as well as supporting healthcare and wellbeing priorities with activities to strengthen laboratory and public health capability, and to examine and address gaps in mental health services.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - North West Durham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has had discussions with authorities in (a) Bermuda, (b) British Virgin Islands and (c) the Cayman Islands on the potential merits of increasing protections for British minority shareholders in companies incorporated in those jurisdictions.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Overseas Territories are self-governing jurisdictions with their own democratically elected governments, who are responsible for their own financial services policy. The regulation of the financial services industries in the Overseas Territories are a matter for their elected governments. The FCDO has not discussed the issue of British minority shareholders with Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands or the Cayman Islands. The Overseas Territories cooperate with the UK on taxation, fighting financial crime and countering terrorist finance. They are committed to meeting international standards on illicit finance, tax transparency and anti-money laundering; including those set by the OECD and the Financial Action Task Force.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - North West Durham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to prevent companies from using lower regulatory standards in (a) Bermuda, (b) British Virgin Islands and (c) Cayman Islands to (i) take advantage of loopholes and (ii) avoid scrutiny from shareholders.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Overseas Territories including Bermuda, British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands are self-governing jurisdictions with their own democratically elected governments, who are responsible for their own financial services policy. The Overseas Territories cooperate with the UK on taxation, fighting financial crime and sanctions enforcement. They are committed to meeting international standards on illicit finance, tax transparency and anti-money laundering including those set by the OECD, the Financial Action Task Force and regional standards set by the EU. In 2020, the Financial Action Task Force issued an excellent rating following an evaluation of Bermuda's regulatory regime for combatting money laundering and the financing of terrorism and proliferation. The Overseas Territories also continue to share valuable company ownerships and tax information with UK law authorities, under the invaluable Exchange of Notes process. It was information shared by an Overseas Territory which enabled the UK's first Unexplained Wealth Order.
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 is the total value is of assets frozen under the Russia sanctions regime by each territory of the (a) British Overseas Territories and (b) Crown Dependencies.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
British Overseas Territories have frozen Russian assets with a combined estimated value in excess of 11 billion US dollars. Examples include, the Cayman Islands Government who publicly reported Russian assets with an estimated value of US$7.7 billion have been frozen. The British Virgin Islands government have also publicly reported assets with an estimated value of more than US$ 400 million have been frozen to date.
Sanctions enforcement matters in the Crown Dependencies is a matter for their local authorities not the UK government. But the three governments have publicly reported that they have frozen assets worth in total over £1 billion: Isle of Man, £1.9 million; Guernsey, £5 million; Jersey, over £1 billion. These figures are likely to change.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what level of greenhouse gas reduction the UK Overseas Territories of Gibraltar, the Cayman Islands and the Falkland Islands have achieved under the UK ratification of the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol; and whether they have fulfilled their targets.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK’s Overseas Territories of the Cayman Islands, Falklands and Gibraltar do not have individual targets under the Doha Amendment, but are included in the UK’s target, which the UK is on track to meet.
For reference, territorial greenhouse gas emissions in the base year (1990) and most recent year (2020) for the 3 territories listed are as follows (million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent):
UK Overseas Territory | 1990 | 2020 |
Cayman Islands | 0.5 | 1.1 |
Falkland Islands | 0.4 | 0.4 |
Gibraltar | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Note that final estimates of emissions reductions under the Doha Amendment would differ slightly from these figures, as the UK has chosen to use 1995 as the base year for fluorinated gases emissions under the Kyoto Protocol. The UK will account for emissions from the land use, land use change and forestry sector in accordance with Kyoto Protocol guidelines. Final figures will be available following the ‘true-up’ process, in which final assessment of compliance with targets under the Doha amendment will take place, likely to be 2023 at the earliest.
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether regular officers and soldiers serving in (1) the Royal Gibraltar Regiment; (2) the Cayman Islands Regiment, (3) the Turks and Caicos Regiment, (4) the Bermuda Regiment, (5) the Falkland Islands Defence Force, and (6) the Royal Montserrat Defence Force, are entitled to qualify for (a) the Long Service, and (b) the Good Conduct Medal.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
Full and part-time members of British Overseas Territories Defence Forces and Regiments were formerly eligible for the same long service and efficiency awards as UK Reserve Forces.
With successive policy changes over the past few decades and particularly following the introduction of the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal in 1999, it is acknowledged there is a need to ensure clarity in relation to the grounds for eligibility.
The basis for continued eligibility to UK awards is currently under review and the outcome will be communicated in due course.
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether volunteer reserves serving in (1) the Royal Gibraltar Regiment; (2) the Cayman Islands Regiment, (3) the Turks and Caicos Regiment, (4) the Bermuda Regiment, (5) the Falkland Islands Defence Force, and (6) the Royal Montserrat Defence Force, are entitled to qualify for (a) the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal, and (b) the Queen’s Volunteer Reserves Medal.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
Full and part-time members of British Overseas Territories Defence Forces and Regiments were formerly eligible for the same long service and efficiency awards as UK Reserve Forces.
With successive policy changes over the past few decades and particularly following the introduction of the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal in 1999, it is acknowledged there is a need to ensure clarity in relation to the grounds for eligibility.
The basis for continued eligibility to UK awards is currently under review and the outcome will be communicated in due course.