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Written Question
Musicians: Lithuania
Monday 5th December 2022

Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the Lithuanian Government to agree bespoke bilateral arrangements for UK musicians seeking to tour in Lithuania without restrictions.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

This Government is committed to supporting the UK’s creative industries, including musicians, to adapt to new arrangements with the EU.

EU Member States are principally responsible for deciding the rules governing what work UK visitors can undertake in each Member State. We have engaged bilaterally with all EU Member States, and nearly all (24 out of 27) have confirmed they offer visa and work permit free routes for UK performers for short-term touring.

This includes the UK’s biggest touring markets such as France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Following engagement by the UK Government and the sector, this also includes Spain, which introduced 90-day visa- and work permit- free touring in November 2021; and Greece, which announced a visa and work permit free route for UK creatives in June 2022, currently due to be in place until 31 December 2022. The UK Government is continuing to engage with Greece on extending this arrangement beyond the end of this year, however this is ultimately a decision for the Greek Government to take.

The Government is engaged with the remaining Member States - Cyprus, Malta and Portugal - on allowing creative professionals to tour more easily. However, ultimately it is up to these countries to align their requirements more closely with the UK’s generous rules.

The UK’s domestic rules allow musicians, entertainers and artists (and their technical staff) from EU Member States, to perform in the UK without requiring a visa, and the UK does not have work-permits.


Written Question
Musicians: Luxembourg
Monday 5th December 2022

Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the Luxembourg Government to agree bespoke bilateral arrangements for UK musicians seeking to tour in Luxembourg without restrictions.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

This Government is committed to supporting the UK’s creative industries, including musicians, to adapt to new arrangements with the EU.

EU Member States are principally responsible for deciding the rules governing what work UK visitors can undertake in each Member State. We have engaged bilaterally with all EU Member States, and nearly all (24 out of 27) have confirmed they offer visa and work permit free routes for UK performers for short-term touring.

This includes the UK’s biggest touring markets such as France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Following engagement by the UK Government and the sector, this also includes Spain, which introduced 90-day visa- and work permit- free touring in November 2021; and Greece, which announced a visa and work permit free route for UK creatives in June 2022, currently due to be in place until 31 December 2022. The UK Government is continuing to engage with Greece on extending this arrangement beyond the end of this year, however this is ultimately a decision for the Greek Government to take.

The Government is engaged with the remaining Member States - Cyprus, Malta and Portugal - on allowing creative professionals to tour more easily. However, ultimately it is up to these countries to align their requirements more closely with the UK’s generous rules.

The UK’s domestic rules allow musicians, entertainers and artists (and their technical staff) from EU Member States, to perform in the UK without requiring a visa, and the UK does not have work-permits.


Written Question
Musicians: Luxembourg
Monday 5th December 2022

Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether any bilateral arrangements are in place for UK musicians seeking to tour in Luxembourg.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

This Government is committed to supporting the UK’s creative industries, including musicians, to adapt to new arrangements with the EU.

EU Member States are principally responsible for deciding the rules governing what work UK visitors can undertake in each Member State. We have engaged bilaterally with all EU Member States, and nearly all (24 out of 27) have confirmed they offer visa and work permit free routes for UK performers for short-term touring.

This includes the UK’s biggest touring markets such as France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Following engagement by the UK Government and the sector, this also includes Spain, which introduced 90-day visa- and work permit- free touring in November 2021; and Greece, which announced a visa and work permit free route for UK creatives in June 2022, currently due to be in place until 31 December 2022. The UK Government is continuing to engage with Greece on extending this arrangement beyond the end of this year, however this is ultimately a decision for the Greek Government to take.

The Government is engaged with the remaining Member States - Cyprus, Malta and Portugal - on allowing creative professionals to tour more easily. However, ultimately it is up to these countries to align their requirements more closely with the UK’s generous rules.

The UK’s domestic rules allow musicians, entertainers and artists (and their technical staff) from EU Member States, to perform in the UK without requiring a visa, and the UK does not have work-permits.


Written Question
Musicians: Malta
Monday 5th December 2022

Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether any bilateral arrangements are in place for UK musicians seeking to tour in Malta.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

This Government is committed to supporting the UK’s creative industries, including musicians, to adapt to new arrangements with the EU.

EU Member States are principally responsible for deciding the rules governing what work UK visitors can undertake in each Member State. We have engaged bilaterally with all EU Member States, and nearly all (24 out of 27) have confirmed they offer visa and work permit free routes for UK performers for short-term touring.

This includes the UK’s biggest touring markets such as France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Following engagement by the UK Government and the sector, this also includes Spain, which introduced 90-day visa- and work permit- free touring in November 2021; and Greece, which announced a visa and work permit free route for UK creatives in June 2022, currently due to be in place until 31 December 2022. The UK Government is continuing to engage with Greece on extending this arrangement beyond the end of this year, however this is ultimately a decision for the Greek Government to take.

The Government is engaged with the remaining Member States - Cyprus, Malta and Portugal - on allowing creative professionals to tour more easily. However, ultimately it is up to these countries to align their requirements more closely with the UK’s generous rules.

The UK’s domestic rules allow musicians, entertainers and artists (and their technical staff) from EU Member States, to perform in the UK without requiring a visa, and the UK does not have work-permits.


Written Question
Musicians: Greece
Monday 5th December 2022

Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the Greek Government to agree bespoke bilateral arrangements for UK musicians seeking to tour in Greece without restrictions.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

This Government is committed to supporting the UK’s creative industries, including musicians, to adapt to new arrangements with the EU.

EU Member States are principally responsible for deciding the rules governing what work UK visitors can undertake in each Member State. We have engaged bilaterally with all EU Member States, and nearly all (24 out of 27) have confirmed they offer visa and work permit free routes for UK performers for short-term touring.

This includes the UK’s biggest touring markets such as France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Following engagement by the UK Government and the sector, this also includes Spain, which introduced 90-day visa- and work permit- free touring in November 2021; and Greece, which announced a visa and work permit free route for UK creatives in June 2022, currently due to be in place until 31 December 2022. The UK Government is continuing to engage with Greece on extending this arrangement beyond the end of this year, however this is ultimately a decision for the Greek Government to take.

The Government is engaged with the remaining Member States - Cyprus, Malta and Portugal - on allowing creative professionals to tour more easily. However, ultimately it is up to these countries to align their requirements more closely with the UK’s generous rules.

The UK’s domestic rules allow musicians, entertainers and artists (and their technical staff) from EU Member States, to perform in the UK without requiring a visa, and the UK does not have work-permits.


Written Question
Musicians: Greece
Monday 5th December 2022

Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether any bilateral arrangements are in place for UK musicians seeking to tour in Greece.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

This Government is committed to supporting the UK’s creative industries, including musicians, to adapt to new arrangements with the EU.

EU Member States are principally responsible for deciding the rules governing what work UK visitors can undertake in each Member State. We have engaged bilaterally with all EU Member States, and nearly all (24 out of 27) have confirmed they offer visa and work permit free routes for UK performers for short-term touring.

This includes the UK’s biggest touring markets such as France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Following engagement by the UK Government and the sector, this also includes Spain, which introduced 90-day visa- and work permit- free touring in November 2021; and Greece, which announced a visa and work permit free route for UK creatives in June 2022, currently due to be in place until 31 December 2022. The UK Government is continuing to engage with Greece on extending this arrangement beyond the end of this year, however this is ultimately a decision for the Greek Government to take.

The Government is engaged with the remaining Member States - Cyprus, Malta and Portugal - on allowing creative professionals to tour more easily. However, ultimately it is up to these countries to align their requirements more closely with the UK’s generous rules.

The UK’s domestic rules allow musicians, entertainers and artists (and their technical staff) from EU Member States, to perform in the UK without requiring a visa, and the UK does not have work-permits.


Written Question
Dogs: Imports
Tuesday 8th November 2022

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


Written Question
Football: Ukraine
Tuesday 1st November 2022

Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if the Government will support Ukraine's joint bid to host the men's football World Cup in 2030.

Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

As reported earlier this month, Ukraine is now part of the joint bid with Spain and Portugal for the hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The choice of host for international sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup is at the discretion of the international federation, and its member associations.

The Government has been clear in its support of the Ukrainian people - and we have helped to build and lead the international response in this area, including building consensus for two collective statements from like-minded nations on the actions we believe should be taken within sport in response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. The Football Associations across the UK have also worked closely with the Ukrainian FA - directly, and through European football’s governing body, to provide support.


Written Question
Cats: Imports
Monday 31st October 2022

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


Written Question
Electricity Interconnectors: Morocco
Monday 17th October 2022

Asked by: Andrew Murrison (Conservative - South West Wiltshire)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy whether his Department has had recent discussions with (a) ministers and (b) officials from (i) Spain, (ii) Portugal, (iii) France and (iv) the EU to discuss an interconnector between Morocco and the UK.

Answered by Graham Stuart

Officials from BEIS and FCDO discussed this topic during the course of the summer but there have been no recent discussions with ministers or officials from Spain, Portugal, France, or the EU to discuss an interconnector between Morocco and the UK.