Lord Tebbit – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Tebbit on 2016-02-03.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government which minister or ministers have direct responsibility for the affairs of the British overseas territory of Anguilla.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The British Government has a broad responsibility for the security and good governance of all British Overseas Territories, including Anguilla. The 2012 White Paper set out the principle that all UK Government departments have responsibility for supporting the Territories in their areas of expertise and competence. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office takes a coordinating role, led by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend East (James Duddridge) and the Minister of State at the Department for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for New Forest West (Desmond Swayne).

Anguilla has its own Constitution (1982) under which it has a democratically elected government which is responsible for most domestic matters. The Governor retains special responsibility for external affairs, defence, internal security and the appointment, discipline and removal of public servants.