Tag: Lord Wallace of Saltaire

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 2016-01-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what conditions the FCO and UK Trade and Investment attach to providing support and assistance to companies based in the Crown Dependencies in pursuit of overseas contracts and investment opportunities.

Lord Maude of Horsham

Companies from the Crown Dependencies are able to take advantage of the Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS) as a non-subsidised, fully- charged service to commission information from UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to assist them in planning and executing their business plans.

UKTI services are provided at a cost to the UK tax-payer. The Crown Dependencies operate under the jurisdiction of their own Administrations, with no business-generated return to the UK Exchequer. Consequently, OMIS provision to companies based in the Crown Dependencies is charged for.

Companies from the Crown Dependencies are not eligible for any subsidised UKTI services, unless they have an active UK trading address and can demonstrate that any support they receive would help them deliver economic benefit to the UK through this trading address.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 2016-01-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to requiring Sky, Virgin Media, and other suppliers of televisual media to provide their services free of charge to those over 75, on the model now required of the BBC.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe

None. This is a commercial matter for those companies.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 2016-01-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the proposed economic rent charges will be applied to historic government buildings in Whitehall; and if so, on what basis the economic rent for buildings of historic significance will be calculated.

Lord Bridges of Headley

The Government Property Unit is working with departments to agree a detailed timeline for the transfer of assets and on the detail of implementation, including the finance and charging regime.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 2016-01-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government which other government buildings in Westminster are being considered for sale to private buyers, on the model of Admiralty Arch and the Old War Office.

Lord Bridges of Headley

We are continuously reviewing our Estate to ensure best value. If we were to identify properties that are surplus to government requirements and should be sold, we would announce this in the usual way.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 2016-01-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether underused government buildings in Westminster such as the Lancaster House conference centre and the Foreign Secretary’s official residence are being considered for sale to private buyers, and if not, why not.

Lord Bridges of Headley

This government is committed to rationalising and reducing the government estate to realise efficiencies and release value. By identifying underused properties and modernising our buildings to make better use of a smaller number of properties, we have reduced our Estate by 2 million square metres, saving over £750 million in running costs and generating nearly £1.8 billion in capital receipts since 2010.

Both Lancaster House and 1 Carlton Gardens are properties leased by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office from the Crown Estate. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office is therefore not in a position to sell either property. Both properties are in regular use for either conferences, meetings or official hospitality.

All Foreign and Commonwealth Office properties are under regular review to ensure value for money.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 2016-01-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Bolton on 7 July 2009 (WA 122), why the Background briefing on the Crown Dependencies on the Ministry of Justice website indicates that the maintenance costs of the Alderney breakwater form part of Guernsey’s annual voluntary contribution towards the cost of its defence and international representation by the UK” when the Ministry of Defence ceded responsibility for the maintenance of that anchorage in 1950.”

Lord Faulks

The background briefing paper to which the noble Lord refers correctly represents the current position. The United Kingdom is responsible for the defence and international representation of the Crown Dependencies, including the Bailiwick of Guernsey of which Alderney forms part. The Alderney breakwater was completed in 1865 to shelter Royal Navy vessels. In 1950 responsibility for its maintenance was transferred from the Ministry of Defence to the Home Office. The maintenance costs continued to be met by HM Government until 1 April 1987, when Guernsey assumed responsibility for maintaining the breakwater as part of its annual voluntary contribution towards the costs of defence and international representation undertaken by the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 2016-01-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many accredited diplomats from (1) Saudi Arabia, (2) the United Arab Emirates, (3) Kuwait, (4) Bahrain, (5) Qatar, (6) France, (7) Germany, (8) the Netherlands, and (9) the US, were resident in the UK on 1 January.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s records, the number of individuals resident in the UK on 1 January 2016 who were notified, with some form of diplomatic or consular status, to represent the following countries are:

Saudi Arabia	209
The United Arab Emirates	46
Kuwait	54
Bahrain	8
Qatar	15
France	196
Germany	138
The Netherlands	32
The USA	478

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 2016-01-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what procedures are followed when a foreign national resident in the UK not previously understood to be a diplomat claims diplomatic immunity.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 the sending State must make certain that the agrément of the receiving State has been given for the person it proposes to accredit as its head of mission (Article 4). The UK also requires sending States to submit the names of military, naval and air attaches for approval (Article 7). Diplomatic missions are further required to notify the receiving State of the arrival of all members of the mission (Article 10). If a foreign national resident in the UK claimed to be a diplomat, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) would check whether the person’s name was on its database of foreign diplomats and their families as notified to the FCO by the sending State. As necessary, the FCO would also confirm with the relevant diplomatic mission that the individual was a member of the mission’s staff.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 2016-01-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many claims of diplomatic immunity were advanced in UK courts, or other legal procedures, between 1 January 2010 and 1 January 2016; how many of those were successful; and of which states those successful and unsuccessful claimants were citizens.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

A number of claims of diplomatic immunity have been advanced through the UK courts. However, statistics and details are not recorded centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 2016-01-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what procedures are followed when a citizen of a foreign state claims diplomatic immunity as the representative of a third state.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

Article 8(3) of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 permits third country diplomats to be appointed to a diplomatic mission with the consent of the receiving State. Such appointments are rare, but the UK does accept them. If a third country national resident in the UK claimed to be a diplomat, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) would first check that the person’s name was on its database of foreign diplomats and their families. As necessary, the FCO would also confirm with the relevant diplomatic mission that the individual was a member of the mission’s staff.