The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Marquess of Lothian on 2015-11-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they last reviewed the security situation in Tunisia in respect of Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We keep the security situation in Tunisia under constant review, and have been working closely with the Tunisian authorities to improve their capacity to deter and respond to the threats they face.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Marquess of Lothian on 2015-12-17.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the Spending Review 2015, where they expect the majority of the FCO efficiency savings of £53 million by 2019–20 will be made.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Efficiency savings of £53 million by 2019-20 will be delivered, in part, through reducing the running costs of our global network and the use of improved technology. There will also be reductions to the non-Official Development Assistance funding for the British Council, although overall funding for the British Council will be protected in real terms.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Marquess of Lothian on 2016-02-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will publish their strategy for the UK’s relationship with the Gulf States.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The UK is clear that its relationships with Gulf States matter to our mutual security and prosperity as laid down in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015. We continue to work in collaboration with Gulf partners to deepen relations. We will set out in due course our vision of our future relationships with partners in the region in our new Gulf Strategy.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Marquess of Lothian on 2016-04-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking in response to the Taliban’s recent announcement of a spring offensive and warnings of large-scale attacks in Afghanistan.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Taliban’s announcement of a spring offensive is consistent with the insurgency’s pattern of activity and was anticipated by the Afghan authorities. The UK is an integral part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s Resolute Support Mission (RSM), which is working to train, assist and advise the Afghan National Security and Defence Forces to meet the challenge posed by an enduring insurgency. Working in close cooperation with the Afghan authorities and RSM, the UK keeps its security under constant review.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Marquess of Lothian on 2016-05-25.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they have taken in connection with the reference in the 2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting communiqué to the proposal for a Commonwealth Advantage under which all member governments would consider further possible measures to enhance the scope for Commonwealth citizens to access each other’s countries more easily and for longer than is currently possible.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Home Office officials continue to contribute to a Working Group led by the Commonwealth Secretariat which is looking at the movement of Commonwealth citizens and how that can be improved, taking due regard to the requirement in the Communiqué that the actions should “not conflict with national legislation and international obligations”. Commonwealth Heads of Government have requested a progress report on these Working Group discussions at their next meeting.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Marquess of Lothian on 2015-11-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government by what criteria, following negotiations, they will assess whether the European Union has been reformed.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), has been clear on the four areas where we seek to address the concerns of the British public: sovereignty, economic governance, competitiveness and welfare and immigration. He has written to the President of the European Council to set out the changes that the UK wants to see. We will work together with other countries to discuss and agree reforms before holding a referendum to ensure that the British people have the final and decisive say on the UK’s membership of the EU.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Marquess of Lothian on 2015-12-17.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what priority the FCO gives to the promotion and protection of human rights globally.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights globally and views the upholding of universal rights as intrinsic to all our bilateral work overseas and our support for the rules based international order. The UK’s decision to stand for re-election to the UN’s Human Rights Council in 2017 reflects the importance we attach to this issue. The UK views the promotion and protection of human rights as inalienable rights in themselves, and as a precondition to security and global economic growth.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Marquess of Lothian on 2016-02-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the cost of their support for the Syrian moderate opposition in each year since 2011.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The UK has delivered over £100m in non-humanitarian support to Syria, Jordan and Lebanon since the start of the crisis from the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund and its predecessor, the Conflict Pool. This has focussed on strengthening the moderate opposition, including the High Negotiations Committee of the Syrian Opposition, the Syrian National Coalition, civil society, civil defenders, local councils, human rights and media activists. We have also provided some non-lethal support to elements of the Syrian armed opposition
The UK’s support is building resilience against extremists, fostering civil society in besieged areas, providing search and rescue training, medical support, promoting human rights, delivering basic governance and laying the foundations for a more peaceful and inclusive future for Syria.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Marquess of Lothian on 2016-04-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to protect the UK’s rivers, lakes and wetlands from agricultural pollution, and what assessment they have made of whether the water protection zones are being used effectively in this regard.
Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Given that environmental protection is a devolved matter, I am replying in regard to the position in England.
This Government is committed to protecting and improving our water environment and supporting competitive agriculture. The recently published river basin management plans set out the actions that we will take over the next six years to improve water quality. The plans promote integrated catchment management and local decision making.
We have a wide range of actions to tackle water pollution from agriculture ranging from advice, voluntary and incentivised rules to regulation. For example, there are regulations to reduce the risk of nitrate pollution in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones.
Building on these regulations, Countryside Stewardship supports farmers who want to do more than the legal requirements and good practice by providing £400 million in funding to helping improve water quality and to manage flood risk.
We are also working towards better targeting of farm inspections with risk based enforcement that recognises good performance.
In addition to Government action, the agricultural industry is playing its part by developing an offer, explaining how it will help farmers to better protect the water environment.
All of this is underpinned by advice to farmers which is delivered through the Farming Advice Service and Catchment Sensitive Farming, £106 million has been invested through Catchment Sensitive Farming over the past 8 years to mitigate the impact of agricultural activities on the water environment
Further actions at national and local level are planned. Defra recently consulted on new rules to address sediment and phosphate pollution from agriculture. The consultation proposed some clear, simple and basic rules for all farmers, which would make a contribution to further protecting the water environment. Ministers are considering how to proceed in light of this consultation.
We are using a wide variety of measures to protect and improve our water environment. Water Protection Zones (WPZs) are a further tool. The Government is currently considering what further action will be required to meet the conservation objectives for our most precious protected sites. This will consider the full range of mechanisms, including WPZs.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Marquess of Lothian on 2016-06-08.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Border Force vessels patrol UK territorial waters at any one time; and how many are needed to ensure the required levels of surveillance and security of the UK’s coastline.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Border Force is committed to operating three cutters in UK waters at any given time. We currently have a total of four available for use in UK waters, with one rotated into use where required. These figures only include the number of cutters currently deployed in UK territorial waters and do not include the additional military and law enforcement vessels available. Border Force takes a multi-layered approach to maritime security; using a combination of cutters, radar and aerial surveillance to detect efforts to smuggle guns and drugs or facilitate illegal entry into the country. They also work closely with domestic and international partners on an intelligence-led approach, allowing us to tackle the criminals involved before they leave for the UK. Border Force is also investing in a new fleet of rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBS) as part of a new maritime security strategy. The vessels will patrol the UK coast, helping to intercept attempts to smuggle migrants, drugs and dangerous weapons into the country.