Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government at what level discussions by the Partners in the Blue Pacific in Washington on 23 June were held; and whether the EU were present at that meeting as observers.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The governments of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States dispatched high-level officials to Washington, D.C. on June 23 and 24 for consultations with the Pacific Heads of Mission and other partners, including France. The European Union were present as observers. The meeting followed consultations with Pacific Island Countries, and the Pacific Islands Forum. The Partners of the Blue Pacific (PBP) was launched at the meeting as an inclusive, informal mechanism to support Pacific priorities more effectively and efficiently. The countries will continue to work together in partnership as plans for the PBP develop.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they plan to use their membership of the Partners in the Blue Pacific (PBP) to support UK priorities; and what the reaction of the government of China has been to the formation of the PBP.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The Partners in the Blue Pacific (PBP) is a new initiative between Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and our Pacific partners. It builds on our longstanding commitment to the region to help better coordinate our approach and support the Pacific Island Countries line with the Pacific Islands Forum's upcoming 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. This will ensure our support is properly informed by what Pacific Islands Countries themselves need, and that our governments have stronger and regular engagement on Pacific issues and priorities.
Many countries have expressed interest in the PBP since its launch, including China.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Russia to lessen the risk of miscalculation leading to use of nuclear weapons.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK takes its responsibilities as a nuclear weapon state seriously and will continue to encourage other states to do likewise.
We consider the avoidance of war between Nuclear-Weapon States and the reduction of strategic risks as our foremost responsibilities. The joint statement by the leaders of the five Nuclear-Weapon States - including Russia - issued on 3 January underscores our collective commitment to work together to reduce the risk of nuclear conflict and enhance mutual trust and security. This is the first time the leaders of the five Nuclear Weapon States have made such a high-level political declaration. It shows our resolve to work together, despite differences, to increase mutual trust and understanding and work together towards nuclear disarmament.
The UK is committed to taking steps to reduce the likelihood of nuclear war, including resolving issues peacefully and diplomatically wherever possible. With our partners, we will continue to make use of a number of international mechanisms that allow us to engage with Russia to support risk reduction and military transparency, including the NATO-Russia Council (which will next meet on 12 January 2022) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the deployment of tens of thousands of Chinese troops to the disputed border with India in Ladakh.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We continue to support a peaceful resolution of border issues between India and China, which are a bilateral matter. We welcome ongoing discussions between India and China aimed at reducing tension along the Line of Actual Control.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by the Courage Foundation on the investigation by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons into the alleged use of chemical weapons in Douma, Syria, published on 11 March; and what steps they intend to take in response.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We welcome the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Fact-Finding Mission's thorough and evidenced report on the incident in Douma on 7 April 2018. The Fact-Finding Mission concluded that a toxic chemical, likely chlorine, was used as a weapon. We have confidence in the report's methodology and conclusions.
The Director-General of the OPCW has confirmed that that the OPCW Technical Secretariat took all views and evidence into account in reaching its conclusions. The Director-General answered fully questions put to him at sessions of the United Nations Security Council in December 2020, May 2020 and November 2019.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the publication date for the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy; and whether publication will occur before 31 May 2021.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Integrated Review will cover all aspects of international and national security policy - defence, diplomacy, development and national resilience. Uniting development and diplomacy in one department brings together Britain's international effort to have even greater impact and influence on the world stage as we recover from the coronavirus pandemic. The Review will assess what will be needed to deliver our new strategy, in addition to seizing the opportunities offered by the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The publication date will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Russia about its plans to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Her Majesty’s Government have continually highlighted their willingness to discuss Russia’s concerns around the Open Skies Treaty (OST) via the appropriate channel of the Open Skies Consultative Commission (OSCC) in Vienna. The UK responded to the government of Russia bilaterally on 31 December, reasserting our commitment to the OST and welcoming further discussion at the OSCC. States parties to the Treaty, including Russia, discussed the issue on 19 January, when the UK expressed its disappointment at the Russian decision, and again at the recent OSCC meeting on 25 January when the UK called on Russia to engage constructively with other signatories. The senior responsible official in London also speaks regularly with Russian diplomats about issues surrounding the Open Skies Treaty, and the UK Delegation to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) maintain regular dialogue with their Russian counterparts
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are providing the government of Tristan da Cunha with the establishment of the islands’ marine protection zone.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK Government has been supporting Tristan da Cunha to enhance marine protection in their waters since 2016, as part of the Blue Belt initiative. This has included two major multi-disciplinary surveys to improve knowledge of inshore, seamounts and open ocean ecosystems to inform management decisions; provided a new vessel for inshore biodiversity monitoring and refurbished the existing fisheries patrol vessel; expert advice on the design of the marine protection zone including recommendations for 'Area To Be Avoided' around the islands to protect vulnerable habitats; assistance with putting in place effective legislation and management strategies to underpin the designation; extensive training (sea-survival, vessel maintenance, enforcement training, fisheries observer training) to build capacity on island; and targeted satellite surveillance to ensure Tristan's waters are effectively monitored and enforced.
Since the designation, the Blue Belt programme has also provided some additional support to assist Tristan diversify its economy from offshore commercial fishing revenue.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to continue to fund the eradication of invasive mice on Gough Island.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Over 90% of UK's biodiversity is in the Overseas Territories. Gough Island is a UNESCO natural World Heritage site and the UK Government continues to support the RSPB's efforts to eradicate invasive non-native mice from the Island to save critically endangered seabirds from extinction. The RSPB has announced that the final eradication stage can now proceed in 2021. The UK Government has provided over £2 million in funding to support this project and will give further consideration to providing additional funding for the next financial year
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the importance of limiting the number of nuclear warheads held by Russia and the USA.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Foreign Secretary holds regular discussions with his US counterpart on a range of issues, including on arms control and strategic stability. These discussions are reflected and supported by daily cooperation at official level between the UK and the US, as well as by wider cooperation with NATO Allies. As a fellow Permanent Member of the UN Security Council, we engage with Russia on matters of international peace and security, including arms control. Through our Embassy in Moscow we have had a number of discussions with the Russian authorities on this topic.
US strategic arms, along with those of Russia, are limited by the New START Treaty. We recognise the contribution New START has made to international security and strategic stability by increasing transparency and mutual confidence among the two largest Nuclear Weapons States. However, New START does not include new Russian systems, nor does it place any limits on China's growing nuclear arsenal. We therefore support extension of New START while a successor agreement is negotiated.