Written questions by Rosindell.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant of the Answer of 20 January 2025 to Question 23271 on Faroe Islands and Greenland: Politics and Government, what the Minister of State for Europe and North America discussed with his counterparts from Greenland in those meetings.

I have met with Greenlandic Foreign Minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, twice since taking office. The first time, at the Arctic Circle Assembly in October 2024, we discussed the UK's Arctic policy, security, trade and bilateral relations. The second time in London, in January 2025, we discussed the Kingdom of Denmark's chairship of the Arctic Council in 2025, Arctic policy, security, trade as well as bilateral relations.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure the safety of British citizens travelling in Central America.

Through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's (FCDO) consular prevention work, we aim to provide information and guidance to help British nationals make informed decisions and take responsibility for themselves when they are living and travelling abroad. FCDO Travel Advice for countries in Central America is kept under regular review and provides information to help British nationals make informed decisions. The FCDO also works closely with host authorities in Central America to reduce risks, share expertise, and build capacity to improve the support British people receive.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what was discussed between his Department and his Chilean counterparts during the delegation to Santiago and Punta Arenas in January 2025.

Baroness Chapman, Minister for Latin America and the Caribbean, visited Chile 7-9 January to meet with Chilean political and business leaders, and to strengthen bilateral and trade ties following the UK's recent accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. In Santiago, Baroness Chapman met her ministerial counterpart, Gloria de la Fuente, and visited the Chilean headquarters of Anglo American to discuss the growing use of carbon-neutral technologies within the mining sector. Baroness Chapman also visited Punta Arenas to celebrate the longstanding and enduring UK-Chile relationship on Antarctica, and our strong naval partnership.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of travel arrangements between British Overseas Territories and the Caribbean constituent countries of the Netherlands.

There are a number of direct and indirect connections between the British Overseas Territories and the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Both Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands have direct flights to Sint Maarten. Anguilla and Sint Maarten are also connected via ferry. Regular flight connections between Montserrat and Sint Maarten will operate in February and March this year.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with opposition figures in Venezuela since the Presidential election in that country in July 2024.

Since the elections in July, the Foreign Secretary has discussed the concerning situation in Venezuela on multiple occasions, including with international partners and members of the opposition. On 10 January, he announced that Maduro's claim to power was fraudulent and announced new sanctions designations against members of the Maduro regime. The UK will continue to engage internationally in order to achieve a peaceful solution that respects the will of the Venezuelan people.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had any discussions with his counterparts in Colombia regarding the ongoing conflict in the Catatumbo region.

The UK continues to monitor the concerning escalation of conflict in the Catatumbo region of Colombia. At the UN Security Council meeting on the Colombian Peace Process in January, we condemned the violence between the National Liberation Army (ELN in Spanish) and General Staff of Blocks and Front (EMBF in Spanish), which has left many dead and thousands displaced. Senior Embassy officials have been in contact with government negotiators and the relevant government ministries to express our concern at the situation. The START fund is providing £150k of aid, and the UK is one of its largest donors.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help protect native wildlife on South Georgia in the context of the potential risk of a collision of the iceberg A23a with the island.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is in close contact with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) about the movement of iceberg A23a. BAS and GSGSSI are both actively monitoring the movement of the iceberg and are working to identify a range of likely future scenarios and potential implications, including for the region's wildlife. It is currently anticipated that A23a will run aground on the continental shelf before it reaches the landmass of South Georgia, and that any impacts on wildlife are likely to be localised and transient, but we will keep this assessment under review.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant of the Answer of 17 January 2025 to Question 22594 on Western Sahara: Politics and Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the policies of the (a) US, (b) French and (c) Spanish governments on this matter.

Officials regularly discuss the Western Sahara with international partners, including the US, France, Spain, and the United Nations (UN), and we continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process. The UK believes the UN-led process is the best way to solve the long-standing dispute by delivering a solution agreeable to all parties, one which would contribute significantly to regional security and prosperity.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, What steps he is taking to help improve (a) healthcare infrastructure and (b) provision within Montserrat.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is committed to supporting the healthcare infrastructure and provision in Montserrat. It has continued its commitment to the building of the new hospital in Montserrat by providing up to £39.9 million through the Capital Investment Programme for Resilient Economic Growth. The new hospital will have a dedicated acute mental health room, plus two operating theatres including endoscopy and full diagnostic suite. The FCDO is also funding two ambulances for Montserrat which will arrive in the next few months and, working with the UK Health Security Agency, we are providing an epidemiologist from March.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help improve sea access infrastructure on St Helena.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) provided approximately £4.79 million in funding through the St Helena Economic Development and Investment Programme for the construction of a new port and cargo handling facilities at Rupert's Bay. The FCDO has also funded two new roads better connecting Rupert's Bay to Jamestown. The new facilities will allow for cargo operations to be moved from the current port at Jamestown, opening the waterfront for tourism purposes.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help promote governance standards on Pitcairn Island.

The UK Government is working with the governments of the Overseas Territories to achieve the highest standards in governance. In the Pitcairn Islands the Governor and Administrator are working with the Council to improve the delivery of public services. The Governor has commissioned a restructure of the Pitcairn Public Service to better service the needs of the community. The Minister for the Overseas Territories discussed the ongoing public services review with the Mayor of Pitcairn at the Joint Ministerial Council in 2024. The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office undertakes audits of the budgetary support it provides to the Government of the Pitcairn Islands, for which a fiduciary risk assessment has recently been undertaken by PWC.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help improve sea access infrastructure on Tristan da Cunha.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) funds maintenance and upgrades to Tristan da Cunha's harbour through its provision of Technical Assistance and Essential Infrastructure programme. The programme has provided over £35,000 of funding towards the harbour in the current financial year. The FCDO will continue to ensure that access to Tristan da Cunha is maintained.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help improve sea access infrastructure on Montserrat.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is supporting the development of the port in Montserrat by providing a grant of £28.3 million from the UK's Caribbean Infrastructure Fund (UKCIF), which is delivered in partnership with the Caribbean Development Bank. The project also includes £7 million funding from the EU. The new pier will supplement the existing pier that was constructed after the volcanic eruptions. Additionally, the FCDO's has funded the acquisition of new dual-view scanners and explosion detection scanners for the seaport (and airport). The new scanners are to ensure Montserrat can meet the minimum standards for border controls. It also includes training of officials and decommissioning of the old equipment.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2025 to Question 23274 on Haiti: Diplomatic Service, what contingency arrangements his Department has in place to provide emergency assistance to British nationals in Haiti, in the context of the absence of consular officials in Haiti.

The British Embassy in Santo Domingo provides consular assistance to British nationals in Haiti and issues emergency travel documents. Requests for consular assistance are considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all relevant circumstances. We encourage all British nationals in Haiti to follow our travel advice and sign up to email alerts.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what role his Department's diplomatic missions will have in the delivery of the Government's Soft Power Council.

The Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport launched the Soft Power Council on 15 January. The Council brings together some of the most influential figures across soft power and foreign policy to steer and advise Government. The UK diplomatic network will be central to delivering our refreshed strategic approach to soft power, whether by encouraging people in other countries to visit, study and trade with the UK; or by harnessing our world class sectors to build alliances and enhance our global influence, in the service of our growth and security objectives.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2025 to Question 23274 on Haiti: Diplomatic Service, what steps his Department is taking to support British nationals in Haiti remotely; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of this support.

The British Embassy in Santo Domingo provides consular assistance to British nationals in Haiti and issues emergency travel documents. Requests for consular assistance are considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all relevant circumstances. We encourage all British nationals in Haiti to follow our travel advice and sign up to email alerts.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK announces new sanctions targeting Nicolás Maduro’s regime in Venezuela, published on 10 January 2025, whether the travel restrictions will be applicable in the British Overseas Territories.

On 10 January, the UK sanctioned 15 new individuals associated with Maduro's contested regime responsible for undermining democracy and committing serious human rights violations. It is Government policy for all UK sanctions, including travel bans, to also apply in the Overseas Territories.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with representatives from the (a) Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and (b) Organization of American States on alleged reports of election fraud in Venezuela.

We remain deeply concerned about allegations of serious irregularities in the declared election result in Venezuela, and regularly discuss this issue with international partners, including the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and Organization of American States (OAS) members. We have made a number of public statements on the credibility of the election results, including at the Special Session of the OAS Permanent Council in August. On 10 January the Foreign Secretary stated that Maduro's claim to power was fraudulent and announced new sanctions designations against members of the Maduro regime.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his (a) Guyanese, (b) Colombian and (c) Brazilian counterparts on trends in the number of refugees travelling to those countries from Venezuela.

The UK remains concerned at the deteriorating situation in Venezuela and the high numbers of Venezuelans who continue to leave the country. The Foreign Secretary regularly discusses the situation in Venezuela with international partners including recently with Brazil, Colombia and Guyana. The UK is a longstanding partner of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) which provides life-saving assistance to displaced persons, including refugees from Venezuela.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many British nationals have requested consular assistance in Haiti since July 2024.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has not been approached for consular assistance in relation to British nationals in Haiti since July 2024. The FCDO advises against all travel to Haiti due to the volatile security situation there. There are currently no British consular officials in Haiti and our ability to provide consular assistance is severely limited. Consular assistance cannot currently be delivered in person in Haiti, however British nationals may access consular assistance via the British Embassy Santo Domingo. British nationals in Haiti are encouraged to read our travel advice and sign up for alerts.