Written questions by Rosindell.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) US President-elect Trump and (b) his representatives on the (i) Good Friday Agreement and (ii) Northern Ireland Protocol in the last six months.

President-elect Donald Trump will not take office until the inauguration on January 20th. We look forward to working with the Trump Administration in the months and years ahead in the spirit of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise. We continue to work with the current Biden Administration to ensure Northern Ireland can continue to prosper. The 10th April marks 27 years since the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement was signed - an achievement of which the UK, Ireland and the US are justifiably proud.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure a sustainable approach to fishing in the Overseas Territories.

Working together with the Overseas Territories , the UK Government is supporting the development of sustainable marine management practices within the OTs through the Blue Belt Programme. Since 2016, this support has included development of appropriate monitoring and enforcement frameworks to manage fishing activities; scientific monitoring and advice to provide precautionary catch limits; development of risk management tools to ensure fisheries are managed sustainably with minimal impact on associated or dependent ecosystems; training and capacity building within OTs to effectively manage fisheries; remote monitoring and surveillance to tackle potential illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities; and ensuring OTs meet requirements of relevant Regional Fisheries Management Organisations. I recently discussed these issues on my visit to OTs in the Caribbean and will discuss them again with Leaders at the upcoming Joint Ministerial Council.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many cases of gun crime were reported in the Turks and Caicos Islands in each of the last five years.

The FCDO does not hold this data. The Royal Turks and Caicos Island Police Force (RTCIPF), who hold this data, is regulated under Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) law and is independent of the UK Government. However, we are acutely aware of the increase in gun crime in TCI, as well as the rising number of fatal shootings in TCI. I have already responded to a clear request for additional support from the Governor, Premier and local authorities, and visited in person last week to see the situation on the ground, including undertaking a patrol with police and to view training of the Royal TCI Regiment in support of local police. Our support has included deploying externally contracted Authorised Firearms Officers to boost police numbers and embedding investigators within the RTCIPF to support the investigation of cases of fatal shootings and to build long-term local capability. I was also able to announce our plans to provide two additional vessels to enhance maritime patrols by the police. I will continue to discuss additional ways we can provide sustainable support with ministerial colleagues.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that no fishing boats operate within the British Indian Ocean Territory Marine Protected Area.

The Blue Belt Ocean Shield Programme provides maritime domain awareness capabilities to tackle Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing activities within BIOT. This includes extensive, risk-based, remote satellite surveillance, tasking of satellite imagery to detect illegal activity, frequent intelligence support and providing training for fisheries patrols. The Programme also provides regional coordination to tackle IUU fishing through relevant Regional Fisheries Management Organisations and Flag States (Including bilateral engagement with relevant Flag States), and comprehensive compliance and enforcement frameworks to deter IUU activity.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of levels of crime in the Turks and Caicos islands.

The UK is committed across government to supporting the Overseas Territories to reduce crime levels affecting their residents. I visited the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) in early November to understand better the security situation there, and I am in regular contact with colleagues in other UK Government departments on how best we can support the Overseas Territories. The FCDO support in TCI this year includes: deploying privately contracted Authorised Firearms Officers; continuing to embed serious crime investigators within the police; and strengthening border security by procuring new marine assets, delivering advanced coastal sensors, and funding the accommodation of US air crews based in TCI to improve maritime surveillance.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on how many citizens of (a) Haiti and (b) the Dominican Republic are resident in Turks and Caicos.

The FCDO does not hold this data. In line with the Turks and Caicos (TCI) Constitution, immigration is a devolved matter for the TCI Government, and therefore the FCDO does not hold details on any nationalities. However, the FCDO is aware of the ongoing pressure of inward immigration, including irregular migration, on TCI including from Haiti and is supporting its authorities to strengthen its border security. This support includes procuring new marine assets for its police force; delivering the rollout of advanced coastal sensors; and funding the accommodation of US air crews based in TCI to improve maritime surveillance.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his counterparts in the Pacific region on the potential merits of upgrading Honorary Consulates in (a) the Solomon Islands, (b) Vanuatu and (c) Tuvalu to High Commissions.

The UK has High Commissions with accredited resident High Commissioners in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, the latter of which was opened in 2019. The UK High Commissioner to Fiji is also the accredited non-resident High Commissioner to Tuvalu. The UK does not have Honorary Consulates in the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu or Tuvalu.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has met with his Bangladeshi counterpart since 4 August 2024.

The UK Government is supporting Bangladesh's Interim Government as it works to create a pathway to a more inclusive, democratic and prosperous future for the people of Bangladesh. In October, the Foreign Secretary met with Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and discussed democracy in Bangladesh, climate and the Rohingya. The British High Commission in Dhaka will continue to engage with the Interim Government in Bangladesh on mutual key priorities.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has met with the administrators of (a) Tristan da Cunha and (b) Ascension Island since the Government’s asylum agreement with St Helena was concluded.

The new arrangement with St Helena does not apply to Tristan da Cunha or Ascension Island. The Chief Islander from Tristan da Cunha and Councillors from Ascension Island will attend the UK Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) in London later this month. I have also met virtually with the Chief Islander and members of the Ascension Islands Council.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many officials of his Department have visited Pitcairn Island in each of the last 12 months.

The current resident Administrator is recruited by the FCDO. There have been two visits by FCDO officials within the last 12 months. The Deputy Governor (based in Auckland, New Zealand) visited the island in October 2023 and there was a visit by a Technical Works Officer in December 2023. The Governor visited in 2023. FCDO officials are in regular contact with their counterparts on Pitcairn Island. FCDO sponsored programmes are providing support virtually on matters such as healthcare and through visiting teams on issues such as environmental protection. I recently spoke to the Mayor and look forward to welcoming him to the JMC this month.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many criminal (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions have taken place on the Pitcairn Islands in each of the last 10 years.

Government of Pitcairn hold the data on criminal prosecutions and convictions in the Pitcairn Islands.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help prevent persecution of Christians in China.

The environment for freedom of religion or belief across China is restrictive, which includes the persecution of Christians.This Government stands firm on human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief. The Foreign Secretary has raised human rights in every meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, including during his recent visit to China on 18 October.More broadly, this Government will champion freedom of religion or belief for all abroad. We will work to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora, and through bilateral engagement.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish the agreement with St Helena on future migrants arriving on the British Indian Ocean Territory.

The new Memorandum of Understanding with the St Helena Government has been deposited in the library of both Houses, as communicated by the Minister for the Overseas Territories in a recent letter to the Hon Gentleman. The St Helena Government has also published the Memorandum of Understanding on their website.The St Helena Government are responsible for any local consultation. FCDO and Home Office Ministers worked closely with St Helena's Chief Minister and her team to conclude this agreement, which was welcomed by the St Helena Government in a public statement after the signing of the agreement.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the St Helena Government on levels of police resources on St Helena.

The UK Government provide funding to support the delivery of public services in St Helena, including policing. In addition, the UK Government has a long-term programme to increase capacity and capability in the Royal St Helena Police Service. During recent discussions I [Minister for the Overseas Territories] and Home Office Minister Lord Hanson discussed public services resources with the Chief Minister.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with residents of St Helena on the housing of illegal migrants from the Chagos Islands archipelago.

The new Memorandum of Understanding with the St Helena Government has been deposited in the library of both Houses, as communicated by the Minister for the Overseas Territories in a recent letter to the Hon Gentleman. The St Helena Government has also published the Memorandum of Understanding on their website.The St Helena Government are responsible for any local consultation. FCDO and Home Office Ministers worked closely with St Helena's Chief Minister and her team to conclude this agreement, which was welcomed by the St Helena Government in a public statement after the signing of the agreement.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what consultation his Department has conducted with the resident community on St Helena on the housing of illegal migrants from the Chagos Islands archipelago.

The new Memorandum of Understanding with the St Helena Government has been deposited in the library of both Houses, as communicated by the Minister for the Overseas Territories in a recent letter to the Hon Gentleman. The St Helena Government has also published the Memorandum of Understanding on their website.The St Helena Government are responsible for any local consultation. FCDO and Home Office Ministers worked closely with St Helena's Chief Minister and her team to conclude this agreement, which was welcomed by the St Helena Government in a public statement after the signing of the agreement.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the British Indian Ocean Territory.

The Foreign Secretary is in regular contact with Secretary Blinken on a range of issues, including the British Indian Ocean Territory / Chagos Archipelago. The agreement on the exercise of sovereignty over the archipelago is strongly supported by our partners, including the US. President Biden, Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin all released statements shortly after the announcement praising the deal for securing the operational future of the joint US-UK facility on Diego Garcia.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the timescale is for implementing the agreement with Mauritius on sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

The Agreement is subject to the finalisation of a treaty, which both sides have committed to complete as quickly as possible. After signature, the treaty is required to be ratified by both the UK and Mauritius before entry into force. Parliament will have the opportunity to scrutinise the detail of the Treaty prior to ratification, in the usual way.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Argentinian counterpart on the Falkland Islands.

The UK is resolutely committed to defending and supporting the Falkland Islanders' right of self-determination and our sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. The Foreign Secretary met Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino on 24 September and he conveyed the clarity of the UK's unequivocal position on these matters during the meeting.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many illegal immigrants are currently being detained by the United Kingdom within the British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Islands).

64 migrants are currently under the care of the BIOT Administration on Diego Garcia, with 8 of those receiving medical treatment off island. The Government are working at pace to find a solution for the migrants that both protects their welfare and the integrity of UK borders.