Every parliamentary written question tabled by Ben Obese-Jecty this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 121–140 of 158 · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the terms were of the US proposal to enable a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine presented to European leaders at the Paris meeting on 17 April 2025.
We do not share the details of diplomatic discussions. To do so would only benefit Putin. We continue to work closely with the US, Ukraine, and European partners to achieve the shared goal of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment has he made of the potential impact of Argentinian activity in Antarctica on (a) the environment, (b) British interests and (c) international interests.
The Antarctic Treaty preserves Antarctica as a place of peace and science and ensures international cooperation. The Treaty requires Parties to share advance notice of their plans in Antarctica and all activities are subject to environmental impact assessments. The UK actively scrutinises plans to ensure compliance with the Treaty's robust environmental principles as well as the prohibition on military training and the establishment of military bases. The UK has no doubt about its sovereignty over the British Antarctic Territory, although the Treaty effectively places in abeyance all sovereignty claims and is committed to maintaining a permanent presence on the continent, allowing us to conduct world-leading science and preserve British heritage.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to ensure long term unrestricted British access to the entire Environment (Protection and Preservation) Zone of the British Indian Ocean Territory.
I refer the Hon. member to the responses given to his previous Parliamentary Questions 37768 and 37368, which remains the same.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43796 on Greenland: Sovereignty, if he will publish the minutes of his two meetings with Greenland's Foreign Minister.
I met Greenlandic Foreign Minister Motzfeldt at the Arctic Circle Assembly on 18 October 2024 in Iceland, and on 13 January 2025 in London. We discussed a range of bilateral and Arctic issues. We do not publish the minutes of diplomatic meetings.As per my response to Parliamentary Question 43796, the Foreign Secretary and I have been clear that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and the future of their constitutional arrangements is a matter for the people and Government of Greenland, and the Kingdom of Denmark.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43796, whether the topic of US interest in claiming Greenland was discussed.
I met Greenlandic Foreign Minister Motzfeldt at the Arctic Circle Assembly on 18 October 2024 in Iceland, and on 13 January 2025 in London. We discussed a range of bilateral and Arctic issues. We do not publish the minutes of diplomatic meetings.As per my response to Parliamentary Question 43796, the Foreign Secretary and I have been clear that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and the future of their constitutional arrangements is a matter for the people and Government of Greenland, and the Kingdom of Denmark.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the feasibility of undersea mineral extraction from nodes in the territorial waters of the Falkland Islands.
The natural resources of the Falkland Islands belong to the Islanders, and as such any consideration of undersea mineral extraction is a matter for the Falkland Islands Government. The UK supports the right of the Falkland Islanders to develop their natural resources for their own economic benefit - this is an integral part of their right of self-determination.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43796, what the dates were of the two meetings with Greenland’s Foreign Minister.
I met Greenlandic Foreign Minister Motzfeldt at the Arctic Circle Assembly on 18 October 2024 in Iceland, and on 13 January 2025 in London. We discussed a range of bilateral and Arctic issues. We do not publish the minutes of diplomatic meetings.As per my response to Parliamentary Question 43796, the Foreign Secretary and I have been clear that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and the future of their constitutional arrangements is a matter for the people and Government of Greenland, and the Kingdom of Denmark.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment has he made of the potential impact of Russian activity in Antarctica on (a) the environment, (b) British interests and (c) international interests.
The Antarctic Treaty preserves Antarctica as a place of peace and science. An original Treaty signatory, Russia remains active in Antarctica. The Treaty requires Parties to share advance notice of their plans in Antarctica and all activities are subject to environmental impact assessments. The UK actively scrutinises plans to ensure compliance with the Treaty's robust environmental principles as well as the prohibition on military training and the establishment of military bases. We recognise the growing global interest in Antarctica, including for economic reasons. The Treaty prohibits commercial mining activity and all Parties, including Russia, reaffirmed their ongoing commitment to this ban in 2023. As with other multilateral fora, we have seen Russian State obstructionism in the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. We will continue to work with international partners to ensure UK interest, and that of our allies, are protected in the Antarctic, and the integrity of all multilateral organisations is preserved. The UK has longstanding interests in Antarctica, and we will continue to maintain a permanent presence on the continent, allowing us to conduct world-leading science, preserve British heritage, and safeguard our sovereignty of the British Antarctic Territory. I recently established a cross-ministerial polar group to consider cross-cutting questions such as these.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment has he made of the potential impact of Chinese activity in Antarctica on (a) the environment, (b) British interests and (c) international interests.
The Antarctic Treaty, of which the UK and China are members, preserves Antarctica as a place of peace and science. While there is growing global interest in the economic potential of Antarctica, the Treaty ensures all parties adhere to high environmental standards. The UK has longstanding interests in Antarctica, and we will continue to maintain a permanent presence on the continent, allowing us to conduct world-leading science, preserve British heritage, and safeguard our sovereignty of the British Antarctic Territory.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many (a) phones, (b) laptops and (c) other electronic devices have been lost by their Department since 5 July 2024.
The following table includes the number of lost department-issued devices by The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office since 5 July 2024.Breakdown of department-issued equipment typeNumber of lost itemsMobile phones177Laptops27Other electronic devices - please specify (Tablets)2
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer 2 April 2025 to Question 41781 on Sovereignty: Greenland, what steps he is taking to support the the (a) Government of Greenland and (b) the Kingdom of Denmark.
The Foreign Secretary and I have been clear that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and the future of their constitutional arrangements is a matter for the people and Government of Greenland, and the Kingdom of Denmark.We look forward to working with Greenland's new government and will continue to maintain strong ties with all parts of the Kingdom of Denmark. I have met Greenland's Foreign Minister twice since taking office and have also discussed bilateral cooperation with the Faroese Foreign Minister. The Prime Minister hosted Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen in London on 4 February for bilateral discussions.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how the terms of the agreement to lease the Chagos Islands differs from the deal that the Permanent Representative of Mauritius to the UN offered to the United States in July 2020.
Once an agreement is reached and the Treaty is signed, the Treaty will be put before both Houses for scrutiny under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act (CRaG) process in the usual way.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of recent remarks from the United States administration on the sovereignty of Greenland.
The UK maintains strong relations with both the US and Denmark, including as close NATO Allies, and on the shared priority of security in the High North.The UK has a longstanding policy of respecting self-determination. The Foreign Secretary and I have been clear that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and the future of their constitutional arrangements is a matter for the people and Government of Greenland, and the Kingdom of Denmark.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential implications for his polices of the diplomatic relationship between the US and Denmark.
The UK maintains strong relations with both the US and Denmark, including as close NATO Allies, and on the shared priority of security in the High North.The UK has a longstanding policy of respecting self-determination. The Foreign Secretary and I have been clear that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and the future of their constitutional arrangements is a matter for the people and Government of Greenland, and the Kingdom of Denmark.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37768 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Fisheries, what estimate he has made of the level of financial assistance that will be provided to the Government of Mauritius to implement a new Mauritian Marine Protected Area.
Further engagement on the details of the Marine Protected Area will take place as part of the implementation of the Agreement post-signature.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37762 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Seas and Oceans, whether the Marine Protected Area established by Mauritius under the terms of the agreement between the UK and Mauritius will be supported by his Department's Blue Belt Programme.
The enhanced partnership will prioritise high conservation standards, with the UK supporting Mauritius' ambitions to establish a Marine Protected Area (MPA) that protects the globally significant ecosystems in the Chagos Archipelago. Further engagement on the details of the MPA will take place as part of the implementation of the Agreement post-signature.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 14 March to Question 36204 on James Scott Rhys Anderson, what discussions he has had with (a) the Russian ambassador to the UK and (b) senior Russian officials on the imprisonment of James Anderson.
The Ukrainian authorities have confirmed British national James Anderson was serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, meaning he holds Prisoner of War (PoW) status. Ukraine holds responsibility for engagement on any members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces who are captured as PoWs, regardless of their nationality. We strongly condemn the sentencing of Mr. Anderson in a Russian court on false charges. Under international law, PoWs cannot be prosecuted for participating in hostilities. We demand that Russia respect its obligations under the Geneva Conventions, including that PoWs are treated humanely, and condemn the exploitation of prisoners of war for political and propaganda purposes. The UK regularly raises Mr Anderson's case with our Ukrainian partners. We recently raised Mr Anderson's case with the Russian Ambassador, making it clear that Mr. Anderson must be treated as a PoW, in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. We remain in close contact with Mr Anderson's family and are providing consular support.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled Global Clean Power Alliance: finance mission statement, published on 20 November 2024, what progress he has made on the finance mission.
We have been working closely with Brazil, our co-chair for the Finance Mission, to develop a set of time-bound deliverables which will focus the Finance Mission's activity. The proposals will be shared after further consultation with Mission members and delivery partners, reflecting the collaborative approach of the Global Clean Power Alliance.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure long term access to the Fisheries Conservation and Management Zone of the British Indian Ocean Territory.
The UK will assist Mauritius in implementing a new Mauritian Marine Protected Area in the Archipelago, which will extend to technical, financial, capacity-building assistance, fostering long-term sustainable management. The parties will work with international conservation organisations to ensure the implementation of science-backed strategies for conservation.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the value of the (a) seabed and (b) other parts of the marine portfolio of the area within 200 nautical miles of the British Indian Ocean Territory.
The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) has some of the most biodiverse waters on the planet with over 220 species of coral, 855 species of fish and 355 species of molluscs. Since its designation as a Marine Protected Area in 2010, the BIOT Administration has managed environmental policy across the archipelago, with marine conservation efforts supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's Blue Belt Programme. The agreement between the UK and Mauritius will be supported by an enhanced partnership on conservation under which the UK will support Mauritius to establish a Marine Protected Area that protects the globally significant ecosystems in the Archipelago.