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1110761

registered interest
date	09/04/2019
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Cyprus: Military Bases
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to maintain the reduction in the number of wild birds illegally trapped on the Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	242813
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2019 answer text <p>The Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) Administration continues to make significant efforts to prevent the trapping and killing of wild birds in the Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus, using increased enforcement and denial of trapping opportunities. These were recently recognised by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and BirdLife Cyprus, with an estimated 70% reduction in bird trapping in the SBA last year and a significant decrease in bird deaths from 880,000 in 2016 to 121,000 in 2018. The SBA Police continues to seek improved evidence collection using enhanced surveillance equipment, resulting in greater fixed penalty notices or court sentences. The programme of seizing bird trapping equipment continues, as will the extensive patrolling by the SBA Police during the migratory seasons. The SBA Administration will remove piping laid by bird trappers to illegally irrigate invasive acacia trees used to attract birds. To-date, approximately 89 kilometres of irrigation piping within the Cape Pyla range area in the Dhekelia SBA has been removed, which has resulted in significant die-back of acacia trees. Subject to assessments on safety and security, acacia trees will also continue to be removed from the Special Areas of Conservation in the SBA. The SBA Administration is also developing a management plan for Cape Pyla, which will examine the opportunities to improve habitat management for the migratory birds and explore any eco-tourism initiatives that might arise. All opportunities will be taken to enhance the excellent cooperation between the SBA Administration, the RSPB, BirdLife Cyprus and other NGOs involved in preventing illegal bird trapping.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 23/04/2019 15:34:12 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1064767

registered interest
date	21/02/2019
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Cyprus: Military Bases
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost of maintaining British bases in Cyprus has been in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Shrewsbury and Atcham
tabling member printed	Daniel Kawczynski
uin	224483
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/02/2019 answer text <p>The cost of maintaining the British Bases in Cyprus, in each of the last five financial years is as follows:</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Financial Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Hard Facilities Management</strong> <strong>(£ million)</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Soft Facilities Management</strong> <strong>(£ million)</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total</strong> <strong>(£ million)</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018-19<sup>1</sup></p></td><td><p>49.142</p></td><td><p>16.669</p></td><td><p>65.811</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>55.386</p></td><td><p>17.249</p></td><td><p>72.636</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>40.950</p></td><td><p>17.235</p></td><td><p>58.185</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>51.628</p></td><td><p>12.786</p></td><td><p>64.414</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>49.503</p></td><td><p>18.636</p></td><td><p>68.139</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>246.609</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>82.576</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>329.185</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><sup>1</sup> Estimated Forecast of Outturn as at 31 January 2019</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 28/02/2019 15:31:28 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
tabling member	1566 label Biography information for Daniel Kawczynski

1064768

registered interest
date	21/02/2019
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Cyprus: Military Bases
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many permanent British personnel are stationed at British bases in Cyprus.
tabling member constituency	Shrewsbury and Atcham
tabling member printed	Daniel Kawczynski
uin	224484
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/02/2019 answer text <p>As at 22 February 2019, there were 2,361 UK personnel permanently stationed on British bases in Cyprus. This figure excludes UK personnel who are part of the United Nations mission OP TOSCA or OP SHADER and UK Locally Employed Civilians.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 28/02/2019 15:25:19 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
tabling member	1566 label Biography information for Daniel Kawczynski

999496

registered interest
date	01/11/2018
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Cyprus: Military Bases
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on border access between the RAF bases Akrotiri and Dhekelia and Cyprus after the UK leave the EU.
tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
tabling member printed	Tom Brake
uin	186914
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2018 answer text <p>As the Prime Minister stated in Parliament on 22 October 2018 (Official Report, column 648), a Protocol has now been developed for the Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs), reflecting the constructive discussions between the UK, Republic of Cyprus and the EU. This will provide certainty for citizens, businesses and residents in the SBAs. We intend to maintain current arrangements for immigration checks for those entering the SBAs at the two crossing points from north Cyprus, which are recognised points of entry into the EU, and to ensure that no border controls are established between the SBAs in Akrotiri and Dhekelia and the Republic of Cyprus.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 06/11/2018 16:44:44 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

900564

registered interest
date	09/05/2018
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Cyprus: Military Bases
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when clearance of invasive non-native acacia trees will recommence on the Sovereign Base Area in Cyprus.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	142373
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2018 answer text <p>Clearance of invasive acacia trees in the Special Areas of Conservation within the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) in Cyprus has not been suspended. Since November 2014 approximately 120 acres of acacia has been removed, of which 25 acres were cleared since October 2017. Decisions on the specific sites where acacia is to be removed are subject to assessments on safety and security. The SBA Administration has also continued with a programme to remove irrigation equipment associated with acacia trees. To-date, 70 kilometres of irrigation piping within the Pyla Range area in the Dhekelia SBA has been removed, which has resulted in significant die-back of acacia trees. This irrigation removal program will continue throughout 2018.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 14/05/2018 16:13:39 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

872400

registered interest
date	26/03/2018
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Cyprus: Military Bases
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department has taken since 1 January 2018 to prevent the (a) trapping and (b) killing of song birds on UK Sovereign Base Area in Cyrpus; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Oxford West and Abingdon
tabling member printed	Layla Moran
uin	134314
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/03/2018 answer text <p>Since 1 January 2018, the Sovereign Base Area Administration has continued its enhanced efforts to prevent the trapping and killing of migratory birds in the Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus. This includes, specifically, the removal of 29.5 km of piping, laid by bird trappers to illegally irrigate invasive acacia trees used to attract birds. Eight people were convicted in the Sovereign Base Areas courts for bird trapping-related offences, receiving fines of between €300 and €2,500. One person received a suspended custodial sentence of two months. The programme of seizing bird trapping equipment has continued, including the destruction of vast quantities of trapping-related paraphernalia on 23 March 2018.</p><p>A report published in March 2018 by BirdLife Cyprus and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds highlighted significant decreases in trapping activity in the Bases during the 2017 autumn migration, and a reduction of 72% in the numbers of birds killed. This is hugely encouraging for the Sovereign Base Areas Administration, and it remains committed to continuing measures to proactively counter this illegal activity.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 29/03/2018 14:07:40 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
tabling member	4656 label Biography information for Layla Moran

771442

registered interest
date	16/10/2017
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Cyprus: Military Bases
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effects of acacia clearances in the UK Sovereign Base Area in Cyprus on the illegal trapping of songbirds on the base.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	107794
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2017 answer text <p>Since November 2014, 61 acres of invasive acacia have been removed from the Special Area of Conservation and land managed by the Ministry of Defence at Cape Pyla, an open area of countryside affected by illegal bird trapping. Birdlife Cyprus has undertaken assessments of bird trapping across the whole of Cyprus, including the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA); but they have not yet published any specific data associated with the removal of this acacia at Cape Pyla. Their next set of estimates will be issued early in 2018 after the present migration season has ended.</p><p>The SBA Police have separately assessed that up to 40 trappers planted and exploited this acacia at Cape Pyla and, using the Birdlife Cyprus methodology, together with a combination of other measures to counter bird trapping, is resulting in significant numbers of birds being saved. Preliminary assessments from the SBA Police, and noted by various Non-Government Organisations, indicate that bird trapping activity so far during the 2017 autumn migration is lower than in previous years.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 23/10/2017 16:24:17 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

769857

registered interest
date	12/10/2017
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Cyprus: Military Bases
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to step the trapping and killing of song birds on his Department's land in Cyprus.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	107494
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2017 answer text <p>Tackling illegal trapping of migratory birds is one of the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) Administration's top priorities, with the level of trapping, and plans to counter it, constantly under review.</p><p>Bird trapping is a widespread issue across Cyprus and is not confined to the SBAs. The SBA Administration is working hard to counter illegal trapping, last year prosecuting 78 people for trapping and poaching offences, with the SBA Police conducting 39 major clearance operations. This resulted in the seizure of over 1,000 mist-nets and 450 limesticks.</p><p>Since 2014, the SBA Administration has cleared approximately 61 acres of invasive non-native acacia planted by bird trappers to attract birds and has begun a programme to remove irrigation piping, which promotes growth of invasive acacia.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 19/10/2017 14:28:22 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

765670

registered interest
date	06/10/2017
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Cyprus: Military Bases
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of claims that song-birds are being illegally trapped on land forming part of the UK Sovereign Base Territory in Cyprus.
tabling member constituency	Chippenham
tabling member printed	Michelle Donelan
uin	106224
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2017 answer text <p>Tackling illegal trapping of migratory birds is one of the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) Administration's top priorities, with the level of trapping constantly under review, together with plans to counter it.</p><p>The trapping of birds is a widespread issue across the whole of Cyprus with substantial profits made by those who organise and control this activity. Whilst it is not confined to the SBA, the SBA Police uses all lawful means to target individuals involved in bird trapping. Last year, the SBA Administration prosecuted 78 people for bird trapping and poaching offences in the SBA, and the SBA Police conducted 39 major mist netting clearance operations, resulting in the seizure of over 1,000 mist-nets and over 450 limesticks. This enforcement has impacted on bird trapping activity and this kind of intervention will continue as part of the SBA Administration's continuing activities.</p><p>More recently, the SBA court in Dhekelia issued fines to 14 bird trappers of between €820 and €2,500, many of whom were caught in the act by hidden surveillance cameras on the Cape Pyla Ranges. Six of the trappers received prison sentences of between three and six months, suspended for three years. In addition to this, a SBA Police drone has been acquired and has provided them with an enhanced ability to track and catch bird trappers.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 16/10/2017 14:48:40 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
tabling member	4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan

765753

registered interest
date	06/10/2017
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Cyprus: Military Bases
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has to remove invasive Australian acacia trees from the Sovereign Base Areas of (a) Akrotiri and (b) Dhekelia in (i) the remaining months of 2017 and (ii) thereafter; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Bridgend
tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
uin	105742
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2017 answer text <p>Since November 2014, 95 acres of acacia have been removed from Special Areas of Conservation in the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA). In addition, the SBA Administration has been pursuing other means of acacia removal beyond physical tree cutting, including destroying 5.8km of irrigation piping used to promote growth of acacia on the Cape Pyla Ranges in the Dhekelia SBA.</p><p>We plan to remove further acreage of invasive acacia from Special Areas of Conservation in the SBA of Akrotiri and Dhekelia. No decision has yet been made on the specific sites where acacia could be removed and treated with herbicide to prevent re-growth. This will be subject to risk assessment.</p><p>Further consideration of options to remove acacia and associated irrigation will take place following this year's migration.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 16/10/2017 14:53:31 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon