Between March 2023 and March 2024, Welsh Ministers have conducted over 20 overseas visits. Close engagement between FCDO and Welsh Government officials ensured that Welsh Ministers were effectively supported on each visit. This included FCDO officials accompanying Welsh Ministers in their meetings with ministers of foreign governments, as appropriate. FCDO officials attended all such meetings.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4928", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Harlech"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Harlech"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-03-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-03-26T12:29:13.517Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "28"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Wales"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Wales"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-03-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Foreign Relations: Wales"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Harlech on 6 March (HL3092), on how many occasions in the past 12 months has the Government failed to provide an official to attend a meeting arranged between (1) Welsh Ministers and (2) ministers of foreign governments; and whether the meetings were permitted to go ahead in those circumstances.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/547", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Wigley"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Wigley"} ], "uin" : "HL3351"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1696595", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Wales Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1696595/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
UK Government Ministers have regular discussions with Welsh Government Ministers on a wide range of issues. In addition, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs engages regularly at official level with the Welsh Government on areas of shared interest, including marine licensing.<\/p>
The licensing regime for mineral extraction from the seabed within Welsh waters is a devolved matter for the Welsh Government, and therefore the responsibility of Natural Resources Wales (NRW).<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4928", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Harlech"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Harlech"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-03-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-03-27T11:35:48.337Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "28"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Wales"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Wales"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-03-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Territorial Waters: Wales"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had in the past 12 months with Welsh Ministers on issues relating to the trawling of the sea bed for rare minerals within territorial waters of the Welsh coast.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/547", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Wigley"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Wigley"} ], "uin" : "HL3352"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1694357", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Wales Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1694357/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The FCDO remains fully committed to working collaboratively with the Welsh Government and other Devolved Administrations on overseas initiatives which may support the delivery of devolved policy objectives. The FCDO has developed internal guidance to ensure that the foreign affairs reservation is respected, including requiring a UK Government official to be present at meetings between devolved ministers and ministers of foreign governments.<\/p>
<\/p>
Since April 2023, the FCDO has supported over 15 overseas visits by Welsh Government Ministers. International activity undertaken by each of the Devolved Administrations will continue to be supported appropriately by Posts.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4928", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Harlech"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Harlech"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-03-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-03-13T14:08:18.603Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "28"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Wales"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Wales"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-03-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Foreign Relations: Wales"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government what directives or guidelines they have issued to the Welsh Government in relation to overseas initiatives on matters related to devolved responsibilities.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/547", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Wigley"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Wigley"} ], "uin" : "HL3092"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1686535", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Wales Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1686535/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer I gave to question HL1907 on 1 February 2024. I also refer the Noble Lord to my Rt Hon Friend the Prime Minister\u2019s comments about the First Minister\u2019s retirement at Prime Minister\u2019s Questions on 13 December 2023. Details of the Prime Minister\u2019s future official meetings and visits will be announced in the usual way.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4985", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Swinburne"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Swinburne"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-02-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-02-14T16:02:27.617Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "28"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Wales"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Wales"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-01-31", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "First Minister of Wales"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government how many times since taking office the Prime Minister has met the First Minister of Wales; and whether the Prime Minister plans to meet the current First Minister before the latter\u2019s retirement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/547", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Wigley"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Wigley"} ], "uin" : "HL2116"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1684996", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Wales Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1684996/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Prime Minister visits all parts of the United Kingdom regularly.<\/p>
<\/p>