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1185272

registered interest
date	16/03/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Deep Sea Mining
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that the precautionary principle is applied to deep sea mining techniques that cannot be monitored from the surface.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	29901
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2020 answer text <p>The UK is using the precautionary principle in relation to deep sea mining and has agreed not to sponsor or support the issuing of any exploitation licences for deep sea mining projects until there is sufficient scientific evidence about the potential impact on deep sea ecosystems and strong and enforceable environmental standards have been developed by the ISA and are in place.</p><p>The UK is calling for the precautionary principle to be included in the development of the Regulations, Standards and Guidelines for deep sea mining at the International Seabed Authority (ISA).</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 26/03/2020 09:19:12 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1185274

registered interest
date	16/03/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	International Seabed Authority
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the (a) governance, (b) accountability and (c) competency for (i) contract reviews, (ii) inspections, (iii) audits, (iv) environmental monitoring, (v) enforcement and (vi) other regulatory activities of the International Seabed Authority.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	29903
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2020 answer text <p>The functions and structure of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) are laid out in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The work of the ISA is overseen by the Council and Assembly of the ISA. The UK is a member of both organs. UNCLOS provides for a periodic review of the ISA, the most recent of which was completed in 2017. In the Council and Assembly the UK supports the importance of the ISA having adequate resources and expertise to carry out these functions, in particular in anticipation of a future move from exploration to exploitation.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 26/03/2020 09:20:18 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1185275

registered interest
date	16/03/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Deep Sea Mining
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if she will undertake a review of the (a) scope and (b) objectives of the proposed International Seabed Authority Mining Code to ensure that that code includes a process for (i) protecting biodiversity, (ii) assessing the potential effects of mining on the environment and (iii) avoiding those effects that is (A) is able to take into account independent scientific advice, (B) includes stakeholder consultation, (C) allows for the rejection of mining proposals where the potential effects of those proposals are too great or uncertain and (D) provides for the potential closure of large, ecologically important areas of the deep sea to mineral extraction.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	29904
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2020 answer text <p>The draft Regulations for the exploitation phase of deep sea mining are being negotiated at the International Seabed Authority (ISA). The UK will continue to call for transparent, science-based and environmentally sound regulation of seabed mining by the ISA to ensure effective protection of deep sea habitats and biodiversity. We will use our position in the Council and Assembly of the ISA to secure the adoption of a mining code that provides for robust and accountable oversight of mining activity. This includes enshrining the precautionary principle and an ecosystem approach in the mining code; ensuring that in addition to the core regulations, effective and binding standards and guidelines to ensure environmentally sound mining have been adopted before exploitation licences are granted, and that these reflect the different specific environmental and other features of the different mineral deposits; ensuring that Regional Environmental Management Plans (REMPs) with robust environmental objectives are established before exploitation licences can be granted and that there is a clear regulatory link between the REMPs and exploitation licences; ensuring transparency in the implementation of the Regulations; reinforcing the importance of consultation and expert input both in the development of the Regulations, Standards and Guidelines and in the consideration of any future applications; allowing for the suspension of mining activities when operators fail to adhere to environmental safeguards or where new evidence of risk of serious harm arises.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 24/03/2020 16:19:08 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1183920

registered interest
date	10/03/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Cyprus: Politics and Government
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his UN counterparts to resume efforts to establish a summit between opposing parties in Cyprus to seek a reunification of that island.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	27568
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2020 answer text <p>The UK is a strong supporter of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus issue, based on the internationally accepted model of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. We endorse the UN Secretary-General's view that prospects for a settlement remain alive. We welcome his continued willingness to work with the parties, such as his meeting of 25 November with the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leaders, and the engagement of UN Secretary General's Representative on the Cyprus Dispute, Ms Jane Holl Lute, and hope this will lead to a return to comprehensive negotiations.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 18/03/2020 16:43:43 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1182756

registered interest
date	04/03/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Cyprus: Turkey
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he discussed the illegal occupation of Cyprus during his meeting of 3 March 2020 with Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	25084
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2020 answer text <p>On 3 March 2020, the Foreign Secretary met with President Erdogan and Foreign Minister Cavusoglu. They discussed a wide range of bilateral and regional issues.</p><p>The United Kingdom continues to be a strong supporter of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement to reunite Cyprus, based on the internationally accepted model of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality for all. We believe a settlement would bolster the island's security, unlock significant economic benefits and help to advance regional stability. We continue to encourage all parties to engage constructively in talks about a settlement and demonstrate they are committed to making progress.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton grouped question UIN 25085 question first answered 12/03/2020 14:53:54 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1182757

registered interest
date	04/03/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Cyprus: Politics and Government
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he discussed the reunification of Cyprus during his meeting of 3 March 2020 with Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	25085
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2020 answer text <p>On 3 March 2020, the Foreign Secretary met with President Erdogan and Foreign Minister Cavusoglu. They discussed a wide range of bilateral and regional issues.</p><p>The United Kingdom continues to be a strong supporter of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement to reunite Cyprus, based on the internationally accepted model of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality for all. We believe a settlement would bolster the island's security, unlock significant economic benefits and help to advance regional stability. We continue to encourage all parties to engage constructively in talks about a settlement and demonstrate they are committed to making progress.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton grouped question UIN 25084 question first answered 12/03/2020 14:53:54 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1182762

registered interest
date	04/03/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Cyprus: Missing Persons
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he made at his meeting on 3 March 2020 with his Turkish counterpart on reports of people who disappeared after Turkey's invasion of Cyprus.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	25086
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2020 answer text <p>On 3 March 2020, the Foreign Secretary met with President Erdogan and Foreign Minister Cavusoglu. They discussed a wide range of bilateral and regional issues.</p><p>The UK shares the concerns of both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities over the missing persons following the events of 1974, which understandably remains a very sensitive issue. We commend the important work being undertaken by the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP), and the contribution it makes to bringing closure for the many families affected. We facilitate the CMP including by enabling it to work from a British-owned site in the Buffer Zone at minimal cost. In June 2019, the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus was granted access by Turkey to 30 additional military areas in the north of the island that could contain burial sites. Nonetheless, there is certainly still further progress to be made.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 13/03/2020 12:02:42 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1182764

registered interest
date	04/03/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Turkey: Cyprus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the legality under international law of Turkey violating Cyprus’ maritime economic zone by drilling south of the island.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	25087
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2020 answer text <p>The UK has repeatedly expressed our opposition to Turkish drilling plans in the waters around Cyprus. We have consistently stated our support for the sovereign right of the Republic of Cyprus to exploit the oil and gas in its internationally agreed Exclusive Economic Zone. We also continue to attach the utmost importance to securing a long-term settlement to the division of Cyprus and believe the most enduring way of resolving difficult issues such as this is to achieve a Cyprus settlement. We encourage all parties to redouble their efforts in pursuit of this.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 12/03/2020 14:44:36 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1179743

registered interest
date	24/02/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Cyprus: Aviation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether it remains Government policy to refuse authorisation for direct commercial flights between the UK and North Cyprus.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	19838
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2020 answer text <p>The UK Court of Appeal has confirmed that direct flights from the UK to Ercan airport in the northern part of Cyprus would breach obligations under international law.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 03/03/2020 17:21:20 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1179752

registered interest
date	24/02/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Egypt: Gaza
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on people living in Gaza of the construction of a wall by the Egyptian Government along their respective borders.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	19840
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2020 answer text <p>We remain deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Gaza and support the Palestinian Authority returning to administer Gaza. Egypt has a right to secure borders, and we continue urging Egypt to show maximum flexibility in opening the Rafah crossing. Officials from our Embassy in Cairo raised the Rafah crossing with the Egyptian authorities on 19 December 2019, highlighting the need to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Ministers and officials regularly raise the situation in Gaza with the Egyptian Government both in London and in Cairo, and will continue to do so.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 04/03/2020 16:26:25 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord