Category: Questions

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 1126, tabled on 12 May 2022

Question
Emily Thornberry
Labour

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, in what year (a) Eritrea, (b) Palau, (c) Palestine, (d) Somaliland, (e) Taiwan and (f) Timor Leste were were granted privileges in the UK within the terms of the (i) Consular Relations Act 1968 and (ii) Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964.

Answer
Amanda Milling
Conservative

Answered on
19 May 2022

The Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 and the Consular Relations Act 1968 give effect in domestic law to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations respectively. The UK maintains diplomatic and consular relations with Eritrea, which acceded to both Conventions on 14 January 1997, and with Timor-Leste which acceded to the Conventions on 30 January 2004; Palau, Somaliland and Taiwan are not party to either Convention. The position of Her Majesty’s Government is clear that the UK will recognise a Palestinian state at a time when it best serves the objective of peace.

 

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 127566, tabled on 22 February 2022

Question
Fleur Anderson
Labour

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help protect Taiwanese citizens living outside of Taiwan from possible extradition to China.

Answer
Amanda Milling
Conservative

Answered on
3 March 2022

The UK does not have an extradition treaty with either China or Taiwan, but extraditions can be requested on a case-by-case basis by both. UK courts determine whether extradition would infringe upon an individual’s human rights, and extradition from the UK is barred if the court finds that the prosecution is politically motivated. We are unable to comment on what the judicial system of another state might decide to do in such a case.

 

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 92840, tabled on 14 December 2021

Question
Andrew Rosindell
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she or her officials have held discussions with Nicaraguan counterparts on that county’s termination of diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Answer
Amanda Milling
Conservative

Answered on
22 December 2021

There have been no conversations between the UK and Nicaragua on this issue since Nicaragua’s decision to terminate relations with Taiwan.

 

Question for Ministry of Defence
UIN 80990, tabled on 24 November 2021

Question
Jim Shannon
Democratic Unionist Party

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has held discussions with the Foreign Secretary on potential UK Government support for the Government of Taiwan in the context of the political situation across the Taiwan Strait.

Answer
James Heappey
Conservative

Answered on
30 November 2021

The Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary meet regularly to discuss a wide range of international issues. These meetings often cover multiple topics and countries at appropriate classification.

 

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN HL3920, tabled on 10 November 2021

Question
Lord Blencathra
Conservative

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have, if any, to call for Taiwan to be given observer status at Interpol.

Answer
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Conservative

Answered on
25 November 2021

Taiwan has a valuable contribution to make on issues of global concern, including efforts to combat international organised crime. We therefore support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organisations, where there is no pre-requisite of statehood for participation. This includes observer status at INTERPOL. Taiwan’s participation in this organisation would, in our view, reduce co-operation black spots, which pose a risk to the UK and our international partners.

 

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN HL3874, tabled on 9 November 2021

Question
Lord Dodds of Duncairn
Democratic Unionist Party

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent discussions they have had with NATO partners about China’s policy towards Taiwan.

Answer
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Conservative

Answered on
23 November 2021

Her Majesty’s Government considers the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue. The UK Government is in regular contact with like-minded partners on our shared priorities.

 

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 75915, tabled on 16 November 2021

Question
Stewart Malcolm McDonald
Scottish National Party

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when officials in her Department last communicated with the office of the Lord Provost of Glasgow in relation to Taiwan; and if she will publish a minute of those discussions.

Answer
Amanda Milling
Conservative

Answered on
19 November 2021

An official from Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office communicated with the office of the Lord Provost of Glasgow on Friday 12th November. As this was an informal discussion no minute was taken of the conversation.

 

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 68202, tabled on 2 November 2021

Question
Andrew Percy
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the recent tensions between China and Taiwan.

Answer
Amanda Milling
Conservative

Answered on
9 November 2021

Her Majesty’s Government considers the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue. We are concerned by any activity which raises tensions and risks destabilising the status quo and have been clear that the numerous Chinese military flights near Taiwan at the beginning of October were not conducive to peace and stability in the region. We underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait alongside partners in the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ communique in May and G7 Leaders’ communique in June.

 

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 66189, tabled on 29 October 2021

Question
Lisa Nandy
Labour

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the security situation in Taiwan.

Answer
Amanda Milling
Conservative

Answered on
3 November 2021

HMG considers the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue. We are concerned by any activity which raises tensions and risks destabilising the status quo and have been clear that the numerous Chinese military flights near Taiwan at the beginning of October were not conducive to peace and stability in the region. We underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait alongside partners in the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ communique in May and G7 Leaders’ communique in June.

 

Question for Department for Transport
UIN 66167, tabled on 29 October 2021

Question
Mr Gregory Campbell
Democratic Unionist Party

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on expanding the list of designated countries where an exchange agreement is in place for recognition of driving licences.

Answer
Trudy Harrison
Conservative

Answered on
3 November 2021

On 20 May 2021, legislation was introduced to designate specified driving licences issued in the Cayman Islands, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and North Macedonia for exchange in GB.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is currently dealing with requests for reciprocal driving licence exchange agreements from Malaysia, Serbia and Sri Lanka and continues to work with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to identify further opportunities.

The DVLA has also been in contact with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators to gauge interest in reciprocal licence exchange arrangements among US licensing authorities.