Written questions by Rosindell.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help improve sea access infrastructure on Montserrat.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is supporting the development of the port in Montserrat by providing a grant of £28.3 million from the UK's Caribbean Infrastructure Fund (UKCIF), which is delivered in partnership with the Caribbean Development Bank. The project also includes £7 million funding from the EU. The new pier will supplement the existing pier that was constructed after the volcanic eruptions. Additionally, the FCDO's has funded the acquisition of new dual-view scanners and explosion detection scanners for the seaport (and airport). The new scanners are to ensure Montserrat can meet the minimum standards for border controls. It also includes training of officials and decommissioning of the old equipment.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help improve sea access infrastructure on Tristan da Cunha.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) funds maintenance and upgrades to Tristan da Cunha's harbour through its provision of Technical Assistance and Essential Infrastructure programme. The programme has provided over £35,000 of funding towards the harbour in the current financial year. The FCDO will continue to ensure that access to Tristan da Cunha is maintained.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help promote governance standards on Pitcairn Island.

The UK Government is working with the governments of the Overseas Territories to achieve the highest standards in governance. In the Pitcairn Islands the Governor and Administrator are working with the Council to improve the delivery of public services. The Governor has commissioned a restructure of the Pitcairn Public Service to better service the needs of the community. The Minister for the Overseas Territories discussed the ongoing public services review with the Mayor of Pitcairn at the Joint Ministerial Council in 2024. The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office undertakes audits of the budgetary support it provides to the Government of the Pitcairn Islands, for which a fiduciary risk assessment has recently been undertaken by PWC.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2025 to Question 23274 on Haiti: Diplomatic Service, what contingency arrangements his Department has in place to provide emergency assistance to British nationals in Haiti, in the context of the absence of consular officials in Haiti.

The British Embassy in Santo Domingo provides consular assistance to British nationals in Haiti and issues emergency travel documents. Requests for consular assistance are considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all relevant circumstances. We encourage all British nationals in Haiti to follow our travel advice and sign up to email alerts.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2025 to Question 23274 on Haiti: Diplomatic Service, what steps his Department is taking to support British nationals in Haiti remotely; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of this support.

The British Embassy in Santo Domingo provides consular assistance to British nationals in Haiti and issues emergency travel documents. Requests for consular assistance are considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all relevant circumstances. We encourage all British nationals in Haiti to follow our travel advice and sign up to email alerts.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what role his Department's diplomatic missions will have in the delivery of the Government's Soft Power Council.

The Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport launched the Soft Power Council on 15 January. The Council brings together some of the most influential figures across soft power and foreign policy to steer and advise Government. The UK diplomatic network will be central to delivering our refreshed strategic approach to soft power, whether by encouraging people in other countries to visit, study and trade with the UK; or by harnessing our world class sectors to build alliances and enhance our global influence, in the service of our growth and security objectives.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with representatives from the (a) Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and (b) Organization of American States on alleged reports of election fraud in Venezuela.

We remain deeply concerned about allegations of serious irregularities in the declared election result in Venezuela, and regularly discuss this issue with international partners, including the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and Organization of American States (OAS) members. We have made a number of public statements on the credibility of the election results, including at the Special Session of the OAS Permanent Council in August. On 10 January the Foreign Secretary stated that Maduro's claim to power was fraudulent and announced new sanctions designations against members of the Maduro regime.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK announces new sanctions targeting Nicolás Maduro’s regime in Venezuela, published on 10 January 2025, whether the travel restrictions will be applicable in the British Overseas Territories.

On 10 January, the UK sanctioned 15 new individuals associated with Maduro's contested regime responsible for undermining democracy and committing serious human rights violations. It is Government policy for all UK sanctions, including travel bans, to also apply in the Overseas Territories.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his (a) Guyanese, (b) Colombian and (c) Brazilian counterparts on trends in the number of refugees travelling to those countries from Venezuela.

The UK remains concerned at the deteriorating situation in Venezuela and the high numbers of Venezuelans who continue to leave the country. The Foreign Secretary regularly discusses the situation in Venezuela with international partners including recently with Brazil, Colombia and Guyana. The UK is a longstanding partner of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) which provides life-saving assistance to displaced persons, including refugees from Venezuela.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many British nationals have requested consular assistance in Haiti since July 2024.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has not been approached for consular assistance in relation to British nationals in Haiti since July 2024. The FCDO advises against all travel to Haiti due to the volatile security situation there. There are currently no British consular officials in Haiti and our ability to provide consular assistance is severely limited. Consular assistance cannot currently be delivered in person in Haiti, however British nationals may access consular assistance via the British Embassy Santo Domingo. British nationals in Haiti are encouraged to read our travel advice and sign up for alerts.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark on (a) Greenland and (b) the Faroe Islands since taking office.

The UK values its strong partnerships with all parts of the Kingdom of Denmark and engages accordingly. On 13 January, I held my second meeting with Greenland's Foreign Minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, in London, to discuss bilateral relations. This followed our first meeting at the Arctic Circle Assembly in Iceland in October. I also met the Faroese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Høgni Hoydal, in October. FCDO Officials regularly engage with Danish, Faroese and Greenlandic counterparts to discuss bilateral cooperation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of reports of the detention and subsequent release of María Corina Machado; and what representations he has made to the Venezuelan government on the right to free political expression.

The reported arbitrary detention of Maria Corina Machado was unacceptable. The UK already strongly condemns the ongoing repression against civil society and members of the opposition in Venezuela. We regularly call this out in our public statements and we raised it recently at the UN Human Rights Council. We are confident the Venezuelan regime is aware of our position. Along with the UN and international allies, we remain deeply concerned about allegations of serious irregularities in the result of the July Presidential election. On 10 January, the same day that Maduro illegitimately asserted power once again, we sanctioned 15 new members of the regime responsible for undermining democracy and committing serious human rights violations.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) he and (b) the Minister of State (Europe, North America and Overseas Territories) has met the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark since taking office.

The Foreign Secretary and I have met the Danish Ambassador through our engagements with the European diplomatic community in London.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential geopolitical implications of the expansion of BRICS.

The Foreign Secretary made a speech on 9 January at the FCDO regarding the future of UK foreign policy, where he underlined that we are facing an increasingly volatile world. It remains important for us to understand geopolitical shifts, and ensure the UK remains able to navigate international geopolitics to deliver its domestic missions.Forging close partnerships with emerging powers and the Global South will be critical to progressing UK interests, including growth. The Foreign Secretary's speech made clear how the FCDO is taking this forward, including through showing respect, renewing partnerships, and new agreements, like those he recently launched with India, Indonesia, South Africa and Nigeria.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies on Western Sahara of Morocco’s autonomy plan.

The UK continues to support UN-led efforts to reach a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. The UK strongly supports the work of Staffan de Mistura, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara, and continues to encourage constructive engagement with the UN political process. The UK believes this process is the best way to solve the long-standing dispute by delivering a solution agreeable to all parties, one which would contribute significantly to regional security and prosperity.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) adequacy of the capabilities and (b) effectiveness of support for the Turks & Caicos Islands relating to illegal small boat

Whilst immigration is a devolved responsibility of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Government, the UK continues to support TCI in tackling irregular migration challenges and illicit maritime activity. I visited TCI in November 2024 and was briefed by N...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many small boats landed illegally in the Turks and Caicos Islands in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

In line with the Turks and Caicos (TCI) Constitution, immigration is a devolved matter for TCI Government so the UK does not hold detailed statistics on the number of boats entering TCI waters illegally. In 2023, TCI law enforcement authorities confirmed ...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking in the Turks and Caicos Islands to implement preventative measures against potential (a) human, (b) weapons and( c) drugs trafficking linked to illega

Whilst immigration is a devolved responsibility of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Government, the UK continues to support TCI in tackling irregular migration challenges and illicit maritime activity. I visited TCI in November 2024 and was briefed by N...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve (a) communication and (b) coordination with the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands in response to small boat incursions.

Whilst immigration is a devolved responsibility of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Government, the UK continues to support TCI in tackling irregular migration challenges and illicit maritime activity. I visited TCI in November 2024 and was briefed by N...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to enhance the capacity of border security forces in the Turks and Caicos Islands to prevent the illegal arrival of small boats.

Whilst immigration is a devolved responsibility of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Government, the UK continues to support TCI in tackling irregular migration challenges and illicit maritime activity. I visited TCI in November 2024 and was briefed by N...