Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: On her visit to Addis Ababa on 20 January 2022, the Minister for Africa discussed the clear need for an urgent improvement in humanitarian access with the Government of Ethiopia, including in her meeting with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The humanitarian response in Tigray is at standstill owing to the de facto blockade of the region imposed by the Government of Ethiopia since July 2021. The...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: We are deeply concerned by recent airstrikes in northern Ethiopia. The Minister for Africa raised her concerns about this with Minister Redwan in Addis Ababa 20 January. We call for a ceasefire by all sides, including the Ethiopian Government, to end hostilities. We support the call by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for all parties to the conflict to respect the rights of all...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: We welcome the contribution the British Council has made to UK-Slovenia relations since it opened its offices there in 1992. The British Council's work across the education, cultural and science and innovation sectors in particular have been an important part of deepening UK-Slovenia relations, fostering strong links between our citizens and promoting the exchange of best practice.
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK is deeply concerned by the appalling devastation caused by the volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga. While full details of the humanitarian impact are still unknown, it is estimated that up to 80,000 people will have been affected. Her Majesty's Government has been working with partners on options for support, helping to ensure a coordinated regional response. On Friday 21 January,...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The Government published a Written Ministerial Statement on Reducing Demand for Water on 1 July 2021, which announced measures that we will take forward to deliver reductions in water demand across England. This includes plans to introduce a mandatory water efficiency label to inform consumers and encourage the purchase of more water-efficient products, to develop a roadmap towards greater...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: We will publish the environmental principles draft policy statement as soon as possible, following the consultation we carried out last year. In the meantime, we are working closely with departments to support them in planning for implementing the duty to have due regard to the policy statement.
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK is committed to supporting efforts to assist developing countries avert, minimise and address loss and damage. As COP26 Presidency, the UK will work with the incoming Egyptian Presidency for COP27 and UNFCCC Subsidiary Body Chairs to follow up on the actions set out in the COP26 Decision text. This includes the Glasgow Dialogue which will discuss the arrangements for the funding of...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: We have existing regimes to set ambitions for local water bodies through River Basin Management Planning, including nutrient limits in certain areas. The draft River Basin Management Plans were published on 22 October 2021 for consultation, which will end on 22 April 2022. The Government has taken powers in the Environment Act to create new, legally-binding targets in four priority areas...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The Environment Agency (EA) receives over 100,000 incident reports a year, every one of which is recorded and assessed. The EA then focuses its efforts and resources on where they will have the most impact - so those which pose the greatest risk to the environment. The EA's Incident Triage Project is looking at how the EA can best use its resources and maximise benefits for the environment....
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK is deeply concerned by the appalling devastation caused by the volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga. While full details of the humanitarian impact are still unknown, it is estimated that up to 80,000 people will have been affected. HMG has been working with partners on options for support, helping to ensure a coordinated regional response. On Friday 21 January, the UK sent supplies...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Abdallah Hamdok's resignation as Prime Minister of Sudan reflects the wider political crisis over the future of Sudan's democratic transition following the 25 October 2021 coup. His resignation reinforces the urgent need for all Sudanese political actors to work together to deliver the civilian rule that millions of Sudanese continue to call for. The Troika (UK, Norway, US) and EU issued a...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: We are concerned by deteriorating security in North West Nigeria. Intercommunal violence and attacks by criminal groups are having a devastating impact on communities in this region, as well as in the Maradi region of Niger. The Minister for Africa discussed insecurity in Nigeria with Foreign Minister Onyeama in a bilateral meeting in November and she will hold further such discussions with...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The Foreign Secretary saw Commission Vice-President Maroš ŠefÄoviÄ last week at Chevening (13-14 January) for her first face-to-face talks. The meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere. They agreed that officials would meet next week in intensified talks and that the principals would meet again on 24 January.
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK has supported the UN's Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) since its inception in 2006. The PBF is an important tool in addressing conflict risks and investing in prevention, with the UN playing a important role through its access and peacebuilding expertise to support conflict prevention and peacebuilding programmes across the globe. Our contribution has helped the PBF to support conflict...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Tetraethyllead is listed on the UK REACH Candidate list as a substance of very high concern. There is no transition period associated with these obligations under UK REACH.
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Natural England is not aware of, or currently investigating, any recent incidences on the Blackmore Vale Commons and Moors SSSIs. Local authorities are responsible for keeping relevant land (land, which is open to the air, under the direct control of the authority, and accessible to the public with or without payment, as defined in the Environmental Protection Act 1990) clear of litter and...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Defra and the Environment Agency are working with academia, National Highways, and the UK water industry to improve our understanding of the scale of the microplastic pollution problem and to identify the key sources within the natural environment. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been monitoring the scientific literature concerning the occurrence and effects of microplastics in food. On...
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: A released captive-reared pheasant may be regarded as livestock if it remains significantly dependent on a keeper for their survival, for example for the provision of food, water, or shelter.
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: There is currently nothing to prevent goods from Northern Ireland from using GB packaging.
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: In partnership with the international community, the UK Government engages with the Government of the Republic of the Congo on a range of issues, including human rights. The UK does not have a resident Embassy in the Republic of the Congo but we monitor the political, economic, and social situation in that country through the British Embassy in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the...