(Con):My
Lords, I welcome my noble friend the Minister’s reference to the
UK’s responsibility to protect the safety of the people in our
overseas territories, but could he give an example of the UK’s
tailored support for the OTs and what he actually means by
appropriate resources—is that money, equipment, technical advice?
What is it?
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and
Department for International Development () (Con): My noble
friend speaks from experience as a former Minister for the
Overseas Territories—a job that I enjoyed; it was sometimes
challenging but in the main enjoyable. First and foremost, I
assure her that the overseas territories, which are British
territories, have been discussed at the highest level of
government—at the international inter-ministerial group, which
continues to be chaired by the Foreign Secretary, so it is being
discussed at the highest level. In terms of specific responses,
we have deployed Crown agents to look at the equipment that is
needed in response to the coronavirus. All the inhabited
territories—with, I think, the exception of Tristan da Cunha and
the Pitcairn Islands—have been given direct support with
equipment, and, through Public Health England, we are speaking to
the Chief Medical Officer in each of those countries. In relation
to my noble friend’s second point, we are giving technical
support to ensure that needs are met. From her time in office,
she will be acutely aware of the security challenges. For
example, we have already supported the security efforts in the
Turks and Caicos Islands, and we talk regularly
to all representatives of the overseas territories. I am
certainly working very closely with our noble friend Lady Sugg,
who is doing an admirable job in this area...
