The United Kingdom played an instrumental role in supporting development of a new National Security Strategy in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), launched jointly by the Governor and Premier of TCI on 22 January. Alongside the strategy's launch, Sandhurst Military Academy ran a week-long national security training exercise, undertaken by senior officials across TCI government and regional partners.

A Security Advisor from the United Kingdom is currently seconded to TCI to coordinate work around national security; having led work to build on the initial steps taken by TCI's policing and Joint Law Enforcement Teams to develop the finalised National Security Strategy.

The Premier of TCI has expressed her thanks for the United Kingdom's support in implementing the National Security Strategy. As part of our ongoing commitment, the United Kingdom is also supporting the establishment of a defence force which will assist the maritime police to protect the Territory's borders.

While the United Kingdom retains reserve responsibilities for national security, this mutually supportive relationship will best serve the interests of the Overseas Territories.

The Government has always been clear that we are committed to engaging Overseas Territories as the UK exits the EU, to ensure that their interests and priorities are properly taken into account.

We are seeking a bold and ambitious Free Trade Agreement with the EU and want to have the greatest possible tariff- and barrier-free trade with our European neighbours, so that our companies, including those operating in the Tristan da Cunha lobster industry, have the maximum freedom to trade with and operate within European markets.

We also welcome the substantive input we have received from the Tristan da Cunha Government as the United Kingdom prepares for negotiations with the EU.

The British Government works closely with its Overseas Territories, including the Cayman Islands, to help build local resilience to disasters. The Governor's Office and Hazard Management Cayman Islands jointly develop policy and deliver operational responses to disasters.

Recent initiatives include a Foreign and Commonwealth Office funded project to develop a more effective early warning system to provide timely information to the public during sudden onset disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis. The Governor's Office alongside the Ministry of Defence are also developing a new Defence Regiment in the Cayman Islands which will provide a step change in the support available to the civilian authorities following a disaster. In addition the United Kingdom is supporting projects on public information campaigns, training for first responders and the provision of new satellite emergency communications equipment. In 2019 the United Kingdom part funded the purchase and running costs of a new helicopter for the Royal Cayman Islands Police Air Operations Unit. This enables the authorities to provide effective damage assessments, search and rescue and medevac services in Cayman and other British Overseas Territories following disasters. The helicopter was used to provide emergency relief in the Bahamas following Hurricane Dorian in 2019 and for damage assessments following the earthquake which struck the Cayman Islands on 28 January. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship, RFA Mounts Bay, has been deployed to the region for the past 3 years and has provided immediate humanitarian assistance to the three British Overseas Territories, Anguilla, the BVI and TCI which were devastated by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 as well as to the Bahamas in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Dorian in 2019. RFA Mounts Bay will be replaced in March 2020 by other Ministry of Defence naval vessel.

Port redevelopment is an area of devolved responsibility to the elected Government of the Cayman Islands. A Judicial Review on the Cayman Islands Referendum Law was heard on 22-23 January, with the judgment expected later this month. As this is a devolved matter and currently subject to Judicial Review it would not be appropriate for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to intervene. The United Kingdom Electoral Commission has provided advice to the Government of the Cayman Islands and the Governor's Office has previously arranged for observers from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association to oversee the referendum.

During the United Kingdom's EU membership, the Overseas Territories have accessed the EU market for services on a third country basis, meaning there is no direct impact of the United Kingdom's departure from the EU on the Cayman Islands' ability to access to the EU market for services.

The Government has always been clear that it will robustly represent the Overseas Territories' interests internationally and the Government is fully committed to engaging all the Overseas Territories as we exit the EU, to ensure that their interests and priorities are properly taken into account in United Kingdom-EU negotiations.

The Government has always been clear that we are committed to engaging Overseas Territories as the United Kingdom exits the EU, to ensure that their interests and priorities are properly taken into account.

We are seeking a bold and ambitious Free Trade Agreement with the EU and want to have the greatest possible tariff- and barrier-free trade with our European neighbours, so that British companies, including Falkland Islands companies, have the maximum freedom to trade with and operate within European markets.

We also welcome the substantive input we have received from the Falkland Islands' Government as the United Kingdom prepares for negotiations with the EU.

Recent years have seen a rise in the numbers of people making the dangerous journey by sea from Haiti to the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). The overloaded vessels - carrying at times over 200 people - attempt to arrive into the Islands clandestinely, often under the cover of darkness and over dangerous reefs. The newly launched National Security Strategy for TCI aims to deter and ultimately reduce the number of migrants attempting the journey, including by increasing TCI's capability to intercept boats at sea. Improved coordination and higher rate of interception, means that fewer vessels are now reaching TCI. Those arrested at sea, and brought to land, are repatriated by air to Haiti.

The United Kingdom and TCI Government are reviewing our ability to intercept vessels far earlier in their journey, and are working with international partners including the US Coastguard to achieve this. The National Security Strategy also focuses on tackling the criminal networks that exploit migrants making the journey.

Under the Blue Belt programme, United Kingdom funding has been provided to support the Overseas Territories protect and manage their marine environments. The programme is currently on course to protect 4 million square kilometres of ocean around the British Overseas Territories. In delivering the Blue Belt initiative, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and the Marine Management Organisation(MMO) are working with the Government of Tristan da Cunha to ensure that the large scale Marine Protected Areas which have been designated, or are being developed, around the UKOTs are effectively managed, monitored and enforced. Traditional surveillance techniques, including sea and aerial patrols, are also being supplemented with trials of new techniques including satellite surveillance (radar and optical imagery); autonomous underwater vehicles; and unmanned aerial systems, to detect any illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Further funding was announced in August for FY 2020/21 to continue this important programme.

British Embassies routinely attract corporate sponsorship to fund the annual Queen's Birthday Party celebrations in order to minimise costs to British taxpayers.

​The United Kingdom's membership and support for international financial institutions helps advance sustainable and inclusive growth in developing economies. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the International Financial Corporation (IFC) have robust environmental, social and governance safeguards and review projects and investments to seek to ensure consistency with these. The United Kingdom uses its role as a leading shareholder of the EBRD and IFC Board to encourage robust standards to be met.

​The United Kingdom's membership and support for international financial institutions helps advance sustainable and inclusive growth in developing economies. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the International Financial Corporation (IFC) have robust environmental, social and governance safeguards and review projects and investments to seek to ensure consistency with these. The United Kingdom uses its role as a leading shareholder of the EBRD and IFC Board to encourage robust standards to be met.

The British Embassy meets regularly with businesses active in the Armenian market including Lydian International. British Embassies play an important role in helping to develop business for British companies around the world.

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No direct investment from the British public purse has been made in the Amulsar mine project in Armenia, owned and operated by Lydian International Ltd. Both the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have invested in Lydian in the past. As a member of those two international financial institutions, the United Kingdom’s overall financial contribution is channelled to their investments in countries where they operate. The United Kingdom’s membership and support for international financial institutions helps advance sustainable and inclusive growth in developing economies.

The Grace One was in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters at a point two miles off the Eastside of Gibraltar when it was seized. The action taken by the Government of Gibraltar was entirely lawful in line with both EU and Gibraltarian law. Action was taken as the oil was believed to be travelling to an entity that is subject to EU sanctions under EU regulation 36/2012.

Article 14(2) of Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 provides that no funds or economic resources shall be made available, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of persons designated under the EU Syria sanctions regime. The definition of ˜economic resources" at Article 1(f) of the Regulation encompasses assets of every kind, including oil. The Government of Gibraltar had reasonable grounds to suspect that the Grace One intended to supply oil to Baniyas Refinery Company in Syria, which has been designated by the EU since 23 July 2014.