Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Building large scale vaccine manufacturing capacity in Africa will require a coordinated, long term approach to enable factories to be built, skills to be developed, regulatory frameworks to be put in place, licenses to be issued and demand to be managed effectively. The UK Government is working closely with the African Union and other international partners to achieve this. We are supporting the new African led "Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing" (PAVM) initiative to achieve its ambition of ensuring that by 2040 60% of vaccines consumed in Africa are produced there. We are doing so, for example, by helping design the overall strategy of PAVM, by ensuring key international organisations such as "Gavi, the vaccine alliance" support PAVM's objectives, by supporting African based vaccines producers to develop their business case and attract investment, and identifying where UK regulatory expertise could put appropriate frameworks in place. We are also working with the UK private sector and UK academic networks to help maximise their contribution. The results are already being felt, with announcements of up to 1 billion doses of Covid vaccines produced in Africa by the end of 2022.

The UK backs the Oxford-AstraZeneca model of voluntary licensing to expand the production of affordable vaccines. With UK Government support, a global licencing deal helped transfer AZ's technology to other manufacturers and establish 20 supply chains across the world, including the Serum Institute of India. Around 2.5 billion Oxford-AstraZeneca doses have been delivered at cost to more than 170 countries. Almost two-thirds of these have gone to low and lower-middle-income countries, including more than 30 million doses donated by the UK through COVAX or bilaterally.

The UK has provided technical support to develop business cases for Biovac to manufacture vaccines in South Africa, Institut Pasteur in Senegal and to the Moroccan government. This technical support helped catalyse investment that will see COVID-19 vaccines produced on the African continent in 2022. We are also engaging with the new Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing to support development of its roadmap for African vaccine manufacturing.

The UK condemns the coup in Myanmar. We are deeply concerned by the military's actions, the mass displacement of people and the significant, and growing, humanitarian need. The UK is monitoring the recent increase in violence in North West and South East Myanmar closely. We are appalled by reports that the military killed at least 35 people, including four children and two staff of Save the Children, in Kayah State on 24 December. In response, the UK and international partners secured a UNSC press statement on 29 December condemning the killings and stressing the need to ensure accountability for this act, and calling for an immediate cessation of all violence and the protection of civilians. We continue to support the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar which investigates, collects, and preserves evidence of serious human rights violations for future prosecution.

As the one-year anniversary of the military coup in Myanmar approaches, we will continue working with partners to call for an end to violence, unhindered humanitarian access, and the importance of respect for human rights and the protection of civilians. The UK also continues to support ASEAN's leadership on the crisis and calls for the full implementation of the Five Point Consensus, and support for the work of the ASEAN Special Envoy.

At the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) on 16 September 2021, chaired by the Foreign Secretary, member states agreed to continue to work collaboratively with each other and with the Commonwealth Secretariat to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, including supporting timely, equitable and affordable access to COVID 19 vaccines and related health products and technologies.

The Government remains committed to ensuring that people in the poorest countries receive vaccines. We have contributed £548 million to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) Facility, which is ensuring equitable access for 92 low and middle-income countries, 46 of which are in Africa. As of 6 January 2022, COVAX has delivered more than 335 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to 44 African COVAX AMC countries. In addition to our financial support to COVAX, the UK has donated 7.9 million surplus doses to 14 African countries.

On 24 March 2021, the Government announced a review of the 2014 Modern Slavery Strategy.

In the meantime, to further enhance transparency, the Government launched an online GOV.UK registry for modern slavery statements. This service enables investors, consumers, Non-Governmental Organisations and others to scrutinise the effectiveness of the actions being taken and monitor progress across sectors over time.

We are concerned by recent incidents of violence and the tragic loss of life, including in Aweil and Rumameer counties. We are in touch with partners, including the UN peacekeeping missions in South Sudan (UNMISS) and in Abyei (UNISFA) to better understand these incidents and where the international community can help to reduce intercommunal tensions and conflict. In the meantime the British Embassy Juba has publicly commented expressing our concern at the incident in Aweil.

Instances of violence such as these are often driven by complex, deep rooted and overlapping causes. There is a longstanding pattern of intercommunal violence, closely linked to the unresolved status of Abyei, cattle-raiding and associated violence between the Misseriya and Dinka communities in these areas. As such we unfortunately anticipate there will be further incidents of violence until the underlying causes are addressed. We continue to press the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to resolve the status of Abyei to help address the root causes of conflict in areas surrounding Aweil and Rumameer. This is in addition to engagement with the Government of South Sudan and other political actors to urge them to address the root causes of broader conflict in South Sudan through peacebuilding initiatives and to implement the 2018 Peace Agreement.

Our statement with Troika partners (UK/Norway/US) and the EU on 4 January reinforced our support for Sudan's democratic transition. We urged the Sudanese military and other actors to engage in dialogue to secure a lasting solution to the current political crisis. We therefore welcome the UN's announcement that they will facilitate talks to help resolve the situation. The Sudan Quad (UK, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and US) released a statement on 8 January welcoming this initiative, urging all Sudanese political actors to seize this opportunity to restore the country's transition to civilian democracy.

Since the military coup of 25 October 2021 we have been clear that, along with partners, we will consider all options to maintain pressure on the Sudanese military to recommit to country's democratic transition and deliver the Sudanese people's demands for freedom, peace and justice. This includes the possibility of measures to deliver accountability such as sanctions. It is however longstanding convention not to speculate on the specifics of such options given the risk of undermining their effectiveness and, in this particular case, while UN efforts to end political crisis are underway.

The UK supports local and indigenous people in the Amazon through our International Climate Finance Programmes, with nearly £120 million invested across the Amazon since 2012. One of these programmes is 'Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation for Early Movers' (REM) that operates in two Brazilian states. REM includes a project working with indigenous communities to develop sustainable income sources, safeguard their rights and strengthen food security; nearly 20,000 families have benefitted so far.

In June 2021, a four year, £7.4 million extension to the Rural Sustentável Programme was announced. This project will benefit Pará, Rondônia and Amazonas States and focus on strengthening sustainable value chains, supporting nature-based solutions to reduce deforestation and raise awareness of the importance of preserving the forests. It will cover 15 municipalities and ensure participation of indigenous communities, including in Altamira and São Feliz do Xingú, in Pará State.

In addition, the Partnerships for Forests (P4) programme provides grants and technical assistance to achieve zero-deforestation commodity supply chains through the development of forest partnerships. The programme supports roughly 1,971 indigenous people by financing three projects. The focus is on strengthening livelihoods through sustainable forestry management practices.

The UK Embassy in Brasilia regularly engages with indigenous leaders and organisations in Brazil on matters relating to indigenous rights as well as with FUNAI, the Brazilian Government organisation promoting indigenous people's rights and territorial protection. In August 2021, the UK Deputy Ambassador met with indigenous leaders from Amazonas and Pará to discuss the experiences of indigenous communities in these regions and the impact of Covid19 on Indigenous peoples in Brazil. In December 2021, the Ambassador met with representatives from FUNAI as part of a roundtable discussion on Human Rights in Brazil and discussed the organisation's ongoing engagement with indigenous communities, including around land protection and health. We will continue this engagement with the Brazilian Government and raise any concerns that emerge.

UK officials have been in close contact with US and Canadian counterparts over sanctions measures imposed by all three countries in recent months. In parallel with the US and Canada, the UK imposed sanctions on a further eight Nicaraguan officials in November following the detention of key opposition figures and a crackdown on fundamental rights and freedoms during Nicaragua's sham elections. The UK will continue to promote democracy in Nicaragua with countries in the region, with our allies and at relevant multilateral bodies.

The UK's sanctions measures against Nicaraguan officials are part of a wider set of UK actions aimed at promoting democracy and respect for human rights in Nicaragua. Most recently, the UK announced a further eight designations in November 2021 following the sham elections. We continue to work with partners in the region and our allies to press the Nicaraguan Government to end the repression in the country. We will keep the situation under close review.

HMG works closely with the African Union (AU) on a wide range of issues, including climate, health, free trade and conflict prevention. As part of our efforts to address the conflict and interlinked humanitarian crisis in South Sudan we engage frequently with the AU. However, AU activity in South Sudan is mainly focused on peace and security matters, rather than humanitarian delivery. As such, our engagement is primarily about collective international efforts to encourage implementation of the 2018 Peace Agreement. This remains the best means to address conflict and some of the underlying issues behind the humanitarian crisis, as well as improving the security and access issues that hamper humanitarian delivery in South Sudan.

The UK regularly engages with the Brazilian Government on deforestation in the Amazon. In the run up to, and during COP26, COP President Alok Sharma met with Brazil's Environment Minister Joaquim Leite regularly, and The Minister for the Pacific and the Environment met with many Brazilian State Governors who are essential partners in meeting deforestation targets and climate change commitments. Our Ambassador to Brazil, Peter Wilson, also met with the Minister for the Environment, Joaquim Leite, on two occasions in December as well as with Senate Speaker Pacheco. The UK will continue to work with the Federal Government, state level leadership, the private sector and civil society to help tackle deforestation and protect the rainforest.

While we are concerned by the rising rates of deforestation in the Amazon, we were pleased to welcome Brazil's positive commitments at COP26. Brazil signed the Forest and Land Use pledge and committed to eliminating illegal deforestation by 2028, and to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030. The UK will support this and other climate commitments by doubling our International Climate Finance to £11.6 billion over the next five years - we will be investing at least £3 billion of this in solutions that protect and restore nature. The introduction of world-leading due diligence legislation through the Environment Bill will also tackle illegal deforestation in UK supply chains.

The UK has committed to invest at least £3 billion in climate change solutions that protect and restore nature and biodiversity between 2021-22 and 2025-26. FCDO systems to categorise Official Development Assistance do not include a specific category for environmental restoration, and we do not hold information centrally on such spending.

British diplomats regularly engage with indigenous leaders and civil society organisations in Brazil. We are funding a three-year initiative, the Regional Action to Reduce Environmental Crime in the Amazon which aims to prevent and reduce environmental crime across the Amazon region, including in Brazil. The British Embassy in Brazil is committed to engaging widely with the Brazilian Government, civil society organisations, and other representatives to discuss issues related to indigenous rights and will continue to monitor the situation.

During the C-19 pandemic, we also supported Indigenous Communities though our International Programme Fund. This included a £10,000 project focused on maximising fundraising efforts to provide emergency assistance to a range of indigenous communities based in the Amazon basin. The project raised over £500,000 for indigenous communities in the form of health assistance and community support including food, hygiene products and information campaigns.

UK programmes designed to help speed the recovery from the pandemic include a focus on vulnerable groups, including in the Amazon region and support improvements in areas such as solar energy, primary health and skills development. We have also supported local and indigenous people in the Amazon through our International Climate Finance programmes, with nearly £120 million invested across the Amazon since 2012.

The UK regularly engages with indigenous leaders and civil society organisations on these issues. Senior HMG officials discussed the indigenous lands situation with Brazilian authorities most recently in December 2021. We have hosted conversations with indigenous leaders from Amazonas and Pará at our Embassy in Brasilia, and are in regular contact with the Brazilian National Foundation for Indigenous People (FUNAI), which is responsible for promoting indigenous people's rights and territorial protection in Brazil, including for uncontacted indigenous people to ensure that our own and others' engagement is coordinated. The UK is committed to defending and promoting the human rights of all, and we will continue to monitor developments around indigenous land rights in Brazil.

I am deeply concerned by, and condemn, the violence and destruction of property in Kazakhstan during the past week, particularly in the city of Almaty. The Government greatly regrets the loss of life and sends its condolences to families of the deceased. The reasons behind the violence in Almaty remain unclear. We are continuing to speak with the Kazakh authorities to gain further insights. President Tokayev stated that peacekeeping forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) would remain in Kazakhstan for a short period of time to assist in re-establishing constitutional order, and we understand that CSTO troops have now begun their withdrawal. It is important that any forces deployed have a clear mission, are time-limited and be proportionate in any use of force to defend the legitimate security interests of the state. It is also important that Kazakhstan's sovereignty is respected.

We have been clear in our communications with the Kazakh government that the right to peaceful protest should be protected. The UK's Ambassador to Kazakhstan and her team in Nur-Sultan are in contact with the Kazakh authorities and will continue to engage in the coming days. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon spoke with the Kazakh Ambassador to the UK on 6 January, with Deputy Foreign Minister Alimbayev on 7 January, and with the Kazakh President's Special Representative, H.E. Erzhan Kazykhan, on 14 January. As the situation stabilises, we will continue to engage our Kazakh counterparts to gain insights into the nature of the threat they have faced.

The current Houthi offensive in Marib is worsening the humanitarian crisis and increasing levels of need. Humanitarian agencies have recorded over 60,000 displaced in Marib since September 2021 and a total of more than 200,000 have been displaced around Marib since January 2020. Our partners the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and World Food Programme (WFP) are currently responding in Marib. We are also working with the UN to ensure adequate presence on the ground and updated contingency planning for all potential scenarios. In 2021, the UK contributed £63.5 million to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which has provided $40 million to UN agencies for Marib. This is in addition to £87 million in aid that the UK is spending in Yemen for this financial year.

A negotiated political settlement is the only way to bring long-term stability to Yemen. On 10 January, I [Minister Cleverly] hosted UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, in London and reiterated UK support for UN led peace efforts to drive forward the political process in Yemen. We urge the parties to engage constructively in negotiations to end the conflict and alleviate the dire humanitarian crisis.

The Government has received a number of recommendations for Magnitsky sanctions from NGOs, parliamentarians and other organisations, for which we are grateful. We keep all evidence and potential designations under close review. We will consider targets, guided by the objectives of the sanctions regime and the evidence.

The Government has received a number of recommendations for Magnitsky sanctions from NGOs, parliamentarians and other organisations, for which we are grateful. We keep all evidence and potential designations under close review. We will consider targets, guided by the objectives of the sanctions regime and the evidence.

The department's focus on strategic workforce planning will ensure that we have the right capabilities to deliver on our international priorities as set out in the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy and the forthcoming International Development Strategy. We want to ensure we invest in our people, take forward work to align terms and conditions and reward high performers. We will remain agile in the face of emerging opportunities and challenges.

Various workforce models were looked at prior to the current Foreign Secretary joining which we are not proceeding with. At this stage no decisions on changes to staff numbers have been made. The purpose of our planning processes is to take into account exactly the sort of issue you raise - ensuring we have adequate staffing to ensure the UK will continue to be a leading responder to new rapid onset crises, providing lifesaving humanitarian assistance at times of crisis as well as tackling their causes. As the Prime Minister and Minister Cleverly have said in the House on 15 and 16 December, there will not be an across the board 10 per cent reduction in FCDO staff. Indeed, with the addition of new responsibilities on the UK's relationship with the EU, we will need to further expand our capability in some areas to reflect new priorities.

Any judgment as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent court, rather than for governments or non-judicial bodies. This does not prevent us from taking robust action to address serious violations of human rights, as we are doing in the case of Xinjiang.

As referenced in my response to written questions 100589 and 100590, FCDO Ministers and officials regularly meet members of the Uyghur diaspora and maintain a dialogue with leading human rights Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) about the situation in Xinjiang. Most recently, in December, I hosted a roundtable for human rights NGOs attended by a representative of the World Uyghur Congress.

Any judgment as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent court, rather than for governments or non-judicial bodies. This does not prevent us from taking robust action to address serious violations of human rights, as we are doing in the case of Xinjiang.

Since the UK's Global Human Rights Sanctions regime was established in July 2020, we have designated 75 individuals and 6 entities under the Global Human Rights sanctions regime. We have also designated 27 individuals under the Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions regime since it was established in April 2021. The full UK Sanctions List is available on GOV.UK website (www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uk-sanctions-list), which provides details of those individuals and entities designated under sanctions regulations made under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Since the UK's Global Human Rights Sanctions regime was established in July 2020, we have designated 75 individuals and 6 entities under the Global Human Rights sanctions regime. We have also designated 27 individuals under the Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions regime since it was established in April 2021. The full UK Sanctions List is available on GOV.UK website (www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uk-sanctions-list), which provides details of those individuals and entities designated under sanctions regulations made under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's Sanctions Unit leads on the development of sanctions under the Global Human Rights and Global Anti-Corruption sanctions regimes, working closely with other departments across the FCDO as well as officials from other Government departments across Whitehall.

The UK is deeply concerned by the increasing levels of violence across Myanmar. We are appalled by reports that the military killed at least 35 people, including four children and two staff of Save the Children, in Kayah State on 24 December. In response, the UK and international partners secured a United Nations Security Council press statement on 29 December condemning the killings and stressing the need to ensure accountability for this act, and calling for an immediate cessation of all violence and the protection of civilians. We continue to support the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar which investigates, collects, and preserves evidence of serious human rights violations for future prosecution.

The UK also remains committed to helping those most in need. Since the coup we have provided £18 million in humanitarian assistance in Myanmar. We will continue to provide humanitarian support to the most vulnerable and conflict-affected populations.

The seismic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the UK economy forced tough but necessary decisions, including exiting from Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) implementation programmes. The UK has made a significant contribution to global efforts to protect hundreds of millions of people from NTDs. Our programmes have delivered NTD treatments and strengthened health systems to deliver these services in future.

The latest target for the total number of treatments to be delivered by the ASCEND (Accelerating the Sustainable Control and Elimination of NTDs) programme between 2019 and 2022 was 600 million. Hundreds of millions of treatments have been distributed to date under the programme. The full results and spend of the programme will be published by March 2022.

FCDO research has helped deliver innovative technologies such as new diagnostics and treatments for NTDs, for example the first rapid diagnostic test as well as the first ever oral only drug to treat all stages of sleeping sickness. We currently fund the Coalition for Operational Research on NTDs and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative.

Global health remains a priority for UK Official Development Assistance. We will invest in health systems strengthening through our support for the World Health Organisation (WHO), multi-country global funds and bilateral support for health programmes within countries, including those affected by NTDs. The UK fully endorses the WHO's 2030 NTDs Road map and its focus on sustainability and delivery through health systems.

The seismic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the UK economy forced tough but necessary decisions, including exiting from Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) implementation programmes. The UK has made a significant contribution to global efforts to protect hundreds of millions of people from NTDs. Our programmes have delivered NTD treatments and strengthened health systems to deliver these services in future.

The latest target for the total number of treatments to be delivered by the ASCEND (Accelerating the Sustainable Control and Elimination of NTDs) programme between 2019 and 2022 was 600 million. Hundreds of millions of treatments have been distributed to date under the programme. The full results and spend of the programme will be published by March 2022.

FCDO research has helped deliver innovative technologies such as new diagnostics and treatments for NTDs, for example the first rapid diagnostic test as well as the first ever oral only drug to treat all stages of sleeping sickness. We currently fund the Coalition for Operational Research on NTDs and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative.

Global health remains a priority for UK Official Development Assistance. We will invest in health systems strengthening through our support for the World Health Organisation (WHO), multi-country global funds and bilateral support for health programmes within countries, including those affected by NTDs. The UK fully endorses the WHO's 2030 NTDs Road map and its focus on sustainability and delivery through health systems.

The seismic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the UK economy forced tough but necessary decisions, including exiting from Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) implementation programmes. The UK has made a significant contribution to global efforts to protect hundreds of millions of people from NTDs. Our programmes have delivered NTD treatments and strengthened health systems to deliver these services in future.

The latest target for the total number of treatments to be delivered by the ASCEND (Accelerating the Sustainable Control and Elimination of NTDs) programme between 2019 and 2022 was 600 million. Hundreds of millions of treatments have been distributed to date under the programme. The full results and spend of the programme will be published by March 2022.

FCDO research has helped deliver innovative technologies such as new diagnostics and treatments for NTDs, for example the first rapid diagnostic test as well as the first ever oral only drug to treat all stages of sleeping sickness. We currently fund the Coalition for Operational Research on NTDs and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative.

Global health remains a priority for UK Official Development Assistance. We will invest in health systems strengthening through our support for the World Health Organisation (WHO), multi-country global funds and bilateral support for health programmes within countries, including those affected by NTDs. The UK fully endorses the WHO's 2030 NTDs Road map and its focus on sustainability and delivery through health systems.

The seismic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the UK economy forced tough but necessary decisions, including exiting from Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) implementation programmes. The UK has made a significant contribution to global efforts to protect hundreds of millions of people from NTDs. Our programmes have delivered NTD treatments and strengthened health systems to deliver these services in future.

The latest target for the total number of treatments to be delivered by the ASCEND (Accelerating the Sustainable Control and Elimination of NTDs) programme between 2019 and 2022 was 600 million. Hundreds of millions of treatments have been distributed to date under the programme. The full results and spend of the programme will be published by March 2022.

FCDO research has helped deliver innovative technologies such as new diagnostics and treatments for NTDs, for example the first rapid diagnostic test as well as the first ever oral only drug to treat all stages of sleeping sickness. We currently fund the Coalition for Operational Research on NTDs and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative.

Global health remains a priority for UK Official Development Assistance. We will invest in health systems strengthening through our support for the World Health Organisation (WHO), multi-country global funds and bilateral support for health programmes within countries, including those affected by NTDs. The UK fully endorses the WHO's 2030 NTDs Road map and its focus on sustainability and delivery through health systems.

The UK was saddened to see the devastation wrought by Typhoon Rai on the Philippines on 16 and 17 December. We offer our deepest sympathies to those who have been affected.

The UK has committed £1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) emergency appeal, launched on 18 December 2021. This will go towards supporting the immediate and early recovery needs of affected people in areas including water, sanitation and hygiene; shelter; and protection of the most vulnerable. The UK is also one of the top contributors to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) which is contributing £9 million to the UN's Humanitarian Response Plan for Typhoon Odette.

I discussed the situation with the Philippines Ambassador to the UK on 20 December 2021.

The UK was saddened to see the devastation wrought by Typhoon Rai on the Philippines on 16 and 17 December. We offer our deepest sympathies to those who have been affected.

The UK has committed £1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) emergency appeal, launched on 18 December 2021. This will go towards supporting the immediate and early recovery needs of affected people in areas including water, sanitation and hygiene; shelter; and protection of the most vulnerable. The UK is also one of the top contributors to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) which is contributing £9 million to the UN's Humanitarian Response Plan for Typhoon Odette.

I discussed the situation with the Philippines Ambassador to the UK on 20 December 2021.

The FCDO Minister responsible for gender and equalities is Vicky Ford. I am the Minister responsible for open societies and human rights.

The Qadhafi regime's support for the IRA was extensive. It is widely documented in the public domain. It involved money, weapons and training from the 1970s onwards. The UK continues to press the Libyan authorities - including at the highest levels of the Libyan Government - to address the Libyan State's historic responsibility for the Qadhafi regime's support for the IRA.

Promoting the right to freedom of religion or belief for all is one of the UK's longstanding human rights priorities, and the persecution of Christians in Iran is of serious concern. We raise human rights issues with the Iranian government at all appropriate opportunities and we continue to take action with the international community to press Iran to improve its poor record. In November 2021, we co-sponsored the annual UN Third Committee resolution on human rights in Iran which called on the Government of Iran to release all religious practitioners imprisoned for their membership in or activities on behalf of a recognized or unrecognized minority religious or belief group.

Mr Shawcross's report was commissioned as an internal scoping report, to provide internal advice to Ministers. Its content is based on private, confidential conversations and information shared on this basis.

The UK is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all, and promoting respect between different religious and non-religious communities. Promoting the right to FoRB is one of the UK's longstanding human rights priorities. Israel is a thriving democracy with a long-standing commitment to equality for all. We encourage the Israeli Government to do all it can to uphold the values of equality for all enshrined in its laws.

The UK is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all, and promoting respect between different religious and non-religious communities. Promoting the right to FoRB is one of the UK's longstanding human rights priorities. Israel is a thriving democracy with a long-standing commitment to equality for all. We encourage the Israeli Government to do all it can to uphold the values of equality for all enshrined in its laws.

The UK is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all, and promoting respect between different religious and non-religious communities. Promoting the right to FoRB is one of the UK's longstanding human rights priorities. We are aware of this statement and are reviewing its recommendations. Our Embassy in Tel Aviv and Consulate General in Jerusalem regularly raise issues of FoRB with the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority. The UK recognises that Jerusalem holds particular significance for many groups, especially the three Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

We are aware of this report. The UK stands in solidarity with Christian communities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and condemns all attacks on the right to freedom of religious belief, freedom of religion, or belief. Israel is a thriving democracy, and has made clear its commitment to freedom of religion. The UK is committed to working with all parties across the Holy Land to ensure the safety and security of the holy sites and all who worship there, including Christians from all nations.

The Government is at the forefront of tackling illicit finance, combatting the threat from source to destination. Money obtained through corruption or criminality, including that linked to Russia, is not welcome in the UK. Some of our response will be visible, through law enforcement, policy and international engagement, other options will be less visible, but no less impactful. Our response continuously evolves with the threat.

Our capabilities include the use of immigration powers to protect the UK from a range of national security threats. As part of this we are reviewing all Tier 1 (Investor) visas granted before 5 April 2015.

We have previously made reforms to the visa route in 2015 and 2019 and we continue to keep this visa route under review. Home Office officials work closely across Whitehall, including with the FCDO, on reforms to Tier 1 (Investor) Visas and other issues related to tackling illicit finance.

The FCDO and the British Council take any allegations of racism very seriously. The British Council are conducting an investigation into the claims, which is expected to conclude in January. Issues regarding British Council staff are operational matters for the British Council. It is for the British Council to respond once the investigation has concluded.