Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

The issues raised in the Hon Member's questions are all key priorities for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and our work in these areas cannot adequately be summarised in a single answer. However, he can find regular updates about that work by following the FCDO news feed on GOV.UK, or continuing to attend sessions of FCDO departmental questions.

The issues raised in the Hon Member's questions are all key priorities for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and our work in these areas cannot adequately be summarised in a single answer. However, he can find regular updates about that work by following the FCDO news feed on GOV.UK, or continuing to attend sessions of FCDO departmental questions.

Contracts Finder is used for the publication of commercial contracts, rather than government grants, such as the Accountable Grant Agreements typically used by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to administer partnerships with NGOs.

Under the long-standing arrangements for continuity of education, 237 officers received Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) in academic year 2024-25. This figure represents approximately 11 per cent of officers posted overseas. Eligibility for CEA is based on a range of factors that vary over time, so the Department does not hold a centrally maintained figure for the total number of overseas staff who may be eligible for CEA at any given point.

Under the long-standing arrangements for continuity of education, 237 officers received Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) in academic year 2024-25. This figure represents approximately 11 per cent of officers posted overseas. Eligibility for CEA is based on a range of factors that vary over time, so the Department does not hold a centrally maintained figure for the total number of overseas staff who may be eligible for CEA at any given point.

Under the long-standing arrangements for continuity of education, 237 officers received Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) in academic year 2024-25. This figure represents approximately 11 per cent of officers posted overseas. Eligibility for CEA is based on a range of factors that vary over time, so the Department does not hold a centrally maintained figure for the total number of overseas staff who may be eligible for CEA at any given point.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answers she received on 13 February in response to Question 110763, and on 12 November 2025 in response to Question 88232.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answers she received on 13 February in response to Question 110763, and on 12 November 2025 in response to Question 88232.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answers she received on 13 February in response to Question 110763, and on 12 November 2025 in response to Question 88232.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answers she received on 13 February in response to Question 110763, and on 12 November 2025 in response to Question 88232.

The BBC is editorially and operationally independent. The BBC World Service is bound by the same requirements of impartiality and accuracy as all other parts of the BBC, as set out in the organisation's editorial guidelines, available here: https://www.bbc.com/editorialguidelines/guidelines/

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 19 March in response to Question 120757.

This Government is providing a non-Official Development Assistance (ODA) uplift of £40 million across the Spending Review period (2026/27 to 2028/29) to the British Council. This supports our objective of a financially sustainable British Council for the long-term.

The UK ceased all direct government-to-government aid to China in 2011. I am unable to comment on funding allocations made under a previous government. All decisions on the release of material under the Freedom of Information Act are taken by officials in line with the requirements and exemptions laid down in law.

The UK ceased all direct government-to-government aid to China in 2011. I am unable to comment on funding allocations made under a previous government. All decisions on the release of material under the Freedom of Information Act are taken by officials in line with the requirements and exemptions laid down in law.

The UK stands firm on human rights in China and we are concerned by recent reports of Christians being detained in China. We continue to monitor the situation closely and the Prime Minister raised human rights with President Xi when they met in January. To support our wider efforts to champion freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), David Smith MP was appointed Special Envoy for FoRB in December 2024, and the UK hosted a Geneva event in July 2025 reaffirming the universal right to freedom of religion or belief.

The UK stands firm on human rights in China and we are concerned by recent reports of Christians being detained in China. We continue to monitor the situation closely and the Prime Minister raised human rights with President Xi when they met in January. To support our wider efforts to champion freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), David Smith MP was appointed Special Envoy for FoRB in December 2024, and the UK hosted a Geneva event in July 2025 reaffirming the universal right to freedom of religion or belief.

I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer provided on 9 March in response to Questions HL14828-30.

The State Visit provided an important opportunity to strengthen the UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership across growth, security, migration, and foreign policy. As the largest democracy in Africa, Nigeria has an important role to play in upholding democratic norms, including ensuring a free, fair and credible Presidential election in 2027.The UK is supporting key legislative and institutional reform processes in the Nigerian National Assembly, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Judiciary and other key institutions to strengthen Nigeria's democracy. On the issue of violence against Christian communities, I refer the Hon Member to the written ministerial statement published on 27 November 2025 (HCWS1105).

The State Visit provided an important opportunity to strengthen the UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership across growth, security, migration, and foreign policy. As the largest democracy in Africa, Nigeria has an important role to play in upholding democratic norms, including ensuring a free, fair and credible Presidential election in 2027.The UK is supporting key legislative and institutional reform processes in the Nigerian National Assembly, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Judiciary and other key institutions to strengthen Nigeria's democracy. On the issue of violence against Christian communities, I refer the Hon Member to the written ministerial statement published on 27 November 2025 (HCWS1105).

Work to refresh the UK's approach to preventing sexual violence in conflict is underway. External consultation to inform that process has been conducted with the preventing sexual violence Initiative's (PSVI) Survivor Advisory Group, key civil society and academic partners, and former PSVI Special Representatives, and there will be further such consultation - including with parliamentary stakeholders - before the refreshed approach is finalised.

The FCDO2030 reform programme is designed to ensure the department is able to rise to the challenges of a rapidly changing world, and a constrained fiscal environment. This is an unprecedented transformation, driven by the objective to become a more agile, technologically enabled organisation, focused on the UK's strategic priorities, including peace, stability and security in the Middle East. The FCDO remains in regular consultations with the Trade Union side on its reform proposals.

The FCDO2030 reform programme is designed to ensure the department is able to rise to the challenges of a rapidly changing world, and a constrained fiscal environment. This is an unprecedented transformation, driven by the objective to become a more agile, technologically enabled organisation, focused on the UK's strategic priorities, including peace, stability and security in the Middle East. The FCDO remains in regular consultations with the Trade Union side on its reform proposals.

I refer the Hon Member to the read-out of the meeting between the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach, available on gov.uk.

The UK recognises the vital role that improving access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities plays in preventing maternal and infant deaths, tackling antimicrobial resistance, and safeguarding women and girls.

We work with a range of international partners on this agenda, from our long-standing partnership with the World Bank on its Water Strategy Implementation Plan to supporting individual governments overseas to improve access to WASH in healthcare facilities. Details of our total WASH sector spend for 2025 will be published in the normal way later this year.

The UK recognises the vital role that improving access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities plays in preventing maternal and infant deaths, tackling antimicrobial resistance, and safeguarding women and girls.

We work with a range of international partners on this agenda, from our long-standing partnership with the World Bank on its Water Strategy Implementation Plan to supporting individual governments overseas to improve access to WASH in healthcare facilities. Details of our total WASH sector spend for 2025 will be published in the normal way later this year.

The UK recognises the vital role that improving access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities plays in preventing maternal and infant deaths, tackling antimicrobial resistance, and safeguarding women and girls.

We work with a range of international partners on this agenda, from our long-standing partnership with the World Bank on its Water Strategy Implementation Plan to supporting individual governments overseas to improve access to WASH in healthcare facilities. Details of our total WASH sector spend for 2025 will be published in the normal way later this year.

The UK recognises the vital role that improving access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities plays in preventing maternal and infant deaths, tackling antimicrobial resistance, and safeguarding women and girls.

We work with a range of international partners on this agenda, from our long-standing partnership with the World Bank on its Water Strategy Implementation Plan to supporting individual governments overseas to improve access to WASH in healthcare facilities. Details of our total WASH sector spend for 2025 will be published in the normal way later this year.

All civil servants are appointed on merit and are required under the Civil Service Code to provide impartial, objective advice to Ministers.

Ministers and officials continue to meet on a regular basis with a wide range of Sudanese civil society and diaspora groups in the UK and across the region to listen to their concerns, gain their valuable insights, and help to build an inclusive, united approach for transitioning to a civilian-led government once a lasting ceasefire is in place.

Most recently, on 9 March, Minister for International Development and Africa, Baroness Chapman, met with a number of NGOs, including diaspora representatives, to discuss how to strengthen humanitarian access and overcome restrictions on the entry of aid, as well as how best to drive forward our work to protect civilians and hold perpetrators to account in Sudan, through the UK-led Coalition for Atrocity Prevention.

On 24 February, the UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls, Baroness Harriet Harman, also hosted an event in Berlin to discuss how to stop Violence Against Women and Girls in Sudan, consulting Sudanese activists and diaspora members, civil society representatives, UK and German policymakers and international partners. The event provided a platform for Sudanese women to inform UK and German thinking ahead of the April International Sudan Conference in Berlin.

The policy changes raised by the Rt Hon Member are a matter for the Home Office, along with any assessment of their impact.

Ministers and officials continue to meet on a regular basis with a wide range of Sudanese civil society and diaspora groups in the UK and across the region to listen to their concerns, gain their valuable insights, and help to build an inclusive, united approach for transitioning to a civilian-led government once a lasting ceasefire is in place.

Most recently, on 9 March, Minister for International Development and Africa, Baroness Chapman, met with a number of NGOs, including diaspora representatives, to discuss how to strengthen humanitarian access and overcome restrictions on the entry of aid, as well as how best to drive forward our work to protect civilians and hold perpetrators to account in Sudan, through the UK-led Coalition for Atrocity Prevention.

On 24 February, the UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls, Baroness Harriet Harman, also hosted an event in Berlin to discuss how to stop Violence Against Women and Girls in Sudan, consulting Sudanese activists and diaspora members, civil society representatives, UK and German policymakers and international partners. The event provided a platform for Sudanese women to inform UK and German thinking ahead of the April International Sudan Conference in Berlin.

The policy changes raised by the Rt Hon Member are a matter for the Home Office, along with any assessment of their impact.

Ministers and officials continue to meet on a regular basis with a wide range of Sudanese civil society and diaspora groups in the UK and across the region to listen to their concerns, gain their valuable insights, and help to build an inclusive, united approach for transitioning to a civilian-led government once a lasting ceasefire is in place.

Most recently, on 9 March, Minister for International Development and Africa, Baroness Chapman, met with a number of NGOs, including diaspora representatives, to discuss how to strengthen humanitarian access and overcome restrictions on the entry of aid, as well as how best to drive forward our work to protect civilians and hold perpetrators to account in Sudan, through the UK-led Coalition for Atrocity Prevention.

On 24 February, the UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls, Baroness Harriet Harman, also hosted an event in Berlin to discuss how to stop Violence Against Women and Girls in Sudan, consulting Sudanese activists and diaspora members, civil society representatives, UK and German policymakers and international partners. The event provided a platform for Sudanese women to inform UK and German thinking ahead of the April International Sudan Conference in Berlin.

The policy changes raised by the Rt Hon Member are a matter for the Home Office, along with any assessment of their impact.

Ministers and officials continue to meet on a regular basis with a wide range of Sudanese civil society and diaspora groups in the UK and across the region to listen to their concerns, gain their valuable insights, and help to build an inclusive, united approach for transitioning to a civilian-led government once a lasting ceasefire is in place.

Most recently, on 9 March, Minister for International Development and Africa, Baroness Chapman, met with a number of NGOs, including diaspora representatives, to discuss how to strengthen humanitarian access and overcome restrictions on the entry of aid, as well as how best to drive forward our work to protect civilians and hold perpetrators to account in Sudan, through the UK-led Coalition for Atrocity Prevention.

On 24 February, the UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls, Baroness Harriet Harman, also hosted an event in Berlin to discuss how to stop Violence Against Women and Girls in Sudan, consulting Sudanese activists and diaspora members, civil society representatives, UK and German policymakers and international partners. The event provided a platform for Sudanese women to inform UK and German thinking ahead of the April International Sudan Conference in Berlin.

The policy changes raised by the Rt Hon Member are a matter for the Home Office, along with any assessment of their impact.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 2 March to question 111415.

Ministers and officials continue to meet on a regular basis with a wide range of Sudanese civil society and diaspora groups in the UK and across the region to listen to their concerns, gain their valuable insights, and help to build an inclusive, united approach for transitioning to a civilian-led government once a lasting ceasefire is in place.

Most recently, on 9 March, Minister for International Development and Africa, Baroness Chapman, met with a number of NGOs, including diaspora representatives, to discuss how to strengthen humanitarian access and overcome restrictions on the entry of aid, as well as how best to drive forward our work to protect civilians and hold perpetrators to account in Sudan, through the UK-led Coalition for Atrocity Prevention.

On 24 February, the UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls, Baroness Harriet Harman, also hosted an event in Berlin to discuss how to stop Violence Against Women and Girls in Sudan, consulting Sudanese activists and diaspora members, civil society representatives, UK and German policymakers and international partners. The event provided a platform for Sudanese women to inform UK and German thinking ahead of the April International Sudan Conference in Berlin.

Over the next three years, the UK will spend around £6bn of ODA as International Climate Finance (ICF). We will balance support between mitigation and adaptation and maintain a focus on nature. By using different instruments and levers, we will aim to generate an additional £6.7bn of UK backed climate and nature positive investments and to mobilise billions more in private finance.

The UK is a strong and consistent supporter of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, which will hold to account those senior political and military leaders responsible for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The UK has been active in negotiations alongside Ukraine and international partners to ensure the Tribunal is both politically and financially sustainable. The UK welcomes the conclusion of negotiations on the Enlarged Partial Agreement (EPA), which outlines the Tribunal's operating model. Once EPA adoption plans are finalised, an update will be given on the UK's position and the operational arrangements for the Tribunal prior to formal adoption.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Ministers have committed to a new project on Preventing Technology-Facilitated Violence against Women and Girls to be launched this year. Final budget allocations for this and other work in the VAWG portfolio will be set out in due course.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 19 March setting out the Official Development Assistance allocations for the period up to 2028-29, and to the accompanying documents detailing the forecast impact of those allocations, and the ways in which their impact will be assessed.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 19 March setting out the Official Development Assistance allocations for the period up to 2028-29, and to the accompanying documents detailing the forecast impact of those allocations, and the ways in which their impact will be assessed.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 19 March setting out the Official Development Assistance allocations for the period up to 2028-29, and to the accompanying documents detailing the forecast impact of those allocations, and the ways in which their impact will be assessed.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 19 March setting out the Official Development Assistance allocations for the period up to 2028-29, and to the accompanying documents detailing the forecast impact of those allocations, and the ways in which their impact will be assessed.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made by the Foreign Secretary on 5 February following her recent visit to the Chad-Sudan border.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made by the Foreign Secretary on 5 February following her recent visit to the Chad-Sudan border.