Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make representations to her Israeli counterparts on preventing further military attacks on Palestinian higher education institutions.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK has been clear with the Government of Israel on the imperative, under international humanitarian law, to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including education institutions. We remain focussed on supporting the transition from an immediate ceasefire to a sustainable peace, in line with the 20-Point Plan.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will publish the list of invitees to the Lancaster House conference taking place on 12 March 2026 to establish an International Peace Fund for Israel and Palestine.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Unfortunately, the conference has had to be postponed due to current events and travel restrictions affecting attendees from the Middle East. We will confirm further details of the rearranged conference in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will consider proscribing the IRGC.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Decisions on proscription are a matter for the Home Office.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the EU freezing assets, assigning criminal liability and enforcing travel bans on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Any impact of EU sanctions is a matter for the EU.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2025 to Question 90911 on India: Christianity, what assessment she made of the potential impact of her Department's discussions with civil society organisations, faith leaders and the Government of India on the protection of Christian minority communities in Andhra Pradesh; and what diplomatic steps she is taking to support those communities.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We continue to track these issues closely and engage wherever possible to promote religious freedom and tolerance. Our High Commission in New Delhi, along with our network of Deputy High Commissions, monitors the human rights situation closely. We also engage with civil society and faith leaders to support efforts to promote tolerance and respect between communities. We will continue in these efforts and keep the House updated as this work progresses.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the United Kingdom is taking to support the investigation and accountability of violations of human rights by all duty-bearers in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 12 October 2025 to Question 98016.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the a) political and b) security situation in the Middle East.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the Prime Minister's statement to the House on 2 March.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will re-publish online the report entitled Value for Money: Investment in People-to-People Programming in Israel and Palestine, originally commissioned by the Department for International Development and published in 2021.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer he received on 9 January to Question 111418. Additionally, the document requested is currently available online.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will have discussions with her Spanish counterpart on expediting the processing of visa applications for British nationals at the Consulate of Spain in Manchester.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer she was provided on 27 November in response to Question 91476.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2025 to Question 87235 on Yemen: Christianity, what (a) outcomes and (b) policy developments have resulted from the UK’s engagement with (i) the United Nations and (ii) international partners on the protection of Christian minority communities in Yemen, including in areas under Houthi control.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK remains firmly committed to protecting freedom of religion or belief in Yemen, including for Christian minority communities. Through the UN Security Council and the Human Rights Council, we continue to raise concerns about the treatment of minorities in Yemen and emphasise the need for an inclusive peace process, to ensure that all communities, including religious minorities, are protected. These challenges are complex and long‑standing, but we will continue to press for progress alongside our international partners.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Kyrgyzstan about the detention of journalist Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided by the Minister of State, Stephen Doughty, on 31 October 2025 in response to Question 85571, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below.

The UK regularly engages with Kyrgyzstan both bilaterally and in multilateral settings on a range of issues, including human rights matters. I raised Human rights concerns during our Strategic Dialogue in February 2025. In Kyrgyzstan's most recent UN Universal Periodic Review in April 2025, the UK raised concerns about restrictions on freedom of expression and recommended amending legislation regarding "Incitement of racial, ethnic, national, religious interregional hatred". Our Embassy in Kyrgyzstan monitors the human rights in the country and works closely with civil society organisations and multilateral partners.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the likelihood of a new conflict in Tigray, and (2) the risk of atrocity crimes in a new conflict in that region.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The Government is deeply concerned about the evolving situation in Tigray and Northern Ethiopia.  Recent clashes in disputed areas and reports of Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) and Tigrayan Forces preparing for conflict, contribute to an increasingly fragile and unpredictable security environment.

Any conflict would further destabilise the region and have a high risk of human rights abuses and atrocities. We engage regularly with all parties, and support efforts to implement the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, including through funding for monitoring and compliance mechanisms and support for conditions that enable the safe, voluntary and dignified return of Internally Displaced People.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in investigating and prosecuting those responsible for atrocity crimes during the 2020–22 conflict in Tigray.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

In coordination with international partners, the UK has consistently called for accountability in multilateral fora, including the Human Rights Council. The UK co-sponsored the establishment of the Independent Commission on Human Rights in Ethiopia (ICHREE) and welcomed the 2023 ICHREE report and its recommendations. The UK is financing international monitors from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and helping to strengthen the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission's ability to investigate serious abuses. We welcome the Government of Ethiopia's national Transitional Justice policy. For it to be credible, implementation must deliver meaningful justice and accountability for victims across Ethiopia, including Tigray.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle humanitarian crises caused or exacerbated by climate change.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The issues raised in the Hon Member's questions are among the most important priorities for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and our work in these areas cannot adequately be summarised in the answer to one parliamentary question. However, he can find regular updates about that work by following the FCDO news feed on GOV.UK, and by continuing to attend our statements, oral questions sessions and urgent question responses in the House.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help promote the (a) rights and (b) well-being of children in conflict zones.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The issues raised in the Hon Member's questions are among the most important priorities for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and our work in these areas cannot adequately be summarised in the answer to one parliamentary question. However, he can find regular updates about that work by following the FCDO news feed on GOV.UK, and by continuing to attend our statements, oral questions sessions and urgent question responses in the House.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support the rights of women and girls.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The issues raised in the Hon Member's questions are among the most important priorities for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and our work in these areas cannot adequately be summarised in the answer to one parliamentary question. However, he can find regular updates about that work by following the FCDO news feed on GOV.UK, and by continuing to attend our statements, oral questions sessions and urgent question responses in the House.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle global malnutrition.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The issues raised in the Hon Member's questions are among the most important priorities for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and our work in these areas cannot adequately be summarised in the answer to one parliamentary question. However, he can find regular updates about that work by following the FCDO news feed on GOV.UK, and by continuing to attend our statements, oral questions sessions and urgent question responses in the House.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help increase humanitarian access for INGOs operating in Sudan.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

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.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications of her policies of flows of weapons into Sudan, supported by external parties.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

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.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Egyptian counterpart on religious expression online in Egypt; and what steps her Department is taking to help protect freedom of religion or belief in that country.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all, and we continue to regularly raise rights concerns with the Egyptian authorities where appropriate.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to the Palestinian Authority on payments to convicted terrorists.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 13 November 2025 in response to Question HL11575, which for ease is reproduced below:

In President Abbas' letter to President Macron, dated 9 June 2025, he set out his commitment to the principles of non-violence, the organisation of elections, the development of a school curriculum that is free from incitement, and the implementation of a new social security system, which will revoke so-called prisoner payments, and ensure that any future welfare payments are needs-based and delinked from violent actions. The Palestinian Authority must now ensure that an independent audit is conducted to verify that these reforms have been completed.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has formalised conditions aimed at encouraging reform as part of the UK's memorandum of understanding with the Palestinian Authority.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 13 November 2025 in response to Question HL11575, which for ease is reproduced below:

In President Abbas' letter to President Macron, dated 9 June 2025, he set out his commitment to the principles of non-violence, the organisation of elections, the development of a school curriculum that is free from incitement, and the implementation of a new social security system, which will revoke so-called prisoner payments, and ensure that any future welfare payments are needs-based and delinked from violent actions. The Palestinian Authority must now ensure that an independent audit is conducted to verify that these reforms have been completed.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has reviewed the UN Secretary-General’s report to the Security Council noting Morocco’s requirement that MINURSO use Moroccan vehicle number plates west of the berm.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government consistently urges all states to uphold international law, and we continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process led by the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General Mr Staffan de Mistura in support of finding a just, lasting, and mutually agreed resolution to the Western Sahara dispute. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office closely reviews the UN Secretary General's reports on the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the October 2025 publication of FCDO spending on government procurement cards over £500, a) what furniture was bought from SOHO HOME LTD for £28,979.00 and b) where the furniture will be located within the FCDO Estate.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The expenditure in question was not subject to direct ministerial approval, but I am informed that it related to furnishings for representational areas within the UK's mission at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris, and will be reused across the representational areas of our overseas estate over the course of their lifespan.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has reviewed the UN Secretary-General’s report to the Security Council noting the construction by Morocco of a second additional crossing from occupied Western Sahara into Mauritania.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government consistently urges all states to uphold international law, and we continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process led by the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General Mr Staffan de Mistura in support of finding a just, lasting, and mutually agreed resolution to the Western Sahara dispute. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office closely reviews the UN Secretary General's reports on the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had recent discussions with her Moroccan counterpart on access to Western Sahara for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK remains firmly committed to the promotion and protection of human rights globally, including in Morocco and Western Sahara, as we regularly make clear to all relevant parties. Officials, including up to ambassador level, regularly engage on these issues with the Moroccan Government and authorities. At the most recent UK-Morocco Human Rights Dialogue in November 2025, officials discussed areas of mutual interest, including freedom of expression, rights of minorities, women's rights, media freedom, and judicial reforms.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the healthcare system in Gaza.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to my statements in the Westminster Hall debate on the healthcare system in Gaza on 24 February.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made representations to her Indian counterpart on the recent attack on a Christian worship service in that country; and what steps her Department is taking to help protect religious minorities in India.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We continue to track these issues closely and engage wherever possible to promote religious freedom and tolerance. Our High Commission in New Delhi, along with our network of Deputy High Commissions, monitors the human rights situation closely. We also engage with civil society and faith leaders to support efforts to promote tolerance and respect between communities. We will continue in these efforts and keep the House updated as this work progresses.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) her Department and (b) the arms length bodies sponsored by her Department are compliant with the Supreme Court ruling in the case of For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025].

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has submitted a draft Code of Practice on services, public functions and associations which the Minister for Women and Equalities is reviewing with the care it deserves. This will provide further guidance to duty bearers, which will apply to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. We stand ready to follow the guidance when it issues.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to tackle economic drivers of conflict in the world.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is working closely with international financial institutions (IFIs) to better understand economic drivers of conflict, including enhancing the use of analytics to anticipate potential conflict, and ensuring timely, effective and conflict sensitive interventions.

The World Bank and other IFIs, working as effectively as possible with other actors such as the United Nations, the private sector, civil society and governments, bring valuable expertise and investment to address key drivers of fragility and conflict, improving employment and livelihoods, natural resource management, access to essential services and governance. This is why the UK put our critical influence and Board position at the World Bank to improve their focus and strategy on fragile and conflict-affected states, which enables stronger delivery at scale in these countries.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her counterpart in Bangladesh on elections in that country and international law.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We welcome the parliamentary elections in Bangladesh which took place on 12 February 2026. The peaceful and credible election process represents an important step forward in Bangladesh's ambitions and the aspirations of its people.

When I met Prime Minister Rahman on 17 February, I looked forward to working with Bangladesh on advancing democratic, economic and social reforms.

The UK is providing £27 million in support through the Bangladesh Collaborative, Accountable and Peaceful Politics programme to protect civic and political space and address the underlying tensions that can lead to violence.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which Taiwan fulfils the four requirements for statehood set out in the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States: permanent population; defined territory; an effective government; and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK's longstanding position on Taiwan, as set out in the 1972 UK-China Communique, has not changed and remains the position of this Government.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by Palestinian Media Watch, published on 11 February, that aid funding to the Palestinian Authority is still being paid to terrorists and their families.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer I provided on 13 November 2025 in response to Question HL11575.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of reports of extrajudicial killings of religious minorities in Punjab, India.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is aware of reports concerning extrajudicial killings in the Punjab region and continues to monitor the human rights situation closely. The UK Government remains committed to promoting human rights globally, including the right to life and access to justice. Where credible concerns arise, we raise these directly with the Government of India, both through our High Commission in New Delhi and at ministerial level. We also support civil society organisations working to uphold human rights and the rule of law in India. The UK encourages all states to ensure accountability and transparency in law enforcement practices.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to publish the Human Rights and Democracy Report for (a) 2023, (b) 2024 and (c) 2025.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to my letter to the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee on 6 March, in response to her letter of 23 January on this issue.

This Government remains firmly committed to the protection and promotion of human rights globally, and to reporting transparently on our actions. We are currently considering the most appropriate form of future reporting on our human rights work.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2025 to Question 83339 on China: Religious Freedom, what recent discussions she has had with her Chinese counterpart on the case of Pastor Ezra Jin.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 23 October 2025 to Question 83339.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what financial and administrative support they provide to the UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls and to the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict (PSVI); and what provision is made to ensure that British embassies and high commissions are able to fund projects supporting the work of both the Special Envoy for Women and Girls and the PM’s Special Representative for PSVI.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The Foreign Secretary has been clear that we must renew global focus and ambition around women, peace and security, and put the rights of women and girls, including freedom from violence, at the heart of UK foreign policy.

We continue to work through the UK-founded International Alliance for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, of which the UK is vice-chair this year, to rally further support for tackling the silence and stigma faced by survivors of sexual violence, including the women and girls in Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar and elsewhere who have faced the use of rape as a weapon of war.

The roles of UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls and the Prime Minister's Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict are unremunerated.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 10 July 2025 (HL8885), what steps they have taken since July 2025 to demonstrate that they are "fully implementing" the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative strategy.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The Foreign Secretary has been clear that we must renew global focus and ambition around women, peace and security, and put the rights of women and girls, including freedom from violence, at the heart of UK foreign policy.

We continue to work through the UK-founded International Alliance for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, of which the UK is vice-chair this year, to rally further support for tackling the silence and stigma faced by survivors of sexual violence, including the women and girls in Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar and elsewhere who have faced the use of rape as a weapon of war.

The roles of UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls and the Prime Minister's Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict are unremunerated.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 14 October 2025 (HL10633), what assessment they have made of whether there are lessons to learn from their decision not to require Lord Mandelson to divest himself of his shares in Global Counsel while serving as Ambassador to the United States, and if not, why not.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Lord to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled in the House of Commons on 12 February (Hansard, Volume 780, Column 923), the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Leader of the House of Lords that same day, and the Oral Statement in the House of Commons on 23 February (Hansard, Volume 781, Column 41) which set out an update on the Government's process. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether officials of the government of China informed the Prime Minister during his recent visit that Jimmy Lai would receive a 20-year prison sentence.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

No. But as I detailed in the Urgent Question debate on 9 December, the Prime Minister raised Mr Lai's case during his visit, and we are continuing to press the Chinese authorities for his release.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to enhance relations with Taiwan, and in respect of which international organisations they have made representations in support of the inclusion of Taiwan.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK Government continues to strengthen its unofficial relationship with Taiwan through trade, education, science and technology cooperation, and ministerial and official engagement. We support Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organisations where statehood is not required for full membership, and as an observer where it is. Taiwan is a full member of the World Trade Organisation and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and an observer in the Asian Development Bank. Taiwan previously participated as an observer at the World Health Assembly.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the link between overseas development aid spend in Nepal and the recruitment of Gurkhas in the country.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

Diplomatic relations between the UK and Nepal stretch over 200 years and are grounded in mutual respect. The UK Government holds the Gurkhas in the highest regard and acknowledges the outstanding contribution they make to the United Kingdom. Separately, the UK's development partnership with Nepal focuses on long‑term economic welfare and development as part of our global Official Development Assistance strategy.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how they are supporting stronger protection of civilians and improved humanitarian access in Sudan, particularly in the areas most affected by conflict.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Baroness to the statement made by the Foreign Secretary on 19 February before the UN Security Council on Sudan. She highlighted the continued work the UK is doing as the third largest bilateral donor to Sudan, on securing humanitarian access across Sudan and on protecting civilians and humanitarian operations, as well as holding to account those who are perpetrating or profiting from the appalling atrocities committed in Sudan. I will continue to keep the House updated on the actions the UK is taking alongside our international partners to secure a ceasefire in Sudan, and support the humanitarian needs of its people, including the millions currently suffering from food insecurity and starvation.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what additional humanitarian measures they are considering in response to worsening food insecurity across Sudan.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Baroness to the statement made by the Foreign Secretary on 19 February before the UN Security Council on Sudan. She highlighted the continued work the UK is doing as the third largest bilateral donor to Sudan, on securing humanitarian access across Sudan and on protecting civilians and humanitarian operations, as well as holding to account those who are perpetrating or profiting from the appalling atrocities committed in Sudan. I will continue to keep the House updated on the actions the UK is taking alongside our international partners to secure a ceasefire in Sudan, and support the humanitarian needs of its people, including the millions currently suffering from food insecurity and starvation.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what they are doing to ensure that nutrition remains a properly funded priority within their development portfolio for the people of Sudan.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Baroness to the statement made by the Foreign Secretary on 19 February before the UN Security Council on Sudan. She highlighted the continued work the UK is doing as the third largest bilateral donor to Sudan, on securing humanitarian access across Sudan and on protecting civilians and humanitarian operations, as well as holding to account those who are perpetrating or profiting from the appalling atrocities committed in Sudan. I will continue to keep the House updated on the actions the UK is taking alongside our international partners to secure a ceasefire in Sudan, and support the humanitarian needs of its people, including the millions currently suffering from food insecurity and starvation.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to ratify the convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine; and what assessment they have made of how that convention will build on the Register of Damage for Ukraine to review, assess and determine compensation for losses caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 27 February in response to Question 113024, copied below for ease of reference:

Russia must be held accountable for its illegal actions in Ukraine. The UK is a founding member of the Register of Damage and I signed the Convention to establish an International Claims Commission for Ukraine on 16 December 2025. We expect to lay the treaty before Parliament in the current parliamentary session, with further domestic steps required for ratification to follow in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Mali about the detention of former Prime Minister Moussa Mara.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK regularly calls on Mali to respect international law and to uphold their international human rights obligations. For example, during the recent Human Rights High Level Week in Geneva, the Minister for Multilateral and Human Rights met Mali's Minister of Justice and reiterated the importance of respect for human rights, whilst pressing for continued engagement with the UN Human Rights Council and its mechanisms. Justice and respect for human rights are fundamental to achieving long-term security and stability.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have for the funding of the BBC World Service from 1 April 2026.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

Grant-in-Aid funding for the next three years for the BBC World Service will be decided through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office allocations process, and announced in advance of the 2026/27 financial year.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations the Prime Minister made in support of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait during his visit to China in January.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

During the Prime Minister's visit to China in January, he underlined the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and made clear that the UK's position on Taiwan has not changed and will not change. The Prime Minister considers the Taiwan issue to be settled by people on both sides of the Strait through constructive dialogue, and not through any unilateral attempts to change the status quo.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to facilitate Taiwan’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

Accession decisions are a matter for all Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Parties by consensus. Discussions on future applicants are ongoing among members.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether ministers have instructed officials to act in accordance with the terms of the 2025 UK-Mauritius Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia as though it had been ratified.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

No.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 26 January (HL13493), and in the light of the statement by Caroline Quinn, UK deputy political coordinator, at the United Nations Security Council meeting on 8 January, what specific technical assistance they provided to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons' Syria missions in 2025.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I have no further information to provide the Noble Lord at this time beyond that cited in his question.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will take further action against Georgian officials who continue to cooperate with recently sanctioned Georgian broadcasters Imedi TV and Post TV.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK takes a strong stand against those promoting the destabilisation of Ukraine, including entities in Georgia that use Russia-aligned misinformation. It is our long-standing policy not to comment on the potential targets of future sanctions, as to do so could undermine their impact.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether ministers will need to introduce primary legislation in order to implement the 2026 UK-EU treaty in respect of Gibraltar.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The treaty was published in draft on 26 February while legal teams complete final checks and translations. Once that process is complete, the final version will be laid in the UK Parliament for scrutiny before ratification, in accordance with the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government by what date the 2026 UK-EU treaty in respect of Gibraltar will be formally laid before Parliament.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The treaty was published in draft on 26 February while legal teams complete final checks and translations. Once that process is complete, the final version will be laid in the UK Parliament for scrutiny before ratification, in accordance with the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to publish an environmental impact assessment for the proposed handover of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius, consistent with Article 206 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK Overseas Territories biodiversity strategy, last updated on 12 January, details the importance of the Chagos Archipelago in supporting the healthiest, best managed large ecosystem complex in the Indian ocean, and confirms that - after the UK-Mauritius treaty comes into force - we will support the Mauritian Government in an enhanced partnership to ensure the future protection of that unique environment. As discussed at length during the debates on the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill, the treaty is entirely compatible with the UK's other environmental commitments and obligations.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to publish an analysis of how the proposed handover of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius aligns with Articles 192 to 194 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK Overseas Territories biodiversity strategy, last updated on 12 January, details the importance of the Chagos Archipelago in supporting the healthiest, best managed large ecosystem complex in the Indian ocean, and confirms that - after the UK-Mauritius treaty comes into force - we will support the Mauritian Government in an enhanced partnership to ensure the future protection of that unique environment. As discussed at length during the debates on the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill, the treaty is entirely compatible with the UK's other environmental commitments and obligations.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether it is their policy to inform Mauritius of any armed attack on a third State directly emanating from the base on Diego Garcia.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK-Mauritius Agreement has not yet entered into force, and as such standard operating protocols apply.

The requirement to inform a host nation about military action undertaken is a standard element in many such arrangements. However, once the agreement has entered into force it does not require us to notify Mauritius in advance.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which the proposed transfer of the Chagos Archipelago might weaken the United Kingdom’s capacity to meet its obligations under the Paris Agreement to protect climate vulnerable ecosystems such as coral reefs.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK Overseas Territories biodiversity strategy, last updated on 12 January, details the importance of the Chagos Archipelago in supporting the healthiest, best managed large ecosystem complex in the Indian ocean, and confirms that - after the UK-Mauritius treaty comes into force - we will support the Mauritian Government in an enhanced partnership to ensure the future protection of that unique environment. As discussed at length during the debates on the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill, the treaty is entirely compatible with the UK's other environmental commitments and obligations.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with the government of Mauritius to confirm the proportion of the money the United Kingdom will pay to Mauritius for the proposed lease of the Diego Garcia Military Base that will be used for the future protection of the environment in the Chagos Archipelago.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK Overseas Territories biodiversity strategy, last updated on 12 January, details the importance of the Chagos Archipelago in supporting the healthiest, best managed large ecosystem complex in the Indian ocean, and confirms that - after the UK-Mauritius treaty comes into force - we will support the Mauritian Government in an enhanced partnership to ensure the future protection of that unique environment. As discussed at length during the debates on the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill, the treaty is entirely compatible with the UK's other environmental commitments and obligations.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which the handover of the Chagos Archipelago could undermine the United Kingdom’s duty to safeguard critical habitats under the Convention on Migratory Species.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK Overseas Territories biodiversity strategy, last updated on 12 January, details the importance of the Chagos Archipelago in supporting the healthiest, best managed large ecosystem complex in the Indian ocean, and confirms that - after the UK-Mauritius treaty comes into force - we will support the Mauritian Government in an enhanced partnership to ensure the future protection of that unique environment. As discussed at length during the debates on the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill, the treaty is entirely compatible with the UK's other environmental commitments and obligations.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to making the proposed future payments for the Diego Garcia Military Base contingent on Mauritius maintaining the environmental protections in place for the Chagos Archipelago.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK Overseas Territories biodiversity strategy, last updated on 12 January, details the importance of the Chagos Archipelago in supporting the healthiest, best managed large ecosystem complex in the Indian ocean, and confirms that - after the UK-Mauritius treaty comes into force - we will support the Mauritian Government in an enhanced partnership to ensure the future protection of that unique environment. As discussed at length during the debates on the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill, the treaty is entirely compatible with the UK's other environmental commitments and obligations.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the progress by Turkmenistan on climate change, education and gender equality since signing the Cooperation Programme on 23 April 2024.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

We recognise that progress takes time, but the UK continues to work with Turkmenistan on these issues, and regularly discusses them at official and ministerial levels, including at the UK - Central Asian Foreign Ministers' meeting in London, hosted by the Foreign Secretary in February.

We also work to support links with other UK experts in these areas. For example, on climate change, our Embassy in Ashgabat is facilitating an upcoming visit by UK Green Finance, and on education - with the Embassy's support - Nottingham Trent University, Norwich Institute of Language Education, the AQA, Pearson, and the British Council's AELLCA initiative have all signed new partnerships with Turkmenistan.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to ensure that the proposed handover of the Chagos Archipelago complies with the UK's commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity, particularly regarding the maintenance of protected areas and ecosystem conservation.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK Overseas Territories biodiversity strategy, last updated on 12 January, details the importance of the Chagos Archipelago in supporting the healthiest, best managed large ecosystem complex in the Indian ocean, and confirms that - after the UK-Mauritius treaty comes into force - we will support the Mauritian Government in an enhanced partnership to ensure the future protection of that unique environment. As discussed at length during the debates on the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill, the treaty is entirely compatible with the UK's other environmental commitments and obligations.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to enhance relations and deepen mutual democratic links with Taiwan.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK maintains a strong, unofficial relationship with Taiwan, based on shared democratic values and wide-ranging economic, cultural and people-to-people ties. We engage through regular dialogue and cooperation on trade, education, science and global challenges, and support parliamentary, academic and civil society exchanges that strengthen mutual democratic links.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Syria about rising sectarian violence; and what action they are taking to strengthen efforts to combat extremism, sectarianism and hate speech to ensure the protection of all civilians, including vulnerable religious minorities.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement (HLWS1285) I made to the House on 28 January 2026.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether changes have been made to the number and location of portraits of (a) Queen Elizabeth II and (b) King Charles III within her Department’s HQ since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The official portrait of His Majesty The King resides in the reception area of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office headquarters. On portraits that are part of the Government Art Collection, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 May 2025 in response to Question 52692.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made on recent restrictions placed on humanitarian access in South Sudan.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We are deeply concerned by reports of escalating violence and constrained humanitarian access in South Sudan. Alongside international partners, we remain in constant engagement with the Transitional Government to press for de-escalation, sustained aid access, and an inclusive political dialogue, and we have made clear that the Transitional Government, and all those with influence over armed groups, must allow humanitarian operators to operate freely and safely across the country.

The Foreign Secretary raised these issues directly with South Sudanese Foreign Minister Semaya Kumba during a bilateral meeting in Addis Ababa on 1 February, and on 6 February, we joined the US, Norway and other likeminded partners, in a joint statement condemning recent attacks on humanitarian operations and calling for unimpeded humanitarian access.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support she is providing to independent election monitoring of the 2027 Nigerian Presidential Election.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We are closely monitoring preparations for Nigeria's 2027 presidential elections. Our High Commission in Abuja will, as in previous elections, deploy observation teams across the country, working alongside international partners and Nigerian civil society organisations.

We will continue to engage with the Independent National Electoral Commission and civil society partners to support initiatives that strengthen a credible, transparent and inclusive electoral process.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has undertaken any impact assessment ahead of the proposed reduction in financial support in the upcoming financial year to organisations providing disability support globally.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has funded disability inclusion activities in the Commonwealth through the Commonwealth Disabled People's Forum (CDPF) since 2019, and provided around £2 million to support disabled people's organisations in the Commonwealth through the Disability Rights Fund (DRF) between 2021 and 2024. The FCDO, alongside the Disability Unit in the Office for Equal Opportunities, has been an active member of the Expert Working Group developing the Commonwealth Disability Inclusion Action Plan.

We plan to publish indicative allocations for the next three years shortly, but in the interim, we will not speculate on the potential impact of hypothetical funding scenarios on different programmes and countries. The specific funding percentage requested by the Hon Member is not readily available, and could only be calculated and verified at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce disability discrimination across the Commonwealth.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has funded disability inclusion activities in the Commonwealth through the Commonwealth Disabled People's Forum (CDPF) since 2019, and provided around £2 million to support disabled people's organisations in the Commonwealth through the Disability Rights Fund (DRF) between 2021 and 2024. The FCDO, alongside the Disability Unit in the Office for Equal Opportunities, has been an active member of the Expert Working Group developing the Commonwealth Disability Inclusion Action Plan.

We plan to publish indicative allocations for the next three years shortly, but in the interim, we will not speculate on the potential impact of hypothetical funding scenarios on different programmes and countries. The specific funding percentage requested by the Hon Member is not readily available, and could only be calculated and verified at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what criteria her Department uses to determine the distribution of UK aid funding.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has funded disability inclusion activities in the Commonwealth through the Commonwealth Disabled People's Forum (CDPF) since 2019, and provided around £2 million to support disabled people's organisations in the Commonwealth through the Disability Rights Fund (DRF) between 2021 and 2024. The FCDO, alongside the Disability Unit in the Office for Equal Opportunities, has been an active member of the Expert Working Group developing the Commonwealth Disability Inclusion Action Plan.

We plan to publish indicative allocations for the next three years shortly, but in the interim, we will not speculate on the potential impact of hypothetical funding scenarios on different programmes and countries. The specific funding percentage requested by the Hon Member is not readily available, and could only be calculated and verified at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of UK aid is allocated to support disabled people globally.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has funded disability inclusion activities in the Commonwealth through the Commonwealth Disabled People's Forum (CDPF) since 2019, and provided around £2 million to support disabled people's organisations in the Commonwealth through the Disability Rights Fund (DRF) between 2021 and 2024. The FCDO, alongside the Disability Unit in the Office for Equal Opportunities, has been an active member of the Expert Working Group developing the Commonwealth Disability Inclusion Action Plan.

We plan to publish indicative allocations for the next three years shortly, but in the interim, we will not speculate on the potential impact of hypothetical funding scenarios on different programmes and countries. The specific funding percentage requested by the Hon Member is not readily available, and could only be calculated and verified at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support disabled people across the Commonwealth.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has funded disability inclusion activities in the Commonwealth through the Commonwealth Disabled People's Forum (CDPF) since 2019, and provided around £2 million to support disabled people's organisations in the Commonwealth through the Disability Rights Fund (DRF) between 2021 and 2024. The FCDO, alongside the Disability Unit in the Office for Equal Opportunities, has been an active member of the Expert Working Group developing the Commonwealth Disability Inclusion Action Plan.

We plan to publish indicative allocations for the next three years shortly, but in the interim, we will not speculate on the potential impact of hypothetical funding scenarios on different programmes and countries. The specific funding percentage requested by the Hon Member is not readily available, and could only be calculated and verified at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the British Council’s international education programmes, including the International School Award, Study USA and UK–Ukraine school partnerships, on the UK’s soft power and diplomatic objectives.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The British Council plays a crucial role supporting the UK's interests around the world, supported by its work on UK education, as well its work to promote UK arts and culture, and the English language. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is providing over £160 million Grant-in-Aid to the British Council this financial year, which underlines our continued support for their important work.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the International women and girls strategy 2023 to 2030 remains government policy; and whether she plans to publish an updated strategy.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign Secretary has made clear that advancing the rights and safety of women and girls around the world will be a top priority for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office over the coming years. We are refreshing our international strategic approach on Women and Girls and will set this out in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how she is ensuring that UK-supported humanitarian programmes provide timely and effective support to survivors of gender-based violence.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

As part of the Foreign Secretary's focus on preventing violence against women and girls, we continue to prioritise support to survivors of gender-based violence in humanitarian settings. From April 2023 to March 2024, 3.21 million people were reached with gender-based violence prevention or response services through bilateral Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office support. More information can be found on GOV.UK at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68af15d3969253904d1558dd/FCDO_gender_based_violence_results_factsheet_2023_to_2024.pdf.

Another recent example is the UK's effort to step up support and improving frontline services for survivors of sexual violence in Sudan. In February 2026, the Foreign Secretary announced a new £20 million multi-year programme to support survivors of rape and sexual violence in Sudan.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking with international partners to anticipate and pre-emptively mitigate humanitarian crises around the world.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is working with partner governments to improve early warning for disasters, including through the Met Office. We are also pushing the humanitarian system, including the UN, to better anticipate and act ahead of crises to reduce humanitarian need, including through our contributions to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, the largest global funder of anticipatory action. The UK is a global leader on pre-arranged finance (PAF) and insurance which pay out in advance or after a disaster to help pre-empt damage. For example, Jamaica received $242 million from a catastrophe bond and insurance after Hurricane Melissa and, in the past month, UK-supported PAF has paid out over $22 million to fund anticipatory and emergency responses to drought in Somalia and cyclones in Madagascar.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps her Department has taken to ensure good relations with the government in Cyprus in the context of recent defence decisions.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the public and parliamentary statements made by the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, and Defence Secretary, in which all these questions were addressed in detail. I regularly speak to the Cypriot Foreign Minister on a range of issues.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 8 January 2026 to Question 101383 on Government Actuary’s Department: Freedom of Information, what the cash terms monetary cost to the UK is of the Chagos Islands deal before the application of the assumed GDP deflator rate and social time discounting.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 3 February in response to Question 108232.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 July 2025 to Question 68353, what the start date and project completion date of the Department's review of medals available in the British Overseas Territories compared to the UK.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

This work is ongoing, as I told him in my response of 24 July 2025 to Question 68353. We will provide further updates in the normal way in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reviewing the 2012 White Paper entitled The Overseas Territories: Security, Success and Resilience to ensure it reflects current inter-departmental priorities.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the first paragraph of the answer he received on 7 January in response to Question 101093.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the merits of appointing designated Ministerial leads in each Department to support the delivery of Government policy on the UK Overseas Territories.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Each UK Government Department already has an assigned Minister responsible for their department's relationship with the Territories. These Ministers meet as a Ministerial Group, chaired by myself as the Minister for the Overseas Territories.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has undertaken a review of illegal immigration into the British Overseas Territories.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 7 January in response to Question 102330, which sets out the action that the Government is taking to support our Overseas Territories in tackling organised immigration crime.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make it her policy to pause the passage of the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill until the Metropolitan Police investigation into Peter Mandelson has concluded.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

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

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of the capability of Mauritius to support and protect the marine environment and ecosystems of the Chagos Islands.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 November 2025 in response to Question 90684.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what her Department’s lead strategic policy document is for the UK's relationship with the Overseas Territories.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the first paragraph of the answer he received on 7 January in response to Question 101093.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of recent reports of attacks on Hindus during Saraswati Puja in India and Bangladesh.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK condemns all acts of violence targeting religious or ethnic minorities and we have made clear the importance of protecting freedom of religious belief to key stakeholders in Bangladesh.

When I met PM Rahman in February, I discussed the importance of inclusion and protecting minorities, including Hindus, in line with the commitments he made in his victory address to safeguard the rights of all Bangladeshis. In February 2025, the UK's Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders, visited Bangladesh and held meetings with the Interim Government to discuss issues of justice, accountability, and the protection of fundamental freedoms.

Our commitment to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) is reflected in our £27 million Bangladesh Collaborative, Accountable and Peaceful Politics programme (2023-2028), which aims to protect civic space, foster inclusive dialogue, and address tensions that can lead to violence.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her counterpart in the Bangladesh Government on the protection of religious minorities in that country.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK condemns all forms of violence. I discussed Bangladesh's commitment to inclusion when I met Prime Minister Rahman in February. We engage with authorities in Bangladesh to ensure accountability, protect and promote interfaith harmony and uphold the rule of law.

Our commitment to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) is also demonstrated through our £27 million Bangladesh Collaborative, Accountable and Peaceful Politics programme (2023-2028), which aims to safeguard civic space, encourage inclusive dialogue and address the underlying tensions that can lead to violence.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what reason Questions 113021 and 113433 on UNCLOS and the Chagos Islands, tabled on 12 February for answer on 24 and 25 February 2026 respectively, have not been answered; and when she plans to answer them.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2026 to Question 110708, whether she plans to derogate from Article 298 of UNCLOS.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK already made a declaration pursuant to Article 298 of UNCLOS. This does not however affect our assessment on the risks to the UK-US base on Diego Garcia. I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer cited in his question.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to the Government of China regarding recent legislative and policy developments affecting Tibetans, Uyghurs and other communities with distinct religious identities.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government continues to engage with China on the issues of human rights and freedom of belief. We also continue to champion these issues at the UN and in the G7, as well as through our bilateral engagements.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of state intimidation on Uyghur families in the diaspora.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Attempts by foreign governments to coerce, intimidate or harm their critics overseas, including the Uyghur diaspora, are unacceptable. The freedom of speech and other fundamental rights of all people in the UK are protected under UK law, regardless of nationality.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether foreign nationals married to UK citizens will be entitled to accompany their spouse on repatriation flights from the UAE.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The safety and security of British nationals is our top priority. On 3 March, the Foreign Secretary spoke to the House about the consular support available to individuals in the Middle East, and plans for a first assisted departure from Oman. We will provide further updates on a regular basis, including details of any further evacuation plans, but for now, the primary objective remains to secure an end to Iran's attacks on countries in the region, and the resumption of normal commercial flights.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made with the government of Mali about reports of Christians facing systematic persecution and being targeted with intimidation, discrimination and violence.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK continues to champion Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, including countries where Christians face persecution or discrimination because of their faith. Last July, the UK's Special Envoy for FoRB, David Smith MP, set out the Government's new strategy on FoRB, providing a framework for engagement with other countries, and describing the links between the protection of FoRB and other goals including the prevention of conflict. As part of this strategy, the UK continues to champion FoRB on the international stage, including through our position in the United Nations and the Article 18 Alliance.

Specifically on Mali, I refer the Noble Lord to the answer that the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa gave on 22 August 2025 to Question HC68011, provided below for ease of reference:

The UK strongly condemns attacks on religious minorities in Mali. We have consistently called on all actors in Mali to respect human rights and adhere to international human rights law. For example, at the April 2025 Security Council briefing on the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel, the UK expressed concern at the human rights abuses committed in the Sahel and called on the UN to lead the way in emphasising the importance of international humanitarian law. Through the Magna Carta Fund, the UK has also promoted ancient Malian texts enshrining progressive values such as religious tolerance. This has helped to underline that such values have local roots and undermine the notion that human rights are a Western import.

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Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on British nationals in the UAE who were unable to travel on scheduled commercial flights and subsequently travelled on FCDO charter flights; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure airlines meet their obligations to assist British passengers affected by flight cancellations overseas.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

My Department and I have worked in tandem with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and airlines, to ensure that any British National who wishes to leave the region can do so, whether via commercial routes or through Government-supported repatriation flights.

Throughout this situation my Department has continued to engage with the aviation sector to understand the impacts on their operations, the measures they are taking to minimise disruption, and the support they are providing to their customers.

This collaboration has included direct engagement by the Secretary of State and Ministers with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and major UK airlines and airports.

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Found: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO): The FCDO leads the UK’s international engagement

Found: Security CSIT, Queen’s University Belfast Strategy Lead, Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR) FCDO

Found: FOI2025/05106: Government Art Collection - Works Installed and De-installed in each FCDO building

Found: FOI2025/05106: Government Art Collection - Works Installed and De-installed in each FCDO building

Found: FOI2025/05106: Government Art Collection - Works Installed and De-installed in each FCDO building

Found: FOI2025/05106: Government Art Collection - Works Installed and De-installed in each FCDO building

Found: FOI2025/05106: Government Art Collection - Works Installed and De-installed in each FCDO building

Found: My Right Honourable Friend, the Foreign Secretary and FCDO teams are working as fast as possible to get

Found: A letter is then needed from the Foreign Secretary to the PUS to FCDO formalising

Found: FROMLORDKATZMBEGOVERNMENTWHIPS’OFFICE GOVERNMENTWHIPCO,DEFRA,DWP,FCDO,HO,TIOUSEOFLORDS NDWOLONDONSW1AOPW

Found: conferences at Wilton Park, an executive agency of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO

Found: teams • Seeking advice from external bodies 1.3 Engaging with industry and embassy staff in the FCDO

Found: [REDACTED - s.38(1)(b)] |The Scottish Government in the USA Follow us online: www.gov.uk/fcdo

Found: Why Officials at the FCDO requested this call on Lord Mandelson’s behalf, to better understand Scotland

Found: evaluability assessments: a synthesis of the literature with recommendations’ (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office