Asked by: Lord Bishop of Gloucester (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will advocate for an independent and thorough investigation of all Israeli attacks on hospitals, healthcare infrastructure and medical personnel in Gaza, and the alleged misuse of those facilities.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The situation regarding healthcare facilities in Gaza is dire. The World Health Organization reports that 94 per cent of hospitals are damaged or destroyed and the remaining functional hospitals, including Nasser Hospital, are overwhelmed.
In April, the Foreign Secretary condemned the "deplorable" attack on Al Ahli hospital. We continue to frequently and energetically engage with our Israeli counterparts to protect healthcare facilities and workers.
We have been clear that we expect Israel to transparently investigate all attacks against humanitarians and to hold those responsible to account. Regarding Al Ahli hospital, we welcome investigations into any misuse of facilities in Gaza, including hospitals, but remain clear that medical and humanitarian workers must be protected, and be able to do their jobs safely.
This government's priority is working with our allies to secure a lasting ceasefire that can end the war, ensure the release of all hostages and a surge of aid into Gaza.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 30 May 2025 (HL6904), on what date they last raised the cases of Abduljalil al-Singace and Hasan Mushaima with the government of Bahrain.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK regularly engages with the Government of Bahrain and, where appropriate, the independent oversight bodies on a range of human rights and governance matters - those with broader societal impact and individual cases. This has included the cases of Abduljalil al-Singace and Hasan Mushaima. The UK remains committed to supporting reforms in Bahrain.
Asked by: Lord Sedwill (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will retain the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission following the review of arm's-length bodies.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Cabinet Office's Comprehensive Landscape Review of Arm's-Length Bodies across government is ongoing. Decisions will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Syria to ensure that those responsible for torture and other human rights violations against survivors of Syria’s detention systems are properly investigated and that perpetrators are held accountable.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has long condemned the gross human rights violations committed by the Assad regime, including those in Syria's detention systems. We support the Syrian Government in establishing Syrian-led processes, such as the National Commissions on Transitional Justice and Missing Persons. We have urged the Syrian Government to engage collaboratively with civil societies and the UN to ensure these are inclusive, comprehensive and transparent. During the Foreign Secretary's meeting with President al Sharaa in Damascus on 5 July, he raised the importance of accountability and transitional justice for a sustainable political transition, and offered UK support.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on British Sikh communities of recent internal controversies within the Sikh community in India, including leadership appointments within the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC); and what steps they are taking to engage with British Sikhs and representative organisations to understand and respond to these concerns.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Government is aware of recent developments concerning leadership appointments within the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the concerns these have raised among some British Sikhs. These are internal matters for the Sikh community, however, we recognise the importance of religious leadership and governance to British Sikhs' cultural and spiritual life. The UK remains committed to supporting the British Sikh community and promoting religious freedom and community cohesion.
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that British assets in the Middle East are protected.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
During the crisis, we took all necessary measures to protect UK interests, UK personnel, and to work with our allies to protect their interests as well.
The Ministry of Defence keep the force protection measures of our military assets under constant review. The Ministry of Defence have put force protection measures at their highest level to safeguard our personnel in the region. The Ministry of Defence have robust measures in place to protect our armed forces personnel, and their safety is our top priority.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
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 impact of the reduction in ODA on his Department’s work on human rights.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We will further human rights by listening to our partners, investing in genuine partnerships, identifying joint goals, and working over the long term to drive meaningful change. We will also encourage states to uphold their international human rights obligations, and to hold those who violate or abuse human rights to account.
The UK remains committed to supporting human rights around the world in line with the five priorities set out by the Minister responsible for Human Rights, in December 2024: 1) civic space; 2) rule of law; 3) equal rights for all; 4) accountable, effective, inclusive institutions; and 5) prioritising human rights and governance principles in responding to global challenges.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
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 July 2025 to Question 62581 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, whether his Department has made an estimate of the (a) yearly payment schedules for the duration of the lease and (b) related inflationary uplifts; and what estimate he has made of cash payments to Mauritius in years (i) one to 10, (ii) 11 to 20, (iii) 21 to 30, (iv) 31 to 40, (v) 41 to 50, (vi) 51 to 60, (vii) 61 to 70, (viii) 71 to 80, (ix) 81 to 90 and (x) 90 to 99 of the lease.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer to her previous question 57197.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of reports of disputes involving religious communities in the Bukovina region of Ukraine; and what steps he is taking to support freedom of religion or belief in the area.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are deeply disturbed by the impact of Russia's illegal war on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in Ukraine. Ukraine's democracy is well known for its commitment to religious pluralism. The UK regularly engages with Ukrainian religious groups and the Government of Ukraine on this issue, including on Law 8371 which mandates that religious organisations must cut ties with the Russian Orthodox Church - Moscow Patriarchate. The Ukrainian Government and religious leaders have offered reassurances that the law responds to clear national security threats. In February, a delegation of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches met Parliamentarians and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials to discuss religious persecution in the temporarily occupied territories, and Law 8371.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2025 to Question 60851 on Gibraltar: Sovereignty, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the sovereignty clause on Gibraltar.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The sovereignty clause safeguards UK sovereignty over Gibraltar. It makes clear that the Treaty is explicitly not about Gibraltar's sovereignty. We are steadfast in our support for Gibraltar, which remains a critical part of our wider UK family.
This Government is fully committed to the double lock: we will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another State against their freely and democratically expressed wishes. And we will never enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content.