Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress has been made on reforming the ECHR.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Last month, the Steering Committee for Human Rights of the Council of Europe adopted elements for a Council of Europe Political Declaration on the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and irregular migration. Negotiations on the Political Declaration continue based on these elements. We are active in negotiations and will continue to work with international partners to ensure that the ECHR remains effective whilst addressing challenges like illegal migration and cross-border crime.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 118787 on Jonathan Powell, if she will list each meeting that Jonathan Powell had with external organisations, including foreign governments, whilst the Prime Minister's Special Envoy.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer cited in his question.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to meet obligations under Article 73 of the UN Charter in respect of the British Overseas Territories; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) the costs of healthcare, fuel and electricity, (b) quality of infrastructure and (c) levels of hurricane-resilient housing in Montserrat on people in that territory.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK fulfils its responsibilities under Article 73 of the United Nations Charter to promote the political, economic, social, and educational advancement of the Overseas Territories. As part of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's capital allocation to Montserrat, we are investing in green energy, including solar and resilience works, as well appropriate and safe social housing.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her department has undertaken polling of the Chagossian people in respect to the 2025 UK/Mauritius Treaty concerning the Chagos Archipelago.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Accurate polling of Chagossian communities would be challenging given the geographical spread of individuals with Chagossian heritage across the world as well as difficulties in establishing and confirming eligibility to take part. We continue to engage with Chagossian communities, including through meetings of the Chagossian Contact Group, which enables organisations from the UK, Mauritius, Seychelles and France to set out their views directly to the UK Government.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support access to legal assistance for Montserratian citizens residing in Montserrat, in the context of Article 73 of the United Nations Charter.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK fulfils its responsibilities under Article 73 of the United Nations Charter to promote the political, economic, social, and educational advancement of the Overseas Territories. As part of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's capital allocation to Montserrat, we are investing in green energy, including solar and resilience works, as well appropriate and safe social housing.
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many and what proportion of foreign nationals are employed by her Department within its UK operations.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not routinely capture or hold nationality data. Nationality requirements arise only where necessary to meet security clearance criteria and are set out at recruitment. Visa information is not held centrally and, in the absence of a specified timeframe, could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many visas has her Department sponsored for foreign nationals employed in the UK.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not routinely capture or hold nationality data. Nationality requirements arise only where necessary to meet security clearance criteria and are set out at recruitment. Visa information is not held centrally and, in the absence of a specified timeframe, could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if her department will cease the passage of the Diego Garcia Military Base & BIOT Bill, in respect to the ruling by Justice Lewis that reinstated the Right of Abode for Chagossians on the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the statement I made to the House on 13 April, and the answers I provided to questions raised in response, except for matters of ongoing litigation, where I am unable to comment at this time.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
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 calls by the President of Argentina on 2 April 2026 for renewed negotiations with the UK over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
No such assessment is required. The UK's steadfast support for the Falkland Islanders' right of self‑determination remains unchanged, and our position on sovereignty and the defence of the Falkland Islands remains equally steadfast and consistent.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Lord Mandelson received and was given Developed Vetting with STRAP clearance.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the Prime Minister's statement to the House on 20 April and his answers to the questions raised in response.