Asked by: Emily Darlington (Labour - Milton Keynes Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will implement Magnitsky-style sanctions against the Hong Kong officials responsible for the sentencing of 69-year-old Kwok Yin-sang, father of exiled activist Anna Kwok with BN(O) status; and what steps she is taking to help tackle 'guilt by blood' tactics as a tool of repression against Hong Kongers.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The National Security Law has stifled opposition and criminalised dissent in Hong Kong. We have called for it to be repealed, and for an end to the prosecution of all individuals charged under it.
We will not tolerate attempts by foreign governments to intimidate or harm individuals in the UK, and we are committed to protecting the safety of the Hong Kong community who have made their home here. We continue to raise these concerns directly with the Chinese authorities, and the Government has strengthened the legal and operational tools needed to deter, detect and disrupt modern state threats.
It is the UK's long-standing policy not to comment on potential sanctions designations, as to do so would risk undermining their impact.
Asked by: Emily Darlington (Labour - Milton Keynes Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will issue a formal condemnation of the eight-month prison sentence handed to Kwok Yin-sang, father of BN(O) status holder Anna Kwok; and if she will coordinate a joint demarche with likeminded governments to demand his immediate and unconditional release.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The National Security Law has stifled opposition and criminalised dissent in Hong Kong. We have called for it to be repealed, and for an end to the prosecution of all individuals charged under it.
We will not tolerate attempts by foreign governments to intimidate or harm individuals in the UK, and we are committed to protecting the safety of the Hong Kong community who have made their home here. We continue to raise these concerns directly with the Chinese authorities, and the Government has strengthened the legal and operational tools needed to deter, detect and disrupt modern state threats.
It is the UK's long-standing policy not to comment on potential sanctions designations, as to do so would risk undermining their impact.
Asked by: Emily Darlington (Labour - Milton Keynes Central)
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 protect the families of British National (Overseas) status holders from judicial harassment in Hong Kong; and what guarantees of safety the Government is providing to activists with BN(O) status like Anna Kwok whose families are being targeted as political hostages.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The National Security Law has stifled opposition and criminalised dissent in Hong Kong. We have called for it to be repealed, and for an end to the prosecution of all individuals charged under it.
We will not tolerate attempts by foreign governments to intimidate or harm individuals in the UK, and we are committed to protecting the safety of the Hong Kong community who have made their home here. We continue to raise these concerns directly with the Chinese authorities, and the Government has strengthened the legal and operational tools needed to deter, detect and disrupt modern state threats.
It is the UK's long-standing policy not to comment on potential sanctions designations, as to do so would risk undermining their impact.
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether any amendments to the 1966 Exchange of Notes between the UK and the USA in respect of the British Indian Ocean Territory will be subject to parliamentary approval under Part 2 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Once an updated agreement with the US has been finalised, we will set out the process for bringing that agreement into force, according to the appropriate procedures.
Asked by: Baroness Kidron (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with United States counterparts about the sanctioning of British citizens Imran Ahmed and Clare Melford for their work on online safety.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
As the government stated publicly at the time, the UK is fully committed to upholding the right to free speech, and - while every country has the right to set its own visa rules - we support the laws and institutions which are working to keep the Internet free from the most harmful content. Ministers and officials in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are in constant discussion with their US counterparts across a wide range of issues.
Asked by: Baroness Kidron (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to make any public statements about the government of the United States of America sanctioning the British citizens Imran Ahmed and Clare Melford.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
As the government stated publicly at the time, the UK is fully committed to upholding the right to free speech, and - while every country has the right to set its own visa rules - we support the laws and institutions which are working to keep the Internet free from the most harmful content. Ministers and officials in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are in constant discussion with their US counterparts across a wide range of issues.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister expressed support for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait during his visit to China in January and, if so, what response he received.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
As he said in his statement to the House of Commons on 2 February, the Prime Minister discussed the issue of Taiwan during his meetings with President Xi, Premier Li and other senior leaders. The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and our position on Taiwan has not changed.
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 documents relating to the proposed UK-EU Agreement in respect of Gibraltar the Government intends to publish alongside the treaty text, including (a) explanatory memoranda, (b) impact assessments, (c) draft implementing legislation and (d) any administrative arrangements referenced in the Agreement.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the statement I made to the House on 26 February, and to my answers to the questions raised in response to that statement.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to attend the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in April and May 2026.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided by the Minister of State for Defence in the House of Lords, Lord Coaker, on 10 December 2025, Official Report, vol. 851, cols. 235-238. We will confirm details of representation at the conference in the usual way in due course.
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, whether the Government has obtained legal advice on the implications of the proposed UK-EU Agreement in respect of Gibraltar for (a) sovereignty, (b) jurisdiction and (c) the exercise of enforcement powers on Gibraltar territory; and whether that advice, or a summary of it, will be published.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the statement I made to the House on 26 February, and to my answers to the questions raised in response to that statement.