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 steps she has taken to seize properties in London owned by Mojtaba Khamenei.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government has a wide range of sanctions in place in relation to Iran, including a range of sanctions measures which apply to key figures and entities who have provided funds or economic resources to the Iranian regime. These have resulted in a range of impacts: for example the freezing of UK based assets held by sanctioned individual Ali Ansari, including property.
It would not be appropriate to speculate about potential future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact.
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 steps she has taken to impose sanctions upon Mojtaba Khamenei.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government has a wide range of sanctions in place in relation to Iran, including a range of sanctions measures which apply to key figures and entities who have provided funds or economic resources to the Iranian regime. These have resulted in a range of impacts: for example the freezing of UK based assets held by sanctioned individual Ali Ansari, including property.
It would not be appropriate to speculate about potential future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, what part they are playing in organising the Berlin Conference on Sudan in April; whether they will ensure that representatives of the Sudanese government will be invited to attend the conference; and what steps they are taking to ensure their participation contributes to an inclusive and credible process.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
On 24 February, the UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls, Baroness Harman, met senior German Foreign Ministry officials to discuss coordinated action on atrocity prevention and accountability in Sudan, and ensuring meaningful participation by Sudanese women, and wider civil society voices, at the International Sudan Conference in April in Berlin that Germany is co-hosting with the UK, the African Union, the European Union, France and the US. This meeting also provided a platform for Sudanese women to inform discussions ahead of the Berlin Sudan Conference.
We remain in close discussion with our co-hosts to shape an inclusive and meaningful Conference. We continue to engage with all parties, to urge agreement to a ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access, and adherence to international humanitarian law.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how they will ensure that the voices and priorities of Sudanese women are reflected in the discussions and outcomes of the Berlin Conference on Sudan in April 2026, in line with the commitments set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
On 24 February, the UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls, Baroness Harman, met senior German Foreign Ministry officials to discuss coordinated action on atrocity prevention and accountability in Sudan, and ensuring meaningful participation by Sudanese women, and wider civil society voices, at the International Sudan Conference in April in Berlin that Germany is co-hosting with the UK, the African Union, the European Union, France and the US. This meeting also provided a platform for Sudanese women to inform discussions ahead of the Berlin Sudan Conference.
We remain in close discussion with our co-hosts to shape an inclusive and meaningful Conference. We continue to engage with all parties, to urge agreement to a ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access, and adherence to international humanitarian law.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, as a penholder on the UN Security Council for Sudan, what steps they are taking to ensure that Sudanese women’s civil society organisations are meaningfully represented at the Berlin Conference on Sudan in April 2026.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
On 24 February, the UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls, Baroness Harman, met senior German Foreign Ministry officials to discuss coordinated action on atrocity prevention and accountability in Sudan, and ensuring meaningful participation by Sudanese women, and wider civil society voices, at the International Sudan Conference in April in Berlin that Germany is co-hosting with the UK, the African Union, the European Union, France and the US. This meeting also provided a platform for Sudanese women to inform discussions ahead of the Berlin Sudan Conference.
We remain in close discussion with our co-hosts to shape an inclusive and meaningful Conference. We continue to engage with all parties, to urge agreement to a ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access, and adherence to international humanitarian law.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
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 Greenpeace’s report entitled Equity, Benefit-Sharing and Financial Architecture in the International Seabed Area.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government keeps its policies in relation to climate, nature and marine protection under regular review, informed by a wide range of stakeholder views and expert analyses, including those mentioned by the Hon Member.
Asked by: Susan Murray (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dunbartonshire)
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 her Indian counterpart on extrajudicial killings of religious minorities in Punjab, India.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer she was provided on 9 March in response to Question 117992.
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, how much her Department has spent on special severance payments in each of the last three years.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The number and cost of special severance payments made by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in each financial year are routinely published in the department's annual report and accounts. The most recently published annual report and accounts are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-to-2025
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 3 March 2026 to Question 115117 on Jonathan Powell, for what reason the direct ministerial appointment of John Powell as Special Envoy in early August 2024 was not announced until 6 September 2024.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Jonathan Powell was appointed in line with standard procedure, and his appointment announced in the usual way.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will consider implementing Magnitsky-style sanctions against the Hong Kong officials responsible for the sentencing of Kwok Yin-sang, father of exiled democracy activist and BN(O) status Anna Kwok.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We continue to keep the scope of our sanctions under close review, but it would not be appropriate to speculate on any future designations, since doing so could reduce their impact.