Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic conditions his Department has attached to engaging with the transitional authorities in Sudan on freedom of religion or belief.

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

We will continue to recognise the persecution of individuals on the basis of their religion or belief. On 8 July, the Minister for Africa co-hosted the launch of the UK Approach to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) with David Smith MP, UK Special Envoy for FoRB, with the overarching goal to reduce the number of countries in which the right to FoRB is significantly curtailed. The Minister for Africa expressed concern about the situation for religious and ethnic minorities impacted by Sudan's war. David Smith MP also made a statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 4 March, highlighting our unease about the coercion of non-Muslims in Sudan to change their beliefs through denial of work, food aid, and education. The UK's Special Representative for Sudan has visited Port Sudan three times since December 2024 to press the Sudanese Armed Forces to comply with the Jeddah Declaration of Commitments to Protect Civilians from continued atrocities. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials have raised similar issues in communication with representatives from the Rapid Support Forces on different occasions since the start of the conflict. We have used these exchanges to request that their leadership make every effort to protect civilians and cease atrocities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding his Department has allocated to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in each of the next three years.

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

The UK is a longstanding supporter of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), having contributed £1.4 billion since 1995. This has enabled GPEI to reduce wild poliovirus cases by over 99 per cent. The UK is also the largest donor to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. We recently announced a new investment of £1.25 billion for 2026 - 2030 that will support eligible countries with polio vaccines as part of an essential package of childhood immunisation. The UK is working with international partners to ensure sustainable resources for global health. We are reviewing our spending - including for GPEI - following the outcome of the Spending Review to ensure that every pound of development assistance is spent in the most impactful way.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Chinese counterpart on restrictions faced by (a) Christians and (b) underground churches in China.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The environment for freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in China is restrictive, which includes the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities. Chinese regulations on religious activity severely restrict religious and cultural expression in China. This Government stands firm on human rights, including the right to FoRB. We raise our concerns at the highest levels: the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Chancellor and Energy Secretary all raised human rights recently with their Chinese counterparts.

More broadly, this Government champions FoRB for all abroad. We work to uphold the right to FoRB through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora, and through bilateral engagement.

The recent launch of our FoRB strategy on July 8 outlines our approach to promoting and protecting the right to FoRB globally, of which China is one of ten focus countries. We continue to do all we can to encourage FoRB across China.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government plans to adopt a new target that would triple UK international climate finance to 2035 in line with the global goal agreed at COP28.

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

The UK remains committed to providing International Climate Finance (ICF) now and in the future, and to playing our part alongside other developed countries and climate finance providers to deliver our international obligations. Climate and nature are top priorities for the UK's Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget, alongside humanitarian and health. Meeting the £11.6 billion ICF commitment by March 2026 remains the Government's ambition. Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used are being worked through as part of the ongoing Departmental resource allocation processes. The Government will set out spending plans following the completion of these resource allocation processes.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed changes to funding of Official Development Assistance from the 2027-28 financial year on (a) gender equality and (b) inclusion.

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

Detailed decisions on the Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations and the impact on programmes are being worked through. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is taking a rigorous approach to ensure all ODA delivers value for money. Equality impact assessments - which consider impacts on those with protected characteristics, including gender - are an essential part of this process. The FCDO will share the conclusions of the Equality Impact Assessment of the 2025/26 ODA allocations alongside the final allocations which will be published in the FCDO Annual Report and Accounts this summer.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he made an assessment of the potential merits of undertaking a public consultation with the Chagossian community prior to the (a) announcement of the agreement with Mauritius over the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory and (b) signing of the UK-Mauritius Treaty on 22 May 2025.

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

The negotiations were between the UK and Mauritius with our priority being to secure the full operation of the base on Diego Garcia. The UK Government regularly engages Chagossian groups and representatives at both official and Ministerial levels on a range of issues and will continue to do so.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) EU, (b) Canadian and (c) US counterparts on the release of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.

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

Russia must pay for the damage it has caused and is causing Ukraine. This is a matter that must be considered collectively, and we are working urgently with our partners across the G7 and European Union to consider all lawful avenues to make Russia pay. It would not be appropriate to give a running commentary; it's important that we preserve the ability to have candid conversations with our international partners.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to announce the UK’s financial commitment to the 2025 Global Fund replenishment.

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

The UK has long been a strong supporter of the Global Fund and we are proud to be co-hosting the 8th replenishment this year in partnership with South Africa. Except for a few time-sensitive decisions, such as our pledge at the Gavi replenishment conference, we will be working through decisions on future multi-year Official Development Assistance allocations over the coming months, including our Global Fund pledge and announcement timing.

The Global Fund is the primary channel for UK support to fight HIV, TB, and Malaria. It currently invests approximately $5 billion a year to defeat the three diseases and strengthen health systems. In 2023, the Global Fund accounted for 28% of all international financing for HIV, 76% for TB and 62% for malaria.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department holds data on the number of EU airports which (a) offer and (b) are expected to offer e-gate access for UK passport holders by 23 July 2025.

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

At the UK-EU Summit on 19 May, we secured confirmation that there will be no legal barriers for British nationals to use eGates after the introduction of the EU's Entry/Exit system (EES). Whether to grant British Citizens eGates access is a matter for Member States.

A number of Member States already offer British Citizens eGates access at certain airports and ports, in a range of circumstances, including Italy, France and Spain. We are working at pace with individual Member States to expand access to eGates for British Citizens where this is currently limited. Recently, Bulgaria has begun offering eGates access in Sofia airport and the UK-Germany Friendship and Bilateral Cooperation Treaty signed on 17 July commits to rolling out eGate access for frequent travellers by the end of August, followed by rollout for all UK nationals as soon as technically possible.

We anticipate more Member States will be able to offer access at further locations over the coming months.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department holds data on the number of EU airports which (a) offer and (b) are expected to offer e-gate access for UK passport holders by 23 July 2025.

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

At the UK-EU Summit on 19 May, we secured confirmation that there will be no legal barriers for British nationals to use eGates after the introduction of the EU's Entry/Exit system (EES). Whether to grant British Citizens eGates access is a matter for Member States.

A number of Member States already offer British Citizens eGates access at certain airports and ports, in a range of circumstances, including Italy, France and Spain. We are working at pace with individual Member States to expand access to eGates for British Citizens where this is currently limited. Recently, Bulgaria has begun offering eGates access in Sofia airport and the UK-Germany Friendship and Bilateral Cooperation Treaty signed on 17 July commits to rolling out eGate access for frequent travellers by the end of August, followed by rollout for all UK nationals as soon as technically possible.

We anticipate more Member States will be able to offer access at further locations over the coming months.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to (a) match and (b) exceed its previous £1 billion pledge to the Global Fund at the forthcoming replenishment.

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

The UK has long been a strong supporter of the Global Fund and we are proud to be co-hosting the 8th replenishment this year in partnership with South Africa. Except for a few time-sensitive decisions, such as our pledge at the Gavi replenishment conference, we will be working through decisions on future multi-year Official Development Assistance allocations over the coming months, including our Global Fund pledge and announcement timing.

The Global Fund is the primary channel for UK support to fight HIV, TB, and Malaria. It currently invests approximately $5 billion a year to defeat the three diseases and strengthen health systems. In 2023, the Global Fund accounted for 28% of all international financing for HIV, 76% for TB and 62% for malaria.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will have discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on increasing the level of ODA spend.

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

To fund an increase in defence spending, the Government has taken the decision to reduce our ODA budget to 0.3% of Gross National Income (GNI) by 2027. This reflects the world we live in and the threats our country faces. We must do this to maintain economic stability - the foundation of this Government's Plan for Change. The Government is committed to returning to spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA when the fiscal circumstances allow.

The government will continue to monitor future forecasts closely, and each year will review and confirm, in accordance with the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015, whether a return to spending 0.7% GNI on ODA is possible against the latest fiscal forecast. The Office for Budget Responsibility's latest forecast shows that the ODA fiscal tests are not due to be met within the Parliament.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to pledge of £1.45 billion to the twentieth-first replenishment of the International Development Association.

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

The UK remains committed to the International Development Association (IDA). As the Minister for International Development, Latin America and the Caribbean has said, we will prioritise spending our ODA budget through multilaterals which deliver most impact, like IDA.

Following the decision to reduce our Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget, allocations and the impact on programmes are being worked through. We will set out our spending plans following the completion of resource allocation processes.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps his Department is taking to encourage other donor countries to make pledges to the Global Fund.

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

The UK is co-hosting the Global Fund 8th replenishment with South Africa. The Department, together with officials from South Africa and the Global Fund, will engage with existing and potential new donors in the private and public sector through bilateral engagement and multilateral events to encourage support and pledges for the Global Fund.

The Global fund is the primary channel for UK support to fight HIV, TB, and Malaria. It currently invests approximately $5 billion a year to defeat the three diseases and strengthen health systems. In 2023, the Global Fund accounted for 28% of all international financing for HIV, 76% for TB and 62% for malaria.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Chinese counterparts on the right of the Tibetan Buddhist authorities to select the successor to the Dalai Lama without interference.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

This Government stands firm on human rights, including China's repression of the people of Tibet. We champion freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all in the UK and abroad, and work to uphold the right to FoRB through the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora, and through bilateral engagement. For example, On July 2 the UK convened an event in Geneva to reaffirm the right to FoRB for all, including Tibetan Buddhists and the right to choose their own religious leaders.

The UK views the Dalai Lama as a respected spiritual leader and strong human rights advocate. It is our longstanding position that the appointment of the next Dalai Lama is a matter for the Tibetan Buddhist community across the world, in line with FoRB.

We raise our concerns at the highest levels: the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Chancellor, Energy Secretary and I all raised human rights recently with our Chinese counterparts.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department will take steps to support (a) the freedom of expression and (b) civil society in Georgia.

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

I remain deeply concerned by the Georgian Dream government's increasing repression of opposition voices, civil society, and independent media. On 11 July in coordination with European partners, the Foreign Secretary condemned politically motivated detentions of opposition politicians. I have repeatedly called out repressive legislation targeting Civil society and peaceful protesters. We have downgraded our bilateral cooperation and are considering all other options available to us. We urge Georgian Dream to reverse course and engage in inclusive national dialogue with all stakeholders in Georgia's future.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his new development financing strategy will prioritise the most vulnerable countries.

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

Reducing poverty in the world's poorest, most fragile and unstable environments remains central to our Official Development Assistance (ODA). The UK will remain a leading humanitarian actor, in a world where 300 million people require humanitarian assistance. That includes our continued bilateral support to Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan.

Reducing the overall size of our ODA budget will have an impact on the scale and shape of the work we do. We need to focus on greater impact, ensuring every pound delivers for the UK taxpayer and the people we support. We will sharpen our focus on three priorities that align with the needs of our partners, UK interests, and where we can drive real change: humanitarian, health, and climate and nature, underpinned by economic development.

We expect to publish the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office final 2025/26 ODA programme allocations in the Annual Report & Accounts on the 21 July. Over the coming months, we will work through detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used, informed by internal and external consultation and impact assessments, ahead of publishing indicative multi-year allocations in the autumn.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the (a) percentage and (b) cash term monetary change in average fees for his Department's nursery was in 2025-26 compared to 2024-25; and what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increase.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

There has been no increase in fees for the nursery based at King Charles Street during the period 2024-25 to 2025-26.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his letter to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee of 16 June 2025, how the £200 million uplift in non-ODA spending in 2025-26 will be allocated across the priorities he identifies.

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

The £200 million non-Official Development Assistance (ODA) spending uplift is from 2026/27 onwards as was agreed in the latest Spending Review. There is no £200 million uplift in 2025/26. Decisions on the allocation of non-ODA programme will be agreed during the multi-year allocations process, expected to conclude in the Autumn.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his letter to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, dated 16 June 2025, what changes he plans to make in the context of his comments on (a) working as an investor rather than only a donor and (b) moving from service delivery to system support.

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

We have been clear that we must transform what development means to respond to the global context. For too long it has been the Global North telling the Global South how to work - we will work in partnership, not paternalism.

When moving from donor to investor, we will partner with countries to unlock growth, jobs and trade through innovative finance and private sector investment - scaling up our instruments and public-private partnership to channel greater investment. And when moving from service delivery to system support, we will prioritise helping countries build their own education, health, and economic systems so they can thrive without aid, including by expanding the way that UK expertise works alongside countries. We must modernise our approach, make choices and focus on greater impact - ensuring every pound delivers for the UK taxpayer and the people we support.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to have discussions with (a) NGOs, (b) parliamentarians, and (c) women and girls before his refresh of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

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

The UK remains committed to advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda through implementation of the fifth WPS National Action Plan.

This government is committed to engaging widely ahead of refreshing the National Action Plan. We held our first round of consultation with civil society organisations and academics on 11 July to hear their views and expertise. The Minister for Africa, the Minister responsible for WPS, also met with the WPS All Party Parliamentary Group on 3 July where he heard from civil society organisations and parliamentarians on national and international work in this area.

We will continue to engage with women and girls, NGOs and parliamentarians throughout the development of the refreshed plan.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to publish the refreshed National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

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

The UK remains firmly committed to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda as reflected in the UK's fifth WPS National Action Plan. The Government intends to build on this ambition through a refreshed National Action Plan, advancing implementation and aligning to emerging priorities.

While we have not yet set a publication date for the refreshed National Action Plan, we have already begun consultations with civil society and academics. This included a first round of consultation on 11 July to hear their expert views.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with France.

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

The Government is committed to strengthening its close partnership with France, a commitment that was reaffirmed during President Macron's State Visit on 8-10 July and the UK-France Summit with groundbreaking agreements on migration, defence, growth and culture. We are further enhancing foreign policy cooperation to increase pressure on Russia and support Ukraine, support stability in the Middle East, increase coordination in the Western Balkans, Moldova, and the Indo-Pacific, and combine efforts on development and global issues.

I attended the UK-France Summit with the Prime Minister and President of France on 10 July. Please see the joint declaration (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-france-leaders-declaration) for further details.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his international counterparts on the recognition of a Palestinian state.

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

We continue to engage all partners on advancing a two-state solution and supporting the foundations of Palestinian statehood on a regular basis.

The people of the West Bank and Gaza must be given the political perspective of a credible route to a Palestinian state and a new future. That is why this Government supports a two-state solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people. The Government agrees strongly on the importance of recognition, and that is why we will make sure the timing is right. UK bilateral recognition is the single most important action the UK can take regarding Palestinian statehood. We are committed to recognising a Palestinian state at a time that has the most impact in achieving this reality, creates genuine momentum and is most conducive to long-term prospects for peace. The UK commitment to a two-state solution is unwavering.

Palestinian statehood is the right of the Palestinian people. It is not in the gift of any neighbour and is also essential to the long-term security of Israel.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 23 June (HL8468), what assessment they have made of the root causes of the conflict in Benue, in particular of the role of religion.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government is deeply concerned about the ongoing violence in Nigeria's Middle Belt and we express our sincere concern for all those impacted. The root causes of intercommunal violence are complex and often linked to land disputes, historical tensions, and criminal activity. While religion is not a causal factor in these conflicts, the impacts are felt acutely by religious communities, including hindering people's ability to practice their faith freely. The UK supports all affected communities, regardless of faith or ethnicity, and is working through programmes like Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria and the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership to promote peace, strengthen local institutions, and protect civilians. The UK remains committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), with Nigeria a priority country under the new FoRB strategy, and we will continue to raise this issue in our engagements with Nigeria.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will publish a cross-government strategy on children and armed conflict.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The latest UN Secretary General's report on Children and Armed Conflict is shocking. It shows that children are being harmed and denied lifesaving aid on an unprecedented scale.

In the UN Security Council, the UK has called on all parties to armed conflict to immediately end and prevent grave violations against children, and for perpetrators to be held to account. The UK also remains committed to promoting and defending the UN's Children and Armed Conflict mandate.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) is currently reviewing our approach to children in conflict.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic démarches his department has delivered to advance religious freedom during bilateral visits to Vietnam.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I pressed the Vietnamese Government to respect people's rights to speak freely, to meet in groups, and to practice their religion during my October 2024 visit to Vietnam. I followed up with my counterpart, Vice Foreign Minister Hang, on 17 March and will keep raising this with Vietnam alongside our Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion and Belief, David Smith MP. The UK-Vietnam Strategic Partnership includes cooperation on human rights, including concerns about religious freedom.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Africa has had with trade unions on women’s empowerment; and on what dates those discussions were held.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Minister for Africa had two official engagements on the topic of women's empowerment during the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Firstly, a meeting with a senior delegation from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) on 12 March 2025, comprising Paola Simonetti, Director of the ITUC, Siobhan Vipond from the ITUC Canada and Dur e Shawar from the Pakistan Workers Party. Secondly, a meeting with Christina McAnea, General Secretary of UNISON, on 13 March 2025.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the BBC on the potential impact of changes to the level of funding for BBC World Service on the capacity of the BBC to deliver content in other languages.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government is in close touch with the BBC on a range of issues - we have regular discussions at Ministerial, senior and official levels. The BBC is the main funder of the World Service and is editorially and operationally independent. It decides the most effective and efficient way of delivering the World Service. Expanding coverage would primarily be a decision for the BBC, in consultation with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in line with the requirements of the Framework Agreement. World Service Grant-in-Aid funding for the next three years will be decided by Ministers through the FCDO allocations process in the autumn.

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 June 2025 to Question 57552 on Humanitarian Aid: Older People, if he will place in the Library copies of (a) the robust indicators on Sex, Age and Disability (SAD) data disaggregation and (b) any associated guidance required of UN agencies on their application for UK funding.

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

The UK's Business Case and Logical Framework for our core humanitarian funding to the UN, covering the indicators on sex, age and disability disaggregated data is available for public access on the Government's Dev Tracker website. Our Humanitarian Response Funding Guidelines for NGOs are likewise available online on gov.uk.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, With reference to the publication entitled Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office - Ministers' Gifts - May 2025, published on 26 June 2025, what the meaning is of the entry returns pending for the Ceremonial Sword.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

When the Foreign Secretary receives a gift, he decides whether the gift will be retained by the department, or purchased by him personally. On this occasion, the Foreign Secretary has decided this gift will be retained by the department. The public data will reflect this outcome shortly.

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 changes in funding for the BBC World Service on the UK's soft power.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government highly values the BBC World Service, which makes a significant contribution to UK soft power. According to a 2025 survey conducted for the BBC by the independent polling company, Tapestry, the BBC is a leader in driving favourable impressions of the UK and is the country's most recognised cultural export internationally. Decisions have not yet been made on future funding. World Service Grant-in-Aid funding for the next three years will be decided by Ministers through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office allocations process in the autumn.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Denmark.

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

The UK maintains strong and enduring ties with Denmark across a broad range of bilateral files. We work closely together as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) allies, and cooperation has deepened further following Denmark's accession to the United Nations Security Council (2025-26). Most recently, the Prime Minister met Prime Minister Frederiksen in Oslo in May at the JEF Leaders' Summit; the Foreign Secretary met Foreign Minister Rasmussen at the NATO Informal in May; and I hosted Danish State Secretary Machon in March. We continue to engage our Danish counterparts regularly at all levels.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on funding for the (a) BBC World Service and (b) British Council for 2026-7.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Ministers regularly engage with ministerial colleagues on matters affecting their Departments and issues of mutual interest. I lead on soft power within the FCDO and I am in regular contact with my Department for Culture, Media and Sport counterpart on this important issue.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help improve the UK’s relationship with Norway.

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

The UK maintains strong and historic ties with Norway across a broad range of bilateral files. We work closely together as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) allies, and our cooperation has deepened further following the Prime Minister signing the Norway-UK Strategic Partnership in Bergen on 16 December 2024. There have been several Ministerial visits between Norway and the UK, including two visits by the Foreign Secretary to Norway in September 2024 and May 2025, I visited in October 2024, and an inward visit by Foreign Minister Barth Eide took place in December 2024. A Green Industrial Partnership was also signed by Energy Ministers in May 2025.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many official visits were made by foreign diplomats to Northern Ireland in the last 12 months.

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

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not routinely monitor the travel of foreign diplomats based in the UK within the country.  They are able to meet a wide range of stakeholders across the UK, without the need for permission from the Government. This principle - that diplomats be allowed to undertake engagement without approval of the host State government - is consistent with how we expect our own diplomats working overseas to be able to operate.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Portugal.

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

The UK maintains strong and enduring ties with Portugal across a broad range of bilateral files. The Foreign Secretary last met with his Portuguese counterpart Foreign Minister Rangel when he visited Lisbon in March earlier this year. I last met with my Portuguese counterpart Secretary of State Domingos when I visited Lisbon in January. Both visits discussed how we can continue to effectively implement the UK-Portugal Joint Declaration.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he has taken to advocate for the protection of children in armed conflict in (a) the Occupied Palestinian Territories, (b) the Democratic Republic of the Congo, (c) Haiti, (d) Somalia and (e) Nigeria.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UN Secretary-General's 2025 report on children and armed conflict highlights a shocking 25 per cent increase in grave violations against children. The UK statement at the UN Security Council open debate on 25 June called on all parties to armed conflict to immediately end and prevent grave violations against children. It also called on Israel to abide by its obligations under international humanitarian law to protect children.

The UK is an active and committed member of the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, playing a key role ensuring scrutiny of conflicts where children are harmed and holding perpetrators to account.

We have raised child protection issues and concerns with the governments of Israel, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti and Somalia. In Nigeria, we are working with partners on the ground to protect children, focusing on girls, explosive weapons and the recruitment and use and detention of children.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what financial support his Department provides for the protection of (a) rainforests and (b) Indigenous People and Local Communities in a context of aid cuts.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

It remains the Government's ambition to deliver £11.6 billion of International Climate Finance between April 2021 and March 2026, of which £1.5 billion should be for forests. In the context of aid cuts, we will sharpen the focus of our Official Development Assistance investments onto three priorities where we can drive real change: humanitarian, health, and climate and nature.

At COP26 in Glasgow, the UK mobilised the $1.7 billion Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) Forest Tenure Pledge and committed £163 million to advance IPLC tenure rights. We continue to prioritise supporting IPLCs, recognising their vital role in tackling the climate and nature crises. We do this through flagship Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office programmes, including on forest governance and land tenure in the Amazon, and as co-chair of the Forest and Climate Leaders' Partnership ahead of COP30 in Brazil later this year.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the involvement of North Korea in support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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

Russia's increasing reliance on support from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to help wage its illegal invasion of Ukraine demonstrates its underlying weakness. As we have said publicly, the DPRK is believed to have supplied hundreds of ballistic missiles and 20,000 containers of munitions to Russia. This includes millions of artillery and mortar rounds, accounting for around half of those Russia has fired against Ukraine. In addition the DPRK deployed approximately 11,000 combat troops to the Russian oblast of Kursk, sustaining 6000 casualties in offensive combat operations against Ukraine according to our latest estimates.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assistance they are providing to victims of conflict-related sexual violence in Ethiopia; how this assistance will be affected by the cuts to Official Development Assistance; and how they are coordinating the responses to atrocity crimes in Ethiopia with other countries.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK has played a critical role in supporting survivor-centred humanitarian interventions in Ethiopia, particularly in response to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in Tigray and other conflict-affected regions. The UK has prioritised healthcare, psychosocial support, access to justice, as well as policy efforts to increase accountability. In the last financial year, we allocated £4.6 million to deliver Gender Based Violence (GBV) and child protection services in Tigray, Afar, Amhara, Oromia and Somali regions. Between June 2023 and January 2025, GBV and child protection services reached over 50,000 women and girls, across 19 health facilities in affected regions. The UK remains committed to preventing CRSV and funding for GBV prevention and response has increased this financial year. Funding for future years has not yet been allocated.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the judgment by the High Court in R (Al-Haq) v Secretary of State for Business and Trade [2025] EWHC 1615 (Admin) on 30 June, whether they plan to consider the incorporation of the Arms Trade Treaty into domestic law.

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

The Government is fully committed to international law and acts in a manner that is consistent with our international obligations and commitments. We remain strongly committed to the Arms Trade Treaty and to act accordingly. Our export control regime remains consistent with our international obligations.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Estonia.

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

The UK maintains strong and enduring ties with Estonia across a broad range of bilateral files. We work closely together as North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Joint Expeditionary Force allies, and the UK leads the enhanced Forward Presence at Tapa, supporting regional security. The Prime Minister met Prime Minister Michal in Oslo in May at the Joint Expeditionary Force Leaders Summit, and the Foreign Secretary met Foreign Minister Tsahkna in Warsaw in May. I hosted Secretary General Vseviov in March.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Poland.

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

The UK maintains strong and enduring ties with Poland across a broad range of bilateral files. During the Prime Minister's visit to Poland in January he and Polish Prime Minister Tusk announced the start of negotiations for an ambitious UK-Poland Defence and Security Treaty. The Foreign Secretary met with his Polish counterpart on 7 May in Warsaw where they discussed the threat to European security from Russia and our commitment to work together. I attended the Belvedere Forum in Warsaw on 16 June to discuss strengthening cooperation on security, growth, and migration. At the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) held in Italy on 10-11 July we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Poland on collaboration in support of Ukraine's recovery.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support the family of Michael Frison who went missing in Sardinia on 13 July 2024.

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

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has been providing consular support to Michael Frison's family since his disappearance in Italy in July 2024. Officials have remained in contact with the Italian authorities to seek updates on the investigation. Our thoughts remain with the family at this difficult time.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has to meet with his counterparts in (a) the EU and (b) Spain to discuss the status of Gibraltar.

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

We have no plans to meet with the EU, Spain, or any other party to discuss the status of Gibraltar. 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. The Foreign Secretary and I continue, side by side with the Government of Gibraltar, to work with the EU and Spain to finalise a Treaty governing Gibraltar's relationship with the EU. Political agreement, including on a clause which safeguards Gibraltar's sovereignty, was reached on 11 June and all sides are working together to finalise the Treaty as soon as possible.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Spain.

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

The UK and Spain have a strong and wide-ranging relationship, particularly on people-to-people, trade, climate and energy, and security. The Foreign Secretary met his counterpart in Brussels on 11 June for Gibraltar negotiations and in the margins of the NATO summit in The Hague on 25 June. He visited Madrid on 31 March to attend Weimar+. The Minister for Development attended the Financing for Development Conference in Seville from 30 June to 1 July. I met with my Spanish counterpart Secretary of State Sampedro in Madrid on 7 May and on 11 June in Brussels. I also visited Spain on 21 February for a meeting on the Gibraltar negotiations and on 17 January for bilateral meetings.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what proposals they have for additional sanctions to further deter North Korea from its involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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

Russia's increasing reliance on support from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to help wage its illegal invasion of Ukraine demonstrates its underlying weakness. As we have said publicly, the DPRK is believed to have supplied 20,000 containers of munitions to Russia, and its artillery and mortar shells account for 60 per cent of those used in Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine. The DPRK must immediately withdraw its troops and stop its provision of thousands of munitions, arms and other materiel. The DPRK is subject to an extensive range of UN sanctions and the UK will continue to work with our partners to influence and to hold the DPRK to account for supporting Russia's illegal war in Ukraine. On 24 February 2025 the UK announced its largest sanctions package against Russia since 2022, including DPRK officials involved in supporting Russian military action against Ukraine. We do not comment on future or potential expansions of our DPRK sanctions as this could affect their impact.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the international response to the involvement of North Korea in the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

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

The UK and international partners remain deeply concerned about the implications of the deepening Russia-DPRK military cooperation. The G7 has consistently condemned the military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia, most recently at the G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting on 14 March at Charlevoix. In February, together with our G7 partners, the UK imposed its largest sanctions packages against Russia since 2022 which included DPRK officials. We have continually raised the issue in other multilateral fora, including at the UN, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and NATO, as well as through our regular engagement with likeminded partners. We will continue to impose costs on Russia and DPRK.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of recent reports of continued severe restrictions and persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in China; and what representations they have made about that issue to the government of China.

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

The environment for freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in China is restrictive, which includes the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities. Chinese regulations on religious activity severely restrict religious and cultural expression in China. This Government stands firm on human rights, including the right to FoRB. We raise our concerns at the highest levels: the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Chancellor and Energy Secretary all raised human rights recently with their Chinese counterparts.

More broadly, this Government champions FoRB for all abroad. We work to uphold the right to FoRB through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora, and through bilateral engagement.

The recent launch of our FoRB strategy on July 8 outlines our approach to promoting and protecting the right to FoRB globally, of which China is one of ten focus countries. We continue to do all we can to encourage FoRB across China.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what diplomatic efforts they have made to highlight the involvement of North Korea in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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

The direct participation of Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) troops in combat operations and supplies to Russia is another dangerous expansion of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, with serious consequences for European and Indo-Pacific security. We have repeatedly raised the issue on diplomatic channels, in multilateral fora, and through our regular engagement with likeminded partners. As part of the G7, we also designated several DPRK individuals involved in supporting the Russian military-industrial complex. Most recently, on 17 June, the Prime Minister met with President Lee Jae Myung where they discussed Ukraine and the challenges posed by the DPRK. On 16 December, the Foreign Secretary, along with G7 Foreign Ministers, condemned the increasing military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Malaysian counterpart on (a) protecting tropical forests and (b)(i) safeguarding and (ii) recognising the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign Secretary met Malaysian PM Anwar on 11 July and discussed Malaysia's climate commitments.

Tackling deforestation and safeguarding the role of local smallholder communities was the focal point of the Minister for Climate's visit in April 2025 when she and Malaysian Minister for Plantations launched the Forest, Agriculture and Commodity Trade (FACT) Dialogue Forum promoting deforestation-free crop production.

In March 2025, I launched the UK International Climate Fund (ICF) programme 'Seed to Tree'. I engaged with the indigenous community on establishing seed banks, plant nurseries and translocating saplings for wider forest restoration efforts in Malaysia to combat climate change.

The UK is working with Malaysia and the Netherlands under a UK ICF programme where smallholders (comprising indigenous and local community groups) from across Malaysia are trained to be market-ready producers of sustainable palm oil and deforestation free crops.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom report, Russia Country Update, published on 30 June; and what steps are they taking, bilaterally or through multilateral bodies, to press for accountability and improvements to religious freedom in Russia and Russian-occupied Ukraine.

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

The report highlights issues that have long concerned this and the previous UK Government. We are deeply disturbed by the impact of Russia's illegal war on Freedom of Religion or Belief in the illegally occupied territories of Ukraine and in Russia. We condemn Russia's attempt to destroy Ukraine's religious and belief communities. We are further concerned by prosecution of "non-traditional" religious communities within Russia. We provide funding to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine to document and report human rights abuses and violations in Ukraine. We continue to raise concerns in multilateral fora to hold the Russian state to account for its human rights violations.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to have discussions with his Chinese counterpart on dissuading that country to collaborate with Iran on matters that are counter to UK security interests.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign Secretary recently met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit to discuss international security issues, including Iran. As P5 members of the United Nations Security Council, we must continue to engage China and all other relevant stakeholders as we try to find a diplomatic path to ensure Iran can never develop a nuclear weapon.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications of the increased naval and infrastructure presence of China in Southeast Asia for the UK's strategic and economic interests.

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

The UK has enduring interests in South-East Asia and is committed to maintaining regional security and stability. In the South China Sea, we are committed to international law, the primacy of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and to freedom of navigation and overflight. We oppose any action that raises tensions or the risk of miscalculation, take no sides in sovereignty disputes and encourage all parties to settle their disputes peacefully through the existing legal mechanisms, particularly UNCLOS.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Germany.

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

The UK maintains a strong relationship with Germany. We work closely together bilaterally, as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and G7 allies, and through other formats such as the E3. On 17 July, we signed a landmark Bilateral Treaty with Germany, building on our strong defence and security ties and expanding cooperation across key shared priorities - including foreign policy, migration, economic growth, organised crime, and science and technology. We also signed the Trinity House Agreement in October 2024. Germany was the first country the Foreign Secretary visited in July 2024. The Prime Minister last visited Berlin in October 2024. Chancellor Merz and Foreign Minister Wadephul visited London on 17 July, and we engage frequently at Ministerial level. I have visited Berlin on a number of occassions and hosted Lander representatives here in London from Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia in recent months.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Italy.

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

The UK enjoys a strong, historic relationship with Italy across a broad range of bilateral files. We work closely together through NATO, the G7 and G20 on key foreign policy and defence priorities, including support to Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East. Most recently, Prime Minister Meloni visited the UK on 2 March for the 2025 London Summit for Ukraine, which included a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister. Their Majesties' State Visit to Italy (7-10 April) further deepened ties, focusing on sustainability, defence, and cultural links. The Foreign Secretary continues to engage regularly with Foreign Minister Tajani at summits such as the G7 (March), NATO (April), and co-chaired a migration event at the Munich Security Conference (February). I also visited Italy on 12 June for the Weimar+ meeting and met Deputy Foreign Minister Cirielli.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Sweden.

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

The UK maintains strong and enduring ties with Sweden across a broad range of bilateral files. We work closely together as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) allies and Sweden was among the first countries the Foreign Secretary visited in July 2024. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary hosted Foreign Minister Stenergard on 1 May and the Prime Minister then hosted Prime Minister Kristersson at No 10 on 12 May. I also hosted State Secretary Hartelius and State Secretary Danielsson in March and Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas Symonds, visited Stockholm the same month. We continue to engage our Swedish counterparts regularly at all levels.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Finland.

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

The UK maintains strong and enduring ties with Finland across a broad range of bilateral files. We work closely together as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) allies. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary hosted Foreign Minister Valtonen on 4 February and the Prime Minister hosted President Stubb at No 10 on 31 March. I also hosted State Secretary Rajala in March. I am due to visit Helsinki for the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act later this month, where I expect to continue bilateral discussions with my ministerial counterparts.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps his Department has taken to help promote freedom of religion or belief in south Asia.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK champions freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all, and that no one should live in fear because of their religion or belief.

On 8 July, the Government launched its new strategy on FoRB. Its overarching goal is to reduce the number of countries in which the right to FoRB is significantly curtailed, and to promote internationally the right to FoRB as fundamental to human flourishing.

Across the world, including South Asia, the UK is taking targeted action and raising the right to FoRB with counterpart governments. For example, in Pakistan, our Aawaz II programme has reached over 35 million people with information about rights and government services. Through the John Bunyan Fund, we have improved Pakistani Parliamentarians' understanding of the laws used to persecute minorities and explored avenues for reform. In March and June this year, the Minister for the Middle East raised concerns about FoRB with Pakistani ministers.

In Afghanistan, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials regularly press the Taliban to respect the human rights of all Afghans. We continue to support the UN Special Rapporteur and his mandate to document human rights abuses in Afghanistan, including against minority groups.

Working with the Special Envoy for FoRB, David Smith MP, we are championing the right to FoRB and promoting tolerance and mutual respect through our engagement in multilateral fora - including our position at the UN and Article 18 Alliance - and through our important bilateral work.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act in the US.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

This Government stands firm on human rights, including China's repression of the people of Tibet. This includes concerns about the erosion of Tibetan cultural rights and traditions by the Chinese authorities.

We raise our concerns at the highest levels: the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Chancellor, Energy Secretary and I all raised human rights recently with our Chinese counterparts. We also continue to work closely with our international partners to hold China to account for human rights violations. For example, joining a statement led by Australia on Xinjiang and Tibet at the UN General Assembly in October.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what conditions, criteria and evidence they used to inform the decisions to lift certain sanctions on Syria.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Sanctions Act and the Regulations made under it provides the legal basis for the UK to impose, vary, and revoke sanctions designations and sectoral sanctions. On 25 April the UK lifted sanctions on several sectors, including trade, energy production, transport (aircraft) and finance, in order to reflect the change in circumstances in Syria, facilitate investment and support the Syrian people to rebuild their country and economy. The UK's sanctions regime continues to hold Assad and his associates to account for atrocities committed against the Syrian people. We keep our sanctions regime under review.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether ministers have sought legal advice following the escalation of violence between Israel and Iran.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Ministers receive legal advice as appropriate. It is long-standing practice that Governments of all colours do not disclose the fact that legal advice has or has not been given, nor the content of any such advice. This practice provides the fullest guarantee that government business will be conducted at all times in the light of thorough and candid legal advice.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will give posthumous awards to John Chapman, James Henderson and James Kirby who previously served in the armed forces and were killed whilst delivering aid in Gaza in April 2024.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is replying because, at the time of their deaths, John Chapman, James Henderson and James Kirby were not serving members of the UK Armed Forces and were working overseas.

Government's priority is securing justice for the appalling strike that killed John Chapman, James Henderson, and James Kirby. We continue to press Israel to swiftly conclude the Military Advocate General's investigation into events on the 1 April 2024, including determining whether criminal proceedings should be initiated. The Foreign Secretary has repeatedly pressed Foreign Affairs Minister Sa'ar and Minister of Strategic Affairs Dermer for the Military Advocate General to conclude consideration of the case swiftly and thoroughly.

The FCDO looked carefully at the very sad circumstances of their deaths and acknowledge their sacrifice and dedicated contribution but there are no national UK awards that they would be eligible for. However, we continue to support the family and the Prime Minister met with them on 9 June.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the interim government of Syria; and what steps they are taking to work with allies to maintain stability in that country.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign Secretary visited Damascus on 5 July, to renew UK-Syria relations and reiterate UK support to the new Syrian Government as it seeks to rebuild the economy and deliver an inclusive political transition. A stable Syria is in the UK's interest and we have committed an additional £94.5 million of funding to provide urgent humanitarian aid, and support for Syria's longer-term recovery through education and livelihoods. We also lifted sanctions on some sectors, to help facilitate essential investment. Alongside allies, we continue to advocate and offer support for an inclusive political transition which protects the rights of all Syrians.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to limit the influence of the government of Iran in Syria since the fall of the Assad regime.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK continues to support the Syrian Government to deliver its commitments to build a more stable, free and prosperous future for all Syrians. We have long condemned Iran's reckless and destabilising activity, which puts regional stability at risk. Following Assad's fall, we continue to monitor Iranian activity in Syria.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the International Atomic Energy Agency on Iran’s nuclear programme since June 2025; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of strikes from Israel and the US on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

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

The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office continues to have regular dialogue with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at all levels, including via our Permanent Mission in Vienna and the Foreign Secretary. The Foreign Secretary last spoke to Director General Grossi on 26 June. We have taken every opportunity, including a public E3 statement on 30 June, to reiterate our support for the Director General and the IAEA's mandate in Iran, urging the Iranians to abide by their legal commitments under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The IAEA has as yet not been able to report on the state of Iran's nuclear programme following US and Israeli strikes and I will not comment on intelligence matters in this response.

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 merits of decision to close the Fleming Fund.

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

To fund a necessary increase in defence spending, the Government has taken the decision to reduce our Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget to 0.3% of Gross National Income (GNI) by 2027. This reflects the world we live in and the threats our country faces and to maintain economic stability - the foundation of this Government's Plan for Change.

Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a top priority for the UK Government and is vital also for protecting our NHS. The UK played a key role in securing an action-oriented Political Declaration from the UN High Level Meeting on AMR last September, including on the importance of strengthening multisectoral surveillance.

The UK is working with our partners to drive robust implementation of the commitments from the Political Declaration. Regarding specific UK funding in light of the upcoming conclusion of the work of the Fleming Fund in its current form we are currently working through detailed decisions on how the Official Development Assistance budget will be used in future years, informed by internal and external consultation and impact assessments, ahead of publishing indicative multi-year allocations in the autumn.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with the Netherlands.

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

The UK and the Netherlands have a strong bilateral relationship as North Sea neighbours, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies, and a shared approach to global challenges. The Prime Minister hosted Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof in Downing Street on 6 February, and the Foreign Secretary hosted Foreign Minister Veldkamp during his visit on 6 May. The UK and the Netherlands continue to work together to promote economic growth and to tackle organised crime, including the people smuggling gangs that drive illegal migration. As NATO allies, we continue to work to promote stability in the Middle East, ramp up the pressure on Russia, and provide support to Ukraine.

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 adequacy of the UK’s contribution to the Pandemic Fund.

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

The UK has committed £25 million to the Pandemic Fund. We remain committed to building pandemic prevention, preparedness and response capacity and capability in developing countries, including through our other multilateral investments and diplomatic engagement.

We are currently working through detailed decisions on how the Official Development Assistance budget will be used in future years, informed by internal and external consultation and impact assessments, ahead of publishing indicative multi-year allocations in the autumn.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what meetings ministers have had with their counterparts in (a) Albania, (b) Poland, (c) Romania, (d) Jamaica, (e) Lithuania, (f) Bulgaria and (g) Vietnam on the removal of foreign national offenders since 17 July 2024.

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

Removing foreign national offenders to their countries of origin is a priority for this Government. We engage frequently with our international partners on the return of those with no right to be in the UK, both at ministerial and official level. In May, the Prime Minister announced an enhanced strategic partnership with Albania including cooperation on migration and justice issues. The Foreign Secretary discussed prisoner transfer and wider criminal justice cooperation with Polish Foreign Minister Sikorski on 19 December 2024. In Romania, Bulgaria, and Lithuania we have strong cooperation across law and justice issues. For example, our Ambassador to Bulgaria discussed Foreign National Offenders with Bulgarian Interior Minister Mitov in June this year. The Foreign Secretary discussed migration cooperation with the Vietnamese Foreign Minister on 11 July 2025.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to retain civil servants in his Department with expertise in (a) maternal, (b) new born and (c) child health policy.

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

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has a well established and highly skilled health profession made up of 61 health advisers who have been tested and accredited against a set of technical standards. These include specialist skill sets in strengthening health systems for maternal, newborn and child health. Advisers are assessed during formal accreditation exercises at either the affiliate, practitioner or expert level and deployed throughout the FCDO technical and geographical departments. For example, the FCDO deploys health advisers in Nigeria, Somalia, Malawi, and Ethiopia, to help reduce maternal and child mortality.

A robust learning and professional development framework is in place and includes a comprehensive Global Health toolkit, the Global Health hub, monthly bulletins, and a dedicated communications and engagement distribution list with over 400 members. The recent Health Advisers' Professional Development Conference held 3-5 June 2025 in London provided a platform for knowledge exchange and upskilling for 85 FCDO health advisers and affiliates.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding his Department plans to provide for global health programmes in each of the next three years.

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

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) published 2025/26 Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme allocations in the Annual Report & Accounts on 22 July 2025. The Department is working through how to programme this spend. The FCDO publishes programme information in DevTracker and reports on ODA spend in the Statistics on International Development publication.

Over the coming months, we will work through detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used from 2026/27 to 2028/29, informed by internal and external consultation and impact assessments, ahead of publishing indicative multi-year allocations in the autumn.

Reducing the overall size of our ODA budget will necessarily have an impact on the scale and shape of the work we do. We will sharpen our focus on humanitarian, health and climate and nature.

At the Gavi Summit on 25 June the Foreign Secretary announced an additional £1.25 billion investment in Gavi. This will support the immunisation of 62.5 million children, saving around 1.25 million lives.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his letter to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, dated 16 June 2025, what multilateral organisations he plans to prioritise.

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

We will prioritise multilaterals in the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget, while driving reform of the multilateral system to strengthen its most important parts - humanitarian, health, climate, and the global financial system - to help lower-income countries sustain their progress and become self-sufficient.

We will support the most effective multilateral organisations, including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (as demonstrated by our recent commitment of £1.25 billion between 2026 and 2030), the Global Fund, and the World Bank's International Development Association.

We will publish our support to some multilateral organisations throughout the year as commitments are made and report on all ODA spending in the Statistics on International Development publication.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Oral Statement by the Prime Minister of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, column 631, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the reduction in overseas development aid on local development service providers.

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

To fund a necessary increase in defence spending, the government has taken the decision in the current fiscal and economic circumstances to reduce our Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget.

The impacts of reductions are being worked through, informed by equality impact assessments. Inevitably, reducing our ODA spend means that for some countries and themes there will be less to spend.

However, we are committed to transforming how we work in partnership with countries and organisations on development, reflecting the changing needs of our partners through four essential shifts. This includes moving from international intervention to local provision, working through local partners and civil society to deliver sustainable, locally-led solutions.

Found: The Home Office, working in collaboration with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, has prioritised

Found: We work closely with the FCDO to ensure that our treaty text is consistent with our sanctions legislation

Found: /lwa- report-digs-into-exploitation-of-migrant-workers-in-uk- horticulture/ 4 Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Found: Member, House of Lords • Member, House of Commons • Member of Parliament • British Embassy Baku (FCDO

Found: As you know, over the coming months we will work through detailed decisions on how the FCDO ODA budget

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the FCDO press release entitled LGBTQIA+ Legal Guidebook launched in Philippines for Pride Month, published on 23 June 2025, whether her Department has a policy on the use of the phrase LGBTQIA+; and whether it has replaced (a) LGBT and (b) LGBT+.

Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The Office for Equality and Opportunity does not mandate the use of any particular acronym in reference to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office works with a range of organisations globally to protect and promote the human rights of the most vulnerable communities.

The Government uses LGBT+ in communications and publications, as these are widely recognised and understood.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that companies are legally obliged to prevent (a) human rights abuses and (b) environmental harms in their supply chains.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The UK has a range of measures in place to promote RBC across the economy. In the Trade Strategy, the Government also launched a review into the UK's approach to responsible business conduct, focused on tackling human rights and labour abuses, modern slavery, and environmental harms in global supply chains.

The review will be a neutral, objective appraisal of policy, led by departmental officials. It will consider the effectiveness of the UK's current regime and alternative means of supporting responsible business practices. To complement the review, the FCDO is conducting a National Baseline Assessment (NBA) on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Secretary of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office and (b) UK Ambassadors on the promotion of exports.

Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department engages regularly with other government departments including the FCDO. As set out in our Trade Strategy our overseas network is a critical asset for British businesses. The network is led by nine HM Trade Commissioners who work closely with HM Ambassadors and High Commissioners around the world to support UK exports. This includes helping businesses to build local relationships, providing advice on market conditions and regulations, and promoting UK goods and services in a unified "Team UK spirit".

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 19 of the policy paper entitled Security and defence partnership between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, published on 19 May 2025, what progress his Department has made on establishing regular contacts between the EEAS Crisis Response Centre and the FCDO Crisis Management Department.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Security and Defence Partnership agreed with the European Union on 19 May is an example of this Government delivering on our manifesto commitments to strengthen European security, support growth and reinforce NATO.

Implementation is progressing. Since May, the Defence Secretary has held discussions with the European Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, where they discussed our ambition to explore the potential for enhanced UK-EU cooperation under SAFE. The Foreign Secretary has also held talks with the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas on the geopolitical challenges that face our continent. We look forward to the foreign and security policy dialogue between the High Representative, the Foreign Secretary and the Defence Secretary this autumn.

In addition, officials from across Government continue to hold consultations with their EU counterparts on a range of issues, including but not limited to Iran, Russia-Ukraine, and tackling irregular migration.

As the Defence Secretary has previously said to this House, he will ensure that any UK commitment– whether financial or non-financial – provides value for the UK taxpayer and supports our defence goals. We will continue to prioritise engagement and cooperation on the issues that are most important in helping to safeguard European security and prosperity – all in support of this government’s NATO First defence policy.

The Defence Secretary and I look forward to continuing to update the House on developments. The Defence Secretary’s offer still stands that he is happy to arrange a discussion with the Member of Parliament for South Suffolk who has shown such interest in these topics.

Found: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Accounts 2024-25 - NAO report

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Found: Britain and Northern Ireland, that has a Memorandum of Understanding currently in place with the FCDO

Found: Britain and Northern Ireland, that has a Memorandum of Understanding currently in place with the FCDO

Found: has worked closely with Ukrainian counterparts, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO

Found: has worked closely with Ukrainian counterparts, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO

Found: has worked closely with Ukrainian counterparts, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO

Found: HM Treasury’s work with the FCDO and international partners to strengthen sanctions and amplify pressure

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Found: FCDO Services spending over £500, June 2025

Found: FCDO Services spending over £500, June 2025

Found: FCDO Services spending over £500, June 2025

Found: FCDO Services: workforce management information on gender 2025 to 2026 quarter 1

Found: FCDO Services: workforce management information on ethnicity 2025 to 2026 quarter 1

Found: FCDO Services: workforce management information on disability 2025 to 2026 quarter 1

Found: ponsibilities, including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office

Found: Maritime and Coastguard Agency DfT Vehicle Certification Agency DfT Name Department Wilton Park FCDO

Found: deficiencies, and delays arising through our transition to a new IT services management supplier, FCDO

Found: deficiencies, and delays arising through our transition to a new IT services management supplier, FCDO

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Found: The FCDO will only pay official development assistance (ODA) if a default occurs as agreed with the

Found: Please include any communications with FCDO setting up the meeting in the run up to it and describing

Found: Please include any communications with FCDO setting up the meeting in the run up to it and describing

Found: Gaza seeking to reunite with loved ones in the UK; ○ Require the Home Office and FCDO