Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how they are supporting the international efforts to demand the halt of executions of women in Iran, including the representation signed by over 400 prominent women on 23 December 2025.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstance as a matter of principle. We continue to play an integral role in the delivery of the UN Third Committee and have repeatedly called on Iran to establish an immediate moratorium on executions, including at the Committee's annual resolution in November 2025. The resolution condemned Iran's application of the death penalty, which is in violation of its international obligations, including executions undertaken against persons on the basis of forced confessions and without fair trial and due process. We will continue to work with international partners to hold Iran to account for its continued human rights violations.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Iran about halting the execution of women human rights defenders such as Zahra Tabari.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstance as a matter of principle. We continue to play an integral role in the delivery of the UN Third Committee and have repeatedly called on Iran to establish an immediate moratorium on executions, including at the Committee's annual resolution in November 2025. The resolution condemned Iran's application of the death penalty, which is in violation of its international obligations, including executions undertaken against persons on the basis of forced confessions and without fair trial and due process. We will continue to work with international partners to hold Iran to account for its continued human rights violations.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Southwark (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the humanitarian situation in Gaza; and what representations they have made to the government of Israel to lift the restrictions on international humanitarian assistance in that territory.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Lord Bishop to the statement I made to the House on 7 January.
Asked by: Baroness Goudie (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they are having with the Standing Group on Atrocity Crimes about the situation in Sudan.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I welcome the report on Sudan issued by the Standing Group on Atrocity Crimes last month and look forward to engaging with them on this issue. Sudan remains a top priority for this Government, as reiterated in my statement to the House during the Debate on Sudan on 27 November 2025, where I also laid out further steps the UK has taken to protect civilians and seek accountability for atrocities committed in Sudan. Furthermore, on 12 December, I wrote to Parliament to outline that the UK - as part of our determined commitment to prevent atrocities and hold perpetrators to account - would be sanctioning four senior Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanders suspected of atrocities in Sudan.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to increase the amount of aid for survivors of sexual violence in conflict.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK Government's determination to prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) around the world is resolute. Through the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) the UK is committed to driving international action to support survivors, bring the perpetrators of these horrific crimes to justice, and end impunity.
The PSVI Programme has a £3.85 million budget for financial year 25/26 and allocations for future years will be announced in the normal way in due course.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have conducted an assessment of whether the cuts to the budget of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office have impacted its effectiveness.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is committed to becoming a leaner, more agile organisation, better able to deliver tangible benefits for the British people. Staff reductions are being made strategically, with decisions guided by an organisational prioritisation exercise.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what quantity of the humanitarian aid they provided for Gaza was delivered in November and December 2025.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer I gave him on 24 November in response to Question HL11823.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much humanitarian aid they delivered to Gaza in November and December 2025.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer I gave him on 24 November in response to Question HL11823.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with representatives of Somaliland in London in the last 12 months.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office regularly engages with the Somali authorities, political parties and civil society, as well as the Somaliland Office in London.
Decisions on Israeli diplomatic recognition are a matter for the Government of Israel. The Foreign Secretary has had no specific discussions with her Israeli counterpart on this subject.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Israeli counterpart on their diplomatic recognition of Somaliland.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office regularly engages with the Somali authorities, political parties and civil society, as well as the Somaliland Office in London.
Decisions on Israeli diplomatic recognition are a matter for the Government of Israel. The Foreign Secretary has had no specific discussions with her Israeli counterpart on this subject.