Asked by: Baroness Sugg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to consider non-merger options for the United Nations Population Fund and United Nations Women that protects their mandates and avoid weakening the United Nations' capacity to advance gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is closely engaged in discussions on the proposed merger of United Nations (UN) Women and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The UK supports effective and evidence-based UN reform and remains open to merger and non-merger options, but considers that insufficient evidence has been provided to justify a merger at this time. Our priority is to ensure the most effective and efficient delivery of the important mandates of both organisations, leading to stronger outcomes for women and girls on the ground. We continue to stress that the existing mandates of UN Women and UNFPA are not up for negotiation. The UK believes that any proposal for significant structural reform should be underpinned by a robust evidence base, and we continue to ask the UN to provide the necessary analysis to inform Member State discussions. We also emphasise the importance of inclusive consultation throughout the process, including meaningful engagement with civil society.
Asked by: Baroness Sugg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to request full evidence and analysis from the United Nations to be made available before any decision is made on the merger between the United Nations Population Fund and United Nations Women, and whether they intend to support meaningful civil society engagement in this process.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is closely engaged in discussions on the proposed merger of United Nations (UN) Women and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The UK supports effective and evidence-based UN reform and remains open to merger and non-merger options, but considers that insufficient evidence has been provided to justify a merger at this time. Our priority is to ensure the most effective and efficient delivery of the important mandates of both organisations, leading to stronger outcomes for women and girls on the ground. We continue to stress that the existing mandates of UN Women and UNFPA are not up for negotiation. The UK believes that any proposal for significant structural reform should be underpinned by a robust evidence base, and we continue to ask the UN to provide the necessary analysis to inform Member State discussions. We also emphasise the importance of inclusive consultation throughout the process, including meaningful engagement with civil society.
Asked by: Baroness Sugg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proposed merger of the United Nations Population Fund and United Nations Women.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is closely engaged in discussions on the proposed merger of United Nations (UN) Women and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The UK supports effective and evidence-based UN reform and remains open to merger and non-merger options, but considers that insufficient evidence has been provided to justify a merger at this time. Our priority is to ensure the most effective and efficient delivery of the important mandates of both organisations, leading to stronger outcomes for women and girls on the ground. We continue to stress that the existing mandates of UN Women and UNFPA are not up for negotiation. The UK believes that any proposal for significant structural reform should be underpinned by a robust evidence base, and we continue to ask the UN to provide the necessary analysis to inform Member State discussions. We also emphasise the importance of inclusive consultation throughout the process, including meaningful engagement with civil society.
Asked by: Baroness Sugg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether there has been Ministerial level contact between the UK Government and the Mauritian Government since 20 January; and if so, which Ministers and which interlocutors.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
There has been no Ministerial level contact between the UK Government and the Mauritian Government since 20 January.
All ministerial meetings with external organisations, and relevant Special Adviser meetings, are published in the usual way on gov.uk. Details of ministerial overseas visits are routinely published in each department's quarterly transparency releases
Asked by: Baroness Sugg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the conversion of international finance grants to loans remains classed as official development assistance; and, if not, whether the official development budget will decrease.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Loans are classed as Official Development Assistance (ODA) where they meet the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) criteria for ODA eligibility, including being provided on concessional terms and having the promotion of economic development and welfare as their primary objective.
Under current OECD rules, only the grant-equivalent element of an eligible loan is recorded as ODA, rather than the full value of the loan.
Asked by: Baroness Sugg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will seek new legal advice on the sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory following the appointment of a new Attorney General on 20 July.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government's position in relation to the UK-Mauritius treaty has been informed by legal advice throughout. A summary of the Government's legal position was set out on 22 May when the treaty was signed, and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-secures-future-of-vital-diego-garcia-military-base-to-protect-national-security. In accordance with the long-standing convention, adhered to by successive governments, whether or not the Law Officers have been, or will be, consulted, and the substance of any such advice is not disclosed outside government.
Asked by: Baroness Sugg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are their priorities for tackling violence against women and girls internationally.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The International Strategic Framework, launched at the Global Partnerships Conference in May 2026, sets out how the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will deliver its standalone Women and Girls Priority by placing them at the centre of the UK's international work. We are prioritising action across four foundations: safety, prosperity, voice and choice (education and health). The UK is working with international partners to drive progress on preventing violence against women and girls (VAWG), including announcing in May the new International Coalition to End VAWG. The coalition brings together eight countries to share expertise and drive practical action to prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence, tackle online abuse, and strengthen global efforts to prevent sexual violence in conflict and other forms of violence in humanitarian crises. The UK is committed to tackling violence domestically and internationally and remains committed to advancing women and girls' rights.
Asked by: Baroness Sugg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether women and girls will remain one of their foreign policy priorities.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The International Strategic Framework, launched at the Global Partnerships Conference in May 2026, sets out how the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will deliver its standalone Women and Girls Priority by placing them at the centre of the UK's international work. We are prioritising action across four foundations: safety, prosperity, voice and choice (education and health). The UK is working with international partners to drive progress on preventing violence against women and girls (VAWG), including announcing in May the new International Coalition to End VAWG. The coalition brings together eight countries to share expertise and drive practical action to prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence, tackle online abuse, and strengthen global efforts to prevent sexual violence in conflict and other forms of violence in humanitarian crises. The UK is committed to tackling violence domestically and internationally and remains committed to advancing women and girls' rights.
Asked by: Baroness Sugg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to continue the approach to international development set out in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office policy paper, The UK's Modern Development Approach, published on 16 July.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is committed to a modern approach to international development based on genuine respect and partnership with the Global South to support our common interests. In a statement on his appointment on 20 July, the Foreign Secretary reaffirmed the Government's commitment to strengthening international development partnerships and reforming international institutions so that they deliver more effectively for all countries, including the world's poorest people.
Asked by: Baroness Sugg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are their priorities for the UK's upcoming presidency of the G20.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Planning for the UK's G20 Presidency in 2027 is underway, and the government will set out its priorities in due course.