Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports from Sudan’s Humanitarian Aid Commission that on 27 June Rapid Support Forces targeted an aid truck travelling to El Obeid.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

Reports of continued targeted attacks against humanitarian workers and their operations by the warring parties are deeply concerning. I refer the Noble Lord to the response provided to his previous questions HL1310-12, highlighting the Foreign Secretary's joint statement with her international counterparts on 23 June, which specifically addressed the attacks on humanitarian workers and called for an immediate end to the assault on El Obeid.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 24 June (HL Deb cols 663–6), whether they have any plans to advocate for a no-fly zone across Sudan and call for an emergency debate in the United Nations Security Council.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

I refer the Noble Lord to the answers I provided on 24 June in the Private Notice Question debate on the crisis in El Obeid, and I stress again that - alongside our international partners - the UK is doing everything that we believe will make a difference on the ground, to prevent the mass loss of civilian life that we all fear.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the danger of further genocide in Sudan as a consequence of the massing of troops around El Obeid by the Rapid Support Forces and allied militia, following the atrocities in El Fasher in October 2025.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

I refer the Noble Lord to the answers I provided on 24 June in the Private Notice Question debate on the crisis in El Obeid, and I stress again that - alongside our international partners - the UK is doing everything that we believe will make a difference on the ground, to prevent the mass loss of civilian life that we all fear.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks to the civilian population of El Obeid referred to in their joint statement with the E4+ on 23 June.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

I refer the Noble Lord to the answers I provided on 24 June in the Private Notice Question debate on the crisis in El Obeid, and I stress again that - alongside our international partners - the UK is doing everything that we believe will make a difference on the ground, to prevent the mass loss of civilian life that we all fear.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan about the sentencing to life imprisonment of Dr Mahrang Baloch; and what response they received.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

The UK is clear that the freedom to hold and express views without censorship, intimidation or unnecessary restriction is a cornerstone of democracy. We remain deeply concerned over reports of human rights violations and abuses against human rights defenders in Balochistan. The British High Commission in Islamabad continues to raise the human rights situation in Balochistan with the Pakistani authorities at the highest levels, and has previously raised the case of Dr. Mahrang Baloch with Pakistan's Minister for Law and Justice

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 24 June (HL Deb cols 663–6), what assessment they have made of the report from the UN, Sudan: Drone attacks endanger civilians and shut down critical services in El Obeid, published on 22 June, stating that there have been closures in Sudan of several medical facilities, including a dialysis centre.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

In a joint statement released on 23 June, the Foreign Secretary and her E4+ counterparts (France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, UK) drew attention to the repeated drone strikes in El Obeid in recent weeks, which have killed civilians and driven acute shortages of fuel, food and water.

The statement went on to call on the RSF to halt its attack on El Obeid immediately, and continued as follows: "Civilians must be able to leave safely, and all parties must ensure rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access. The RSF and the SAF, and their allies, must de-escalate, uphold international humanitarian law, and honour their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration."

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 24 June (HL Deb cols 663-6), what assessment they have made of the report from the UN, Sudan: Drone attacks endanger civilians and shut down critical services in El Obeid, published on 22 June, stating that in El Obeid drones have targeted the electricity and water station leading to a severe shortage of drinking water and food supplies.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

In a joint statement released on 23 June, the Foreign Secretary and her E4+ counterparts (France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, UK) drew attention to the repeated drone strikes in El Obeid in recent weeks, which have killed civilians and driven acute shortages of fuel, food and water.

The statement went on to call on the RSF to halt its attack on El Obeid immediately, and continued as follows: "Civilians must be able to leave safely, and all parties must ensure rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access. The RSF and the SAF, and their allies, must de-escalate, uphold international humanitarian law, and honour their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration."

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 24 June (HL Deb cols 663–6), what assessment they have made of the report by the UN, Sudan war: Drone attacks damage key aid routes, published on 9 June, stating that roads in Sudan are closed, preventing the delivery of food and essential supplies.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

In a joint statement released on 23 June, the Foreign Secretary and her E4+ counterparts (France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, UK) drew attention to the repeated drone strikes in El Obeid in recent weeks, which have killed civilians and driven acute shortages of fuel, food and water.

The statement went on to call on the RSF to halt its attack on El Obeid immediately, and continued as follows: "Civilians must be able to leave safely, and all parties must ensure rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access. The RSF and the SAF, and their allies, must de-escalate, uphold international humanitarian law, and honour their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration."

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report from the Uyghur Human Rights Project, The Spread of Uyghur Region Air Cargo Across Europe, published on 24 November 2025, which showed that there are a significant number of cargo flights between Urumqi in Xinjiang and the UK.

Answered by Lord Stockwood

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring UK businesses are not complicit in forced labour and human rights violations wherever they occur and notes the Uyghur Human Rights Project’s report. The UK’s current approach to tackling forced labour in global supply chains is focused on transparency through the Modern Slavery Act. The Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) review assessed the effectiveness of this policy approach and alternative options to modernise and strengthen the UK’s framework. The Government is considering the review’s findings and will set out its plans in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the People's Republic of China's compliance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration; whether they intend to introduce legislation to automatically upgrade British National (Overseas) (BNO) status to full British Citizenship for all Hong Kongers born as British subjects; and what assessment they have made of the financial barriers of the current BNO visa route for individuals whose citizenship rights were removed by the Hong Kong Act 1985.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

The UK is clear that China remains in an ongoing state of non-compliance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration, as set out in our six-monthly reports on Hong Kong, the most recent edition of which was published on 26 March.

The UK's commitment to the people of Hong Kong remains steadfast, and is exemplified by the bespoke immigration route for British Nationals (Overseas). Those with BN(O) status and their eligible family members can apply to come to the UK to live, study and work, on a pathway to citizenship.

We are aware that some individuals who have taken up the BN(O) route are having difficulties accessing their Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) from Hong Kong. We continue to raise this issue with the Hong Kong Government and the MPF Authorities to encourage a solution.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Nicaragua about the human rights implications of the arbitrary detention of Juan Abelardo Mata Guevara, Bishop Emeritus of Estelí, and other religious leaders on 29 and 30 June, and the subsequent surveillance of them.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

As set out in the UK's statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 16 March, we remain deeply concerned by the continued deterioration of the human rights situation in Nicaragua. This includes ongoing harassment and the arbitrary detention of members of the Church. We will continue to monitor developments closely and urge the Nicaraguan authorities to release all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally, including those held because of their faith or belief.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings of an Amnesty International investigation that the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces committed crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing during their campaign to seize the city of el-Fasher; and what actions they are taking to bring those responsible to justice.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer he received on 29 April in response to Question HL16653.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report of the Children’s Commissioner into children’s mental health services in England; and what plans they have to implement the recommendation that children’s mental health must be addressed by the Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care working closely together.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government welcomes the Children’s Commissioner’s report, which highlights pressures on children and young people’s mental health services, including rising demand, long waits, and the need for better support for children with neurodevelopmental and special educational and disabilities needs. The findings of this report will play an important role in shaping our cross-Government Mental Health Strategy and the wider reforms we are delivering to improve outcomes and opportunities for children and young people.

We understand supporting mental health is a whole-Government challenge, as many of the foundations of good mental health, such as housing, employment, and social connection, sit beyond the National Health Service. The Mental Health Strategy will bring together action across health, education, local government, workplaces, and the voluntary sector into a joined-up approach to improve mental health and wellbeing. It will have a core focus on prevention, earlier intervention, and coordinated support so that children and young people receive the right help, at the right time, close to where they live and learn.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many yellow card reports of anti-androgen withdrawal syndrome the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has received each year since 2010; and what medications those reports were tied to.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for ensuring medicines, medical devices, and blood components for transfusion meet applicable standards of safety, quality, and efficacy. The MHRA rigorously assesses available data, including from the Yellow Card scheme, and seeks advice from the Commission on Human Medicines, the MHRA’s independent advisory committee, where appropriate, to inform regulatory decisions including amending the product information.

Up to and including 1 July 2026 the MHRA has not received any Yellow Card reports which include anti-androgen withdrawal syndrome as a suspected adverse reaction.

Reporters are asked to submit Yellow Card reports even if they only have a suspicion that the medicine or vaccine may have caused the adverse reaction. A list of the recognised suspected adverse reactions is provided in the information for healthcare professionals and the recipient information, with further information available on the GOV.UK website.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many yellow card reports of Post 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitor Syndrome the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has received each year since 2019; and what medications those reports were tied to.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for ensuring medicines, medical devices, and blood components for transfusion meet applicable standards of safety, quality, and efficacy. The MHRA rigorously assesses available data, including from the Yellow Card scheme, and seeks advice from the Commission on Human Medicines, the MHRA’s independent advisory committee, where appropriate, to inform regulatory decisions including amending the product information.

Since 1 January 2019 up to and including 1 July 2026, the MHRA has received nine Yellow Card reports which include post 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor syndrome as a suspected adverse reaction. One report was received in 2023, with six reports being received in 2025, and five in 2026 thus far. The following table shows a breakdown of the medicines included in the nine Yellow Card reports received between 1 January 2019 and 1 July 2026, noting that one report can contain more than one medicine, and as such the sum of reports in the table will not equal the total number of unique reports:

Source: MHRA Yellow Card database.

It is important to note that Yellow Card reports capture adverse reactions as reported by the patient or healthcare professional, and this could be a syndrome or diagnosis, or underlying signs and symptoms. For a full breakdown of adverse reactions reported for medicines in the table above please view our interactive drug analysis profiles on the Yellow Card website.

It is important to note that a reaction reported to the Yellow Card scheme does not necessarily mean it has been caused by the medicine, only that the reporter had a suspicion it may have. Underlying or concurrent illnesses may be responsible, or the events could be coincidental. The number of reports received cannot be used as a basis for determining the incidence of a reaction, as neither the total number of reactions occurring, nor the number of patients using the drug, is known.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of Article 63 of the new Ethnic Unity and Progress Law introduced by the government of China, which directs Chinese authorities to act against organisations and individuals outside China for any acts that "undermine ethnic unity and progress or create ethnic division"; and in particular of its potential use as a tool in the transnational repression of the Chinese diaspora, including Hong Kongers resident in the UK.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 8 July in response to Question 15259, which - for ease of reference - has been reproduced below:

"This is a concerning development in China. We note the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' concern that this law may entrench restrictions on the rights and freedoms of ethnic minorities in a country where the environment for freedom of religion or belief is already restrictive.

"The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has discussed this law with Chinese officials, stressing the importance that the law does not harm the rights of members of minority groups and that it is not applied extraterritorially. We will never tolerate attempts by foreign governments to coerce, intimidate, harass, or harm their critics overseas, and anyone caught assisting a foreign state to undermine our security will be brought to justice."

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking with international partners to secure independent access to Tibet for United Nations’ experts and independent observers, following the entry into force of China’s Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress on 1 July.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 8 July in response to Question 15259, which - for ease of reference - has been reproduced below:

"This is a concerning development in China. We note the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' concern that this law may entrench restrictions on the rights and freedoms of ethnic minorities in a country where the environment for freedom of religion or belief is already restrictive.

"The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has discussed this law with Chinese officials, stressing the importance that the law does not harm the rights of members of minority groups and that it is not applied extraterritorially. We will never tolerate attempts by foreign governments to coerce, intimidate, harass, or harm their critics overseas, and anyone caught assisting a foreign state to undermine our security will be brought to justice."

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the human rights of ethnic and religious minorities in China of the new Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress passed by the government of China.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 8 July in response to Question 15259, which - for ease of reference - has been reproduced below:

"This is a concerning development in China. We note the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' concern that this law may entrench restrictions on the rights and freedoms of ethnic minorities in a country where the environment for freedom of religion or belief is already restrictive.

"The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has discussed this law with Chinese officials, stressing the importance that the law does not harm the rights of members of minority groups and that it is not applied extraterritorially. We will never tolerate attempts by foreign governments to coerce, intimidate, harass, or harm their critics overseas, and anyone caught assisting a foreign state to undermine our security will be brought to justice."

Found: Yours Sincerely Lord Alton of Liverpool Chair, Joint Committee on Human Rights 2 Correspondence

Found: Education The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP Secretary of State for Education The Lord Alton of Liverpool

Found: Yours Sincerely Lord Alton of Liverpool Chair, Joint Committee on Human Rights CC: Rt Hon

Found: To date, the threats 92 ICN, Lord Alton of Liverpool: Falun Gong - A Sickening Persecution, 6 November