Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question
To ask The Leader of the House whether she plans to review the departmental practice of grouping written questions for combined answers; and what assessment she has made of the impact of grouping on the accuracy of answers.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
I do not have any current plans to review the departmental practice of grouping written questions for combined answers. This has been standard practice for many years and can avoid duplication on similar questions whilst ensuring a substantive answer. I recently recirculated the Guide to Parliamentary work to all Parliamentary Branches and Lords Ministers Private Offices. The guide states that for information already in the public domain “If referring to documents in the public domain, you should include the relevant extracts in your written response as well as the relevant hyperlink.”
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park on 17 November 2022 (HL3491), whether any further consideration has been given to publishing the Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability on Ethiopia from 2022 either in part or in whole.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the response he was given to Question HL9366 on 14 July 2025.
Further to that response, on 12 December, the UK issued a formal statement alongside international partners calling for any tensions or disputes to be resolved peacefully and diplomatically. We maintain close coordination with international partners to ensure alignment on human rights actions, including at the Human Rights Council. Recommendations from the Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability are being translated into concrete actions measures or actions to strengthen accountability, reinforce mechanisms for monitoring and investigation, and improve documentation of international human rights and humanitarian law violations. We continue to help victims organise, prepare and be ready to participate fully when the transitional justice process resumes. And we continue actively supporting multilateral efforts to promote peace and stability in Ethiopia, engaging with the African Union and backing implementation of the African Union-led Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, including funding monitoring and compliance mechanisms.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of supporting the establishment of an independent investigative mechanism to continue the work of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the response he was given to Question HL9366 on 14 July 2025.
Further to that response, on 12 December, the UK issued a formal statement alongside international partners calling for any tensions or disputes to be resolved peacefully and diplomatically. We maintain close coordination with international partners to ensure alignment on human rights actions, including at the Human Rights Council. Recommendations from the Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability are being translated into concrete actions measures or actions to strengthen accountability, reinforce mechanisms for monitoring and investigation, and improve documentation of international human rights and humanitarian law violations. We continue to help victims organise, prepare and be ready to participate fully when the transitional justice process resumes. And we continue actively supporting multilateral efforts to promote peace and stability in Ethiopia, engaging with the African Union and backing implementation of the African Union-led Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, including funding monitoring and compliance mechanisms.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to support or co-sponsor statements and resolutions at the UN Human Rights Council relating to Ethiopia; and how they intend to engage with European partners in this context.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the response he was given to Question HL9366 on 14 July 2025.
Further to that response, on 12 December, the UK issued a formal statement alongside international partners calling for any tensions or disputes to be resolved peacefully and diplomatically. We maintain close coordination with international partners to ensure alignment on human rights actions, including at the Human Rights Council. Recommendations from the Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability are being translated into concrete actions measures or actions to strengthen accountability, reinforce mechanisms for monitoring and investigation, and improve documentation of international human rights and humanitarian law violations. We continue to help victims organise, prepare and be ready to participate fully when the transitional justice process resumes. And we continue actively supporting multilateral efforts to promote peace and stability in Ethiopia, engaging with the African Union and backing implementation of the African Union-led Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, including funding monitoring and compliance mechanisms.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of the African Union in supporting peace and stability in Ethiopia; and what discussions they have had with the African Union regarding Ethiopia.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the response he was given to Question HL9366 on 14 July 2025.
Further to that response, on 12 December, the UK issued a formal statement alongside international partners calling for any tensions or disputes to be resolved peacefully and diplomatically. We maintain close coordination with international partners to ensure alignment on human rights actions, including at the Human Rights Council. Recommendations from the Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability are being translated into concrete actions measures or actions to strengthen accountability, reinforce mechanisms for monitoring and investigation, and improve documentation of international human rights and humanitarian law violations. We continue to help victims organise, prepare and be ready to participate fully when the transitional justice process resumes. And we continue actively supporting multilateral efforts to promote peace and stability in Ethiopia, engaging with the African Union and backing implementation of the African Union-led Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, including funding monitoring and compliance mechanisms.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of establishing Ethiopia as a priority country for investigations of alleged war crimes.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the response he was given to Question HL9366 on 14 July 2025.
Further to that response, on 12 December, the UK issued a formal statement alongside international partners calling for any tensions or disputes to be resolved peacefully and diplomatically. We maintain close coordination with international partners to ensure alignment on human rights actions, including at the Human Rights Council. Recommendations from the Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability are being translated into concrete actions measures or actions to strengthen accountability, reinforce mechanisms for monitoring and investigation, and improve documentation of international human rights and humanitarian law violations. We continue to help victims organise, prepare and be ready to participate fully when the transitional justice process resumes. And we continue actively supporting multilateral efforts to promote peace and stability in Ethiopia, engaging with the African Union and backing implementation of the African Union-led Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, including funding monitoring and compliance mechanisms.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 5 January (HL13152), where the information about the representations they have made to the (1) government of China, and (2) authorities in Hong Kong, regarding the admission of evidence obtained through the reported torture of Andy Li and cited during the trial of Jimmy Lai is located in the statement or response in the House of Lords on 17 December 2025 (HL Deb cols 798–806).
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
These were among the representations that the Foreign Secretary referred to in her opening statement, at Column 800, and again - in response to Lord Oates - at Columns 802-803.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 5 January (HL13153), where the information about what consideration the Prime Minister has given to delaying his official visit to China in January until Jimmy Lai has been released from prison is located in the statement or response in the House of Lords on 17 December 2025 (HL Deb cols 798–806).
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
At Column 804, in response to the Noble Lord's question on the matter.
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.