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 Zimbabwe following reports that those opposed to proposals to extend the Presidential term in Zimbabwe to 2030 are being targeted with violence and intimidation.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Our Embassy in Harare continues to monitor closely reports of harassment of individuals and groups expressing opposition to proposed changes to the Constitution. Officials remain in contact with the Government of Zimbabwe, civil society organisations and other stakeholders as part of our ongoing engagement on these matters. Amendment of the Zimbabwean Constitution is a sovereign, legislative matter for Zimbabwe to determine. At the same time, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association are fundamental components of any functioning democracy. Political parties, civil society and journalists in Zimbabwe should be able to operate without harassment. We underline the importance of transparent, inclusive and lawful processes, and of ensuring that political space remains open and protected.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what advice and support they plan to provide to British citizens detained or imprisoned in Iran.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Craig and Lindsay Foreman's welfare is a priority for FCDO ministers and officials, and we will continue to support the couple and their family as best we can in the current circumstances, as we also will any other British nationals detained in Iran who request our help. A specialist team from the FCDO is in frequent contact with members of Craig and Lindsay's family, providing regular updates and advice.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing to Lindsay and Craig Foreman in Evin prison in Iran.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Craig and Lindsay Foreman's welfare is a priority for FCDO ministers and officials, and we will continue to support the couple and their family as best we can in the current circumstances, as we also will any other British nationals detained in Iran who request our help. A specialist team from the FCDO is in frequent contact with members of Craig and Lindsay's family, providing regular updates and advice.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many NHS prescriptions for (1) isotretinoin, and (2) finasteride, have been issued in each year since 2014.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) provides the total number of prescription items of each medicine dispensed in the community in England. The following table shows the total number of items in each calendar year from 2014 to 2025 that have been dispensed in England:
Period | British National Formulary Chemical Substance | |
| Isotretinoin (1306010M0/1306020J0) | Finasteride (0604020C0/1309000W0) |
2014 | 78,837 | 2,717,411 |
2015 | 84,173 | 2,954,990 |
2016 | 87,505 | 3,176,498 |
2017 | 82,026 | 3,360,103 |
2018 | 69,040 | 3,564,023 |
2019 | 76,223 | 3,762,144 |
2020 | 59,541 | 3,864,669 |
2021 | 76,675 | 3,900,062 |
2022 | 70,196 | 4,052,091 |
2023 | 70,447 | 4,230,844 |
2024 | 64,502 | 4,463,271 |
2025 | 63,594 | 4,507,807 |
This is based on the information within the PCA for the British National Formulary chemical substance of Isotretinoin and Finasteride.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken in response to proposals by the government of Iraq to disarm Yazidi communities in Sinjar; and what assessment they have made of the risk that those proposals will leave the Yazidi population vulnerable to the continuation of mass atrocities.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK is firmly committed to the protection of ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq, and the safety and security of the Yazidi community, including those who were displaced by the Daesh insurgency. We regularly engage with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government, as well as representatives from the Yazidi civil society and community, on the need for stability, security and long-term reconstruction in Sinjar. The UK is clear that any security arrangements in the area must protect civilians and support conditions for the safe, dignified and voluntary return of displaced Yazidis.
We continue to advocate for full implementation of the Sinjar Agreement including the recruitment and training of local security forces, which remains essential for stability in the district. The UK highlights the importance of including Yazidi representation in negotiations and plans for implementation of the Sinjar Agreement or any other mechanism, to enhance the agency and the safety of the Yazidi community.
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 impact of the new 'Patriotic Education Law' in China on freedom of religion or belief, particularly for teachers in religious institutions.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The environment for freedom of religion or belief in China is restrictive, including in relation to religious teaching. This Government stands firm on human rights, and we raise our concerns at the highest levels. The Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Chancellor and Energy Secretary have all raised human rights in recent months with their counterparts (President Xi, Foreign Minister Wang, Vice Premier He and Vice Premier Ding respectively).
This Government champions freedom of religion or belief for all around the world. We work to uphold those rights through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora. We continue to monitor the situation for religious teaching in China, and maintain a dialogue with NGOs and international partners on the issue.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to facilitate Taiwan’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership to strengthen supply chain resilience.
Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)
All CPTPP accession applications remain under consideration by CPTPP members, and any decision to progress applications must be agreed by consensus.
The UK Government does not provide an ongoing commentary on applications to protect the confidentiality of CPTPP discussions and to observe the collective principles of the group. The UK Government has met with Taiwan, and other applicants, to discuss the UK's own experience of the accession process.
The UK has a strong trading relationship with Taiwan and engages on trade policy priorities with Taiwan through annual Trade Talks and the delivery of the UK-Taiwan Enhanced Trade Partnership.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what urgent measures they are taking to protect the families of British National (Overseas) status holders from judicial harassment in Hong Kong; and what specific guarantees of safety they provide to activists in the UK whose families are being targeted as political hostages
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 10 March to an identical set of questions (118342-44) from the Hon Member for Milton Keynes Central. For ease of reference, that answer is reproduced below:
The National Security Law has stifled opposition and criminalised dissent in Hong Kong. We have called for it to be repealed, and for an end to the prosecution of all individuals charged under it.
We will not tolerate attempts by foreign governments to intimidate or harm individuals in the UK, and we are committed to protecting the safety of the Hong Kong community who have made their home here. We continue to raise these concerns directly with the Chinese authorities, and the Government has strengthened the legal and operational tools needed to deter, detect and disrupt modern state threats.
It is the UK's long-standing policy not to comment on potential sanctions designations, as to do so would risk undermining their impact.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will summon the Chinese Ambassador to issue a formal condemnation of the prison sentence handed to Kwok Yin-sang; and what plans they have to coordinate a joint demarche with the German and US governments to demand his immediate release.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 10 March to an identical set of questions (118342-44) from the Hon Member for Milton Keynes Central. For ease of reference, that answer is reproduced below:
The National Security Law has stifled opposition and criminalised dissent in Hong Kong. We have called for it to be repealed, and for an end to the prosecution of all individuals charged under it.
We will not tolerate attempts by foreign governments to intimidate or harm individuals in the UK, and we are committed to protecting the safety of the Hong Kong community who have made their home here. We continue to raise these concerns directly with the Chinese authorities, and the Government has strengthened the legal and operational tools needed to deter, detect and disrupt modern state threats.
It is the UK's long-standing policy not to comment on potential sanctions designations, as to do so would risk undermining their impact.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to implement Magnitsky-style sanctions against the Hong Kong officials responsible for sentencing Kwok Yin-sang, the father of pro-democracy activist Anna Kwok, on 11 February; and what diplomatic steps they are taking as a result of that sentencing.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 10 March to an identical set of questions (118342-44) from the Hon Member for Milton Keynes Central. For ease of reference, that answer is reproduced below:
The National Security Law has stifled opposition and criminalised dissent in Hong Kong. We have called for it to be repealed, and for an end to the prosecution of all individuals charged under it.
We will not tolerate attempts by foreign governments to intimidate or harm individuals in the UK, and we are committed to protecting the safety of the Hong Kong community who have made their home here. We continue to raise these concerns directly with the Chinese authorities, and the Government has strengthened the legal and operational tools needed to deter, detect and disrupt modern state threats.
It is the UK's long-standing policy not to comment on potential sanctions designations, as to do so would risk undermining their impact.