Asked by: Lord Bishop of Chelmsford (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Saudi Arabia in support of the suspension of executions and commutation of death sentences of those Ethiopian refugees currently on death row.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The Government continues to monitor individual cases of concern in Saudi Arabia, and we regularly raise human rights with the Saudi authorities, including at ministerial level. The UK continues to oppose the use of capital punishment in all circumstances.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Chelmsford (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether Iran has contravened the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights since the start of recent hostilities between USA and Israel and Iran.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The UK has long made clear that Iran's human rights record is unacceptable - a position that has not changed since the outset of the US/Iran conflict on 28 February 2026. We continue to pressure Iran, both directly and at the UN, to end its human rights violations and to protect the rights of the Iranian people. On 16 March 2026, UK Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders, said at the UN Human Rights Council that the Iranian authorities must not seek, as we have seen in the past, to exploit conflict to inflict further violence on its people and on 16 June, she highlighted at the Council the continued execution of protesters and Iran's longstanding suppression of peaceful dissent. We continue to support accountability efforts toward the Iranian authorities' abhorrent crackdown on the January 2026 protests, which the Foreign Secretary condemned in the House on 13 January and alongside G7 Foreign Ministers on 15 January. The Minister for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer, summoned the Iranian Ambassador to the UK on 13 January, making clear the UK's opposition to the regime's brutal use of violence and repression against peaceful protesters. We maintain 105 human rights sanctions against the Iranian regime.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Chelmsford (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of the first round of Strategic Partnership funding grants awarded under the £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme are for rural housing schemes.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The programme guidance for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme was published in November 2025 and bidding opened on 24th February. Bidding closed on 15th April for Strategic Partnerships. Those bids are still being assessed.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Chelmsford (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the expulsion of Afghan refugees from Iran since the start of the recent conflict; and whether they intend to increase humanitarian assistance as a result
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Since the start of the Iran conflict, we have seen a sharp increase in displacement of people and humanitarian need across the region, and the UK has made substantial investments to support responses to that crisis, particularly in Lebanon.
The UK is not providing humanitarian aid directly to Iran as part of this response, but alongside a number of other governments, we contribute to the global Disaster Response Emergency Fund managed by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and to the United Nations' Central Emergency Response Fund.
Both of these funds have in turn made allocations to support humanitarian agencies working in Iran, including the Iranian Red Crescent Society, the UNHCR, UNICEF, the World Food Programme, World Health Organization, and United Nations Development Programme, who are delivering healthcare, food, water, sanitation and hygiene, shelter kits and other essential services to those in need.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Chelmsford (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much aid they are providing to (1) Iran, and (2) other countries in the region, on an absolute and per capita basis.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Since the start of the Iran conflict, we have seen a sharp increase in displacement of people and humanitarian need across the region, and the UK has made substantial investments to support responses to that crisis, particularly in Lebanon.
The UK is not providing humanitarian aid directly to Iran as part of this response, but alongside a number of other governments, we contribute to the global Disaster Response Emergency Fund managed by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and to the United Nations' Central Emergency Response Fund.
Both of these funds have in turn made allocations to support humanitarian agencies working in Iran, including the Iranian Red Crescent Society, the UNHCR, UNICEF, the World Food Programme, World Health Organization, and United Nations Development Programme, who are delivering healthcare, food, water, sanitation and hygiene, shelter kits and other essential services to those in need.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Chelmsford (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, for increasing humanitarian assistance to civilians in Iran who are marginalised by the Iranian regime.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Since the start of the Iran conflict, we have seen a sharp increase in displacement of people and humanitarian need across the region, and the UK has made substantial investments to support responses to that crisis, particularly in Lebanon.
The UK is not providing humanitarian aid directly to Iran as part of this response, but alongside a number of other governments, we contribute to the global Disaster Response Emergency Fund managed by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and to the United Nations' Central Emergency Response Fund.
Both of these funds have in turn made allocations to support humanitarian agencies working in Iran, including the Iranian Red Crescent Society, the UNHCR, UNICEF, the World Food Programme, World Health Organization, and United Nations Development Programme, who are delivering healthcare, food, water, sanitation and hygiene, shelter kits and other essential services to those in need.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Chelmsford (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what types of humanitarian assistance they are providing to civilians in Iran requiring aid.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Since the start of the Iran conflict, we have seen a sharp increase in displacement of people and humanitarian need across the region, and the UK has made substantial investments to support responses to that crisis, particularly in Lebanon.
The UK is not providing humanitarian aid directly to Iran as part of this response, but alongside a number of other governments, we contribute to the global Disaster Response Emergency Fund managed by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and to the United Nations' Central Emergency Response Fund.
Both of these funds have in turn made allocations to support humanitarian agencies working in Iran, including the Iranian Red Crescent Society, the UNHCR, UNICEF, the World Food Programme, World Health Organization, and United Nations Development Programme, who are delivering healthcare, food, water, sanitation and hygiene, shelter kits and other essential services to those in need.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Chelmsford (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what level of humanitarian assistance they are providing to civilians in need of aid in Iran as a consequence of the war in that country; and which delivery partners they are working with.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Since the start of the Iran conflict, we have seen a sharp increase in displacement of people and humanitarian need across the region, and the UK has made substantial investments to support responses to that crisis, particularly in Lebanon.
The UK is not providing humanitarian aid directly to Iran as part of this response, but alongside a number of other governments, we contribute to the global Disaster Response Emergency Fund managed by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and to the United Nations' Central Emergency Response Fund.
Both of these funds have in turn made allocations to support humanitarian agencies working in Iran, including the Iranian Red Crescent Society, the UNHCR, UNICEF, the World Food Programme, World Health Organization, and United Nations Development Programme, who are delivering healthcare, food, water, sanitation and hygiene, shelter kits and other essential services to those in need.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Chelmsford (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report from the Rossing Centre for Education and Dialogue, Attacks on Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem, published in 2025; and what discussions they have had with government of Israel about protecting Christian communities in Israel and East Jerusalem from harassment and violence.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
I refer the Noble Bishop to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 24 June in response to Questions 10663-64, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:
The UK is monitoring the situation in Silwan closely, including the reported seizure of land belonging to the Greek Orthodox Church. The UK is committed to championing freedom of religion or belief for all, and that is particularly important in a city which holds such significance for the three Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. It is vital that the historic holy sites where each religious community worships are treated with respect and dignity, and that the traditional arrangements enabling each group to practice their faith are upheld, including the Jerusalem Status Quo.
More generally, we know that the demolition of Palestinian property and the eviction of their residents by Israeli authorities is causing unnecessary suffering to communities throughout Palestine. We also condemn the seizure of land by extremist settler groups and their acts of brutal violence, and - as set out by the Foreign Secretary in her statement to the House on 9 June - the UK will continue to do everything possible to advance the two-state solution and hold violent extremist settler groups to account, including through our sanctions regime.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Chelmsford (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel regarding actions on 15 June on land and property in Silwan owned by the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
I refer the Noble Bishop to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 24 June in response to Questions 10663-64, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:
The UK is monitoring the situation in Silwan closely, including the reported seizure of land belonging to the Greek Orthodox Church. The UK is committed to championing freedom of religion or belief for all, and that is particularly important in a city which holds such significance for the three Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. It is vital that the historic holy sites where each religious community worships are treated with respect and dignity, and that the traditional arrangements enabling each group to practice their faith are upheld, including the Jerusalem Status Quo.
More generally, we know that the demolition of Palestinian property and the eviction of their residents by Israeli authorities is causing unnecessary suffering to communities throughout Palestine. We also condemn the seizure of land by extremist settler groups and their acts of brutal violence, and - as set out by the Foreign Secretary in her statement to the House on 9 June - the UK will continue to do everything possible to advance the two-state solution and hold violent extremist settler groups to account, including through our sanctions regime.